IMPORTANT DAYS
World Poetry Day 2025 celebrated on March 21.
• World Poetry Day Celebrated globally on 21 March each year.
• Theme for 2025: "Poetry as a Bridge for Peace and Inclusion," highlighting poetry’s unifying impact.
• Objective is to Inspires young poets and acknowledges poetry’s role in shaping and enlightening society.
• Poetry, one of the earliest forms of human expression, transforms simple words into powerful messages.
• The day honours poets and raises awareness among younger generations about the rich tradition of poetry.
• UNESCO designated 21 March as World Poetry Day at its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999.
NATIONAL NEWS
Rashtrapati Bhavan Hosts Purple Fest 2025 to Promote Inclusion
• Purple Fest 2025, aimed at promoting inclusion and accessibility for persons with disabilities (PwDs), was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 21.
• The event was organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePwD), under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• It attracted 23,500 participants, fostering a more inclusive society.
• The event featured partnerships with Tata Power, American India Foundation (AIF), Hans India, Tech Mahindra Foundation, and other key stakeholders.
• Adaptive sports such as Blind Cricket, Boccia, and Wheelchair Basketball were conducted.
• Literary activities like ‘Meet the Director’ and ‘Author Sessions’ were also part of the event.
AWARDS
Chiranjeevi Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award in UK
• Chiranjeevi received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the House of Commons, UK, for his contributions to public service through cultural leadership.
• The award was conferred by Bridge India, a UK-based organization, marking the first time it was given to an individual.
• He is the founder of the Chiranjeevi Eye and Blood Bank in Hyderabad.
• Renowned for his work in Telugu cinema, Chiranjeevi was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2024.
• The award ceremony took place at the House of Commons, the democratically elected lower house of the UK Parliament.
Ram Sutar to Receive Maharashtra Bhushan Award
• Veteran sculptor Ram Sutar will be honoured with the Maharashtra Bhushan, the state’s highest civilian award.
• He designed the Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the 251m-tall Lord Ram statue in Ayodhya.
• His notable works include the seated statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Indian Parliament.
• Sutar is currently crafting the statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar to be placed at Indu Mills, Dadar.
• He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 by the Government of India.
STATE NEWS
Punjab to Introduce Sign Language in Legislative Assembly
• Punjab plans to implement sign language in the Legislative Assembly to support individuals with speech and hearing impairments.
• Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister of State Social Security, Women, and Child Development, initiated this move to include sign language in assembly proceedings.
• She emphasized the need for the Assembly administration to implement the initiative swiftly.
• This step aims to make the assembly proceedings fully accessible to the concerned individuals.
Karnataka Approves 100% Salary Hike for CM, Ministers, and MLAs
• The Karnataka government approved a 100% salary hike for the Chief Minister, Ministers, and MLAs.
• The Karnataka Ministers’ Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Karnataka Legislature Members’ Salaries, Pensions, and Allowances (Amendment) Bill 2025 were cleared.
• Home Minister G Parameshwara justified the hike, citing rising expenditures as a necessity for lawmakers' survival.
• The salary of MLAs and MLCs will double from ₹40,000 to ₹80,000.
• Constituency travel allowance, categorized as a miscellaneous allowance, is set to increase from ₹60,000 to ₹80,000.
• Pension for MLAs and MLCs is also proposed to increase from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000 per month.
APPOINTMENTS
Kirsty Coventry Becomes First Woman and African IOC President
• Kirsty Coventry made history as the first woman and first African to be elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
• She is Zimbabwe’s sports minister and a two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming.
• Coventry secured victory in the first round, receiving 49 out of 97 votes, defeating Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. of Spain.
• Britain’s Sebastian Coe finished in third place.
• Coventry will take over from Thomas Bach as the next IOC president.
• The election had a total of seven candidates vying for the position.
NATIONAL NEWS
Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme
• The Ministry of Ayush recently introduced the Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme, aimed at creating a citizen-focused and accountable workforce.
• The initiative was officially launched by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, the Secretary of the Ministry.
• It is part of the broader efforts of the Capacity Building Commission to improve public service delivery, with a strong emphasis on promoting "Seva Bhav" or the spirit of service.
• The program's core objective is to enhance the skills of public servants while instilling a mindset of service that can positively influence the lives of citizens.
• It emphasizes both the development of professional abilities and the cultivation of a strong sense of responsibility towards citizens.
Surge in India’s Mobile Data Usage and 5G Growth
• India’s average monthly data usage per user rose to 27.5 GB in 2024, reflecting a 19.5% CAGR over the past five years.
• Nokia’s annual Mobile Broadband Index (MBiT) reported that data traffic has tripled and is expected to surpass 4G traffic by Q1 2026.
• Category B and C circles led this growth, with 5G data consumption increasing by 3.4 and 3.2 times, respectively.
• In metro areas, 5G now contributes 43% of mobile broadband usage.
• The number of active 5G devices doubled year-on-year, reaching 271 million in 2024.
• By 2025, nearly 90% of smartphones are expected to be replaced by 5G-capable models.
• The report highlights the move toward 5G Advanced, unlocking new business opportunities and paving the way for 6G technologies.
