Current Affairs Quiz 3rd March 2025 Quiz

Exp. Maharashtra govt collaborates with Meta to launch WhatsApp-based citizen services

The Government of Maharashtra has partnered with Meta (formerly Facebook) during the Mumbai Tech Week 2025.

The aim of this collaboration is to provide all citizen services via WhatsApp on a single number, empowering 125 million citizens to access government services from anywhere, at any time.

The chatbot, ‘Aaple Sarkar’, will be available in three languages – Marathi, English, and Hindi and will offer service through both text and voice.

The chatbot will offer services like addressing grievances, downloading critical documents and certificates, convenience services like booking bus tickets via Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) or Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and providing timely information to farmers and citizens across Maharashtra.   

Exp. India’s core sectors’ output grew 4.6% in January

Output in India’s eight core infrastructure sectors, which constitute about 40% of overall industrial production, grew 4.6% in January, mildly slower than the upgraded 4.8% growth recorded in December but still the second highest uptick in six months. The core sectors had grown 4.2% in January 2024.

On a sequential basis, however, the Index of Core Industries (ICI) was up 2.4% from December 2024 with a reading of 173, which marks a 10-month high and indicates the highest output level recorded so far in 2024-25. January’s growth was largely driven by a 14.5% surge in cement production and an 8.3% uptick in refinery products.

The Commerce and Industry ministry also revised upwards core sectors’ growth for October to 3.8% from the 3.1% growth estimated earlier, and November’s growth to 4.4% from 4.3% reported initially. Steel and electricity generation grew 3.7% and 1.3%, respectively, reflecting the slowest growth in four months for both segments.

Exp. Amit Shah inaugurate Workshop on Sustainable Dairy Sector in New Delhi

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has inaugurated the workshop on sustainability and circularity in the dairy sector in New Delhi.

The workshop focused on policies and initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation and the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries aimed at promoting sustainable dairy farming while ensuring economic growth with environmental responsibility.

During the workshop, experts from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), industry, and global organisations discussed ways to expand circular dairy practices and explore financing options, carbon credit opportunities, and waste-to-energy solutions.  

Exp. NHRC & MEA to Host ITEC Executive Programme on Human Rights for Global South in New Delhi

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, will organise the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Executive Capacity Building Programme on human rights in New Delhi.

This six-day programme for senior-level functionaries of the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) of the Global South will commence from 3 March.

The programme aims to provide insights into various dimensions of human rights and international perspectives and share the NHRC experience to enhance awareness among participants of various NHRIs.

It seeks to strengthen South-South cooperation, enhance collaboration and networking, and improve human rights protection mechanisms through comprehensive capacity building and experience sharing.

The programme will be inaugurated by the Chairperson of the NHRC Justice V. Ramasubramanian. Nearly 47 participants from the NHRIs of 14 countries of the Global South are likely to attend this event. These countries include Madagascar, Uganda, Samoa, Timor Leste, DR Congo, Togo, Mali, Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania, Mauritius, Burundi, Turkmenistan, and Qatar.  

Exp. GST collections jump 9.1% in Feb to ₹1.84 lakh crore

India’s gross Goods and Services Tax, GST, collections jumped 9.1 per cent in February to 1.84 lakh crore rupees in comparison to the same month last year.

February marks the 12th consecutive month of over 1.7 lakh crore rupees of collections.

As per the data, mop up from Central GST stood at 35,204 crore rupees, State GST at 43,704 crore rupees, Integrated GST at 90,870 crore rupees and compensation cess of 13,868 crore rupees.

Total refunds issued during February were 20,889 crore rupees. Net GST collections, after discounting the refunds, for February rose 8.1 per cent to about 1.63 lakh crore rupees.

GST Collection of Previous Months

• October 2024 – 1.87 lakh crore
• November 2024 – 1.82 lakh crore
• December 2024 – 1.77 lakh crore
• January 2025 – 1.96 lakh crore
• February 2025 – 1.84 lakh crore

Exp. Chile Open 2025: Indian-Colombian duo claim men’s doubles title

In Tennis, India’s Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli and his Colombian partner Nicolás Barrientos have claimed the men’s doubles title of the Chile Open in Santiago.

The Indian- Columbian duo upset top seeds Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni of Argentina, 6-3, 6-2, in straight sets last night. This is the first title of Rithvik and Nicolas as a team.

In the semifinal, the duo defeated the third seeds, Guido Andreozzi of Argentina and Theo Arribage of France 4-6, 7-6, 10-5.

Exp.GRSE Signs Landmark MoU with Army for Modular Steel Bridge in Arunachal Pradesh

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd signed an MoU with the Indian Army for the construction of a 130-foot-long Single Lane Modular (SLM) Steel Bridge (70R) in Arunachal Pradesh.

In 2022, GRSE earned the distinction of being the only Indian company to receive the Green Channel Certification for Portable Steel Bridges (Bailey Type) from the Indian Army.

Earlier, GRSE delivered Modular Bridges to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), apart from several state governments and friendly countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.

Exp. World Bank: India needs 7.8 % growth to become Viksit Bharat by 2047

A new World Bank report, India will need to grow by 7.8 per cent on average over the next 22 years to achieve the country’s aspirations of reaching high-income status by 2047.

The new India Country Economic Memorandum titled ‘Becoming a High-Income Economy in a Generation,’ finds that this target is possible.

The World Bank classifies the economy based on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. GNI is measured in United States dollars (USD) and is determined using conversion factors derived according to the World Bank Atlas method.

The classifications are updated each year on 1st July and are based on the GNI per capita of the previous year.

The World Bank classifies the countries into Low Income, Middle Income, and High Income. The Middle income is again subdivided into Lower -Middle Income and Upper -Middle Income.

According to the World Bank, India is a low-middle-income country, while China is a high-middle-income economy. The GDP per capita of India in 2023 was $2,480.

Exp. PM Modi chaired NBWL meeting at Sasan Gir on World Wildlife Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chaired a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Sasan Gir in Junagadh district of Gujarat on the occasion of World Wildlife Day.

The NBWL has 47 members, including the Chief of Army Staff, members from different states, representatives from NGOs working in this field, chief wildlife wardens and secretaries from various states.

This board works for the promotion of the conservation and development of wildlife and forests with the Prime Minister as its chairperson.  

Exp. Exercise Desert Hunt 2025

An integrated Tri-Service Special Forces exercise named Exercise Desert Hunt 2025 was conducted by the Indian Air Force at Air Force Station Jodhpur.

The exercise involved elite Para (Special Forces) from the Indian Army, the Marine Commandos from the Indian Navy along with the Garud (Special Forces) from the Indian Air Force.

This high-intensity drill was aimed at enhancing interoperability, coordination and synergy among the three Special Forces units to ensure swift and effective response towards emerging security challenges.

Recent Exercise

• 6^th edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian between Indian Army and Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) – Mount Fuji, Japan.
• 3^rd edition of military exercise “Cyclone 2025” between India and Egypt – Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
• EX Winged Raiders between Indian Army and the Indian Air Force – Eastern Theater.
• 13th edition of military exercise ‘Ekuverin’ between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force – archipelago nation.
• Indian Army and the Indian Air Force conducted a major military exercise, Exercise Devil Strike

Exp. 1 March – World Seagrass Day

World Seagrass Day is celebrated every year on March 1st to raise awareness about the importance of seagrass ecosystems and the need to conserve them.

In May 2022, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/76/265 proclaiming 1 March as World Seagrass Day.  

Exp. 1 March – Zero Discrimination Day

Zero Discrimination Day is observed annually on March 1st to promote equality and stand against discrimination in all its forms.

Theme 2025 – We stand together

Launched by UNAIDS in 2014, the day emphasizes the right of every individual to live with dignity, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, health status, disability, or other differences.

Exp. Oldest Test Cricketer Ron Draper Dies In South Africa

Ron Draper, who was the oldest living Test cricketer, has died in Gqeberha at the age of 98 years.

Draper, a top-order batsman and occasional wicketkeeper, played in two Test matches for South Africa against Australia in 1950.

One of his opponents, Neil Harvey, now becomes the oldest living Test player at the age of 96. Both previous oldest Test cricketers were South Africans — Norman Gordon, who died aged 103 in 2016, and John Watkins, who was 98 when he died in 2021.

Q.14. Uttam Mohanty passed away recently at the age of 66. In which field did Uttam Mohanty primarily work?

हाल ही में 66 वर्ष की आयु में उत्तम मोहंती का निधन हो गया। उत्तम मोहंती ने मुख्य रूप से किस क्षेत्र में काम किया?

(a) Music

(b) Film

(c) Theater

(d) Dance

(e) Literature

Exp. Veteran Odia actor Uttam Mohanty dies at 66

Legendary Odia film actor Uttam Mohanty passed away at the age of 66.

A celebrated figure in the Odia film industry, 66-year-old Uttam Mohanty starred in 135 Odia films, leaving an indelible mark on regional cinema. His contributions extended beyond Odisha, with appearances in 30 Bengali films and a Hindi movie, Naya Zahar.

He is the only Odia actor to win the Odisha State Film Award for Best Actor for three consecutive years (1982–1984). In 1999, he received the prestigious Jaydev Puraskar, the highest film award in Odisha, alongside Odisha Living Legend Award in 2012.

Exp. 3 March – World Wildlife Day

World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually on March 3rd to raise awareness about the importance of conserving wildlife and their habitats.

Theme 2025 – Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet

It was initiated by the United Nations in 2013 to celebrate the wonderful animals and plants that inhabit our planet.