Daily Current Affairs – 08-03-2025

Tamil Nadu

RBI cuts repo rate to 6.25%

® Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of RBI has increased India’s GDP growth ® forecast for FY26 to 6.7% from 6.6%, in its 53rd meeting and the 6th Bi-Monthly ® Monetary Policy of FY25. ® Repo rate is reduced to 6.25% from 6.5%. ® Reverse Repo Rate is kept at 3.35%. ® The Repo Rate is the interest rate at which the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lends money to commercial banks. ® The reverse repo rate is the rate at which the RBI borrows money from the country’s commercial banks.

National Games 2025 in Uttarakhand

® PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 38th edition of the National Games at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. ® The event also marked the silver jubilee (25 years) of the state’s formation. ® The theme for the event is ‘ Green Games ’ which focuses on sustainability. ® Yoga and Mallakhamb are included in the games for the first time.

National Championship logo unveiled

® The official logo and mascot of the 23rd National Para Athletics Championship 2025 has been unveiled. ® The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Paralympic Sports Association (TNPSA) supports the event . ® The logo represents the dynamic nature of para athletics. ® The mascot is an elephant , which represents strength, determination, and resilience. ® The event will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai.

India wins Kho Kho World Cup

® India has won both the men’s and women’s titles at the 1st edition of the Kho Kho World Cup 2025 , held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. ® The Indian men’s team, captained by Pratik Waikar , beat Nepal by 54-36 in the final. ® The Indian women’s team, captained by Priyanka Ingle , beat Nepal by 78-40 in the final. ® The tournament featured 20 men’s and 19 women’s teams. ® The second edition of the Kho Kho World Cup will be held in Birmingham, England in 2026-27.

34 Biostimulants Registered Under FCO to Boost Sustainable Agriculture

® Registered by Ministry of Agriculture under Fertiliser Control Order (FCO), 1985 ® Total registered biostimulants in India now over 45 (first 11 in May 2024) ® Aim: Improve plant resilience, nutrient uptake, and yields under climate stress ® Key categories include: Seaweed extracts, humic acids, protein hydrolysates, enzymatic products ® Supports sustainable farming and enhances India’s role in global biostimulant exports

Indian Army Launches First FM Radio Station in Uttarakhand

® Inaugurated in Pithoragarh district under Operation Sadbhavana ® Named ‘Panchshul Pulse’, broadcasting on 88.4 FM ® Aims to build goodwill between Army and border communities ® Broadcasts local history, culture, agriculture, and achievements of martyrs and social workers ® Covers a 12 km radius from Army Public School, Panchshul Brigade

Nuvaxovid COVID-19 Vaccine Approved by U.S. FDA

® Developed by Novavax; protein-based (non-mRNA) vaccine ® Targets the JN.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2 ® Uses non-infectious spike protein to trigger immune response ® Provides an alternative platform for COVID-19 vaccination

India’s First Gene-Edited Sheep Developed Using CRISPR at SKUAST-Jammu

® Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, has created India’s first gene-edited sheep using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. ® Scientists edited the myostatin gene in a local Merino lamb, resulting in a 30% increase in muscle mass, comparable to European Texel sheep. ® This marks a significant advance in livestock genetics and precision breeding. ® The same team had earlier cloned India’s first Pashmina goat ‘Noori’ in 2012.