Mar 20, 2025 | Current Affairs for UPSC, State PCS & other Govt. Exams

India is advancing its nuclear energy capabilities with two key projects: the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant in Maharashtra and the Gorakhpur (Fatehabad District) Nuclear Power Project in Haryana, the first nuclear facility in North India.

The Jaitapur plant, once operational, will house six nuclear reactors, each with a capacity of 1,730 MW, totaling 10,380 MW—contributing 10% of India's 100 GW nuclear energy target by 2047.

The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new brownfield Ammonia-Urea complex (Namrup-IV) at Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL) in Namrup, Assam.

The plant, with an annual capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), will be developed as a joint venture (JV) under the New Investment Policy (NIP) 2012. The total estimated project cost is ₹10,601.40 crore, with a debt-equity ratio of 70:30.

On March 19, 2025, the Andhra Pradesh government signed a MoU with the Gates Foundation to leverage technology for public welfare by integrating cost-effective and scalable solutions across key sectors, including healthcare, medical technology, education, and agriculture.

The partnership will utilize artificial intelligence (AI) for predictive health analytics and automated diagnostics. In agriculture, it will introduce AI-driven advisory platforms and satellite-based systems for precision farming and resource management.

Former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth has been appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of VISION 2020 India, an initiative aimed at eliminating avoidable blindness in the country.

The announcement was made during a special event at Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai, a key partner of the VISION 2020: The Right to Sight-India program. The initiative will provide free eye check-ups, surgeries, and vision correction services to underserved communities.

India and Australia have reinforced their defense cooperation by enhancing interoperability across land, air, and maritime domains. The 9th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks, held on March 17, 2025, in New Delhi, focused on expanding maritime security and reciprocal information sharing.

Delhi Police will launch dedicated squads, "Shishtachar" (etiquette), to combat sexual harassment of women in public places. Starting March 8, 30 Shishtachar squads, comprising both male and female officers, will be deployed in areas with higher rates of crimes against women.

Each 12-member team will be led by an Inspector and will include a Sub-Inspector, four female constables, five male constables, and a constable from the district's Anti-Auto Theft Squad for technical assistance.

Each district will have at least two such teams, supervised by the Additional Commissioner of Police in the district's Crime Against Women Cell (ACP-CAW).