📅 Daily Current Affairs: 15 March 2025

Focus: Banking, Economy, and Static Awareness

🏦 Banking & Finance News

1. SBI Secures $500 Million Social Loan

• The News: State Bank of India (SBI) has successfully raised $500 million through a syndicated social term loan.

• Purpose: The funds are earmarked for Women Empowerment initiatives and supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) led by women.

• Key Detail: This is one of the largest social loans raised by a commercial bank in the Asia-Pacific region.

2. RBI Updates 'Master Direction' on Credit Cards

• Highlight: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated that card issuers must provide a 7-day grace period before reporting a default to Credit Information Companies (CICs).

• Impact: This move aims to protect customers from minor technical delays in payments affecting their CIBIL scores.

3. SEBI Launches 'MITRA' Portal

• Portal Name: MITRA (Mutual Fund Investment Tracing and Retrieval Assistant).

• Function: It allows investors to track "unclaimed" dividends and redemption amounts across various Mutual Fund houses using a single interface.

📈 Economy & Business

4. Fitch Projects India’s FY26 GDP at 7.5%

• The Shift: Rating agency Fitch has revised India’s growth forecast upward to 7.5% for the financial year 2025-26.

• Reasoning: High public capital expenditure (Capex) and a significant recovery in rural consumption.

5. HDFC ERGO Names New CEO

• Appointment: Parthanil Ghosh has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HDFC ERGO General Insurance.

🌍 National & International Updates

• Jnanpith Award 2025: Renowned Tamil poet and lyricist R. Vairamuthu has been conferred with the 60th Jnanpith Award for his contribution to Indian literature.

• Infrastructure: PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Haldia Automated Bulk Terminal in West Bengal, built by Adani Ports, to boost India's maritime trade efficiency.

🧠 Static Awareness (Banking & General)

The following facts are derived from today's news headlines for exam relevance:

💡 One-Liner Quick Bytes

• World Consumer Rights Day: Observed on 15 March (Theme for 2026: "Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers").

• Zydus Lifesciences received marketing approval in China for its anemia drug, Desidustat.

• Karnataka becomes the first Indian state to propose a ban on social media for children under 16.

📘 Static Awareness (1–15 March 2025)

(Important for Banking Exams – SBI, IBPS, RBI, SSC)

🌍 1 March – Important Static Facts

🟢 Zero Discrimination Day

• Observed on 1 March every year.

• Started by United Nations in 2014.

• Symbol: Butterfly (freedom & equality).

🟡 World Civil Defence Day

• Celebrated on 1 March.

• Organized by International Civil Defence Organization.

• Aim: Awareness about disaster preparedness & safety.

🐾 3 March – Important Static Facts

🟢 World Wildlife Day

• Observed by United Nations.

• Declared in 2013.

• Purpose: Protect wild animals & biodiversity.

🕉 8 March – Important Static Facts

🟣 Ramakrishna Jayanti

• Birth anniversary of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

• Famous spiritual teacher of 19th-century India.

• Founder inspiration of Ramakrishna Mission.

🎬 1–8 March 2025 – Festival

🟡 Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES)

• Held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

• Organized by Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy.

• Started in 1996.

☀️ Solar Scheme Milestone (March 2025)

🟢 PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

• Achieved 10 lakh rooftop solar installations milestone.

• Launched by Narendra Modi in 2024.

• Target: 1 crore solar homes by 2026-27.

🚀 Space Sector Static Fact

🟣 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

• Earned about $143 million foreign exchange from satellite launches.

• Headquarters: Bengaluru.

• Founded: 1969.

⚓ Defence Static Fact

🟢 India–Bangladesh Naval Exercise – BONGOSAGAR 2025

• Conducted in Bay of Bengal.

• Ships involved:

  • INS Ranvir (India)

  • BNS Abu Ubaidah (Bangladesh).

🌊 14 March – Important Day

🟡 International Day of Action for Rivers

• Celebrated on 14 March.

• Focus: Protection of rivers & water resources.

🛍 15 March – Important Day

🔴 World Consumer Rights Day

• Observed every year on 15 March.

• Promotes consumer protection & fair trade practices.

🧠 Quick Revision (Exam Booster)

🧠 Banking Exam MCQs

📘 Static Awareness (1–15 March 2026)

Important Days for Banking Exams (SBI, IBPS, SSC)

🌍 1 March

🟢 Zero Discrimination Day

• Observed every year on 1 March.

• Started by United Nations in 2014.

• Aim: Promote equality and end discrimination worldwide.

🟡 World Civil Defence Day

• Celebrated on 1 March.

• Organized by International Civil Defence Organization.

• Purpose: Spread awareness about disaster management and civil protection.

🐾 3 March

🟢 World Wildlife Day

• Observed every year on 3 March.

• Declared by United Nations General Assembly in 2013.

• Focus: Conservation of wildlife and biodiversity.

🟣 World Hearing Day

• Promotes awareness about hearing loss and ear care.

🦺 4 March

🟡 National Safety Day (India)

• Observed on 4 March.

• Organized by National Safety Council of India.

• Aim: Promote workplace safety and accident prevention.

👩 8 March

🟣 International Women’s Day

• Celebrated globally on 8 March.

• Recognized by United Nations.

• Focus: Gender equality and women empowerment.

🚬 9 March

🔵 No Smoking Day

• Observed on the second Wednesday of March.

• Encourages people to quit smoking and promotes health awareness.

🛡 10 March

🟢 CISF Raising Day

• Celebrates the foundation of Central Industrial Security Force.

• Established in 1969.

🌊 14 March

🟡 International Day of Action for Rivers

• Observed on 14 March.

• Focus: Protection of rivers and water ecosystems.

🔢 Pi Day

• Celebrated on 14 March (3.14).

• Honors the mathematical constant π (pi).

🛍 15 March

🔴 World Consumer Rights Day

• Celebrated every year on 15 March.

• Focus: Consumer protection and fair trade practices.

⚡ Quick Revision (Exam Booster)