NEWS 13-03-2025. News For 14th-Mar (Friday) 1. PM Modi has become the first Indian to receive the highest civilian award of Mauritius, *Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean.* 2. Govt has distributed around 37 crore LED bulbs across the country under the UJALA scheme. The scheme has saved about 48 billion kiloWatt per hour of energy per year. 3. United Nations (UN) will slash monthly food aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh from $12.50 to $6 per month from April, due to a funding crisis. 4. The Cairo Declaration has adopted a $53-billion plan for Gaza’s reconstruction. 5. China has announced a 7.2% increase in its defence budget for 2025 to modernize and expand its military capabilities. 6.Russia, China & Iran are going to conduct the Conduct Naval Exercises in Indian Ocean. This is meant to boost cooperation between the three countries. South Africa, UAE, Qatar & Pakistan will act as observers. 7. India & Russia have signed a $248 million for procuring 1,000 HP engines for the T-72 tanks. 8. The 12th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise, Khanjar-XII, is being conducted from 10 to 23 March 2025 in Kyrgyzstan. This exercise has been an annual event since 2011, alternating between the two nations. 9. India and France have finalized negotiations for the purchase of 26 Rafale-M fighter aircraft, valued at approximately USD 7.6 billion. The formal agreement is expected to be signed in April 2025. 10. India clinched the *Champions Trophy* defeating New Zealand by 4 wickets. < < Back