National News

PMKVY Training Data (2015-2024)

• Under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), 1,60,33,081 candidates were trained from 2015 to 2024.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):

Achievement of Amrit Sarovar Yojana

• Under the Amrit Sarovar Yojana (launched in 2022), more than 68,000 Amrit Sarovars have been completed across the country by March 20, 2025.
• The scheme was initiated with the objective of constructing or rejuvenating at least 75 Amrit Sarovars in each district of India, aiming to address the water crisis in rural areas.

Achievement in major states/UTs:

Priority to Farmers' Welfare

• The Central Government, prioritizing farmers' welfare, has significantly increased the budget allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
• For 2025-26, the ministry's budget has been raised to ₹1,37,756.55 crore, up from ₹1,32,469.86 crore in 2024-25.

Premium and Budget under PMFBY :

International News

USCIRF Annual Report on India

• The annual report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed serious concerns about the state of religious freedom in India.
• The report states that attacks and discrimination against religious minorities in India are increasing and the situation is getting worse in 2024. India has demanded USCIRF to declare it a "matter of concern".

United States of America (USA) :

10th BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue

• The 10th BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue was held in Brasília on March 24-25, with the participation of policy planners from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with senior representatives from the expanded BRICS membership.

BRICS :

Insurance for Blue-Collar Workers

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched a new group security insurance scheme for blue-collar workers, aimed at providing financial protection to them and their families.
• It has been introduced in collaboration with Dubai National Insurance (DNI) and its marketing partner Nexus Insurance Brokers LLC.

Key Facts:

Agreement to Establish GDSC

• India and Singapore signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) during the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) to establish a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC).
• The initiative aims to promote digitization and decarbonization projects in the maritime transport sector.

Singapore :

Sports News

Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025

• The Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025 was held from March 20 to 25 at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna, Bihar.
• A total of 19 countries participated in the tournament, including India's men's and women's teams.

Related facts:

Economy and Banking

Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024

• The Rajya Sabha has passed the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024, which was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha on December 3, 2024.

Key Provisions:

Announcement to Close MLTGD Component

• The Central Government has announced the closure of the Medium and Long-Term Government Deposit (MLTGD) component under the Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS) from March 26.
• According to the Ministry of Finance, banks can continue their 1-3 year short-term gold deposit schemes.

Related Facts:

Launch of DCS System

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has launched the Digital Crop Survey (DCS) system to collect real-time data on sown crops through a mobile interface.
• The system provides accurate and real-time information on the crop area of each agricultural plot.

Books and Authors

"Leo: The Untold Story of Chennai Super Kings" Released

• The book "Leo: The Untold Story of Chennai Super Kings", authored by senior advocate and former CSK vice-president P.S. Raman, has been launched.
• The book provides a detailed account of CSK's journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL), highlighting the team's victories, struggles, and key figures behind its success.

"Ripples of Change: Gender-Transformative Rural WASH Programs in India"

• Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil launched the book "Ripples of Change: Gender-Transformative Rural WASH Programs in India" in New Delhi.
• The book, jointly published by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, and UNICEF India, features ten powerful stories from rural India.

UNICEF :

Honours and Awards

'Superbrand 2025' Title

• Muthoot Fincorp Limited (MFL), the flagship company of the 138-year-old Muthoot Pappachen Group, also known as Muthoot Blue, has been honored with the prestigious 'Superbrand 2025' title.

Muthoot Fincorp Limited (MFL) :

Saraswati Samman

• Sanskrit scholar Bhdrashdas will be honored with the prestigious Saraswati Samman for his significant literary work 'Swaminarayan Siddhant Sudha'.
• The award is presented annually by the K.K. Birla Foundation for outstanding literary works in Indian languages.

Saraswati Samman:

NHRC Short Film Competition Awards

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) honored the seven winners of its 2024 short film competition at a ceremony held in New Delhi on March 26, 2025.

Related Facts:

Defense News

Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM)

• India successfully tested the indigenously developed Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM).
• The test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy jointly participating.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):

Agreement for Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System

• The Defence Ministry has signed a Rs 6,900 crore contract for 155 mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System and High Mobility Vehicle 6×6 Gun Towing Vehicles with an aim to enhance the operational readiness of the Army.
• The agreement was signed with Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced Systems Limited.

Indian Army :

Engine Supply for LCA Mark-1A

• US-based GE Aerospace has started supplying engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for India's indigenous fighter jet LCA Mark-1A.
• The supplied engine is the F404-IN20, with the first batch delivered to HAL.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) :

Person In News

Manoj Bharathiraja Passes Away

• Tamil actor and director Manoj Bharathiraja passed away at the age of 48 due to a heart attack in Chennai on March 25, 2025.
• He was the son of renowned film director Bharathiraja.

Sanjay Kumar Mishra Appointed as Full-Time EAC-PM Member

• The Central Government has appointed former ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra as a full-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM).
• The 1984 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer served as the ED Director until September 15, 2023.

Enforcement Directorate (ED):

Revolutionary Pushpalata Das

• Pushpalata Das, a renowned freedom fighter, social worker, and former MP, was born on March 27, 1915, in Assam.
• Her parents were Rameshwar Saikia (father) and Swarnalata Saikia (mother).

Pushpalata Das :