Daily Current Affairs and GK | 30 and 31 March 2025

Topic: National News

1. Government of India plans to raise Rs 8 lakh crore from the market in the first half of FY26.

• On March 27, the Finance Ministry announced that the Government of India plans to raise Rs 8 lakh crore through the issuance of dated securities during the first half (April-September) of the financial year 2025-26 to bridge the revenue gap.
• Of the total gross market borrowing of Rs 14.82 lakh crore estimated for FY26, about 54% will be raised in the first half, including Rs 10,000 crore through sovereign green bonds.
• The market borrowings will be spread across multiple tenures, including 3-year, 5-year, 7-year, 10-year, 15-year, 30-year, 40-year, and 50-year securities.
• Notably, over 26% of the borrowing will be through 10-year government securities (G-Secs), making it a key component of the borrowing strategy.
• Further, the government also announced plans for switching and buyback operations of securities to smoothen the redemption profile and effectively manage future obligations.
• The RBI has set the ways and means advances (WMA) limit for the first half of FY26 at ₹1.50 lakh crore to address temporary mismatches in government accounts.

Topic: Sports

2. India’s first gold medal in the Asian Wrestling Championship clinched by Manisha Bhanwala in Amman, Jordan.

• On 28 March, Manisha Bhanwala won India’s first gold medal since the 2021 edition at the Asian Wrestling Championship 2025, whereas Antim Panghal earned a bronze.
• Vinesh Phogat and Sarita Mor had won the gold medal in their respective categories in the 2021 edition.
• Manisha defeated Korea’s Ok J Kim by 8-7 in the women’s 62 kg category to clinch a historic victory in Amman, Jordan.
• Ankit Panghal defeated Meng H. Hsieh of Taipei by technical superiority without losing a single point in the bronze play-off of the 53kg category.
• Manisha had won three consecutive bronze medals at the Asian Championships from 2022 to 2024.
• The 2025 Asian Wrestling Championships took place in Amman, Jordan from 25 to 30 March 2025.

Topic: Defense

3. 14th edition of the Indian and Russia bilateral naval exercise ‘Indra’ commenced.

•  The 14th edition of the Indian and Russia bilateral naval exercise ‘Indra’ will take place from March 28 to April 2, 2025, in Chennai.
• The exercise has evolved as a symbol of maritime cooperation.
• The exercise will be conducted in two phases: the Harbour phase from 28 to 30 March 25 in Chennai and the Sea phase from 31 March to 02 April 25 in the Bay of Bengal.
• The exercise will involve Russian Federation Naval Ships Pechanga, Rezkiy, and Aldar Tsydenzhapov, Indian Naval Ships Rana, and Kuthar, and maritime patrol aircraft P8l.
• The Harbour Phase will include an opening ceremony, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), reciprocal visits, sports fixtures, etc.
• The Sea Phase will witness advanced naval drills, including tactical manoeuvres, live weapon firings, anti-air operations, etc.
• These exercises and interactions will enhance maritime cooperation, strengthen bridges of friendship, and exchange best operational practices.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. Masaki Kashiwara won the prestigious Abel Prize for Mathematics.

• Japan's Masaki Kashiwara has received the honour for his fundamental contributions to algebraic analysis and representation theory.
• He is the first Japanese person to be awarded the most prestigious prize in mathematics.
• He developed algebraic tools to solve tough problems such as differential equations.
• He is known for building bridges across seemingly distant branches of mathematics.
• Masaki Kashiwara has also collaborated with Frenchman Pierre Schapira in the field of so-called microlocal analysis.
• This prize has been named for Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802-1829). The prize money is 7.5 million kroner ($714,000).
• The Abel Prize was started by Norway's government.