🇮🇳 National News
The Supreme Court of India has constituted a National Task Force to address the rising mental health crisis among students in higher education institutions, following a disturbing trend of student suicides — including two at IIT Delhi in 2023.
- Headed by – Justice S. Ravindra Bhat
- Mandate – Examine academic pressure, caste discrimination, and structural institutional issues; review existing mental health laws and policies; propose interventions to prevent student suicides
- Ministries represented – Higher Education, Social Justice, Legal Affairs, and Women & Child Development
- Trigger – Spike in student suicides, including cases at IIT Delhi (2023)
Body: National Task Force on Student Mental Health. Constituted by: Supreme Court of India. Headed by: Justice S. Ravindra Bhat. Mandate: address academic pressure, caste discrimination, and structural issues in higher education. Trigger: student suicides including at IIT Delhi (2023). Ministries involved: Higher Education, Social Justice, Legal Affairs, Women & Child Development.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), a total of 15,057 Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened across the country as of February 28, 2025, as confirmed by Union Minister Anupriya Patel in Rajya Sabha. These centres aim to provide affordable, high-quality generic medicines to citizens.
- Total centres – 15,057 as of February 28, 2025
- Scheme – Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)
- Purpose – Affordable, quality generic medicines for all citizens
- Announced by – Union Minister Anupriya Patel in Rajya Sabha
Scheme: PMBJP (Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana). Milestone: 15,057 Jan Aushadhi Kendras opened as of February 28, 2025. Stated by: Union Minister Anupriya Patel in Rajya Sabha. Focus: affordable generic medicines for citizens.
Indian wrestler Sunil Kumar clinched a bronze medal in the 87kg Greco-Roman category at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2025 held in Amman, Jordan.
| Round | Result | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Won 10–1 | Sukhrob Abdulkhaev (Tajikistan) |
| Semifinal | Lost 1–3 | Yasin Yazdi (Iran) |
| Bronze Medal Match | Won 🥉 | Jiaxin Huang (China) |
Athlete: Sunil Kumar (India). Event: Asian Wrestling Championships 2025. Venue: Amman, Jordan. Category: 87kg Greco-Roman. Result: Bronze medal. Previous achievement: 2019 silver medalist at the same championships.
P.S. Raman launched his book Leo: The Untold Story of Chennai Super Kings, with a surprise appearance by MS Dhoni and other CSK members at the launch event. The book quickly became Amazon’s #1 Bestselling Cricket Book.
- Author – P.S. Raman
- Subject – The story of Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Notable attendees – MS Dhoni, Gitanjali Selvaraghavan, Anirudh Ravichander, R. Ashwin, and CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan
- Achievement – Amazon #1 Bestselling Cricket Book
Book: Leo: The Untold Story of Chennai Super Kings. Author: P.S. Raman. Subject: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricket franchise. Highlight: surprise appearance by MS Dhoni. Became Amazon #1 Bestselling Cricket Book.
💼 Business & Economy
S&P Global has revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 downward to 6.5% from its earlier projection of 6.7%, citing global trade volatility. However, key domestic factors continue to provide growth support.
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Revised forecast | 6.5% (down from 6.7%) |
| Assumptions | Normal monsoon, stable crude oil prices, ongoing global trade volatility |
| Growth support | Easing food inflation, FY26 Budget fiscal incentives, RBI rate cuts (75–100 bps expected) |
| Strength noted | India’s services exports to the US remain strong |
Agency: S&P Global. India FY26 GDP forecast revised to 6.5% (from 6.7%). Key drivers: easing food inflation, FY26 Budget incentives, RBI expected to cut rates by 75–100 basis points toward a 4% inflation target. Strength: services exports to the US.
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has acquired full ownership of Nauyaan Tradings Pvt Ltd (NTPL) for ₹1 lakh through its arm Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Ltd. NTPL will in turn purchase a 74% stake in Nauyaan Shipyard Pvt Ltd (NSPL) for ₹382.73 crore, marking RIL’s strategic entry into shipbuilding.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Acquisition cost (NTPL) | ₹1 lakh |
| NSPL stake acquired | 74% |
| NSPL stake value | ₹382.73 crore |
| NSPL enterprise value | ₹643.78 crore |
| NSPL debt included | ₹126.57 crore |
- Strategic focus – Naval and defence infrastructure, shipbuilding, and the energy sector
- Acquiring arm – Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Ltd
Company: Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL). Acquisition: Nauyaan Tradings Pvt Ltd (via Reliance Strategic Business Ventures). Subsidiary stake: 74% in Nauyaan Shipyard Pvt Ltd (NSPL) for ₹382.73 crore. NSPL enterprise value: ₹643.78 crore. Strategic area: shipbuilding, defence, and energy.
NPCI BHIM Services Limited, a subsidiary of NPCI, has announced BHIM 3.0 — the latest version of the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app — with a full rollout expected by April 2025.
- Developer – NPCI BHIM Services Limited (subsidiary of NPCI)
- Full rollout – April 2025
- Language support – 15+ Indian languages
- Improvements – Enhanced user experience, improved digital transaction tools, wider accessibility
Product: BHIM 3.0 (Bharat Interface for Money). Launched by: NPCI BHIM Services Limited (subsidiary of NPCI). Full rollout: April 2025. Key feature: supports 15+ Indian languages. Focus: enhanced UX and broader digital payments accessibility.
🌐 International News
Indonesia has officially decided to join the New Development Bank (NDB) — the multilateral development institution formed by BRICS countries. The decision was announced by President Prabowo Subianto, who stated it will accelerate Indonesia’s economic transformation.
- Bank – New Development Bank (NDB), founded by BRICS nations
- Announced by – President Prabowo Subianto
- Funding focus – Infrastructure development, green energy projects, and technological advancements
- Recent joiners – Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and UAE have also joined the NDB
The New Development Bank (NDB) was established by the original BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) as an alternative to Western-led multilateral lenders. India is a founding member. Indonesia’s entry expands NDB’s reach across Southeast Asia.
Country joining: Indonesia. Bank: New Development Bank (NDB). Founded by: BRICS nations. Announced by: President Prabowo Subianto. Other recent joiners: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE. Focus areas: infrastructure, green energy, technology. India is a founding member of NDB.
Indian-origin British author Rana Dasgupta has been awarded the 2025 Windham-Campbell Prize in the non-fiction category, recognising his acclaimed 2014 book “Capital: A Portrait of Twenty-First Century Delhi”.
- Prize value – $175,000
- Administered by – Yale University
- Presentation – At an international literary festival at Yale later in 2025
- Recognised work – Capital: A Portrait of Twenty-First Century Delhi (2014)
Rana Dasgupta‘s prize-winning work is a sweeping portrait of post-liberalisation Delhi, exploring wealth, inequality, and identity in modern India — a globally acclaimed non-fiction account of contemporary Indian society.
Award: Windham-Campbell Prize 2025 (Non-Fiction). Winner: Rana Dasgupta (Indian-origin British author). Prize: $175,000. Administered by: Yale University. Recognised book: Capital: A Portrait of Twenty-First Century Delhi (2014).
👔 Appointments
Rajiv Gauba, former Cabinet Secretary of India, has been appointed a Full-Time Member of NITI Aayog. A seasoned IAS officer from the 1982 Jharkhand cadre, Gauba brings extensive policy experience to the role.
- Previous roles – Cabinet Secretary of India, Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretary of Jharkhand
- IAS cadre – 1982 batch, Jharkhand
- Expected contribution – Strengthen NITI Aayog’s long-term strategic vision and governance reforms
Appointment: Full-Time Member, NITI Aayog. Person: Rajiv Gauba. Former role: Cabinet Secretary of India. Also served as: Union Home Secretary and Chief Secretary of Jharkhand. IAS: 1982 batch, Jharkhand cadre.
🔬 Science & Technology
Bengaluru-based Bellatrix Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Astroscale Japan to collaborate on space debris removal and in-orbit servicing technologies, with a focus on propulsion solutions for sustainable satellite operations.
- Indian partner – Bellatrix Aerospace, Bengaluru
- Japanese partner – Astroscale Japan
- Focus areas – Active debris removal technologies and propulsion for satellite sustainability
- Astroscale’s prior partners – JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), US Space Force, and UK Space Agency
This MoU cements Bellatrix Aerospace‘s position as a key player in global space sustainability. Alongside Digantara, Bellatrix represents India’s growing capability in advanced space services beyond launch — a critical area for the future of space.
MoU between: Bellatrix Aerospace (Bengaluru) and Astroscale Japan. Focus: space debris removal and in-orbit servicing. Astroscale’s global partners include JAXA, ESA, US Space Force, UK Space Agency. Part of broader India–Japan space tech collaboration.
📅 Important Days
World Theatre Day is celebrated globally on March 27 each year, marking 60 years since its initiation by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) in 1962. The day honours the cultural, educational, and societal role of theatre worldwide.
- Initiated by – International Theatre Institute (ITI) in 1962
- 2025 milestone – 60th anniversary of World Theatre Day
- Expected 2025 theme – “Theatre and a Culture of Peace”
Day: World Theatre Day. Date: March 27. Founded by: International Theatre Institute (ITI) in 1962. 2025 marks its 60th anniversary. Expected 2025 theme: “Theatre and a Culture of Peace”. Celebrates theatre’s role in culture, education, and society.
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