Daily Current Affairs: 4 March 2026

Haryana Government unveils ₹2.23 lakh crore budget for 2026-27 with Agniveer quota and new agri power discom.

[Haryana]

Key Updates:

• Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini presented a ₹2.23 lakh crore budget for fiscal year 2026-27 in the state assembly.
• Debt servicing consumes 29.2% of total outlay, with interest payments at ₹29,266.62 crore and public debt repayment at ₹36,101.68 crore.
• Education and sports receive ₹23,603.69 crore, health ₹14,007.28 crore, social justice ₹17,250.72 crore, development & panchayats ₹8,703.74 crore, and home ₹8,475.01 crore.
• Government will establish Haryana Agri Discom, a third power distribution company dedicated to the agriculture sector to supply uninterrupted electricity to over 7 lakh farmers.
• 20% reservation for Agniveers in Haryana Police announced alongside a special recruitment drive for 1,300 personnel.
• ₹100 crore allocated for the new Haryana Green Climate Resilience Fund.
• World Bank approves ₹2,716 crore for the Haryana Clean Air Project.
• Adarsh Pariksha Kendra to be set up under public-private partnership model.
• Anti-terrorist squad (ATS) to be created under an IG-rank police officer.
• HSIIDC will develop ‘Wedding City’ projects in Gurugram, Kharkhoda and Pinjore.
• Modern film city to be established at Pinjore.
• Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex, Daulatabad, upgraded to Haryana’s first Para Sports Stadium.
• Revenue deficit projected at ₹4,293.17 crore, 2.65% of state GDP.
• State’s share in central taxes set at 1.361% for 2026-31 per 16th Finance Commission recommendations.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposes ₹11.50 lakh penalty on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited]

Key Updates:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹11.50 lakh on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited on 27 February 2026.
• The penalty was for non-compliance with RBI directions on ‘Fair Practices Code’ and ‘Internal Ombudsman for Regulated Entities’.
• The statutory inspection of the company was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on 31 March 2025.
• The company levied revised foreclosure charges on certain borrower accounts without incorporating suitable conditions in loan agreements.
• The company failed to escalate certain complaints to its Internal Ombudsman within the prescribed time and did not communicate final decisions to complainants within the prescribed time in certain cases.

President Murmu launches Pink National Common Mobility Card and three women-centric schemes in Delhi

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• President Droupadi Murmu launched four women-centric welfare schemes of the Delhi government at the Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi programme.
• The event was held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
• The Pink National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) was launched to provide integrated transport access and strengthen women's independence and safety.
• A scheme providing two free Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders annually to ration card-holding families on Holi and Diwali was introduced.
• The LPG scheme involves a ₹129-crore benefit to be transferred via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.
• The Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana and the Meri Poonji, Mera Adhikar initiative were also launched during the event.

PM Modi rolls out ₹16,686 crore infra push in Rajasthan

[Gujarat, Rajasthan]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ajmer, Rajasthan on 28 February 2026 and launched 43 projects worth ₹16,686 crore across urban development, drinking water, roads, railways, irrigation, energy and industrial infrastructure.
• 34 state projects worth ₹8,554 crore cover urban development, public health engineering, public works, energy, water resources and industries departments.
• Nine national highway and energy projects worth ₹8,132 crore include two foundation stones and seven inaugurations.
• National highway works worth over ₹4,516 crore comprise the four-lane greenfield Bandikui–Jaipur expressway (₹1,207 crore), eight-lane carriageway from NH-76 junction to NH-12 at Ummedpura village under Delhi-Vadodara Access Controlled Greenfield Expressway Package 14, and statewide highway widening.
• Urban road projects include the Sanganer Flyover to Malpura Gate elevated road in Jaipur (₹286 crore) and the Mahamandir to Akhaliya Chauraha four-lane elevated road in Jodhpur (₹1,243 crore).
• Malbamori–Mangrol–Baran State Highway in Baran district is estimated at ₹322 crore.
• Drinking water initiatives comprise four packages of the Nonera Major Drinking Water Project (₹1,021 crore) and five packages of the Parwan Akawad Major Drinking Water Project (₹2,247 crore).
• A ₹3,616 crore transmission system for renewable energy evacuation and foundation stones for five 220 kV and two 400 kV grid substations were launched.
• Infrastructure and drinking water works in the Jodhpur Pali Marwar Industrial Area were initiated.
• Appointment letters were distributed to 21,863 selected candidates including 3,320 Patwaris, 2,291 contractual Junior Technical Assistants and Account Assistants, 2,590 Livestock Assistants, 3,822 Community Health Officers, and 7,357 Public Health Care Nurses, Medical Lab Technicians, Lab Technicians, Nursing In-charges, Nursing Trainers, Nurses and Nurse Grade-II.
• PM Modi also launched the HPV vaccination drive for girls aged 9–14 to prevent cervical cancer.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) organises month-long tribal cultural heritage events from 2 to 24 March 2026

Key Updates:

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) will host Tribal Art Fest, Tribal Music Fest, Bharat Tribes Fest, and Tribal Business Conclave between 2 and 24 March 2026.
• Nearly 1,000 participants from all States are expected to join the Tribal Art Fest.
• Minister Jual Oram launched official logos for Tribal Art Fest, Living Roots: Soundscapes of Tribal India, and Bharat Tribes Fest 2026.

Nagaland signs MoU with India Meteorological Department (IMD) to boost weather forecasting

[Nagaland, India Meteorological Department (IMD)]

Key Updates:

• Nagaland higher education department signed an MoU with India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ministry of Earth Sciences, at the directorate of higher education in Kohima.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of higher education minister Temjen Imna Along, secretary of higher and technical education Sarita Yadav, ex-officio director of higher education V Lovitoly Sema, and IMD representatives.
• The collaboration will install one X-Band Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Dimapur Government College under the ‘Mission Mausam Scheme’ initiative of the Government of India.
• The initiative focuses on urban meteorology, disaster preparedness, and agricultural advisories to enhance public safety and protect lives and property.
• The institutional cooperation will promote academic engagement, research collaboration, and capacity building in meteorological and atmospheric sciences.

India and European Union to grant each other Most Favoured Nation status for five years under trade deal

[European Union]

Key Updates:

• India and the European Union (EU) will grant each other Most Favoured Nation status for five years after their trade deal takes effect.
• The deal aims to eliminate or reduce tariffs on 96.6% of traded goods by value and is expected to double EU exports to India by 2032.
• European companies are projected to save 4 billion euros in duties once the agreement is implemented.
• Agriculture-related items such as soya, beef, sugar, rice and dairy have been excluded from the trade deal.
• Both sides agreed not to impose new import or export restrictions beyond World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
• India and the EU will align food safety and plant health measures with WTO standards and streamline certification and audit procedures.
• The pact includes commitments to enhanced customs cooperation and faster clearance of goods.
• Annual import data will be exchanged one year after the pact takes effect to monitor implementation and tariff preference usage.
• The agreement promotes paperless trade and legal recognition of electronic contracts, signatures and authentication.
• The EU will mobilise finance and investment to support India’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions under the pact.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh lays foundation for cGMP facility at BRIC-RGCB

[Kerala]

Key Updates:

• Union Minister Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) facility at the Akkulam campus of Biotechnology Research and Innovation Centre--Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB) in Thiruvananthapuram.
• He dedicated the National Facility for Recombinant Cells & Sensors, housing 600-700 types of stable cells covering several cancer targets, positioning it among the leading global resource centres for such innovative tools.
• Singh inaugurated the annual National Science Day programme at the BRIC-RGCB campus.
• The minister highlighted India's BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) Policy as a dedicated biotechnology policy aimed at making the economy bio-driven.
• He noted the Union Budget announcement of the Biopharma SHAKTI Mission, signalling policy recognition that future global economies will increasingly be driven by biotechnology.
• Singh urged BRIC-RGCB to explore interdisciplinary collaborations with the private sector in the liberalised nuclear medicine domain.
• Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Director General, BRIC, Dr Rajesh Gokhale, stated that the government launched the HPV vaccination drive based on data generated by BRIC-RGCB.
• Prof VPN Nampoori of CUSAT, Kochi, authored the National Science Day book 'Quantum Physics: One Hundred Magical Years' released by the minister on the occasion.

International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi formalise Framework for Action to advance solar skills across member countries

[International Solar Alliance (ISA), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi]

Key Updates:

• The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi signed a Framework for Action (FFA) to advance solar energy skills and capacity building across ISA member countries.
• The framework aims to train renewable energy engineers, research professionals, and Solar Technology Application Centre (STAR-C) trainers.
• The partnership has previously supported M. Tech. programmes for professionals from 18 developing countries across Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.
• Over the last five years, over a hundred students undertook masters in renewable energy through the ISA–IIT Delhi partnership.
• The new framework launches a one-year post-graduate diploma programme based on a 'Train-the-Trainers' model, in collaboration with Institut National de l'Énergie Solaire (France).
• Future plans include expanding academic opportunities to Master's programmes in Public Policy and Ph.D. pathways for the solar energy sector.
• The collaboration covers four core areas: capacity building, academic programmes, joint research, and knowledge exchange.
• The research component will focus on solar resource assessment, quality standards, and emerging technologies.
• IIT Delhi plans to incorporate AI, ML, and Blockchain techniques to enhance distributed solar and ensure security in future sustainable energy systems.

HCLTech and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur sign MoU to advance deep tech innovation for Global Capability Centres.

[HCLTech, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur]

Key Updates:

• HCL Technologies (HCLTech) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur signed an MoU to convert research into real-world pilots and scalable solutions for Global Capability Centres (GCCs).
• The collaboration focuses on advanced engineering and deep tech including AI, robotics and next-generation technologies.
• The partnership enables GCCs to accelerate complex research, access niche skills without building internal labs and reduce time-to-market.
• IIT Kanpur brings translational R&D expertise in AI, intelligent systems, robotics, cybersecurity and other next-generation technologies.
• The MoU bridges academic research and enterprises to co-develop innovative technologies with measurable impact.

Google and Bharti Airtel partner to integrate AI spam filters and sender ID checks into RCS chats on Google Messages app

[Google, Bharti Airtel]

Key Updates:

• Google and Bharti Airtel announced their partnership on 1 March 2026 to deploy Airtel’s AI-powered spam filters and threat detection within RCS chats on the Google Messages app.
• The collaboration enables Google’s RCS platform to validate message sender identity using business identity checks performed by Airtel.
• The platform will respect users’ Do Not Disturb (DND) preferences by categorising messages as promotional or transactional and applying restrictions accordingly.
• If both Google and Airtel’s AI filters flag a sender as suspicious, the platform will throttle the number of messages that account can send.
• The partnership aligns with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) SIM-binding mandate for over-the-top (OTT) messaging apps that took effect on 1 March 2026.
• Airtel reports its anti-spam measures have blocked 71 billion spam calls and 2.9 billion spam SMSes, cutting financial losses from scams by 68.7% on its network.

Raksha Khadse announces ASMITA athletics events in 250 districts to mark International Women’s Day

Key Updates:

• ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women) League athletics events will be held on 8 March 2026 in 250 districts.
• Over two lakh girls will compete in 100m, 200m, and 400m races in Under-13, 13–18, and 18+ age groups.
• Each venue will have five Technical Officials, ten Volunteers, one Competition Manager, one Past Champion Athlete, and one District Youth Officer.
• A Women Technical Officials Development Workshop will run alongside referee and timekeeper training aligned with Athletics Federation of India standards.

Zero Discrimination Day 2026 observed on 1 March to end HIV stigma

Key Updates:

• Zero Discrimination Day is observed globally on 1 March every year.
• The 2026 observance by UNAIDS highlights persistent discrimination faced by people living with and at risk of HIV.
• The campaign theme for 2026 is 'Put People First'.
• Data from over 30,000 people living with HIV across 25 countries confirms stigma remains a widespread barrier to healthcare access.
• According to the People Living with HIV Stigma Index 2.0 Global Report, nearly one in four people reported experiencing stigma and discrimination from others.
• 85 percent of people living with HIV report experiencing internalized stigma.
• 24 percent of people living with HIV experienced discrimination within their communities in the past year.
• 38 percent feel ashamed of being HIV-positive.
• Discrimination prevents access to HIV testing, prevention services, and life-saving treatment.
• UNAIDS urges removal of discriminatory laws criminalizing sex work, drug use, same-sex relationships, and HIV non-disclosure.
• UNAIDS calls for protecting the right to healthcare by guaranteeing confidentiality, training healthcare workers, ending mandatory HIV testing, and providing compassionate care.
• UNAIDS advocates for community-led responses, increased funding for organizations led by people living with HIV, and meaningful participation in policymaking.

World Civil Defense Day observed on March 1

Key Updates:

• World Civil Defense Day is observed on March 1 every year.
• It was created by the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO) General Assembly in 1990.
• The day commemorates 1972, when the ICDO Constitution came into force as an intergovernmental organization.
• ICDO was created in 1931 in Paris by French Surgeon-General George Saint-Paul.
• ICDO was recognized by the French Parliament in June 1935.
• Today 50 countries are members of ICDO.