Daily Current Affairs 18th March 2025: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation
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This post contains daily current affairs 18th March 2025. It includes all National, International, Business & Sports related current affairs 18th March 2025. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through these current affairs we would recommend to you to try 18th March, 2025 Current affairs test.
National News
10th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law Held in New Delhi
- The Competition Commission of India hosted the 10th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law in New Delhi.
- Since 2016, this annual gathering has brought together academics, industry experts, and practitioners to delve into significant shifts in competition law and market behavior.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates First-Ever Fit India Carnival
- Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya opened the inaugural Fit India Carnival 2025, a three-day event promoting physical health, mental wellness, and wholesome living, at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on March 16, 2025.
- Notable attendees included Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana, wrestling champion Sangram Singh, wellness guru Mickey Mehta, former WWE wrestler Shanky Singh, and Guinness World Record holder Rohtash Chaudhary.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Visits IIT Madras Hyperloop Testing Facility & Open House 2025 Exhibition
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw toured the Hyperloop testing site at IIT Madras, announcing that the 410-meter-long Hyperloop tube is poised to become the globe’s longest high-speed tube.
- The Indian Railways Ministry is offering financial support and technical expertise, while the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai is developing the system’s electronics.
- Vaishnaw also attended Open House 2025 at the IIT Madras Guindy campus, engaging with students on semiconductor technology, AI, and data science. He reaffirmed India’s ambitions to emerge as a technological leader under Prime Minister Modi’s administration.
Adar Poonawalla Sells Magma Insurance Stake to Patanjali Ayurved and DS Group for ₹4,500 Crore
- In a major transaction within India’s insurance sector, Adar Poonawalla’s Sanoti Properties divested its 98% holding in Magma General Insurance to Patanjali Ayurved and Dharampal Satyapal (DS) Group for ₹4,500 crore.
- This strategic shift aims to bolster Magma Insurance’s market stance, capitalizing on Patanjali’s extensive rural outreach and DS Group’s financial acumen.
- Magma posted a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of ₹3,295 crore in 2024, aims for about ₹3,650–3,700 crore in 2025, and projects a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of ₹20–25 crore. Its portfolio extends beyond 70 insurance products, covering vehicles, health, homes, fire, marine, and liability segments.
International News
India, New Zealand Resume Talks on Free Trade Agreement After Nearly a Decade
- India and New Zealand have confirmed they will recommence negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement, following a break of nearly 10 years.
- Conversations about the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) originally started in April 2010, aiming to boost trade in goods, services, and investments.
- Discussions ceased after nine rounds in 2015, but both nations are now moving forward again.
Ancient Desert Crossroads: Faya Site Reveals Humanity’s 210,000-Year Desert Adaptation
- The Faya Palaeolandscape in Sharjah, nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status, highlights 210,000 years of human tenacity and adaptation.
- Serving as an essential trade route connecting Arabia and India, the 29,085-hectare region lies 55 km from both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
- Its focal point is the Faya Range, a 20-km limestone formation that separates the Rub’ al-Khali desert from the Dhaid-Madam Plain.
- The site’s evidence of human settlement amid extremely dry climatic conditions makes it especially significant.
Armenia and Azerbaijan Finalize Peace Treaty to End 40-Year Conflict
- Armenia and Azerbaijan have reached a consensus on the text of a peace deal, aiming to end nearly four decades of disputes over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
- Despite this development, Azerbaijan’s insistence on modifications to Armenia’s constitution before signing has introduced uncertainty regarding the final formalization of the treaty.
- The agreement aspires to stabilize the South Caucasus region following Azerbaijan’s 2023 military action in Nagorno-Karabakh, which compelled 100,000 ethnic Armenians to relocate to Armenia.
Business News
India’s Wholesale Inflation Rises to 2.38% in February 2024
- The nation’s wholesale inflation rate moved up to 2.38% in February, from 2.31% in January 2025.
- This uptick was predominantly propelled by higher inflation in manufactured food items, textiles, and non-food materials.
- However, the Food Index experienced a drop, going from 7.47% in January to 5.94% in February, offering some measure of relief.
Science & Technology News
Chandrayaan-5 Mission Approved: India and Japan to Collaborate on Lunar Exploration
- The government has sanctioned the Chandrayaan-5 mission, according to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan.
- Speaking at a function in Bengaluru, Narayanan revealed that unlike the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which carried a 25-kg rover called Pragyan, the Chandrayaan-5 mission will deploy a 250-kg rover for a more comprehensive examination of the lunar surface.
Department of Telecommunications Unveils 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025 with ₹1.5 Crore Budget
- The Department of Telecommunications is hosting the six-month-long 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025, focusing on advanced 5G technology solutions for a range of societal and industrial needs.
- The program is open to students, startups, and experts, providing guidance, financial backing, and access to over 100 5G Use Case Labs for developing scalable innovations.
Sports News
Hockey Jharkhand Wins First-Ever Title at the 15th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2025
- Hockey Jharkhand emerged victorious against Hockey Haryana in the championship final at Tau Devi Lal Complex in Panchkula, Haryana.
- This triumph marks Hockey Jharkhand’s first national title.
- After ending in a 1-1 tie during regulation time, Hockey Jharkhand clinched the win with a 4-3 outcome in the penalty shootout.
 Obituary News
Renowned Odia Poet Ramakanta Rath Died at 90
- Legendary Odia poet and Padma Bhushan laureate, Ramakanta Rath, passed away at 91 in his Bhubaneswar residence, signifying a profound loss for Odia literature.
- Born on December 13, 1934, in Cuttack, he completed his master’s in English at Ravenshaw University, afterward joining the Indian Administrative Service in 1957.
- Rath held numerous influential posts, including the role of Chief Secretary of Odisha.
Maharana Pratap’s Descendant Arvind Singh Mewar Dies at 81
- Arvind Singh Mewar, a direct descendant of Maharana Pratap and head of the HRH Group of Hotels, passed away at 81 on March 16, 2025, at Udaipur’s City Palace following a prolonged illness.
- His death signals the end of an era for the House of Mewar, revered for safeguarding Rajput heritage and bolstering tourism in Udaipur.
