Current Context: India won both the Men’s and Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025, held in Wolverhampton, England, marking its continued dominance in the sport.

Key Highlights

• Men’s Final: India defeated England 44-41.
• Women’s Final: India dominated England 57-34.
• Host & Venues: First time held outside Asia, matches were played across Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall, and Wolverhampton in the West Midlands.
• Historical: India had also secured both titles in the inaugural edition of the Kabaddi World Cup in 2019, hosted by Malaysia.

Current Context: The Ministry of Finance has notified amendments to the 2020 Rules under the Customs Act, 1962, introducing stricter requirements for imports availing preferential tariff rates under trade agreements.

Key Facts:

• Replaces ‘Certificate of Origin’ with ‘Proof of Origin’.
• Ensures goods comply with the criteria of being wholly obtained, produced, or processed in a specific country under trade agreements.

Objective:

• Tighten verification of preferential imports to prevent misuse.
• Protect domestic industries from unfair trade practices.

Significance:

• Greater Scrutiny: Customs authorities can now demand additional evidence beyond the proof of origin.
• Curb Misuse: Addresses misuse of trade routes via ASEAN, Sri Lanka, UAE, particularly targeting Chinese imports to avoid higher tariffs and trade restrictions.
• Implementation Basis: Notified under the Customs Act, 1962, aligning with India’s trade agreements.

Current context: NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has launched BHIM 3.0, the latest version of its digital payment platform.

About BHIM

• Full Form: Bharat Interface for Money
• Launch Year: 2016
• Purpose: UPI-based payment interface enabling real-time fund transfers via a single identity (mobile number or name).

Significance:

• Promotes digital payments and financial inclusion in India.
• Key initiative to support India’s digital economy.

Key Features of BHIM 3.0

• Language Expansion: Now available in 15+ Indian languages.
• Connectivity Optimisation: Ensures seamless transactions in low-internet areas.
• Money Management Tools: Includes expense tracking, bill splitting, and spending analytics.
• Family Mode: Enables shared expense management and assigning payments within families.

Current Context: The Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers, chaired by MP Kirti Azad, raised concerns over the reduced budget for fertiliser subsidies, affecting farmers and the agricultural sector.

Key Highlights

• Budget Reduction: Subsidy budgets for the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) and Urea schemes cut by 7.38%, risking effective implementation.
• Nano Fertilisers: Nano urea and nano DAP show promise in improving crop yields; committee recommends boosting production and awareness among farmers.
• NBS Regime: Promotes balanced fertilisation but faces challenges like high subsidy costs, black marketing, and regional imbalances.
• Raw Material Supply: of mining lease agreements for raw materials hampers domestic fertiliser production; urges government intervention.
• Fund Utilisation: 20% of funds for phosphorus and potassium fertilisers went unutilised in FY 2024-25; recommends better planning.

Current Context: X Corp (formerly Twitter Inc.) has approached the Karnataka High Court, contesting the government’s use of Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, for issuing content-blocking orders via the Sahyog Portal.

Sahyog Portal:

• Launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2024.
• Enables centralized content-blocking orders from government agencies and local authorities.

Legal Framework:

• Section 69A: Allows content blocking for national security or public order, with safeguards like reasoned orders and an opportunity for affected parties to contest (as upheld in the Shreya Singhal case, 2015).
• Section 79(3)(b): Exempts intermediaries from liability unless they fail to act on government notices to remove illegal content. X Corp argues this section is being misused for direct blocking.

Significance

• Highlights concerns over freedom of expression vs. national security.
• Calls for clearer distinctions in intermediary responsibilities and content-blocking procedures.

Current Context: The Forest Department is formulating a plan for the capture and phased rehabilitation of wild elephants in the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Situated in the Western Ghats of Karnataka.
• Spans across Shivamogga and Chikmagalur districts.

Status:

• Part of the Bhadra Tiger Reserve, declared in 1998.
• Also known as Muthodi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Significance:

• Named after the Bhadra River, which flows through the sanctuary.
• Houses the Jagara Giant, Karnataka’s largest teak tree.
• Wildlife: Home to 250+ bird species, including endemic ones.

Current Context: The Third Session of the India-Uganda Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was held in New Delhi from 25th-26th March 2025, marking a pivotal step in India-Uganda trade relations after a 23-year gap.

• Goal: Enhance, diversify, and deepen bilateral trade; establish an India-Uganda Joint Business Forum for industry collaboration.

Focus Areas:

• Trade Sectors: Minerals, coffee, cocoa, spices, dairy, essential oils, pharmaceuticals, REE, and electric vehicles.
• MoU Discussions: Public Works, Agriculture, Traditional Medicine, Telemedicine, and Standardization (Indian Pharmacopoeia).

Leadership

• India: Shri Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Commerce; Ms. Priya P. Nair, Economic Adviser.
• Uganda: Amb. Elly Kamahungye Kafeero and a 28-member delegation.

Current Context: Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has secured a ₹7,500 crore order to set up an 800 MW supercritical thermal power unit at Ukai plant, Gujarat.

Project Details:

• Awarding Authority: Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd (GSECL).
• Location: Ukai Plant, Tapi District, Gujarat.
• Capacity: 800 MW

Execution:

• EPC Basis (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction).
• Includes design, supply, and commissioning of boilers, turbines, and generators.
• Timeline: Commercial operations to begin within 54 months from March 21, 2025.

Significance:

• Energy Sector Contribution:
• Highlights BHEL’s role in India’s energy sector with 1,70,000 MW installed capacity nationwide.
• Reinforces BHEL’s partnership with GSECL since the first Ukai unit in 1976.

Current Context: Anahat Singh and Veer Chotani won the women’s and men’s singles titles at the SRFI Indian Tour PSA Challenger in Chennai.

Key Facts

• Prize Money: $15,000 each for men’s and women’s categories.

About PSA Challenger:

• Organized by the Professional Squash Association (PSA).
• A second-tier event for upcoming squash players to earn points for the premier PSA Squash Tour.
• The PSA Squash Tour is the top-level tournament featuring the world’s best squash players.

Current context: Launch of the book March of Glory commemorating the Golden Jubilee of India’s 1975 Hockey World Cup victory.

• Date and Venue: March 18, 2025, at Shivaji Stadium, New Delhi.
• Authors: Hockey historian K. Arumugam and journalist Errol D’Cruz.
• Content: Chronicles India’s dramatic journey to World Cup glory in Kuala Lumpur on March 15, 1975.