🇮🇳 National News
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) hosted the 10th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law in New Delhi. This annual conference has been conducted since 2016, bringing together academics, industry experts, and practitioners to discuss changes in competition law and market behaviour.
CCI is India’s competition regulator. Remember: 10th edition, running since 2016, with a focus on competition law and market behaviour evolution.
Why it matters: The conference helps track evolving market conduct issues and regulatory thinking in competition economics.
Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the first-ever Fit India Carnival 2025 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi on March 16, 2025. This three-day event promotes physical health, mental wellness, and wholesome living.
Notable attendees included:
- Ayushmann Khurrana – Bollywood actor
- Sangram Singh – Wrestling champion
- Mickey Mehta – Fitness expert
- Shanky Singh – Fitness professional
- Rohtash Chaudhary – Sports personality
“First-ever” is highly testable. Venue: JLN Stadium, New Delhi. Link: Mandaviya → Fit India Carnival 2025 → March 16, 2025.
Why it matters: Reinforces health-and-fitness initiatives through mass participation and public visibility.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the Hyperloop testing facility at IIT Madras and announced that the 410-metre Hyperloop tube is set to become the world’s longest high-speed tube.
Key developments:
- The Indian Railways Ministry is providing financial support and technical expertise
- Integral Coach Factory (Chennai) is developing the system’s electronics
- Vaishnaw attended Open House 2025 at the IIT Madras Guindy campus
- He interacted with students on semiconductor technology, AI, and data science
- Reaffirmed India’s ambition to become a tech leader under Prime Minister Modi’s administration
Hyperloop fact: 410 metres. Institutions: IIT Madras, Indian Railways Ministry, Integral Coach Factory (Chennai).
Why it matters: Signals government-backed support for advanced mobility R&D and high-tech capability building.
Hockey Jharkhand won the 15th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2025, defeating Hockey Haryana at the Tau Devi Lal Complex, Panchkula (Haryana). This is Hockey Jharkhand’s first national title.
Match details:
- Match ended 1–1 in regulation time
- Hockey Jharkhand won 4–3 in the penalty shootout
Scores are highly testable: 1–1, then 4–3 in shootout. Venue: Tau Devi Lal Complex, Panchkula. This is Jharkhand’s first-ever title.
💼 Business & Economy
Sanoti Properties (linked to Adar Poonawalla) sold its 98% stake in Magma General Insurance to Patanjali Ayurved and Dharampal Satyapal (DS) Group for ₹4,500 crore.
Financial highlights:
- Gross Written Premium (GWP) of ₹3,295 crore in 2024
- Targets ₹3,650–3,700 crore in 2025
- Projects Profit Before Tax (PBT) of ₹20–25 crore
- Portfolio includes 70+ insurance products across vehicles, health, homes, fire, marine, and liability segments
Numbers to lock: 98% stake, ₹4,500 crore deal, GWP ₹3,295 crore (2024), target ₹3,650–3,700 crore (2025), PBT ₹20–25 crore. Buyer pair: Patanjali + DS Group.
Why it matters: Major ownership change in general insurance with clear growth and profitability targets stated.
Wholesale inflation (WPI) rose to 2.38% in February from 2.31% in January 2025. The rise was driven mainly by inflation in manufactured food items, textiles, and non-food materials.
However, the Food Index fell from 7.47% in January to 5.94% in February.
| Metric | January 2025 | February 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| WPI Inflation | 2.31% | 2.38% |
| Food Index | 7.47% | 5.94% |
Memorise: WPI 2.38% (Feb) vs 2.31% (Jan 2025). Food Index: 7.47% → 5.94%.
Why it matters: WPI trends are monitored alongside CPI for inflation signals and sectoral price pressures.
🌐 International News
India and New Zealand will resume negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement after a gap of nearly a decade. Talks on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) began in April 2010 and paused after nine rounds in 2015. Both sides are now moving ahead again.
Timeline anchors: April 2010 start, 9 rounds, pause in 2015, restart now. Term: CECA.
Why it matters: FTA/CECA updates frequently appear in economy + international relations MCQs.
The Faya Palaeolandscape in Sharjah is nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status. It reflects 210,000 years of human adaptation and resilience, described as a crossroads connecting Arabia and India.
Key geographical facts:
- Area: 29,085 hectares
- Located 55 km from both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman
- Key feature: Faya Range, a 20-km limestone formation separating the Rub’ al-Khali desert from the Dhaid-Madam Plain
- Importance: evidence of settlement during extremely dry climatic conditions
Numbers: 210,000 years, 29,085 ha, 55 km, 20 km. Map pointers: Sharjah; Arabian Gulf vs Gulf of Oman; Rub’ al-Khali.
Why it matters: Adds to art & culture/archaeology + UNESCO-type questions with strong factual hooks.
Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on the text of a peace treaty to end nearly 40 years of dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh. However, uncertainty remains because Azerbaijan wants changes to Armenia’s constitution before signing.
Context: Azerbaijan’s 2023 military action in Nagorno-Karabakh led to 100,000 ethnic Armenians moving to Armenia.
Core hooks: Nagorno-Karabakh, ~40-year conflict, 2023 action, 100,000 displaced, pre-signing condition.
Why it matters: A key geopolitical development in the South Caucasus with humanitarian and regional stability implications.
🔬 Science & Technology
The government approved Chandrayaan-5, as stated by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan. It will be a collaboration between India and Japan for lunar exploration and will carry a 250-kg rover.
Comparison: Chandrayaan-3 carried the 25-kg rover Pragyan.
Narayanan shared this at a function in Bengaluru.
Key numbers: 250 kg (Ch-5 rover) vs 25 kg Pragyan (Ch-3 rover). Partnership: India + Japan.
Why it matters: Highlights scaling up of lunar surface capability and international collaboration.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025, a six-month program with a budget of ₹1.5 crore.
Key features:
- Open to students, startups, and experts
- Offers mentoring, funding support, and access to 100+ 5G Use Case Labs
- Focus: advanced 5G solutions for societal and industrial needs
Remember: DoT, 6 months, ₹1.5 crore, and 100+ labs.
Why it matters: Encourages applied innovation and prototypes for real-world 5G use cases.
📊 Index & Rankings
🕊️ Obituaries
Renowned Odia poet and Padma Bhushan awardee Ramakanta Rath passed away at 91 at his residence in Bhubaneswar.
Life and career:
- Born on December 13, 1934, in Cuttack
- Completed a master’s in English at Ravenshaw University
- Joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1957
- Served in various roles, including Chief Secretary of Odisha
Person-profile hooks: Padma Bhushan, IAS 1957, Chief Secretary of Odisha. Birth details: 13 Dec 1934, Cuttack.
Why it matters: Important personality in literature and administration; obituary facts are common CA MCQs.
Arvind Singh Mewar, a descendant of Maharana Pratap and head of the HRH Group of Hotels, died at 81 on March 16, 2025 at the City Palace, Udaipur after a prolonged illness.
He was noted for safeguarding Rajput heritage and supporting tourism in Udaipur.
Remember: age 81, 16 March 2025, City Palace, Udaipur. Association: HRH Group of Hotels.
Why it matters: Obituary-linked heritage and tourism figures are frequently asked in current affairs.
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