Accelerated climate action could boost global GDP by 0.2% by 2040 compared with current policies, a study showed on Tuesday, as delegates from 40 countries meet in Berlin to shape the agenda for the COP30 summit in Brazil later this year.

An analysis by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Nations Development Programme said that well-designed climate policies not only cut emissions but could enhance efficiency, productivity and innovation -potentially raising output by an amount equivalent to the size of Sweden’s economy.

Investing in clean energy and efficiency drives productivity and innovation, offsetting the economic impact of policy-driven price and consumption changes, the study found. Reinvesting carbon revenues could further boost GDP and build public backing for climate action, it said.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) included Allahudien Paleker of South Africa and England's Alex Wharf in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires which features Nitin Menon as the only Indian, while Jayaraman Madangopal has been promoted to the Emerging Panel.

Michael Gough and Joel Wilson will make way for the two new entrants in Palekar and Wharf.

According to BCCI sources, the 50-year-old Madangopal has been promoted to the Emerging Panel which makes him eligible to officiate in overseas Tests and ODIs. Former Tamil Nadu player Madangopal has so far officiated in one Test, 22 ODIs and 42 T20Is.

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and all-rounder Deepti Sharma held on to their third positions respectively in the latest ICC Women's T20I batter and bowlers' rankings issued here on Tuesday (March 25, 2025).

Besides Mandhana, no other Indian is in the top-10 with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur placed 11th position, Jemimah Rodrigues ranked 15th and Shafali Verma a rung below.

The batters’ list is led by Australia’s Beth Mooney, followed by teammate Tahlia McGrath.

Mooney increased her lead at the top following scores of 75 not and 70 against New Zealand. Phoebe Litchfield gained three places to move to 22nd overall following an innings of 32 in the second clash with the White Ferns.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasised the religious and cultural significance of the rivers Ganga and Sharda rivers and announced plans to develop corridors along these sacred rivers to boost religious tourism in the state.

According to an official release from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), CM Dhami said, "The Ganga and Sharda rivers are not just integral to our lives but also represent the faith of crores of countrymen. Our double-engine government is committed to developing corridors along these rivers, making religious tourism more accessible and convenient for devotees from across the country and abroad."

The proposed river corridors aim to enhance infrastructure and provide better facilities for pilgrims visiting Uttarakhand, reinforcing the state's status as a major spiritual destination.

Kerala has become the first state in India to pass a law creating a commission for senior citizens, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday.

Hailing the law enacted on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said this new commission would focus on protecting the rights, welfare, and rehabilitation of the elderly.

"The LDF government is implementing policies that wholeheartedly embrace senior citizens. Kerala, which ranks first in the country in elderly welfare, is setting another example in this field.

"To strengthen the initiatives launched for senior citizens since the previous government's tenure, the state is now establishing the country's first-ever Senior Citizens Commission. As a step towards this, the Kerala Legislative Assembly passed the Kerala State Senior Citizens Commission Bill yesterday (Wednesday)," Vijayan said in a Facebook post.

Brisbane’s iconic Gabba stadium is set to be demolished after the 2032 Olympic Games, with a new 60,000-capacity venue planned for the Victoria Park area. This state-of-the-art facility, part of the city’s Olympic infrastructure, will become the new home for cricket in Queensland.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli unveiled the plans on Tuesday, bringing clarity to cricket’s future in Brisbane, which had been uncertain following the state’s successful bid to host the 2032 Olympics. The Gabba’s demolition and the new stadium construction mark a significant shift for Queensland’s sporting landscape.

Cricket Australia welcomed the announcement, saying, “This decision gives us certainty about venues and scheduling, ensuring Brisbane can continue hosting premier international and domestic cricket. Together with Queensland Cricket, the AFL, and Brisbane Lions, we advocated for the Victoria Park stadium, which will benefit both cricket fans and the wider Queensland community.”

The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 emphasizes the critical importance of universal and high-quality Early Childhood Education along with the power of multilingualism and the importance of including children’s languages in primary education. To fulfil the vision of NEP 2020, the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education has launched “Baalpan ki Kavita initiative: Restoring Bhartiya rhymes/poems for young children” for preparing a compendium of nursery rhymes/poems in all Bhartiya Bhasha and also in English, focusing on content relevant to the Indian context. The purpose of this initiative is that the young children can have better learning at the Foundational stage by becoming familiar with the world around them through easily understandable and joyful poems and rhymes, in their mother tongue.

To further this initiative, the DoSE&L in collaboration with MyGov is inviting contribution to the “Baalpan ki Kavita initiative: Restoring Bhartiya rhymes/poems for young children”. The participants of the contest can send existing poems/rhymes popular in folklore (mentioning the name of the author) or newly composed joyful poems/rhymes under three categories:

Pre-primary (ages 3-6)
Grade 1 (ages 6-7)
Grade 2 (ages 7-8)

Entries are invited in all Indian language (Bhartiya Bhasha), also in English, and can include regional rhymes/poems that hold cultural significance in Indian context. The competition is starting from 26.03.2025 till 22.04.2025, on the MyGov website (https://www.mygov.in/). There is no entry fee for participation. Other details of the competition can be seen on MyGov website.

The Central government has officially announced a 24% rise in the salary for Members of Parliament, effective from April 1, 2023. It has also announced a 25% raise in their daily allowance and a 24% hike in pension for MPs and ex-MPs.

According to a circular from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the monthly salary for Members of Parliament will rise from Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 1,24,000. Their daily allowance has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.

The monthly pension for both MPs and ex-MPs has been revised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 31,000. Additionally, ex-MPs will see an increase in their additional pension per year of service from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.

The national maritime games 2025 is all set to be held at the Indian Maritime University.

The grand opening ceremony was conducted by Padma Shri Dr. PT Usha. The competitions are to be held from March 24 to April 4.

Padma Shri Dr. P.T. Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association and Member of Parliament, inaugurated the National Maritime Games 2025 at IMU, Palm Beach Road, Navi Mumbai.

In her address, Dr. Usha emphasized the importance of sportsmanship, stating,

"True sportsmanship overrides all else. In the arena of sport, there are no losers — every participant is a winner. It is not just about medals, but about the courage, discipline, and integrity each athlete brings to the field.” said Usha, the President of the Indian Olympic Association and Member of Parliament.

Selflessly working in the field of social service, was honored with the ‘Popular Civilian Excellence Award’ by Dr. Anil Kashi Murarka and Mandakini. This award is dedicated to her immense contribution to society and her selfless service. Award was organised by Santosh Mishra.

Sanghamitra Tai Gaikwad has been associated with the Republican Party of India (Athawale faction) for the past 25 years and currently serves as the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra. She expresses her appreciation for working under the leadership of Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, whom she considers a strong and visionary leader. She believes that under his guidance, she is able to continue serving society effectively.