23 to 25 March 2025 Current Affairs – Important for all competitive exams

This is the current affairs of  23 to 25 March 2025. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.

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1. A small fire in the house of which Delhi High Court judge revealed cash worth crores of rupees, which created a sensation from the Supreme Court to the Parliament?

a. Navendu Pratap
b. Yashwant Verma
c. Yashwant Rane
d. Ajay Makhija

Answer: b. Yashwant Verma

– On March 14, around 11:30 PM, a fire broke out at the government bungalow of Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Verma, located in Delhi.
– Since Judge Verma was not at home, his family informed the fire brigade and the police.
– According to media reports, the fire started in the bungalow’s store room. It was a small fire.
– Two fire brigades arrived at the scene and began extinguishing the fire, and the police also reached there.
– During this time, a pile of cash was found in one of the rooms.
– This was revealed about a week later.
– The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has passed a resolution stating that this amount is believed to be ₹15 crore.

Supreme Court Releases Video of Judge Verma’s Cash
– On March 22, the Supreme Court made public the investigation report regarding the cash found at Judge Verma’s house in Lutyens’ Delhi.
– The report includes a video of the cash.
– It also includes three pictures showing bundles of burnt ₹500 notes.
– In the 65-second video, bags filled with currency notes are visible.
– The report mentions that after the fire broke out at Judge Verma’s house on March 14, the fire brigade team arrived at the scene.
– After controlling the fire, 4-5 partially burned bags were found, which contained notes.
– In response, Judge Verma stated that these notes were neither kept by him nor any of his family members. Anyone could have accessed the store room. He claimed he was being framed.

Supreme Court Takes Strict Action, Investigation Committee Formed
– The Supreme Court has decided not to assign any judicial work to Judge Verma.
– The call details of Judge Verma for the past six months will now be investigated.
– A three-member investigation committee has been formed under the orders of CJI Khanna, which includes Justice Shail Nagoo (Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court), Justice G.S. Sandhawalia (Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court), and Justice Anu Shivraman (Karnataka High Court).
– There is no set timeline for how long the investigation committee will take to complete its inquiry.

If the investigation committee concludes that the allegations are correct, CJI Sanjiv Khanna may take steps to initiate proceedings to remove Judge Verma…
– CJI Sanjiv Khanna may advise Judge Verma to resign or take voluntary retirement.
– If Judge Verma does not follow CJI’s advice, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court will issue an order not to assign him any work.
– After this, the CJI will submit the three-member committee’s report to the President and the Prime Minister, sharing its findings. Following this, proceedings to remove Judge Verma from his position may begin.

In 2018, Judge Verma was also linked to a ₹97.85 crore scam
– Previously, in 2018, the CBI had filed an FIR against Judge Verma in connection with a case of irregularities at the Simbhavli Sugar Mill in Ghaziabad.
– According to an NDTV report, Oriental Bank of Commerce had lodged a complaint regarding irregularities at the mill. The complaint stated that the sugar mill had misused a loan of ₹97.85 crore granted to farmers.
– However, the Supreme Court overturned the order, and the CBI closed the investigation.

How can a High Court Judge be removed?
– First, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court seeks a response from the concerned judge.
– If the response is unsatisfactory, an internal inquiry committee is formed, which includes one Supreme Court judge and two Chief Justices of High Courts.
– If the judge is found guilty in the investigation, the Chief Justice may ask them to resign.
– If the judge refuses to resign, the Chief Justice can recommend to the government to initiate impeachment proceedings against them.

The Complete Impeachment Process:
– A motion for impeachment can be introduced in either house of Parliament (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha). To introduce the motion, a certain number of MPs’ support is required. In the Lok Sabha, at least 100 MPs’ support is needed, while in the Rajya Sabha, at least 50 MPs’ support is required. The motion is presented before the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
– The Chairman or Speaker forms an inquiry committee for the preliminary investigation of the motion. The committee includes one Supreme Court judge, one Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished legal expert.
– The committee investigates the allegations made against the judge and submits its report. If the report finds the allegations to be valid, the impeachment motion is introduced in Parliament.
– For the motion to be passed, a two-thirds majority in the house is required. If the motion is passed in one house, it is sent to the other house.
– If the motion is passed in both houses, it is sent to the President. After the President’s approval, the concerned judge is removed from their position.

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2. Who has been selected for the 59th Jnanpith Award?

a. Vinod Kumar Shukla
b. Vijay Pratap
c. Alok Dhanwa
d. Arun Kamal

Answer: a. Vinod Kumar Shukla

– The name of Vinod Kumar Shukla, the Hindi poet and storyteller from Chhattisgarh, was announced on March 22, 2025.
– This is the first time that a writer from Chhattisgarh has received the Jnanpith Award.
– He is the 12th Hindi writer to be announced for this prestigious award.
– He is 88 years old. He was born on January 1, 1937, in Rajnandgaon, Raipur. He has been writing for over 50 years.
– His first poetry collection “Lagbhag Jai Hind” was published in 1971.
– His short story collections “Ped Par Kamra” and “Mahavidyalay” are also widely discussed.
– Vinod Shukla’s novels “Naukri Ki Kameez”, “Khilega To Dekhenge”, and “Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi” are considered among the best Hindi novels.
– A film was also made based on his novel “Naukri Ki Kameez” by filmmaker Mani Kaul.
– His novel “Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi” won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999.

Awards Received by Vinod Kumar Shukla:
– Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh Fellowship
– Raza Award
– Veer Singh Dev Award
– Srijan Bharti Samman
– Raghubir Sahay Smriti Award
– Dayawati Modi Kavi Shikhar Samman
– Bhavani Prasad Mishra Award
– Maithili Sharan Gupt Samman
– In 2024, he was honored with the Nabokov Award for international recognition by PEN America. He is the first writer in Asia to receive this honor.

Jnanpith Award:
– The Jnanpith Award is the highest literary award given for Indian literature.
– It has been awarded annually since 1965 for outstanding contributions to Indian literature.
– It is presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, which was established in 1944.
– Any Indian citizen who writes in any of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution is eligible for this award.
– The award includes a certificate, a shawl, and ₹11 lakh.

Note:
– The 57th Jnanpith Award in 2023 was given to Damodar Mauzo from Goa.
– The 58th Jnanpith Award in 2024 was given to Gulzar and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya.

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3. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the first grand temple of which great warrior in Maharashtra in March 2025?

a. Prithviraj Chauhan
b. Chhatrapati Shivaji
c. Vidyadhar Chandel
d. Maharana Sanga

Answer: b. Chhatrapati Shivaji

– Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on the occasion of the Maratha warrior king’s birthday according to the Hindu lunar calendar, inaugurated the first temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Bhivandi city, Thane district.
– On February 19, 2025, the 395th birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire, was celebrated.

About the Temple:
– Spanning across four acres of land, this site was referred to as a ‘National Temple’ by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
– It is located in the Marade Pada area of Bhivandi city in Thane district.
– This is the first grand temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the state.
– The temple’s design was created by renowned architect Vijaykumar Patil.
– The 6.5-foot-long statue of the Maratha king was made by Arun Yogiraj.
– Arun Yogiraj had also made the statue for the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Maharashtra:
– Capital: Mumbai, Nagpur (Winter)
– Chief Minister: Devendra Fadnavis
– Governor: C.P. Radhakrishnan
– Language: Marathi
– Population: 112.3 million (2011), approximately 136 million (estimated 2025)
– Neighboring States: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli

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4. Naval exercise ‘Varuna’ was conducted between India and which country in March 2025?

a. China
b. Japan
c. Russia
d. France

Answer: d. France

– Where was it held: On the coast of Goa
– When was it held: March 19 to 22, 2025
– Which edition: 23rd edition
– This exercise first took place in 2001 and since then, it has become a strong pillar of maritime security and defense cooperation between the two countries.

Important Points:
– The Indian Navy participated with INS Vikrant (Aircraft Carrier), destroyers, frigates, and submarines.
– The French Navy participated with Charles de Gaulle (Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier) and other warships.

Strategic Importance:
– Security and Stability in the Indo-Pacific Region: Both India and France are promoting a rules-based order.
– Defense Cooperation: This exercise strengthens the Make in India initiative and the India-France defense tie-up.
– Technological and Skill Exchange: Both countries’ navies are sharing futuristic warfare strategies.

India-France have three biennial training exercises:
– Garuda Exercise with the Indian Air Force
– Varun Exercise with the Indian Navy
– Shakti Exercise with the Indian Army

Note: On February 12, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated India’s new Consulate General in the city of Marseille, France.

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5. When is International Day of Forests celebrated?

a. 23 March
b. 22 March
c. 21 March
d. 20 March

Answer: c. 21 March

Theme 2025
– Forests and Food

– The United Nations General Assembly (UN) passed a resolution on November 28, 2012, declaring March 21 as International Forest Day to be observed every year.
– This day is celebrated to raise awareness about forests among people worldwide.
– Every year, more than 13 million hectares of forests are destroyed.
– Continuous deforestation brings viruses from animals into human contact.
– According to the United Nations (UN), 60 percent of infectious diseases worldwide spread through contact with animals.

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6. Which country has issued a court order to protect the African penguin after its declining population?

a. Nigeria
b. South Africa
c. Namibia
d. Mozambique

Answer: b. South Africa

– In 2024, scientists warned that the population of this species is decreasing by about 8% annually.
– It could become extinct within a decade.
– The court has imposed a 10-year ban on fishing around breeding colonies.
– This is to prevent fishing vessels using large nets, known as purse seine fishing vessels, from catching sardines and anchovies for the next 10 years.
– The Biodiversity Law Centre stated that the population of penguins decreased from 15,000 in 2018 to approximately 9,000 by the end of 2023.
– It was noted that if the current rate of decline continues, African penguins could become extinct by 2035.
– On March 18, 2025, the Pretoria High Court issued an order banning commercial fishing within a 20 km radius around breeding colonies on Robben Island and Bird Island.
– This decision is a response to legal action initiated by conservation organizations like BirdLife South Africa and SANCCOB.

Conservation Status:
– Since 2010, the IUCN has classified the African penguin as endangered.
– The recent court decision is a step towards halting their population decline.
– This will not only benefit the penguins but also promote the stability of important fish species, which are vital for other marine predators and the ecosystem.

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7. When is World Down Syndrome Day observed?

a. 22 March
b. 21 March
c. 23 March
d. 20 March

Answer: b. 21 March

Theme 2025
– Improve Our Support Systems

– This day was first celebrated at the United Nations in 2012.
– The 21st day of March (the third month of the year) was chosen to indicate the significance of the 21st chromosome’s triplet (Chromosome triple) which causes Down syndrome.
– The name “Down syndrome” is derived from the British physician John Langdon Down, who first identified this syndrome in 1866.

Down Syndrome:
– It is classified as a genetic disorder.
– It also causes developmental disability.
– Children born with this condition often face thyroid or heart-related problems.
– Down syndrome manifests physical, mental, and psychological symptoms.

Physical Symptoms:
– Hypotonia, which means lack of muscle tone, making it difficult to lift arms or legs.
– Eye shape tends to slant upwards.
– The nose is flat.
– The tongue is thick and protrudes.
– The head is flat, and the neck is short.
– Ears are small.
– Hands are small and stubby.
– The little finger is noticeably shorter.

Mental Symptoms:
– Children with Down syndrome tend to have a lower IQ.

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8. Which country is considering imposing a comprehensive travel ban for citizens of 43 countries by creating three categories?

a. India
b. America
c. Russia
d. Germany

Answer: b. America

– The Donald Trump administration is considering travel restrictions for citizens of 43 countries as part of a new ban.
– Actually, the Trump administration is imposing such a ban keeping in mind the security of the country.
– During his first term, Donald Trump had imposed a travel ban for seven Islamic majority countries, which was lifted by Joe Biden in the year 2021.

– The three categories that have been created now are as follows-
– The first group (called the ‘Red List’) includes 11 countries:
– Afghanistan
– Bhutan
– Cuba
– Iran
– Libya
– North Korea
– Somalia
– Sudan
– Syria
– Venezuela
– Yemen

– The second group (‘Orange List’) includes 10 countries for which travel will be restricted but not closed.
– In their case, wealthy business travelers may be allowed to enter the US

These are the 10 countries-
– Belarus
– Eritrea
– Haiti
– Laos
– Myanmar
– Pakistan
– Russia
– Sierra Leone
– South Sudan
– Turkmenistan

– The third category (yellow list) is the largest of the three with 22 countries, and will have 60 days to correct the deficiencies.
– If they do not comply they will be moved to one of the other groups.

The 22 countries are-
– Angola
– Antigua
– Barbuda
– Benin
– Burkina Faso
– Cambodia
– Cameroon
– Cape Verde
– Chad
– Republic of Congo
– Congo
– Dominica
– Equatorial Guinea
– Gambia
– Liberia
– Malawi
– Mali
– Mauritania
– Saint Kitts
– Nevis
– Saint Lucia
– Sao Tome
– Principe
– Vanuatu
– Zimbabwe.

– The order directed several cabinet members to submit a list of countries from which travel should be partially or fully suspended by March 21, 2025.

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9. When is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination observed?

a. 20 March
b. 21 March
c. 22 March
d. 23 March

Answer: b. 21 March

– On this day in 1960, 69 people were killed in Sharpeville, South Africa when police opened fire on peaceful protesters demonstrating against apartheid law.
– In his memory, the United Nations General Assembly started this day, which is celebrated all over the world.
– Secretary-General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres

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10. Trade War Update:

– India has decided to impose anti-dumping duty on imports of five items – soft ferrite core, vacuum insulated flask, aluminum foil, trichloro isocyanuric acid and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) paste resin.
– Such duty was imposed on many items in October last year (2024) and this year (2025).
– These items are mainly imported from China.
– The duty will also be effective on imports of these items from Japan and Korea.
– The government says that these items are being sold at prices lower than the market price.


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