National News

Sanitary Pad Vending Machines Mandatory in Universities

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched a new initiative for menstrual hygiene of women.
• Under this, all universities and colleges in the country will now be required to install sanitary pad vending machines on campus.

University Grants Commission (UGC):

'Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Program' Launched

• The Ministry of AYUSH launched the 'Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Program' on 18 March 2025,
• aimed at bringing a positive transformation in the public service mindset of central government employees.

State Special

MoU Between Uttar Pradesh Environment Directorate and i-FOREST

• The Uttar Pradesh Environment Directorate signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability, and Technology (i-FOREST).
• The objective of the MoU is to promote sustainable development and environmental stability in the state.

Uttar Pradesh:

Economy and Banking

India's GDP in FY 2025: S&P

• S&P Global Ratings stated on Thursday that India's GDP will grow at a rate of 6.7% in FY 2025,
• making it the fastest-growing economy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):

Prudential PLC to Enter the Health Insurance Sector

• Britain's Prudential PLC announced plans to form a joint venture with HCL Group's promoter company, Vama Sundari Investments (Delhi) Pvt. Ltd.
• The aim is to launch an independent health insurance business in India.

Related Facts:

'Emerge' Cohort Launched

• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has launched the 'Emerge' cohort
• to support startups in the field of energy efficiency and city gas distribution (CGD).
• This initiative is part of BPCL's 'Ankur' fund, committed to promoting innovation and sustainability in India's energy sector.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) :

Reports and Indexes

World Happiness Report 2025

• The World Happiness Report 2025 was released by the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University, in partnership with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN-SDSN).

Top 5 happiest countries:

International News

"Il Foglio AI"

• The Italian newspaper Il Foglio has published an edition entirely generated by artificial intelligence (AI), called "Il Foglio AI".

Italy :

Books and Authors

"March to Glory"

• India won its first and only Hockey World Cup title by defeating Pakistan 2-1 in Kuala Lumpur in 1975.
• To mark the golden jubilee of this historic achievement, a book titled "March to Glory" has been released.

Related Facts:

Sports News

Commonwealth Games 2030

• India has submitted its bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
• If awarded, it will be the second time the country hosts this prestigious event, the first being in 2010.

Commonwealth Games:

Second Khelo India Para Games Inaugurated

• Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the second Khelo India Para Games
• on 20 March 2025 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
• The event features 1,300+ para athletes from across the country and will run from 20 to 27 March.

Related Facts:

Champions Trophy 2025

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a cash prize of ₹58 crore
• to celebrate India's victory in the Champions Trophy 2025. This amount is three times the winner's prize awarded by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Prize money distribution:

Person In News

Kirsty Coventry

• Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the new (10th) president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
• She is the first woman and the first African to hold this position. Coventry will officially assume office on 23 June, succeeding Thomas Bach, who first became president in 2013 and was re-elected in 2021.

International Olympic Committee (IOC):

Ram Sutar

• Renowned sculptor Ram Sutar has been selected for the Maharashtra Bhushan Award.
• He was born on 19 February 1925 in Gondur village, Dhule district, Maharashtra, and recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

Related Facts:

Indranil Bhattacharya

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the appointment of Indranil Bhattacharya as the Executive Director (ED).
• His appointment is effective from 19 March 2025.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

Chiranjeevi

• Chiranjeevi was honored with the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the London-based think tank 'Bridge India'.
• He received this award at the House of Commons in the UK Parliament for his remarkable contribution to cultural impact and public service.

Important Days

International Day of Forests

• The International Day of Forests is observed annually on 21 March.
• The United Nations General Assembly established this day in 2012 to raise awareness about the importance of forests and promote their conservation.

World Poetry Day

• World Poetry Day is celebrated annually on 21 March to honor the importance of poetry and highlight its cultural role.

Related Facts:

International Nowruz Day

• International Nowruz Day is observed annually on 21 March, symbolizing the arrival of spring and the renewal of nature.

Related Facts: