Cultural Heritage
India’s UNESCO Tentative List Expansion
India added six new properties on 7 March 2024, bringing the UNESCO Tentative List total to 62 sites. Additions include Ashokan Edict Sites and Chausath Yogini Temples. Being on the Tentative List is a prerequisite for sites to be considered for World Heritage nomination, representing India’s cultural and natural heritage preservation priorities.
Gender & Governance
Ending Proxy Leadership in Panchayats
Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan specifically targets removal of the “Mukhiya Pati”/”Sarpanch Pati” proxy culture in Panchayati Raj Institutions. The programme strengthens leadership and decision-making among Women Elected Representatives (WERs), eliminating proxy functioning by male relatives for more inclusive, gender-sensitive local governance.
Defence & Security
China’s LPAR Deployment in Yunnan
China deployed a Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) in Yunnan Province near the Myanmar border with detection range exceeding 5,000 km. Located roughly 2,000-2,200 km from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, it can monitor India’s missile tests. Phased array radars electronically steer beams for rapid scanning and multi-target tracking capabilities.
Insurance Sector
India’s First Private Reinsurer
Valueattics Reinsurance became India’s first private reinsurer in March 2025, ending GIC Re’s monopoly since 1972. This liberalization opens competition in the reinsurance market, which already has 13 foreign reinsurers operating. Reinsurance is insurance purchased by insurers to manage risk exposure and stabilize payouts.
Financial Stability
D-SII Designations for 2024-25
LIC, The New India Assurance, and GIC Re retained Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs) status for 2024-25. D-SIIs are designated due to size and systemic importance to financial stabilityβtheir interconnectedness means distress could impact the broader financial system, warranting enhanced regulatory oversight.
Digital Innovation
RBI’s Digital Transformation Award
RBI’s Pravaah and Sarthi initiatives won the Digital Transformation Award 2025 from Central Banking, London. Developed in-house, these platforms improve workflow efficiency and reduce paper-based processes within the central bank, showcasing successful digital transformation in institutional operations.
Economic Projections
Moody’s India Growth Forecast
Moody’s Ratings projected India’s GDP growth to exceed 6.5% in FY 2025-26, up from 6.3% in FY 2024-25. Drivers include higher government capital expenditure and possible interest rate cuts. Such projections by rating agencies influence market sentiment, investment decisions, and policy expectations.
Corporate Leadership
Tata Communications Chairman Appointment
N Ganapathy Subramaniam was appointed Chairman of Tata Communications effective March 14, 2025, following Nomination and Remuneration Committee recommendation. Announced via regulatory filing, the appointment ensures continuity in governance and strategic oversight of the telecommunications infrastructure company.
Defence Technology
Astra BVRAAM Test Success
Astra BVRAAM (Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile) with range over 100 km was successfully tested from the LCA Tejas AF MK1 prototype. Developed by DRDO, this indigenous missile enhances India’s aerial combat capabilities by engaging targets at long distances beyond pilot visibility.
Space Exploration
NASA’s SPHEREx Mission Launch
SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) launched on March 11, 2025 with a $488 million budget. The mission will map the entire sky in infrared to study galaxy evolution, dust-obscured regions, and distant cosmic objects.