INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Indonesia to Join BRICS New Development Bank

• Indonesia will officially join the New Development Bank (NDB), as announced by President Prabowo Subianto on March 25.

• Joining the NDB will help Indonesia accelerate its economic transformation, according to the president.

• The NDB is interested in collaborating with Indonesia on projects related to renewable energy, biodiesel, and technological development.

• BRICS is an inter-governmental group of ten countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.

• The New Development Bank (NDB), which began operations in 2014, is headquartered in Shanghai, China, with a regional office in South Africa.

• The NDB’s goal is to provide financial support for sustainable development projects, especially in developing countries.

NATIONAL NEWS

Government Increases Salaries, Allowances, and Pensions for MPs

• The salary, allowances, and pensions of Members of Parliament (MPs) have been increased by 24%, effective from April 1, 2023.

• The monthly salary of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members has been raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.24 lakh.

• The daily allowance for MPs has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.

• Pensions for former MPs have been increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 31,000 per month.

• The additional pension for each year of service beyond five years has been raised from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.

• The last salary and allowance revision was announced in April 2018.

• The changes are made under the Salaries, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, based on the cost inflation index specified in the Income Tax Act of 1961.

Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 Passed by Parliament

• Rajya Sabha approved the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 on 25 March 2025.

• The Lok Sabha had passed the bill in December 2024.

• The bill amends the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to enhance disaster management.

• Key aim: To strengthen the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA).

• The bill empowers NDMA and SDMA to create disaster plans at national and state levels.

• States can now form Urban Disaster Management Authorities for state capitals and cities with municipal corporations.

• It includes provisions to create a disaster database at both national and state levels.

• The bill shifts focus from government-led responses to a multi-dimensional approach to disaster management.

SPORTS

India Wins Multiple Medals at ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025

• India secured a bronze in the mixed quad category at the ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025, shared with Vietnam.

• In the mixed quad final, Thailand claimed the gold by defeating Myanmar.

• India also won silver in the women's doubles event.

• The women's doubles bronze was jointly awarded to Japan and Iran.

• The Indian men's team won a bronze alongside Malaysia in their category.

• The 2025 ISTAF World Cup was the fifth edition of the tournament, held from March 20-25, 2025, at the Patliputra Indoor Stadium, Bihar.

Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group-1 to be Hosted in Pune for the First Time

• The Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group-1 will be hosted in Pune for the first time in Indian tennis history.

• The event will take place at the Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Complex from April 8-12.

• This marks the return of an international tennis tournament to Maharashtra after 25 years.

• Along with India, six teams from the Asia-Oceania region including New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Korea, and Thailand will compete in a round-robin format.

• Each competition will consist of three matches: two singles and one doubles.

• India, led by Ankita Raina, aims to secure one of the two qualification spots, with doubles specialist Prarthana Thombare on the team.

Highlights from the Khelo India Para Games 2025

• Jaspreet Kaur from Punjab became the first athlete in the Khelo India Para Games to break the national powerlifting record, lifting 101 kg in the 45 kg category to win the gold medal. She broke her own record of 100 kg.

• Sonam Patil secured the silver, and Kavipriya Raja won the bronze in the same event.

• Ishwar Rampal Tak won gold in the Men’s Javelin F12/F13 event, while Manjeet took silver and Akshay Kumar Meena won bronze.

• In the Women’s Shot Put F12/F20, Khusbhoo Gill clinched gold, Muthu Meena bagged silver, and Ananya Bansal earned bronze.

• Sumedha Pathak won gold in the 10M Air Pistol Women SH1, with Rubina Francis winning silver and Anita Kumari securing bronze in the same event.

• Sagar Balasaheb Katale took gold in the 10M Air Rifle Prone Mixed SH1, while Mona Agarwal earned silver and Deepak Saini won bronze.

• In para archery, Sheetal Devi won gold in the Compound Women Open category. Payal Nag secured silver, and Jyoti won bronze.

• Shyam Sundar Swami won gold in the Compound Men’s Open archery event, with Toman Kumar claiming silver and Rakesh Kumar winning bronze.

• The Khelo India Para Games were held in New Delhi from March 20-27.

India Dominates Kabaddi World Cup 2025, Wins Both Men’s and Women’s Titles

• India emerged victorious in both the Men's and Women's Kabaddi World Cups 2025 held in Wolverhampton, England.

• The Indian men's team triumphed over the host nation, England, with a narrow win of 44-41 in the final.

• The Indian women's team defeated England with a commanding score of 57-34 in their final match.

• This year marked the first time the Kabaddi World Cup was held outside of Asia, with matches taking place in Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.

• India had previously won both titles in the 2019 edition of the tournament, which was held in Malaysia.

STATE NEWS

Telangana Assembly Adopts Human Organ Transplantation Act and Other Key Bills

• The Telangana State Assembly has adopted the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994, and the Amendment Act of 2011, aligning with national regulations on organ and tissue transplantation.

• The act governs the removal, storage, and transplantation of human organs and tissues for therapeutic purposes, with a focus on preventing commercialization.

• An advisory committee for organ donation and transplantation has also been included under the act.

• Alongside, the Telangana Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Telangana Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2025, were also passed.

• The key objective of these measures is to ensure ethical transplantation practices and to combat illegal commercialization of human organs.

Jharkhand Government to Conduct Caste-Based Census in Upcoming Financial Year

• Jharkhand government announced plans to conduct a caste-based census in the next financial year.

• The announcement was made following a question raised by Congress MLA Pradeep Yadav during the State Assembly Budget session.

• Cabinet Minister Deepak Birua confirmed that the survey would take place in the upcoming financial year.

• The proposal for the caste-based census was approved by the state government in February 2024.

DEFENCE

India Achieves Record Growth in Indigenous Defence Production

• India’s indigenous defence production reached a new high of ₹1.27 lakh crore in 2023-24.

• The production value has increased by 174%, up from ₹46,429 crore in 2014-15.

• Defence exports skyrocketed from ₹686 crore in FY 2013-14 to ₹21,083 crore in FY 2023-24.

• The government has implemented measures to improve ease of doing business in the defence manufacturing sector.

• 65% of defence equipment is now produced domestically, reducing previous reliance on imports.

• India aims for a target of ₹3 lakh crore in defence production by 2029, positioning itself as a global defence manufacturing hub.

• The private sector now contributes 21% of total defence production.