1 Wakf (Amendment) Bill 2025 passed by Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha has passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, rejecting the amendments of the opposition . In the Lok Sabha , 288 members voted in favour of the bill while 232 members voted against it . The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to streamline the management of waqf properties while promoting the protection and social welfare of heritage sites. It aims to increase transparency in property management, establish coordination between waqf boards and local authorities and protect the rights of the concerned parties. The bill also aims to improve the economic and social status of Muslim women, especially widows and divorced women . The bill aims to make the Waqf Board more inclusive, so that there is representation of different Muslim sects in better waqf governance and decision making. In such a situation , it will prove necessary to know about the 10 major changes to be made through the Waqf Amendment Bill .
- Mandatory Verification : The Wakf Board has to verify any property before declaring it as Wakf property.
- Role of Collector : The District Collector will be given the authority to survey and determine ownership of Waqf properties. The Collector will have a role in this.
- Appointment of non-Muslim members : It will be mandatory to include non-Muslim members in the Waqf Board and Central Waqf Council.
- Representation of women : It will be necessary to include at least two women in the board and council.
- Right to appeal in High Court : Now, an appeal can be made in the High Court against the decision of the tribunal in the disputes, which was not possible earlier.
- Condition of donation : No property will be considered Waqf without donation, which will end the practice of usurping property based only on claim.
- Improving transparency : Registration of all Waqf properties will be mandatory on an online portal.
- Ban on government properties : There will be a ban on claiming government properties as Waqf properties.
- Changes in Waqf-al-Aulad : Heirs including women cannot be deprived of inheritance in Waqf-al-Aulad (time for family).
- Ban on encroachment : There will be strict penalties for the protectors, including jail up to six months and fine of Rs 20,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
2 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched ‘NITI NCAER States Economic Forum’ portal
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday launched the “ NITI NCAER States Economic Forum ” portal in New Delhi . The portal has been developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) . In her keynote address, Nirmala Sitharaman said that NITI NCAER States Economic Forum will be beneficial in the availability of authentic data. According to NITI Aayog, this portal is a comprehensive repository of data on social, economic and fiscal parameters, research reports, papers and expert comments on state finances for a period of about 30 years (i.e. 1990-91 to 2022-23) .
Indian Navy signed Project Sanction Order under Make-I category for design and development of 6 MW capacity medium speed marine diesel engine . The agreement has been signed with Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited in New Delhi . Under this agreement , prototype diesel engine with more than 50% indigenous content will be developed at a cost of Rs 270 crore . It also includes development of detailed design for 3 to 10 MW diesel engine . The developed engines will be used for propulsion and power generation on ships of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
4 Government approves appointment of Poonam Gupta as new Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India
The government has approved the appointment of Poonam Gupta as the new Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India . She will replace Michael Debabrata Patra , who stepped down in January this year. The decision has been taken ahead of the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting to be held from 7th to 9th of this month. According to an official note, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Ms Gupta for a period of three years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders. Currently, Ms Gupta is serving as the Director General of the New Delhi-based National Council of Applied Economic Research.
5 India surpassed America and Europe by manufacturing 1,681 railway engines in the financial year 2024-25
India has surpassed the US and Europe by manufacturing 1,681 rail engines in the financial year 2024-25 . The Railway Ministry said that this is an increase of 19 percent as compared to the manufacturing of 1,472 engines in the last financial year 2023-24 . This record manufacturing is the highest ever for rail engine manufacturing in the country. There has been a significant increase in rail engine manufacturing in the ten years after 2014. During this period, 9,168 engines have been manufactured. This has increased the annual average by about 917.
6 Gujarat CM inaugurates India’s largest chlorotoluene plant in Dahej
In March 2025 , Gujarat Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel virtually inaugurated India’s largest chlorotoluene plant at Dahej ( Gujarat) on the foundation day of Vadodara (Gujarat) -based Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL). Set up at an investment of Rs 350 crore , the plant aims to produce value-added chlorine derivatives , reduce import dependency, and boost exports. The newly inaugurated plant has an annual production capacity of 30,000 tonnes and will manufacture critical chemicals such as benzyl chloride, benzyl alcohol, and benzaldehyde . These chemicals are widely used in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and dyes. The plant will use chlorine, a by-product of caustic soda manufacturing, ensuring efficient use of resources. This is in line with India’s goal of increasing self-sufficiency in specialty chemicals and increasing its share in the global market.
7 Parliament passes Tribhuvan Cooperative University Bill 2025
Parliament has passed the Tribhuvan Cooperative University Bill, 2025 , which aims to establish the country’s first cooperative university at Anand in Gujarat. The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on April 1, 2025 , while the Lok Sabha passed it on March 26, 2025. It will become an Act after the President’s assent and will come into force on the date notified by the Central Government in the Gazette. Tribhuvan Cooperative University will be a central university. The Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) will be renamed as Tribhuvan Cooperative University . IRMA, which was established as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, will stand dissolved upon notification of the Bill. IRMA will be converted into one of the several schools of the university and will have an autonomous status within the university. IRMA will be declared a “Centre of Excellence” for Rural Management.
8 UNESCO publishes report ‘Education and Nutrition: Learn to Eat Well’
The Paris (France) -based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) published its latest report titled ‘ Education and Nutrition: Learn to Eat Well ‘, which focuses on the quality of food served in schools around the world. The report was released on the occasion of the ‘ Nutrition for Development (N4G) ‘ event organized in Paris, France from 27 to 28 March 2025. The report has been prepared by UNESCO in partnership with the School Health and Nutrition Research Consortium . The report urges governments to not only increase access to school meals but also improve their nutritional quality. The report revealed that about 50% of primary school students worldwide received school meals in 2024. In 2022, about one third (27%) of school meals worldwide were not developed in consultation with nutritionists. It showed that school meals increased student enrollment rates by 9% and attendance by 8%, and also improved learning ability.
The Maharashtra government has signed a MoU with Microsoft Corporation to set up three state-of-the-art AI Centres of Excellence in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur to accelerate the adoption of AI technologies in state administration . The Mumbai Centre for Geospatial Analytics will be hosted at the Chief Secretary’s Office and will provide advanced geospatial analytics capabilities. The Centre of Excellence in Pune will integrate AI capabilities with forensic science infrastructure . The third Centre of Excellence, Nagpur-based Maharashtra Advanced Research and Vigilance for Enforcement of Reformed Laws Ltd, will help strengthen AI-powered solutions for government operations. The MoU also engages Microsoft Corporation to provide comprehensive training programmes and certification to government employees through the globally recognised MS Learn platform.
In March 2025 , the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) issued a notification regarding revised wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the financial year 2025-26 (FY26) . The notification was issued under subsection (1) of section 6 of the MNREGA, 2005. According to the notification, the daily wages for workers under MNREGA have been increased from the existing Rs 349 to Rs 370 per person . The revised rates will be applicable from the first day of FY26, i.e., April 1, 2025. Wages under MNREGA have been increased by 2.33%-7.48%, i.e., wages have increased from Rs 7 to Rs 26. According to the Ministry of Rural Development, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) wages have been increased by Rs 7 in 5 states: Andhra Pradesh (AP), Arunachal Pradesh (AR), Assam, Nagaland, and Telangana.
11 Madhya Pradesh government launched School Chale Hum Abhiyan 2025
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav launched the School Chale Hum campaign in the state capital Bhopal on 1 April 2025. The Chief Minister also announced that all CM Rise schools in the state will be renamed as Maharishi Sandipani Vidyalaya . The Chief Minister also launched Education Portal 3.0 , which will streamline and digitalize school education processes. The state government’s School Chale Hum campaign was launched by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at Government Naveen Higher Secondary School located in Arera Colony (Old Campion), Bhopal. The duration of the campaign will be from 1-4 April 2025.
12 Shooting: ISSF World Cup will start in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Manu Bhaker will lead the Indian team
The ISSF World Cup is starting in Buenos Aires , Argentina . Two-time Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker will lead the 43-member Indian shooting team. More than 400 shooters from 45 countries will compete in the first ISSF World Cup event of the year. India has sent the largest contingent for the World Cup. 39 players from China and 38 players from host Argentina will participate. Apart from Manu Bhaker, the Indian team includes Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala, Vijayveer Sidhu, Isha Singh, Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, Sift Kaur Samara, Arjun Babuta, Prithviraj Tondaiman, Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Raza Dhillon .
