Daily Current Affairs – 13-03-2025
Tamil Nadu
Lion Census 2025: Asiatic Lion Population Rises to 891 in Gujarat
® The 16th Asiatic Lion Census (2025), conducted across 11 districts of Gujarat, recorded a population increase from 674 (2020) to 891 lions, marking a 32% rise over five years. ® Asiatic lions, found only in Gujarat’s Gir National Park and surrounding areas, are a distinct sub-species. ® Core populations are concentrated in Gir and Pania Wildlife Sanctuaries. ® Amreli district reported the highest lion count at 257. ® Barda Wildlife Sanctuary near Porbandar emerged as a new lion habitat, being termed a “second home” for lions—first such development since 1879. ® New satellite populations were also observed around Jetpur and Babra-Jasdan.
New Sea Route for North-East via Shillong-Silchar Corridor
® The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of a 166.8 km, 4-lane high-speed corridor along NH-6, from Mawlyngkhung (Shillong, Meghalaya) to Panchgram (Silchar, Assam). ® This corridor will enhance regional connectivity by linking the Northeast to Kolkata via a sea route, bypassing Bangladesh. ® It forms a crucial extension of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) in Myanmar. ® KMTTP connects Kolkata Port to Sittwe Port (Rakhine State, Myanmar), then to Paletwa via inland waterways, and finally to Zorinpui (Mizoram) by road. ® Silchar is strategically important as a gateway to Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, and Barak Valley (Assam).
Operation Olivia:
Indian Coast Guard Protects 6.98 Lakh Olive Ridley Turtles
® Under Operation Olivia, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully protected over 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles along the Odisha coast. ® The operation focuses on safeguarding the endangered species during their annual nesting season.
Pushkar Kumbh 2025
Held at Mana Village, Uttarakhand After 12 Years
® Held at Keshav Prayag (confluence of Alaknanda and Saraswati) near Shri Badrinath Dham. ® Organised when Jupiter enters Gemini (every 12 years) as per tradition. ® Vaishnav devotees from South India participated prominently. ® Mana: Known as India’s first village.
Sportstar Access
Awards 2025
®
The 7th edition of the “ Sportstar Aces Awards 2025 ” was held in Mumbai.
®
PR Sreejesh won the Sportstar of the Year 2025 (Male) award .
®
Arshdeep Singh won a special award for his exceptional performance in 2024, claiming 36 wickets.
®
PV Sindhu has won the “ Inspirational Icon Award 2025 ”.
®
The Indian Men and Women Chess Team has won the National Team of the Year award .
®
Gurbux Singh and Mary Sequeira have won the Lifetime Achievement Award for Hockey.
®
Jay Shah , the Chairman of ICC, has won the ‘ Special Recognition Game Changer Award 2025 ’.
NTPC awarded for
sustainability
®
NTPC Ltd has won the Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025
under the Water Resilience category.
®
The award was given at a ceremony organised by the UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) in Chennai.
Sahitya Akademi
Award for Chaman Arora
®
Chaman Arora has been named as the winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award 2024
in Dogri for his book “ Ik Hor Ashwthama ”. The book is a collection of short stories.
BCCI awards 2024
®
Sachin Tendulkar was conferred with the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award
at the BCCI Awards 2025 .
®
Ravichandran Ashwin has received a special award.
®
Akshay Totre from Indore was adjudged the Best Umpire in Domestic Cricket .
®
The Mumbai Cricket Association has received the Best Performance in BCCI Domestic Tournaments Trophy.