1 NASA launched a space telescope SPHEREx for an important mission
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a space telescope SPHEREx for a crucial mission . The telescope was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that will map the sky with unique information. SPHEREx will be placed in an orbit 400 miles above Earth and will gather information in the sky using infrared technology to study millions of galaxies as it revolves . Scientists hope that important information will be revealed through this mission, including information about how galaxies formed and evolved over billions of years and the rapid expansion of the universe after the Big Bang . Unlike NASA’s Hubble and Webb telescopes that take detailed pictures of galaxies, SPHEREx will map the total cosmic rays from all galaxies. SPHEREx’s detailed viewing technology allows it to create a full sky map every six months, with four full surveys planned over two years. The telescope will also search for water and other building blocks of life in the icy clouds of our galaxy, where new solar systems are forming. The rocket also launched four suitcase-sized satellites to study the Sun.
2 PM Narendra Modi attended Mauritius National Day celebrations at Champ de Mars as Chief Guest
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Mauritius National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest at Champ de Mars . On this occasion, Mauritius President Dharambir Gokhool conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean award on Prime Minister Narendra Modi . Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian to receive Mauritius’ highest civilian award . The Prime Minister expressed India’s commitment to Mauritius’ development by announcing cooperation for the second phase of community development projects and construction of Mauritius’ new Parliament building . He said that in addition , a project will be launched to modernize 100 km long water pipeline in Mauritius. New projects worth 500 million Mauritian Rupees will be launched in the second phase of community development projects. During his Mauritius visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed Puja at Ganga Talao in Mauritius and immersed holy water brought from Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj in it.
3 Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation in Mauritius, jointly inaugurated by PM Modi and PM Ramgoolam
PM Modi and Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam jointly inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute for Public Service and Innovation in Reduit , Mauritius . This landmark project, implemented under the India-Mauritius Development Partnership, underlines India’s commitment to capacity building in Mauritius. Funded by a grant of US$ 4.74 million under a 2017 MoU, the state-of-the-art Institute will cater to the training needs of Mauritian civil servants in ministries, public offices, semi-government bodies and public enterprises. Apart from training, the Institute will serve as a centre of excellence in public administration, promote research, governance studies and institutional ties with India.
4 India and Mauritius signed 8 MoUs
Eight Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed on Wednesday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam . These relate to a number of areas including crime investigation, maritime traffic surveillance, infrastructure diplomacy, commerce, capacity building, finance and ocean economy.
5 Chhattisgarh’s Kanger Valley National Park included in UNESCO’s tentative list
Kanger Valley National Park located in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh has achieved a major achievement. It has been included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage . This national park is the first site in Chhattisgarh to receive this recognition . It is worth noting that in December 2023 , the Chhattisgarh government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had planned to give global recognition to this unique forest. Kanger Valley is not just a forest, but a mysterious world . There are more than 15 limestone caves here , among which Kotamsar, Kailash and Dandak caves are prominent. These caves are not only natural wonders, but are also very special from historical and archaeological point of view. This forest is also home to many rare creatures like otter, mouse deer, giant squirrel, Lethis softshell turtle and wild wolf. More than 200 bird species are seen flying here, and more than 900 types of trees and plants make this forest special. Not only this, more than 140 species of butterflies further enhance the beauty of this forest. Recently, Dhudmaras village in Bastar was included in the UNWTO’s “Best Tourist Village” programme, giving it international recognition.
6 MP’s 4 heritage sites in UNESCO’s tentative list
UNESCO has included four historical heritage sites of Madhya Pradesh in the tentative list . This has given global recognition to these heritage sites and tourists from all over the world will be able to come here. These heritage sites include Emperor Ashoka’s inscriptions , Chausath Yogini Temple , Gupta period temples and Bundela rulers’ palaces and forts . The number of heritage sites declared by UNESCO in Madhya Pradesh has now increased to 18, out of which 3 are permanent and 15 are in the tentative list. Last year also, UNESCO had included 6 heritage sites of the state, Gwalior Fort, Khooni Bhandara of Burhanpur, rock art sites of Chambal Valley, Bhojeshwar Mahadev Temple of Bhojpur, Gond Memorial of Ramnagar located in Mandla and the historical group of Dhamnar in the tentative list. Emperor Ashoka’s inscriptions are more than 2200 years old. Ashoka’s messages are written in these inscriptions. These messages are related to Buddhism, governance and morality. There are Ashoka’s inscriptions in Sanchi, Jabalpur, Datia and Sehore in Madhya Pradesh. The Chausath Yogini temples were built between the 9th and 12th centuries. These temples are associated with Tantric traditions. These temples are circular in structure and are built under the open sky. Their craftsmanship and spiritual significance are worth seeing. There are Chausath Yogini temples in Khajuraho, Mitawali (Morena), Jabalpur, Badoh (Jabalpur), Hinglajgarh (Mandsaur), Shahdol and Naresar (Morena). Gupta period temples are the best example of Indian architecture. Excellent carvings and artistic beauty are visible in these temples. There are Gupta period temples in Madhya Pradesh at Sanchi, Udayagiri (Vidisha), Nachana (Panna), Tigwa (Katni), Bhumara (Satna), Sakor (Damoh), Deori (Sagar) and Pawaya (Gwalior). The forts and palaces of the Bundela rulers are a mixture of Rajput and Mughal architecture. These forts and palaces reflect the craftsmanship, military prowess and cultural exchange of the Bundelas. Garhkundar Fort, Raja Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, Datia Palace and Dhubela Palace are the prime examples of this.
7 2024 World Air Quality Report: India 5th most polluted country in the world
The 7th annual World Air Quality Report 2024 released by IQAir on March 11, 2025 ranks India as the 5th most polluted country in the world . The report, which tracks air pollution levels in the world based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, also states that 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are from India. Burnihat city in Meghalaya , located on the border of Assam , has been declared the most polluted city in the world . The World Air Quality Report is released by Switzerland- based air quality technology company, IQAir. The first World Quality Report 2018 was released by IQAir in 2019. The company uses data from air quality monitoring stations around the world to create the annual report. In the 2024 report, IQAir has used air quality data from more than 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 8954 locations across 138 countries.
8 IGNCA inaugurated its 10th regional centre in Tirupati
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) inaugurated its 10th Regional Centre at Tirupati . This is a significant step towards preservation and promotion of India’s rich cultural heritage and art resources. IGNCA is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture , Government of India , with the mission to preserve and promote Indian art, culture and tradition. Established in collaboration with IGNCA and National Sanskrit University, Tirupati, this Centre will conduct various research, studies and cultural programmes to preserve and propagate Indian cultural heritage. The Chief Guest at the inaugural function held at the premises of National Sanskrit University, Tirupati was eminent dance guru and ‘Padma Vibhushan’ Dr. Padma Subramaniam, Trustee of IGNCA.
9 Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited, Ghaziabad for procurement of Transportable Radar, Ashwini at a cost of Rs. 2906 crore
The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited, Ghaziabad for the procurement of transportable radar, Ashwini , at a cost of Rs 2,906 crore. This radar has been designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation to enhance India’s air surveillance capabilities. This radar system, costing Rs 2,906 crore, is capable of detecting new age modern fighter aircraft.
10 Bodhipath Film Festival 2025
The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the Dalai Lama ‘s Foundation for Universal Responsibility recently hosted the Bodhipath Film Festival in New Delhi , a unique amalgamation of cinema and spirituality. The festival showcased films that capture the essence of Buddhism, inspiring viewers with deep insights into Buddhist teachings and their relevance to contemporary life. The first edition of the ‘Bodhipath Film Festival’, organised by the International Buddhist Confederation from 10-11 March 2025 , also featured four panel discussions attended by people from various backgrounds, from academics to filmmakers and directors to social media influencers and actors.
11 Jharkhand won the title of 15th Hockey India Senior Women’s National Championship 2025
In the final of the 15th Hockey India Senior Women’s National Championship 2025, Hockey Jharkhand defeated defending champions Hockey Haryana 4-3 in a thrilling match to win the title. The match remained tied at 1-1 till the stipulated time, after which Jharkhand won in the penalty shootout. Pramodini Lakra (44′) scored for Hockey Jharkhand, while Hockey Haryana captain Rani (42′) scored for her team. In the match for the third place, Hockey Mizoram defeated Hockey Maharashtra 2-1 to win the bronze medal.
