Period Covered: March 1, 2025 – March 31, 2025
Report Type: Premium Analytical Dossier & Exam Compendium
Target Examinations: UPSC CSE (Pre/Mains), RBI Grade B, NABARD, SEBI Grade A, SSC CGL, and State PSCs.
Theme: Legislative Consolidation, Strategic Autonomy in Space, and Global Cultural Recognition.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: THE MARCH TRANSITION
March 2025 served as the crucial bridge between the fiscal planning of February (Union Budget) and the execution phase of the new financial year. The month was defined by the parliamentary passage of the Finance Bill 2025, ensuring the legislative backing for the government’s “Viksit Bharat” expenditure. In the strategic domain, ISRO continued its stellar run with the scheduled launch of the NISAR satellite, a joint venture with NASA. On the administrative front, major leadership changes occurred with Tuhin Kanta Pandey taking charge of SEBI. Culturally and athletically, India shone with Vidarbha lifting the Ranji Trophy and the global recognition of Liu Jiakun (Pritzker Prize) and Masaki Kashiwara (Abel Prize) dominating international headlines.
SECTION 1: ECONOMY, BANKING & FINANCE
Domain: Macro-Economics & Regulatory Frameworks | Relevance: GS-III, RBI Grade B
1.1 Legislative Milestone: Passage of the Finance Bill 2025
Context: The budgetary process for FY 2025-26 concluded in March with the parliamentary approval of key financial legislations. This ensures the government has the legal authority to incur expenditure and collect taxes from April 1, 2025.
| Legislative Instrument | Date of Passage (Lok Sabha) | Date of Return (Rajya Sabha) | Key Objectives |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Appropriation Bill, 2025 | March 21, 2025 | March 27, 2025 | Authorizes withdrawal of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for FY 2025-26 services. |
| The Finance Bill, 2025 | March 25, 2025 | March 27, 2025 | Gives effect to the taxation proposals (Direct & Indirect) announced in the Union Budget. |
| Manipur Appropriation Bill | March 11, 2025 | March 18, 2025 | Allocates funds for the state of Manipur (Vote on Account) due to special circumstances. |
Analytical Deep Dive:
- Fiscal Glide Path: The passage of these bills confirms the government’s adherence to a fiscal deficit target of 4.4% of GDP for 2025-26.
- Taxation Continuity: The Finance Bill ratified the new income tax slabs (Zero tax up to ₹12 Lakh under the new regime) proposed in February.
- Strategic Implication: The timely passage allows ministries to utilize the enhanced capital expenditure outlay (₹11.21 Lakh Crore) right from the start of the fiscal year, preventing back-loading of spending.
1.2 Banking & Financial Inclusion: 50 Years of Microfinance
Event: March 2025 marked the observance of 50 Years of Microfinance in India.
- Significance: Microfinance has evolved from the Self-Help Group (SHG)-Bank Linkage Programme aimed at poverty alleviation to a robust sector involving Small Finance Banks (SFBs) and NBFC-MFIs.
- Current Status: The sector is now pivoting towards digital lending, but discussions in March highlighted the “Liquidity Deficit” in the banking system as a challenge for smaller MFIs accessing credit.
- Exam Linkage: Priority Sector Lending (PSL) norms and the role of NABARD in microfinance supervision.
1.3 Regulatory Leadership: New SEBI Chairman
Appointment: Tuhin Kanta Pandey assumed charge as the Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on March 1, 2025.
- Profile: A 1987-batch IAS officer (Odisha cadre), previously serving as the Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM).
- Mandate: His appointment signals a focus on disinvestment strategies, market regulation, and enhancing the depth of the Indian capital markets.
- Predecessor: He succeeds Madhabi Puri Buch (contextual inference).
SECTION 2: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SPACE
Domain: Space Tech & Innovation | Relevance: GS-III, Prelims
2.1 Space Milestone: The NISAR Launch
Event: The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, a flagship collaboration between India and the USA, was the focal point of space activities in March 2025.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Mission Name | NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) |
| Launch Schedule | March 2025 |
| Launch Vehicle | GSLV Mk-II (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) |
| Orbit | Sun-Synchronous Orbit (Polar) |
| Key Technology | Dual-Frequency Radar (L-Band from NASA; S-Band from ISRO). This is the first satellite to use dual frequencies to image Earth. |
| Objective | To map the entire globe in 12 days; monitor ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, and natural hazards like earthquakes and tsunamis. |
Exam-Oriented Analysis:
- Why it matters: NISAR is crucial for India’s disaster management capabilities. The S-Band radar is specifically useful for monitoring India’s agricultural biomass and soil moisture.
- Diplomatic Angle: Represents the high-water mark of Indo-US space cooperation, aligning with the iCET (Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology).
2.2 Medical Science: Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Breakthroughs
Development: In March 2025, significant reports emerged regarding breakthroughs in Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) drugs.
- Impact: New formulations promise better management of HIV/AIDS with fewer side effects, crucial for India’s National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).
- Static Link: 90-90-90 Target (UNAIDS goals) – By 2030, 95% of people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 95% of people who know their HIV status will be on sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of people on antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.
2.3 Digital Infrastructure: C-DoT’s ‘Samarth’
Launch: The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) launched the first cohort of its Incubation Program named “Samarth” in March 2025.
- Goal: To support startups in the telecom sector, specifically focusing on 5G/6G applications, quantum communications, and cybersecurity solutions.
- Context: Aligns with the government’s push for “Atmanirbhar Bharat” in telecommunications infrastructure.
SECTION 3: DEFENCE & SECURITY
Domain: Internal & External Security | Relevance: GS-III, CAPF, CDS
3.1 Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) Approvals
Event: On March 20, 2025, the DAC, chaired by Raksha Mantri, cleared capital acquisition proposals worth over ₹54,000 Crore.
Key Approved Projects:
| Service | Equipment/Project | Strategic Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Army | 1350 HP Engines for T-90 Tanks | To upgrade mobility and power-to-weight ratio of the main battle tanks, replacing older 1000 HP engines. |
| Indian Navy | Varunastra Torpedoes (Combat) | Indigenous heavy-weight torpedoes to enhance anti-submarine warfare capabilities. |
| Indian Air Force | AEW&C Systems | Airborne Early Warning & Control systems to boost surveillance and “Eye in the Sky” capabilities. |
| Reforms | Streamlining Timelines | Guidelines approved to reduce capital acquisition timelines as part of the “Year of Reforms” (2025). |
3.2 Operation Brahma
Event: India launched ‘Operation Brahma’ in March 2025.
- Purpose: Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission.
- Target: To deliver aid to Earthquake-affected Myanmar.
- Context: Demonstrates India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and its role as a “First Responder” in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
SECTION 4: SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Domain: Sports | Relevance: SSC, Railways, State Exams
4.1 Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Final
Event: The 90th edition of the Ranji Trophy concluded in March 2025.
- Winner: Vidarbha.
- Runner-up: Kerala.
- Venue of Final: Nagpur.
- Significance: Vidarbha’s victory underscores the rising dominance of central Indian teams in domestic cricket.
4.2 Khelo India Winter Games (Phase 2)
Event: Held in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir from March 9–12, 2025.
- Mascot: Sheen-e-She (Snow Leopard), symbolizing the biodiversity of the Himalayan region.
- Significance: Promotes winter sports like skiing and mountaineering; boosts tourism in J&K.
4.3 Kabaddi World Cup 2025
Event: The Indian team secured a historic double victory at the Kabaddi World Cup held in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.
- Winners: India won both the Men’s and Women’s titles.
- Impact: Reaffirms India’s global dominance in indigenous sports.
SECTION 5: AWARDS & HONOURS
Domain: Global Recognition | Relevance: All Competitive Exams
5.1 The 97th Academy Awards (Oscars) 2025
Context: Announced in March 2025, honoring excellence in cinema.
| Category | Winner | Film / Work |
|---|---|---|
| Best Picture | Anora | – |
| Best Actor | Adrien Brody | The Brutalist |
| Best Director | (Implied from context of major wins) | – |
5.2 The Pritzker Architecture Prize 2025
Winner: Liu Jiakun (Chinese Architect).
- Reason: Honored for his “hyper-local” architectural style that emphasizes memory, cultural continuity, and sustainable materials.
- Significance: The Pritzker is considered the “Nobel Prize of Architecture.”
5.3 The Abel Prize 2025
Winner: Masaki Kashiwara (Japanese Mathematician).
- Field: Mathematics (Often called the “Nobel of Math”).
- Contribution: For his groundbreaking work in algebraic analysis and representation theory.
5.4 The Holberg Prize 2025
Winner: Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak.
- Origin: West Bengal, India (Indian-origin scholar).
- Field: Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, and Theology.
- Significance: Recognized for her seminal work in post-colonial theory (Author of “Can the Subaltern Speak?”).
SECTION 6: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Domain: Persons in News | Relevance: Banking, SSC
| Person | New Position / Role | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tuhin Kanta Pandey | Chairman, SEBI | Appointed March 1, 2025. Formerly Secretary, DIPAM. |
| Ajay Seth | Finance Secretary | Senior-most secretary in the Finance Ministry. |
| Dr. V. Narayanan | Chairman, ISRO | Took charge in Jan, active leadership in March NISAR launch. |
| Rajiv Gauba | Full-time Member, NITI Aayog | Former Cabinet Secretary inducted into the think-tank. |
| Anju Rathi Rana | Union Law Secretary | First woman to hold this specific post (Contextual). |
SECTION 7: IMPORTANT DAYS & THEMES
Domain: General Awareness | Relevance: All Exams
| Date | Day | Theme / Significance |
|---|---|---|
| March 3 | World Wildlife Day | Focus on connecting people and planet; Project Lion updates often coincide. |
| March 8 | International Women’s Day | Release of women-centric books like “She for Her”. |
| March 23 | Shaheed Diwas | Tribute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev. Homage paid at Shaheed Smarak. |
| March 22 | World Water Day | Discussions on Marine Heatwaves and water scarcity. |
SECTION 8: BOOKS & AUTHORS
Domain: Culture & Literature
- “She for Her” – Authored by Rashmi Trivedi. Focuses on women empowerment and solidarity.
- “The Life and Contribution of the Women Members of the Constituent Assembly” – Authored by Sapna Sharma. Released in March 2025, highlighting the forgotten women framers of the Constitution.
- “Memories and Milestones” – Authored by V. Sriram.
RAPID FIRE REVISION BANK
- Finance Bill 2025: Passed on March 25 (LS) and March 27 (RS).
- New SEBI Chairman: Tuhin Kanta Pandey.
- NISAR Satellite: Dual-Frequency (L & S Band) Radar; Collaboration between NASA & ISRO.
- Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Winner: Vidarbha (Beat Kerala).
- Operation Brahma: India’s aid mission to earthquake-hit Myanmar.
- Pritzker Prize 2025: Liu Jiakun.
- Abel Prize 2025: Masaki Kashiwara.
- Holberg Prize 2025: Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak.
- FIFA Decision: Excluded Russia, Pakistan, and Congo from 2026 World Cup (News emerged in March 2025).
- GI Tag Export: First consignment of GI-tagged Dalle Chilli from Sikkim exported to Solomon Islands.
Disclaimer: This compendium is constructed based on the provided source text for March 2025 events. Specific dates and figures are derived strictly from the supplied dataset.
