APSC (Assam) Current Affairs One-liners — All time

Tue, 18 Mar 2025

• IndiaAI and the Geological Survey of India launched the IndiaAI Hackathon on Mineral Targeting on 18 March 2025, asking participants to use AI/ML to find new exploration areas for critical minerals in a 39,000 sq km area of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• The Ministry of Electronics and IT and Drone Federation India launched the National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research (NIDAR) under the SwaYaan initiative on 18 March 2025, with a ₹40 lakh prize pool.

Mon, 17 Mar 2025

• New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon held talks with PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 17 March 2025 during his official visit of 16–20 March; the two sides signed a defence cooperation MoU and New Zealand joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
• Dr Shivkumar Kalyanaraman assumed charge as the Chief Executive Officer of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) on 17 March 2025, taking over from acting CEO Prof. Abhay Karandikar.
• The Government e Marketplace (GeM) crossed ₹5 lakh crore in gross merchandise value (GMV) for FY 2024-25 more than 18 days before the financial year ended, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced on 17 March 2025.
• India's annual inflation based on the all-India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) was 2.38% (provisional) in February 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on 17 March 2025.
• The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on 17 March 2025 that India's total exports (merchandise and services) in April–February 2024-25 were an estimated $750.53 billion, up 6.24% from $706.43 billion a year earlier.
• The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue opened in New Delhi on 17 March 2025, with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon as chief guest delivering the inaugural keynote address and PM Narendra Modi in attendance.
• US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called on PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 17 March 2025, the first high-level visit to India from the US in President Trump's second term, and also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and WhatsApp announced a partnership on 17 March 2025 to combat misuse of telecom resources for cyber frauds and to spread awareness through the 'Scam Se Bacho' campaign and Sanchar Saathi.
• The 9th India–Australia Defence Policy Talks were held in New Delhi on 17 March 2025, with the Indian delegation led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and the Australian side by Bernard Philip, First Assistant Secretary, International Policy Division, Department of Defence.

Sun, 16 Mar 2025

• India and New Zealand announced the launch of negotiations for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement on 16 March 2025 in New Delhi, after a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the 57th annual conference of the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) as chief guest in Kokrajhar, Assam, on 16 March 2025, announcing that a prominent road in Delhi will be named after Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma.
• Britain's Jack Draper beat Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 for his first Masters 1000 title and Russia's 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) finals in California on 16 March 2025.
• China's Shi Yuqi beat Chinese Taipei's Lee Chia-hao 21-17, 21-19 and South Korea's An Se-young beat China's Wang Zhiyi 13-21, 21-18, 21-18 in the singles finals of the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham on 16 March 2025.
• The Reserve Bank of India was honoured with the Digital Transformation Award 2025 by Central Banking, London, for its in-house digital initiatives Pravaah and Sarthi, and was applauded by PM Narendra Modi on 16 March 2025.
• McLaren's Lando Norris converted pole position into victory at the season-opening 2025 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne, on 16 March 2025, finishing 0.895 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, with George Russell third.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review of the implementation of the three new criminal laws in the North-Eastern states in Guwahati on 16 March 2025, asking all states to train 100% of police personnel and praising Assam for filing charge sheets within 60–90 days in 66% of cases.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi's podcast conversation with American podcaster Lex Fridman, covering topics from fasting and India's traditions to his life and leadership, was released on 16 March 2025.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) organised the 10th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law in New Delhi on 16 March 2025, with Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra as keynote speaker.

Sat, 15 Mar 2025

• US President Donald Trump ordered large-scale air strikes on Houthi-held areas of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, on 15 March 2025, vowing 'overwhelming lethal force' until the Iran-backed group stops attacking shipping.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Dergaon, Assam, on 15 March 2025, saying it would be ranked first among the country's police academies within five years.
• India's Special Olympics Bharat contingent finished the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, which closed on 15 March 2025, with 33 medals: 8 gold, 18 silver and 7 bronze.
• World Consumer Rights Day was observed on 15 March 2025 with the theme 'A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles'; the Department of Consumer Affairs held a webinar addressed by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.
• An Indian delegation led by Labour and Employment Secretary Sumita Dawra participated in the 353rd Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organization in Geneva (10–20 March 2025), the Labour Ministry said on 15 March 2025.

Fri, 14 Mar 2025

• Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada's 24th Prime Minister on 14 March 2025 at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, by Governor General Mary Simon, along with the 30th Canadian Ministry.
• The G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting hosted by Canada's Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly in Charlevoix, Quebec, from 12 to 14 March 2025, ended on 14 March with a joint statement.
• Spot gold crossed $3,000 an ounce for the first time on 14 March 2025, touching a record $3,004.86, as investors sought a safe haven amid US tariff uncertainty.
• NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission launched on 14 March 2025 at 7:03 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, carrying four crew members to the International Space Station.
• The 89th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) under PM GatiShakti, held on 14 March 2025, evaluated eight road, railway and metro projects, including a four-lane road tunnel under the Brahmaputra between Gohpur and Numaligarh in Assam.