School Assembly News Headlines: 22 March 2025 

1. Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Grok Sparks Controversy in India, Government Seeks Explanation
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, has caused a stir in India due to its political responses. The Indian government has asked X (formerly Twitter) for clarification after complaints of biased replies surfaced.

2. India Bids to Host 2030 Commonwealth Games, Aims for Future Olympic Dream
India has officially submitted its interest to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. This move is seen as a step toward strengthening its bid for the 2036 Olympic Games.

3. Indian Government Ends $23 Billion Manufacturing Scheme, No Extensions for Companies
PM Modi’s government has decided to end the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. Despite requests for extensions, the program will not continue beyond the 14 selected sectors.

4. Nationwide Bank Strike on March 24-25, 2025, Likely to Disrupt Public Sector Banks
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called for a two-day nationwide strike after talks with the Indian Banks’ Association failed. The strike is expected to impact banking operations across India.

5. Government Sanctions 3.53 Lakh Houses Under PMAY-U 2.0 for Affordable Urban Housing
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has approved 3.52 lakh houses under PMAY-U 2.0. The houses will be built in ten states and union territories, benefiting low-income families.

6. Prasar Bharati Finalizes Rs 15-Crore Annual Deal with Sudhir Chaudhary for Doordarshan Show
Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati is set to sign a Rs 15-crore per year deal with news anchor Sudhir Chaudhary for a weekday prime-time show on Doordarshan, as per official sources.

7. Government Forms Task Forces to Amend Nuclear Laws for Expanding Atomic Energy
The central government has established task forces to suggest amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and CLND Act. These changes aim to accelerate India’s nuclear energy development and ensure regulatory improvements.

8. India Aims for $450 Billion in Services Exports with Strong IT Sector Growth
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has urged collective efforts to reach $450 billion in services exports. He expects IT services to surpass merchandise exports by 2025-26, boosting India’s global economic standing.

9. Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Grok Faces Backlash Over Political Bias Allegations in India
Grok’s AI-generated responses have sparked controversy, with accusations of bias against the ruling BJP. The Indian government has questioned X about Grok’s training data, fueling online debates about AI regulation.

10. CBIC Amends Customs Rules to Modify Certificate to Proof in Trade Agreements
The CBIC has changed trade agreement rules, replacing certificate with proof to define country-of-origin requirements. The amendment, effective from March 18, affects duty benefits under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

1. Sudanese Army Seizes Presidential Palace in Khartoum Amid Intensifying Conflict
The Sudanese army has taken full control of the Presidential Palace in Khartoum, marking a major gain in the ongoing two-year conflict. The UN calls it the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with famine and disease spreading across Sudan.

2. Massive Fire at Heathrow Airport Substation Causes Full-Day Shutdown
A huge fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport led to a complete shutdown on Friday, disrupting global flights. Over 70 firefighters tackled the blaze, which caused mass evacuations and power outages in thousands of properties.

3. South Korean Opposition Moves to Impeach Acting President Choi Sang-mok
South Korea’s opposition parties have filed a motion to impeach Acting President Choi Sang-mok. The move follows the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over a controversial martial law declaration.

4. Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry Becomes First Female President of the IOCKirsty Coventry has been elected as the first female President of the International Olympic Committee. The 41-year-old former Olympian secured victory with 49 votes at the 144th IOC Session in Greece, succeeding Thomas Bach.

5. Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar Amid Protests
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has removed Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, effective April 10. The decision follows three days of protests, with Bar contesting his dismissal as baseless and against official protocols.

1. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Calls Huawei China’s Most Formidable Tech Company, Acknowledging Its Growing AI Influence and Global Competitive Edge
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has praised Huawei’s technological capabilities, calling it China’s most formidable tech company. He emphasized Huawei’s expanding AI dominance and its increasing global competitiveness.

2. Apple TV+ Faces $1 Billion Annual Loss Despite Record Viewership, Forcing Apple to Cut Costs and Reevaluate Its Streaming Business Strategy
Despite high viewership, Apple TV+ is losing $1 billion annually. Apple is now cutting costs and reassessing its approach to sustaining its streaming platform’s future growth.

3. Indian Government Ends $23 Billion Domestic Manufacturing Scheme, Rejecting Industry Appeals for Deadline Extensions and Signaling Shift in Economic Policy
India is discontinuing its $23 billion manufacturing incentive program. The government refuses deadline extensions, affecting firms relying on incentives to boost domestic production and reduce dependence on China.

4. US and India to Finalize Bilateral Trade Agreement Before April 2, Aiming to Strengthen Economic Ties and Address Tariff Concerns
A US delegation will visit India for trade negotiations. Both countries seek to finalize a mutually beneficial agreement before new reciprocal tariffs come into effect in April.

5. Ola Electric Shares Surge 6% as Company Denies Sales Drop Allegations
Ola Electric dismissed reports of declining February 2025 sales as false. The company cited temporary registration delays due to vendor discussions, assuring strong sales and quick backlog resolution.

1. Japan’s Astroscale Partners with Indian Space Firms for Orbital Debris Removal
Astroscale teams up with Digantara and Bellatrix Aerospace for space junk removal. Collaboration may lead to India-based orbital services bid within two years, expanding Astroscale’s Asia-Pacific operations.

2. Adani Energy Secures ₹28 Billion Power Transmission Project in Gujarat
Adani Energy Solutions wins ₹28 billion ($325 million) contract to build power transmission for a green hydrogen unit in Mundra, Gujarat. The project will be completed within three years.

3. Amazon and Flipkart Violated Indian Quality Standards, Says BIS Report
Amazon and Flipkart stored uncertified products, violating Indian quality rules. BIS raided Tamil Nadu warehouses, finding non-compliant goods lacking the required BIS standard mark, as per government reports.

4. Nvidia to Open Quantum Computing Research Lab in Boston, Partners with MIT, Harvard
Nvidia expands into quantum computing, establishing a research lab in Boston. The initiative, revealed at its developer conference, involves collaboration with Harvard and MIT scientists.

5. Meta AI Virtual Assistant Finally Launches Across Europe After Regulatory Delays
Meta introduces AI-powered virtual assistant in Europe after overcoming privacy concerns. Regulatory issues previously halted its rollout, ensuring compliance with EU data protection laws before the launch.