SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

Inaugural World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2025 in New Delhi

• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the 2025 World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) in New Delhi.

• The summit’s theme is "Partnerships for Accelerating Sustainable Development and Climate Solutions."

• The event was graced by prominent leaders, including Guyana’s Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillip and Brazil’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Marina Silva.

• Organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the summit aims to drive global climate action.

• India has achieved a 7.93% reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions.

• India has introduced transformative initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE).

• India has set a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

• Between 2005 and 2020, India reduced its emission intensity of GDP by 36%.

• India's role in climate action is growing, with a special focus on the contributions of the Global South.

AWARDS

Liu Jiakun Wins 2025 Pritzker Prize for Architecture

• China’s Liu Jiakun has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize, often referred to as the 'Nobel of Architecture.'

• Liu has focused his career on designing academic buildings, museums, and public spaces, aiming to enhance the living environment.

• His architectural philosophy emphasizes creating beautiful, just, and dignified spaces for people.

• Through his firm, Jiakun Architects, Liu has completed more than 30 projects across China.

• Liu is renowned for designing public spaces in densely populated cities, where public areas are scarce.

• The Pritzker Prize, sponsored by the Hyatt Foundation and funded by the Pritzker family, is one of the world’s most prestigious architecture awards, recognizing architects whose work makes significant contributions to humanity.

DEFENCE

Sea Dragon 2025: Multilateral Naval Exercise

• Sea Dragon 2025 is a multinational naval exercise hosted by the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet.

• Participating Nations: The exercise involves the Indian Navy, U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Republic of Korea Navy.

• The event takes place off the coast of Guam in the western Pacific Ocean.

• Sea Dragon 2025 runs from March 4 to March 19, 2025.

• The exercise aims to enhance tactical and command interoperability among the participating nations.

• The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet is the official host for the event.

RANKING AND REPORTS

India’s Rise as a Global Wealth Hub – 19th Wealth Report 2025

• India ranks as the 4th largest global wealth hub, following the United States, China, and Japan.

• High Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) in India increased from 80,686 in 2023 to 85,698 in 2024, reflecting a 6% growth.

• The HNWI population in India is projected to reach 93,753 by 2028.

• Key drivers of India's wealth growth include strong economic expansion, a thriving startup ecosystem, and a culture of entrepreneurship.

• The Wealth Report is published annually by Knight Frank, a leading UK-based real estate consultancy.

• The report provides valuable insights into global private wealth trends and investment patterns.

NITI Aayog Report: Women's Contribution to India's Financial Growth

• NITI Aayog launched a new report titled “From Borrowers to Builders: Women’s Role in India’s Financial Growth Story”.

• The report was unveiled by Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, the CEO of NITI Aayog.

• It was jointly published by TransUnion CIBIL, Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of NITI Aayog, and MicroSave Consulting (MSC).

• There is a growing trend of Indian women actively seeking credit and managing their credit scores.

• By December 2024, 27 million women had applied for credit, marking a 42% increase over the previous year.

• The proportion of women in self-monitoring credit reached 19.43% by December 2024, up from 17.89% in 2023.

• Key states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana will make up 49% of the self-monitoring women, with the southern region leading with 10.2 million women.

• Non-metro women are more proactive in monitoring their credit than their counterparts in metro cities.

• Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have seen the highest CAGR in active women borrowers over the last five years.

• Since 2019, there has been a 14% increase in women’s share of business loan origination, and a 6% growth in their share of gold loans.

APPOINTMENTS

Ajay Bhadoo Appointed CEO of GeM

• Ajay Bhadoo has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).

• He currently holds the position of Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce.

• His role as CEO of GeM is in addition to his existing responsibilities in the Department.

• Bhadoo is a senior IAS officer from the 1999 batch of the Gujarat cadre.

• GeM was launched on August 9, 2016, to enable online procurement of goods and services by Central Government ministries and departments.

AWARDS

EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2024 Highlights

• Nithin Kamath, Founder & CEO of Zerodha, was awarded the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award 2024.

• Kamath will represent India at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year (WEOY) event in Monte Carlo in June 2025.

• KV Kamath, Chairman of Jio Financial Services, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to India’s financial services sector.

• S. Somanath, aerospace engineer and former chairman of ISRO, was honored with the Special Jury Award for his significant contributions to India’s space program.

• The awards were presented by Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to Kamath, Somanath, and other **EOY 2024 category winners.

• This year’s awardees collectively generated Rs 2 lakh crore in revenue, with a combined valuation exceeding Rs 15 lakh crore (listed and unlisted companies).

SPORTS

Khelo India Para Games 2025 Announcement

• The Khelo India Para Games 2025 will take place in New Delhi from 20th to 27th March.

• This will mark the second edition of the Khelo India Para Games.

• A total of 230 para-athletes will compete across six disciplines, including medalists from the Paris Paralympics 2024.

• Para-athletics, Para-archery, and Para-powerlifting events will be hosted at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from 21st to 26th March.

• Para-badminton and Para-table tennis events will take place at the Indira Gandhi Stadium complex from 20th to 27th March.

• The Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range will be the venue for para-shooting events.

• The Khelo India Para Games is an integral part of the Khelo India mission, offering a platform for athletes to demonstrate their sporting abilities and competitiveness.