Current Affairs Today: 24th March 2025 | Daily GK Update
National News
1. What is Project PARI and which institutions are involved?
Answer: Project PARI (Public Art of India) is an initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA), and National Gallery of Modern Arts (NGMA) to preserve and promote public art. It showcases regional art forms like Phad, Thangka, Gond, and Warli across Delhi, involving over 200 artists.
2. What certification did NEHHDC secure for Eri silk?
Answer: The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) received Oeko-Tex certification from Germany for Eri silk, confirming its chemical-free and eco-friendly quality for global markets.
3. Why was Ram Manohar Lohia remembered on 23rd March?
Answer: On his birth anniversary, leaders including PM Modi paid tribute to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia for his contributions to social justice, women’s education, and caste-based reservations.
4. What was the focus of Samarthya 2025 competition?
Answer: Organized by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Samarthya 2025 was a national competition on corporate rescue strategies, offering students hands-on experience in financial analysis and strategic planning.
Banking News
5. What new schemes did SBI Mutual Fund launch?
Answer: SBI Mutual Fund launched the SBI BSE PSU Bank Index Fund and SBI BSE PSU Bank ETF, both tracking the BSE PSU Bank Index with a 95% allocation. The NFO ran from March 17–20, 2025.
6. What relief did RBI provide to RRBs regarding pension liabilities?
Answer: RBI allowed Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) five additional years to amortize pension liabilities under the Employee Pension Scheme 2018, requiring 20% annual allocation from FY25.
7. How much did PSBs increase dividend payouts in FY24?
Answer: Public Sector Banks paid ₹27,830 crore in dividends, a 33% increase from FY23. The government received ₹18,013 crore, reflecting strong financial performance.
Economy News
8. Which countries became top remittance sources for India in FY24?
Answer: The U.S. and U.K. replaced Gulf nations as top remittance sources, contributing 40% of total inflows. The U.S. led with 28%, and the U.K. rose from 3% to 10.8%.
9. What changes were made to MSME classification criteria?
Answer: Effective April 1, 2025, investment and turnover limits were revised:
- Micro: ₹2.5 Cr investment, ₹10 Cr turnover
- Small: ₹25 Cr investment, ₹100 Cr turnover
- Medium: ₹125 Cr investment, ₹500 Cr turnover
10. What floriculture milestone did Mizoram achieve?
Answer: Mizoram exported its first consignment of 1,024 Anthurium flowers to Singapore, facilitated by APEDA, boosting farmer income and floriculture exports.
11. What anti-dumping duties did India impose on Chinese products?
Answer: Duties were imposed on Soft Ferrite Cores, vacuum flasks, aluminium foil, Trichloro Isocyanuric Acid, and PVC Paste Resin for up to five years to protect domestic industries.
Appointments News
12. Who was appointed Interim MD & CEO of Edelweiss ARC?
Answer: Mythili Balasubramanian was appointed Interim MD & CEO until September 30, 2025, bringing over 40 years of experience in banking and NPA resolution.
13. Who became Chief Justice of Orissa High Court?
Answer: Justice Harish Tandon was appointed Chief Justice, succeeding Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh.
14. Who were the new members appointed to IRDAI’s Insurance Advisory Committee?
Answer: MR Kumar, Dinesh Kumar Khara, Visakha Mule, Nilesh Shah, and Kotak Ellis G Vaidyan were appointed under Section 25 of the IRDA Act, 1999.
Sports News
15. Who won the Chinese Grand Prix 2025?
Answer: Oscar Piastri won for McLaren, with teammate Lando Norris finishing second. Ferrari faced disqualification due to technical violations.
Important Days
16. What is the theme of World TB Day 2025?
Answer: “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” commemorating Dr. Robert Koch’s 1882 discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
17. What is the significance of the International Day for the Right to the Truth?
Answer: Observed on March 24, it honors Monsignor Óscar Romero and promotes justice and dignity for victims of human rights violations.