21st March, 2025 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
Cabinet Approves Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission with ₹3,400 Crore Allocation

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) to enhance livestock sector growth.
• The revised scheme, implemented as a Central Sector component of the Development Programmes scheme, has been allocated a total of ₹3,400 crore during the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26), with an additional ₹1,000 crore.
• The mission aims to boost milk production, genetic improvement, and farmer incomes while preserving India’s indigenous bovine breeds through scientific interventions.
• Total outlay: ₹3,400 crore under the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26).
• Additional allocation of ₹1,000 crore for the revised scheme.

New Initiatives Added

• One-time assistance (35%) for Heifer Rearing Centres
• Establishment of 30 housing facilities for 15,000 heifers.
• 3% Interest Subvention for High Genetic Merit (HGM) IVF Heifers
• Farmers taking loans from milk unions, banks, or financial institutions for HGM IVF heifers will receive interest subvention.

INTERNATIONAL
Finland Tops the World Happiness Rankings for the Eighth Consecutive Year

• Finland has once again secured its position as the world’s happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, according to the latest global happiness rankings. The study, conducted by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in collaboration with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, revealed that the United States has dropped to its lowest-ever ranking at 24th place. The rankings are based on people’s self-assessment of their quality of life, highlighting factors such as social trust, economic stability, and life expectancy.
• The 2024 World Happiness Report has reaffirmed Finland’s position as the happiest country in the world. Other Nordic nations, including Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands, rounded out the top five.
• The rankings are derived from individuals’ responses to survey questions about their overall life satisfaction. Despite Finland’s geographical proximity to Russia and increasing geopolitical tensions, its citizens continue to report high levels of happiness.

Vijay Sankar Honoured with Denmark’s Knight’s Cross

• Vijay Sankar, the Honorary Consul General of Denmark for Southern India and Chairman of The Sanmar Group, has been awarded the prestigious Knight’s Cross of the Order of Dannebrog by the King of Denmark.
• This honor recognizes his remarkable consular services and contributions to strengthening Indo-Danish relations.
•  The award was presented by Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Ambassador of Denmark in India, at a special function in Chennai on March 18, 2025. The event also highlighted the Sankar family’s five-decade-long association with Denmark’s consular services.

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ECONOMY
India sets new record with 7% rise in textile exports, government implements multiple schemes to boost sector

• India continues to rank among the top textile-exporting nations, holding a 4% share in global textiles and apparel exports. In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Friday, the Ministry of Textiles reported a 7% increase in textile and apparel exports, including handicrafts, from April to December 2024, compared to the same period the previous year. Key export markets for Indian textiles—namely the USA, European Union, and UK—accounted for 53% of total exports during FY 2023-24.
• To strengthen India’s position in the global textile market, the government has introduced several key initiatives. Among them is the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme, aimed at building world-class textile infrastructure. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, focusing on MMF fabric, apparel, and technical textiles, seeks to boost large-scale manufacturing. Other efforts include the National Technical Textiles Mission, which emphasizes research and market development, and SAMARTH, a capacity-building program designed to provide placement-oriented skilling in the textile sector.
• The Indian textiles industry, one of the largest in the world, boasts a robust raw material base comprising natural fibres like cotton, silk, wool, and jute, alongside man-made fibres. The country has comprehensive manufacturing capabilities across the value chain, from fibre to finished garments.

BIS set to launch annual programme for standardisation 2025-26

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is set to release the Annual Programme for Standardisation (APS) for the year 2025-26, which will include the development of new standards and the revision of existing ones in the coming year, according to a statement issued on Friday.
• This effort aligns with ongoing efforts to increase the adoption of over 23,000 standards developed by BIS, ensuring adherence to globally accepted quality standards across various sectors.
• The BIS, the National Standards Body of India, has also introduced a digital interface that allows stakeholders to upload proposals and track their progress.
• The APS 2025-26 is expected to significantly enhance the formulation of priority standards, promoting wider adoption and seamless implementation across the manufacturing and service sectors, the official statement added.
• BIS also carries out search and seizure operations to ensure that its certified standards are met by manufacturing companies. It carried out raids on multiple e-commerce companies this month and seized goods that did not meet these standards.
• Under Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016, defaulters face a minimum penalty of Rs 2 lakh, which may increase to ten times the value of the goods sold or offered for sale. Furthermore, depending on the severity of the violation, offenders may also face imprisonment of up to two years.

AWARDS
Hydrologist Günter Blöschl Wins 2025 Stockholm Water Prize

• Renowned hydrologist Günter Blöschl has been awarded the 2025 Stockholm Water Prize for his pioneering research in flood hydrology. Announced by the Prize Committee on March 20, 2025, the award recognizes Blöschl’s groundbreaking work in understanding flood risks and water resource management under climate change. His studies have significantly enhanced global flood prediction models, helping communities prepare for extreme weather events.
• The Stockholm Water Prize is awarded by the Stockholm Water Foundation in cooperation with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
• King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, the official patron of the prize, will present the award during World Water Week in Stockholm in August 2025.
• Günter Blöschl, a professor at Vienna University of Technology, won the 2025 Stockholm Water Prize.
• The award was given for his groundbreaking contributions in flood risk analysis and climate change research.

SPORTS
Japan Becomes First Team to Qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup After Host Nations

• Japan secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first team to qualify after the host nations (United States, Canada, and Mexico). A 2-0 victory over Bahrain at Saitama Stadium on March 20, 2025, confirmed Japan’s spot in the expanded 48-team tournament. Goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo in the second half sealed the win, ensuring Japan’s eighth consecutive World Cup appearance.
• Coach Hajime Moriyasu expressed gratitude to the players and fans, emphasizing the team’s commitment to further improvement. Bahrain coach Dragan Talajic acknowledged Japan’s strength, predicting a strong performance in the World Cup. Meanwhile, Australia boosted its qualification hopes with a 5-1 win over Indonesia, while South Korea maintained its Group B lead with a 1-1 draw against Oman.

Kirsty Coventry Becomes First Female and African President of the International Olympic Committee

• Kirsty Coventry, a legendary swimmer from Zimbabwe, made history on Thursday by smashing the glass ceiling of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to become its first female and first African president in the organisation’s 130-year history. Her election marks a new era for the IOC, symbolizing progress, diversity, and inclusivity in global sports leadership.
• Coventry’s election as the head of the world’s most influential sports organisation is a landmark moment. She secured a decisive victory in the first round of voting, gaining 49 out of 97 votes in a secret ballot. This overwhelming support demonstrated a strong unity within the IOC and highlighted the confidence members have in her leadership.

Published date : 22 Mar 2025 10:16AM