NATIONAL NEWS

58th Tiger Reserve of India

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has notified the Madhav National Park of Madhya Pradesh as the 58th Tiger Reserve of the country under the centrally sponsored scheme Project Tiger.

It is the 9th Tiger Reserve of the state under the Tiger Project of the central government.

The Madhav National Park is situated in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh.

It was notified as a National Park in 1958.

It is spread over 375.233 sq.km.

It is situated on the northern fringe of the Central Highlands of India, forming a part of the Upper Vindhyan Hills.

Project Tiger was launched as a centrally sponsored project in 1973 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

Coal India and IIT Hyderabad Collaborate for Clean Coal Energy Research

Coal India Limited (CIL) and IIT Hyderabad (IITH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Objective is to establish the Centre of Clean Coal Energy and Net Zero (CLEANZ) at IIT Hyderabad.

It focuses on developing clean coal technologies and sustainable utilization of coal in line with India's Net Zero commitments.

The initiative comes under the National Centre for Coal and Energy Research (NaCCER).

NaCCER is an independent R&D unit under CMPDI (Mine Development and Consultancy Arm of CIL).

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Prime Minister Modi to Attend Mauritius National Day as Chief Guest

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a State Visit to Mauritius from March 11 to 12, 2025, at the invitation of Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that PM Modi will attend Mauritius’ National Day celebrations on March 12 as the Chief Guest, marking his first visit to the island nation since 2015.

India and Mauritius share deep-rooted historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties.

The visit is framed within India's broader strategic vision—‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR)—which highlights India’s commitment to the Indian Ocean region.

A contingent of the Indian Defence Forces will take part in the celebrations, accompanied by a ship from the Indian Navy, reinforcing deep strategic and defense cooperation.

PM Modi will call on the President of Mauritius and hold bilateral talks with his Mauritian counterpart. He will also meet senior dignitaries and political leaders to reinforce diplomatic ties.

 

BANKING

RBI Imposes Rs 76.6 Lakh Penalty on 4 Non-Banking Financial Companies

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a total penalty of ₹76.6 lakh on four non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) for non-compliance with its Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending platform regulations.

Fairassets Technologies India faced the highest penalty of ₹40 lakh.

Bridge Fintech Solutions and Rang De P2P Financial Services were each fined ₹10 lakh.

Visionary Financepeer was penalized ₹16.6 lakh.

The penalties were imposed under the 'Non-Banking Financial Company - Peer-to-Peer Lending Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2017'.

RBI clarified that the penalties were due to regulatory deficiencies and do not affect the validity of transactions or agreements made by these entities with customers.

The penalties were announced through separate releases from the central bank.

SBI Life Insurance Expands Product Line With Two New Child Insurance Plans

SBI Life Insurance, one of India's most trusted private life insurers, has launched two new child products, 'SBI Life - Smart Future Star' and 'SBI Life - Smart Platina Young Achiever', specifically curated to empower parents in securing their child's future aspirations.

Addressing the innate need of parents to ensure a fulfilling life for their children regardless of socio-economic challenges, SBI Life’s child products offer the necessary tools to build a comprehensive financial safeguard for their child.

SBI Life - Smart Future Star

Category: Individual, Non-Linked, Participating, Life Insurance Savings Product

Benefits:

Long-term corpus growth through bonuses

In-built Waiver of Premium benefit on death or Accidental Total Permanent Disability of the proposer, ensuring financial security

Flexible maturity pay-out options to meet changing financial needs

SBI Life - Smart Platina Young Achiever

Category: Individual, Non-Linked, Non-Participating, Life Insurance Savings Product

Benefits:

Guaranteed maturity benefit, offering financial security for the child’s education, career aspirations, or marriage

Flexible maturity pay-out options to meet evolving financial needs

In-built Waiver of Premium benefit on death or Accidental Total Permanent Disability of the proposer, ensuring financial security

Risk-free savings approach, catering to parents who prefer guaranteed returns

 

DEFENCE

12th India-Kyrgyzstan Exercise Khanjar Commences in Kyrgyzstan

The 12th India- Kyrgyzstan joint military exercise, Khanjar, commenced in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on March 10, 2025. The 12th edition of the annual bilateral Khanjar exercise will be held from March 10 to 23, 2025.

The 11th edition of the Khanjar exercise was held at the Indian Army’s Special Forces Training School Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, from 22 January to 03 February 2024.

The elite Special Forces of both countries' armies participates in the Khanjar exercise.

The exercise focuses on counter-terrorism operations and special forces operations in built-up areas and mountainous terrain.

This year's edition of the Khanajar exercise will also focus on developing the sniping skills of the special forces, complex building intervention, and mountain craft.

The Khanajar exercise is also part of the effort of both the countries to strengthen their bilateral relationship, especially in defence.

To promote the friendly ties between the defence personnel of both the countries, the Indian contingent will participate in Kyrgyzstan's festival of Nowruz.

In the Khanjar exercise, a 20-member contingent of the Special Forces participates.

India is represented by the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), while Kyzystan’s side is represented by its elite Scorpion Brigade.

 

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

IndiGo Becomes the World’s Second Fastest-Growing Airline in 2024

IndiGo Airlines ranked as the world’s second fastest-growing airline regarding seat capacity, which increased by 1% year-on-year (YoY) to 134.9 million seats in 2024.

Qatar Airways secured the top position with a 10.4% growth in seat capacity.

IndiGo ranked as the fastest-growing airline globally in terms of flight frequency growth, recording a 7% YoY increase.

IndiGo holds one of the world’s largest aircraft orders, with over 900 aircraft on order.

It received 58 new Airbus aircraft in 2024, the highest among all airlines.

However, approximately 80 aircraft remain inactive due to MRO-related supply chain issues.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Jayshree Vencatesan Wins Ramsar Award For 'Wetland Wise Use'

Dr Jayshree Vencatesan has become the first Indian to win the annual prestigious Ramsar Award in the 'Wetland Wise Use' category.

Dr Jayshree Vencatesan was one of the 12 women included by the Ramsar Secretariat in its second edition of Women Changemakers in the World of Wetlands.

The Ramsar secretariat based in Gland, Switzerland announced the names of the ‘2025 Women changemakers in the world of wetlands’ on the eve of the International Women’s Day on 7th March 2025.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is the international treaty that protects the wetlands of the world. Its secretariat is located at the headquarters of the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) in Gland, Switzerland.

In 2024, the Ramsar secretariat released the first ‘Women changemakers in the world of wetlands’ to honour women across the world for their leadership and commitment to conserving and protecting wetlands.

The Women are recognised in three categories: Fostering international collaboration for wetlands , Wise use of wetlands, and Wetland protection

Jayshree Vencatesan was honoured in the “wise use of wetlands’ category.

Dr. Jayshree Vencatesan is the co-founder of the Care Earth Trust, established in 2000 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The Trust is an all women non-governmental organisation that works for the conservation of biodiversity through research, advocacy, and capacity building.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

CISF Raising Day

CISF Raising Day 2025 is observed on March 10th, 2025.

CISF was formed on March 10, 1969, under the CISF Act of the Parliament of India.

It started with as many as 2,800 personnel for the better protection and security of industrial undertakings in the country.

Three battalions were formed to provide integrated security cover to the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) which, in those years, occupied the commanding heights of the economy.