NATIONAL NEWS

Government of Jammu and Kashmir Launches 'Watan Ko Jano' Programme

The ‘Watan Ko Jano’ programme, launched by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir with funding from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, aims to foster national integration by providing underprivileged children (under 18 years) from government-run homes exposure to India's cultural, historical, and technological advancements.

The initiative plays a crucial role in promoting unity, inclusivity, and patriotism among the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

The programme seeks to strengthen national unity by providing Kashmiri youth with first-hand experiences of India’s diverse heritage.

Fostering National Integration – Encouraging young participants to understand and appreciate India’s cultural diversity.

Educational Exposure – Organizing visits to historical landmarks, premier educational institutions, and industrial hubs.

Technological Awareness – Introducing students to advancements in science, technology, and innovation.

Personality Development – Enhancing communication skills, leadership abilities, and self-confidence through interactive activities.

Promoting Social Harmony – Strengthening the spirit of unity and brotherhood across different regions.

 

BANKING

Securities and Exchange Board of India Partners with DigiLocker

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has partnered with DigiLocker to minimize unclaimed assets and enhance investor protection.

Investors can store and access their demat and mutual fund holdings on DigiLocker.

DigiLocker users can fetch and store their statement of holdings for shares, mutual funds, and CAS.

Nominees can be added to investor accounts for easy access to financial documents after the investor’s demise.

DigiLocker will update account status upon investor’s death using data from KRAs.

Automatic notifications through SMS and email will be sent to nominees to facilitate asset transmission.

SEBI has instructed AMCs, RTAs, and depositories to register with DigiLocker for seamless investor access.

KRAs will provide death data to DigiLocker to streamline asset transfers.

This move aims to reduce unclaimed assets caused by dormant accounts and outdated information.

The circular will be effective from April 1, 2025.

National Payments Corporation of India International Partners with HitPay

HitPay has partnered with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) International Payments Limited (NIPL) to integrate India's UPI into its platform.

The move allows Singapore merchants to accept UPI payments for in-store and eCommerce transactions.

The integration provides access to 450 million UPI users, offering a cost-effective alternative to credit cards.

India is among Singapore’s fastest-growing tourist markets, with 1.2 million Indian visitors in 2024.

Merchants can accept payments from 50 UPI-supported apps, including BHIM, Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm.

Transactions can be processed through Shopify, Wix, and WooCommerce through HitPay’s platform.

HitPay’s cross-border network includes PayID (Australia), PromptPay (Thailand), QRIS (Indonesia), QR Ph (Philippines), VietQR (Vietnam), and WeChat Pay (China).

HitPay plans to introduce DuitNow in Malaysia and other regional payment solutions in 2025.

Reserve Bank of India Signed MoU with Bank of Mauritius

RBI and Bank of Mauritius (BOM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote local currency transactions.

The agreement facilitates cross-border trade using Indian Rupee (INR) and Mauritian Rupee (MUR).

It covers current account transactions and permissible capital account transactions.

Exporters and importers can invoice and settle in their domestic currencies, boosting INR-MUR market development.

The use of local currencies reduces costs and settlement time for transactions.

The MoU strengthens bilateral cooperation, trade ties, and financial integration between India and Mauritius.

RBI highlighted the initiative’s role in deepening historical, cultural, and economic relations.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2024

100 year old veteran Sculptor Ram Sutar has been chosen for the highest civilian award of the Maharashtra government ‘Maharashtra Bhushan’ 2024 . This was announced by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state legislative assembly on 20th March 2025.

Ram Sutar was unanimously chosen for this award by a committee headed by the Chief Minister.

He is considered to be a master in Bronze sculpting and has various landmarks to his name.

He designed the world’s tallest statue ‘The Statue of Unity’ in Kevadia Gujarat.

Sardar Patel is also known as the Ironman of India or Bismarck of India for his role in the integration of Princely states into India after independence.

Ram Sutar designed the iconic statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a seated position situated in the Parliament of India.

The Maharashtra Bhushan Award was instituted by the Maharashtra government in 1995.

It is the highest civilian award in Maharashtra and is given to a resident of Maharashtra.

The award winner is honoured with a memento and a cash prize of Rs 25 lakhs

 

SPORTS

President of IOC

41 year old Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe has been elected as the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

She will succeed Thomas Bach on 23rd June 2025 which is also the Olympic Day.

The current President Thomas Bach will resign as the IOC member and assume the Honorary President for Life of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) position after the completion of his term on 23rd June 2025.

Kirsty Coventry is the first woman and African to be elected as the President of the IOC.

Kirsty Coventry secured 49 votes out of the 97 votes cast and was declared elected. The term of the IOC President is eight years.

The President is eligible for re-election once for a period of four years.

Kirsty Coventry is a former swimmer who represented Zimbabwe in international sporting events.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Forest

Every year since 2013, the International Day of Forest is observed across the world on 21st March.

The day seeks to raise awareness of the world to strengthen the conservation, sustainable management, and development of all types of forests and trees outside forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

According to United Nations estimate around 1 crore or 10 million hectare of forest land is being lost annually across the globe.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations at its 16th annual Conference held in November 1971, decided to observe 21st March as World Forestry Day.

The theme for the 2025 International Day of Forest is ‘Forests and Food".

The theme underscores the role played by forests in providing food, nutrition, and livelihoods to humans.

World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day 2025 is observed all over the world on March 21st, 2025.

It is a global event celebrated all over the world annually on March 21st every year.

The 21st day of March was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

The United Nations (UN) yearly sets the theme for commemoration of World Down Syndrome Day, Theme of WDSD 2025 is “Improve Our Support Systems”.

In 2005, the UN’s general assembly decided that in fulfilling the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal no one should be left behind and the persons with disabilities must also come forward to help the UN in its targets of Agenda 2030.

World Poetry Day

On 21st March 2025, the World Poetry Day 2025 is observed all over the world.

It is a global event celebrated on March 21st every year all over the world in order to honor the poets to continue to instill the tradition in newer generations.

The earliest poetry is believed to have surfaced with the “Epic of Gilgamesh” sometime during 2000 B.C., but it is likely that poetry existed even before the spread of literacy.

In the 14th Century, Sonnets were Created and Francesco Petrarca’s writings are some of the most famous early ‘sonnets.’

The day was proposed and adopted by UNESCO in 1999, on the occasion of its 30th General Conference held in Paris to “give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements.”

On March 21st, 2000 the first World Poetry day was celebrated

 

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