Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presented the Rs.1 lakh crore budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, emphasizing infrastructure development, women's empowerment, and environmental sustainability. 

Key Highlights:

• Infrastructure Development: Capital expenditure has been doubled to Rs.28,000 crore to enhance the city's infrastructure. 
• Women's Empowerment: Rs.5,100 crore allocated for the 'Mahila Samridhi Yojana,' providing Rs.2,500 per month to eligible women. 
• Environmental Initiatives: Rs.500 crore dedicated to cleaning the Yamuna River, including decentralizing 40 sewage treatment plants to ensure only treated water enters the river. 
• Health and Sanitation: Rs.9,000 crore earmarked for clean drinking water and sanitation projects across the city. 
• Public Safety: Installation of 50,000 CCTV cameras to enhance women's safety. 
• Education: Introduction of 'CM SHRI Schools' with an initial allocation of Rs.100 crore, aligning with the New Education Policy. 
• Slum Development: Rs. 696 crore allocated for the development of slum clusters and JJ colonies. 

The second edition of the Asian Yogasana Sports Championship, scheduled for March 29-31, 2025, has been rescheduled and will take place from April 25 to 27 in the national capital.

• The revised dates accommodate requests from international teams for additional preparation time and ensure wider participation, while also being mindful of the holy month of Ramadan.
• The event is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Yogasana Bharat.
• The championship will bring together top Yogasana athletes from across Asia, providing a platform to showcase their strength, flexibility, and precision.

India and Singapore have taken a crucial step in maritime cooperation with the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) on Green Shipping and Digital Corridor Collaboration. 

• The LOI was signed on behalf of R Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary, MoPSW, and Teo Eng Dhi, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
• The pact was signed in the presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), and Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and Ministry of Transport, Singapore. 
• The agreement is centered on maritime digitalization and decarbonization activities and is meant to increase cooperation between the two countries in these areas.
• India and Singapore will work together to identify stakeholders relevant to the initiative and towards developing a memorandum of understanding for a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) between the two countries.

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has announced the acquisition of 100 per cent equity stake in Nauyaan Tradings Private Limited (NTPL) through its wholly owned subsidiary Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited (RSBVL). 

• The transaction, valued at just Rs.1 lakh, was completed with Welspun Tradings Limited, a subsidiary of Welspun Corp Limited (WCL), the company said in an exchange filing on Friday.
• With this acquisition, NTPL has become a step-down wholly owned subsidiary of RIL, effective immediately.
• NTPL has also entered into a share purchase agreement with WCL to acquire a 74 per cent stake in Nauyaan Shipyard Private Limited (NSPL) for a total consideration of Rs.382.73 crore.
• The deal is subject to adjustments related to expenses and net current assets, the company said.

?India has solidified its position as the world's leading milk producer, with current production at 239 million metric tonnes (MMT).

Union Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, announced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, 2025, that the government aims to increase this figure to 300 MMT within the next five years. ?

Since the launch of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission in 2014, milk production has surged by 63.5%.

The government is optimistic about achieving an additional 15% growth over the next three years to meet the new target.

The board of REC at its meeting held on 26 March 2025 has approved the appointment of Parminder Chopra, CMD - Power Finance Corporation as Additional Director on the Board of REC in the capacity of CMD (additional charge) w.e.f. 21 March 2025.

• She will continue to serve as the CMD of Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), a position she has held since August 2023.
• With over 35 years of experience in the power and financial sector, Chopra has played a pivotal role in financial restructuring and renewable energy financing.
• She possesses expertise in treasury management, asset-liability management, and the resolution of distressed assets, making her a highly regarded leader in the financial sector.
• She has also worked with NHPC and Power Grid Corporation.

Indonesia announced that it will join the BRICS-backed New Development Bank NDB, headquartered in Shanghai, and has proposed 77 projects for funding.

• The move strengthens Jakarta's financial ties with BRICS economies as the bloc expands its role in global development financing.
• It deepens Jakarta’s financial engagement with China and the broader BRICS bloc, including Russia, India, and South Africa, at a time of shifting global economic power.
• President Prabowo made the announcement during a visit by NDB president and former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

About New Development Bank (NDB)

The New Development Bank formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).

Its Headquarters is in Shanghai, China.

According to the Agreement on the NDB, "the Bank shall support public or private projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation and other financial instruments." Moreover, the NDB "shall cooperate with international organizations and other financial entities, and provide technical assistance for projects to be supported by the Bank."

Noted lawyer, cricket enthusiast and former vice-president of TNCA PS Raman’s book ‘Leo The Untold Story of CSK’ was launched in a city hotel , with former India and CSK captain MS Dhoni attending the function along with CSK coaches Stephen Fleming and Mike Hussey.

Former India player and ex-Tamil Nadu captain CD Gopinath, who is oldest surviving Test cricketer in the country, unveiled the book and presented the first copy to music director Anirudh Ravichander.

Former Test cricketers K Srikkanth, Brijesh Patel, WV Raman, S Badrinath were present at the function.

The 72-year-old Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, nicknamed NNN, was sworn in as the first female president of the southern African nation of Namibia.

• Her SWAPO party, which has ruled the country of about 3 million people for over three decades, won both the presidential and parliamentary elections in November. 
• Nandi-Ndaitwah, who previously served as vice president, won 58% of the vote.
• Outgoing 83-year-old President Nangolo Mbumba handed over power in a ceremony that coincided with Namibia's 35th anniversary of independence and was moved from the Independence Stadium to State House in Windhoek due to rare heavy rains.
• Nandi-Ndaitwah is the latest in a small list of women  to hold the presidency in Africa. Others include Ellen Sirleaf Johnson in Liberia, Joyce Banda of Malawi, and Samia Suluhu Hassan in Tanzania.
• Sirleaf and Banda, now former leaders of their countries, and Tanzania's current president, Hassan, all attended Nandi-Ndaitwah's inauguration. 

WFI President Sanjay Kumar Singh was on Monday( 24 March 2024) elected as a bureau member of United World Wrestling (UWW)-Asia, the national federation has announced.

• The election took place during the UWW-Asia General Assembly in Amman on Monday, a day before the start of the Asian Championship.
• According to WFI, Singh secured 22 votes out of 38, "demonstrating strong support from the Asian wrestling community."
• His election to this prestigious position marks a significant achievement for Indian wrestling, further strengthening the country's presence on the international wrestling stage.