Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Barbados for conferring on him the 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados Award.'

He dedicated the award to "1.4 billion Indians and the close ties between India and Barbados". 

External Affairs Pabitra Margherita received the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados' Award on behalf of PM Modi from Barbados President Dame Sandra Mason.

Pabitra Margherita shared the pictures and video from the ceremony held in Bridgetown.

Margherita said the award was bestowed upon PM Modi in acknowledgement of his strategic leadership and significant assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Barbados 

Barbados is an eastern Caribbean island and an independent British Commonwealth nation. Bridgetown, the capital, is a cruise-ship port with colonial buildings and Nidhe Israel, a synagogue founded in 1654. 

The Uttarakhand Cabinet, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, has approved the implementation of the Central Government's Unified Pension Scheme for officers and employees in the state.

• The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) has been introduced as an option under the National Pension System (NPS) by the Central Government for the CentralGovernment employees covered under NPS so that they may receive an assured payout after their retirement.
• The Unified Pension Scheme will be operational from April 1, 2025
• The Uttarakhand cabinet approved the new Excise Policy 2025 also.
• A statement from the government said that the state's new Excise Policy 2025 has decided to close liquor licenses near religious places, considering their importance.

India's iconic table tennis star, Achanta Sharath Kamal, has announced his retirement from professional table tennis.

His final competition will be the WTT Star Contender event at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, scheduled from March 25 to 30, 2025.
 
At 42, Kamal leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, with a career spanning multiple decades, including ten National Championships and five Olympic appearances. 

His achievements on the global stage, including his stellar performances at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and the Olympics, have made him one of India's most revered athletes.
 

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Dr. Ajit Ratnakar Joshi as Executive Director (ED) with effect from March 3, 2025 to look after Department of Statistics and Information Management and Financial Stability Department.

• Joshi was serving as Principal Adviser in Department of Statistics and Information Management.
• He has an experience of over three decades in the areas of statistics, information technology, and cyber risk management.
• He also served as member of faculty at the Institute of Development and Research in Banking Technology, Hyderabad, said the RBI in the press release.

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a National Conference on the theme ‘Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat’ in New Delhi today (March 8, 2025). This conference is being organised by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development to celebrate the International Women’s Day.

Speaking on the occasion, the President greeted fellow citizens on International Women's Day and said that this day is an occasion to honour women's achievements, raise awareness of their rights, and dedicate ourselves to promoting gender equality.

• International Women’s Day (IWD) is commemorated globally on March 8 each year. 
• This day serves to raise awareness about women’s rights and to celebrate the cultural, political, and socio-economic accomplishments of women.
• It also acts as a clarion call to intensify efforts towards achieving gender equality and to spotlight ongoing advocacy initiatives worldwide.
• The global theme for 2025 is “Accelerate Action,” underscoring the urgency and importance of prompt measures to promote gender parity.
• For International Women’s Day 2025, which falls on a Saturday, the Government of India has designated this as a national event.

As per Crisil India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth would be steady at 6.5% in fiscal 2026 despite uncertainties stemming from geopolitical turns and trade-related issues led by US tariff actions.

• The forecast is based on two assumptions, Crisil said at its flagship India Outlook seminar today. These include another spell of normal monsoon and commodity prices continuing to remain soft. 
• Cooling food inflation, the tax benefits announced in the Union Budget 2025-2026, and lower borrowing costs are expected to drive discretionary consumption.
• Growth is now returning to pre-pandemic rates as fiscal impulse normalises and the high-base effect wears off. Even with that, the high frequency Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data reveals that India maintains its pole position among major economies.

'Jan Aushadhi Diwas'  is celebrated on 7th March to raise awareness about the scheme and promote the use of generic medicines. Week-long events are organized across the country from March 1st to 7th to support this initiative.

The "Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)" was launched in November 2008 by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, in collaboration with Central Pharma Public Sector Undertakings.

The initiative aims to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the public through dedicated outlets called Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK).

Key Activities of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

With an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) aims to make quality generic medicines available at affordable prices. Some of the activities under this initiative include:

Raising Awareness: One of the primary goals is to educate the public about the benefits of generic medicines, emphasizing that affordability does not compromise quality. The initiative aims to dispel the misconception that higher prices indicate better quality.
Encouraging Prescriptions of Generic Drugs: PMBJP aims to inspire healthcare professionals, particularly those in government hospitals, to prescribe generic alternatives, thereby promoting cost-effective treatment options.
Enhancing Accessibility: The initiative seeks to provide a wide range of commonly used generic medicines across various therapeutic categories, ensuring that essential healthcare products are available to everyone, especially the marginalized.

Every year, March 6th marks National Dentist’s Day in India. This day serves as a reminder for people to maintain good oral hygiene. Dentists play an important role in keeping our mouths healthy, so it’s a perfect occasion to show gratefulness.

This national day also serves as a reminder to get frequent checkups and to properly brush and floss our teeth.

Key takeaways

The first dentist ever documented was Hesy-Ra, who worked as the Chief of Dentist for Pharaoh Djooser in Ancient Egypt in 2600 BC. Since then, the profession has seen substantial change.

The first book that was solely focused on dentistry was released in 1530 in Germany.

The London-based global property consultancy firm, Knight Frank, released the 19th edition of ‘The Wealth Report 2025’, providing a comprehensive analysis of the global distribution of wealth.

The report highlights the growing number of High Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) worldwide, with India securing the 4th position globally, boasting an estimated 85,698 HNWIs in 2024, marking a 6% increase from the previous year.

With 3.7% of the world’s wealthy population, India continues to strengthen its presence among the top wealth-generating nations.

The United States of America (USA) remains the leader with 905,413 HNWIs, followed by China (471,634 HNWIs) and Japan (122,119 HNWIs).

The Sahitya Akademi's Festival of Letters 2025 is scheduled from March 7 to March 12 at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi. Inaugurated by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the festival will feature:

• Award Ceremony: Eminent English playwright Mahesh Dattani will be the chief guest, presenting the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Awards in 23 languages.
• Samvatsar Lecture: Delivered by distinguished writer and scholar Upamanyu Chatterjee.
• Participation: Approximately 700 writers from over 50 languages across 100 sessions, marking it as Asia's largest literature festival.
• Theme: "Indian Literary Traditions," with a three-day national seminar featuring eminent thinkers and writers.
• Inclusivity: The festival will spotlight young, women, Dalit, North-East, tribal, and LGBTQ writers and poets, maintaining its status as India's most inclusive literature festival since 1985.

Digital payments giant PhonePe has launched its ‘insuring HEROES’ campaign ahead of International Women’s Day, offering exclusive discounts on insurance plans tailored specifically for women.

International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, celebrates women’s achievements while promoting gender equality and economic empowerment.

With this initiative, PhonePe aims to enhance financial security for women by making essential insurance plans more accessible and affordable.

As part of the campaign, PhonePe is offering special discounts of up to 30% on select term life and health insurance plans.

These exclusive benefits will be available on the PhonePe platform until March 9, 2025.