Table of Contents
Daily Current Affairs 3rd April 2025 Daily GK Update
Current Affairs Quiz 2025, Daily gk updates and Current affairs play a major role in any competitive exam. so here we are providing the current affairs quiz daily for Bank, SSC, Railway and Other Government Competitive Examinations.
Here you can find Current Affairs Quiz for IBPS PO Mains, Current Affairs Quiz for IBPS RRB PO Mains, Current Affairs Quiz for IBPS RRB Clerk Mains, Current Affairs Quiz for RBI Assistant Mains, Current Affairs Quiz for RBI Grade B, Current Affairs Quiz for SSC.
National News
India produced 1,681 locomotives in FY25, surpassing U.S., Europe
- India has emerged as a global leader in railway locomotive manufacturing, achieving a record production of 1,681 locomotives in the financial year 2024-25.
- This milestone surpasses the total locomotive production of regions such as the United States, Europe, South America, Africa, and Australia, reaffirming India’s growing dominance in the global railway sector.
- This marks an increase of 209 locomotives, or 19%, compared to the 1,472 locomotives produced in the previous financial year 2023-24.
- The continuous rise in locomotive production is a direct result of strategic decisions taken to strengthen the “Make in India” initiative. Between 2004 and 2014, India produced a total of 4,695 locomotives, with a national annual average of 470. In contrast, from 2014 to 2024, locomotive manufacturing witnessed a significant surge, with 9,168 locomotives produced, raising the annual average to approximately 917.
- In the financial year 2024-25, Indian Railways achieved a record production of 1,681 locomotives across its manufacturing units. The production was distributed as follows: Chittaranjan Locomotive Works manufactured 700 locomotives, Banaras Locomotive Works produced 477, Patiala Locomotive Works contributed 304 locomotives and 100 locomotives each were manufactured at the Madhepura and Marhowrah units.
- The majority of the locomotives produced in the country were intended for freight trains. Among the 1,681 locomotives produced in the financial year 2024-25, the breakdown is as follows:
- WAG-9/9H locomotives: 1,047
- WAG-9HH locomotives: 7
- WAG-9 Twin locomotives: 148
- WAP-5 locomotives: 2
- WAP-7 locomotives: 272
- NRC locomotives: 5
- WAG-12B locomotives: 100
- WDG 4G/6G locomotives: 100
Thovalai’s traditional ‘Manikka Malai’ secures GI tag
- The famous Kumbakonam vetrilai (Kumbakonam betel leaf) and Thovalai maanikka maalai have been given the Geographical Indications (GI) tag.
- The Kumbakonam betel leaf is found in the Cauvery Delta region specifically in regions like Thiruvaiyaru, Papanasam, Thiruvidaimarudhur, Kumbakonam, and Valaigaman blocks of Thanjavur and Tiruvarur.
- Almost after three years of submitting an application for the GI tag, the six-generation old craftsmanship has secured the tag accorded by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Kumbakonam betel leaves’ history can be traced back to centuries. According to details in the GI journal, besides paddy, the crops generally grown on wetlands are sugarcane and betel vine. The Thovalai maanikka maalai is a special type of garland that is made only in Thovalai.
President Droupadi Murmu Attends RBI’s 90th Anniversary Closing Ceremony
- President Droupadi Murmu attended the closing ceremony of RBI’s 90th-anniversary celebrations in Mumbai, marking the culmination of a year-long event that highlighted RBI’s crucial role in India’s economic growth.
- Since its establishment in 1935, RBI has been the backbone of India’s financial sector, managing monetary policy, currency issuance, and banking supervision, while also driving financial inclusion and digital transformation.
- The anniversary celebrations included initiatives like financial literacy programs and national competitions, reinforcing RBI’s commitment to regulatory improvements, digital adoption, and a strong, stable banking system for India’s future growth.
Banking and Financial
FM Sitharaman launched NITI-NCAER portal on state finances
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has launched the ‘NITI NCAER States Economic Forum’ portal in New Delhi.
- The portal has been developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the National Council of Applied Economic Research.
- The portal is a comprehensive repository of data on social, economic, and fiscal parameters, research reports, papers, and expert commentary on state finances for a period of about 30 years. It will facilitate an understanding of macro, fiscal, demographic, and socio-economic trends and will address the ongoing need for consolidated sectoral data in one place.
- The portal will also provide a forum for policymakers, researchers, and others in alluding to the data for informed debates and discussions.
Federal Bank in collaboration with NPCI and Visa Launches Fed StarBiz –Credit Card Linked to ODCC Accounts
- Federal Bank has launched its latest credit card product, Fed StarBiz, specifically for business customers.
- Designed in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Visa, this new credit card is designed to meet the distinct financial requirements of India’s dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- The launch is Federal Bank’s strategic entry into the business and commercial credit card space.
LIC Partners with ManipalCigna to Transform the Health Insurance Market
- LIC, India’s largest insurer, is set to acquire up to a 50% stake in ManipalCigna Health Insurance for ₹3,500–4,000 crore, marking its entry into the booming health insurance market.
- Manipal Education (51%) and Cigna Corporation (49%) will reduce their shares in the joint venture to make room for LIC’s inclusion.
- With 1.4 million agents and a massive customer base, LIC could transform ManipalCigna, disrupting the ₹3 trillion general insurance sector where health coverage holds a 37% share.
- Managing health loss ratios poses a hurdle for LIC, while competitors like Star Health and Niva Bupa face tougher rivalry, pending composite licensing approval.
IDFC FIRST Bank authorised by CPAO for pension disbursement
- IDFC FIRST Bank has received authorisation from the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO), Government of India, to disburse pensions to central government pensioners.
- The bank will facilitate pension payments for retired All India Service Officers, former MPs, retired High Court and Supreme Court judges, ex-Presidents and Vice Presidents, and officials of civil ministries and departments (excluding Railways, Posts, Telecom, and Defence).
UBS completes merger of Credit Suisse Service Company entities in India
- UBS Group has successfully merged Credit Suisse’s service entities in India into UBS Business Solutions (India), consolidating 24,000 employees under one structure.
- This integration combines Credit Suisse Services (India), Credit Suisse Business Analytics (India), and Credit Suisse Services AG, Pune, following UBS’s acquisition of Credit Suisse in 2023.
- India now represents one of UBS’s largest locations, accounting for approximately 16% of its global workforce of over 110,000 employees.
Appointment
Shirley Botchwey becomes 1st African woman to assume office as Commonwealth Secretary-General
- Shirley Botchwey has become the first African woman to assume the office of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations.
- She replaced Patricia Scotland of Dominica, who incidentally was the first woman to hold the post of Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations.
- She previously served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration from January 2017 to January 2024 and was also a member of Ghana’s National Security Council.
- The Secretary-General is nominated by Commonwealth leaders and can serve a maximum of two terms of four years each. The Commonwealth Secretary-General is responsible for promoting and protecting the Commonwealth’s values, representing the Commonwealth publicly and the management of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
- The Commonwealth of Nations is an association of 56 independent countries that were once the colonies of Great Britain.
N Chandrasekaran joins IMF advisory council on entrepreneurship & growth
- N Chandrasekaran, the Chairman of Tata Sons, has been appointed as a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director’s Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth.
- This council aims to provide insights into macroeconomic and financial policies to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and long-term economic growth.
Poonam Gupta appointed as RBI’s deputy governor
- Former World Bank economist, Poonam Gupta has been appointed as the Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- She will hold the position for a period of three years. At RBI, she will be replacing Michael Patra as deputy governor.
- Gupta currently serves as the Director General of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).
- She is also a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and acts as the Convener for the Advisory Council to the 16th Finance Commission.
- Gupta joined NCAER in 2021, bringing with her nearly two decades of experience in senior roles at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, D.C.
- Moreover, Gupta has held teaching positions at the Delhi School of Economics, University of Maryland (USA), and as a visiting faculty member at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Delhi.
- She is also part of the Development Advisory Committee of NITI Aayog and serves on the Executive Committee of FICCI. Notably, she chaired the Task Force on Macroeconomics and Trade during India’s G20 Presidency.
- She was honored with the 1998 EXIM Bank Award for her doctoral work on international economics.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
- Founded – 1 April 1935
- RBI Nationalized – 1 January 1949
- Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
- RBI set up – Hilton Young Commission
- 1st Governor – Sir Osborne Smith (Australia)
- 1st Indian Governor – CD Deshmukh
- 26th Governor – Sanjay Malhotra (replace Shaktikanta Das)
- RBI Deputy Governor (4) – 1. Tavarna Rabi Sankar
- Swaminathan Janakiraman
- Poonam Gupta
- M Rajeshwar Rao
Govt appoints S Ramann as new PFRDA chairperson
- The government has appointed Deputy CAG S Ramann as
- Ramann would replace incumbent Deepak Mohanty whose term comes to an end in May 2025.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sivasubramanian Ramann, Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General, to the post of chairperson, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The ACC has approved his appointment for a tenure of five years or till he attains age of 65 years.
- Ramann, presently serving as Deputy CAG, belongs to 1991 batch of Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA&AS).
About Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)
- Founded- 23 August 2003
- Headquarters- New Delhi
- Chairman – Sivasubramanian Ramann (replace Deepak Mohanty)
- Owner- Ministry of Finance, Government of India
Important day
2 April – World Autism Awareness Day
- World Autism Awareness Day is observed on April 2nd every year to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and promote acceptance and inclusion of individuals with autism.
- Theme 2025 – Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) created World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in 2007. The United Nations (UN) commemorated this important day on April 2 after it was founded.
2 April 2025 – National Walking Day
- National Walking Day is observed on the first Wednesday of April every year to encourage people to prioritize their health by incorporating walking into their daily routine. This year was observed on 2 April.
- Theme 2025- Save yourself from diabetes, heart diseases and cancers
- Established by the American Heart Association (AHA), the day highlights the benefits of walking for heart health, mental well-being, and overall fitness.
3
