TODAY NEWS ON March 25, 2025

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspiramts

Source: THE HINDU

Tariffs, market access for agricultural goods on agenda as U.S. trade delegation visits India

Market access to agricultural products, a long-protected area in Indian imports, could be on the agenda as a U.S. delegation, headed by Brendan Lynch, the U.S. Trade Representative’s point-person for South and Central Asia, travels to India on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) for a five-day visit. While the visit, which comes just before the announcement of “reciprocal tariffs” by the Trump administration, is expected to focus on lowering Indian import duties, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik’s recent comments that he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi why India won’t “buy a bushel of [American] corn” has led to speculation that the Bilateral Trade Agreement being discussed will be more comprehensive than an “item-by item” negotiation.

Justice Yashwant Varma transfer: Allahabad High Court Bar Association calls for strike

Amid the corruption row against Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association on Monday (March 24, 2025) demanded that all the judgments delivered by him during his tenure as a judge be reviewed, and passed a resolution for an indefinite strike till the withdrawal of the order to transfer Justice Varma to the High Court. This demand comes at a time when the Supreme Court transferred Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court. Earlier, it was alleged that piles of burnt cash were recovered from the store room of the official residence of the judge.

SC Collegium recommends transfer of Justice Varma to Allahabad HC despite Bar’s objection

The Supreme Court Collegium on Monday (March 24, 2025) recommended the transfer of senior Delhi High Court Judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, who is at the centre of a controversy following discovery of a large sum of burnt currency at his official residence in Delhi, to Allahabad High Court.

The Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, too, had been of the prima facie opinion that the judge ought to be shifted out of the Capital in the interest of “better administration of justice”.

Centre notifies 24% hike in salaries, pensions for MPs

The Centre on Monday (March 24, 2025) notified a 24% hike in the salaries of Members of Parliament with effect from April 1, 2023 on the basis of the Cost Inflation Index. The notification, issued by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, also increased the daily allowances for sitting members and pension and additional pension for every year of service in excess of five years for former members.

Nagpur authorities raze homes of violence accused, HC halts further demolition

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) authorities drew flak from the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday (March 24, 2025) after they demolished the properties of two key accused in the Nagpur violence case. The Municipal corporation, under heavy police security, demolished the two-storey residence of Fahim Khan, a key accused in the March 17 communal violence, citing unauthorised construction. Officials also removed an illegal structure part of the residence of Yusuf Sheikh, another person linked to the unrest that erupted in the Mahal area.

No sanctioned Tamil teachers in Kendriya Vidyalayas, only 24 part-time teachers: Union Minister in Lok Sabha

The Union Ministry of Education, in response to a question raised by DMK Member Kanimozhi Karunanidhi in the Lok Sabha, said Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in Tamil Nadu do not have sanctioned posts for Tamil teachers. Only 24 part-time contractual teachers have been engaged, according to Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary. “Additionally, learning of Tamil language in 21 KVs is being undertaken through Tamil Virtual Academy (TVA), an autonomous organisation under Tamil Nadu state for students interested in learning Tamil. There are 86 Hindi and 65 Sanskrit teachers in Tamil Nadu at present,” he said.

Trump announces 25% tariff on countries buying Venezuelan oil

President Donald Trump said on Monday (March 24, 2025) he would be placing a 25% tariff on all imports from any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela as well as imposing new tariffs on the South American country itself. In a Truth Social post, Mr. Trump said Venezuela has been “very hostile” to the U.S. and countries purchasing oil from it will be forced to pay the tariff on all their trade to the U.S. starting April 2, 2025. Venezuela will face a “Secondary” tariff because it is the home to the gang Tren de Aragua, he said. The Trump administration is deporting immigrants that it claims are members of that gang who illegally crossed into the United States.

U.S. holds separate talks with Russians after meeting Ukrainians to discuss a potential ceasefire

U.S. negotiators worked on a proposed partial ceasefire in Ukraine on Monday (March 24, 2025), meeting with representatives from Russia, a day after holding separate talks with the Ukrainian team. Each side has accused the other of undermining efforts to reach a pause in the 3-year-old war. Kyiv and Moscow agreed in principle Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with the countries’ leaders, but the parties have offered different views of what targets would be off-limits to attack.

Israeli strikes kill scores in Gaza as Egypt offers new ceasefire proposal

Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip killed more than 65 Palestinians over the past day, including women and children, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Monday (March 24, 2025). Meanwhile, officials said Egypt has introduced a new proposal to try and get the ceasefire back on track. Hamas would release five living hostages, including an American-Israeli, in return for Israel allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza and a weekslong pause in the fighting, an Egyptian official said. Israel would also release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Trump officials mistakenly shares Yemen war plans with journalist

Top national security officials for U.S. President Donald Trump, including his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic, the magazine reported in a story posted online Monday (March 24, 2025). The National Security Council said the text chain “appears to be authentic.”

India addressing supply chain vulnerabilities to secure trade routes: Sonowal

India is addressing supply chain vulnerabilities by developing key corridors such as India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the Eastern Maritime Corridor, and the North-South Transport Corridor to secure trade routes, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said at Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) on Monday (March 24, 2025). A green and digital corridor is under discussion between India and Singapore. The SMW is an annual flagship programme being held in Singapore under the aegis of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, bringing global maritime leaders together to share and demonstrate their technologies.

‘Shocked, broken’: Habitat Studio decides to shut down after vandalism over Kunal Kamra show

Habitat Studio, a performance and event venue in Mumbai, on Monday (March 24, 2025) announced that they were shutting down after Shiv Sena’s workers vandalised its premises over stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s alleged defamatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a show.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar takes charge as president of BJP’s Kerala unit

Rajeev Chandrasekhar took charge as the State president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)‘s Kerala unit at the State Council meeting of the party in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday (March 24, 2025). Making the official announcement, Pralhad Joshi, the BJP’s central observer, said Mr. Chandrasekhar was unanimously elected to the post. K. Surendran, who vacated the post after a tenure of five years, handed over the party flag to Mr. Chandraekhar amid loud cheers from the party workers.

Swiggy Instamart to deliver Apple, Samsung within 10 mins across 10 cities

Swiggy Instamart on Monday announced to deliver smartphones from brands like Apple, Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, Oppo, Vivo and Realme and Redmi within 10 minutes across 10 major cities in India. The quick commerce outlet promises to deliver iPhone 16e, Samsung Galaxy M35, OnePlus Nord CE and Redmi 14C in cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Faridabad, Noida, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Pune, with more coming soon.

Turkey detains nine journalists over protests against Istanbul mayor’s arrest, union says

“Turkish authorities have detained nine journalists who covered overnight protests in several cities against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu,” the Journalists Union of Turkey said on Monday (March 24, 2025). It was not immediately clear why the journalists were detained.

BCCI announces central contracts for women’s cricket team

India women’s team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, her deputy Smriti Mandhana and all-rounder Deepti Sharma were on Monday (March 24, 2025) retained in Grade A, the highest category of central contracts offered by BCCI. Pacer Renuka Thakur, all-rounder Jemimah Rodrigues, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh and opener Shafali Verma managed to hold on to their Grade B contracts.

IPL 2025 DC vs LSG | Ashutosh’s blinder leads Delhi Capitals to win over Lucknow Super Giant

Ashutosh Sharma stripped Lucknow Super Giants of every morsel of pleasure it had earned until the fag end of the match on Monday (March 24, 2025), as he amassed 32 of the required 39 runs off the last 18 balls for Delhi Capitals to chase down an improbable 210-run target, from 65 for five, and win by one wicket in the IPL at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Ashutosh drained Giants’ hopes in a swish. With 38 needed off 15, he hit Ravi Bishnoi for a six, a four, and a six. And with 18 needed off the last nine, he scored a double, a six, and a four off 23-year old debutant pacer Prince Yadav.