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Daily Current Affairs 18th March 2025 Daily GK Update
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National News
PB-SHABD: Free subscription extended till March 2026 to support media organisations
- Prasar Bharati’s Shared Audio-Visuals for Broadcast and Dissemination (PB-SHABD), a 24/7 news hub, has completed one year since its launch in March 2024.
- The platform provides over 1,000 daily stories in more than 50 categories, delivering high-quality news content without logos in text, video, picture, and audio formats. It is supported by an extensive network of over 1,500 reporters, correspondents, and stringers, ensuring comprehensive coverage from across India.
- To further support media organisations, especially smaller ones, Prasar Bharati has announced that access to PB-SHABD will remain free until March 2026.
- This initiative is aimed at helping media outlets by providing them with ready-to-use, logo-free content, saving time and resources.
- PB-SHABD offers content across a wide range of news categories, such as agriculture, technology, foreign affairs, political developments, and more. The stories are uploaded in all major Indian languages, sourced from Prasar Bharati’s Regional News Units (RNUs) and headquarters.
PM Modi inaugurated 10th edition of Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 10th edition of Raisina Dialogue 2025 in New Delhi.
- Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon was the chief guest at the inaugural session and delivered the keynote address.
- This year’s theme is “Kālachakra —People, Peace and Planet.” During the event, decision-makers and thought leaders from around the world will engage in conversations in various formats, focusing on six thematic pillars.
- The Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community.
Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates Fit India Carnival in Delhi
- Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has inaugurated the first edition of Fit India Carnival in Delhi.
- The Fit India Carnival is a three-day fitness and wellness festival that aims to promote a healthy and active lifestyle, aligning with the Fit India Movement’s vision of a fitter, healthier, and obesity-free nation.
- A host of sports activities including rope skipping, stationary cycling, arm wrestling, cricket bowling, squat and push-up challenges will be the highlight of the three-day carnival.
CCI approves acquisition of Uprising Science Private Limited by Hindustan Unilever Limited
- The Competition Commission of India has approved acquisition of Uprising Science Private Limited by Hindustan Unilever Limited.
- The proposed transaction involves the acquisition by Hindustan Unilever Limited (Acquirer/HUL), of 90.5% shareholding of Uprising Science Private Limited (Target), with eventual acquisition of the remaining 9.5% shareholding of the Target in about two years from the completion date as per the terms set out in the Share Purchase & Subscription Agreement executed by and between HUL and the Target.
Banking and Financial
Standard Chartered raises €1 billion via first social bond
- Standard Chartered has raised 1 billion euro (about ₹9,400 crore) through issuance of the first social bond which will support sustainable development projects across the bank’s emerging market footprint, including India.
- The 8-year bond will primarily facilitate lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), ensuring access to finance, helping create jobs and empowering and nurturing women-owned SMEs, StanChart said in a statement on Friday.
- Of the total, about 50% would be allocated for India for sustainable projects. The top five countries where StanChart’s social assets are located include India (57%), Malaysia (10%), Bangladesh (6%), Mainland China (5%), and Nepal (4%).
Piramal Finance and Punjab & Sind Bank Join Hands to Expand Credit Access
- Piramal Finance has partnered with Punjab & Sind Bank to make loans more accessible to middle and low-income borrowers, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
- This partnership aims to improve financial inclusion by providing affordable and customized loan options in smaller cities (Tier 2 & Tier 3).
- Punjab & Sind Bank’s 1,575 branches and Piramal Finance’s 514+ branches, covering 13,000 pin codes and serving 4.5 million customers across 26 states, will work together to offer better credit solutions.
- By combining Punjab & Sind Bank’s financial expertise with Piramal Finance’s technology-driven approach, the initiative will support small businesses (MSMEs) and home loan seekers.
- MD of Piramal Finance – Jairam Sridharan
SATYA MicroCapital unveils bold vision to empower 10 million households by 2030
- SATYA MicroCapital Ltd, a NBFC-MFI committed to promoting entrepreneurship and financial independence, has unveiled an ambitious goal of reaching 10 million households by 2030.
- This milestone aligns with the company’s core mission of promoting financial inclusion, with a particular focus on supporting women-led enterprises.
- This initiative aims to extend access to affordable financial resources, empowering underprivileged families with seamless opportunities for economic growth.
- By providing tailored financial solutions such as microloans, SATYA seeks to drive entrepreneurship, elevate household incomes, and contribute to sustainable development.
- MD & CEO of SATYA MicroCapital – Vivek Tiwari
HDFC Bank is now accepting deposits under Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme
- India’s leading private sector bank, HDFC Bank will now accept deposits under the Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme (SCSS), a savings instrument run by the Government of India for the elderly.
- HDFC Bank will act as an agency bank for the Government of India and help source scheme deposits, while providing seamless service to customers. All eligible customers can apply for SCSS by visiting any branch of the Bank.
- As of March 17, 2025, the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) interest rate is 8.2% per annum. This rate is fixed by the government and is applicable for the period from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
- Customers eligible for this scheme include individuals at or above the age of 60 and people who have superannuated at/above the age of 55 years. Further, retired personnel of Defence Services are also eligible to apply for the scheme on attaining the age of 50 years.
- Investment in SCSS is eligible for benefits under Section 80C of the Income-Tax Act. The scheme offers a quarterly interest payout with a five-year lock-in period. It is extendable by three years, multiple times. In addition, the rate of interest offered under SCSS is notified by the Government from time to time.
Wholesale price inflation rises to 2.38% in February
- The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation slightly increased to 2.38 per cent last month.
- The data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry revealed that the positive rate of inflation in February is primarily due to the price increase in manufactured food items like vegetable oil and beverages.
- The WPI inflation was at 2.31 per cent in January this year.
- As per the data, vegetable prices witnessed a decline in February. WPI food inflation dropped to 5.94 per cent in February from 7.47 per cent in January 2025. The potato prices declined to 27.54 per cent from 74.28 per cent in the previous month.
- The fuel and power sector experienced a deflation of 0.71 per cent in February, compared to a deflation of 2.78 per cent in January.
Recent WPI-based Wholesale inflation in India
- October 2024 – 2.36%
- November 2024 – 1.89%
- December 2024 – 2.37%
- January 2025 – 2.31%
- February 2025 – 2.38%
Appointment
Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman assumes charge of CEO Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
- Shivkumar Kalyanaraman has taken over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
- Earlier, Professor Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), was serving as the acting CEO. He officially handed over the position to Dr. Shivkumar
- Shivkumar previously worked as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the Energy Industry in Asia at Microsoft.
- ANRF will act as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP).
Recent Appointments
- Chairman of Tata Communications Board – N G Subramaniam
- Chairman of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) – Arun Mammen
- Vice chairman of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) – Hiroshi Yoshizane
- President & CEO of Honda Cars India Ltd – Takashi Nakajima (replace Takuya Tsumura) South Korea brand
- Judge of Supreme Court – Justice Joymalya Bagchi (set to become CJI in May 2031)
Sports
India Masters beat West Indies Masters by 6 wickets to clinch International Masters League T20 title
- In Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar led India Masters clinched the inaugural International Masters League T20 title beating Brian Lara’s West Indies Masters by 6 wickets at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.
- After electing to bat first, West Indies Masters got restricted to 148 for 7 due to Vinay Kumar and Shahbaz Nadeem’s wicket-taking spells.
- In response to this, India Masters got home in just 17.1 overs with Ambati Rayudu’s 74 off 50 balls, who also got the Player of the Match award.
- Shane Watson got the Elevated Most Sixes of the Season award and Kumar Sangakkara bagged the Masterstroke of the Season award.
Kabaddi World Cup 2025 begins in England
- The 2nd edition of Kabaddi World Cup 2025 begins in England. The Indian Men’s team will start their campaign against Italy at Wolverhampton.
- The competition will span seven days with over 60 matches, taking place in Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall, and Wolverhampton – in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom.
- The men’s competition will start with 10 teams split into two equal groups – A and B. India will compete in Group B along with Italy, Scotland, Wales and China.
- On the other hand, the women’s competition will be among six teams with two groups – D and E. India will compete in Group D along with Wales and Poland.
- At the inaugural edition hosted by Malaysia in 2019, India won both the men’s and women’s crowns. Also, this is the first time the Kabaddi World Cup has been hosted outside of Asia.
- Moreover, this Kabaddi World Cup is different from the one hosted by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), whose all editions have been hosted in India.
India concludes Special Olympics Winter Games with 33 medals
- Indian athletes concluded their remarkable campaign at the Special Olympics World Winter Games with 33 medals having 8 Gold, 18 Silver, and 7 Bronze – in Turin, Italy.
- This was the 12th edition of the Special Olympics Winter Games, happening after a long wait of 8 years.
- This was also the first time that Italy hosted the Special Olympics World Games.
Important day
March 18 – National Ordnance Factories Day
- Ordnance Factories Day is s to commemorate the establishment of the first ordnance factory in Cossipore, Kolkata, in 1801.
- The day highlights the contribution of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and its network of factories in strengthening India’s defense sector.
- First Ordnance Factory- Established in Cossipore, Kolkata, in 1801.
- Purpose- To manufacture arms, ammunition, and defense equipment for the Indian Armed Forces.
- Managed by- Initially under the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), which was later restructured into seven defense PSUs in 2021.
- Celebrations- Exhibitions and public awareness programs showcasing defense manufacturing capabilities.
Obituary
Renowned Odia poet Padma Bhushan Ramakanta Rath passes away
- Padma Bhushan Ramakanta Rath, one of the most renowned modernist poets in Odia literature, passed away at the age of 91.
- A 1957-batch IAS officer, Ramakanta Rath also served as the Chief Secretary of Odisha and held several key positions in the Union Government. His poetic works, celebrated for their depth and insight, include iconic poems ‘Sri Radha’ among many others. His works have been translated into English and several Indian languages.
- In recognition of his outstanding contribution to literature, Ramakanta Rath was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 2006 and many other coveted literary awards. He also served as president of the Sahitya Akademi of India from 1998 to 2003.
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