Current Affairs - March 3, 2025 Current Affairs

City Union Bank (CUB) partnered with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to launch an exclusive co-branded credit card. This collaboration offers CSK fans a unique financial product with exciting rewards, exclusive offers, and cricket-related experiences. The card features a CSK-themed design and provides benefits like reward points on purchases, special discounts on CSK merchandise, priority access to events, and bonus points for purchasing match tickets. The partnership aims to increase fan engagement while allowing customers to express their loyalty to CSK through financial benefits.

Vidarbha won their third Ranji Trophy title by defeating Kerala in a dominant victory at VCA Stadium, Nagpur. Captain Akshay Wadkar lifted the trophy after a strong first-innings lead and resilient batting performance. Key contributions from Darshan Nalkande, who scored a half-century, and Akshay Karnewar played a significant role in securing the win, making it a memorable achievement for Vidarbha in the prestigious tournament.

NITI Aayog, in collaboration with TransUnion CIBIL, Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), and MicroSave Consulting (MSC), launched the report titled “From Borrowers to Builders: Women’s Role in India’s Financial Growth Story.” The report highlights the increasing participation of women in India's financial growth, with significant improvements such as a 42% increase in women monitoring their credit and a 14% rise in women's share in business loan origination since 2019. This reflects the growing influence of women in shaping India’s economic future.

The United Kingdom, through British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, announced a £1.6 billion ($2 billion) deal to supply Ukraine with 5,000 air-defense missiles. These missiles will be manufactured by Thales using export finance. The announcement was made during a European leaders' summit held in London on March 2, 2025, highlighting the U.K.'s continued support for Ukraine amidst ongoing conflict and security concerns in the region.

Dr Mayank Sharma, a 1989-batch IDAS officer, was appointed as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) on March 1, 2025. He has extensive experience, having served in key roles within the Defence Accounts Department, Cabinet Secretariat, and as India's representative at UNODC and other UN bodies. Additionally, Dr Sharma led consular affairs at the Indian Embassy in Vienna, where he was responsible for managing high-level delegations. His appointment reflects his expertise in handling important administrative and international matters.

Rithvik Bollipalli, from India, partnered with Colombia's Nicolas Barrientos to win the Chile Open 2025 men’s doubles title in Santiago. They defeated the top-seeded Argentine pair, Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez, with a 6-3, 6-2 scoreline. This victory made Bollipalli the first Indian to win an ATP title on Latin Clay, adding to his previous achievement of winning the 2024 Almaty Open.

YES BANK, India’s sixth-largest private sector bank, hosted the Export Conclave 2025 in collaboration with the World Trade Center (WTC) Mumbai at YES BANK House. The event focused on empowering MSMEs and enhancing India's export ecosystem. Key highlights included the strategic partnership between YES BANK and WTC Mumbai, aimed at improving MSMEs’ access to credit, providing trade facilitation services, and offering global market insights. YES BANK also introduced initiatives such as YES Exports to support export-oriented businesses and MSME entrepreneurs.

The Payment Security Summit & Awards – India will be hosted in Mumbai on March 4, 2025. The event will focus on strengthening digital payment security in response to rising cyber threats, bringing together industry leaders, regulators, and financial institutions. Cybersecurity experts emphasize the importance of cyber resilience for ensuring India’s economic growth and financial integrity, highlighting the summit’s relevance in addressing these challenges.

The HIMASHIELD 2024 Grand Challenge, organized by C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram, concluded in the city on National Science Day. The challenge focused on Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) mitigation. Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu, emerged as the winner, while BITS Mesra & Wadia Institute, Dehradun, secured the first runner-up position, and IIT Bhubaneswar’s CryoSense team took the second runner-up spot. The event showcased innovative solutions for climate-related challenges.

Ajay Seth, the Secretary of Economic Affairs, has been given the additional charge of Revenue Secretary, replacing Tuhin Kanta Pandey. Seth, a 1987 Karnataka cadre officer, brings extensive experience in economic policy, finance, and tax administration to the role. He will hold this position until a regular appointment is made. This new responsibility highlights his expertise and the trust placed in him by the government to manage important economic affairs.

United Nations World Wildlife Day is observed on March 3rd each year to celebrate wild animals and plants. It was established in 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly, aligning with the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973. The day recognizes the vital role of wildlife in supporting people and the planet. The theme for World Wildlife Day 2025 is "Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet," emphasizing the need for investment in conservation efforts.

International Wheelchair Day is observed on March 1st each year, aiming to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in society. The day is marked by various events and initiatives, such as the Sugamya Yatra organized at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station in New Delhi. The event was hosted by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE), and the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) to raise awareness and promote inclusion.