Daily Current Affairs of 13th March 2025 in English

Introduction:

Daily Current Affairs of 13th March 2025, witnessed a series of significant events across various domains, ranging from infrastructure development to geopolitical concerns, cultural celebrations, and scientific discoveries. Here's an in-depth look at the noteworthy occurrences of the day.

Top Current Affairs and News Headlines – March 13, 2025

Daily GK Update – 13th March 2025: Current Affairs

Here are the major national and international updates, developments, and key events from 13th March 2025:

State News

Tamil Nadu Government Replaces Rupee Symbol with Tamil Letter, Sparking Language Debate

In a move emphasizing cultural identity and linguistic pride, the Tamil Nadu government, under the leadership of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has replaced the Indian Rupee symbol (₹) with the Tamil letter ‘ரூ’ in the state budget logo for FY 2025-26. This decision aligns with Tamil Nadu’s long-standing opposition to Hindi imposition and mirrors its stance against the National Education Policy (NEP), which has been criticized for promoting a centralized, “saffronized” curriculum. Interestingly, the original Rupee symbol ‘₹’ was designed by Udaya Kumar, a Tamilian and son of a former DMK MLA.

Banking News

IIFL Finance Unveils ‘Shakti’ – All-Women Branches on International Women’s Day

Marking International Women’s Day, IIFL Finance, a leading non-banking financial company (NBFC) in India, has launched ‘Shakti’ branches—women-only staffed outlets—in seven locations across Delhi NCR and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). This initiative aims to empower women in financial services, enhance gender diversity, and support female entrepreneurs. Additionally, the move focuses on improving financial literacy in underserved communities.

ICICI Bank Appoints Kamal Wali as Head of Security Operations

ICICI Bank has named Kamal Wali as the new Head of its Security Operations Center, reinforcing its commitment to cybersecurity and risk management. With over 18 years of expertise in IT operations and digital security, Wali will oversee security strategies to fortify the bank’s digital framework and safeguard customer data against cyber threats. This appointment highlights ICICI Bank’s proactive approach to secure banking operations.

Defense News

INS Imphal Strengthens Maritime Ties Between India and Mauritius

India is set to enhance maritime security cooperation with Mauritius through a white shipping agreement, anticipated to be formalized during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. This agreement will facilitate the exchange of commercial shipping data between the Indian and Mauritian naval forces and coast guards, bolstering surveillance in the Western Indian Ocean. The pact is seen as a strategic move to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

Business News

Finance Ministry Approves Zero Coupon Bonds for Power Finance Corporation

The Finance Ministry has authorized Power Finance Corporation (PFC) to issue Zero Coupon Bonds (ZCBs) worth up to ₹10,000 crore. These bonds, sold at a discount and redeemed at face value upon maturity, provide returns through capital appreciation instead of periodic interest payments. This financial move is aimed at enhancing PFC’s liquidity and investment capabilities.

Economy News

India Leads as Top Source of FDI into Dubai

India has emerged as the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Dubai in 2024, surpassing the U.S. (13.7%), France (11%), U.K. (10%), and Switzerland (6.9%), with a commanding 21.5% share. Dubai, for the fourth consecutive year, has retained its position as the world’s leading destination for Greenfield FDI projects. The city’s investor-friendly policies, infrastructure, and tax advantages have significantly contributed to attracting global capital.

India’s Retail Inflation Drops to Seven-Month Low

Retail inflation in India fell to a seven-month low of 3.61% in February 2025, primarily due to a decline in food inflation, which dipped below 4% for the first time in two years. The reduction in inflation raises hopes for a potential rate cut by the RBI in its upcoming April meeting. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) data highlights easing price pressures, especially in perishable goods and protein-based items.

Industrial Production Grows 5.0% in January 2025

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released data showing that India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew by 5.0% in January 2025, up from 3.2% in December 2024. The expansion was driven by the manufacturing sector, followed by mining and electricity, signaling a resurgence in industrial growth.

Awards News

ACM A.M. Turing Award 2024 Recognizes Andrew Barto and Richard Sutton

Andrew G. Barto (University of Massachusetts, Amherst) and Richard S. Sutton (University of Alberta) have been honored with the 2024 ACM A.M. Turing Award—considered the “Nobel Prize in Computing”—for their pioneering work in Reinforcement Learning (RL). Their significant contributions, including policy-gradient methods, neural network-based function representations, and temporal difference learning, have profoundly influenced artificial intelligence research. The award comes with a $1 million prize sponsored by Google.

Jayshree Vencatesan Becomes First Indian to Win Ramsar Award for Wetland Conservation

Jayshree Vencatesan, co-founder of Chennai-based Care Earth Trust, has become the first Indian recipient of the Ramsar Award for ‘Wetland Wise Use.’ This international recognition, announced by the Ramsar Secretariat in Geneva ahead of International Women’s Day 2024, honors her exceptional efforts in sustainable wetland management.

Summits & Conferences News

Water Sustainability Conference 2025 Focuses on Industrial Efficiency

The Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE), under the National Water Mission (NWM) and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, organized the Water Sustainability Conference 2025 in collaboration with TERI on March 12, 2025, in New Delhi. Union Minister Shri C. R. Patil inaugurated the event, highlighting the importance of the 4R approach (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recharge), adding ‘Respect’ as the fifth principle to promote responsible industrial water use.

India’s Active Role in 4th ‘No Money for Terror’ Conference

At the 4th ‘No Money for Terror’ (NMFT) Conference in Munich, India reaffirmed its commitment to combating terror financing. It emphasized the increasing threats posed by digital financial networks and cross-border fund flows, calling for a united global approach to counter terror financing effectively.

Sports News

Shubman Gill and Alana King Win ICC Player of the Month Awards

Indian cricketer Shubman Gill has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month, while Australia’s Alana King secured the Women’s Player of the Month title for February 2025, recognizing their stellar performances in international cricket.

Khelo India Winter Games 2025 Conclude with Indian Army as Champions

The fifth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games 2025 took place in Leh, Ladakh, and Jammu & Kashmir, attracting over 400 athletes from 19 teams. The Indian Army secured the highest number of gold medals, emerging as the overall champion.

Science & Technology News

NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH Missions to Advance Space Exploration

NASA is set to launch two cutting-edge missions, SPHEREx and PUNCH, aboard a SpaceX Falcon rocket. SPHEREx will map infrared light from early galaxies, offering insights into cosmic history, while PUNCH will study the Sun’s corona and solar wind, enhancing our understanding of space weather.

Schemes News

PM-YUVA 3.0 Initiative Launched to Mentor Young Authors

The Ministry of Education introduced PM-YUVA 3.0 (Prime Minister’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors) on March 11, 2025. This initiative supports aspiring authors under 30, promoting a literary culture in India and showcasing Indian literature on global platforms. The third edition follows the success of previous editions spanning 22 Indian languages and English.

Daily Current Affairs Question Answers in English of

13th March 2025

State News

1. Why did the Tamil Nadu government replace the Rupee symbol (₹) with the Tamil letter ‘ரூ’ in the state budget logo?

A) To align with the National Education Policy (NEP)

B) To emphasize Tamil linguistic identity

C) To support the BJP’s cultural initiatives

D) To promote Hindi as a national language

Answer: B) To emphasize Tamil linguistic identity

Explanation: The Tamil Nadu government replaced the Rupee symbol with ‘ரூ’ to highlight cultural and linguistic pride, aligning with its opposition to Hindi imposition.

2. Who originally designed the Indian Rupee symbol (₹)?

A) R. K. Laxman

B) Udaya Kumar

C) M. F. Husain

D) Nandan Nilekani

Answer: B) Udaya Kumar

Explanation: Udaya Kumar, a Tamilian, designed the Rupee symbol, combining elements of the Devanagari ‘र’ and Latin ‘R’.

Banking News

3. What is the purpose of IIFL Finance’s ‘Shakti’ branches?

A) To provide loans only to female borrowers

B) To create all-women staffed branches for financial inclusion

C) To promote gold loans in rural areas

D) To introduce cryptocurrency services for women

Answer: B) To create all-women staffed branches for financial inclusion

Explanation: ‘Shakti’ branches aim to enhance gender diversity, financial literacy, and empower female entrepreneurs.

4. Who has been appointed as the new Head of Security Operations at ICICI Bank?

A) Kamal Wali

B) Aditya Puri

C) Udaya Kumar

D) Shaktikanta Das

Answer: A) Kamal Wali

Explanation: Kamal Wali, with 18+ years of cybersecurity expertise, has been appointed to strengthen ICICI Bank’s digital security framework.

Defense News

5. What is the primary objective of the White Shipping Agreement between India and Mauritius?

A) To facilitate trade of white goods

B) To exchange maritime commercial shipping data

C) To provide military training to Mauritius

D) To increase tourism between the two countries

Answer: B) To exchange maritime commercial shipping data

Explanation: This agreement enhances maritime security by sharing non-military shipping data between the two countries.

Business News

6. What type of financial instrument has the Finance Ministry approved for Power Finance Corporation (PFC)?

A) Convertible Bonds

B) Zero Coupon Bonds

C) Infrastructure Bonds

D) Green Bonds

Answer: B) Zero Coupon Bonds

Explanation: Zero Coupon Bonds (ZCBs) offer returns via capital appreciation instead of periodic interest payments, aiding PFC’s liquidity.

Economy News

7. Which country emerged as the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Dubai in 2024?

A) United States

B) France

C) India

D) Switzerland

Answer: C) India

Explanation: India contributed 21.5% of FDI into Dubai, surpassing the U.S., France, and the U.K.

8. What was India’s retail inflation rate in February 2025?

A) 5.2%

B) 4.5%

C) 3.61%

D) 2.8%

Answer: C) 3.61%

Explanation: Retail inflation fell to a seven-month low due to a decline in food prices.

9. What was India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth in January 2025?

A) 2.5%

B) 3.2%

C) 5.0%

D) 6.7%

Answer: C) 5.0%

Explanation: Industrial growth improved, driven by manufacturing, mining, and electricity.

Awards News

10. Who won the 2024 ACM A.M. Turing Award?

A) Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun

B) Andrew Barto and Richard Sutton

C) Tim Berners-Lee and Vinton Cerf

D) Elon Musk and Sam Altman

Answer: B) Andrew Barto and Richard Sutton

Explanation: They were honored for their pioneering contributions to Reinforcement Learning.

11. Who became the first Indian to win the Ramsar Award for Wetland Conservation?

A) Sunita Narain

B) Jayshree Vencatesan

C) Vandana Shiva

D) Medha Patkar

Answer: B) Jayshree Vencatesan

Explanation: Her efforts in sustainable wetland management earned her this prestigious recognition.

Summits & Conferences News

12. What key approach was emphasized at the Water Sustainability Conference 2025?

A) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recharge, and Respect

B) Polluter Pays Principle

C) Water Taxation Policy

D) Privatization of Water Resources

Answer: A) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recharge, and Respect

Explanation: The ‘5R’ approach promotes responsible industrial water use.

13. Which country hosted the 4th ‘No Money for Terror’ Conference?

A) India

B) Germany

C) France

D) USA

Answer: B) Germany

Explanation: The NMFT conference in Munich addressed digital financial threats and global counter-terrorism efforts.

Sports News

14. Who won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for February 2025?

A) Virat Kohli

B) Shubman Gill

C) Steve Smith

D) Ben Stokes

Answer: B) Shubman Gill

Explanation: Gill's outstanding performances earned him the title.

15. Which team emerged as the overall champion in Khelo India Winter Games 2025?

A) Maharashtra

B) Indian Army

C) Uttarakhand

D) Himachal Pradesh

Answer: B) Indian Army

Explanation: The Indian Army won the most gold medals, securing the championship title.

Science & Technology News

16. What is the purpose of NASA’s SPHEREx mission?

A) To explore Mars

B) To study early galaxies and infrared light

C) To detect exoplanets

D) To launch astronauts to the Moon

Answer: B) To study early galaxies and infrared light

Explanation: SPHEREx will map the universe in infrared, providing insights into cosmic history.

Schemes News

17. What is the objective of PM-YUVA 3.0 initiative?

A) To promote youth entrepreneurship

B) To mentor young authors

C) To provide scholarships for higher education

D) To fund research projects

Answer: B) To mentor young authors

Explanation: PM-YUVA 3.0 aims to nurture aspiring writers.

18. Who sponsors the A.M. Turing Award prize money?

A) Microsoft

B) Google

C) Facebook

D) IBM

Answer: B) Google

Explanation: Google sponsors the $1 million prize for the Turing Award.

19. Which Indian city hosted the Water Sustainability Conference 2025?

A) Mumbai

B) Delhi

C) Chennai

D) Bengaluru

Answer: B) Delhi

20. Which country accounted for 13.7% of FDI inflows into Dubai?

A) India

B) United States

C) France

D) Switzerland

Answer: B) United States