Current Affairs Quiz 8th and 9th March 2025 Quiz

Exp. HDFC Bank launches Project HAKK to support IAF veterans

HDFC Bank has launched Project HAKK (Hawai Anubhavi Kalyan Kendra) to provide support and services to Indian Air Force (IAF) pensioners, veterans and their families.

The bank, in association with CSC Academy (promoted by Common Service Centre E-Governance Limited), will provide skill development and training across financial products and services, empowering defence service veterans and next of kin to be financially independent.

About HDFC Bank

• Founded – August 1994
• Founder – Hasmukhbhai Parekh
• Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO – Sashidhar Jagdishan
• Chairman – Atanu Chakraborty
• Tagline – We understand your world

Exp. PhonePe launches ‘Insuring HEROES’ campaign for International Women’s Day

PhonePe has launched the ‘insuring HEROES’ campaign on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

As part of the initiative, the company is offering exclusive discounts of up to 30 per cent, specifically for women, on select term life and health insurance plans.

Women can avail of these exclusive offers on the PhonePe app to ensure their overall economic well-being and enjoy long-term stability.

Discounts include up to 15 per cent off on health insurance plans, and up to 30 per cent off on term life insurance plans.  

Exp. SIDBI, Federal Bank join hands to boost MSME financing

The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and The Federal Bank have signed an MoU to provide financial support to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

This partnership aims to strengthen the MSME ecosystem by offering various financial services, including project finance, machinery and equipment finance, working capital support, and loans against property.

Under this agreement, both institutions will also explore joint financing options to extend credit facilities to MSMEs.

About Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

• Founded – 2 April 1990
• Jurisdiction – Ministry of Finance
• Headquarters – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Chairman & MD – Manoj Mittal (replace Siva S Ramann)

Exp. Dr. Anju Rathi Rana Appointed As Secretary, Department Of Legal Affairs.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, ILS, as the Secretary, the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice.

She will assume the role for an initial period of two years from the date she takes charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Dr. Rana, who previously served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Legal Affairs, brings extensive experience in legal administration and policymaking. Her appointment is expected to strengthen the department’s role in providing legal advice to the government and overseeing key legislative matters.

Exp. 8 March – International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated globally on March 8 each year to honour women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality.

It is a day to recognize women’s contributions in various fields, highlight ongoing struggles, and push for a more inclusive and equitable world.

Theme 2025 – For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, and Empowerment.

IWD traces its roots to the early 20th-century labor movements. The first National Women’s Day was observed in the U.S. on February 28, 1909, inspired by protests for better working conditions.

Exp. BCCI appoints Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar to Asian Cricket Council Board

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla will represent India as an Executive Board Member on the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Board.

Shukla will take over a vacant spot that emerged after Jay Shah stepped down as president of the governing body of continental cricket.

Meanwhile, former BCCI treasurer Ashish Shelar has been appointed as the BCCI representative on the ACC Board as an Ex-Officio Board Member.

Jay Shah vacated the ACC presidency in December 2024 after serving three consecutive terms. The Indian cricket administrator, who was also the BCCI secretary, was elected unopposed as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman.

Shah officially assumed the ICC chairman role on December 1, 2024.

Following Jay Shah’s departure, Sri Lanka Cricket Board chief Shammi Silva took over as the president of the Asian Cricket Council.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup, which will be played in the T20 format, is scheduled to take place in the UAE in September 2025.

Recent Appointments

• CEO of Government e Marketplace (GeM) – Ajay Bhadoo
• Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) – Dr Mayank Sharma
• Chairman of Bar Council of India (BCI) – Manan Kumar Mishra (7^th time)
• Chairman of Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation – N Chandrasekaran
• Head of Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) – Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi (extension one year)

Exp. Legislative Department Releases Book on Women Members of the Constituent Assembly on International Women’s Day

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Legislative Department, Ministry of Law & Justice, formally released a significant publication titled “The Life and Contributions of the Women Members of the Constituent Assembly”.

This scholarly work pays homage to fifteen distinguished women who played an instrumental role in drafting the Constitution of India — their invaluable contributions having remained largely unrecognized in mainstream historical and legal narratives.

The book meticulously documents the achievements of these pioneering women, including prominent lawyers, social reformers, and freedom fighters who overcame entrenched structural barriers within a predominantly male-dominated political framework.

Despite adversities, these women emerged as key voices in the Constituent Assembly, profoundly shaping deliberations on fundamental rights, social justice, gender equality, and democratic governance.

Recent Books

• Diyaslai – Kailash Satyarthi
• FEARLESS: A Memoir – Mohinder Amarnath and Rajender Amarnath
• The New Icon: Savarkar and the Facts – Arun Shourie
• Indian Renaissance: The Modi Decade – Released By Amit Shah
• Mastering Disruption: A practical Guide to understanding – Ganesh Krishnan

Exp. Karnataka to rename Bengaluru City University after Manmohan Singh in his honour

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced during his budget speech in the Legislative Assembly that Bangalore City University will be renamed Dr Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University, in honor of the former Prime Minister of India, who passed away on February 26.

The move is aimed at transforming the institution into a model university in the country.

Dr. Manmohan Singh, India’s 13th Prime Minister, was known for his role in economic liberalization and financial reforms, which played a crucial part in shaping modern India’s economy.

His contributions to education, economy, and governance were widely recognized, and Karnataka’s decision to rename the university after him is seen as a tribute to his legacy.

Exp. LIC Ranked World’s 3rd Strongest Insurance Brand

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has been ranked third among the world’s strongest insurance brands, achieving a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 88 out of 100, as per the Brand Finance Insurance 100 2025 report.

Poland-based PZU secured the top spot with a BSI score of 94.4, followed by China Life Insurance, which ranked second with a BSI score of 93.5.

In terms of overall brand value, LIC holds the 12th position among the most valuable insurance brands globally, while SBI Life ranks 76th, making them the only two Indian insurers in the top 100.

As per the Brand Finance report, the top 100 insurance brands have grown 9 per cent in brand value in 2025, driven by improved underwriting results, higher investment income, rising interest rates, and increased profitability.

Exp. DPIIT and Mercedes-Benz India sign MoU to boost manufacturing, road safety, and sustainability

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Mercedes-Benz India Private Limited have signed an MoU to advance India’s manufacturing ecosystem, road safety, and environmental sustainability.

The partnership aims to support startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs in achieving technological excellence and, fostering societal development.

The collaboration will focus on creating structured programs that provide startups with infrastructure, mentorship, funding opportunities, and market linkages.

MD of Mercedes-Benz India – Santosh Iyer.

Exp. Razorpay Takes Over Singapore Fintech Giant Slashes Payment Costs by 40%

Leading fintech company Razorpay officially entered the Singapore market, marking its second expansion in Southeast Asia after its successful operations in Malaysia.

With this move, Razorpay aims to enhance digital payment infrastructure and streamline cross-border transactions for businesses in Singapore, enabling seamless, secure, and cost-effective financial operation.

Razorpay’s advanced payment solutions are designed to help businesses cut transaction costs by 30-40% while providing real-time, multi-currency payment capabilities.

Currently, businesses in Singapore face high transaction fees of 4-6% for cross-border payments, limiting scalability and efficiency. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) also struggle with fragmented payment systems that drive up costs and delay settlements.

Exp. CIL joins hands with IIT, Hyderabad for R&D in clean coal tech

Coal India Limited (CIL) has inked an MoU with Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H)  for establishing a Centre of Clean Coal Energy and Net Zero (CLEANZ) at Hyderabad.

The joint initiative between CIL and IITH aims to develop clean coal technologies and diversification in coal utilization.

Both the entities will synergize their efforts in developing cutting edge technology re adiness level (TRL) for sustainable utilization of Indian coal. This is in line with the country’s Net Zero commitments.

Exp. Govt notifies scheme to make cooperative sugar mills loan eligible

The Government of India has introduced a modified Ethanol Interest Subvention Scheme to help Cooperative Sugar Mills (CSMs) convert their existing ethanol plants into multi-feedstock plants, allowing them to use grains like maize and damaged food grains (DFG) for ethanol production.

The government will provide interest subvention on loans taken for the conversion. It will cover 6% interest per year or 50% of the rate charged by banks, whichever is lower, for a period of five years, including one year of moratorium.

By converting to multi-feedstock plants, sugar mills can operate year-round instead of only during the 4-5 month sugarcane crushing season. This will help improve their efficiency and productivity.

The scheme aims to enhance the financial viability of sugar mills by allowing them to function throughout the year, using alternative feedstocks, thus reducing their dependence on seasonal sugarcane availability.

Exp. Ministry of Defence signs $ 248 million Deal for procurement of engines for T-72 Tanks for Indian Army

The Ministry of Defence has signed a USD248 million contract with Russian defence firm Rosoboronexport (RoE) to procure 1,000-horsepower (HP) engines for T-72 battle tanks in fully-assembled, completely knocked-down, and semi-knocked-down conditions.

The deal includes the Transfer of Technology (ToT) from the Russian defence manufacturer to Chennai-based Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (Heavy Vehicle Factory), for integration and subsequent licenced production of engines under ToT to boost the ‘Make in India’ initiative in the defence sector.

T-72 is the mainstay of tank fleet of the Indian Army which is at present fitted with 780 HP Engine. Equipping the existing fleet of T-72 Tanks with 1000 HP Engine will enhance the battle field mobility and offensive capability of Indian Army.

Exp. Sunil Chhetri returns to Indian team for FIFA Window matches

The All India Football Federation has announced that former Indian captain Sunil Chhetri is all set to return to the national team for the FIFA International Window matches against Maldives and Bangladesh this month.

Earlier, Chhetri had announced retirement from international Football, having played his last game against Kuwait in June last year.

However, Chhetri’s return comes at a pivotal moment ahead of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Third Round. India will play a friendly match against the Maldives on the 19th of March in Shillong, before hosting Bangladesh at the same venue in their opening qualifier.