• The U.S. government has announced the creation of a Crypto Strategic Reserve, a move aimed at integrating cryptocurrencies into the country’s financial system.
• This initiative marks a significant step in acknowledging digital assets as part of national economic strategy.

ABOUT:

• The Crypto Strategic Reserve will function as a national stockpile of digital assets, similar to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but for cryptocurrencies.
• It will be managed under a federal regulatory framework to ensure security, transparency, and compliance with financial laws.
• The reserve will consist of five major cryptocurrencies:

1. Bitcoin (BTC) – The first and most widely recognized cryptocurrency.
2. Ethereum (ETH) – Known for its smart contract capabilities.
3. Ripple (XRP) – Used for fast and low-cost cross-border payments.
4. Solana (SOL) – A high-performance blockchain designed for decentralized applications.
5. Cardano (ADA) – Focuses on sustainability, security, and scalability.

• Significance of the Initiative:
• Economic Stability: Functions similarly to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, providing a financial buffer in economic uncertainty.
• Hedge Against Inflation: Cryptocurrencies can serve as a safeguard against currency devaluation and market fluctuations.
• Strengthens U.S. Financial Position: Establishes the U.S. as a leader in the global crypto economy and encourages institutional adoption.
• Diversification of Assets: Reduces reliance on traditional financial systems, adding resilience to the U.S. economy.

• Forbes India Leadership Awards (FILA) 2025 concluded at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.
• Key Highlights:

1. Hosted by Forbes India, featuring influential names in business, tech, and philanthropy.
2. Awards celebrated breakthrough innovations, leadership, and entrepreneurial success.

• Major Award Winners:

1. Emerging Innovator Award – BugWorks Research,Recognized for biotech innovation.
2. Focus: Transforming discoveries into real-world impact.
3. Outstanding Startup Award – BrowserStack, Revolutionized software testing solutions globally.
4. Founders: Ritesh Arora, Nakul Aggarwal.
5. Impact: Powers half of the world’s airlines, banks, and tech firms.

1. Icons of Excellence:

1. Ajay Singh (SpiceJet Chairman & MD),Recognized for transforming India’s aviation sector.
2. Katrina Kaif (Co-founder, Kay Beauty),Honored for entrepreneurial excellence in beauty industry.

• India has obtained a 9,000-square-kilometer exploration block in Zambia, a leading global copper producer, to search for copper and cobalt.
• Global Copper Market Trends:

1. Shrinking supply of copper ore (Bloomberg report).
2. China controls 50% of global smelting & refining capacity.
3. High demand drivers: EV batteries, renewable energy, and clean tech.
4. Top producers: Chile, Peru, China, DRC, U.S.
5. Geopolitical race: India, China, and the U.S. securing supply chains.

• India’s Copper Situation:

3. Domestic Production (2023-24): 3.78 million tonnes (8% lower than 2018-19).
4. Top producing states: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan.
5. Copper Imports: Doubled to ₹26,000 crore (2023-24 vs. 2018-19).
6. Challenges: Large deposits require extensive exploration before mining (avg. 17 years for a copper mine).
7. Overseas Strategy: Investments in Zambia, Chile, DRC to meet demand, but with geopolitical risks.

• Africa’s Role in Critical Minerals:

1. Produces 70% of global cobalt & 16% of global copper.
2. DRC: Poised to be 2nd-largest copper supplier by 2030.

India’s Efforts: Ministry of Mines working in DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique, Rwanda to acquire mineral assets.

• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with NITI Aayog, launched Swavalambini, a Women Entrepreneurship Programme.
• Objective: To establish a structured and stage-wise entrepreneurial journey for young women.
• Target Audience: Women in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
• Aim:

1. Nurturing entrepreneurial spirit among young women.
2. Providing the mindset, resources, and mentorship needed to build and scale businesses.

• Key Features of Swavalambini Programme:

1. Faculty Development Programme (FDP):

Training for faculty members from participating HEIs.

Five-day training sessions to equip faculty with entrepreneurial knowledge.

2. Mentorship & Support:Business plan development with mentorship from industry experts & successful entrepreneurs.
3. Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP):Advanced training after initial entrepreneurial awareness.

Focus areas:

• Business Planning & Strategy.
• Leadership & Decision-Making Skills.
• Financial Literacy & Investment Strategies.
• Market Research & Competitive Analysis.

• India inaugurated its first World Peace Center in Gurugram, Haryana.
• Established by Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti under Jain Acharya Lokesh.
• Aims to promote non-violence, human values, and global harmony.
• Key Dignitaries Present at the event included former President Ram Nath Kovind, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
• Significance: Strengthens India’s voice on peace at global forums like UN & World Parliament of Religions.
• Key Objectives of the World Peace Center:
  • Promoting Non-Violence & Peace: Spreading the message of ahimsa (non-violence).
  • Spiritual & Moral Upliftment: Conducting workshops, meditation, and discourses.
  • Global Harmony (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam): Encouraging unity and cooperation.
  • Environmental & Ethical Awareness: Addressing climate change & ethical leadership.

• Recently, researchers from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered a new species of spined loach, Cobitis beijingensis, in Beijing. This is the first newly identified spined loach species in Beijing in over 40 years and reflects ongoing efforts to restore urban aquatic ecosystems.
• Species Identification and Characteristics

1. Cobitis beijingensis is a small freshwater fish, approximately 5 cm in length.
2. It has distinct yellow and black patterned markings on its body.
3. Identified through morphological and molecular analysis, confirming its uniqueness among regional loach species.
4. Prefers calm, clear waters with muddy or sandy bottoms, abundant in aquatic plants.

• Significance

1. Highlights Beijing’s biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration efforts.
2. Emphasizes the importance of urban freshwater habitat protection.

Recently, an investigation by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) detected elevated selenium levels in the blood and hair of affected individuals, in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district. The source was traced to wheat from Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets.

• About Selenium

1. Essential mineral found in food and supplements.
2. Exists as a byproduct of metal sulfide ore refining, not in pure elemental form.
3. Present in soil & groundwater in inorganic forms, converted by plants into organic compounds like selenocysteine & selenomethionine.
4. Component of 25 selenoproteins, aiding in thyroid function, DNA synthesis, reproduction, & oxidative stress protection.

• Applications

1. Glassmaking: Decolorizes glass, creates red-colored glass/enamels.
2. Electronics: Used in photocells, solar cells, light meters (now replaced by silicon).
3. Pigments: Adds red color to ceramics, paints, plastics.
4. Rubber Industry: Strengthens rubber via vulcanization.

• Selenium Toxicity (Selenosis)

1. Causes: Overconsumption via diet, supplements, or environmental exposure.
2. Symptoms: Hair loss, nausea, fatigue, brittle nails, and neurological issues.

• Recently, the Government of India has disbursed funds to states under the Special Assistance Scheme.
• About: The scheme provides states with 50-year interest-free loans to boost capital investment and support reforms. Launched in FY 2021, it aims to strengthen state-led development.
• Objective: Provides 50-year interest-free loans to states for capital investment and reforms.
• Funding Growth:

1. Initial Allocation (2021) – ₹12,000 crore
2. FY24 Allocation – ₹1.3 trillion (₹30,000 crore linked to outcomes)
3. FY25 Allocation – ₹1.25 trillion (97% approved for distribution)

• Fund Distribution:

1. ₹55,000 crore based on states’ share of central taxes
2. ₹95,000 crore tied to specific reform criteria

• Key Reform Areas:

1. Tourism development, vehicle scrappage incentives, industrial growth
2. Compliance with Centrally Sponsored Schemes and fund transparency

• Top Beneficiary States (FY25):

1. Uttar Pradesh – ₹13,042 crore
2. Bihar – ₹12,907 crore
3. Madhya Pradesh – ₹10,635 crore
4. West Bengal – Among leading recipients

• In a recent development, the Income Tax Bill 2025 proposes revisions to the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR), allowing tax authorities to issue reassessment notices beyond the current time limitations.
• General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR)
• Objective: Prevent tax avoidance through impermissible arrangements.
• Authority: Tax officials can reclassify transactions as Impermissible Avoidance Arrangements (IAAs), leading to re-computation of income and tax liabilities.
• Oversight: GAAR can only be invoked with approval from a High Court-led Approving Panel.
• Proposed Changes in Reassessment Notices
• Current Rule: Reassessment notices allowed within 5 years and 3 months if under-reported income exceeds ₹50 lakh.
• New Proposal: Allows reassessment beyond this time limit if IAAs affect multiple years.
• Safeguards Against Misuse
• GAAR Panel decisions will serve as valid indicators of escaped income.
• No pre-hearing required before issuing reassessment notices, ensuring a faster process.

• On March 2, 2025, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 successfully landed near Mons Latreille in Mare Crisium.
• It is the second private lunar landing and the first to land upright, highlighting NASA’s growing collaboration with private companies.
• Launch & Payload

1. Launched on January 15, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
2. The lander, roughly the size of a hippopotamus, carries ten scientific instruments, including a lunar soil analyzer and a radiation-tolerant computer.

• Mission duration: one lunar day (14 Earth days).
• Scientific Objectives

1. Capture high-definition images of a total eclipse (March 14, 2025) and a lunar sunset (March 16, 2025).
2. Study lunar dust behavior under solar radiation.

• Upcoming Lunar Missions: Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 (March 6, 2025) will land Athena, carrying three rovers and a hopping drone for rugged terrain exploration.
• Challenges of Lunar Landings

1. No atmosphere means controlled thruster burns are required for descent.
2. Success of Blue Ghost demonstrates feasibility for routine private lunar missions.