NATIONAL NEWS

Government Launches ‘Sahkar’ Taxi Service Under Cooperative Model

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has announced the launch of ‘Sahkar’, a new app-based taxi service modeled on Ola and Uber, but operating under a cooperative framework.

The initiative, unveiled during the discussion on the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aims to empower drivers as stakeholders rather than mere service providers.

Driver-Centric and Cooperative-Based Model

Driver-Owned Model: Unlike private ride-hailing companies, profits will be shared among drivers.

Transparent Pricing: Ensures fair and non-discriminatory fares, addressing concerns of dynamic pricing by private platforms.

Government-Backed Initiative: Supported by the Ministry of Cooperation, reinforcing cooperative-based economic models.

Pilot Launch: Expected to be tested in select cities before a nationwide rollout.

The initiative aligns with the ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation) mission, promoting driver welfare and economic empowerment.

AI-Powered Multilingual Grievance Redressal System Launched for CPGRAMS

In a significant step toward citizen-centric governance, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) has collaborated with Digital India Bhashini to introduce an AI-powered, multimodal, multilingual grievance redressal system for the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).

This initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of making governance more accessible, inclusive, and responsive, enabling citizens to lodge grievances in 22 regional languages using voice and text input.

The system is set to be operational by July 2025.

Citizens can file complaints in 22 regional languages, eliminating language barriers.

It uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) for voice-to-text conversion and automated grievance categorization.

It strengthens government responsiveness by ensuring timely grievance resolution.

It supports Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives through AI-driven governance improvements.

BANKING

Asian Development Bank and Shriram Finance Signed Deal

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Shriram Finance Limited have signed a loan agreement for $150 million to boost access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in India with a focus on business loans and for financing electric vehicles (EVs) and low-emission commercial vehicles for business purposes.

The loan will particularly benefit women-owned MSMEs and those in lagging states.

The transaction is part of a total $306 million financing package led by ADB as the mandated lead arranger and bookrunner, which includes a loan of $150 million from Japan International Cooperation Agency and INR 500 million from Export-Import Bank of India.

ADB’s loan also supports the government’s initiatives to reduce air pollution through the adoption of EVs and low-emission (Bharat Stage-VI compliant) vehicles.

DEFENCE

4th Indo-US Tri-service Tiger Triumph 2025

The 4th edition of the India-United States (US) Tri-Service Tiger Triumph exercise commenced in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 01 April 2025.

The 4th edition of the Tiger Triumph exercise will be held in Visakhapatnam and the Bay of Bengal from 1 -13 April 2025.

The tri-service Tiger Triumph is an amphibious Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise.

In an amphibious exercise, the three wings of the armed forces- the Navy, Air Force, and the Army will jointly conduct operations to land troops on shore from ships.

The aim of the exercise is to improve the interoperability of all three branches of the armed forces in conducting amphibious operations.

At the Tiger Triumph exercise, the Indian armed forces and the American armed forces will jointly work to conduct an amphibious exercise focused on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).

The exercise will focus on developing interoperability for conducting HADR operations and formulation of Standard Operating Procedures,to establish a Combined Coordination Center (CCC) that would enable rapid and smooth coordination between Indian and US Joint Task Forces during exercises and crisis/contingencies.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Gold Mercury Award for Peace and Sustainability Conferred on Dalai Lama

The Tibetan spiritual leader Tenzin Gyatso, famous as the 14th Dalai Lama, was conferred the prestigious Gold Mercury Award for Peace and Sustainability 2025.

The award was bestowed on the 90-year-old Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, on 31st March 2025.

The award was presented by Nicolas De Santis, President and Secretary General of Gold Mercury International, to the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama was recognised for his leadership in promoting peace, non-violence, wisdom culture, and environmental stewardship at a time when the world is facing rising global tension, conflict, and environmental challenges.

2025 Abel Prize

Japanese mathematician Masaki Kashiwara has been awarded the 2025 Abel Prize for his exceptional contributions to algebraic analysis and representation theory.

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters recognized the 78-year-old mathematician for his groundbreaking development of D-modules and crystal bases, which have significantly impacted modern mathematics.

The Abel Prize is one of the most prestigious international awards in mathematics, often considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in the field.

Monetary Award of 7.5 million Norwegian kroner (≈ $720,000) will be given to the awardees

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations

Shirley Botchwey has become the first African woman to assume the office of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations on 1 April 2025.

She replaced Patricia Scotland of Dominica, who incidentally was the first woman to hold the post of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Commonwealth of Nations is an association of 56 independent countries that were once the colonies of Great Britain.

Shirley Botchwey was appointed as the next Secreatry General at the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting in Apia, Samoa in 2024.

She has been elected for a four-year term.

The Secreatry General can have a maximum of two terms of four years.

Chairperson of NCVET

AS Atul Kumar Tiwari (1990 batch) belonging to the Karnataka cadre, has been assigned an additional charge as the Chairperson of the National Council of Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).

Tiwari, who currently serves as Secretary of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, has been granted ex-post facto approval for this role by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

His tenure will extend for three months or until a regular incumbent is appointed or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Meanwhile, IAS Neha Bansal (2010 batch) from the AGMUT cadre has been appointed as Deputy Director (Level-13) in the National Archives of India under the Ministry of Culture.

Her appointment, approved under the Central Staffing Scheme, will be for a tenure of five years or until further orders.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an official order regarding both appointments on March 25, 2025.

SPORTS

Asian Wrestling Championships 2025

Manisha Bhanwala won the solitary gold for India at the 2025 Senior Asian Wrestling Championship as India finished its campaign with 10 - one gold, three silver, and six bronze medals.

At the 20th edition of the Asian Wrestling Championship 2024 held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Indian wrestlers won nine medals - four silvers and five bronzes.

The 21st edition of the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship was organised by the United World Wrestling and was hosted by Amman, the capital city of Jordan, from 25-30 March 2025.

Amman was hosting the prestigious continental event for the first time.