Current Affairs Quiz 13th March 2025 Quiz

Exp. Odisha govt disburses ₹5,000 cr under Subhadra Yojana

The Odisha government has disbursed ₹5,000 crore under the Subhadra Yojana, benefiting 1.18 crore women across the state.

The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to married women, enhancing their economic empowerment and social security.

The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday in Odisha on September 17, 2024.

About Odisha

• Capital – Bhubaneswar
• Chief Minister – Mohan Charan Majhi (replace Naveen Patnaik)
• Deputy CM – KV Singhdeo and Pravati Parida
• Governor – Hari Babu Kambhampati
• Legislative Assembly Seat – 147

Exp. Punjab Govt launches Project Hifazat to protect women

Punjab government has launched Project Hifazat to protect women from violence on the eve of International Women’s Day.

The Project was launched by Punjab’s Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur in Chandigarh.

The project aims to protect women and children from violence by providing immediate assistance from government departments. It provides a dedicated helpline number, ‘181’, which the victim can call for help.

The initiative aims to improve the response mechanism of the government departments to report of violence against women through better inter-departmental coordination.

About Punjab

• Capital – Chandigarh
• Chief Minister – Bhagwant Mann
• Governor – Gulab Chand Kataria

Exp. Centre bans Awami Action Committee, J&K Ittihadul Muslimeen for 5 years

The Awami Action Committee (AAC), headed by Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), led by Shia leader Masroor Abbas Ansari, were banned by the Centre for their alleged anti-national activities, supporting terrorism and fuelling secessionist activities.

Union Home Ministry banned Awami Action Committee (AAC) and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) as an unlawful association and banned both the organisations with immediate effect for a period of five years.

Exp. PM Modi receives the highest Civilian Award of Mauritius at the National Day Celebrations

The Mauritius government conferred its highest civilian award, “The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean”, to the visiting Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

This is his second official visit to Mauritius after 2015.

During his visit, eight Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two countries, and PM Modi was also the Chief Guest of the National Day celebration of Mauritius.

PM Modi attended the 57th National Day celebrations of the Republic of Mauritius as the Chief Guest.

During the celebrations, the President of the Republic of Mauritius H.E. Mr. Dharambeer Gokhool conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (G.C.S.K) award, the highest civilian award of Mauritius, on PM Modi.

This is the first time that an Indian leader has received this honour.

Exp. Maharashtra Disburses ₹17,000 Crore to 2.38 Crore Women Under Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana

The Maharashtra government disbursed over ₹17,000 crore in financial assistance to 2.38 crore women in a period of seven months since it launched the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana last year.

The State has launched Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana in June 2024, with the objectives to promote rehabilitation, economic development and empowerment of women and girls in the age group 21 to 65 years.

Through the disbursement of ₹1,500 per month, the scheme intends to rehabilitate women economically and socially, to make them self-reliant, to promote their empowerment and to improve the health and nutritional status of women and children dependent on them.

About Maharashtra

• Capital – Mumbai
• Chief Minister – Devendra Fadnavis (3^rd time)
• Deputy Chief Minister – Eknath Sindhe & Ajit Pawar
• Governor – C P Radhakrishnan
• Legislative Assembly Speaker – Rahul Narwekar

Exp. INS Imphal to participate in Mauritius National Day celebrations 2025

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Imphal arrived in Port Louis, Mauritius, ahead of the country’s 57th National Day celebrations on March 12, reinforcing strong maritime ties between the two nations.

INS Imphal will contribute a marching contingent, a naval band, and a helicopter for the ceremonial flypast, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending as the Chief Guest.

Commissioned in December 2023, INS Imphal is a Project 15B (Visakhapatnam-class) indigenous destroyer with advanced weaponry and technology, aligning with India’s Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR vision for regional security.

Exp. Department of Biotechnology and Assam Govt Sign Historic MoU for Centre-State Partnership

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Government of Assam signed a landmark MoU under the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) Policy.

This Centre-State partnership is the first of its kind under the BioE3 framework and aims to accelerate high-performance biomanufacturing while fostering a sustainable biotechnology ecosystem in Assam.

The MoU signing is a culmination of extensive consultations, high-level meetings, and collaborative efforts made by the DBT and the Government of Assam.

The BioE3 Policy, approved by the Union Cabinet on 24th August 2024, envisages to establish India as a global leader in bio-based innovations, emphasizing sustainable biomanufacturing across various thematic areas including bio-based chemicals, APIs, biopolymers, enzymes, climate-resilient agriculture, functional foods, smart proteins, carbon capture& utilization, precision biotherapeutics (cell & gene therapy, mRNA therapeutics & monoclonal antibody), as well as futuristic marine and space research.  

Exp. India takes part in the 69th Session of UNCSW starting in New York

A delegation of the Government of India, led by Annpurna Devi, Union Minister of Women and Child Development (WCD), participated in the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which started on 10 March 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The session witnessed large-scale participation from all UN member states, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, philanthropists, academia, civil society, women’s collectives, and UN agencies.

At the 69th CSW session, the Minister held bilateral meetings with leaders including Ms Melrose Karminty (Sierra Leone), Mr Sodyq S. Safoev (Uzbekistan), Dr Vindhya Persaud (Guyana), and Ms Antonia Orellana Guarello (Chile) to strengthen cooperation on gender equality and social welfare.

CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, the rights and the empowerment of women.

A functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the forthcoming session of the Commission will be held from 10th to 21st March, 2025.

Exp. APEDA Showcases India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Excellence at the 39th Edition of AAHAR 2025

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) showcased India’s agricultural and processed food excellence at the 39th edition of AAHAR 2025, organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The event marked a significant milestone in highlighting India’s prowess in the agriculture and food processing sector.

APEDA facilitated the participation of 95 exhibitors, including Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), entrepreneurs, and manufacturing companies from 17 States, including Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Hyderabad, Kerala, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, as well as Union Territories such as Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Jammu & Kashmir.

The participation of states and UTs showcased India’s strength in the agriculture and processed food sectors while highlighting the collaborative spirit driving innovation and growth within the industry.

Exp. Department of Posts Signs MoU with FSID, IISC, for documentation of Technology Architecture for Digital Address DPI

Department of Posts has undertaken an initiative namely “Digital Address Code” aimed at establishing a digital public infrastructure for a standardized, geo-coded addressing system in India ensuring simplified addressing solutions for citizen-centric delivery of public and private services to establish ―Address as a Service‖ (AaaS) in India.

As a part of this initiative, the Department of Posts (DoP), under the Ministry of Communications, has signed an MoU with the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, for designing and documenting the technology architecture for the Digital Address Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

The collaboration between the Department of Posts and FSID, IISc marks a significant step towards a seamless, efficient, and technology-driven addressing system, reinforcing India’s leadership in digital innovation.

Exp. IIFA Awards celebrated its silver jubilee edition in Jaipur

The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards has completed 25 years this year. Its Silver Jubilee edition was celebrated this year in Jaipur on March 8, 2025.

IIFA 2025 Full List of Winners

Exp. Ministry of Defence signs ₹2,906 crore radar contract with BEL for the Indian Air Force

The Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a ₹2,906 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad for the procurement of Low-level Transportable Radar, LLTR (Ashwini).

The radar is indigenously designed and developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment, DRDO.

The radar is capable of tracking aerial targets from high-speed fighter aircraft to slow moving targets such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and helicopters. Its acquisition will significantly enhance the operational preparedness of the Indian Air Force.

Exp. 10 March – CISF Raising Day

CISF Raising Day is celebrated every year on 10th March to mark the establishment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in 1969.

The day recognizes the contribution of CISF in safeguarding India’s critical infrastructure, public sector undertakings (PSUs), airports, metro networks, government buildings, and various strategic installations.

Exp. ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission,’ a visionary initiative aimed at expanding access to India’s vast repository of knowledge

The National Archives of India (NAI) celebrated its 135th Foundation Day on 11th March 2025 with an exhibition titled “Indian Heritage through Architecture.” Union Minister of Culture & Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has inaugurated the exhibition.

The exhibition showcased India’s rich cultural heritage as reflected in its diverse architectural marvels, spanning thousands of years and encompassing a variety of styles, influences, and historical periods.

From the ancient Indus Valley Civilization to medieval temples, Mughal monuments, and colonial-era structures, Indian architecture narrates the nation’s spiritual, cultural, and historical evolution.

On this occasion, the National Archives of India also launched a book titled ‘Thumb Printed: Champaran, Indigo Peasants Speak to Gandhi Volume III.’ This volume contains 423 testimonies, including 143 principal testators, among whom five were women, 11 were minors, 76 signed the documents, and four had no signature or thumb impression.

The National Archives of India, an attached office under the Ministry of Culture, was originally established as the Imperial Record Department on 11 March 1891 in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Following the transfer of the capital to Delhi in 1911, the present NAI building, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, was completed in 1926. The complete transfer of records from Calcutta to New Delhi was finalized in 1937. The National Archives of India also serves as the nodal agency for implementing the Public Records Act, 1993, and the Public Record Rules, 1997.