TODAY NEWS ON March 27, 2025
News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: THE HINDU

India, China discuss ways to move ties to ‘predictable path’

India and China on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) explored ways to rebuild ties and agreed to initiate efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights and resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra this year. In a meeting in Beijing, the two sides also discussed resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a “step-by-step” manner to utilise them to address each other’s priority areas of interest and concern and move the relations to a “more stable and predictable path”, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Trump places 25% tariff on imported autos, expecting to raise $100 billion in tax revenues

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday (March 26, 2025) he was placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, a move that the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains. “This will continue to spur growth,” Mr. Trump told reporters. “We'll effectively be charging a 25% tariff.”

UPI outage disrupts digital transactions

Digital transactions were impacted on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) due to a widespread UPI outage with a large number of users reporting problems in the instant payment interface. The outage triggered a surge in complaints on Downdetector, a platform that monitors service disruptions based on user reports. The system faced temporary issue for about an hour or so and it was subsequently stabilised by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

U.S. intelligence report flags India, China as key sources of drug trafficking equipment, chemicals

A U.S. intelligence report has named India and China as “sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers” and the primary source country for illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing equipment.” The ‘2025 Annual Threat Assessment (ATA)‘, released on Tuesday (March 25, 2025), is the Intelligence Community’s (IC) official, coordinated evaluation of an array of threats to U.S. citizens, the homeland, and U.S. interests in the world. Some transnational criminal organisations (TCOs) are producing and trafficking large amounts of illicit drugs that are imperiling American lives and livelihoods, the report said.

Activists, students detained for staging protest over the suspension of TISS student

Over 350 people from 16 human rights groups gathered outside the gates of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Chembur, Mumbai, on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) over the suspension of Ramdas P.S., a Dalit PhD research student. The protest was in light of the March 12 Bombay High Court dismissal of a petition filed by Ramadas K.S., challenging his suspension by the TISS last year for alleged repetitive misconduct and anti-national activities.

Waqf Amendment Bill needed for transparency, accountability of Waqf Boards: Delhi Haj Committee chair

Refuting allegations that the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, encroaches on the rights of the Muslim community, Delhi Haj Committee chairperson Kausar Jahan says the proposed legislation will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the Waqf Boards. “Some people believe that there is no need for these amendments, and a propaganda is being spread about the intentions of the government, but these changes are needed to fully realise, with accountability and transparency, the intentions behind setting up the Waqf Board,” said Ms. Kausar Jahan.

MPs briefed on role of Bangladesh Army Chief in stability

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in an interaction with the Standing Committee on External Affairs of the Parliament on Wednesday (March 26, 2025), highlighted the role of the Army Chief of Bangladesh in maintaining stability in his country. The Hindu has learnt, Mr. Misri outlined the rise of disruptive factional forces in Bangladesh and noted that “continued release of Islamist extremists” by the interim government is a matter of concern for “regional and global security.”

The Atlantic releases Signal chat: U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth texted planned time of targeted killing of Yemeni ‘terrorist’

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth texted the start time for a planned killing of a Houthi militant in Yemen on March 15, 2025 as well as other details of imminent waves of U.S. strikes, according to a screenshot of a text chat released by The Atlantic on Wednesday (March 26, 2025). The Trump administration said on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) that no classified information was shared in the chat, bewildering Democrats and former U.S. officials, who regard targeting information as some of the most closely-held material ahead of a U.S. military campaign.

Sudan’s army captures paramilitary group’s key base as it consolidates control over Khartoum area

Sudan’s army said Wednesday (March 26, 2025) it had recaptured a camp which was being used by the rival Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group as a key base during its hold on the capital, Khartoum. The development brings the military a step closer to declaring the capital fully liberated as it continues its advance toward key locations, including the airport. Troops last week retook the Republican Palace, which had been a stronghold of the RSF during the war that began in April 2023. The Teiba al-Hasnab camp was the RSF's last stronghold in Khartoum, Army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Nabil Abdullah Ali said in a post on Facebook.

Mohammed Yunus is rendering religious minority leaders in Bangladesh vulnerable, UN told

An Indian rights group has asked the United Nations to help stop Mohammed Yunus, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, from emboldening the religious fundamentalists in his country by denying attacks on the minorities in his country. The New Delhi-based Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) also said Mr. Yunus had been trivialising the acts of violence against the Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians in Bangladesh by describing them as outcomes of personal disputes, criminal acts, or accidents.

Supreme Court stays ‘insensitive, inhuman’ remarks by Allahabad High Court on rape

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) stayed an Allahabad High Court order of March 17, which concluded that “mere” grabbing the breasts of a minor victim, breaking the string of her pyjama to “bring down” her lower garment are not sufficient to constitute an offence of attempt to rape

Two months before push against Collegium system, International Commission of Jurists report recommended new law for judicial appointments, transfers

Two months before Vice-President of India and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar’s push to find an alternative to the Collegium system following the alleged discovery of half-burnt cash on the residential premises of High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, an international body of jurists had published a report urging the government and the Parliament to enact a law constituting a ‘Judicial Council’ to spearhead judicial appointments and transfers based on transparent, predetermined and objective criteria.

Democrats urge U.S. Justice Department probe of war plans discussion on Signal

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and top Senate Democrats on Wednesday (March 25, 2025) wrote a letter to Republican President Donald Trump and his top officials urging a Justice Department probe into how a journalist was inadvertently included in a secret group discussion of sensitive war plans.

SEBI keeps WeWork India’s IPO in abeyance

SEBI has put the initial public offering (IPO) of premium flexible workspace operator WeWork India Management Ltd in “abeyance”, an update with the markets regulator showed. The Embassy Group-promoted firm, which filed its draft IPO papers on January 31, planned to offer 4.37 crore shares through an Offer for Sale (OFS) route.

Kunal Kamra criticises T-Series after visibility of ‘Naya Bharat’ video blocked on YouTube

Comedian Kunal Kamra on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) criticised Bollywood studio T-Series, alleging that his stand-up special “Naya Bharat”, which has kicked up a huge controversy over jokes targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, was flagged for copyright violations on YouTube. Mr. Kamra shared a screenshot from YouTube on X, which showed “Naya Bharat”, his new video, has been blocked due to copyright restrictions and therefore is not visible to viewers. Due to copyright claims, the video will not be able to generate revenue as well.

Rajasthan Royals lose to Kolkata Knight Riders as de Kock’s unbeaten 97 leads KKR to victory

Rajasthan Royals was looking good with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and stand-in captain Riyan Parag involved in a promising partnership, after Sanju Samson came forward and made enough room to get himself yorked by Vaibhav Arora. RR raced to 54 for one by the end of the PowerPlay. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane then introduced spin, tossing the ball to Moeen Ali, making his debut for the Kolkata franchise in place of the injured Sunil Narine. After restricting RR to 151 for nine, KKR, riding on a superb knock from Quinton de Kock, romped home with eight wickets and 15 balls to spare at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.