Current Affairs Today: 08th March 2025 | Daily GK Update
State News
1. What change was announced for Bangalore City University?
Answer: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah announced that Bangalore City University will be renamed as Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru University to honor the late former Prime Minister. It will be developed into a model university by integrating Government Arts College and Government RC College.
2. What is ‘Project Hifazat’ launched by Punjab?
Answer: Punjab’s Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur launched ‘Project Hifazat’ to enhance women and child safety. It includes a 24×7 helpline (181), coordinated support, and rapid response mechanisms.
3. What infrastructure project was named after Ratan Tata in Assam?
Answer: The upcoming Electronics City in Jagiroad, Assam, was named Ratan Tata Electronic City to honor his contributions to industrial growth and investment in the state.
4. What digital initiative was launched by Uttar Pradesh for child vaccination?
Answer: UP launched the RISE app (Rapid Immunisation Skill Enhancement) to digitize training and monitoring for nurses and health workers, improving vaccination tracking and safety management.
International News
5. What trade policy did the U.S. announce on March 4, 2025?
Answer: President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on countries with high tariffs on U.S. goods, including India, China, EU, Brazil, Mexico, and Canada. The policy takes effect from April 2, 2025.
6. What is the current status of iceberg A23a?
Answer: The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has run aground near South Georgia Island. Scientists are monitoring its impact on wildlife and ocean productivity.
7. Who was appointed Israel’s new military chief?
Answer: Eyal Zamir was appointed Chief of Staff of Israel’s military, succeeding Herzi Halevi amid ongoing regional tensions and Gaza operations.
Defence News
8. What is Sea Dragon 2025 and which countries are participating?
Answer: Sea Dragon 2025 is a multilateral anti-submarine warfare exercise hosted by the U.S. Navy off Guam. Participants include India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea.
Ranks & Reports
9. Which country topped the Glass-Ceiling Index 2025?
Answer: Sweden ranked first in The Economist’s Glass-Ceiling Index 2025, surpassing Iceland. The index highlights gender equality challenges globally.
10. What is LIC’s global ranking in insurance brands?
Answer: LIC was ranked the 3rd strongest insurance brand globally with a Brand Strength Index of 88/100. It also holds the 12th position in brand value.
11. What recognition did IndiGo Airlines receive in 2025?
Answer: IndiGo became the world’s second fastest-growing airline in seat capacity, with a 10.1% YoY increase to 134.9 million seats, according to the OAG report.
Agreements News
12. What was the purpose of the Australia–India Sports Excellence Forum?
Answer: Inaugurated at GIFT City, Gujarat, the forum aims to strengthen sports collaboration, focusing on elite athlete development and infrastructure investment.
13. What MoU did DPIIT sign with Mercedes-Benz India?
Answer: DPIIT and Mercedes-Benz India signed an MoU to promote manufacturing, road safety, and sustainability, supporting startups and green innovations.
Science & Technology
14. What platforms were launched under the IndiaAI Mission?
Answer: Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the IndiaAI Compute Portal and AIKosha Dataset Platform to accelerate AI innovation with access to 18,000+ GPUs and secure datasets.
Sports News
15. Who replaced Jay Shah in ACC leadership?
Answer: After Jay Shah became ICC Chairman in December 2024, Shammi Silva was appointed ACC President, with Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar joining the ACC Board.