📰 Daily Briefing Thursday, Mar 05

Daily Current Affairs: 5 March 2026

Analysis for 05 March 2026

National Safety Day 2026 observed on March 4 under theme 'Engage, Educate & Empower People to Enhance Safety'.

Key Updates:

  • National Safety Day 2026 is observed on 4 March 2026 to commemorate the founding of the National Safety Council (NSC).
  • The 2026 theme is 'Engage, Educate & Empower People to Enhance Safety'.
  • The year 2026 marks the 55th National Safety Week and nearly six decades of NSC efforts in workplace safety, occupational health, and environmental conservation.
  • Celebrations have been extended to the entire month, now recognised as National Safety Day (NSD) / National Safety Month (NSM).
  • National Safety Council of India (NSC) was founded on 4 March 1966.
  • National Safety Day was first officially observed in 1972.

Similar Coverage

National Conference on Safety of Women at Workplace and SHe-Box Portal Implementation (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) will organise the National Conference on Safety of Women at Workplace, SHe-Box at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
  • The conference aims to strengthen the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act).
  • Union Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi and Minister of State Savitri Thakur will attend the event to administer a National Workplace Safety Pledge.
  • The MWCD launched the SHe-Box portal in August 2024 as a multilingual single-window platform for online complaint filing and real-time tracking.
  • The portal serves as a resource hub for workplaces to upload compliance-related information, including Internal Committee details and annual reports under the POSH Act.
  • The platform ensures strict confidentiality and automatic forwarding of complaints to the concerned Internal or Local Committee to enhance accountability.
UN Road Safety Fund project launched in Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Assam (Start of March) ▼
  • United Nations (UN) launched a road safety financing project in partnership with Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Assam on 24 February 2026.
  • The project is funded by the UN Road Safety Fund and coordinated by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.
  • It aims to build national and sub-national capacities for implementing road safety action plans and reducing road fatalities and serious injuries leading to disabilities.
  • The initiative targets a 50% reduction in road traffic deaths by 2030 under the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
  • Jean Todt, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, stated that India records 600 daily deaths from road crashes, costing an estimated 7% of GDP according to the World Bank.
ESIC Marks 75th Year of Service with Infrastructure Expansion and NHA-NABL MoUs (End of February) ▼
  • The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) commenced its 75th Year of Service celebrations at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
  • Established in 1952 with 1.2 lakh beneficiaries and one dispensary, ESIC now serves over 15 crore beneficiaries through 166 hospitals, 17 medical colleges, and nearly 1,600 dispensaries.
  • The organisation's footprint currently extends across 713 districts in 36 States and Union Territories (UTs).
  • Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya released a commemorative coin (ESIC@75), the ESIC@75 Coffee Table Book, and launched the Swasthya Rath Initiative.
  • ESIC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Health Authority (NHA) for the convergence of the ESI Scheme with Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
  • An MoU was signed between ESIC and the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) to improve diagnostic standards and laboratory accreditation.
  • Under the new Labour Codes, ESIC’s mandate includes pan-India coverage and the extension of benefits to unorganised and gig workers.
  • The Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) highlighted that workers aged 40 and above are now mandated to receive annual health check-ups for preventive care.
  • India was recently recognised by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) for excellence in social security administration.
  • ESIC will observe a nationwide Special Services Fortnight from 24 February to 10 March 2026, featuring health camps, preventive screenings, and grievance redressal drives.
National Road Safety Week promotes safer roads across India (Mid of January) ▼
  • National Road Safety Week is observed annually from January 11 to January 17 under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
  • The initiative focuses on promoting safer roads by encouraging responsible driving, pedestrian awareness and strict adherence to traffic rules.
  • The week serves as a reminder that small behavioural changes can save lives.

Saint Tirumangai Alvar Idol Returned to India by Ashmolean Museum

Key Updates:

  • The University of Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology (Ashmolean Museum) returned a stolen 16th-century bronze idol of Saint Tirumangai Alvar to the Indian High Commission in London.
  • The idol was originally stolen in 1952 from the Soundararaja Perumal Koil temple located in a village in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.
  • The India Pride Project identified the bronze by matching it with 1957 temple photographs preserved at the Institut Français de Pondichéry (IFP).
  • The Ashmolean Museum acquired the idol in 1967 from the collection of private collector Dr J R Belmont, who had purchased it from Sotheby’s.
  • The repatriation process involved coordination between the museum, the Indian High Commission, and the Tamil Nadu Idol Wing Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
  • The article identifies other stolen items from the same temple that are yet to be repatriated, including a Vishnu icon from the Kimbell Museum, a Kaliya Krishna from the Asian Art Museum, and a Devi idol.
  • This handover follows a decision by the US-based Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art to restitute bronzes stolen from the Alathur and Veeracholapuram temples in Tamil Nadu.

Similar Coverage

India to Send Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha to Sri Lanka for Public Exposition from 4 February 2026 (Start of February) ▼
  • The Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha, currently enshrined at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, will be taken to Sri Lanka for a public exposition in Colombo from 4 to 10 February 2026.
  • The relics will be transported with full state honours aboard a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
  • A high-level Indian delegation led by the Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, and the Deputy Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghavi, will accompany the sacred relics.
  • The relics will be enshrined for public veneration at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, a significant Buddhist institution in Sri Lanka.
  • The Devnimori Relics originate from an archaeological site near Shamlaji in the Aravalli district of Gujarat, first explored in 1957 by Prof. S N Chowdhry.
  • The relic casket is made of green schist and features inscriptions in Brahmi Script and Sanskrit language reading dashabala sharira nilaya, meaning the abode of the Buddha’s bodily relic.
  • The casket contains a copper box with organic material including holy ashes, silk cloth, and beads.
  • According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), India has previously conducted similar expositions in Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, the Russian Federation, and Bhutan.
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad hosts three-day national conference on Ancient Indian Text, Science and Technology. (End of February) ▼
  • The three-day national conference on “Ancient Indian Text, Science and Technology” commenced on Wednesday at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
  • The conference is sponsored by the Indian Council of Philosophical Research and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
  • It is jointly organised by the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems and the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
  • The inaugural session was held at the Golden Jubilee Lecture Theatre on campus.
  • CD Sebastian of IIT Bombay delivered the chief guest lecture on “Sānkhya Thought and Modern Science.”
  • Swami Kripamayanand Avadhut was the guest of honour and spoke on the complementary relationship between spirituality and science in Indian traditions.
  • The conference will continue till February 27 with parallel sessions and a cultural programme.
Yadava-era stone pillar remains found in Hinganghat on February 22, 2026 (Start of March) ▼
  • Researchers discovered remains of a 12th-century Yadava-era temple-style stone pillar near the Vena river banks in Hinganghat, Wardha district.
  • The stone fragments are carved from locally available black basalt and feature an intricate lotus motif.
  • The carvings are identified as the Hemadpanti architectural style, which was prevalent in 12th and 13th-century temples.
  • The Hemadpanti style is characterised by a stone interlocking technique that does not involve the use of lime.
  • Researchers have been advised to approach the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the scientific preservation and detailed survey of the historical remains.
United States Smithsonian Museum to return three ancient bronze sculptures to India (End of January) ▼
  • The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) in Washington DC announced the return of three ancient bronze sculptures to the Government of India after provenance research confirmed they were illegally removed.
  • The three artefacts include a Shiva Nataraja from the Chola period (dated circa 990), a Somaskanda from the Chola period (12th century), and Saint Sundarar with Paravai from the Vijayanagar period (16th century).
  • The Shiva Nataraja originally belonged to the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple in Tirutturaippundi taluk of Tanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.
  • The Somaskanda sculpture was identified from the Visvanatha Temple in Alattur village, Mannarkudi taluk, while the Saint Sundarar with Paravai was from the Shiva Temple in Veerasolapuram village, Kallakuruchchi taluk.
  • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) reviewed the findings and concluded that the sculptures were removed in violation of Indian law.
  • The Indian government has agreed to place the Shiva Nataraja on a long-term loan to the NMAA to be displayed in the exhibition titled The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas.
  • The provenance investigation was supported by the Photo Archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry, which provided photographic evidence of the sculptures in their original temples between 1956 and 1959.
  • The NMAA is working with the Embassy of India to finalise the arrangements for the return and the loan agreement.

Hari Krishan Dua passed away at 88.

Key Updates:

  • Hari Krishan Dua died at a private hospital in New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon at the age of 88.
  • He had served as editor of The Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, The Tribune, and briefly as Editorial Advisor at The Times of India.
  • He was a Padma Bhushan awardee and a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.
  • Dua served as Media Adviser to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and as India’s Ambassador to Denmark.
  • He was part of the National Security Council under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.
  • His cremation will take place at Lodhi Road crematorium on Thursday.

Similar Coverage

Goa hosts 4th edition of World Ocean Science Congress 2026 (End of February) ▼
  • The 4th edition of World Ocean Science Congress 2026 is being held in Goa from February 23 to February 26 at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).
  • The event is co-organised by NIO, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and Goa University.
  • Goa has 193 km of coastline and thousands of families depend directly or indirectly on the ocean.
  • A pollution control vessel built in Goa for the Indian Coast Guard has been commissioned to enhance maritime safety, pollution response and surveillance.
  • The congress agenda includes ocean health, climate change, marine ecosystems, coastal hazard resilience and sustainable blue economy models.
  • Special sessions include a fishermen’s meet and student interaction programmes with around 600 high school students.
Sansha Yongle Blue Hole loses deepest-blue-hole record yet remains key natural archive (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Sansha Yongle Blue Hole, also called the Dragon Hole, sits in the South China Sea and was once confirmed as the deepest known blue hole at 301.19 metres.
  • In 2017 scientists deployed a high-grade underwater robot with precise navigation tools to produce the first full three-dimensional map and confirm the depth of 301.19 metres.
  • The hole’s interior bends and tilts so that its deepest point lies more than 100 metres sideways from the surface entrance.
  • Rock ledges inside the hole align with ancient lower sea levels and contain fossilised shells and coral fragments.
  • Oxygen nearly vanishes below 90–100 metres and hydrogen sulphide becomes detectable, leaving deeper water layers largely undisturbed.
MIT scientists identify 541-million-year-old sea sponges as Earth’s first animals (Start of March) ▼
  • MIT researchers detected chemical fossils (steranes) in rocks over 541 million years old, confirming soft-bodied sea sponges as the earliest animals.
  • The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), analysed Precambrian samples for 30-carbon steranes unique to demosponges.
  • Lab burial simulations of modern sponge sterols matched the ancient rock traces, providing three converging lines of evidence: rock samples, living sponges, and lab results.
  • Demosponges synthesise these sterols via enzymes absent in bacteria, pushing animal origins deeper into the Precambrian and predating the Cambrian explosion.
Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington-led team finds largest black coral off Fiordland, New Zealand (Mid of January) ▼
  • Marine scientists have discovered the largest black coral ever found in the sea off New Zealand.
  • The coral measures more than 13 feet high and about 15 feet wide and is estimated to be around 300 to 400 years old.
  • Large and old corals are important breeding sources for this slow-growing species.
  • Black corals are protected under the Wildlife Act, making it illegal to deliberately collect or damage them.
  • These corals are mostly found in deep waters and are used for medicine and jewelry in many cultures.

Mojtaba Khamenei speculated as successor after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death.

[Iran]

Key Updates:

  • Mojtaba Khamenei is the second-eldest son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
  • He was born on September 8, 1969 in Mashhad, Iran.
  • He studied at the Qom Seminary and maintains strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia.
  • He has never held an official government position but is considered an influential behind-the-scenes political figure.
  • Reports speculate Mojtaba as a potential successor, though no formal appointment is confirmed in the article.

Similar Coverage

Ayatollah Alireza Arafi appointed as Iran's Interim Supreme Leader. (Start of March) ▼
  • Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was appointed as Iran's Interim Supreme Leader after the death of Ayatollah Khamenei.
  • He was born in 1959 in Yazd province, Iran.
  • Arafi achieved the rank of mujtahid, granting him authority to issue independent legal rulings.
  • He formerly headed Al-Mustafa International University, managing global clerical training.
  • In 2019, he was appointed to the Guardian Council, giving him influence over national legislation and candidate vetting.
  • His ideology promotes a politically active and revolutionary version of Shia Islam.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed in Israeli-US strikes on Iran. (Start of March) ▼
  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed at his office during joint Israeli-US attacks on Iran confirmed on 28 February 2026.
  • Iranian state media announced a 40-day mourning period following his death.
  • Khamenei had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
  • The Supreme Leader held ultimate authority over all branches of government, the military and the judiciary in Iran.
  • US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly confirmed Khamenei’s death on the same day.
  • A senior Israeli official told Reuters that Khamenei’s body had been located.
Shaya Mohsen Zindani appointed as Prime Minister of Yemen (Mid of January) ▼
  • Shaya Mohsen Zindani, the foreign minister, has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Yemen.
  • He replaces Salem bin Breik, who tendered his resignation accepted by the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council.
  • Zindani has been tasked to form a new cabinet.
Abdolnasser Hemmati appointed Governor of Central Bank of Iran (Start of January) ▼
  • Abdolnasser Hemmati has been appointed as the new governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI).
  • He succeeds Mohammad Reza Farzin, who resigned as the rial plunged to a record low against the US dollar.
  • His appointment follows nationwide protests driven by steep currency devaluation and soaring inflation.

PM Narendra Modi to visit Tamil Nadu on March 1; visit to Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple scheduled

[Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

  • PM Narendra Modi will arrive in Chennai on the night of 28 February and stay overnight at the Governor's residence.
  • On 1 March, he will travel to Puducherry to participate in a public programme and address a large gathering.
  • After Puducherry, he will proceed to Madurai and offer prayers at the Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple, one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan.
  • Following the temple visit, he will address a grand public meeting in Madurai expected to draw supporters from southern districts.
  • The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to polls in the first half of 2026.

Similar Coverage

United States Deputy Secretary of State to lead delegation at 2026 Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi (Start of March) ▼
  • Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will travel to New Delhi from March 3-6, 2026.
  • Landau will lead the United States (US) delegation to the 2026 Raisina Dialogue.
  • He will meet senior Indian officials to discuss bilateral cooperation on defence, critical minerals, and counternarcotics.
  • Finnish President Alexander Stubb will visit India from March 4 to March 7, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • Stubb will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.
  • This will be Stubb’s first visit to India as President of Finland.
Kenya’s Musalia Mudavadi to attend 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi (Start of March) ▼
  • Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi will attend the 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi from March 5 to 7, 2026.
  • The Raisina Dialogue is billed as India’s leading forum on geopolitics and geoeconomics.
  • During his visit Mudavadi will also participate in the Kenya–India Joint Commission for Cooperation focused on securing concrete bilateral outcomes.
  • US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will also visit India from March 4 to 7, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Dialogue.
  • Finnish President Alexander Stubb will serve as Chief Guest and deliver the keynote address at the 11th Raisina Dialogue.
Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) operationalised under RBI Governor (Start of January) ▼
  • The Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) held its first meeting in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Reserve Bank of India governor Sanjay Malhotra.
  • The board reviewed the functions of RBI's department of payment and settlement systems.
  • Key focus areas across domestic and global payment systems were discussed during the meeting.
Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) launch Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative 2026 (Start of January) ▼
  • OPSA and ORF partner to create a dedicated global platform on science, technology, and geopolitics at Raisina Dialogue.
  • The inaugural Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI) 2026 will be held alongside the Raisina Dialogue from 5–7 March 2026 in New Delhi.
  • SDI 2026 will focus on science and technology diplomacy in an era of strategic autonomy, governance of disruptive technologies, and evolving models of scientific partnerships in a multipolar world.
  • The initiative will engage emerging scientific leaders, researchers, and deep-tech innovators with global policymakers and diplomats to foster cross-border collaboration and innovation partnerships.
  • Insights from SDI 2026 are expected to add fresh perspectives from India and the Global South to global debates on governance of science and technology.

Safeena Husain named among TIME Women of the Year 2026

Key Updates:

  • Safeena Husain, founder of the non-profit Educate Girls, has been selected as one of the TIME Women of the Year 2026.
  • TIME magazine announced the annual list recognising women leaders driving global change.
  • Husain’s organisation works to enrol out-of-school girls and improve learning outcomes in rural India.
  • The TIME Women of the Year list for 2026 highlights 12 women across fields including activism, science and business.

Similar Coverage

Women, Business and the Law 2026 report released by World Bank Group (End of February) ▼
  • World Bank Group released the Women, Business and the Law 2026 report.
  • The report finds women’s economic-opportunity laws are only half-enforced globally.
  • Only 4% of women worldwide live in economies providing nearly full legal equality.
  • The report evaluates women’s economic participation across 10 areas including safety from violence, access to childcare, entrepreneurship, employment protections, asset ownership and retirement security.
  • Globally, only a third of needed safety laws exist and enforcement fails 80% of the time.
  • About half of economies promote equal access to credit for women entrepreneurs.
  • Less than half of 190 economies covered have laws providing financial or tax support for families.
  • Among economies with such laws, only 30% of policies needed to support affordable and high-quality childcare services are in place.
  • In low-income economies, just 1% of childcare support mechanisms exist.
  • Over the past two years, 68 economies enacted 113 positive legal reforms; Sub-Saharan Africa implemented 33 reforms, the largest number of any region.
  • Egypt was identified as the world’s top reformer, increasing its legal equality score by nearly 10 points.
Major Swathi Shanthakumar won the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General's Award 2025 (Mid of January) ▼
  • Major Swathi Shanthakumar, an Indian Army officer serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), won the UN Secretary-General's Award 2025 in the Gender Category.
  • She was recognized for her project titled ‘Equal Partners, Lasting Peace’, which focused on strengthening gender-responsive peacekeeping and improving grassroots outreach in Malakal.
  • She leads India's first all-woman military engagement team deployed to the UNMISS, conducting foot, river, and air patrols to reach remote and conflict-affected communities.
  • The initiative was selected through a UN-wide voting process involving personnel globally and helped create a safer environment for over 5,000 women.
  • Major Swathi Shanthakumar is an officer of the Indian Army's Corps of Electronics & Mechanical Engineers and is currently serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (3 JAK Rif).
  • She is a resident of Bengaluru and completed her engineering in electrical and electronics from New Horizon before joining the Indian Army.
Major Swathi Shanthakumar wins UN Secretary-General's Award 2025 in Gender Category (Mid of January) ▼
  • Major Swathi Shanthakumar, an Indian Army officer from Bengaluru, received the UN Secretary-General's Award 2025 in the Gender Category for her project 'Equal Partners, Lasting Peace'.
  • She leads India's first all-woman military engagement team deployed with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
  • The award was announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science observed on February 11 (Mid of February) ▼
  • The United Nations (UN) designated 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
  • The 2026 theme is 'Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls'.
  • Women currently make up less than one third of the world’s researchers.

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released 16 Publications Division books on Tamil civilization.

Key Updates:

  • Vice-President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released 16 books on Tamil civilization at Uparashtrapati Bhavan.
  • The books were published by the Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
  • The volumes cover themes including Rameswaram, Sri Ramanuja, Nadukal tradition, Arikamedu, Bhakti literature, natural farming, ancient Tamil instruments, folk deities, Meenakshi Amman Temple, Brihadeesvara Temple, Manimekalai, and Mahavidwan Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai.
  • A trilingual book on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was also released in Tamil, English, and Hindi.
  • The Vice-President highlighted Tamil freedom fighters Pulithevar, Velu Nachiyar, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Ondiveeran, Thiruppur Kumaran, Theeran Chinnamalai, Kuyili, Sundaralinganar, and the Marudhu Brothers.

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Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released coffee table book 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Eternal Statesman' authored by Vijay Goel. (End of February) ▼
  • Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the coffee table book 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Eternal Statesman' at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre.
  • The book is authored by Shri Vijay Goel and contains rare photographs, archival material and personal anecdotes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
  • Shri Radhakrishnan served as a Member of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha during Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister.
  • The release event was attended by Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, and Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti Vijay Goel.
CP Radhakrishnan Releases Shashi Tharoor’s Biography of Sree Narayana Guru (End of February) ▼
  • Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan released the book titled The Sage Who Reimagined Hinduism: The Life, Lessons, and Legacy of Sree Narayana Guru at the India International Centre (IIC) in New Delhi on 19 February 2026.
  • The biography is authored by Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor and published by Aleph Book Company.
  • The book documents the life and social reforms of Sree Narayana Guru, a 19th-century spiritual leader from Kerala who campaigned against caste discrimination and promoted social equality.
  • The publication highlights the reformer’s central philosophy of one caste, one religion, one God for humankind and his initiatives in promoting education and temple entry for all.
  • The author noted that the work aims to preserve the civilisational memory and legacy of the reformer, which remains largely unknown outside Kerala despite its universal relevance.
Vice President releases second and final series of 'Mahamana Vangmay' at Bharat Mandapam (End of December) ▼
  • Vice President C P Radhakrishnan released the second and final series of 'Mahamana Vangmay', a comprehensive collection of writings and speeches of Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.
  • The final series comprises 12 volumes and approximately 3,500 pages.
  • The first series of the collected works was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023.
  • The event was organized by the Mahamana Malaviya Mission in collaboration with the Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
C P Radhakrishnan says Ram Mandir restored self-respect of Indians worldwide (End of January) ▼
  • C P Radhakrishnan, Vice-President of India, stated that the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya restored the self-respect of Indians worldwide.
  • He made the remark while speaking at the launch of a book on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement authored by retired bureaucrat Surendra Kumar Pachauri.
  • Radhakrishnan described the temple construction as a defining moment in India’s civilisational journey.

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya releases book "Mahatma: A Great Communicator"

Key Updates:

  • Union Minister of Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, released the book "Mahatma: A Great Communicator" at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat, New Delhi.
  • The book was authored by Additional Director General Akashvani, Dr Dhiraj Kakadia.
  • The book is published in Hindi, English, and Gujarati languages.
  • The book focuses on Mahatma Gandhi's life and the impact of his communication skills during the freedom movement.

Similar Coverage

Gen MM Naravane authored unpublished memoir 'Four Stars of Destiny'. (Mid of February) ▼
  • Gen MM Naravane served as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from December 2019 to April 2022.
  • Penguin agreed to publish his memoir 'Four Stars of Destiny' after a casual conversation at a March 2023 book launch for General Bipin Rawat.
  • The memoir was scheduled for publication in April 2024 but remains unpublished pending Ministry of Defence (MoD) clearance since 2023.
  • The unpublished book contains 448 pages and covers events from Galwan to the Agnipath scheme.
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated the book is withheld because its contents are not factually correct.
  • On 4 February 2026 Rahul Gandhi displayed a printed copy in Parliament and quoted Naravane’s claim that the PM’s message during the 2020 border tensions was 'Jo uchit samjho, woh karo'.
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released coffee table book 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Eternal Statesman' authored by Vijay Goel. (End of February) ▼
  • Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the coffee table book 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Eternal Statesman' at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre.
  • The book is authored by Shri Vijay Goel and contains rare photographs, archival material and personal anecdotes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
  • Shri Radhakrishnan served as a Member of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha during Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister.
  • The release event was attended by Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, and Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti Vijay Goel.
NAMO Book Fest First Edition Held in New Delhi (Mid of January) ▼
  • India’s first NAMO Book Fest is being held in Delhi.
  • Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, released two books titled ‘Gen V Bano’ and ‘Mahatma’ at the fest.
  • The fest features a curated exhibition of books on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and brings together authors, thinkers, and youth.
Vice President releases second and final series of 'Mahamana Vangmay' at Bharat Mandapam (End of December) ▼
  • Vice President C P Radhakrishnan released the second and final series of 'Mahamana Vangmay', a comprehensive collection of writings and speeches of Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.
  • The final series comprises 12 volumes and approximately 3,500 pages.
  • The first series of the collected works was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023.
  • The event was organized by the Mahamana Malaviya Mission in collaboration with the Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Bank of Japan (BoJ) Renew $75 Billion Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA)

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Bank of Japan (BoJ)]

Key Updates:

  • The RBI and the BoJ renewed the BSA with effect from 28 February 2026.
  • The size of the facility remains unchanged at up to $75 billion.
  • The BoJ acted as the agent for Japan’s Ministry of Finance to sign the third amendment and restatement agreement of the BSA.
  • The arrangement is a two-way currency swap framework allowing both authorities to exchange local currencies for the US dollar.
  • The pact aims to strengthen financial safety nets and contribute to regional and global financial stability.

Similar Coverage

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Injects Rs 50,000 Crore via Open Market Operation (OMO) (End of December) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injected Rs 50,000 crore through an open market operation (OMO) to ease liquidity stress in the banking system.
  • The RBI received bids worth Rs 1.39 lakh crore for this second tranche of the Rs 1 lakh crore OMO announced earlier in the month.
  • The inter-bank liquidity system deficit was recorded at Rs 68,586 crore as of Wednesday due to advanced tax outflows.
  • The central bank utilized a $5 billion dollar-rupee swap deal and the purchase of government securities to inject durable liquidity into the system.
  • The RBI purchased seven dated stocks, including the 6.75% 2029, 6.10% 2031, 6.54% 2032, 7.18% 2033, 6.33% 20235, 7.23% 2039, and 7.09% 2054 papers.
Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd (IRFC) raises JPY-equivalent $400 million overseas loan (End of February) ▼
  • The Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd (IRFC) has signed a loan agreement for a JPY-equivalent $400 million External Commercial Borrowing (ECB).
  • The loan was raised from a consortium comprising Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), GIFT City Branch, and MUFG Bank Ltd, GIFT City Branch.
  • The ECB has a five-year tenor and is benchmarked to the Tokyo Overnight Average Rate (TONAR).
  • This transaction marks the second overseas borrowing for IRFC in Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26), following a $300 million raise in December 2025.
  • The facility agreement was executed on February 25, 2026, and the loan is unsecured in nature.
  • The proceeds will be utilised for financing projects with forward or backward linkages to the railway sector or other projects compliant with ECB guidelines.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Announces ₹2 Lakh Crore OMO and $10 Billion USD/INR Swap (End of December) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will purchase government securities worth ₹2 lakh crore through Open Market Operations (OMO) to inject liquidity into the banking system.
  • The RBI will conduct a USD 10 billion buy/sell dollar-rupee swap auction for a tenor of three years on January 13, 2026.
  • The OMO purchase auctions for an aggregate amount of ₹2,00,000 crore will be held in four tranches of ₹50,000 crore each.
  • The four OMO tranches are scheduled for December 29, 2025, January 5, 2026, January 12, 2026, and January 22, 2026.
  • Under the swap arrangement, a bank will sell US dollars to the RBI and simultaneously agree to buy the same amount back at the end of the three-year period.
  • These measures follow a previous RBI action involving ₹1 lakh crore OMO purchase auctions and a USD 5 billion Buy/Sell Swap auction for a tenor of three years.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) keeps repo rate at 5.25% and caps fraud-hit customer compensation at ₹25,000 or 85% of amount (Start of February) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% after the sixth bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee meeting of FY26 concluded on 4 February.
  • The policy stance remains 'neutral'.
  • Since February 2025 the RBI has cumulatively cut the repo rate by 125 basis points.
  • The Standing Deposit Facility rate stays at 5%, while the Marginal Standing Facility rate and Bank Rate remain at 5.5%.
  • Consumer price inflation stood at 1.33% year-on-year in December 2025 (provisional).
  • Fraud-hit bank customers will be compensated up to ₹25,000 or 85% of the lost amount, whichever is lower.

India INX Global Access (India INX GA) partners HSBC International Financial Services Centre Banking Unit (HSBC IBU) to expand overseas investment access.

[HSBC]

Key Updates:

  • India INX Global Access IFSC (India INX GA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of India International Exchange (India INX), has entered a strategic partnership with HSBC International Financial Services Centre Banking Unit (HSBC IBU).
  • The partnership aims to broaden structured access to global investment products for Indian investors through Gift City.
  • India INX GA is a Global Access Provider (GAP) registered with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
  • The arrangement is designed to enable informed cross-border participation and more efficient capital allocation beyond domestic asset classes.
  • The development follows NSE IX launching its own global access platform last week, highlighting growing momentum within the IFSC ecosystem.

Similar Coverage

Gelephu Financial Services Office (GFSO) grants In-Principle Approval to Matrixport for operations in Bhutan (Start of February) ▼
  • Matrix Bhutan Pte Ltd, an entity of Matrixport, has received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Gelephu Financial Services Office (GFSO) to operate regulated financial services.
  • The approval permits the entity to operate within or from Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) in Bhutan.
  • Subject to final regulatory conditions, the licence will allow Matrix Bhutan Pte Ltd to provide money services, deal in investments as matched principal, and provide custody services.
  • Matrixport plans to contribute to a proposed Center of Excellence (CoE) in GMC to strengthen compliance capabilities and upskill local Bhutanese talent.
  • Matrixport is a digital asset financial services unicorn valued at over US$1 billion, managing more than US$7 billion in assets globally.
  • India link not mentioned in the article.
NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) launches platform for investment in 30 global markets (End of February) ▼
  • NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) has launched the NSE IX Global Access platform from GIFT City to enable Indian retail and Non-Resident Indian (NRI) investors to invest in 30 global markets.
  • The platform initially provides access to United States (US) listed stocks, with markets in the United Kingdom (UK), Japan, and parts of Europe to be added within three to six months.
  • Under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), resident Indians can invest up to $2.5 lakh per financial year in overseas markets through this gateway.
  • Investors will remit funds in Indian Rupees to the NSE IX bank account, which are then converted into US Dollars for global investments.
  • The platform is regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and allows for fractional trading, enabling the purchase of portions of high-priced global shares.
  • Investors can trade in stocks, debt instruments, and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) without opening a demat account, though derivatives and cryptocurrency transactions are prohibited.
  • The Know Your Customer (KYC) process is fully digital, requiring Aadhaar and Permanent Account Number (PAN) for completion via systems such as DigiLocker.
Maharashtra Government and Brookfield Corporation plan Asia’s largest Global Capacity Centre with over $1 billion investment. (Mid of December) ▼
  • Maharashtra Government and Brookfield Corporation will build a 2 million square feet Global Capacity Centre.
  • The facility will employ 15,000 people directly and 30,000 people indirectly, totalling 45,000 jobs.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding for the project will be signed soon.
  • Maharashtra Government is in talks with FedEx to establish GCCs in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
  • Maharashtra aims to set up 400 GCCs across the state over the next five years, with Pune as a key growth hub.
  • Initial GCC regulations will focus on tier-1 cities like Mumbai and Pune before expanding to tier-2 cities.
Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM) sign MoU to build FinTech and international finance talent for IFSC. (End of February) ▼
  • GIFT City and AJNIFM signed an MoU on 18 February 2026 to collaborate on capacity building, academic engagement, and knowledge exchange in international finance, governance, and financial technology under the GIFT International FinTech Institute.
  • AJNIFM is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
  • A five-day Industry Immersion Programme for second-year MBA students of AJNIFM commenced at GIFT City as part of the MoU.
  • The programme offers exposure to regulatory frameworks, cross-border financial services, digital finance innovations, capital market operations, and institutional strategies at GIFT City.
  • The MoU framework includes joint research, executive education, faculty exchanges, and knowledge platforms.

Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) MoU signed for Ladakh wildlife conservation

[Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP)]

Key Updates:

  • The Indian Army's Fire and Fury Corps and the Ladakh administration signed an MoU under the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) programme.
  • The MoU was signed on World Wildlife Day in the presence of Lt General Hitesh Bhalla, GOC Fire and Fury Corps, and Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra.
  • The agreement aims to conserve flagship species including the snow leopard, Himalayan wolf, ibex, marmot, black-necked crane and bharal (blue sheep).
  • A joint Snow Leopard Conservation Cell will be established to monitor conservation efforts in the region.

Similar Coverage

Third batch of nine Botswana cheetahs arrives at Kuno National Park, raising India’s total to 48 (Start of March) ▼
  • Nine cheetahs airlifted from Botswana reached Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, on Saturday in an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft.
  • All nine cheetahs were reported in good health and received their first meal on Monday morning inside their quarantine enclosures.
  • With the new arrivals, India’s cheetah population rose to 48, with three relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and the rest housed at Kuno.
  • Since 2023, 39 cheetah cubs have been born at Kuno, of which 27 have survived, including nine cubs born between 7 and 18 February 2026.
  • Adult cheetahs weigh 40–65 kg and consume about 15 kg of meat every three to five days.
India and Nepal sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in Environment and Biodiversity Conservation on 26 February 2026 (End of February) ▼
  • The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Forests and Environment of Nepal in New Delhi.
  • The agreement was signed in the presence of India’s Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and Nepal’s Cabinet Minister Madhav Prasad Chaulagain.
  • The MoU aims to promote bilateral cooperation in forests, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation, and climate change.
  • The partnership focuses on the restoration of wildlife corridors and interlinking areas to create transboundary conservation landscapes.
  • The cooperation includes formulating biodiversity conservation strategies for key species such as elephant, Gangetic dolphin, rhinoceros, snow leopard, tiger, and vultures.
  • The agreement provides for combating forest and wildlife crime and strengthening the capacity of frontline staff in enforcement agencies.
  • Both nations will collaborate on promoting smart green infrastructure in biodiversity hotspots and exchanging technical expertise.
Eurasian Otter Sightings Confirmed in Jammu and Kashmir After 50 Years (Start of February) ▼
  • The Forest Department of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) recorded the first direct photographic evidence of the Eurasian Otter in Sindh Nalla, Ganderbal, in nearly 50 years.
  • Range Officer Faizan Anwar Mir captured an image of a sub-adult otter in Gutlibagh, suggesting the existence of a breeding group in the area.
  • The Kishenganga river acts as a natural corridor for the species to move across the Line of Control (LoC) between Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and North Kashmir.
  • Evidence indicates that the otters swim freely between PoK and villages in North Kashmir, crossing the frontier at Keran and Teetwal.
  • Earlier camera-trap records had confirmed the presence of the species in the Kishenganga and Rambiara Nalla regions before the recent direct sighting.
  • The high-altitude, cold-water streams along the LoC provide a vital sanctuary for the species due to minimal civilian industrialisation.
  • Environmental experts noted that pollution and encroachment in Wular Lake and Jhelum waters remain major obstacles to the species' full ecological recovery.
3 Cheetahas released at Kuno National Park to observe International Cheetah Day observed on December 4 (Start of December) ▼
  • International Cheetah Day is observed on December 4 every year.
  • Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released three cheetahs — female Veera and her two 10-month-old cubs — into the wild at Kuno National Park to mark the day.
  • India began its cheetah reintroduction project on September 17, 2022, when eight cheetahs from Namibia were released at Kuno by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Defence Ministry signs Rs 5,083 crore contracts for ALH Mk-III helicopters and Shtil missiles

[Ministry of Defence (India)]

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts worth Rs 5,083 crore for six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles.
  • The ALH Mk-III contract valued at Rs 2,901 crore was signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
  • The helicopters include operational role equipment, an engineering support package, and performance-based logistics support for the Indian Coast Guard.
  • The Shtil missile contract valued at Rs 2,182 crore was signed with JSC Rosoboronexport of the Russian Federation.
  • The acquisition aims to enhance the Indian Navy's layered air defence and the Indian Coast Guard's maritime security capabilities.

Similar Coverage

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approves procurement of 114 Rafale jets worth Rs 3.25 lakh crore (Mid of February) ▼
  • Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh approved the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France.
  • The government-to-government deal with Dassault Aviation is estimated at Rs 3.25 lakh crore, making it India’s biggest defence deal since Independence.
  • About 20 aircraft will be bought in fly-away condition and are expected to join the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet by 2030.
  • The remaining jets will be manufactured in India with Dassault-HAL collaboration and up to 50-60% indigenous content.
  • IAF currently operates 36 Rafale jets; Indian Navy has ordered 26 naval variants, bringing the eventual total to 150 Rafales.
  • DAC also cleared procurement of P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from Boeing, combat missiles, high-altitude pseudo satellite, anti-tank mines (Vibhav), overhaul of T-72 tanks, BMP-II infantry combat vehicles and armoured recovery vehicles, and an electro-optical infra-red system for Coast Guard Dorniers.
  • The combined value of all acquisitions approved on Thursday is Rs 3.6 lakh crore.
India to evaluate Israeli 'Sky Sting' long-range BVRAAM during PM Modi visit to Israel (Start of March) ▼
  • India is likely to advance discussions on procuring the Israeli-origin 'Sky Sting' long-range beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel on Wednesday.
  • The Sky Sting missile, with an engagement envelope of around 250 km, is pitched to plug a critical gap in the Indian Air Force's long-range air combat capability.
  • The proposal is likely to follow a phased route, with an initial off-the-shelf acquisition followed by localised production with Rafael Advanced Defence Systems.
  • The system will undergo trials and integration validation before induction and operationalisation.
  • Israel has been pitching the missile for integration on the Tejas Mk1A, with the initial tranche equipped with the Israeli ELM-2052 AESA radar.
  • HAL's delivery delays of the Tejas Mk1A are partly due to integration challenges of the radar with the indigenous Astra BVRAAM.
  • The Sky Sting, unveiled around three years ago, is under development and has not yet been inducted into operational service.
  • India already operates Rafael-origin systems including the I-Derby ER and Python-5 air-to-air missiles, the SPYDER air defence system, and precision strike weapons such as SPICE and Rampage.
  • India is a key partner in the development of the Barak-8 air defence system deployed across the three services.
  • The IAF's current BVRAAM inventory includes the indigenous Astra Mk1 with a range of around 110 km, produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
  • The Astra Mk2 is under development to extend range beyond 200 km, and the Astra Mk3, based on solid fuel ducted ramjet technology, is projected to reach 350 km.
  • The IAF also operates Russian-origin R-77 missiles on its Su-30MKI fleet, alongside the Meteor with range exceeding 200 km, the MICA with range up to 80 km, and the I-Derby ER.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently inked between the Indian and Israeli defence ministries ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to move towards co-development and co-production of next-generation systems.
United States clears $3.8 billion Apache helicopter sale to Israel (Start of February) ▼
  • The United States Department of State approved a $3.8 billion sale of 30 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to Israel.
  • The overall $6.67 billion arms package is the third approval by the Trump Administration bypassing Congressional oversight.
  • The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the proposed sale aimed at strengthening Israel’s aerial combat capabilities.
  • Israel will receive 70 T700-GE 701D engines, 30 AN/ASQ-170 M-TADS/PNVS targeting systems, 30 AN/APG-78 Longbow Fire Control Radars, 30 AN/APR-48B Radar Frequency Interferometers, 30 AN/AAR-57 Missile Warning Systems, 30 AN/ARC-231A radios, 60 M36E8 training missiles, 72 EAGLE-M GPS/INS units, and 36 infrared countermeasure systems.
  • The deal includes $1.98 billion for 3,250 light tactical vehicles plus Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) capabilities, Link-16 terminals, simulators, spares, and five-to-eight temporary US personnel in Israel for up to five years.
  • Boeing Company, Arlington, Virginia and Lockheed Martin, Orlando, Florida are the principal contractors.
India moves toward $450 million BrahMos export deals with Vietnam and Indonesia (End of December) ▼
  • India has moved closer to inking deals to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam and Indonesia, which collectively will be worth over Rs 4,000 crore ($450 million).
  • Russia, the joint developer of BrahMos missiles, has assured India that it has no objection to the precision-strike weapon being sold to Vietnam and Indonesia.
  • The assurance was given during the delegation-level meeting between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov on Dec 4.
  • Once the deals are inked, Vietnam and Indonesia will become the other ASEAN countries after the Philippines to buy the air-breathing missiles.
  • India had inked a $375 million contract to supply three anti-ship BrahMos coastal batteries to the Philippines in Jan 2022.
  • India successfully deployed the BrahMos missiles, whose range has been increased to 450 km from the original 290 km, from Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets during Operation Sindoor in May.
  • India also plans to begin inducting the new 800-km BrahMos from 2028 onwards, with tests currently underway for the extended-range missiles.
  • India wants to sell the indigenous Akash air defence missile systems and Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems to the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, UAE, and Brazil.

New Seed Act and Revised Pesticide Act to Increase Agricultural Production and Farmer Income

[Uttarakhand]

Key Updates:

  • Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the implementation of a new Seed Act and a revised Pesticide Act.
  • The announcement was made during a press conference in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, to improve agricultural production and farmers' income.
  • The Central Government is updating a digital platform under the Ek Bharat initiative to provide a single-point information source for farmers.
  • An Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system has been developed to facilitate access to essential agricultural information.

Similar Coverage

Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela unveils roadmap for Viksit Krishi–Atmanirbhar Bharat reforms (End of February) ▼
  • Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the three-day Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) campus in Pusa, Delhi.
  • He announced that agencies or state governments withholding farmers’ money will pay 12% interest on the withheld amount.
  • The Centre is exploring direct transfer of its share to farmers if states delay payments under schemes.
  • Over ₹2 lakh crore annual fertiliser subsidy is under review for possible Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to farmers’ accounts.
  • Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans charge 4% effective interest for about 75% of small farmers; banks must ensure zero-delay disbursement.
  • Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will be developed as district-level agricultural reform command centres to bridge research and extension.
  • Pesticide licensing will be simplified through reduced layers, fixed timelines and full transparency to speed quality product availability.
  • Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement window to be compressed from three months to a maximum of one month in coordination with states.
  • The ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ will resume in April with scientist teams visiting villages ahead of the kharif season to transfer latest technologies.
  • Seven farmers received the IARI Krishi Adhyeta Award during the inaugural session.
ICAR Crop Varieties Release: 184 New Varieties of 25 Crops Unveiled (Start of January) ▼
  • Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled 184 new varieties of 25 crops developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
  • These varieties are part of the over 3,200 new seed varieties developed in the last 10–11 years under the Prime Minister’s leadership.
  • The government aims to ensure farmers receive good quality seeds at the right price and as quickly as possible.
DoP-DA&FW MoU: PAN-India Sample Logistics for Agri-Input Quality Control (Start of January) ▼
  • Department of Posts (DoP) and Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) signed an MoU to create a nationwide logistics mechanism for transporting pesticide, seed and fertiliser samples to designated laboratories.
  • India Post will provide end-to-end logistics support for secure, traceable and time-bound movement of samples collected by Pesticide, Seed and Fertiliser Inspectors.
  • The collaboration is part of the PAN-India Online Pesticide, Seed and Fertiliser Quality Management System being developed by the Centre for Research and Industrial Staff Performance (CRISP).
Union Budget 2026 allocates ₹1.63 lakh crore for high-value agriculture and allied sectors (Start of February) ▼
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated ₹1,62,671 crore to the agriculture sector in Union Budget 2026-27, a 7% rise from 2025-26’s revised estimate of ₹1,51,853 crore.
  • The government will support high-value crops such as coconut, sandalwood, cocoa, cashew, agarwood, walnut, almond and pine nut under dedicated programmes for rejuvenating old orchards and expanding high-density cultivation.
  • A new coconut promotion scheme targets replacing non-productive trees with improved varieties in major coconut-growing states, benefiting around 30 million people including nearly 10 million farmers.
  • A dedicated programme for Indian cashew and cocoa aims to make India self-reliant in raw material production and processing and to establish these products as premium global brands by 2030.
  • Sandalwood cultivation will receive focused support through partnerships with state governments to promote scientific farming and post-harvest processing.
  • The Budget proposes integrated development of 500 reservoirs and water bodies to strengthen the fisheries value chain, with emphasis on market linkages and support to startups, women-led groups and fish farmer producer organisations.
  • A credit-linked subsidy programme will be introduced for animal husbandry to promote entrepreneurship, modernise livestock enterprises and scale up integrated value chains across dairy, poultry and livestock sectors.
  • The government announced the launch of Bharat Vistar, a multilingual AI tool integrating AgriStack portals and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) practices to deliver customised advisory support and boost farm productivity.

NITI Aayog–JICA Phase II pact for SDG push in Aspirational Districts and Blocks

[Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)]

Key Updates:

  • NITI Aayog and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Record of Discussions for Phase II of the Japan–India Cooperative Actions towards Sustainable Development Goals.
  • The agreement was signed in the presence of Rohit Kumar, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme at NITI Aayog, and Takeuchi Takuro, Chief Representative, JICA India.
  • Phase II focuses on institutional capacity-building and improving governance systems at district and block levels under the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP).
  • The initiative covers six themes: global partnership, health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic infrastructure.
  • Key activities include capacity-building exchanges, Japan–India knowledge forums, identification and dissemination of best practices, and targeted support to selected Aspirational Districts and Blocks.

Similar Coverage

NITI Aayog launches Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 to saturate 5 KPIs in Aspirational Districts and 6 KPIs in Aspirational Blocks (End of January) ▼
  • NITI Aayog launched the 3-month Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 campaign running from 28 January to 14 April 2026.
  • The campaign targets saturation of 5 Key Performance Indicators in 112 Aspirational Districts and 6 Key Performance Indicators in 513 Aspirational Blocks.
  • Shri B.V.R Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog, inaugurated the campaign in the presence of Shri Rohit Kumar, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme, NITI Aayog.
  • Aspirational Blocks will focus on indicators including percentage of children aged 6 months to 6 years receiving Supplementary Nutrition under ICDS, measurement efficiency of Anganwadi-enrolled children, functional toilets and drinking water in operational Anganwadi Centres, adequate girls' toilet facilities in schools, and percentage of bovine animals vaccinated against Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
  • Aspirational Districts will prioritise indicators such as proportion of live births weighed at birth, Tuberculosis case notification rate, conduct of Village or Urban Health Sanitation & Nutrition Days, functional girls' toilets in schools, and percentage of animals vaccinated.
  • Districts and Blocks will prepare a 3-month Action Plan, track monthly progress, run awareness and behaviour change campaigns, and conduct concurrent monitoring field visits.
  • NITI Aayog will collaborate with relevant Central Ministries, States, and Union Territories to improve planning, implementation, capacity building, and sustainable service delivery.
NITI Aayog–NIIT Foundation MoU for 100% Aspirational Blocks coverage (End of January) ▼
  • NITI Aayog has partnered with NIIT Foundation to achieve 100% coverage in digital literacy, financial inclusion and employability across select Aspirational Blocks.
  • The collaboration targets approximately 1.2 lakh beneficiaries with at least 40% women participation.
  • NIIT Foundation will lead on-ground implementation through trained mobilisers, trainers, and by building capacity of community facilitators, self-help group leaders and peer educators.
Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) Awards Conferred with Top Prizes of ₹1 Crore (End of January) ▼
  • Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj (MoPR), Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, conferred the National Awards for Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 28 January 2026.
  • The MYGS initiative involved over 28,000 students from 619 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) participating in simulated Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat proceedings.
  • In the JNV category, JNV Una (Himachal Pradesh) won the first prize of ₹1 crore, JNV Kannur (Kerala) won the second prize of ₹75 lakh, and JNV Ukhrul-I (Manipur) won the third prize of ₹50 lakh.
  • In the EMRS category, EMRS Kosambuda (Chhattisgarh) secured the first prize of ₹1 crore, EMRS Hirli (Odisha) won the second prize of ₹75 lakh, and EMRS Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) won the third prize of ₹50 lakh.
  • The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Prime Minister’s vision of nurturing one lakh young leaders across the country through experiential civic learning.
  • A comprehensive MYGS Compendium in English and Hindi was released to document the journey of students gaining first-hand exposure to grassroots governance and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI).
Bihar Cabinet approves 'Saat Nishchay-3' to double per capita income and create one crore jobs (End of December) ▼
  • The Bihar government approved the 'Saat Nishchay-3' (SN-3) programme for the period 2025-2030 to bring Bihar into the category of most developed states.
  • The SN-3 programme aims to double the average per capita income of people of Bihar to ensure double employment and double income.
  • A target has been set to create jobs and employment opportunities for one crore youth over the next five years, supported by the newly constituted Department of Youth, Employment and Skill Development (DYESD).
  • The Bihar government aims to ensure at least Rs 50 lakh crore of private investment in the state over the next five years.
  • The scheme will prioritise the 94 lakh poor families identified during the cast-based survey of 2023 in terms of providing employment.
  • In the healthcare sector, a policy will be introduced to provide separate incentives for doctors and to prohibit private practice by government doctors.
  • The education sector reforms include the development of old educational institutions into 'centres of excellence' alongside the establishment of an education city.
  • The agriculture sector will focus on accelerating the 4th Agriculture Roadmap for 2024 to 2029 and the preparation of a Makhana Roadmap to promote its production and processing.

Saksham Skill Census Launched to Create Livelihood Intelligence Framework

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

  • The Saksham Skill Census, India’s first AI-powered skill census, was launched at RD National College, Bandra West, Mumbai Suburban’s H-West Ward.
  • The initiative employs AI technology and GIS mapping to divide areas into hyperlocal regions for data collection.
  • Enumerators will conduct door-to-door surveys using an AI tool named Arc, while residents can also participate through virtual self-surveys.
  • Hon. Minister of IT, Shri Ashish Shelar, and Mumbai Suburban District Collector, Shri Saurabh Katiyar IAS, attended the launch event.
  • Ashwin Srivastava, Founder of Sapio Analytics, highlighted the importance of equipping youth with essential skills and opportunities.

Similar Coverage

CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative trains over 2 lakh workers (Mid of January) ▼
  • The CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative has trained over 2 lakh workers across the country.
  • During phase I and II, more than 1.90 lakh individuals were trained through 5200+ skill-based trainings, including special targeted initiatives for rural citizens and women.
  • The third phase was officially launched in June 2025 by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR, and Secretary, DSIR, with a reinvigorated focus on advanced skilling, bridging academia-industry gaps, and accelerating development and growth.
  • The first year of the third phase has already trained more than 14,000 trainees by conducting 425+ training programmes across 37 CSIR laboratories, nationwide.
  • The initiative is closely aligned with the national vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Skill India'.
  • It caters to a diverse spectrum of beneficiaries ranging from students, young researchers, technical staff, and working professionals to school dropouts, ITI diploma holders, farmers, and rural communities.
  • The programme spans 18 out of 36 key sectoral skills as identified by the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM).
Google, MSDE, and CCSU collaborate to establish AI-enabled university in India (End of January) ▼
  • The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU), and Google announced a collaboration to establish an AI-enabled university in India.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Google, MSDE, and CCSU to support capacity building and AI-focused education initiatives during the AI Impact Summit 2026.
  • Google introduced AI-powered Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main practice tests through its Gemini AI platform, allowing students to personalise difficulty levels and receive interactive explanations.
  • The Gemini AI Academy was launched to assist educators in creating lesson plans and quizzes, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
  • Google is deploying SynthID to identify AI-generated content and integrating Gemini into Google Classroom to provide AI-assisted feedback and usage insights.
  • Google Workspace Studio was introduced to allow the creation of no-code AI agents for classroom and administrative workflows.
  • Wadhwani AI, supported by Google.org, announced an expansion of its AI-for-Education initiatives to reach 75 million students and 1.8 million educators by December 2027.
Ashwini Vaishnaw unveils New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments at India AI Impact Summit (End of February) ▼
  • Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments, a voluntary framework adopted by global frontier AI companies and Indian innovators.
  • The framework aims to promote inclusive and responsible AI development with a Global South perspective.
  • The first pledge focuses on advancing understanding of real-world AI usage through anonymised and aggregated insights to support evidence-based policymaking on jobs, skills and economic transformation.
  • The second pledge aims to strengthen multilingual and contextual evaluations of AI systems to ensure effective functioning across languages, cultures and practical use cases.
  • The India AI Impact Summit was held in New Delhi and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and global technology leaders.
India Ranks 3rd in Stanford University Global AI Vibrancy Ranking 2025 (Mid of February) ▼
  • India secured the 3rd position in the Global AI Vibrancy Ranking 2025 published by Stanford University.
  • The Artificial Intelligence (AI) market in India expanded from USD 2.97 billion in 2020 to USD 7.63 billion in 2024, with a projected growth to USD 131.31 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 42.2%.
  • According to the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) AI Adoption Index, 87% of Indian enterprises were actively using AI solutions as of December 2025.
  • India recorded 100.29 crore internet connections in June 2025 and possesses the world’s second-largest 5G subscriber base with over 400 million users.
  • The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recognised more than 2,00,000 startups across the country.
  • India leads the world in AI talent acquisition with an annual hiring rate of approximately 33% and was the second-largest contributor to GitHub AI projects globally in 2024, accounting for 19.9% of projects.
  • The relative penetration of AI skills in India is 2.5 times greater than the global average across the same set of occupations.
  • Major AI job hubs in India include Bangalore (11% share), Hyderabad (9.57%), Pune (6.95%), and Chennai (6.62%).
  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) oversees the National Program on Artificial Intelligence, which rests on four pillars: National Center on AI, Data Management Office, Skilling in AI, and Responsible AI.
  • The Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) initiative, delivered in partnership with Microsoft, HCL Technologies, and NASSCOM, enrolled 1.34 lakh students and teachers as of December 2025.
  • India improved its position by four slots to reach the 45th rank in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025 report prepared by the Portulans Institute.
  • The BHASHINI initiative, leveraging AI for over 36 languages, has recorded more than 1.2 million mobile app downloads to break communication barriers in the digital economy.

Finland President Alexander Stubb arrives in New Delhi; to be Chief Guest at Raisina Dialogue 2026

[Finland]

Key Updates:

  • President Alexander Stubb of Finland arrived in New Delhi on 4 March 2026 on a State Visit to India and received a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs V. K. Singh received President Stubb at the airport.
  • President Stubb will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 11th edition of Raisina Dialogue 2026 scheduled from 5-7 March in New Delhi.
  • During the visit, President Stubb will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend a luncheon hosted by him.
  • President Stubb will also meet President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
  • After Delhi, President Stubb will travel to Mumbai and meet Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
  • This is President Stubb's first visit to India in his current role as President.

Similar Coverage

United States Deputy Secretary of State to lead delegation at 2026 Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi (Start of March) ▼
  • Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will travel to New Delhi from March 3-6, 2026.
  • Landau will lead the United States (US) delegation to the 2026 Raisina Dialogue.
  • He will meet senior Indian officials to discuss bilateral cooperation on defence, critical minerals, and counternarcotics.
  • Finnish President Alexander Stubb will visit India from March 4 to March 7, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • Stubb will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.
  • This will be Stubb’s first visit to India as President of Finland.
Kenya’s Musalia Mudavadi to attend 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi (Start of March) ▼
  • Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi will attend the 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi from March 5 to 7, 2026.
  • The Raisina Dialogue is billed as India’s leading forum on geopolitics and geoeconomics.
  • During his visit Mudavadi will also participate in the Kenya–India Joint Commission for Cooperation focused on securing concrete bilateral outcomes.
  • US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will also visit India from March 4 to 7, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Dialogue.
  • Finnish President Alexander Stubb will serve as Chief Guest and deliver the keynote address at the 11th Raisina Dialogue.
Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) operationalised under RBI Governor (Start of January) ▼
  • The Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) held its first meeting in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Reserve Bank of India governor Sanjay Malhotra.
  • The board reviewed the functions of RBI's department of payment and settlement systems.
  • Key focus areas across domestic and global payment systems were discussed during the meeting.
Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) launch Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative 2026 (Start of January) ▼
  • OPSA and ORF partner to create a dedicated global platform on science, technology, and geopolitics at Raisina Dialogue.
  • The inaugural Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI) 2026 will be held alongside the Raisina Dialogue from 5–7 March 2026 in New Delhi.
  • SDI 2026 will focus on science and technology diplomacy in an era of strategic autonomy, governance of disruptive technologies, and evolving models of scientific partnerships in a multipolar world.
  • The initiative will engage emerging scientific leaders, researchers, and deep-tech innovators with global policymakers and diplomats to foster cross-border collaboration and innovation partnerships.
  • Insights from SDI 2026 are expected to add fresh perspectives from India and the Global South to global debates on governance of science and technology.

World Obesity Day 2026 highlights 8 billion reasons to change the obesity story

Key Updates:

  • World Obesity Day is observed annually on 4 March and led by the World Obesity Federation.
  • The 2026 theme is '8 Billion Reasons to Change the Story'.
  • World Obesity Day was first launched in 2015 and has been observed globally on 4 March since 2020.
  • According to the World Obesity Atlas 2026, around 180 million children aged 5–19 were living with obesity in 2025 and the number could rise to about 227 million by 2040.
  • National survey data show that 24 per cent of women and 22.9 per cent of men in India are overweight or obese.
  • The World Obesity Atlas 2026 reports that nearly 14.9 million Indian children aged 5–9 years and more than 26.4 million aged 10–19 years were living with overweight or obesity in 2025.

Similar Coverage

India Launches Multi-Panel Exercise To Develop First Obesity Guidelines (Start of December) ▼
  • India’s apex medical research body, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), constituted multiple panels to draft and design scientific guidelines for obesity.
  • Work on the project began in September.
  • The plan will focus on creating evidence-based prevention and treatment guidelines for Indians across different phases of life, from childhood and adolescence to young adulthood, midlife, and old age.
  • The objective is to release at least one set of guidelines by mid-2026.
  • A policy group, consisting of five joint secretaries from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, will be set up to convert the guideline draft into simple, easy-to-understand language for the Indian population.
National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K) to host ANVESH–2026 to position India at the centre of global food dialogue (End of February) ▼
  • NIFTEM-K, an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), will host the International Conference on Advanced Next Generation Vision for Emerging and Sustainable Healthy Foods (ANVESH–2026) from 26–28 February 2026.
  • The conference will convene global experts from over 25 countries and is expected to host more than 1,000 delegates from academia, industry, and government.
  • The Government of India has invested approximately ₹15,000 crore in the food processing ecosystem over the past four to five years.
  • MoFPI has set a target to increase the processing of India’s agricultural produce from the current 12–13 percent to 25 percent within the next five years.
  • The food processing sector has recorded a steady Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 7 percent over the past decade, with processed food exports doubling in the same period.
  • Annual post-harvest losses in India are estimated at nearly ₹1.10 lakh crore, and the conference will highlight the food as medicine paradigm for preventive healthcare.
  • The event will feature over 50 exhibitors: startups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme.
  • Participating global institutions are Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), McGill University, Wageningen University & Research, the Volcani Institute, and The University of Queensland.
  • The conference will address emerging themes: digital compliance frameworks, food safety and traceability, alternative proteins, nutraceuticals, waste management, circular economy approaches, and agri-food entrepreneurship.
  • Key speakers proposed for the event are Union Minister for MoFPI Chirag Paswan, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog Member Ramesh Chand, MoFPI Secretary Avinash Joshi, and NIFTEM-K Director Harinder Singh Oberoi.

India ranks second globally in childhood obesity, projected to have 20 million obese children by 2040: World Obesity Atlas 2026

Key Updates:

  • India ranks second globally in childhood obesity after China, overtaking the United States, according to the World Obesity Atlas 2026.
  • In 2025, India had 14.9 million children aged 5–9 and over 26 million aged 10–19 who were overweight or obese.
  • By 2040, India is projected to have 20 million children living with obesity and 56 million either overweight or obese.
  • The World Obesity Atlas 2026 predicts BMI-attributed hypertension in Indian children will rise from 2.99 million to 4.21 million between 2025 and 2040.
  • Hyperglycaemia cases are projected to increase from 1.39 million to 1.91 million, and high triglycerides from 4.39 million to 6.07 million in the same period.
  • India leads the WHO South-East Asia Region with over 45 million young people aged 0–19 overweight or obese.
  • The World Obesity Federation (WOF) warns India is among the fastest-rising countries, with nearly 5% annual increase in childhood overweight and obesity.
  • Only 35.5% of Indian school-age children receive school meals, and 74% of adolescents aged 11–17 fail to meet recommended physical activity levels.
  • The Atlas urges stronger prevention policies, including healthier school food environments, protection from marketing of unhealthy foods, and taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages.

Similar Coverage

Mission Poshan 2.0: 34% Children Under 5 Stunted, 15% Underweight (Start of December) ▼
  • Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) subsumes Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan, and Scheme for Adolescent Girls to address malnutrition.
  • Poshan Tracker data show 33.54% of measured children 0–5 years enrolled in Anganwadis are stunted and 14.41% are underweight.
  • World Bank 2021 survey in 11 priority states found Poshan Abhiyaan services associated with improved nutrition behaviours and over 80% of women receiving programme messages.
Global Mind Health 2025 report ranks Indian youth 60th and elderly 49th in mental well-being. (End of February) ▼
  • Indian adults aged 18–34 scored 33 on the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) and ranked 60th among 84 countries.
  • Indians aged 55 and above scored 96 on the MHQ and ranked 49th globally.
  • The study analysed 78,093 internet-enabled, literate Indian respondents, including 29,594 aged 18–34 and 24,088 aged 55+.
  • India ranks 28th on family closeness for both age groups.
  • Ultra-processed food consumption is 44% among 18–34-year-olds and 11% among those 55 and above.
  • India ranks 71st on first-time smartphone exposure, with the average age being 16.5 years.
Tamil Nadu Public Distribution System (PDS) and Diabetes Prevention Initiatives (End of January) ▼
  • According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)–INDIAB study, the prevalence of diabetes in Tamil Nadu increased from 11.1% in 2008–2010 to 22.7% in 2022–2023.
  • The study published in Nature Medicine indicates that the diet in Tamil Nadu is high in carbohydrates at 65% of total calories, while protein intake is 10% compared to the recommended 15%–20%.
  • Under the current Public Distribution System (PDS) in Tamil Nadu, a family of five receives 25kg of rice, 1kg of dal, 1 litre of palm oil, and 5kg of sugar every month.
  • The article highlights the Karnataka PDS model, which has increased dal allocation and replaced a portion of rice with millets to improve nutritional balance.
  • The Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS) in Karnataka is cited as a model for ensuring market access for farmers and distributing fresh produce through PDS outlets.
  • Tamil Nadu currently implements the noon-meal scheme and the school breakfast scheme to support public health and nutrition.
  • The ICMR–INDIAB study suggests that a 5% reduction in carbohydrate intake, replaced by plant proteins, can significantly help in preventing diabetes.
India Launches Multi-Panel Exercise To Develop First Obesity Guidelines (Start of December) ▼
  • India’s apex medical research body, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), constituted multiple panels to draft and design scientific guidelines for obesity.
  • Work on the project began in September.
  • The plan will focus on creating evidence-based prevention and treatment guidelines for Indians across different phases of life, from childhood and adolescence to young adulthood, midlife, and old age.
  • The objective is to release at least one set of guidelines by mid-2026.
  • A policy group, consisting of five joint secretaries from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, will be set up to convert the guideline draft into simple, easy-to-understand language for the Indian population.

China's Zhurong Rover Discovers Ancient Shoreline Deposits on Mars

[China]

Key Updates:

  • China's Zhurong Mars rover, a component of the Tianwen-1 mission, has identified subsurface structures resembling sandy beach deposits on the planet.
  • The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), are based on ground-penetrating radar data from the Utopia Planitia region.
  • The Zhurong rover landed in Utopia Planitia in 2021, an area believed to have once contained the Deuteronilus Ocean.
  • The radar penetrated up to 80 metres below the surface, detecting layered sedimentary structures that slope upward, similar to coastal deposits on Earth.
  • The study suggests these formations were created by wave action during the Late Hesperian period, approximately 3.5 to 4 billion years ago.
  • The presence of these shoreline deposits indicates that Mars once possessed a thicker atmosphere and a warmer climate to maintain a stable liquid ocean.
  • India link not mentioned in the article.

Similar Coverage

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Identifies Landing Site for Chandrayaan-4 Mission (Start of February) ▼
  • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has identified a landing site near Mons Mouton in the Moon’s south polar region for the Chandrayaan-4 mission.
  • Researchers at the Space Applications Centre (SAC) selected the specific site labelled MM-4, located at 84.289 degrees south latitude and 32.808 degrees east longitude.
  • The MM-4 site was chosen for its manageable average slope of approximately 5 degrees, minimal large rocks, and continuous sunlight exposure for 11 to 12 days.
  • Chandrayaan-4 is India’s first lunar sample return mission and is currently scheduled for launch around 2028.
  • The mission architecture includes five distinct components: a propulsion module, descender, ascender, transfer module, and re-entry module.
  • The landing site discovery was made by analysing high-resolution images from the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and using digital elevation models.
  • The mission aims to collect lunar soil and rock samples using robotic systems and return them to Earth via the ascender module.
China reveals details of Hurricane 3000 high-power microwave weapon on January 7, 2026 (Start of January) ▼
  • Norinco developed the Hurricane 3000, a truck-mounted high-power microwave (HPM) weapon designed to neutralize drone swarms.
  • The Hurricane 3000 system has an effective interception range exceeding 3 km against light and small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
  • The HPM weapon is categorized as a "hard kill" solution because it uses electromagnetic energy to physically incapacitate electronic components.
  • The system utilizes radar for identification and electro-optical sensors for visual acquisition and precise tracking of aerial targets.
  • The Hurricane 3000 can be integrated with laser weapons and traditional artillery to form an "iron triangle" against drones.
  • High-power microwave systems offer an unlimited "magazine" and low cost per engagement compared to traditional missile or gun-based interceptors.
  • The United States (US) Army's HPM weapon, Leonidas, developed by Epirus, has a reported effective range of up to 2 km.
  • A prototype of the Leonidas system was deployed during the Balikatan joint military exercise in the Philippines in April 2025.
  • China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has developed another HPM platform known as the FK-4000.
  • The Hurricane 3000 was first unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2024 alongside a smaller system known as the Hurricane 2000.
NASA Loses Contact with MAVEN Mars Orbiter (End of December) ▼
  • NASA has lost contact with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft after it passed behind Mars as seen from Earth.
  • MAVEN entered orbit around Mars in September 2014 to study the planet’s upper atmosphere and interactions with the solar wind.
  • The spacecraft uses a UHF antenna to relay communications between the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers and the Deep Space Network.
  • In 2022, MAVEN switched to an “all-stellar” navigation system to reduce reliance on its inertial measurement units.
NASA Loses Contact with MAVEN Mars Orbiter (Mid of December) ▼
  • NASA has lost contact with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft after it passed behind Mars as seen from Earth.
  • MAVEN launched in November 2013 and entered Mars orbit in September 2014 to study the planet’s upper atmosphere and interactions with the solar wind.
  • The spacecraft serves as a communications relay, linking the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers with the Deep Space Network via its UHF antenna.
  • In 2022, MAVEN switched to an “all-stellar” navigation system to reduce reliance on its inertial measurement units (IMUs) that had experienced technical issues.

Scientists recover 200,000-year-old horse DNA from Schöningen site in Germany

[Germany]

Key Updates:

  • Researchers extracted approximately 200,000-year-old DNA from the fossilised remains of horses at the Schöningen archaeological site in Lower Saxony, Germany.
  • The genetic material belongs to an extinct horse species known as Equus mosbachensis, which existed during the Middle Pleistocene epoch.
  • Genomic comparisons indicate that Equus mosbachensis diverged from other equine lineages approximately 800,000 to 900,000 years ago.
  • The study was published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution by a research team from the University of Tübingen and collaborating institutions.
  • The DNA survived in a temperate, non-permafrost environment due to anaerobic and carbonate-rich sediments that slowed microbial decay.
  • The Schöningen site is also famous for the Schöningen spears, which are wooden hunting weapons dating back roughly 300,000 years.
  • India link not mentioned in the article.

Similar Coverage

Uppsala University (UU) researchers reconstruct woolly rhinoceros genome from tissue found in mummified wolf pup (Mid of January) ▼
  • Researchers found a chunk of meat from a woolly rhinoceros — a creature similar in size to modern white rhinoceros, but with a shaggy coat of hair — preserved inside the stomach of one of the pups.
  • DNA from that flesh and fur survived beneath the Siberian ice for more than 14,000 years, enabling scientists to sequence the entire genome.
  • The woolly rhinoceros in question died some 14,400 years ago, just a few hundred years before the species disappeared from the fossil record.
  • Chacón-Duque and his colleagues at Uppsala University (UU) found no evidence of inbreeding or harmful mutations that would have doomed the population — it seemed to be healthy.
  • The study authors think the newly sequenced DNA provides evidence that climate change was the driving factor behind the extinction of the woolly rhinoceros.
  • The puppies, both females, were likely littermates: They were found within about 6 feet of each another and shared some DNA characteristics.
  • They died at a fairly young age — at about nine weeks, according to researchers at the University of York (UY).
MIT scientists identify 541-million-year-old sea sponges as Earth’s first animals (Start of March) ▼
  • MIT researchers detected chemical fossils (steranes) in rocks over 541 million years old, confirming soft-bodied sea sponges as the earliest animals.
  • The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), analysed Precambrian samples for 30-carbon steranes unique to demosponges.
  • Lab burial simulations of modern sponge sterols matched the ancient rock traces, providing three converging lines of evidence: rock samples, living sponges, and lab results.
  • Demosponges synthesise these sterols via enzymes absent in bacteria, pushing animal origins deeper into the Precambrian and predating the Cambrian explosion.
5000-year-old Psychrobacter SC65A.3 from Scarisoara Ice Cave resists 10 modern antibiotics. (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Institute of Biology Bucharest team extracted a 25-metre ice core from Scarisoara Ice Cave in Romania’s Apuseni mountains.
  • Psychrobacter SC65A.3, dormant for 5000 years, carries over 100 resistance-related genes and withstands 28 tested drugs including rifampicin, vancomycin, trimethoprim and metronidazole.
  • The genome of SC65A.3 encodes 11 antimicrobial compounds and nearly 600 genes of unknown function, offering potential for new antibiotics and cold-active industrial enzymes.
  • Researchers warn that melting ice could release these ancient resistance genes, which may spread to modern pathogens via horizontal gene transfer.
Denmark archaeologists uncover 2,000-year-old Iron Age temple and fortified settlement at Hedegaard. (Mid of February) ▼
  • The temple, dated around 0 AD, measures roughly 15 by 16 metres and features a colonnade of strong posts around an inner clay-and-plank structure with a southern entrance.
  • Inside the temple archaeologists found a raised 2x2 metre hearth with stamped and linear patterns, interpreted as a ritual feature rather than for cooking.
  • The larger fortified settlement includes workshops, elite residences and defensive palisades, indicating a major political, religious and economic centre.
  • Initial discovery occurred in 1986 when archaeologist Orla Madsen uncovered a rich weapon burial ground; large-scale excavations resumed in 2016 under Museum Midtjylland and revealed the full complex by 2023.
  • The defensive works are viewed as a response to the Roman Empire’s northern expansion reaching the River Elbe, demonstrating strategic planning and technical knowledge.

World's largest acidic geyser erupts in Yellowstone after six-year dormancy

Key Updates:

  • Echinus Geyser in Yellowstone National Park's Norris Geyser Basin erupted on 7 February after last erupting in 2020.
  • The United States Geological Survey (USGS) noted the geyser's eruptions have resumed to 2017-era rates, lasting up to three minutes and reaching water heights of up to 30ft.
  • Echinus is the world's largest acidic geyser, named for surrounding rocks resembling sea urchins (echinoderms).
  • Acidic geysers are rare because acidic water can break down rock; Echinus survives as its acidity is low, similar to orange juice or vinegar.

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Piton de la Fournaise volcano erupts again on Réunion, alert level 2-1 activated (Mid of February) ▼
  • Piton de la Fournaise volcano on Réunion island began a second eruption on 13 February 2026 at around 1:00 PM local time.
  • The eruption is confined to the Enclos Fouqué caldera with lava flows descending the Grandes Pentes.
  • Authorities activated the ORSEC Alert 2–1 protocol and closed all access to the Enclos Fouqué, including the Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob trail.
  • By 9:30 PM on 13 February, the lava front was nearing National Road 2 (RN2) in the Route des Laves area; the road remains open but drivers are advised not to stop.
  • Monitoring equipment recorded 551 volcano-tectonic earthquakes at the summit on 13 February 2026.
  • GNSS stations detected inflation at both summit and distant locations, indicating magma pressure build-up beneath the surface.
  • No significant ash emissions have been reported and no populated areas are currently at risk.
  • The previous eruption occurred from 18 January 2026 at 7:42 PM local time, triggered by a seismic crisis that began at 4:34 PM beneath the summit.
  • During the January eruption, four fissures opened between 7:45 PM and 8:54 PM along the northern flank of the terminal cone within the Enclos Fouqué.
  • Lava discharge rates during the first 24 hours of the January eruption ranged between 2 and 27 cubic metres per second based on satellite thermal data.
  • Between 21 and 28 January, monitoring networks recorded an average of about 20 shallow volcano-tectonic earthquakes per day at depths of 1.5–2.2 kilometres beneath the summit.
  • On 6 February 2026, a swarm of 343 very small (magnitude <1.0) volcano-tectonic earthquakes occurred between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM beneath the summit, accompanied by slight ground deformation.
UNAM scientists detect hydrothermal unrest in El Chichón volcano crater lake, Mexico (Start of February) ▼
  • El Chichón volcano is located in northern Chiapas state, Mexico.
  • The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) researchers reported physical and chemical changes in the 1-km-diameter, 200-m-deep crater lake formed after the 1982 eruption.
  • The 1982 eruption caused over $117 million in damage and displaced local populations.
  • Lake water, historically sulphur-rich and near 100 °C, now shows heightened sulphate and silica content and changed colour due to reduced algal influence.
  • Hollow sulphur spheres floating on the lake indicate a bottom layer of liquid sulphur where temperatures reach 118 °C.
  • Between June and August 2025 seismic activity increased, prompting investigations by several institutions.
  • Current activity is hydrothermal with possible minor phreatic explosions; no evidence of ascending fresh magma, so a repeat of the 1982 eruption is considered unlikely.
ETH Zurich-led study finds Congo Basin peatland lakes emit millennia-old carbon (Start of March) ▼
  • ETH Zurich-led team reports in Nature Geoscience that large blackwater lakes Lac Mai Ndombe and Lac Tumba in the central Congo Basin are releasing ancient peat carbon.
  • Radiocarbon dating shows up to 40 per cent of the CO₂ emitted from the lakes originates from peat accumulated over thousands of years.
  • The Congo Basin peatlands cover 0.3 per cent of global land surface yet hold one third of all tropical peat carbon.
  • Parallel work on Lake Mai Ndombe published in ESS Open Archive finds higher water levels enhance microbial methane breakdown, while lower dry-season levels increase methane emissions.
  • Population growth and forest-to-cropland conversion in the Democratic Republic of Congo could lower lake levels and amplify greenhouse-gas release.
Sun unleashes strongest 2026 flare—X8.3 blast from sunspot 4366 triggers R3 radio blackout (Start of February) ▼
  • An X8.3-class solar flare erupted from sunspot region 4366, the most powerful flare recorded in 2026.
  • The flare peaked at 6:57 pm EST on 1 February 2026.
  • At least 18 M-class and three X-class flares occurred in the past 24-hour period.
  • X-class flares are the most intense explosions the Sun can produce; each letter step (A, B, C, M, X) represents a tenfold energy increase.
  • The blast released strong ultraviolet and X-ray radiation that disturbed Earth’s upper atmosphere and caused R3-level radio blackouts across parts of the South Pacific.
  • Shortwave radio signals were disrupted in eastern Australia and New Zealand, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center.
  • Early assessments suggest most ejected solar material from the X8.3 flare is likely to miss Earth, with only a slight chance of geomagnetic impact around 5 February 2026 that could enhance high-latitude auroras.
  • Sunspot 4366 continues to grow rapidly and is rotating more directly toward Earth, with further solar activity expected.

Discovery of Dark Oxygen 4,000 Metres Below the Pacific Ocean

[Pacific Ocean]

Key Updates:

  • Researchers have detected dark oxygen in the deep sea at depths of approximately 4,000 metres, where sunlight does not penetrate.
  • The discovery was made in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean during research published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
  • The oxygen is produced near polymetallic nodules, which are mineral-rich deposits containing metals such as nickel, manganese, and cobalt.
  • Scientists used specialised benthic chambers to isolate sections of the seafloor and monitor chemical changes, observing unexpected increases in oxygen levels.
  • The study suggests that these nodules may function like batteries, facilitating electrochemical reactions that break down seawater into hydrogen and oxygen.
  • According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these polymetallic nodules are typically found in the abyssal plains of the Pacific Ocean.
  • This finding challenges the conventional scientific belief that Earth's oxygen is primarily produced through sunlight-dependent photosynthesis.
  • India link not mentioned in the article.

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Goa hosts 4th edition of World Ocean Science Congress 2026 (End of February) ▼
  • The 4th edition of World Ocean Science Congress 2026 is being held in Goa from February 23 to February 26 at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).
  • The event is co-organised by NIO, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and Goa University.
  • Goa has 193 km of coastline and thousands of families depend directly or indirectly on the ocean.
  • A pollution control vessel built in Goa for the Indian Coast Guard has been commissioned to enhance maritime safety, pollution response and surveillance.
  • The congress agenda includes ocean health, climate change, marine ecosystems, coastal hazard resilience and sustainable blue economy models.
  • Special sessions include a fishermen’s meet and student interaction programmes with around 600 high school students.
Sansha Yongle Blue Hole loses deepest-blue-hole record yet remains key natural archive (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Sansha Yongle Blue Hole, also called the Dragon Hole, sits in the South China Sea and was once confirmed as the deepest known blue hole at 301.19 metres.
  • In 2017 scientists deployed a high-grade underwater robot with precise navigation tools to produce the first full three-dimensional map and confirm the depth of 301.19 metres.
  • The hole’s interior bends and tilts so that its deepest point lies more than 100 metres sideways from the surface entrance.
  • Rock ledges inside the hole align with ancient lower sea levels and contain fossilised shells and coral fragments.
  • Oxygen nearly vanishes below 90–100 metres and hydrogen sulphide becomes detectable, leaving deeper water layers largely undisturbed.
MIT scientists identify 541-million-year-old sea sponges as Earth’s first animals (Start of March) ▼
  • MIT researchers detected chemical fossils (steranes) in rocks over 541 million years old, confirming soft-bodied sea sponges as the earliest animals.
  • The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), analysed Precambrian samples for 30-carbon steranes unique to demosponges.
  • Lab burial simulations of modern sponge sterols matched the ancient rock traces, providing three converging lines of evidence: rock samples, living sponges, and lab results.
  • Demosponges synthesise these sterols via enzymes absent in bacteria, pushing animal origins deeper into the Precambrian and predating the Cambrian explosion.
Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington-led team finds largest black coral off Fiordland, New Zealand (Mid of January) ▼
  • Marine scientists have discovered the largest black coral ever found in the sea off New Zealand.
  • The coral measures more than 13 feet high and about 15 feet wide and is estimated to be around 300 to 400 years old.
  • Large and old corals are important breeding sources for this slow-growing species.
  • Black corals are protected under the Wildlife Act, making it illegal to deliberately collect or damage them.
  • These corals are mostly found in deep waters and are used for medicine and jewelry in many cultures.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) marks 25th Foundation Day with new logo, mobile app and RCO portal launch

[Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)]

Key Updates:

  • Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) celebrated its 25th Foundation Day at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 1 March 2026.
  • Shri Manohar Lal, Cabinet Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, attended as Chief Guest and unveiled the BEE@25 logo.
  • India has reduced the emissions intensity of its GDP by 36% from 2005 levels and achieved 52% non-fossil fuel installed capacity ahead of the 2030 target.
  • The Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) Portal (http://www.rco.beeindia.gov.in) was launched to strengthen monitoring and compliance under energy efficiency programmes.
  • The BEE Star Label Mobile Application, developed with CLASP, allows consumers to scan QR codes on star-labelled appliances to access energy performance and compliance details.
  • Key BEE initiatives include the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme, Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE), ADEETIE scheme for MSMEs, Standards & Labelling (S&L) Programme, and Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC).

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TRAI Day 2026 observed on 20 February (End of February) ▼
  • TRAI Day 2026 was observed on 20 February, marking the 29th Foundation Day of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
  • TRAI was established in 1997 during India’s telecom liberalisation.
  • Anil Kumar Lahoti is the Chairperson of TRAI.
  • The theme for technical deliberation included network slicing and net neutrality.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) marks 25 years; Power Minister launches RCO Portal and BEE Star Label mobile app (Start of March) ▼
  • Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) celebrated its 25th Foundation Day at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
  • Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar presided as Chief Guest.
  • India has reduced emissions intensity of GDP by 36 per cent from 2005 levels and achieved 52 per cent non-fossil fuel-based installed power capacity ahead of 2030 target.
  • Policy measures reviewed include Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO), Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms, ADEETIE initiative for MSMEs, Standards & Labelling programme, and Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC).
  • Secretary (Power) Pankaj Agarwal described energy efficiency as India’s “first fuel”.
  • BEE@25 commemorative logo was unveiled for use in official communications during the anniversary year.
  • RCO Portal launched to strengthen monitoring and compliance under renewable and efficiency programmes.
  • BEE Star Label mobile application, developed with CLASP, enables consumers to scan QR codes on star-rated appliances for verified energy performance data.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to create bee corridors along national highways in 2026–27 (Mid of February) ▼
  • The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will develop pollinator corridors along selected highway stretches during 2026–27.
  • Native species to be planted include Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun and Siris.
  • Each NHAI field office will develop at least three pollinator corridors in 2026–27.
  • NHAI targets planting about 60 per cent of its 4 million trees under the bee corridor initiative.
Amit Shah inaugurates third International Kite Festival at Baansera Park in Delhi (Mid of January) ▼
  • Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, inaugurated the 3rd International Kite Festival at Baansera Park in Delhi.
  • Shah urged the Delhi government and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to form a committee to make Delhi the national hub for kite festivities.
  • He recalled that during the protest against the Simon Commission, kites with 'Simon Go Back' were flown across the country.
  • Shah also announced that the Indian government and several state governments will observe Somnath Swabhiman Varsh to mark the 1000th anniversary of the first attack on the Somnath temple.

Survey of India (SoI) inks five-year MoU with Digital University of Kerala (DUK) for geospatial and AI research

Key Updates:

  • Survey of India (SoI), the national nodal agency for geospatial data under the Department of Science and Technology, signed a five-year MoU with Digital University of Kerala (DUK).
  • The MoU focuses on academic and research collaboration in geo-informatics, AI, machine learning for automated feature extraction, geodesy, astronomy and related engineering disciplines.
  • SoI officials can pursue postgraduate and doctoral programmes at DUK with joint supervision of research.
  • The partnership includes customised training programmes, expert lectures, collaborative research projects, co-authored publications and joint participation in national and international initiatives.
  • DUK students will gain internships, capstone projects and dissertation opportunities at SoI under joint mentorship.
  • Both institutions will share research infrastructure, geospatial datasets, laboratories and library resources.

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Nagaland signs MoU with India Meteorological Department (IMD) to boost weather forecasting (Start of March) ▼
  • 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.
BHASHINI–Survey of India MoU enables AI-driven creation of National Place Name Database covering over 16 lakh locations (End of January) ▼
  • The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology signed an MoU with Survey of India to digitise, transcribe and standardise geographical place names using AI-based speech and language technologies.
  • Survey of India, the national nodal agency for standardisation and maintenance of geographical names, will integrate BHASHINI’s speech-to-text and language processing capabilities to convert audio recordings into structured digital text for a validated Toponymy Database covering more than 16 lakh locations.
  • The collaboration will support the National Geographical Name Information System by processing field-collected audio data into multiple scripts including local language scripts, Devanagari and Roman formats, ensuring consistency across national maps and governance platforms.
University Townships and Girls' Hostels: Five educational zones and district-level accommodation announced (Start of February) ▼
  • Union Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman announced the establishment of five university townships along large industrial and logistic corridors in the Union Budget 2026-27.
  • The townships will physically integrate universities, colleges, research centres, skill centres, and residential complexes into a single ecosystem.
  • The government will assist states via an obstacle road to develop these educational zones to minimize fragmentation between academic study and practical employment.
  • The Budget proposes the introduction of girls' hostels in all districts of the country to be financed through the Viability Gap Fund (VGF).
  • The township programme is aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) objectives of multidisciplinary learning, skill development, and gender inclusion.
  • These zones are intended to improve local economies and build innovation clusters by co-locating industries with higher education and research institutions.
  • The government has set the total capital expenditure target for the Financial Year 2026-27 (FY27) at ₹12.2 lakh crore.
10th Swachh Survekshan: MoHUA enables year-round citizen feedback and expands assessment to river and coastal towns (End of December) ▼
  • Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Manohar Lal released the toolkit for the 10th edition of Swachh Survekshan in Bhopal.
  • Starting this year, citizens will be able to share feedback round the year through multiple platforms, including the Vote For My City App and Portal, MyGov App, Swachhata App, and through QR codes.
  • The field assessments are expected to begin from mid-February to March 2026, and the Garbage Free Cities (GFC) and Open Defecation Free (ODF) certification assessment will also commence from mid-February.
  • Over 3,000 trained field assessors from across the country will conduct a 45-day, on-ground survey covering all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), supported by real-time, GPS-enabled monitoring.
  • Expanding its scope, the assessment will now include river towns across the country and a separate matrix has been introduced for coastal areas to bring it under the Swachh Survekshan ambit.
  • MoHUA launched the Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) mentorship programme in September, where 72 mentors and 200 mentee cities signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to foster knowledge transfer.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launches indigenous 30 kW Wide Band Gap-based integrated drive system for electric vehicles

[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)]

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched an indigenously developed 30 kW Wide Band Gap (WBG)-based integrated drive system aimed at strengthening India’s electric vehicle powertrain ecosystem and reducing dependence on imported components.
  • The system was developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Thiruvananthapuram, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Lucas TVS.
  • It was unveiled by S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, at the IIT Madras campus in Chennai.
  • The 30 kW power class system targets India’s growing electric passenger vehicle segment, particularly compact electric cars and fleet mobility platforms.
  • The technology integrates the electric motor and inverter into a single compact, high power-density unit, replacing conventional separate motor and drive electronics systems.
  • The project was executed under the National Mission on Power Electronics Technology, a programme aimed at advancing indigenous capabilities in power semiconductor devices, converters and motor drives.

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Tata Electronics partners Japan’s ROHM for automotive chip assembly and testing in India (End of December) ▼
  • Tata Electronics has entered into a strategic partnership with Japan’s ROHM for automotive semiconductor assembly and testing in India for both Indian and global markets.
  • Tata Electronics will assemble and test ROHM’s India-designed automotive-grade Nch 100V, 300A Si MOSFET in a TOLL package, targeting mass production shipments by next year.
  • The Tata Group is currently building two semiconductor facilities in India, worth around $14 billion, including a fabrication plant in Gujarat and an assembly and testing plant in Assam.

UN proclaims 1 March as World Seagrass Day to spotlight conservation

[United Nations (UN)]

Key Updates:

  • The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/76/265 in May 2022 proclaiming 1 March as World Seagrass Day.
  • Seagrasses cover only 0.1% of the ocean floor yet store up to 18% of the world’s oceanic carbon.
  • Seagrass meadows exist in 159 countries across six continents and cover over 300,000 km².
  • Almost 30% of global seagrass area has been lost since the late nineteenth century.
  • At least 22 of the world’s 72 seagrass species are in decline.
  • Conserving and restoring seagrass meadows can help countries achieve 26 targets and indicators linked to ten Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • Only about a quarter of all seagrass meadows fall within marine protected areas.

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India launches first open-sea marine fish farming project in Andaman Sea (Mid of January) ▼
  • The pilot project focuses on the open-sea cultivation of marine finfish and seaweed under natural ocean conditions, combining scientific innovation with livelihood generation.
  • The project is being implemented through a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, its technical arm the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the Union Territory Administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • Under the marine flora component, seaweed seeds were handed over to local fishing communities to encourage deep-water seaweed cultivation in the open sea.
  • Under the marine fauna component, finfish seeds were provided for cage-based farming, using NIOT-developed open-sea cages specifically designed to operate in natural oceanic environments.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Observes Massive Phytoplankton Bloom Near Chatham Islands (Mid of January) ▼
  • The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-20 satellite captured images of a phytoplankton bloom encircling the Chatham Islands on January 10, 2026.
  • The Chatham Islands are situated on the Chatham Rise, an underwater plateau that extends eastward from the South Island of New Zealand and separates areas of deeper water.
  • Phytoplankton blooms are common in this region where cold, nutrient-rich currents from the Antarctic and warm, nutrient-poor water from the subtropics converge.
  • The well-mixed water and long daylight hours in the austral summer boost phytoplankton populations, which serve as the base of the local food web.
  • The waters around the islands support productive fisheries for species such as pāua, rock lobster, and blue cod, as well as five seal species and 25 whale and dolphin species.
  • Despite the biological abundance, the Chatham Islands are a known hotspot for whale and dolphin strandings, where hundreds of animals are sometimes beached.
Goa hosts 4th edition of World Ocean Science Congress 2026 (End of February) ▼
  • The 4th edition of World Ocean Science Congress 2026 is being held in Goa from February 23 to February 26 at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).
  • The event is co-organised by NIO, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and Goa University.
  • Goa has 193 km of coastline and thousands of families depend directly or indirectly on the ocean.
  • A pollution control vessel built in Goa for the Indian Coast Guard has been commissioned to enhance maritime safety, pollution response and surveillance.
  • The congress agenda includes ocean health, climate change, marine ecosystems, coastal hazard resilience and sustainable blue economy models.
  • Special sessions include a fishermen’s meet and student interaction programmes with around 600 high school students.
World Wetlands Day 2026 observed on February 2 (Start of February) ▼
  • World Wetlands Day is observed every year on February 2.
  • The first World Wetlands Day was celebrated in 1997.
  • It has been a United Nations (UN) International Day since 2022.
  • The Convention on Wetlands was signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
  • The official theme for World Wetlands Day 2026 is 'Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage'.

Indian women's cricket team nominated for 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award after maiden World Cup triumph.

[Laureus World Sports Awards]

Key Updates:

  • Indian women's cricket team nominated for 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award after winning their first ICC Women's World Cup title.
  • Laureus Sport confirmed the nomination on Tuesday.
  • Team recorded highest successful run chase in women's ODI history during semi-final win against Australia.
  • BCCI announced Rs 51 crore cash prize for the squad after the victory.
  • Award winners to be announced at Cibeles Palace in Madrid on April 20, 2026.
  • Other nominees include England Women's Football Team, European Ryder Cup Team, McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Paris Saint-Germain.

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India U-17 blanks Bangladesh 4-0 to win SAFF U-19 Women's Championship (Start of February) ▼
  • India's U-17 women's team defeated Bangladesh 4-0 in the SAFF U-19 Women's Championship final at Pokhara.
  • Captain Julan Nongmaithem scored in the 42nd minute to give India the lead.
  • Elizabed Lakra converted a 63rd-minute penalty to double India's advantage.
  • Pearl Fernandes added the third goal in the 68th minute after dispossessing the goalkeeper.
  • Substitute Anwita Raghuraman completed the scoring in the 83rd minute.
  • India had earlier lost 0-2 to Bangladesh in the round-robin stage of the tournament.
Jay Shah Received 'Transformational Leader Of The Year' Award at NDTV Indian Of The Year 2025 (End of December) ▼
  • Jay Shah was honored with the 'Transformational Leader Of The Year' award at the NDTV Indian Of The Year 2025 event.
  • He served as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019 to 2024.
  • He took over as the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in December 2024.
  • Under his leadership, the BCCI launched the Women's Premier League (WPL), which raised more than Rs 6,000 crore through sponsorship, media rights, and teams.
  • He implemented pay parity for women cricketers, increasing Test match fees from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh and One Day International (ODI) fees from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 6 lakh.
  • He began his career at the Central Board of Cricket Ahmedabad in 2009.
  • During his tenure at the BCCI, he oversaw the signing of record-breaking media rights deals for the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta hails Indian Blind Women's Cricket Team as champions of T20 World Cup and life. (End of January) ▼
  • Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta praised the Indian Blind Women's Cricket Team for their courage, confidence, and unstoppable determination.
  • Gupta described the team as true champions of both the T20 World Cup and life, emphasising that victory is measured by self-belief and perseverance.
  • She expressed support for promoting inclusive sports and recognised the team's role in inspiring young athletes and highlighting the potential of differently-abled sportspersons.
Smriti Mandhana wins BBC Indian Sportswoman of Year 2025 (Mid of February) ▼
  • Smriti Mandhana was named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025 for her key role in India’s 2025 Women’s World Cup victory.
  • Chess player Divya Deshmukh (20) received the Emerging Player award after her FIDE Women’s World Cup win.
  • Preethi Pal won Para-Sportswoman award for two bronze medals at 2024 Paris Paralympics in track and field.
  • Anjali Bhagwat received Lifetime Achievement Award as India’s first woman shooter to reach an Olympic final.
  • Award winners were chosen by jury of Leander Paes, Deepa Malik and Anju Bobby George.
  • BBC Star Performers 2025: Indian Women’s Cricket Team, Ekta Bhyan, Deepthi Jeevanji, Preethi Pal, Indian Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind, Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team.
  • BBC Changemakers 2025: Indian Women’s Ice Hockey Team, Rajbir Kaur, Savita Punia, Paani Devi.

Holi celebrated across India under different regional names

Key Updates:

  • Lathmar Holi is celebrated in Barsana and Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Phoolon Ki Holi is celebrated in Vrindavan by showering flowers instead of coloured powder.
  • Dol Jatra is celebrated in West Bengal and Odisha with idols of Krishna and Radha placed on decorated swings.
  • Hola Mohalla is a Sikh festival celebrated in Punjab emphasising martial traditions and community discipline.
  • Shigmo is celebrated in Goa marking the arrival of spring and the harvest season.
  • Yaoshang is a multi-day celebration in Manipur blending Holi traditions with local cultural practices.

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Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) organises month-long tribal cultural heritage events from 2 to 24 March 2026 (Start of March) ▼
  • 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.
Pongal 2026 observed on January 14, 2026 (Mid of January) ▼
  • Pongal is a four-day Hindu harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God that marks the beginning of Uttarayan, the sun’s journey northward.
  • Thai Pongal and Makar Sankranti both fall on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, with the Sankranti Moment occurring at 03:13 PM.
  • The festival includes four specific days: Bhogi Pandigai (Jan 13), Thai Pongal (Jan 14), Mattu Pongal (Jan 15), and Kaanum Pongal (Jan 16).
  • The traditional sweet dish Pongal dates back to the Chola dynasty, with recipes appearing in temple inscriptions from the Chola and Vijayanagara Empire periods.
  • The AIFF announced that the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season will be recognized by the AFC.
  • Nasa's crewed lunar mission, Artemis II, is scheduled for a February 6 liftoff.
Boda Tyohar festival of Hati tribe commenced on January 9 (Mid of January) ▼
  • Boda Tyohar, the biggest annual festival of the Hati tribe, commenced on the eve of Posh Dwadashi which was on January 9 this year.
  • The festival is also called Magho ko Tyohar and is celebrated by over three lakh community members living in 154 panchayats of Trans-Giri area of Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh.
  • The Government of India declared the Hati community as Scheduled Tribe after a constitutional amendment on August 4, 2023.
Shaheedi Week 2025 observed from 21 to 29 December (End of December) ▼
  • Shaheedi Week is observed every year in December to remember the great sacrifices (Shaheedi) made by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Mata Gujri Ji, and the four Sahibzade.
  • Shaheedi Week 2025 is observed from 21 to 29 December.
  • The week teaches lessons of bravery, faith, truth, and standing against injustice.