Daily Current Affairs and GK | 4 March 2025

Topic: International News

1. Trump announced to make English the official language of the US.

• President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to make English the official language of the United States.
• English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values.
• Now, government agencies and organisations that receive federal funding can choose whether they want to offer documents and services in languages other than English.
• For the first time, the US has designated an official language at the federal level.
• Nearly 68 million of the USA speak a language other than English. More than 160 Native American languages are present in the US.
• In the USA, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic are the other languages that are most spoken after English.
• Approximately 180 countries around the world have official national languages.
• More than 30 US states have designated English as the official language.

Topic: Defence

2. India is likely to induct into its Navy, Tamal, by June 2025.

• Tamal is a multi-role stealth guided missile frigate. It is built at Russia’s Yantar Shipyard. 
• It is equipped to launch BrahMos anti-ship missile.
• It is part of a 2016 Indo-Russian deal. The deal involved the construction of four Talwar-class stealth frigates.
• Two were to be constructed in Russia and two in India as per the deal. 
• INS Tushil was the first Russian-built frigate.
• It was inducted into the Navy during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Russia on December 9, 2024. 
• Tamal is currently undergoing trials in Russia.
• Tamal can reach speeds of up to 30 knots (55 km/h). Its weight is 3,900 tons.
• It has a range of 3,000 kilometers on a single mission. 
• Its key features are BrahMos missile capability, advanced anti-submarine rockets, and torpedoes for underwater threats. 
• Tamal can carry and deploy a multi-role helicopter and evade enemy radar. 
• INS Tushil and Tamal are part of the third batch of Talwar-class frigates.
• Tamal will be the last imported warship for the Navy.

Topic: Personality in News

3. Himmat Shah died at the age of 92.

• He was a renowned Indian artist. He was a core member of Group 1890, an association of modernist artists.
• He is known for slip-casting techniques in terracotta and ceramics and for silver paintings made from plaster, sand, and silver leaf.
• His notable works include bronze heads. He was born in a Jain family in Lothal, Gujarat.
• He studied under Rasiklal Parikh in Ahmedabad.
• He received following awards for his works and contributions:
  • Lalit Kala Akademi National Award (1956, 1962)
  • Bombay Art Society Award (1962)
  • Jammu and Kashmir University Gold Medal (1961)
  • Sahitya Kala Parishad Award (1988)
  • Kalidas Samman by Madhya Pradesh Government (2003)

Topic: Corporates/Companies

4. IRCTC and IRFC have been given Navaratna status by the Centre.

• On March 3, Navratna status has been granted to two public sector companies—Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) by the central government.
• The elevation of IRCTC and IRFC to Navratna CPSEs has been approved by the government, making them the 25th and 26th 'Navratnas' among Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
• With the inclusion of the latest companies, the number of Navaratna companies in the country has reached 26.
• IRCTC and IRFC are a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Railways.
• In the financial year 2023-24, IRCTC recorded an annual turnover of Rs 4,270.18 crore along with a profit after tax of Rs 1,111.26 crore and a net worth of Rs 3,229.97 crore.
• Similarly, in FY 2023-24, IRFC reported an annual turnover of Rs 26,644 crore, a profit after tax of Rs 6,412 crore, and a net worth of Rs 49,178 crore.
• Of the 12 railway CPSEs, Concor, RVNL, IRCON, RITES, and RailTel were classified as Navratna companies earlier.
• Since 2014, all seven listed railway CPSEs have been upgraded to Navratna status, with Concor being the first to join the list in July 2014.
• Navratna status:
  • The Government of India grants Navratna status to top-ranked public sector undertakings (PSUs).
  • This status allows organisations to make large investments of up to Rs 1,000 crore without approval from the Centre.
  • These companies have the freedom to invest up to 30% of their total assets within a year, provided it is less than ₹1,000 crore.
  • They can also form joint ventures, tie-ups, and set up subsidiaries abroad.
  • For a company to be granted Navratna status, it must already have Miniratna Category I status and be listed under Schedule A of CPSEs.

(Source: DD News)

Topic: State News/ Jharkhand

5. On March 3, a ₹1.45 lakh crore Budget for the financial year 2025-26 tabled in the State Assembly by the Jharkhand Government.

• In the financial year 2024-25, a budget of Rs 1.28 lakh crore was presented by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition government.
• The budget was presented by Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore.
• ₹13,363.35 crore allocated for the Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana (JMMSY), which provides financial assistance of ₹2,500 per month to women aged 18-50 years.
• The state's economy is projected to grow at 7.5% in 2025–26, with a fiscal deficit estimated at ₹11,253 crore.
• A major allocation of ₹62,844 crore was made for the social sector to benefit various communities, including tribals, farmers, and women.
• Mr. Kishore said that Jharkhand Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) was ₹4.6 trillion in 2023-24, with an ambitious target to reach ₹10 trillion by 2029-30.
• In the budget, seven new medical colleges in Ranchi, Khunti, Giridih, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Deoghar, and Jamtara, along with the setting up of new universities in Jamshedpur, Gumla, and Sahibganj, were announced.
• Mr. Kishore said that the state government will initiate legal action to recover the amount of Rs 1.36 lakh crore pending with the Centre.

Topic: Reports and Indices

6. The report of the first-ever riverine dolphin estimation has been released by PM Modi.

• The report was released during the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife at Sasan Gir in Junagadh district.
• The report has estimated a total of 6,327 dolphins in India.
• In the estimation, 28 rivers across eight states were surveyed and 3,150 man-days were dedicated to covering over 8,500 kilometres.
• Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest numbers of Dolphins.
• UP is followed by Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.
• Ganges River Dolphin is the National Aquatic Animal of India. It is nearly blind and relies on echolocation for its biological needs.
• 90% of this species' population resides in India. It is found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli river systems.

Topic: Sports

7. Krishna Jayasankar became India’s first woman who crossed 16 meters in indoor shot put. 

• During the 2025 Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships, she threw a record-breaking 16.03 meters.
• She surpassed previous Indian indoor record of 15.54 meters. This record was made by Poornarao Rane in 2023. 
• Until the penultimate round, she was ranked fourth.  Her final throw earned her the bronze medal. 
• Mya Lesnar won the gold medal. Gabby Morns won silver medal. Both are from USA. 
• 15.03 meters was Krishna's previous best indoor throw. 
• The women's shot put record for India is 18.41 meters total. This was made by Abha Khatua at the Federation Cup 2024.

Topic: State News/ Bihar

8. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary presented a Rs 3.17 lakh crore budget in the assembly.

• The Bihar government presented a Rs 3.17 lakh crore budget in the assembly for the financial year 2025-26, which is 38,169 crore more than the previous Budget of Rs 2.79 lakh crore.
• The state government will spend 60,954 crores on education, 20,335 on health, 16,193 on rural development and 13,483 crores on energy in the financial year 2025-26.
• The government will also set up 'Mahila Haat' in Patna, and 'Kanya Vivaah Mandap' will be formed in all the panchayats of the state to facilitate mass weddings for the poor.
• The government has proposed setting up rehabilitation-cum-training centres for migrant labourers from Bihar in cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, Surat, and Delhi.
• A dedicated cancer hospital has been proposed for the Begusarai district.
• “Greenfield airports” will be established at Sultanganj and Raxaul, in Bhagalpur and East Champaran districts, respectively.
• “Pink toilets” will be developed in all districts and “pink buses” in major cities.
• The government has also announced a 33% job reservation for women in the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation and subsidies for women purchasing e-rickshaws.
• The scholarship for students from Class 1 to 10 will be doubled from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per month.
• The state government will collaborate with NAFED and the National Cooperative Consumer Federation (NCCF) to fix a minimum support price for pulses.
• Rs 13,368.47 crore has been allocated for the welfare of SC/ST, OBC, minorities and most backward classes.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

9. India emerged as the 3rd largest biofuel producer in the world.

• As of January, India has achieved 19.6 per cent ethanol blending in petrol.
• It is a significant step toward a shift to cleaner and renewable energy.
• India will very soon have 20 per cent ethanol blending five years ahead of the target of 2030.
• In the last 10 years, the ethanol blending initiatives have enhanced farmer incomes.
• It has also helped in reducing CO2 emissions equivalent to planting 1.75 crore trees.
• To support ethanol blending, the oil marketing companies have signed agreements with 131 dedicated ethanol plants.
• These plants will produce 745 crore litres of ethanol annually.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

10. "Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyaan" launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

• A national workshop of women elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions is being organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• In this, "Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan" (सशक्त पंचायत-नेत्री अभियान) was launched on 4 March 2025 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
• Sashakt Panchayat—Netri Abhiyaan is a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening capacity building for women elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions across the country.
• It focuses on enhancing their leadership capacity and decision-making abilities and strengthening their role in governance at the grassroots level.
• Recognizing the important role of women elected representatives in rural local governance, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has formulated a strategy to enhance their leadership capacity and ensure their active participation in decision-making.
• More than 1,200 Panchayat women leaders from different backgrounds participated in this historic event.
• The National Workshop featured carefully curated panel discussions on important topics related to women's participation in local governance, such as “Women’s Participation and Leadership in PRIs: Changing the Dynamics in Local Self-Governance."

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Important Days

11. International Wheelchair Day 2025: 1 March

• On March 1, people around the world celebrate International Wheelchair Day.
• The day gives a voice to people who experience mobility on wheels and highlights the importance of this device in ensuring independence.
• On March 1, 2008, International Wheelchair Day was established by Steve Wilkinson, a dedicated advocate for wheelchair users who lived with spina bifida.
• On International Wheelchair Day 2025, various national institutes and Composite Regional Centres (CRCs) under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organised several events across the country.
• These initiatives spearheaded by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment were aimed at promoting accessibility, independence, and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
• The day highlights the importance of wheelchairs in the lives of users and serves as an important opportunity to raise awareness and inclusiveness in society.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: National News

12. India's First World Peace Centre has been inaugurated in Gurugram.

• World Peace Centre has been established under the leadership of Jain Acharya Lokesh Muni and the efforts of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti at Sector 39, Gurugram.
• Ram Nath Kovind, the former President of India, along with dignitaries attended the inaugurating ceremony.
• The World Peace Centre will act as a beacon of spirituality and social unity, providing a platform for peace education, environmental preservation, equality, and institutional peace-building processes.
• It will play a key role in fostering awareness, social responsibility, and sustainable development.
• It will also help in strengthening institutional networks for peace and harmony.
• World Peace Centre will have peace ambassadors around the world. They will be responsible for service for the peace in the world if conflict erupts in any part of the world.

Topic: National Appointments

13. Dr Mayank Sharma assumed office as Controller General of Defence Accounts.

• Mayank Sharma takes charge as Controller General of Defence Accounts.
• He is a 1989-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS).
• He has served in various positions within the Government of India, including the Defence Accounts Department.
• He had also represented India at the International Anti-Corruption Academy and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.
• The Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) heads the Defence Accounts Department.