Current Affairs Quiz - March 2025

Notes:
Lohum Company launched India’s first lithium-grade refinery in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The refinery will produce 1,000 metric tonnes of battery-grade lithium annually, with plans to expand to 20,000 tonnes by 2029. Black mass from e-waste will be recycled to extract lithium. The company refines 90% of India’s lithium and is expanding its Cathode Active Material (CAM) production. The refinery’s technical efficiency competes with China and is more economical than US/European facilities. This expansion reduces India’s dependence on China for lithium supply, especially with growing EV demand.

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HDFC Bank launched Project HAKK (Hawai Anubhavi Kalyan Kendra) to support Indian Air Force (IAF) pensioners, veterans, and families. The bank signed an MoU with IAF through the Assistant Chief of Air Staff – Accounts & Air Veterans and CSC (Common Service Centre) Academy. 25 centres will be set up across Air Force units in cities like New Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Guwahati, and Chandigarh. In collaboration with CSC Academy, the bank will offer skill development and financial training to help veterans and their families become financially independent.

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The Indian women’s Kabaddi team won their fifth Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship title. They defeated Iran 32-25 in the final held in Tehran on 8th March 2025. The 6th Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship 2025 took place in Tehran from 6th to 8th March 2025. Iran hosted the tournament for the third time, previously in 2007 and 2017.

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Indian scientists developed the Brahmastra Missile (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile), a hypersonic glide missile with a speed of 12,144 km/h. It was developed by DRDO. It surpasses missiles like China’s DF-17 in range and technology. The missile has a 1,500 km range and can destroy enemy ships within 7-8 minutes. It can be launched from land or sea, offering flexibility.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados award. The award recognizes his strategic leadership and assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is one of the highest national honors of Barbados, given for significant contributions to the country or international relations.

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The Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (PSHP) is located on the Sharavathi River in Karnataka. It aims for a 2000 MW power generation capacity, making it the largest pumped storage project in India. The project will use two existing reservoirs: Talakalale Dam (upper reservoir) and Gerusoppa Dam (lower reservoir). Water will be pumped uphill during off-seasons and released downhill during peak demand. It is modeled after Telangana’s Kaleshwaram project and will also supply drinking water to Bengaluru. Environmentalists and locals warn of ecological damage to the Western Ghats.

Notes:
Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh was declared the 58th tiger reserve in India on March 9, 2025. It is the 9th tiger reserve from the state. Located on the northern edge of the Central Highlands, it is part of the Upper Vindhyan Hills. The park has two significant lakes: Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar, supporting aquatic biodiversity. The park’s rivers, including the Sind and Amarnadi, contribute to its drainage pattern. The eastern section of the park has sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone, shale, and limestone.

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Siddhant Banthia of India and Alexander Donski of Bulgaria won the doubles title at the 2025 Rwandan Challenger tennis tournament. This was Siddhant Banthia’s first ATP Challenger title. Valentin Foyer of France won the singles title. The Rwandan Challenger was an ATP 100 tournament with a 160,000 prize pool, held in Kigali from 3-9 March 2025. Singles and doubles winners earned 100 ATP points each. The singles winner received 22,730, while the doubles winners shared $7,960. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) organizes tournaments for professional men’s tennis players, with the ATP Tour being the highest level.

Notes:
State Bank of India (SBI) launched ‘Asmita’, a collateral-free, low-interest loan program for women entrepreneurs. The scheme aims to boost business borrowings for women-led MSMEs. It offers quick financial support through a digital process. SBI also introduced the ‘Nari Shakti’ platinum debit card.

Notes:
The Global Engagement Scheme was recently discussed in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. It is initiated by the Ministry of Culture to promote India’s cultural heritage globally. The scheme showcases India’s folk, classical, and contemporary art forms on the international stage. It strengthens bilateral cultural ties by encouraging collaborations with foreign nations. Artists from Maharashtra have participated in international cultural festivals under this scheme.