Dr Mayank Sharma assumed the office of Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) on March 01, 2025. He is a 1989-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) and has had a distinguished career in the government spanning more than three decades.

Dr Mayank Sharma has served in various capacities within the Government of India, including the Defence Accounts Department. He has also held key positions in the Cabinet Secretariat and represented India as the Alternate Permanent Representative at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.

Additionally, the IDAS officer has represented India at the International Anti-Corruption Academy and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. As the Head of the Consular Division at the Indian Embassy in Vienna, he was responsible for all consular affairs and handled high-level Indian delegations at UNODC.

The Jharkhand economy is expected to grow by 7.5% in the 2025-26 fiscal, up from the current year’s estimation of 6.5%, according to the state economic survey tabled in the assembly on Friday. The survey claimed that the economic growth rate of Jharkhand exceeded that of the country in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Between the years 2020-21 and 2023-24, Jharkhand grew at an average annual rate of 9.1%, while the country grew at an average annual rate of 8.3%,” it said.

The survey, tabled in the assembly by Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore, gave a positive indication of the state’s intention to make Jharkhand a ₹10-trillion economy (₹10 lakh crore) by 2029-30.

India retains the fastest-growing major economy tag as the country’s GDP grew by 6.2 percent in the third quarter of FY25, up from the revised rate of 5.6 percent in the previous quarter. India recorded a GDP growth of 8.6 percent in the third quarter of the last fiscal year. The increase in the third-quarter GDP number was supported by higher rural consumption following a good monsoon and increased government spending.

As per the First Revised Estimates released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), real GDP is estimated to grow by 6.5 percent in FY 2024-25, and nominal GDP is expected to witness a growth rate of 9.9 percent in the fiscal year. MoSPI data also highlighted that India’s real GDP grew by 9.2 percent in the financial year 2023-24, the highest annual growth in 12 years, excluding the post-pandemic rebound in FY22. This growth was attributed to double-digit growth in the ‘Manufacturing’ sector (12.3 percent), the ‘Construction’ sector (10.4 percent), and the ‘Financial, Real Estate & Professional Services’ sector (10.3 percent).

The mines ministry will launch the first tranche of exploration license auctions in March 2025, Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the minister highlighted key policy reforms and initiatives aimed at bolstering India’s mining sector.He noted that the provision for granting Exploration Licenses for critical and deep-seated minerals through auction was introduced via an amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in 2023.

India is ramping up exploration, with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) undertaking 438 projects in 2024-25, including 195 for critical minerals, and planning 450 for 2025-26. MECL has increased drilling by 35%, while the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) has approved 146 projects worth ₹712 crore. Private sector participation is expanding, with 28 Notified Private Exploration Agencies (NPEAs) and relaxed regulations for border-area exploration.

Rose Girone, who is believed to be the oldest surviving Holocaust survivor and an ardent believer in telling survivors' stories, died at 113. Girone spent the final decade of her life in an assisted living community in North Bellmore, Long Island, New York, Patch, a local news source, reported.

The Claims Conference, an organization in New York that assists Holocaust survivors, reported her death on Monday in New York.

"Rose was a symbol of strength, but now we are committed to continuing in her memory," declared Greg Schneider, executive vice president of the Claims Conference, in a statement on Thursday. "The Holocaust lessons must not perish with those who suffered the pain."

The Andhra Pradesh state government, on Friday (February 28, 2025), presented the annual budget for the financial year 2025-26 with a total outlay of ₹3,22,359 crore. Of this, revenue expenditure is estimated at ₹2,51,162 crore, and capital expenditure at ₹40,635 crore.

Talliki Vandanam, Annadata sukhibhava, the two promises made under Super Six, key electoral promises, found their way into the Budget. The government made a mention of Godavari-Banakacherla, an ambitious ‘intra-linking of rivers’ initiative. But, there was no specific mention of funds allocated to it. However, allocation of ₹6,705 crore for Polavaram irrigation project was made in the budget. The government for the first time announced ₹10 crore for Telugu language development and free power to schools. A viability gap funding (VGF) scheme for Capital expenditure was also announced in the budget.

Shaurya Bhattacharya capped his fabulous run with a six-under 63 in the fourth round and emerged the champion by a five-shot margin, with a 27-under 249 in the SECL Rs. 1 crore Chattisgarh Open golf championship at the Fairway Golf and Lake Resort in Naya Raipur on Friday.

The 22-year-old Chandigarh lad had a five-shot lead overnight following scores of 64, 61 and 61, in the picturesque par-69 course. It was the second title in the professional circuit for Shaurya, who had won his maiden crown in his rookie season last year.

“It was a solid week for me with just one bogey through the four rounds. It was all about focusing on my breathing and staying in the present,” said Shaurya, who received the winner’s purse of Rs. 15,00,000 from PGTI president Kapil Dev and the Dy. Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Arun Sao.

India lags in nine of the 16 United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the State of States report launched on February 27, 2025, at the ongoing Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2025.

All 36 Indian states and Union territories (UTs) have achieved at least half of the target in only four of the 15 SDGs, as per the report by Rajit Sengupta, Associate Editor, Down To Earth (DTE) and Kiran Pandey, Programme Director, Environmental Resources, Centre for Science and Environment.

These are SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). SDG 14 (Life Below Water) has been excluded as it applies only to coastal states.

SBI Life Insurance Company said that its board has approved the appointment of Dorababu Daparti as Deputy chief executive officer (CEO) with effect from 24 February 2025.

The firm added that this appointment is based on the recommendation of the nomination and remuneration committee.

Dorababu Daparti is a highly accomplished banking professional with over 29 years of experience in the financial industry. He holds a Masters degree in Sciences (M.Sc.) and is a Chartered Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB).

Daparti began his career with the State Bank of India (SBI) in 1995 and has since held various managerial and executive roles within the organization.

World Civil Defence Day, celebrated annually on 1 March, aims to raise awareness of civil defence strategies and the protection of people. The day highlights the importance of civil defence measures in protecting people and their property from accidents, natural disasters and other crises.

World Civil Defence Day was first observed in the 20th century, a time of profound social, technological and political upheaval around the world.

There were major concerns about the safety and health of the general public at the time due to the development of nuclear weapons.

Thus, the United Nations established the International Civil Defence Organisation—tasked with coordinating and advancing civil defence initiatives around the world.