Mar 19, 2025 | Current Affairs for UPSC, State PCS & other Govt. Exams

India has clinched both the Men's and Women's Kabaddi World Cup 2025 titles at Wolverhampton, England. Held for the first time outside Asia, the tournament featured top kabaddi teams competing across the West Midlands, with matches in Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.

In the inaugural edition hosted by Malaysia in 2019, India had also emerged victorious in both the men’s and women’s categories.

The Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) has launched WAVEX 2025, a pioneering initiative aimed at funding and providing national exposure to startups in the media and entertainment sector.

Organized in collaboration with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), WAVEX 2025 will take place at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, as part of the World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES), scheduled to be held from May 1 to May 4, 2025, in Mumbai.

WAVEX 2025 focuses on gaming, animation, extended reality (XR), the metaverse, generative AI, and next-generation content platforms. Beyond funding, the event offers mentorship, investor networking, and collaboration opportunities with major media and technology firms.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, Indore is set to launch India's first green waste processing plant, developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The plant aims to revolutionize the city's waste management system by converting green waste into valuable resources.

Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana has been officially named the "Fit India Icon" by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The Fit India Movement, a nationwide campaign, was launched by PM Modi on August 29, 2019.

The 23rd edition of the bilateral naval exercise VARUNA between India and France is set to take place from March 19 to March 22, 2025. Established in 2001, this annual exercise will feature aircraft carriers Vikrant and Charles de Gaulle, along with fighter aircraft, destroyers, frigates, and a Scorpene-class submarine.

VARUNA 2025 aims to enhance coordination in air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and surface combat.

A recent global survey by the U.S.-based think tank The Future of Free Speech ranked India 24th out of 33 countries in its Free Speech Index. Conducted in October 2024, the survey found that while support for free speech in India has declined since 2021, a majority of Indians believe it has improved.

The report, titled "Who in the World Supports Free Speech?", highlights the gap between public perception and actual protections for free speech in India, alongside broader global trends of democratic backsliding.

Norway (87.9) and Denmark (87.0) ranked highest in free speech support.