DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: March 5, 2025

Sharath Kamal announces retirement from the sport.

Tags: Sports

Why in the news?

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

Important points:

• 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. 

Career Milestones:

• In2019, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award. In 2022, he was awarded the Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honour.
• Five-time Olympian and India’s highest-ranked table tennis player, holding the world rank of 42 as of 2025.
• A 10-time National Singles Champion,cementing his place among India's most decorated table tennis players.
• Record-holder at the Commonwealth Games, with 13 medals from five editions, including gold in both men's singles and men's team events at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
• Claimedfour medals at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, including three golds and one silver.
• Reached his career-highest world ranking of 30.

India to host second Asian Yogasana Championship

Tags: National News

Why in the news?

• The second Asian Yogasana Championship, scheduled to be heldat the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Delhi.

Important points:

• A total of 16 countries will participatein the second Asian Yogasana Championship, scheduled to be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi from March 29 to 31.
• The championship, being organised in collaboration with the Sports Ministry and Yogasana Bharat, aims to showcase Yogasana at the international level while embracing its rich heritage and deep-rooted cultural significance.
• The event, being supported by the Olympic Council of Asia, World Yogasana, Asian Yogasana and Yogasana Indraprastha, will also help create a roadmap towards inclusion of the discipline in the Olympic curriculum.
• India, the birthplace of yoga, is honoured to host the 2nd Asian Yogasana Championship.
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UP govt has decided to set up digital libraries

Tags: State News

Why in the news?

• In a significant step toward modernising education in remote areas, the UP govt has decided to set up digital libraries across all the gram panchayats in Uttar Pradesh.

Important points:

• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a high-level meeting, directed officials to implement the first phase of this initiative byestablishing digital libraries in 22,700 gram panchayats.
• The digital library will offer books, quizzes, videos, audio lectures, and other educational resources to make learning more engaging.
• The responsibility for managing these libraries will be given to the gram panchayats, with gram pradhans and secretaries overseeing the operations. Assistant officials will be appointed to ensure the smooth functioning and maintenance of the facility.
• Assigning abudget of Rs 4 lakh for each digital library, half of the funds will be used to purchase digital resources such as computers, printers, internet facilities, or broadband services, and the remaining Rs 2 lakh for buying stationery and books that will be stored in the libraries for those who want to study within the facility.
• The libraries will provide not only textbooks but also e-books and advanced study materials on various subjects.

Aims:

• The initiative aims to provide children inrural areas with access to advanced educational resources, ensuring they keep pace with the digital era.
• In the meeting, the CM highlighted the need to connect rural students with digital education and provide them with high-quality learning materials.
• Additionally, students will have access to modern audio-visual tools and internet connectivity for online learning and research.

Shri Ajay Bhadoo Appointed as CEO of Government e Marketplace

Tags: Person in news

Why in the news?

• The Government of India has appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Shri Ajay Bhadoo, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Government e Marketplace (GeM).

Important points:

• He will assume this role in addition to his existing responsibilities in the Department of Commerce.
• His appointment as CEO of GeM, India’s largest e-marketplace for government procurement, comes at a pivotal time as the platform transitions to a next-generation digital marketplace powered by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
•  Currently, GeM has recorded a Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of Rs. 4.58 lakh crore, reflecting a 28.65% year-on-year growth.
• An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1999 batch from the Gujarat cadre, Shri Bhadoo brings over two decades of experience in policy formulation and implementation across diverse sectors, including urban infrastructure development.
• In August 2024, Shri Bhadoo was appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce. Previously, he served as the Deputy Election Commissioner at the Election Commission of India. 
• Shri Bhadoo holds a degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Business Law from the prestigious National Law School of India University, Bengaluru.

Vidarbha won its third Ranji Trophy title.

Tags: Sports News

Why in the news?

• vidarbha won third Ranji Trophy title with dominant win over Kerala.

Important points:

• Vidarbha put last season’s heartbreak behind them in stunning fashion, claiming their third Ranji Trophy title with a dominant performance against Kerala. 
• Their hard-fought first-innings lead and marathon second-innings batting display broke Kerala’s resistance, sealing a memorable victory in front of 3,000 passionate home fans at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

About Ranji Trophy :

• The Ranji Trophy is apremier domestic first-class cricket championship played in India and organized annually by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
•  The teams representing regional and state cricket associations participate. 
• BCCI founded the championship in 1934,Since then, it has been organised across various grounds and stadia in India.
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