HPPSC HPAS Current Affairs — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Fri, 21 Mar 2025
India Bioeconomy Report 2025: bioeconomy grows 16-fold to $165.7 billion in 2024
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh released the India Bioeconomy Report 2025 at BIRAC's Foundation Day in New Delhi on 21 March 2025; it puts India's bioeconomy at $165.7 billion in 2024, up from $10 billion in 2014.
HQ Integrated Defence Staff and DST sign MoU on defence research and development
Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and the Department of Science and Technology signed an MoU in New Delhi on 21 March 2025 to collaborate on defence research and development for the armed forces.
Sahitya Akademi announces Translation Prize 2024 for 22 books
The Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi, chaired by its President Madhav Kaushik, approved 22 books for the Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize 2024 at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, as announced on 21 March 2025.
First World Day for Glaciers observed; International Day of Forests 2025 marked with theme 'Forests and Foods'
The first-ever World Day for Glaciers was observed on 21 March 2025, the same day as the International Day of Forests, whose 2025 theme was 'Forests and Foods'.
BIS to release Annual Programme for Standardisation 2025-26 after consultations with 40 ministries
The Bureau of Indian Standards said on 21 March 2025 it would release its Annual Programme for Standardisation 2025-26 after consultations with 40 ministries and 84 industry associations.
C-DOT and IIT Delhi partner to develop AI chatbot for disaster early warning
C-DOT signed an agreement with IIT Delhi, announced on 21 March 2025, to develop a generative AI-enhanced chatbot for disaster early warning and emergency communication.
Thu, 20 Mar 2025
World Happiness Report 2025: India ranks 118th of 147; Finland tops for eighth year
The World Happiness Report 2025, released on 20 March 2025, ranked India 118th of 147 countries, up from 126th, while Finland was the happiest country for the eighth year in a row.
India's coal production crosses 1 billion tonnes for the first time in a financial year
India's coal production crossed one billion tonnes in 2024-25 on 20 March 2025, 11 days earlier than the previous year's total of 997.83 million tonnes was reached.
DAC clears proposals worth over ₹54,000 crore including T-90 engines, Varunastra torpedoes and AEW&C systems
The Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Rajnath Singh accorded Acceptance of Necessity to eight capital acquisition proposals worth over ₹54,000 crore on 20 March 2025.
Zoho wins MeitY's Indian Web Browser Development Challenge
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on 20 March 2025 that Zoho had won the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge, with Team PING and Team Ajna as first and second runners-up.
EPFO adds 17.89 lakh net members in January 2025
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation added 17.89 lakh net members in January 2025, according to provisional payroll data released on 20 March 2025.
Wed, 19 Mar 2025
PFRDA notifies regulations to operationalise the Unified Pension Scheme from 1 April 2025
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority notified the PFRDA (Operationalisation of the Unified Pension Scheme under NPS) Regulations, 2025 by a gazette notification dated 19 March 2025, effective 1 April 2025.
Sunita Williams and NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 return to Earth; Williams and Wilmore complete 286 days in space
NASA's SpaceX Crew-9, including Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, splashed down off Tallahassee, Florida, at 5:57 pm EDT on 18 March 2025, which was 3:27 am IST on 19 March 2025.
SEBI brings demat and mutual fund holdings to DigiLocker to reduce unclaimed assets
SEBI issued a circular on 19 March 2025 letting investors store demat and mutual fund holding statements in DigiLocker and name 'Data Access Nominees', to reduce unclaimed assets in the securities market.
Cabinet approves ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme for low-value BHIM-UPI person-to-merchant payments
The Union Cabinet on 19 March 2025 approved a ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme for 2024-25 that pays banks 0.15% on UPI person-to-merchant transactions of up to ₹2,000 for small merchants.
Cabinet approves revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission with total outlay of ₹3,400 crore
The Union Cabinet on 19 March 2025 approved the revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission with an additional ₹1,000 crore, taking the total outlay to ₹3,400 crore for the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26).
C-DOT launches 'Samarth' incubation programme for telecom and ICT startups
The Centre for Development of Telematics launched the first cohort of 'Samarth', an incubation programme for startups in telecom and ICT, with STPI as implementation partner, on 19 March 2025.
Cabinet approves revised National Programme for Dairy Development with ₹2,790 crore budget
The Union Cabinet on 19 March 2025 approved the revised National Programme for Dairy Development, a Central Sector Scheme, adding ₹1,000 crore for a total of ₹2,790 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Tue, 18 Mar 2025
ECI decides EPIC-Aadhaar linking will follow Article 326, RP Act 1950 and Supreme Court ruling; UIDAI consultations to begin
The Election Commission of India led by CEC Gyanesh Kumar decided on 18 March 2025 that linking voter ID (EPIC) with Aadhaar will be done only as per Article 326 of the Constitution, Sections 23(4), 23(5) and 23(6) of the RP Act, 1950, and the Supreme Court judgement in WP (Civil) No. 177/2023.
UIDAI partners Bengaluru-based Sarvam AI for GenAI voice interactions and fraud alerts in Aadhaar services
The Unique Identification Authority of India partnered with Bengaluru-based Generative AI company Sarvam AI, in an agreement effective 18 March 2025, for AI voice interactions and real-time fraud alerts in 10 languages.
Putin agrees to Trump's proposal for a 30-day halt on strikes on energy infrastructure
In a phone call on 18 March 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to US President Donald Trump's proposal that Russia and Ukraine refrain from striking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, but did not accept a full 30-day ceasefire.
IndiaAI and Geological Survey of India launch hackathon on AI-driven mineral targeting in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
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.
MeitY and Drone Federation India launch NIDAR drone challenge under SwaYaan with ₹40 lakh prize pool
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
India and New Zealand sign defence cooperation MoU during PM Christopher Luxon's visit; New Zealand joins IPOI and CDRI
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 assumes charge as CEO of Anusandhan National Research Foundation
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.
Government e Marketplace crosses ₹5 lakh crore gross merchandise value before the end of FY 2024-25
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.
Wholesale price inflation rises to 2.38% in February 2025 on costlier food products
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.
India's total exports in April–February 2024-25 estimated at $750.53 billion, up 6.24%; electronics exports jump 26.46% in February
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.
PM Modi attends 10th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi; New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon delivers inaugural keynote as chief guest
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 calls on PM Modi and meets Rajnath Singh in New Delhi
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.