CURRENT AFFAIRS DESTINATION FOR UPSC & STATE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATIONS
Renowned hydrologist Günter Blöschl has been awarded the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize 2025 for his groundbreaking contributions to flood hydrology and understanding the increasing risks of flooding due to climate change. Why Blöschl Won the Prize? About the Stockholm Water Prize (Source: Stockholm Water Prize)
The Philippines has called on India to join the ‘Squad’ alliance alongside the US, Japan, and Australia to counter China’s aggressive expansion in the South China Sea. What is the ‘Squad’? Why is India Being Invited? China’s Expansionist Moves (Source: Economic Times)
India and New Zealand have signed five agreements in the fields of Defence, Education, Sports, Horticulture, and Forestry. Both sides also exchanged the Authorized Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Agreement. Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 has successfully completed its ninth commercial crew rotation mission to the International Space Station (ISS), splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, on March 20, 2025. Crew Members: Mission Highlights: Science & Exploration Continue! (Source: NASA)
The 23rd edition of the India-France bilateral naval exercise VARUNA is being conducted from March 19 to 22, 2025. Since its inception in 2001, VARUNA has become a key symbol of naval cooperation and strategic partnership between the two nations. Key Highlights of VARUNA 2025: Strategic Significance:
On March 15, 2025, US President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to authorize the deportation of individuals alleged to be affiliated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Key Developments: About the Alien Enemies Act:
India and New Zealand have announced the launch of negotiations for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Negotiations Why This Matters? (Source: PIB)
U.S. health authorities have requested retailers to remove certain acne creams from store shelves after government testing detected elevated levels of benzene, a chemical linked to cancer. What is Benzene? Sources of Benzene Exposure Health Risks of Benzene Why Are Acne Creams a Concern? (Sources: The Hindu & US-CDC)
On March 7, 2024, UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre added six Indian sites to its Tentative List, a crucial step toward gaining World Heritage status. These sites include national parks, ancient temples, megalithic structures, and historic fortresses across multiple states. Newly Added Sites on India’s Tentative List (Source: The Hindu)
The discovery at Tinshemet Cave in Israel presents compelling evidence that Homo sapiens and Neanderthals may not have been in constant conflict, but instead engaged in cultural exchanges and shared traditions between 80,000 and 130,000 years ago. Key Findings from the Study (Source: Live Science)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced the UN80 Initiative aimed at improving efficiencies at the 80-year-old world organisation and making it more cost-effective. What is the UN80 Initiative? Who is Leading It? Why Now? (Source: UN)
The Pakistan Army has announced the completion of rescue operations for the Jaffar Express, which was hijacked in Balochistan. (Source: DD India)
India has reaffirmed its support for Mauritius’ sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago, a long-disputed territory between Mauritius and the UK. Background of the Dispute Geographical Significance (Source: Indian Express)
PM Narendra Modi handed over Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and his wife Veena Ramgoolam on March 12, 2025. OCI card eligibility has now been extended to the seventh generation of the Indian diaspora in Mauritius. Who is Eligible for OCI? Key Benefits of OCI Status OCI is not entitled
Key Facts: Background: Source: HT