State Staff Selection Current Affairs — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Sat, 22 Mar 2025
Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2025 launched at Panchkula on World Water Day
The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the sixth edition of Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain at Panchkula, Haryana, on World Water Day, 22 March 2025, whose global theme was 'Glacier Preservation'.
Centre withdraws 20% export duty on onions with effect from 1 April 2025
The Department of Revenue issued Notification No. 19/2025-Customs on 22 March 2025, making the export duty on onions nil from 1 April 2025 and ending the 20% duty in force since 13 September 2024.
23rd India–France naval exercise Varuna concludes with carriers INS Vikrant and Charles de Gaulle
The 23rd edition of the India–France bilateral naval exercise Varuna, held from 19 to 22 March 2025 in the Arabian Sea with aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and Charles de Gaulle, concluded on 22 March 2025.
Delhi Legislative Assembly becomes 28th legislature to sign MoU for National e-Vidhan Application
The Delhi Legislative Assembly signed a tripartite MoU with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the Delhi government on 22 March 2025, becoming the 28th legislature to join the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA).
Food Processing Ministry to support 100 new NABL-accredited food testing labs in 2025-26
Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu announced at Bathinda, Punjab, on 22 March 2025 that the Ministry of Food Processing Industries will fund 100 new NABL-accredited food testing laboratories in 2025-26.
Ashok Singh Thakur elected Chairman of INTACH
Ashok Singh Thakur was elected Chairman of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for three years at its AGM in New Delhi on 22 March 2025.
DGGI blocks 357 websites of offshore online money gaming firms in GST evasion crackdown
The Directorate General of GST Intelligence said on 22 March 2025 it had blocked 357 websites of illegal offshore online money gaming entities and frozen about 2,400 bank accounts in a crackdown on GST evasion.
RCB beat KKR by seven wickets in IPL 2025 opener at Eden Gardens
Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in the opening match of IPL 2025 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on 22 March 2025.
Goa Shipyard launches 'Tavasya', second Project 1135.6 frigate
Goa Shipyard Ltd launched 'Tavasya', the second frigate of Project 1135.6 (Yard 1259), at Goa on 22 March 2025 in the presence of Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth.
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.
Justice Harish Tandon appointed Chief Justice of Orissa High Court
The President appointed Justice Harish Tandon, a judge of the Calcutta High Court, as Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, the Law Ministry notified on 21 March 2025.
Purple Fest 2025 for persons with disabilities held at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Purple Fest 2025, celebrating the talent and inclusion of persons with disabilities, was held at the Amrit Udyan, Rashtrapati Bhavan, on 21 March 2025 with about 23,500 participants and President Droupadi Murmu in attendance.
Navy and Coast Guard evacuate injured crew of MV Heilan Star 230 nautical miles west of Goa
A Seaking helicopter from INS Vikrant evacuated three crew with severe burns from the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Heilan Star, about 230 nautical miles west of Goa, on 21 March 2025.
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'.
ECI concludes two-week training programme for 40 Bhutanese election officials at IIIDEM
A two-week residential programme on election administration for 40 senior and mid-level election officials from Bhutan concluded at IIIDEM, New Delhi, on 21 March 2025.
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.
14th ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group meeting on Counter-Terrorism concludes in New Delhi
The 14th meeting of the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, the first of the 2024–27 cycle co-chaired by India and Malaysia, concluded in New Delhi 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.
Mansukh Mandaviya declares second Khelo India Para Games open in New Delhi
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya declared the second Khelo India Para Games open at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, New Delhi, on 20 March 2025, with over 1,300 para athletes in six disciplines.
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.
BCCL monetises 2 MTPA Dugda coal washery in Jharkhand, India's first coal washery monetisation
Bharat Coking Coal Limited, a Coal India subsidiary, monetised its 2 MTPA Dugda Coal Washery in Bokaro, Jharkhand, the first monetisation of a coal washery in India, the Ministry of Coal said 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.
CCEA approves ₹4,500 crore six-lane greenfield highway from JNPA Port (Pagote) to Chowk in Maharashtra
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 19 March 2025 approved a 29.219 km six-lane access-controlled greenfield highway from JNPA Port (Pagote) to Chowk in Maharashtra, to be built on BOT (Toll) mode at ₹4,500.62 crore.
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.