IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day of Women Judges 2025 observed on March 10
• International Day of Women Judges observed annually on March 10 to recognize the vital contributions of women in the judiciary and encourage more women to pursue judicial careers.
• Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2021, the day was first globally observed in 2022.
• In 1937, Anna Chandy became India's first female High Court judge, paving the way for gender equality in the judicial system.
• In 1989, Fatima Beevi made history as the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of India.
• Women in India’s Judicial System:
✓ India, one of the largest democracies, has a vast and complex judiciary.
✓ By August 2024, women represented 14% of the judges in India’s High Courts.
✓ However, only two High Courts had female Chief Justices.
✓ Of the 754 High Court judges as of August 2024, 106 were women.
SPORTS
India Clinches Record Third ICC Champions Trophy Title in 2025
• Historic Win: India triumphed over New Zealand to win the ICC Champions Trophy for the third time, achieving a four-wicket victory in the final.
• India chased down a target of 252 set by New Zealand, completing the win in 49 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
• India had previously won the Champions Trophy in 2002 and 2013, making this their third title.
• Player of the Match: Rohit Sharma was named Player of the Match for his stellar performance in the final.
• Player of the Series: Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand was awarded Player of the Series for his overall contribution throughout the tournament.
• With this victory, India secured their seventh ICC title, moving closer to Australia's record of 10 titles.
• With this victory, India secured their seventh ICC title, moving closer to Australia's record of 10 titles.
India Clinches 2025 Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship Title
• India successfully defended their title at the Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship 2025 by defeating Iran 32-25 in the final.
• The 6th edition of the tournament took place from March 6 to 8, 2025.
• India has now won five out of the six editions of the Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship.
• Tehran became the first city to host the championship twice.
• The 2025 championship featured seven teams divided into two groups.
APPOINTMENTS
Mark Carney to Become Canada’s 24th Prime Minister
• Mark Carney, former central banker, will become Canada’s 24th Prime Minister, replacing Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January 2025.
• Liberal Party Leader: Carney is a member of the Liberal Party and will be the first Prime Minister of Canada without prior political experience.
• He served as the 8th Governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013 and chaired the Financial Stability Board from 2011 to 2018.
• Carney secured the leadership with 131,674 votes, capturing 85.9% of the ballots.
• He committed to maintaining retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods until the United States shows more respect.
Vikas Kaushal Appointed CMD of HPCL
• Vikas Kaushal has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) for a five-year term, effective from March 7.
• He replaces Rajnish Narang, who held the additional charge of CMD since September 1, 2024.
• Kaushal brings over 30 years of expertise in the energy, oil and gas, and power sectors.
• He was the only Indian selected for Kearney’s global board and served two full terms as a board member.
• Kaushal also served as the Managing Director and Country Head for Kearney India for five years.
• HPCL, a subsidiary of ONGC, is headquartered in Mumbai and was founded on July 5, 1952.
STATE NEWS
Madhav National Park Becomes India’s 58th Tiger Reserve
• Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh has been officially designated as India’s 58th Tiger Reserve, as announced by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
• 9th in Madhya Pradesh: This is the 9th Tiger Reserve in the state of Madhya Pradesh, a key area for tiger conservation.
• India’s tiger reserves span over 82,836 sq km, playing a crucial role in protecting the species.
• India is home to 3,682 tigers, which accounts for over 70% of the world’s wild tiger population.
• These reserves are managed through a core/buffer approach, ensuring comprehensive conservation efforts on the ground.
• Location and Status: Situated in Shivpuri district, Chambal region, Madhav National Park currently hosts five tigers, with plans to release two more soon.
• As part of a reintroduction initiative, three tigers, including two females, were released into the park in 2023.
Bengaluru City University to be Renamed in Honor of Dr. Manmohan Singh
• Bengaluru City University (BCU) formerly known as Bengaluru Central University, will be renamed after Dr. Manmohan Singh, announced by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
• This will be the first university in India to be named after Dr. Singh, who passed away on December 26, 2024.
• The renaming was revealed during the presentation of the Chief Minister's record 16th budget in the Karnataka Assembly on March 7, 2025.
• Established in 2017 and renamed in 2020, Bengaluru City University is set to undergo another name change under the Congress-led government.
• As part of the reorganization, Government Arts College and Government RC College will be merged as constituent colleges of the university.
• Dr. Manmohan Singh, India’s 13th Prime Minister, is remembered as the architect of economic liberalization and modern financial reforms that reshaped the country's economy.
Delhi Government Launches Mahila Samridhi Yojana
• The Delhi government has introduced the ‘Mahila Samridhi Yojana,’ aimed at providing financial support to women through direct cash transfers.
• Eligible women will receive a financial aid of ₹2,500 under this scheme.
• A budget of ₹5,100 crore has been allocated for the successful implementation of the program.
• A dedicated online portal will be set up soon for registration, with detailed guidelines for participation.
• The scheme is open to women who are not government employees and have not availed of other government financial schemes.
• Advanced technology will be employed to ensure transparency, efficiency, and seamless financial disbursements.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
GRIDCON 2025 Inaugurated by Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal
• GRIDCON 2025, the International Conference and Exhibition, was officially inaugurated on 9th March 2025 by Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal at IICC, Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi.
• The event was organized by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) from 9th to 11th March 2025, with the Ministry of Power’s support and collaboration with CIGRE, India.
• The event saw participation from over 2,000 delegates, 150 technical papers, and 150 exhibiting companies, along with 30 international country delegates.
• The inauguration attracted a diverse audience of professionals, researchers, industry experts, and academia from the global power sector.
• The conference, titled "Innovations in Grid Resilience," centered around the progress of technologies, infrastructure, and smart solutions aimed at improving energy production, transmission, and consumption.
• Discussions centered on renewable energy integration, grid resilience, asset management, and digital transformation in the power sector.
DEFENCE
India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR-XII Begins
• The 12th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise, KHANJAR-XII, began on March 10, 2025, in Kyrgyzstan.
• The 14-day exercise will run until March 23, 2025, and is being hosted in Kyrgyzstan.
• The Indian contingent is represented by the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), while Kyrgyzstan is represented by the Kyrgyz Scorpion Brigade.
• The primary goal is to enhance counter-terrorism skills and exchange best practices in special forces operations in urban and hilly terrains.
• The exercise will also focus on advanced special forces techniques such as sniping, building interventions, and mountain craft.
• KHANJAR is an annual training event, with the previous edition held in India in January 2024.
RANKING AND INDEX
IndiGo Airlines Ranked Second Fastest-Growing Airline in the World
• IndiGo has been ranked the second-fastest-growing airline globally, with a 10.1% year-on-year increase in seat capacity, reaching over 134.9 million seats in 2024.
• According to Official Airline Guide (OAG) data, IndiGo ranked second, just behind Qatar Airways, which saw a 10.4% growth in seat capacity.
• IndiGo also ranked as the fastest-growing airline in terms of flight frequency, with a 9.7% annual increase, operating 749,156 flights in 2024.
• IndiGo holds one of the largest aircraft orders globally, with more than 900 aircraft on order, and received 58 new Airbus aircraft in 2024.
• The airline reported a net profit of Rs 2,449 crore for the October-December quarter of the current financial year, which ends on March 31, 2025.
AWARDS
Dr. Jayshree Vencatesan: First Indian to Win the Ramsar Award in 'Wetland Wise Use' Category
• Dr. Jayshree Vencatesan is the first Indian to receive the prestigious Ramsar Award in the 'Wetland Wise Use' category.
• She was recognized as one of the 12 women selected for the Ramsar Secretariat's 'Women Changemakers in the World of Wetlands' list.
• The announcement was made by the Ramsar Secretariat on March 7, 2025, in honor of International Women’s Day.
• The Ramsar Convention, based in Gland, Switzerland, is an international treaty dedicated to wetland conservation.
• The Ramsar Secretariat is located at the headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Switzerland.
