• Project focus area: Buxar Thermal Power Plant (Bihar, 1320 MW, estimated cost Rs 10,439.09 crore)
• Meeting chair: Principal Economic Advisor Pravin Mahto

• Participation: Central ministries, state governments and senior officials
• Review: 23 issues of 19 major projects (total investment Rs 63,858 crore)
• Ministry of Labour and Employment: 5 projects focused on ESIC hospitals in three states

• The pension of former MPs has also been increased. Their monthly pension has been raised from ₹25,000 to ₹31,000.
• The additional pension for more than five years of service has been increased from ₹2,000 to ₹2,500.

• ₹192.06 crore has been released for the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP).
• ₹171.98 crore has been distributed under the Raw Material Supply Scheme for handloom workers.
• Financial assistance of ₹8,000 per month is provided to award-winning handloom workers aged 60 years or above.
• According to the 4th All India Handloom Census (2019-20), there are 35,22,512 handloom weavers/workers across the country, including 1,690 in Puducherry.

• The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019 with the aim of providing safe and adequate drinking water through tap connections to every rural household by 2024.
• At the time of launch, only 3.23 crore (16.7%) rural households had tap water connections.
• As of March 12, 2025, this figure has increased to 80.15%, benefiting over 15.52 crore rural households.

• Formed: 9 November 2000 (separated from Uttar Pradesh)
• Capital: Dehradun
• Former name: Uttaranchal

• International borders: Nepal in the east, India in the north
• Major Himalayan ranges in Uttarakhand: Bandarpoonch, Gangotri, Kamet, Nanda Devi, Panchchuli and Adi Kailash

• Official name: Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
• Capital: Kabul
• Currency: Afghani (AFN)

• Important river: Kabul River, Helmand River
• Major mountain range: Hindukush mountain range
• Residence of the head of state: Arg Palace (Kabul)

• Formation: After partition from India on 14 August 1947
• Official name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
• Capital: Islamabad
• Currency: Pakistani Rupee (PKR)
• National Day: 23 March (Pakistan Day)

• Major mountain: Karakoram mountain range, K2 peak (8611 m)
• Major line between India and Pakistan: Red Cliff Line
• Border passes through states: Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Gujarat
• Determiner: British lawyer Sir Cyril Radcliffe

• Noma, also known as Cancrum Oris or Gangrenous Stomatitis, is a rapidly progressing and often fatal gangrenous infection of the mouth and face, with a 90% mortality rate.
• It typically begins as an ulcer on the gums and quickly spreads to the jawbone, cheeks, and soft tissues of the face.
• Noma is treatable, but it can be fatal if not detected early.

Other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs):

• Scabies, snakebite envenoming, yaws, trachoma, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease, among others, are also classified as NTDs.

• The value of defence production has increased by 174 per cent from Rs 46,429 crore in 2014-15
• Defence exports have also reached an all-time high of over Rs 21,000 crore in 2023-24 from Rs 686 crore in 2013-14, showing a 30-fold increase in the last decade.
• India targets Rs 3 lakh crore production and Rs 50,000 crore exports by 2029

Make in India:

• Started: September 2014, Launched by: PM Narendra Modi, Objective: To make India a global manufacturing hub, Slogan: "Zero Defect, Zero Effect"

• Recently, the Government of India decided to remove the 20% export duty on onions, effective from April 1, 2025.
• Export Duty: It is a tax or fee imposed by a country's government on the export of certain goods.
• India's Export Target: The country aims to achieve a total export target of USD 2 trillion by 2030, including the export of goods and services.

• The largest lender, SBI, played a leading role, contributing over 40% of the total profit with a net profit of ₹61,077 crore, marking a 22% increase from ₹50,232 crore in FY23.
• Punjab National Bank (PNB): Net profit surged by 228% to ₹8,245 crore.
• Union Bank of India: Net profit rose by 62% to ₹13,649 crore.

• Central Bank of India: Net profit increased by 61% to ₹2,549 crore.
• Bank of India: Net profit grew by 57% to ₹6,318 crore.
• Bank of Maharashtra: Profit increased by 56% to ₹4,055 crore.
• Indian Bank: Profit rose by 53% to ₹8,063 crore.

• Objective: To develop collective naval strength to tackle common challenges such as piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing.
• The Indian Navy's warship, INS Sunayna, will be deployed in the Southwestern Indian Ocean from April 5 to May 8, 2025.

Countries participating in the AIKEYME exercise include:

• Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.

• Features: Theyyam Art of Kerala, Phad Art of Rajasthan, Kishangarh Art, Lippan Art of Gujarat, Madhubani Art of Bihar, Gond Art
• This initiative is led by Indian artist and curator Smita Vidisha Pandey

• The highest judicial body in the country
• Guardian of the Constitution
• Acts as the highest court
• Mention in Constitution: Articles 124 to 147 (Part V)
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Appointment of Judges: By the President under Article 124(2)
• Powers and Functions of the Supreme Court:

• Original Jurisdiction: Article 131 (dealing with Centre-State and inter-state disputes)
• Appellate Jurisdiction: Articles 132-134 (Appeals can be made in the Supreme Court against the decisions of the High Courts)
• Special Leave Petition: Article 136
• Interpretation of the Constitution: Article 143
• Protection of Fundamental Rights: Article 32

• Justice Arindam Sinha was serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court.
• He has now been transferred to the Allahabad High Court.

• Ajay Seth is a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre.
• He was previously serving as the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance.

• The Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame honors women who have made significant contributions to Singapore's development and gender equality.
• Kamala Devi Aravindan is part of this year’s group of six honored women, bringing the total to 198 women who have been recognized since 2014.