📊 Index & Rankings
India has climbed to 118th position out of 147 countries in the 2025 World Happiness Report, rising from 126th in 2024 and representing a major recovery from its lowest-ever rank of 144 in 2019. The report is jointly released by Oxford University’s Wellbeing Research Centre, Gallup, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
| Year | India’s Rank | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 118 | Current (out of 147) |
| 2024 | 126 | Previous rank |
| 2020 | 139 | — |
| 2019 | 144 | Lowest recorded rank |
| 2011 | 94 | Best recorded rank |
Key factors behind India’s improved ranking include economic development, a better public perception of corruption, and an increase in personal freedoms.
2025 World Happiness Report — India rank: 118/147. Up from 126 (2024). Best rank: 94 (2011). Worst rank: 144 (2019). Published by: Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre + Gallup + UN SDSN. Key drivers of India’s rise: economic development, anti-corruption perception, and personal freedoms.
🌐 International News
Vijay Sankar, Chairman of The Sanmar Group and Honorary Consul General of Denmark for Southern India, has been conferred the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Dannebrog by the King of Denmark. The award was presented in Chennai by Danish Ambassador Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, honouring his outstanding consular contributions and efforts to strengthen Indo-Danish relations.
- Presented by – Ambassador Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Denmark’s envoy to India
- Occasion – Also acknowledged the Sankar family’s 50-year association with Denmark’s consular services
- Family legacy – Three generations of Danish consuls: K.S. Narayanan → N. Sankar → Vijay Sankar
The recognition of Vijay Sankar highlights India’s deepening ties with Denmark, especially in trade and diplomatic relations, with the Sanmar family serving as a bridge for 50 years.
Award: Knight’s Cross of the Order of Dannebrog (Denmark). Recipient: Vijay Sankar, Chairman, The Sanmar Group. Presented by: Ambassador Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen. Venue: Chennai. Family’s Danish consular service: 50 years, spanning three generations.
Celebrated Telugu actor Chiranjeevi was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by UK-based think tank Bridge India at the House of Commons, UK Parliament, recognising his vast contributions to Indian cinema, public service, and cultural outreach.
Chiranjeevi‘s recognition at the UK Parliament reflects the growing global prestige of Indian cinema and its cultural soft power on the world stage.
Award: Lifetime Achievement Award. Recipient: Telugu actor Chiranjeevi. Venue: House of Commons, UK Parliament. Awarded by: Bridge India (London-based think tank). Recognised for: Indian cinema, public service, and cultural influence.
Distinguished hydrologist Günter Blöschl has been awarded the 2025 Stockholm Water Prize for his pioneering work in flood hydrology. His research has produced improved flood forecasting models and established a direct link between rising flood incidents and global climate change, enhancing preparedness for extreme weather events worldwide.
- Field – Flood risk and water management under changing climatic conditions
- Key contribution – Better flood forecasting models and a worldwide flood risk database
- Affiliation – Vienna University of Technology, Austria
Award: Stockholm Water Prize 2025. Winner: Günter Blöschl (Austria). Field: flood hydrology. Institution: Vienna University of Technology. Known for: flood forecasting models linking extreme flooding to climate change.
💼 Business & Economy
Equitas Small Finance Bank has renewed its position as the Official Banking Partner for both Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) for the 2025 IPL season, continuing its “Bank Behind Champions” initiative.
- CSK partnership – 6-year ongoing collaboration
- GT partnership – 3-year ongoing journey
- Branding for 2025 – Equitas logo on the front of CSK helmets and the rear of GT helmets
- Initiative – Aligns with Equitas’ “Bank Behind Champions” campaign focusing on excellence and community involvement
Bank: Equitas Small Finance Bank. Role: Official Banking Partner for CSK (6 years) and GT (3 years). Campaign: “Bank Behind Champions”. 2025 branding: front of CSK helmets, rear of GT helmets.
Zuno General Insurance has launched ‘Zuno SmartDrive’, integrating the Pay-How-You-Drive (PHYD) model as a standard feature in all motor insurance policies — making it the first insurer in India to offer mobile telematics as a standard inclusion at no extra cost.
- How it works – Mobile telematics monitors driving behaviour (speed, braking, distractions) and provides real-time scores via the Zuno app
- Benefit – Safer drivers earn reduced premiums
- Previous status – PHYD was an optional add-on; now integrated into all new and renewed motor policies
- Shift – Moves insurance from fixed-rate pricing to a dynamic, behaviour-driven model
Zuno General Insurance becomes the first insurer in India to offer mobile telematics-based Pay-How-You-Drive (PHYD) as a standard feature (not an add-on) across all motor insurance policies.
Company: Zuno General Insurance. Product: Zuno SmartDrive. Model: Pay-How-You-Drive (PHYD). First in India to offer mobile telematics as standard in motor insurance at no extra cost. Monitors: speed, braking, distractions. Benefit: lower premiums for safer drivers.
👔 Appointments
Smt. Parminder Chopra, currently serving as CMD of Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (PFC), has been given additional charge as CMD of REC Ltd., as per an office order from the Ministry of Power dated March 20, 2025.
- Nature of appointment – Interim; valid for three months or until further notice
- Replaces – Vivek Kumar Dewangan, who concluded a combined seven-year tenure at the Ministry of Power and REC
- Appointing authority – Ministry of Power
- Effective date – March 20, 2025
New CMD (additional charge): REC Ltd. Person: Smt. Parminder Chopra (also CMD, PFC). Appointed by: Ministry of Power (March 20, 2025). Interim: 3 months. Predecessor: Vivek Kumar Dewangan (7-year tenure at MoP & REC).
🔬 Science & Technology
ISRO, in collaboration with the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh, has developed two new 32-bit indigenous microprocessors — VIKRAM3201 and KALPANA3201 — for space applications. The processors were formally handed over to V. Narayanan, Secretary, Department of Space & ISRO Chairman, by S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY, at an event in New Delhi.
| Processor | Key Specifications & Features |
|---|---|
| VIKRAM3201 | India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor; produced at 180nm CMOS fab at SCL; supports floating-point computing; compatible with Ada language; advanced version of VIKRAM1601 (16-bit, used since 2009) |
| KALPANA3201 | Based on SPARC V8 RISC architecture (IEEE 1754 ISA); supports open-source tools; includes in-house simulator and IDE; passed software testing for space missions |
VIKRAM3201 is India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit space-grade microprocessor. A Make-in-India version of VIKRAM1601 was introduced in 2016 after SCL’s fab was established. These processors reduce India’s dependence on foreign chips for critical space missions.
Developers: ISRO + SCL Chandigarh. Processors: VIKRAM3201 (India’s first indigenous 32-bit; 180nm CMOS; successor to VIKRAM1601) and KALPANA3201 (SPARC V8 RISC; IEEE 1754 ISA). Handed over to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan by MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan. VIKRAM1601 in use since 2009; Make-in-India version from 2016.
📅 Important Days
World Meteorological Day is observed annually on March 23, commemorating the founding of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The 2025 theme is “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together”, focusing on strengthening and expanding early warning systems for natural disasters and climate events globally.
- Commemorates – Founding of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
- 2025 theme focus – Improving early warning infrastructure to protect vulnerable communities from climate-related disasters
Day: World Meteorological Day. Date: March 23 (annually). Marks: founding of the WMO. 2025 Theme: “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together”. Focus: improving early warning systems for disasters and climate events.
🕊️ Obituaries
Renowned conservationist Vincent van der Merwe, a central figure in India’s Project Cheetah, passed away at the age of 42. He was found dead in the hallway of his apartment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he had been working with the Saudi government on plans to reintroduce cheetahs in the region.
- Age at death – 42 years
- Location – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Known for – Key role in India’s Project Cheetah (reintroduction of cheetahs to India)
- At time of death – Working on cheetah reintroduction plans for Saudi Arabia
Project Cheetah is India’s ambitious programme to reintroduce cheetahs to their historical range. Van der Merwe played a pivotal role in designing and executing the translocation of African cheetahs to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
Person: Vincent van der Merwe, conservationist. Age: 42. Associated with: India’s Project Cheetah. Died in: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Was working on: cheetah reintroduction for Saudi Arabia. India’s Project Cheetah site: Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
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