Current Affairs - March 13, 2025 Current Affairs

India emerged as the leading source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Dubai in 2024, surpassing the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. India accounted for 21.5% of total FDI into Dubai, which reflects the growing business ties between the two countries. Dubai’s business-friendly environment, tax policies, and infrastructure attracted a significant increase in Indian investments, further cementing Dubai's position as the world's leading destination for Greenfield FDI. This surge in investments underscores the strong economic relationship between India and Dubai.

Jayshree Vencatesan, co-founder of Care Earth Trust, became the first Indian to receive the prestigious Ramsar Award for 'Wetland Wise Use.' This award, recognized globally, celebrates her contributions to the sustainable management of wetlands, particularly her work in conserving the Pallikaranai Marsh in Chennai. Through her research, flood mitigation efforts, and mentorship, she has significantly impacted wetland conservation in India, highlighting the importance of these ecosystems. Her dedication to wetland preservation earned her recognition as one of the 12 women changemakers honoured for their pioneering work in environmental conservation.

IIFL Finance, a prominent non-banking financial company (NBFC) in India, launched ‘Shakti’ all-women branches in celebration of Women’s Day. Seven of its existing branches were transformed into exclusively women-staffed branches located in the Delhi NCR and Mumbai Metropolitan Regions. This initiative promotes gender diversity and inclusion in the financial sector, empowers women entrepreneurs, and focuses on offering financial literacy and skill development programs to help women scale their businesses. IIFL Finance’s goal is to support women in underserved communities and strengthen financial inclusion across India.

The Punjab Legislative Assembly has launched a searchable engine that allows access to debates and proceedings from 1947 till the present day. This makes Punjab the first Vidhan Sabha in the country to introduce such an initiative. The engine was developed in collaboration with Punjabi University Patiala, IIIT Hyderabad, and CDAC Noida. This move enhances transparency and public access to legislative proceedings, enabling citizens to easily search for and view the discussions and decisions made in the state assembly over the years.

Kamal Wali has been appointed as the Head of ICICI Bank’s Security Operations Center, bringing with him over 18 years of expertise in cybersecurity and IT operations. In his new role, Wali will lead security initiatives to enhance the bank's cybersecurity infrastructure, focusing on mitigating risks and protecting customer data. His extensive experience, including leadership positions at Jio Platforms Limited, Wipro, and IBM, equips him to strengthen the bank’s digital resilience in the face of growing cyber threats.

Delhi International Airport, operated by GMR Airports Infrastructure Limited, won the ASQ Airport Experience Award 2024 for the Best Airport Over 40 Million Passengers in the Asia-Pacific region. This marks the seventh consecutive year that the airport has received this prestigious recognition, reflecting its consistent commitment to excellence in customer service, operational efficiency, and passenger experience. The award is based on real-time feedback from passengers and highlights Delhi Airport's leadership in the global aviation industry. Its achievements have solidified its reputation as a world-class airport.

The World Para-Athletics Grand Prix opened in New Delhi at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. This event marks a significant occasion as it is the first-ever World Para-Athletics Grand Prix hosted in India. The three-day event features over 90 competitions and includes the participation of para-athletes from across the world, including 145 athletes from India and 105 international participants from 19 different countries. New Delhi was chosen as the venue, highlighting its role as a central location for international sporting events in India.

The Water Sustainability Conference 2025 took place at the NDMC Convention Centre in New Delhi. This event, organized by the Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), focused on promoting industrial water use efficiency. The conference was inaugurated by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, and brought together industry leaders, government officials, and experts to discuss sustainable water management practices and innovative strategies for water conservation in industries.

The 4th ‘No Money for Terror’ (NMFT) Conference, which focused on global initiatives to tackle terror financing, was held in Munich. India, actively involved in the conference since 2018, reiterated its commitment to combating terrorism through enhanced international collaboration. During the conference, discussions centred around the challenges of digital financial networks and cross-border transactions used in terror financing, stressing the need for unified international action against these evolving threats.

India has decided to elevate its ties with Mauritius to an "enhanced strategic partnership". This upgrade in relations includes the signing of eight pacts aimed at boosting cooperation in various sectors like maritime security and trade. The decision reflects the strengthening of diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations. Furthermore, India's new vision for the Global South, called "MAHASAGAR," aims to foster mutual advancement in security and growth, underscoring the importance of the partnership with Mauritius.

The event was held in Turin, Italy, as stated in the given text. Italy was the host country for the 12th Special Olympics World Winter 2025, where athletes from various countries competed in winter sports. The success of India, winning medals on the first day, highlights Italy's role in organizing and facilitating the global sporting event. Turin, a city known for its sports history, was the perfect location for such an international event.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has made the decision to allocate Rs 3 crore annually for each Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) scheme. This fund allows MLAs to recommend and oversee the implementation of key development projects in their respective constituencies, ensuring that essential projects are funded and managed at the regional level. By empowering the MLAs with this fund, the government aims to enhance local development in the Jammu and Kashmir region.