🇮🇳 National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly constructed Pamban Rail Bridge on April 6, 2025, coinciding with the Ram Navami festival. The bridge, built at a cost of ₹531 crore, significantly enhances rail connectivity between Ramanathapuram and Rameswaram Island.
- Cost – ₹531 crore
- Inauguration – April 6, 2025 (Ram Navami)
- Connectivity – Links Ramanathapuram to Rameswaram Island, Tamil Nadu
- Significance – Replaces the century-old Pamban bridge; India’s first vertical lift rail sea bridge
Bridge: New Pamban Rail Bridge. Cost: ₹531 crore. Inaugurated by: PM Narendra Modi on April 6, 2025 (Ram Navami). Connects: Ramanathapuram–Rameswaram Island, Tamil Nadu. India’s first vertical lift rail sea bridge.
The 3rd edition of Sourcex India 2025 was inaugurated at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi. The event is organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) with support from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
- Edition – 3rd edition of Sourcex India
- Venue – Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi
- Organiser – FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organisations)
- Ministry support – Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Event: Sourcex India 2025 (3rd edition). Venue: Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi. Organiser: FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organisations). Supported by: Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Focus: promoting Indian exports.
The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling, has launched India’s first wildlife DNA preservation initiative from snowy regions, in partnership with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. DNA samples are stored using cryogenic technology in liquid nitrogen for long-term conservation.
- Partner institution – CCMB, Hyderabad (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology)
- Samples collected – 60 DNA samples from species including red pandas and snow leopards
- Storage method – Cryogenic technology using liquid nitrogen
- Support facility – Dedicated research facility for genetic studies, biodiversity protection, and species restoration
Zoo: Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling. First: India’s first wildlife DNA preservation from snowy/high-altitude regions. Partner: CCMB, Hyderabad. Samples: 60 (red pandas, snow leopards). Storage: cryogenic / liquid nitrogen. State: West Bengal.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) finalised contracts with Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced Systems Limited for the procurement of 155mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) and High Mobility 6×6 Gun Towing Vehicles, totalling approximately ₹6,900 crore.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Contract value | ~₹6,900 crore |
| Systems procured | ATAGS (155mm/52 cal) + High Mobility 6×6 Gun Towing Vehicles |
| Vendors | Bharat Forge Limited & Tata Advanced Systems Limited |
| Signed in presence of | Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, South Block, New Delhi |
| FY 2024–25 capital procurement total | ₹1.40 lakh crore |
The ATAGS is indigenously developed by DRDO’s ARDE (Armament Research and Development Establishment), Pune. The Defence Secretary specially honoured the ARDE Project Director for his role in the programme — reflecting India’s push for self-reliance in artillery systems.
Contracts: ATAGS (155mm/52 cal) + High Mobility 6×6 Gun Towing Vehicles. Value: ~₹6,900 crore. Vendors: Bharat Forge + Tata Advanced Systems. Defence Secretary: Rajesh Kumar Singh. ATAGS developed by: ARDE (DRDO), Pune. FY25 defence capital procurement total: ₹1.40 lakh crore.
DRDO and the Indian Navy jointly conducted a successful flight test of the indigenously developed Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VLSRSAM) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the Odisha coast.
- Test location – ITR Chandipur, Odisha coast
- Launch mode – Land-based vertical launcher
- Target – High-speed aerial object at low altitude and close range
- Capability demonstrated – Near-Boundary-Low Altitude engagement
Missile: VLSRSAM (Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile). Developed by: DRDO + Indian Navy. Test site: ITR Chandipur, Odisha. Capability: Near-Boundary-Low Altitude engagement of high-speed aerial targets. Indigenous missile system for naval air defence.
India’s prominent doubles badminton player B Sumeeth Reddy has officially retired from competitive play after a decade-long career, and will now dedicate himself entirely to coaching. He was a key member of India’s silver medal-winning team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
- Sport – Doubles badminton
- Career span – Over 10 years
- Notable achievement – Silver medal, 2022 Commonwealth Games (team event)
- Post-retirement – Full-time badminton coach
Player: B Sumeeth Reddy (India, doubles badminton). Retired from: competitive play. Career: 10+ years. Key achievement: Silver medal at 2022 Commonwealth Games. Post-retirement: coaching.
Indian wrestler Nitesh earned a bronze medal in the Greco-Roman 97kg category at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2025, held in Amman, Jordan.
| Round | Result | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| First match | Won 9–0 (technical superiority) | Ilyas Guchigov (Kazakhstan) |
| Semifinal | Lost 0–9 | Mohammad Hadi Saravi (Iran) — Olympic champion |
| Bronze Medal Match | Won 🥉 | — |
Athlete: Nitesh (India). Event: Asian Wrestling Championships 2025. Venue: Amman, Jordan. Category: Greco-Roman 97kg. Result: Bronze medal. Lost to Olympic champion Mohammad Hadi Saravi (Iran) in semis. Won first match 9–0 by technical superiority vs Kazakhstan.
💼 Business & Economy
Starting May 1, 2025, ATM transaction fees will rise following a revision approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), driven by rising operational costs faced by white-label ATM operators.
| Transaction Type | Old Fee | New Fee (from May 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash withdrawal (financial) | ₹17 | ₹19 (+₹2) |
| Balance inquiry (non-financial) | ₹6 | ₹7 (+₹1) |
- Applies to – Customers exceeding their free monthly transaction limit
- Impact – May disproportionately affect customers of smaller banks
- Context – Digital payments have surged from ₹952 lakh crore (FY14) to ₹3,658 lakh crore
Effective: May 1, 2025. Approved by: RBI. New ATM fees: cash withdrawal ₹19 (from ₹17); balance inquiry ₹7 (from ₹6). Reason: rising operational costs for white-label ATM operators. Digital payments growth: ₹952 lakh crore (FY14) → ₹3,658 lakh crore.
Under the leadership of Sajjan Jindal, JSW Steel has become the highest-valued steel manufacturer globally, surpassing US-based Nucor Corporation with a market capitalisation exceeding $30 billion.
- Chairman – Sajjan Jindal
- Market cap – Exceeds $30 billion
- Surpassed – Nucor Corporation (USA)
- Now ranked above – ArcelorMittal, Nippon Steel, and Baoshan Iron
Company: JSW Steel. Achievement: most valuable steel company globally. Market cap: >$30 billion. Surpassed: Nucor Corp (USA). Chairman: Sajjan Jindal. Ranked above: ArcelorMittal, Nippon Steel, Baoshan Iron.
Centrico Insurance Repository, a subsidiary of CDSL, has partnered with the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to provide digital insurance repository services, promoting paperless insurance management and expanding digital accessibility across the sector.
- Centrico’s parent – CDSL (Central Depository Services Ltd)
- Existing partnerships – 43 insurers, including 23 life insurance companies
- LIC new business premium (FY25) – ₹3.36 trillion
- Goal – Boost digital accessibility and customer convenience in insurance
Partnership: Centrico Insurance Repository (subsidiary of CDSL) + LIC. Service: digital insurance repository (paperless management). Centrico already partners with 43 insurers (23 life). LIC FY25 new business premium: ₹3.36 trillion.
🌐 International News
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as Namibia’s first female president on March 21, 2025 — coinciding with the country’s 35th Independence Day. She secured 58% of the vote in the November 2024 elections and is a senior figure of the ruling SWAPO party, which has governed Namibia since independence in 1990.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Sworn in | March 21, 2025 |
| Occasion | Namibia’s 35th Independence Day |
| Election votes | 58% (November 2024) |
| Party | SWAPO (ruling since 1990) |
| Predecessor | President Nangolo Mbumba |
| Jobs pledge | 500,000 jobs in 5 years (agriculture, fisheries, creative industries) |
Nandi-Ndaitwah is Namibia’s first female president and only the second woman in Africa to be directly elected as head of state, after Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia.
President: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Country: Namibia. Sworn in: March 21, 2025 (35th Independence Day). First female president of Namibia; 2nd directly-elected female head of state in Africa. Party: SWAPO. Votes: 58%. Predecessor: Nangolo Mbumba. Pledged: 500,000 jobs in 5 years.
👔 Appointments
Maruti Suzuki has named Sunil Kakkar as Additional Director and Whole-Time Director (Corporate Planning), effective April 1, 2025, with a term running until March 31, 2028. Kakkar brings over 35 years of experience at Maruti Suzuki and currently serves as Senior Executive Officer on the executive committee.
- Role – Whole-Time Director (Corporate Planning), Maruti Suzuki
- Effective – April 1, 2025
- Term ends – March 31, 2028
- Experience – 35+ years at Maruti Suzuki
Appointment: Whole-Time Director (Corporate Planning), Maruti Suzuki. Person: Sunil Kakkar. Effective: April 1, 2025. Term until: March 31, 2028. Experience at company: 35+ years.
Former Britannia CEO Rajneet Kohli will assume the role of Executive Director, Foods, at Hindustan Unilever (HUL) on April 7, 2025, also joining HUL’s management committee on the same date. He succeeds Shiva Krishnamurthy, who is pursuing other opportunities.
- Role – Executive Director, Foods, HUL
- Effective – April 7, 2025
- Previous role – CEO, Britannia
- Predecessor – Shiva Krishnamurthy
- Also joins – HUL Management Committee
New role: Executive Director, Foods at HUL (Hindustan Unilever). Person: Rajneet Kohli. Previous: CEO of Britannia. Effective: April 7, 2025. Also joins HUL Management Committee. Replaces: Shiva Krishnamurthy.
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