Current Affairs - March 14, 2025 Current Affairs

World Sleep Day in 2025 will be observed on March 14th. The event, organized by the World Sleep Society, is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of sleep for overall health and well-being. It encourages people to adopt healthy sleep habits and highlights issues related to sleep disorders. The theme for 2025, 'Make Sleep Health a Priority,' emphasizes the significance of prioritizing sleep health for better quality of life.

The PM Surya Ghar Scheme reached the significant milestone of 10 lakh rooftop solar installations by 10th March 2025. This achievement marks a crucial step in India's efforts towards energy self-reliance and environmental sustainability. The scheme, launched in February 2024, is on track to solarize 1 crore households by 2026-27, with substantial subsidies and financial support to encourage solar adoption and reduce electricity costs for households.

The 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados' was conferred upon India's Prime Minister during a meeting in November 2024, which took place in Guyana during the India-CARICOM Summit. While Barbados' diplomatic history is discussed, the ceremony and announcement occurred in Guyana. This highlights Guyana as the country where the recognition was given.

India ranks 39th on the Global Innovation Index 2024, which highlights a gap in its innovation capabilities despite being the 2nd-largest producer of STEM graduates globally. This low ranking is attributed to insufficient research and development (R&D) funding, especially in comparison to countries like China and South Korea, which have significantly higher R&D investment. India’s focus on R&D needs to be strengthened to improve its global innovation standing and economic growth.

Tata Power launched the 'Club Enerji Eco Crew' initiative with the aim to educate 5 lakh students across 1,000 schools in 24 cities on solar energy adoption. This initiative aligns with the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, which promotes rooftop solar energy and sustainable practices. By targeting cities like Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kanpur, Tata Power is fostering eco-conscious awareness among students and encouraging them to adopt environmentally friendly energy solutions.

The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, located in Visakhapatnam, was the site where pelicans and painted storks were recently observed. The park provides a suitable habitat for these species, and their presence there highlights the area's biodiversity. The other options are not associated with this specific observation.

SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) is the regulatory body currently considering revamping short-selling norms. The proposed changes aim to expand access to short-selling, remove disclosure requirements, and address settlement challenges. SEBI's role is to regulate the securities market, and its involvement in these proposed adjustments reflects its responsibility for overseeing market activities and ensuring smooth functioning.

The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act was originally enacted in 1948. This act provides the regulatory framework for the exploration and development of oilfields in India. The current Bill is amending this act to address contemporary issues, such as separating petroleum operations from mining and improving regulatory clarity. The act's establishment in 1948 serves as the foundation for the legal adjustments being proposed today.

The Chief Minister of West Bengal has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of facilitating voter duplication by issuing the same Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers for multiple voters across different states. The issue revolves around EPIC number duplication, which the ECI clarified stems from legacy data errors before the introduction of ERONET.

India, despite being the largest spice producer globally, holds just 0.7% of the global seasoning market. This low market share is largely due to the country's focus on raw spice exports rather than processed or value-added products. Only 48% of India's spice exports are processed, and there are concerns regarding the quality of products, such as instances of adulteration and pesticide residues. Addressing these issues and increasing value addition in exports could help India gain a larger share of the global seasoning market.