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Daily Current Affairs: 18 March 2025

Current affairs of 18 March 2025: India’s Defence Ties with US, New Zealand and Australia; India-New Zealand FTA Talks Revived, Digital Payments Pact; India-US Trade Talks: Tariff Offers Before Modi-Trump Meet, and 24 more topics. Key facts for every exam, with a quiz.

Take the quiz (15 questions)March 2025
27 TOPICSDaily CurrentAffairs18 March 2025In focus: India’s Defence Ties with US, New…safalsetu.com

In this issue: 27 topics

National Affairs

  1. Seasonal Influenza Rise: Strains, Surveillance and Vaccination

Government Schemes

  1. PMIS Mobile App: Features, Pilot Numbers and Deadline
  2. PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: Targets, Subsidy, Hurdles

Banking & Finance

  1. FIA vs SEBI: Open Interest and Position Limit Row
  2. Futures and Options (F&O): Types, Traders and Risks
  3. RBI Governor Malhotra Presses Banks and NBFCs on Customer Grievances
  4. RBI Raises State Bond Auction Size to ₹52,120 Crore
  5. Retail Options Trading Slump on NSE After SEBI Curbs
  6. Paytm Money Gets SEBI Research Analyst Registration
  7. SBI Defers Rs 15,000 Crore Bond Issue to Next Fiscal
  8. RBI Governor Malhotra Urges AI for Customer Complaints
  9. Debt Mutual Funds Turn into Debt-Plus-Arbitrage FoFs
  10. Short-Term Bank Borrowing Costs Set to Ease After RBI Liquidity Steps
  11. Options Trading Basics: Calls, Puts, Strategies and Moneyness

Economy

  1. Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): Meaning, Working and Effects
  2. WPI Inflation Edges Up to 2.38% in February: Key Data
  3. India’s Trade Balance: US Surplus and China Deficit Risks
  4. Net Direct Tax Collections Up 13.13% to ₹21.3 Trillion in FY25
  5. Rupee Gains for Third Session to 86.80 as Dollar Index Dips
  6. OECD Cuts India’s FY26 Growth Forecast to 6.4%
  7. SBI Estimate of U.S. Reciprocal Tariff Impact on India

International Affairs

  1. India-New Zealand FTA Talks Revived, Digital Payments Pact
  2. India-US Trade Talks: Tariff Offers Before Modi-Trump Meet
  3. ICPA Exit: US Leaves Ukraine Aggression Prosecution Centre
  4. US Air Strikes on Houthis in Yemen: Red Sea Stakes

Science & Technology

  1. Tumour Suppressor Gene Mutations and Early Lung Cancer Relapse

Defence & Security

  1. India’s Defence Ties with US, New Zealand and Australia

National Affairs

Government Schemes

Banking & Finance

Banking & Finance

6. RBI Governor Malhotra Presses Banks and NBFCs on Customer Grievances

  • RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra urged banks and NBFCs to urgently strengthen grievance redress as complaints keep rising.
  • Complaints under the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme grew by nearly 50% a year over two years; 934,000 were received in FY24.
  • Senior leaders, including CEOs and MDs, should spend time every week on customer service.
  • He asked for CKYCRR integration across branches and greater use of AI in grievance handling.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Economy

10. SBI Defers Rs 15,000 Crore Bond Issue to Next Fiscal

  • State Bank of India put off raising ₹15,000 crore through bonds this fiscal year, which ends in March.
  • The plan had ₹5,000 crore of Basel III additional Tier-I perpetual bonds and ₹10,000 crore of 15-year infrastructure bonds.
  • Yields on AAA-rated 10-year corporate bonds rose 15 bps since early February despite a 25 bps repo cut.
  • SBI will reassess funding needs in the fiscal starting April.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Economy

14. Options Trading Basics: Calls, Puts, Strategies and Moneyness

  • An option gives the buyer a right, not an obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a fixed strike price on or before expiry.
  • The buyer pays a premium to the seller (writer), who must honour the contract if it is exercised.
  • American options can be exercised any time until expiry; European options only on the expiry date.
  • A buyer's loss is capped at the premium paid; option values derive from the underlying asset.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Economy

International Affairs

Economy

22. India-New Zealand FTA Talks Revived, Digital Payments Pact

  • India and New Zealand revived Free Trade Agreement talks after a 10-year gap.
  • India's merchandise exports to New Zealand in 2023-24 were $535 million; imports were $335 million.
  • New Zealand ranks 59th among FDI sources for India, with only $87.2 million invested since 2000.
  • An Authorised Economic Operators Mutual Recognition Arrangement was signed to ease movement of goods.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Science & Technology

Defence & Security

International Relations

27. India’s Defence Ties with US, New Zealand and Australia

  • India is deepening defence links with the US, New Zealand and Australia, all members of the Five Eyes alliance.
  • A new India-New Zealand pact covers joint exercises, staff training and naval port calls; New Zealand showed interest in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
  • Rajnath Singh met US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard; India and Australia held their 9th defence policy talks.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

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15 questions from the news of 18 March 2025, with answers and explanations.

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