DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: March 10, 2025

Cyclone Alfred hits eastern Australia.

Tags: International News

Why in the news?

• Torrential rain from the remnants of Cyclone Alfred flooded swathes of Australia's east coast on March 10, 2025 as workers battled to restore power to more than 200,000 homes and businesses.

Important points:

• Authorities issued a string of flood and severe weather warnings across a 400-kilometre (250-mile) stretch of coast straddling Queensland and New South Wales.
• Utility companies said more than210,000 homes and businesses were still blacked out in Queensland, and another 10,000 in New South Wales.
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India win ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Tags: Sports

Why in the news?

• India defeated New Zealand by four wickets to win the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday (March 9, 2025).

Important points:

• Chasing a target of 252, India, led by captain Rohit Sharma from front, crossed the finishing line and defeated New Zealand by 4 wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai.
• It is the second time that India has won against New Zealand in the ICC knockouts.
• With thisIndia added a seventh ICC trophyto their cabinet while registering their third win in this eight-team event.
• The champions (India) of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 received $2.24 million (Rs 20 crore).
• New Zealand finishing at second place earned $1.12 million (Rs 10 crore).
• Both losing semi-finalists received $560,000 (Rs 4.6 crore) each.
• Fifth and sixth place teams took home $350,000 (Rs 2.9 crore) each.
• Seventh and eighth place teams earned $140,000 (Rs 1.1 crore) each.
•  The total prize money allocated for the 9th edition of Champions Trophy is $6.9 million (Rs 60 crore).

GRIDCON 2025

Tags: Science and Technology

Why in the news?

• Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Sh. Manohar Lal inaugurated GRIDCON 2025 – The International Conference cum Exhibition on 9th March 2025 at IICC, Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi.

Important points:

• The event organized by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) from 9th–11th March 2025 is being held under the patronage of Ministry of Power and in association with CIGRE, India.
• GRIDCON 2025 inaugural event witnessed a galaxy of professionals from the field of power sector from  across the globe.

About GRIDCON 2025 :

• GRIDCON 2025 is a premier event in the power sector, for industry, utilities, professionals, researchers, and academicians across the global to shape the future of renewable integration, grid resilience, asset management, and digital transformation. 
• It will witness more than 2000 conference delegates, 150 technical papers, 150 exhibition companies, 30 country representatives. 
• With the theme “Innovations in Grid Resilience” the conference will focus on new technologies, infrastructure, and smart solutions that can revolutionize the way we generate, transmit, distribute, and consume energy.
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'Shashwat Mithila Mahotsav-2025'

Tags: National News

Why in the news?

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, addressed the 'Shashwat Mithila Mahotsav-2025' in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 

Important points:

• In his address, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah highlighted Gujarat's long-standing tradition of welcoming people from across the country and the world. He emphasized that Gujarat has always embraced diverse ideologies and lifestyles. 
• Acknowledging the contributions of people from Bihar, particularly those from Mithilanchal, he said that they have played a significant role in the development of the state. He assured them that they are safe, respected, and always welcome in Gujarat.
• He emphasized that from the Ramayana and Mahabharata to the Puranas, Vedas-Vedanta, Mimansa, and rich literary traditions, the roots of their creation can be traced back to Mithila. 
• He highlighted that Mithila is the birthplace of Mother Sita and the land of enlightened Rajarshi Janak, where Ashtavakra Muni composed the Ashtavakra Geeta. 
• He further noted that this sacred land has produced great scholars like Yagyavalkya, philosophers like Rishi Gautam and Mandan Mishra, as well as renowned poets such as Jyotireshwar Thakur and Mahakavi Vidyapati.
• Shri Amit Shah highlighted the significant contributions of Mithila and its residents, which are extensively mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Shatpath Brahman, Valmiki Ramayana, Mahabharata, Buddhist literature, and Jain literature. 
• Shri Amit Shah emphasized that Mithila has been a land of intellectual discourse and philosophical debates (Shastrartha). 
• Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah highlighted the immense contributions of the women of Mithila to the country since ancient times. 
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Electronic Toy Hackathon (e-Toycathon 2025)

Tags: Science and Technology

Why in the news?

• To boost the electronic toy sector, for the first time in India “e-Toycathon 2025” was organized byC-DAC under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MeitY’s) research initiatives, at CDAC-Noida.

About e-Toycathon 2025:

• e-Toycathon 2025 was officially announced by Secretary, MeitY on 23rd November, 2024, under the MeitY-funded project "Development of Electronics and IT-based Control and Automation Solutions for Consumer Electronic - Toys Industry”.
• Registration for the event was open to engineering institutes, universities, and colleges; each institute was allowed to nominate two teams for Stage 1: The Innovative Design Competition. 
• This online competition was conducted from January 14 - 17, 2025, attracting 112 teams and engaging 400+ engineering students from across India.
• In Stage 1, a jury panel comprising Indian Toy Industry experts shortlisted 20 teams to advance to Stage 2 in e-Toycathon.
• In Stage 2, all 20 shortlisted teams showcased their skills in electronic toy prototype development in C-DAC Noida.

The competition offered the following cash prizes:

• First Prize:  Rs. 2,00,000
• Second Prize: Rs. 1,00,000
• Third Prize: Rs. 50,000
• Two Consolation Prizes: Rs. 25,000 each
• The first prize was awarded to Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore for Play Mat Toy, a fun and attractive play mat that has piano functional keys, animal pictures and sounds/drums/music/rhymes etc. 
• The mat is made up of soft material so that it can be folded. Children can engage in both playing the piano and dancing; this allows them to enjoy the music for entertainment, while improving their music intelligence and visual training.
• The second prize was awarded to Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, for Robo-Mentor AI which is an innovative educational toy designed to empower children by combining the excitement of robotics with the supportive capabilities of generative AI. 
• National Institute of Technology, Durgapur secured the 3rd place for Interactive Educational Chart. This chart is made to engage children in learning about India through activities. 
• It is in English language with feature of choosing any regional language as well.
• National Institute of Technology, Srinagar and Indian Institute of Information Technology, Senapati, Manipur were given consolation prizes for Compact Mini Drone Toy and Electronic Cashier Machine Toy respectively.

IAF’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine.

Tags: Defence

Why in the news?

• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh visited the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Bengaluru, Karnataka on March 09, 2025.

Important points:

• Shri Rajnath Singh, the first Raksha Mantri to visit the institute,was briefed about the unique role of IAM in pilot training, their medical evaluation and aeromedical research.
• He also launched the Indian Council of Medical Research Extramural Research Project: Centre for Advanced Research at the institute. 
• The title of the project is ‘Space Psychology: Selection and Behavioural Health Training of Astronauts & Astronaut Designates for Indian Space Missions’.

First rear fuselage for LCA Mk1A handed over to HAL

Tags: Defence

Why in the news?

• The first rear fuselage for Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A, produced by Indian Private Industry, Alpha Tocol Engineering Services Private Ltd, was handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at Aircraft Division in Bengaluru, Karnataka on March 09, 2025. 

Important points:

• The ceremony is a testimony to India’s progress towards Aatmanirbharta in defence and the Government’s commitment towards enhanced public-private partnership. 
• A fuselage is the main body section of the aircraft which holds the pilot, passengers and cargo, while the rear fuselage supports the tail section and its associated components. 
• Raksha Mantri described HAL as the fuselage of the country’s defence and aerospace sector, with private companies such as L&T, Alpha Tocol, Tata Advanced Systems and VEM Technologies playing the role of rear fuselage, supporting HAL. 
•  HAL had placed orders on variousIndian private companies such as L&T, Alpha Tocol Engineering Services, Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), VEM Technologies and Lakshmi Mission Works (LMW) for supplying major modules for the 83 LCA Mk1A contract.
•  With this supply, a major structure module produced by an Indian private partner will be integrated into the LCA Mk1A aircraft, enabling HAL to meet additional delivery commitments for IAF from 2025-26 onwards. 
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