Daily Current Affairs: 8 March 2026

Analysis for 08 March 2026

Lt Gen Pushpendra Pal Singh to assume charge as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Western Command.

[Western Command (India)]

Key Updates:

Lt Gen Pushpendra Pal Singh will take over as GOC-in-C of Western Command at Chandimandir at month-end upon the retirement of Lt Gen M K Katiyar.
He is currently serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) since 31 July 2025.
He was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment on 19 December 1987.
He has participated in Operation Pawan (Sri Lanka), Operation Meghdoot (Siachen Glacier), Operation Rakshak (counter-insurgency) and Operation Orchid.
He commanded a Special Forces Unit in the Kashmir Valley and along the Line of Control, an Infantry Brigade, a Mountain Division along the Line of Actual Control, and 9 Corps at Yol, Himachal Pradesh.
He has served as Chief of Staff, Central Command and Director General, Operational Logistics & Strategic Movement at Army Headquarters.
He is an alumnus of La Martiniere College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

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B.P. Singh assumes charge as Director General of Naval Armament (DGONA). (Start of March) ▼

B.P. Singh took over as Director General of Naval Armament (DGONA) at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, on 1 March 2026.
He succeeded Divakar Jayant, who superannuated on 28 February 2026.
Singh is a 1994-batch officer of the Indian Naval Armament Service (INAS).
He previously served as Chief General Manager at Naval Armament Depot (NAD), Mumbai.
Singh is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of National Institute of Technology Patna and an alumnus of the National Defence College.

Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi reappointed as Drugs Controller (India) at Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) (Start of March) ▼

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his reappointment on a contractual basis for one year from 1 March 2026.
The proposal for re-employment was moved by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
He heads the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) which regulates drug quality, approves new drugs and oversees clinical trials.
Dr Raghuvanshi earlier served as secretary-cum-scientific director of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) from 16 February 2021.

Raj Kumar Goyal sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner of Central Information Commission (Mid of December) ▼

Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) in the Central Information Commission by President Droupadi Murmu.
He retired in August from the post of Secretary, Department of Justice in the Ministry of Law and Justice.
The appointment fills the vacancy left after previous CIC Heeralal Samariya demitted office in September.
A three-member committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recommended his name for the post of CIC.
Goyal was a 1990-batch officer of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre and later the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre.

Ravi Shankar Chhabi Appointed Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) (End of January) ▼

Ravi Shankar Chhabi was appointed as the DIG in the CRPF following an order issued on January 19, 2026.
He is a 2007-batch Regular Recruit (RR) officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS) belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
Prior to this appointment, he served as the DIG of Public Grievances at the Director General of Police (DGP) Headquarters in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
He performed duties as a Police Observer for the 1-Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency during the 2024 General Elections.
His previous assignments include serving as the DIG of Prison Administration and Reforms and as the Superintendent of Police (SP) for the Women Power Line 1090.

Depali Das receives Indian citizenship certificate under Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)

Key Updates:

Depali Das, a 60-year-old resident of Cachar district in Assam, received a certificate of naturalisation under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The citizenship was granted on the grounds that she entered India from Bangladesh in February 1988 due to religious persecution.
She had previously been declared a foreigner by a Foreigner’s Tribunal (FT) in February 2019 and spent over two years in a detention camp at Silchar Central Jail.
The naturalisation certificate was issued through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) CAA citizenship portal.
The proof of her Bangladeshi nationality was established using an official inquiry report prepared by a sub-inspector of the Assam Police.
The police report identified her original address as Parani Baniachung, Sylhet, in Bangladesh.

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Bhutan’s queen mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck received 22nd Upendra Nath Brahma ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award 2025. (Start of February) ▼

Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, queen mother of Bhutan and first wife of former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, was conferred the 22nd Upendra Nath Brahma ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award 2025 at Kokrajhar in Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region.
The award was presented on Tuesday at Jwhwlao Nileswar Brahma Auditorium, Bodoland University, Kokrajhar.
Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya stated the award recognises her exemplary humanitarian services and compassionate leadership in social welfare, cultural preservation and women empowerment.
The honour symbolises deep, historic and enduring India-Bhutan ties with Assam at the centre.
The ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award is dedicated to the ideals of Upendra Nath Brahma, social reformer and guardian of the Bodos, and is organised by the Upendra Nath Brahma Trust established in 1999.

Assam Government Launches Mission Basundhara 3.0 for Land Patta Distribution (Start of March) ▼

Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma launched Mission Basundhara 3.0 at Deuri Beel in Dhemaji to provide land titles to indigenous landless families.
A total of 1,06,905 beneficiaries across Assam received land pattas during the launch, with 44,700 individuals belonging to the Dhemaji district.
In Dhemaji, land titles were distributed to 14,319 beneficiaries from Dhemaji constituency, 10,744 from Sissiborgaon, and 19,637 from Jonai.
Land pattas were granted to 13,637 educational institutions, 8,406 religious institutions, and 2,213 clubs and cultural organisations across the state.
Land settlement was initiated in 769 previously un-surveyed (NC) villages where surveys were completed under the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) scheme.
Forest land rights were granted to 538 individuals in the Subansiri and Jiadhal Reserved Forests under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
The government fixed a nominal premium of ₹500 per bigha for granting land titles to poor families.
The CM inaugurated a newly constructed Integrated District Commissioner (DC) Office in Dhemaji, involving a financial outlay of ₹49 crore.
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is scheduled to formally launch the distribution of land pattas to tea garden workers on 13 March.
Urban land holding regulations in Dhemaji were revised to allow individuals to hold up to three bighas within the designated town area, up from the previous limit of one and a half kathas.
Land rights were granted to Ahom, Chutia, and other communities residing in Tribal Belts and Blocks in areas such as Dhemaji and Dhakuakhana.
Mission Basundhara 4.0 and 5.0 will address land reclassification and the granting of land titles to eligible non-tribal residents of forest villages.
The state government has cleared 1.5 lakh bighas of encroached land over the past five years and aims to free another 5 lakh bighas in the future.

Kerala Cabinet approves Kerala Nativity Card Bill to certify state residency (End of February) ▼

The Kerala Cabinet approved the Kerala Nativity Card Bill to issue a formal card as an authorised document to certify a person as a Keralite.
A native is defined as a person born in Kerala or whose parent or ancestor was born in Kerala, provided they have not acquired foreign citizenship.
Persons born outside Kerala due to employment or livelihood-related reasons of their parents are also treated as natives if they do not hold foreign citizenship.
Tahsildars will issue the card, and the Village Office will maintain a nativity card register to track the issued documents.
The District Collector is empowered to review, modify, or cancel orders passed by the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) regarding card applications.
The Cabinet decided to establish new fire stations at Mavoor, Neriamangalam, Cheemeni, and Rajakkad, creating 18 posts for the Mavoor station.
Specific posts sanctioned for the new stations include Assistant Station Officers (ASTO), Senior Fire and Rescue Officers, and Fire and Rescue Officers (Driver).
The Cabinet approved the creation of 20 Police Constable Driver posts and two Assistant Professor posts in the Department of Forensic Science at Calicut University.
The Forest Department will supply up to 5,000 metric tonnes of bamboo free of cost annually to the Kerala State Bamboo Corporation from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2030.

10th Battalion of Assam Police Headquarters: 124-Bigha Modern Campus in Kamrup (End of February) ▼

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the 10th Battalion of Assam Police headquarters in Kamrup, Assam, on 21 February 2026.
The new headquarters will be constructed on a 124-bigha campus featuring barracks for 750 male and 450 female personnel, a hospital, and a training centre.
The infrastructure project includes a firing range, a modern surveillance centre, and a large sports complex for the 10th Battalion of Assam Police.
A proposed ₹27,000 crore semiconductor plant is being established in the state to promote industrial development in the North-East.
The state government has provided land rights to 2.5 lakh landless indigenous people and reclaimed approximately 1.45 lakh bighas of land from encroachment.
The Election Commission (EC) is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to identify and remove the names of illegal entrants.
The Home Minister cited the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) (IMDT) Act of 1983 as a previous legislative challenge to addressing infiltration.

KV Subramanian receives Alumni Award for Professional Achievement from University of Chicago

[University of Chicago]

Key Updates:

The University of Chicago has honoured Professor Krishnamurthy V. Subramanian with the Alumni Award for Professional Achievement, making him the first Indian economist to receive the distinction in the award's 85-year history.
Subramanian served as the 17th Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India from 2018 to 2021 and as an Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The university citation credited his Economic Surveys of India as landmark documents providing the intellectual foundation for India's self-reliance and noted his articulation of a V-shaped economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With this honour, he has now received distinguished alumnus awards from all three of his alma maters: the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, and the University of Chicago.
He currently serves as a Professor of Finance at the Indian School of Business (ISB) and is the author of the book India@100.
The award, established in 1941, has previously been conferred upon 14 Nobel laureates and global thought leaders including Paul Samuelson, Gary Becker, Claudia Goldin, Carl Sagan, and Philip Kotler.

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Shashi Tharoor received honorary Doctor of Letters from St Xavier's University. (End of February) ▼

Shashi Tharoor was conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters by St Xavier's University at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre.
This was Tharoor's first honorary doctorate in India.
Tharoor had earlier served as a convocation speaker at the university.
He highlighted the role of women in academics and urged students to embrace civic responsibility.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation invites nominations for Sukhatme National Award in Statistics 2026 (Mid of January) ▼

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has invited online nominations for the Sukhatme National Award in Statistics 2026 through the National Awards Portal.
The award recognises Indian statisticians aged 45 years and above for lifetime contributions to official statistics.
Nominations must be submitted by January 31 2026 and the award will be presented on Statistics Day June 29 2026.

Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya won Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025. (End of January) ▼

Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya, former staff member of World Health Organisation (WHO), won the Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025.
He is the first and only Indian so far to win this prize, which received over 2,000 nominations.
He won in the category of 'Impact Beyond Academia' prize this year.
He was recognised among five researchers from around the world for outstanding research contributions and research for policy impact.
Dr. Lahariya is a health policy researcher, academician, and medical practitioner.
He has done primary research in the area of vaccination, conditional cash transfers for mother and child health services, and on primary healthcare.

Arkin Gupta featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 list for financial innovation (Start of December) ▼

Arkin Gupta was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his contributions to financial innovation and early-stage investment strategies.
Forbes highlighted his pioneering work in developing data-driven investment frameworks and his leadership in creating scalable financial products.
Gupta stated that this recognition reinforces the importance of democratizing access to smarter financial tools.

Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari Appointed Chief Justice of Madras High Court

Key Updates:

The President of India appointed Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court following the recommendation of the Supreme Court (SC) Collegium.
The SC Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, recommended the appointment in a meeting held on 26 February.
Justice Dharmadhikari succeeds Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, who retired from the position on 5 March.
He is currently serving as a judge of the Kerala High Court, having been transferred there from his parent Madhya Pradesh High Court in April 2025.
The transfer to the Kerala High Court was approved by the President under Article 222 of the Constitution of India.
Justice Dharmadhikari was first appointed as an additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in April 2016 and took oath as a permanent judge on 17 March 2018.
Born on 9 July 1966 at Raipur, he practised law in civil, criminal, and constitutional branches for 24 years in the Madhya Pradesh High Court before his elevation to the bench.

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Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta appointed as Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court (Start of January) ▼

Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, senior-most judge of the Allahabad High Court, was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court.
He succeeds Justice Guhanathan Narendar, who retired on January 9, 2026.
He took oath as Chief Justice on January 10, 2026.

A Muhamed Mustaque sworn in as Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court (Start of January) ▼

A Muhamed Mustaque was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court.
Governor Om Prakash Mathur administered the oath of office at Lok Bhawan.
He previously served as Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.
He succeeds Biswanath Somadder following the latter’s retirement.

Anil Kaushik, Davinder Pal Singh, Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar appointed as Additional Solicitors General for India (End of December) ▼

Anil Kaushik, Davinder Pal Singh, and Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar have been appointed as Additional Solicitors General for India (ASGIs) to represent the Union government before the Supreme Court.
Their tenure as ASGIs is for three years.
They will assist the Solicitor General in handling constitutional, statutory, and policy-related matters before the apex court.

Justice Revati Mohite Dere Sworn In as First Woman Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court (Mid of January) ▼

Justice Revati Mohite Dere was sworn in as the first woman Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court.
She succeeded Chief Justice Soumen Sen, who was transferred to the Kerala High Court.
Governor Chandrashekhar H Vijayashankar administered the oath of office at the Durbar Hall of Lok Bhavan in Shillong.
Prior to her appointment, Justice Dere served as a judge at the Bombay High Court.
The Supreme Court (SC) collegium recommended her appointment on December 18.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to purchase ₹1 lakh crore bonds via two OMO auctions.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will conduct two open market operation (OMO) purchase auctions of ₹50,000 crore each on March 9 and March 13.
The OMO purchases aim to infuse liquidity into the banking system ahead of mid-March advance tax outflows of approximately ₹2 lakh crore.
Banking system liquidity averaged a daily surplus of ₹2.63 lakh crore in March, up from ₹2.53 lakh crore in February.
The RBI purchased ₹12,715 crore of bonds on-screen in February and likely bought additional bonds in the first week of March.
State Bank of India (SBI) saw its liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) fall to 125% in Q3 from 144% in Q2 due to strong credit growth outpacing deposit accretion.
Vedanta Ltd plans to raise about ₹3,000 crore through domestic three-year and five-year non-convertible debentures offering coupons around 8.75% and 9% respectively next week.
Bank of Baroda raised ₹10,000 crore via green infrastructure bonds.

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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.

NITI Aayog releases Report on Deepening the Corporate Bond Market in India (Mid of December) ▼

NITI Aayog CEO Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam released the report titled “Deepening the Corporate Bond Market in India” on 11th December 2025 in New Delhi.
The report outlines a reform-oriented roadmap to build a deeper, more resilient, and inclusive bond market capable of supporting India’s long-term investment requirements.
India’s corporate bond market remains constrained by limited market depth, concentrated investor profiles, and modest secondary-market activity.
The report recommends strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks, enhancing market infrastructure and transparency, and facilitating greater issuance by mid-size firms.
It proposes broadening participation of insurance, pension and retail investors and expanding product offerings such as credit-enhanced instruments, long-tenor bonds, and sustainability-linked products.
The study advocates improving liquidity in primary and secondary markets through deeper market-making and repo facilities and leveraging digital innovations including tokenised bonds and integrated data systems.

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) raises banks’ M&A financing limit to 20% of tier-1 capital. (Mid of February) ▼

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allows banks to finance acquisitions up to 20% of their tier-1 capital, doubling the earlier draft cap of 10%.
Aggregate capital market exposure (CME) of a bank must not exceed 40% of its eligible capital base on both solo and consolidated basis.
Direct capital market exposure, comprising investment exposures, capped at 20% of eligible capital base on solo and consolidated basis.
Banks can fund up to 75% of the acquisition value for both listed and unlisted entities.
Debt-equity ratio of 3:1 required for the acquiring company together with the target on a consolidated basis.
Acquisition must result in acquirer gaining control of the target through a single transaction or interconnected transactions completed within 12 months.
Loan-to-value ratios set at 75% for mutual funds, 60% for loans against shares and NCDs, and 85% for debt mutual funds.
Banks permitted to lend against government securities, sovereign gold bonds, loan against shares, NCDs, mutual funds, ETF units and InvITs.

Hurun Research Institute ranks India third globally with 308 billionaires in 2026.

Key Updates:

India’s billionaire count rose to 308, an increase of 24 from the previous year, according to the Hurun Global Rich List 2026.
Indian billionaires added 57 new entrants and saw 27 drop out during the year.
Total wealth of Indian billionaires grew 10% year-on-year to ₹112.6 trillion.
Mukesh Ambani retained his position as India and Asia’s richest person with a net worth of ₹9.8 trillion, up 9%.
Gautam Adani remained the second richest Indian despite a 14% decline in wealth to ₹7.5 trillion.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, chairperson of HCL Technologies, was third with wealth of ₹3.2 trillion and the only woman among India’s top 10 richest.
Healthcare sector produced 53 new billionaires, industrial products 36, and consumer goods 31.
Energy sector, with eight billionaires, accounted for ₹18.3 trillion or about 16% of India’s cumulative billionaire wealth.
Cyrus S Poonawalla of Serum Institute of India added nearly ₹0.91 trillion, the largest absolute gain.
Mumbai hosts 95 billionaires, adding 15 new entrants, but lost its status as Asia’s billionaire capital to Shenzhen which has 133.
India’s youngest billionaire is Ritesh Agarwal, founder of Oyo, aged 32 with net worth of ₹14,440 crore.
23 Indian women billionaires collectively hold wealth of ₹9.8 trillion.

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Ambani Family emerged as the lone Indian entrant on Bloomberg’s 2025 list of world’s richest families (Mid of December) ▼

The Ambani family emerged as the only Indian representative on Bloomberg’s 2025 ranking of the world’s 25 wealthiest families, with an estimated net worth of $105.6 billion.
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, oversaw the conglomerate with interests in energy, petrochemicals, telecom, digital platforms, and sustainability-linked businesses.
Dhirubhai Ambani founded Reliance in the 1950s, building it into one of the largest corporate groups in India.
The Walton family of the United States (US), owners of Walmart, topped the list with a combined net worth of $513.4 billion and a network of more than 10,750 stores worldwide.
The Al Nahyan family of Abu Dhabi, the ruling family of the emirate that controls most of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) oil reserves, ranked second with an estimated net worth of $335.9 billion.
The wealth of the Al Nahyan family grew under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with investments spanning artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies.
Sheikh Tahnoon oversaw assets reportedly worth $1.5 trillion for the Al Nahyan family.
The Al Saud family of Saudi Arabia followed with an estimated fortune of $213.6 billion, largely tied to Saudi Aramco.
A significant share of the Al Saud family's wealth was concentrated among senior royals, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The Al Thani family of Qatar, with a net worth of $199.5 billion, offered a luxury Boeing 747 to the Trump administration for temporary use as Air Force One.
The Hermes family of Europe ranked among the top global dynasties with a net worth of $184.5 billion, retaining control of the luxury house known for the Birkin handbag.
The Koch family of the US was estimated to be worth $150.5 billion through its ownership of Koch Industries, which operates in sectors ranging from chemicals and oil refining to paper and ranching.
The Mars family, owners of Mars Inc., had a net worth of $143.4 billion and expanded through the 2025 purchase of snack maker Kellanova.
The Wertheimer family, owners of luxury fashion house Chanel, possessed a wealth of $85.6 billion, buoyed by continued demand for high-end goods.
The Thomson family of Canada, which controls Thomson Reuters, was worth $82.1 billion, with an empire dating back to the 1930s when Roy Thomson acquired his first radio station.

Government projects India to become 3rd-largest economy with $7.3 trillion GDP by 2030 (End of December) ▼

India’s real GDP grew 8.2 per cent in Q2 FY2025-26, up from 7.8 per cent in the previous quarter and 7.4 per cent in Q4 of 2024-25.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY 2025-26 upwards to 7.3 per cent from the earlier estimate of 6.8 per cent.
With GDP valued at $4.18 trillion, India has surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy.
India is poised to displace Germany from the third rank in the next 2.5 to 3 years with a projected GDP of $7.3 trillion by 2030.

Forbes Real-Time Billionaire List records 3,028 billionaires with combined net worth of $16.1 trillion. (Mid of December) ▼

Elon Musk leads the list with a net worth of $480.5 billion and is on track to become the first trillionaire.
Larry Page ranks second with a net worth of $262.2 billion, surpassing Larry Ellison.
Sergey Brin is fourth with a net worth of $243.1 billion, pushing Jeff Bezos to fifth place.
Nine of the top 10 billionaires are Americans, with Bernard Arnault of France being the sole exception.
Mukesh Ambani is India’s richest person with a net worth of $114 billion, ranking 16th globally.

State Bank of India (SBI) Forecasts India's Transition to Upper-Middle-Income Status by 2030 (Mid of January) ▼

State Bank of India (SBI) projects India to reach a per capita income of $4,000 by 2030, transitioning the nation into the upper-middle-income category alongside China and Indonesia.
India moved from a low-income to a lower-middle-income economy in 2007, with per capita gross national income (GNI) rising from $90 in 1962 to $910 in 2007.
The Indian economy reached $1 trillion six decades after independence, $2 trillion by 2014, $3 trillion by 2021, and is projected to reach $4 trillion by 2025.
The economy is expected to cross the $5 trillion threshold in approximately two years.
India’s per capita income reached $1,000 in 2009, doubled to $2,000 in 2019, and is projected to touch $3,000 by 2026.
India’s percentile rank in the cross-country distribution of average real GDP growth has risen from the 92nd percentile to the 95th percentile.
To reach the current high-income threshold of $13,936 by 2047, India’s per capita GNI must grow at a compound annual rate (CAGR) of 7.5%.
If the high-income threshold increases to $18,000 by 2047, the required annual growth rate for per capita GNI would rise to 8.9%.
Achieving the Viksit Bharat 2047 targets would imply a nominal GDP growth in dollar terms of approximately 11.5% over the next two decades.
The number of high-income countries globally has more than doubled to 87 in 2024, while low-income countries have decreased to 26.

SBI General Insurance appoints Pankaj Tripathi as brand ambassador to promote financial fitness.

[SBI General Insurance]

Key Updates:

SBI General Insurance has appointed actor Pankaj Tripathi as its brand ambassador.
The company launched the campaign ‘Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa’ to build trust through consistent care.
A new health insurance film features Tripathi as a quiet, dependable family presence.
The campaign aims to make healthcare in India more accessible through product innovation and transparent claim settlements.
The integrated campaign will be amplified across Print, TV, OOH, OTT and social media platforms.

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Bharti AXA Life Insurance partners with Equitas Small Finance Bank to distribute life insurance products across 1,042 outlets. (Start of February) ▼

Bharti AXA Life Insurance has entered into a bancassurance partnership with Equitas Small Finance Bank.
The partnership will offer protection, savings, and retirement plans to Equitas Small Finance Bank customers.
The collaboration targets deeper life insurance penetration in semi-urban and rural markets.
Equitas Small Finance Bank operates 1,042 banking outlets across 18 states and Union Territories.

SBI Life Insurance launches SBI Life - Smart Platina Advantage guaranteed savings plan. (Mid of January) ▼

SBI Life - Smart Platina Advantage is an individual, non-linked, non-participating life insurance savings product offering long-term guaranteed benefits and life insurance protection throughout the policy term.
The product provides assured guaranteed additions every policy year and allows premium payment for a limited period while maintaining life cover for the entire policy term.
Tax benefits are available as per applicable provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Policyholders can opt to receive maturity proceeds in instalments, providing post-maturity liquidity and financial flexibility.

Sarvam partners with SBI Life Insurance to deploy Artificial Intelligence tools (Start of March) ▼

Artificial Intelligence (AI) startup Sarvam partnered with SBI Life Insurance (SBI Life) to build applications for customer engagement and sales.
The AI deployment is expected to reach more than 8 crore customers and support over 3,50,000 distributors nationwide.
The system is built on Sarvam’s conversational AI platform Samvaad and its multi-agent orchestration platform Arya.
Sarvam launched two flagship language models, Sarvam-30B and Sarvam-105B, during the India AI Impact Summit.
AI startup Gnani.ai partnered with Razorpay to launch an agentic AI platform for payment collections during live customer calls.
Gnani.ai introduced a voice model that supports 12 Indian languages and is designed to operate under low-bandwidth conditions.

PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife) Launches DigiProtect Term Plan for Salaried Individuals (End of December) ▼

PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife) launched the PNB MetLife DigiProtect Term Plan (UIN-117N141V01) in collaboration with Policybazaar.
The product is an individual non-linked, non-participating, pure term insurance plan designed specifically for salaried individuals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
The plan offers an exclusive first-year discount of up to 21% on the first premium to lower entry costs for policyholders.
India faces a 91% life protection gap, which indicates that only ₹9 is covered for every ₹100 required to financially secure families.
Policybazaar holds a market share of over 93% in the digital insurance aggregator space and recorded an annual premium collection exceeding ₹15,000 crore in FY24.
Policybazaar has issued over 44.3 million policies and caters to more than 80.5 million registered users.
PNB MetLife operates through 178 branches and provides access to customers in over 20,000 locations through bank partnerships and a network of 36,000 financial advisors.
The company currently caters to over 585 group relationships in India and offers a portfolio covering child education, family protection, and retirement.

Yes Bank launches YES Essence Women's Salary Account ahead of International Women's Day.

[Yes Bank]

Key Updates:

Yes Bank unveiled YES Essence Women's Salary Account, an exclusive salary account for working women.
Account offers complimentary locker facility for the first year.
Provides complimentary top-up health cover of ₹5 lakh for one year.
Includes annual preventive health check-up once a year.
Account holders receive complimentary Elegance Debit Card with 5% cashback up to ₹6,000 annually on select categories.
Yes Bank detected unauthorised transactions worth USD 280,000 (₹2.5 crore) on its Multi-Currency Prepaid Forex Card issued in partnership with BookMyForex.
Fraudulent transactions were attempted on specific BIN numbers at 15 merchants based in a Latin American country on 24 February 2026.
Bank's monitoring systems declined 688 unauthorised transaction attempts, safeguarding approximately USD 100,000.

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Vinay Muralidhar Tonse Appointed as MD & CEO of YES Bank (Start of February) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of YES Bank.
The appointment is for a tenure of three years, effective from the date he assumes charge.
The appointment is subject to the approval of the shareholders of the bank.
Tonse will succeed Prashant Kumar, whose current extended tenure as the MD & CEO is scheduled to end on April 5, 2026.
Tonse previously served as the Managing Director (Retail Business & Operations) at the State Bank of India (SBI) until November 30, 2025.
The bank confirmed that Tonse is not debarred from holding the office of a director by any order of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) or any other authority.

Composite Salary Account for Central Govt Staff Unveiled; Integrates Banking, Card & Insurance Benefits (Mid of January) ▼

The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, has launched a composite salary account package for central government employees.
The scheme integrates banking facilities, insurance coverage, and card services under a single account.
Banking features include zero-balance salary accounts, free fund transfers via RTGS, NEFT, and UPI, concessional loan rates, and waivers on locker rentals.
Insurance coverage comprises personal accident insurance up to ₹1.50 crore, air accident insurance up to ₹2 crore, and term life insurance up to ₹20 lakh with top-up options.
Card-related benefits include airport lounge access, rewards and cashback programmes, unlimited transactions, and no maintenance charges.

Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana: ₹61,000 deposited from birth to graduation, maturing to ~₹1.25 lakh. (Start of March) ▼

Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana will deposit ₹61,000 in stages from birth until graduation, maturing to around ₹1.25 lakh with interest.
Budget provision of ₹128 crore has been made for the Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana.
Girls living in child care institutions are also covered under the Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana.
Saheli Pink Smart Card issued free to eligible women for travel on DTC buses and other public transport systems.
Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) authorised Hindon Mercantile Limited (MufinPay) and Airtel Payments Bank to issue the Saheli Pink Smart Card.
Free LPG cylinders on Holi and Diwali provided through DBT to eligible ration card holders in Delhi.
Around ₹130 crore transferred directly to beneficiaries’ accounts under the free LPG cylinder initiative.
Over ₹100 crore transferred through DBT to 40,642 beneficiaries under the Delhi Ladli scheme on 3 March 2026.
Around ₹90 crore transferred to nearly 30,000 girls in the first phase of the ‘Meri Punji, Mera Adhikar’ special drive.

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and YES Bank forge strategic bancassurance partnership (Start of December) ▼

LIC and YES Bank have entered into a strategic bancassurance partnership enabling YES Bank customers to access LIC’s comprehensive range of life insurance products through the Bank’s extensive branch network and digital platforms.
YES Bank is recognised as the Preferred Banker to Digital India with best-in-class technology infrastructure, a robust API stack, and a leadership position in digital payments.
The partnership was announced in the presence of R. Doraiswamy, CEO & MD, LIC of India, and Prashant Kumar, MD & CEO, YES Bank.
Through this collaboration, YES Bank customers will be able to avail LIC’s diverse portfolio products including term plans, endowment policies, pension, and unit-linked insurance plans.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) directs BARC to withhold TRP reporting for news channels.

[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) (India)]

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) ordered the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to immediately stop reporting Television Rating Points (TRPs) for news channels for four weeks or until further orders.
The directive invoked Clause 24.2 of the policy guidelines which mandates compliance with Ministry orders.
The order cited unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content on the Israel-Iran conflict by certain TV news channels that may create public panic.
BARC, established in 2010, is the sole body authorised to measure and publish television audience data in India.
A similar suspension of TRP ratings for news channels was imposed in 2020 over data manipulation allegations.

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Centre delicensed 5925-6425 MHz of 6 GHz band for indoor Wi-Fi (End of January) ▼

The Centre delicensed the lower portion (5925-6425 MHz) of 6 GHz spectrum band for enabling indoor Wi-Fi use.
The government notified the “Low Power and Very Low Power Wireless Access Rules, 2026.”
The framework exempts license if users follow the mandatory technical rules and mandates users to share the frequency.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had proposed delicensing 500 MHz in the 6 GHz band (5925-6425 MHz) for unlicensed indoor Wi-Fi usage in May 2025.
The development will enable original equipment makers (OEMs) to unveil a new range of Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 compatible routers and devices.

India reaffirms 2019 e-cigarette ban rejecting Philip Morris lobbying (Mid of February) ▼

India banned e-cigarettes including heat-not-burn devices in 2019 and will not revoke, amend or relax the ban.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated the law explicitly prohibits heat-not-burn products and the situation will stay.
Philip Morris International lobbied Indian officials and a parliamentary panel from 2021 to 2025 to exempt its IQOS heated tobacco device from the ban.
India is the seventh-largest cigarette market by volume with over 100 billion cigarettes sold annually and tobacco kills more than a million people each year in the country.
Philip Morris holds 76% of the global heated tobacco market and IQOS has more than 35 million users across 79 markets.
The Indian Council of Medical Research told Reuters it is not considering or undertaking any research on heated tobacco products.

CCPA imposes ₹11 lakh penalty on Vision IAS for misleading UPSC result advertisements (End of December) ▼

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹11 lakh penalty on Vision IAS for publishing misleading advertisements related to results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022 and 2023.
The CCPA found that Vision IAS claimed "7 in Top 10 & 79 in Top 100 selections in CSE 2023" and "39 in Top 50 selections in CSE 2022" without clearly disclosing the nature and extent of courses actually availed by the candidates.
Out of the 119 plus selections claimed across the two years, only three candidates had enrolled in full foundation courses; the remaining 116 had opted for short-term or standalone programmes.
The Authority noted that Vision IAS continued to display the impugned advertisements on its website even after receiving a show-cause notice and failed to furnish enrolment forms or consent documents authorising the use of candidates’ names and images.
The CCPA has directed the institute to discontinue misleading advertisements, ensure truthful and complete disclosures going forward, and submit a compliance report within 15 days.

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.

Maharashtra Budget 2026-27: Crop loan waiver up to ₹2 lakh and Ladki Bahin Yojana to continue

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the state Budget 2026-27, becoming the first CM to do so.
Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojna will waive crop loans up to ₹2 lakh for farmers with arrears up to September 2025.
Farmers who are regular in loan repayments will receive a ₹50,000 incentive under the scheme.
Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana for women will continue with adequate government funding.
The budget aims to make Maharashtra a $5 trillion economy by 2047.
A memorial will be built for late NCP leader and former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who died in an air crash near Baramati in January.
Concrete roads will be provided in villages with a population of over 1,000.

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Government of Maharashtra Projects 7.9 Per Cent Economic Growth for 2025-26 (Start of March) ▼

Maharashtra's economy is expected to grow at 7.9 per cent in 2025-26, outpacing the projected national growth rate of 7.4 per cent.
The nominal Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2025-26 is estimated at ₹51 lakh crore, while the real GSDP is projected at ₹28.82 lakh crore.
The services sector, which accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the total Gross State Value Added (GSVA), is expected to grow by 9 per cent in 2025-26.
Growth projections for other sectors in 2025-26 include 5.7 per cent for industry and 3.4 per cent for agriculture and allied activities.
Maharashtra accounted for the highest share of 14 per cent in India's nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2024-25.
The per capita income in the state for 2025-26 is estimated at ₹3,47,903, significantly higher than the national per capita income of ₹2,19,575.
Maharashtra ranks third in meat production with an 11.6 per cent share, fifth in milk production with a 6.7 per cent share, and seventh in egg production with a 5.5 per cent share in India.
During the kharif season of 2025-26, production of sugarcane is expected to increase by 22 per cent, cereals by 10.6 per cent, and cotton by 7 per cent.
The state remained the top destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows between October 2019 and March 2025, securing a 31 per cent share.
Maharashtra holds the highest share among all states in bank deposits at 22.7 per cent and gross credit at 27.8 per cent.
The state's revenue receipts for 2025-26 are estimated at ₹5,60,964 crore, while revenue expenditure is projected at ₹6,06,855 crore.
The unemployment rate in Maharashtra declined to 3.3 per cent in 2023-24, while the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) rose to 59 per cent.

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.

VB-G RAM G Scheme Launched with ₹95,692.31 Crore Outlay in Budget 2026 (Start of February) ▼

The Centre has allocated ₹95,692.31 crore for the rollout of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Aajeevika Mission (Grameen) (VB-G RAM G).
The VB-G RAM G scheme promises 125 days of work in a year and is set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
An allocation of ₹30,000 crore has been made for MGNREGA, which will continue until the new scheme is implemented and pending works are completed.
The total expenditure for VB-G RAM G is expected to reach ₹1,51,000 crore when including contributions earmarked by state governments.
The Department of Rural Development has received a total allocation of ₹1,94,368.81 crore, marking an increase of approximately 3.5 per cent compared to the previous year.
The Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) has been earmarked ₹54,916.70 crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has been allocated ₹19,000 crore, while the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) received ₹19,200 crore.
Based on the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission, panchayats will receive an additional ₹55,990 crore.
The Department of Land Resources has been allocated ₹2,654.33 crore for the 2026-27 period.

Union Budget 2026-27: New Initiatives for Livestock, Fisheries, and High-Value Agriculture (Start of February) ▼

Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman announced a loan-linked capital subsidy scheme to increase the availability of veterinary professionals by more than 20,000.
The veterinary scheme will support the establishment of private colleges, veterinary hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and breeding facilities.
The government will undertake the integrated development of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars to strengthen the fisheries value chain.
Fisheries development will be enabled through market linkages involving startups, women-led groups, and Fish Farmers Producer Organisations (FFPOs).
A credit-linked subsidy programme will be launched for animal husbandry entrepreneurship development and the modernisation of livestock enterprises.
The Coconut Promotion Scheme aims to replace old and non-productive trees with new varieties in major coconut-growing states.
A dedicated programme for Indian cashew and cocoa aims to achieve self-reliance and transform them into premium global brands by 2030.
The government will partner with states to promote sandalwood cultivation and post-harvest processing to restore the Indian sandalwood ecosystem.
A dedicated programme for hilly regions will support the rejuvenation of old orchards and high-density cultivation of walnuts, almonds, and pine nuts.

SWAYATT Initiative Completes Seven Years of Promoting Inclusive Public Procurement

Key Updates:

Government e-Marketplace (GeM) celebrated the seven-year anniversary of its flagship initiative, SWAYATT (Startups, Women and Youth Advantage through e-Transactions).
Launched on 19 February 2019, the initiative aims to democratise public procurement for startups, women entrepreneurs, youth, Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), and Self Help Groups (SHGs).
The initiative focuses on addressing three critical challenges for emerging enterprises: access to markets, access to finance, and access to value addition.
Cumulative order values for women entrepreneurs on GeM rose from ₹1,265.62 crore in FY 2018–19 to ₹83,323 crore by FY 2025–26.
Order volumes for women-led enterprises increased from 1,01,530 to 44,48,894 over the seven-year period.
Startup participation saw cumulative order values increase from ₹497.24 crore in FY 2018–19 to ₹54,005.8 crore by FY 2025–26.
Order volumes for startups expanded from 17,434 to 5,30,578 during the same period.
GeM has established dedicated storefronts, including Startup Runway and Womaniya, to enhance the discoverability of these sellers among government buyers.

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RailTech Policy and e-RCT System launched to boost innovation and digitise claims (End of February) ▼

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the RailTech Policy and complete digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) as Reform Number Three and Four under Indian Railways' '52 Reforms in 52 Weeks' initiative.
The RailTech Policy introduces a dedicated 'Rail Tech Portal' for single-stage detailed submission of innovation proposals and increases the scale-up grant more than three times while doubling the maximum grant for prototype development and trials.
Key innovation areas under the RailTech Policy include AI-based Elephant Intrusion Detection System (EIDS), AI-based fire detection in coaches, drone-based broken rail detection, rail stress monitoring, sensor-based load calculation on parcel vans, solar panels on coaches, AI-based coach cleaning monitoring, obstruction detection in fog, and AI-based pension and dispute resolution systems.
The policy funds up to 50 per cent of development costs for viable technological solutions and places substantial long-term orders upon successful trials.
The e-RCT System will digitise all 23 RCT benches across 21 cities within 12 months, enabling e-filing, a centralised Case Information System (CIS), and a Document Management System (DMS) for paperless court functioning.

GeM–WTC Mumbai MoU to Boost MSME Inclusion in Public Procurement (End of January) ▼

GeM and MVIRDC World Trade Centre Mumbai signed an MoU to foster domestic and international collaboration in public procurement.
The MoU aims to enhance GeM’s global positioning, promote knowledge exchange, and drive inclusive participation for MSMEs, startups, women entrepreneurs, and underrepresented suppliers.
Joint initiatives include global procurement dialogues, capacity-building programs, supplier outreach, and research on AI in procurement, sustainability, and green practices.
A Joint Working Group will oversee implementation, ensuring alignment with Government of India policies on public procurement, data security, and inclusivity.

Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) System: Strengthening Consumer Trust and India's Quality Ecosystem (Start of January) ▼

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MoCA) through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has expanded Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID)-based gold and silver hallmarking, with more than 20 lakh silver articles already hallmarked.
India's standards regime has achieved significant global alignment, with about 94% of Indian Standards harmonised with ISO and IEC to help products gain wider acceptance in international markets.
BIS standards now cover renewable energy, electric mobility, energy storage and electric agricultural tractors, reflecting India's transition towards clean energy and sustainable growth.
The MoCA is focusing on modernising laboratories, expanding digital platforms, and empowering women through initiatives such as Manak Mitra.
The implementation of hallmarking has brought a significant change in the bullion market, protecting consumers in rural areas from the sale of substandard gold.

Womaniya Initiative: Empowering Over 2 Lakh Women-Led MSEs in Public Procurement (Mid of January) ▼

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) celebrated seven years of its Womaniya initiative, a program aimed at bolstering the participation of women-led Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in public procurement.
According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI), over two lakh women-led MSEs are registered on the GeM portal.
Since its launch on January 14, 2019, these enterprises have secured public procurement orders over Rs 80,000 crore, accounting for 4.7% of the total order value on GeM.
The initiative provides a transparent, digital interface, reducing entry hurdles and eliminating intermediaries to foster gender-inclusive economic growth.
A new partnership with the Women's Collective Forum aims to enhance support for women entrepreneurs and improve market access.

Sulphuric Acid Plant–3 (SAP–III) inaugurated at IFFCO Paradeep unit in Odisha

[Odisha, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) (India)]

Key Updates:

Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah dedicated the newly commissioned Sulphuric Acid Plant–3 (SAP–III) at the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) unit in Paradeep, Odisha.
The new plant has been established at an estimated cost of around ₹700 crore and has a production capacity of about 2,000 metric tonnes per day.
IFFCO bought the Paradeep plant in 2005 for ₹2,577 crore and its production capacity has increased from 7.5 lakh metric tonnes to about 22 lakh metric tonnes.
IFFCO benefits nearly five crore farmers across the country and has a turnover of over ₹41,000 crore, profit exceeding ₹3,800 crore, and net worth of more than ₹28,000 crore.

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NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) and Assago Industries sign MoU for India’s first large-scale green urea ecosystem at Pudimadaka hub (Start of February) ▼

NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) and Assago Industries Pvt. Ltd. signed an MoU to develop India’s first large-scale green urea production ecosystem at the upcoming Green Hydrogen Hub in Pudimadaka.
NGEL will supply green ammonia, captured CO₂, renewable power and utilities to Assago for producing green urea using clean feedstock.
The Pudimadaka Green Hydrogen Hub is planned with a capacity of 2.5 million tonnes per annum of green chemicals, including green methanol, green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuel and green urea.
India consumes about 35–40 million tonnes of urea annually and imports 8–10 million tonnes each year.
The collaboration targets import substitution and low-carbon fertiliser production to support the Atmanirbhar Bharat objective.

Gas Leak at Bhageria Chemicals in Palghar, Maharashtra (Start of March) ▼

Oleum (fuming sulphuric acid) gas leaked from Bhageria Industries Ltd unit in Boisar MIDC, Palghar, Maharashtra, around 2 pm.
Over 2,600 people, including 1,600 students from Tarapur Vidyamandir and more than 1,000 workers, were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
The gas leak affected areas within a five-kilometre radius due to wind velocity.
Three persons reported minor eye irritation and are receiving medical treatment.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and Fire Brigade teams used self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and deployed sandbags to suppress fumes.
Palghar District Collector Dr Indu Rani Jakhar stated the leakage occurred from a 2,500-litre capacity oleum day tank.

Union Minister J P Nadda allocates ₹13,000 crore for Bio-Pharma SHAKTI Mission and three Chemical Parks. (Start of March) ▼

Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Shri J P Nadda announced a Budgetary provision of ₹13,000 crore for the Bio-Pharma SHAKTI Mission and three dedicated Chemical Parks.
₹10,000 crore of the allocation is earmarked for the Bio-Pharma SHAKTI Mission over the next five years.
The global pharmaceutical market is expected to have 40% biologics by 2035, with patents worth $300 billion expiring by 2030.
Securing a 1% share of the global biosimilars market could create an annual opportunity of ₹2 lakh crore for India.
Plans include developing 1,000 clinical trial sites across the country to expand research and innovation capacity.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) will be strengthened to ensure faster regulatory approvals.
India’s chemical industry currently generates output worth ₹19.4 lakh crore and holds a 3% global share.
₹3,300 crore is allocated for developing three world-class chemical parks aimed at reducing costs by 20–40% through industrial symbiosis.
The roadmap targets raising India’s global chemical sector share to 5–6% by 2030 and achieving a $1 trillion turnover by 2040.

Namrup-IV Ammonia-Urea Project: Rs 10,000 crore fertiliser plant to produce 12 lakh metric tonnes of urea annually (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Namrup-IV Ammonia-Urea project at the existing Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited complex.
The brownfield fertiliser project involves an estimated investment of Rs 10,000 crore.
The Namrup-IV plant will produce 12 lakh metric tonnes of urea annually, meeting domestic demand and enabling exports.

Maharashtra Government inks MoU with Finnish firms to modernise Sassoon Dock

[Maharashtra, Finland]

Key Updates:

Maharashtra Government signed an MoU on 7 March 2026 with three Finnish companies—Helvar, Mirasis, and River Recycle—to modernise Sassoon Dock.
The agreement was signed by the Maharashtra Fisheries Development Corporation with the Finnish firms at an event in Mumbai.
Sassoon Dock has around 1,560 registered mechanised fishing boats and records an average annual fish production of 50,000 to 60,000 metric tonnes.
The modernisation includes construction of net-mending sheds, workshops, underground water tanks, water pipelines, pump houses, protective walls, and renovation of public facilities.
Work on ice plants, strengthening of the jetty wall, fish workers’ restrooms, and a modern auction hall is underway.
The tie-up will focus on improving waste management, recycling plastic waste and discarded fishing nets, and strengthening the net repair system through capacity building.

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V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) becomes India’s first Major Port to receive IGBC Platinum Rating (Mid of February) ▼

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) has become India’s first Major Port to receive the IGBC Platinum Rating from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
The rating was conferred on VOC Port’s Administration Building which integrates rooftop solar panels, high Solar Reflectance Index reflective roof coating, rainwater harvesting, IoT-enabled water meters and indoor air quality monitoring systems.
The building operates 100% on renewable energy with 89% of electricity met through on-site solar power and the remaining 11% sourced from off-site renewable sources.
Potable water usage has been reduced by 37% and all wastewater is treated in an on-site Sewage Treatment Plant for full reuse.
VOC Port’s Hospital and CISF Barracks have received Shunya Plus certification while the Administrative Building and Guest House hold Shunya certification from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
The port maintains over 70% green cover and is aligned with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Harit Sagar – Green Port Guidelines.

Maritime Vision 2047: Rs 1,500 crore projects launched at VOC Port for green and digital modernisation. (End of February) ▼

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth more than Rs 1,500 crore at V. O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) in Tuticorin.
Projects span rail and road connectivity upgrades, power infrastructure enhancement, renewable energy integration including solar, wind, battery storage and green hydrogen production, advanced safety systems and digital platforms.
VOC Port became the first Indian port to produce and use green hydrogen on-site through a pilot project operational since late 2025, with commercial-scale development planned by 2029.
India’s first comprehensive Digital Twin platform for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and data-driven optimisation has been deployed at VOC Port.
From April 2025 to January 2026 cargo handling rose 6 per cent to 35.97 million tonnes and container volumes increased 9.4 per cent to more than 716,000 TEUs.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) sign MoU to form shipbuilding consortium (Mid of February) ▼

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) signed an MoU in Kolkata on Monday to form a consortium for a national shipbuilding programme.
The consortium will undertake construction of maritime platforms and support India’s maritime infrastructure and operational capability.
The MoU was signed by Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd.), Director (Shipbuilding) at GRSE, and Capt Ganti Venkateswarlu, IN (Retd.), Officiating Chairman and Managing Director at HSL, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.
GRSE and HSL stated the consortium will leverage the strengths of both shipyards to expand indigenous shipbuilding capacity and contribute to technological self-reliance.

Kerala government signs ₹2,000 crore MoUs with central PSUs for Vizhinjam logistics master plan (End of February) ▼

Kerala government signed MoUs with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) for a ₹2,000 crore logistics plan at Vizhinjam International Seaport.
IOCL will invest ₹700 crore to set up large-scale bunkering facilities for mother ships at Vizhinjam.
CONCOR will invest ₹600 crore to build rail-linked infrastructure including inland container depots and container freight stations.
CWC will invest ₹700 crore to develop a 50-acre multimodal logistics park with cold storage and export-oriented units.
The agreements were executed in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Legislative Assembly Building.
The initiative aims to prevent monopolisation in cargo handling, guarantee fair pricing, and keep critical infrastructure under public sector oversight while the port operates on a Public-Private Partnership model.

Tamil Nadu Women Entrepreneur Empowerment Scheme (TWEES) targets one lakh women entrepreneurs in five years.

[Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched the Tamil Nadu Women Entrepreneur Empowerment Scheme (TWEES) designed by the MSME Department.
TWEES aims to encourage one lakh women to take up entrepreneurship within five years.
The scheme was launched during an event at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

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₹12.66 crore Challenge Fund launched to boost women and youth-led rural enterprises. (Start of March) ▼

The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) partnered with TBIS BITS Pilani Hyderabad, T-Hub and Telangana government’s WE Hub to launch the fund.
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) backs the fund that will focus on women and youth-led enterprises at the grassroots level.
The initiative will enable 300 women and young entrepreneurs through institutional support, enterprise formalisation, capability enhancement and scalable growth.

L&T Finance Ltd (LTF) launches Spoorthi to extend specialised Home Loan and Loan Against Property to women entrepreneurs. (Start of March) ▼

L&T Finance Ltd (LTF) announced Spoorthi on Women’s Day to provide Home Loans and Loan Against Property (LAP) for business expansion and working capital to women entrepreneurs.
Spoorthi offers extended tenors up to 25 years for Home Loans and LAP, and up to 12 years for Industrial LAP.
The programme provides enhanced eligibility norms, higher debt-to-income ratios, lower interest rates, and relaxed business vintage requirements.
Initial rollout covers Mumbai MMR, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.
Woman borrower must hold at least 50% stake in the business and contribute minimum 50% of total appraised income when clubbed with other borrowers.
Business must show annual cash profit of at least Rs. 5 Lakhs as per latest Income Tax Return (ITR) and no net loss in the last two years.
For loans up to Rs. 75 Lakhs, the minimum business vintage requirement is reduced to two years.

Gruha Lakshmi Digital Marketing Portal launched to showcase women entrepreneurs' products globally (Mid of January) ▼

The Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Karnataka, has launched the Gruha Lakshmi Digital Marketing portal under the guidance of Chief Minister Sri Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Sri D.K. Shivakumar.
The portal, accessible at gruhalakshmidigital.org, serves as a state-backed e-commerce marketplace to promote women entrepreneurship across Karnataka.
Women entrepreneurs can register on the portal through the website, via District In-charge Officers, or by visiting the Department Head Office.

SHE Marts: Community-owned retail outlets for women SHG entrepreneurs announced in Budget 2026 (Start of February) ▼

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced setting up of community-owned retail outlets named 'Self Help Entrepreneur - SHE Marts' for women SHG members.
SHE Marts will function within cluster-level federations and be supported through enhanced and innovative finance instruments.
The initiative builds on the Lakhpati Didi scheme, which has enabled over two crore women SHG members to reach an annual household income of ₹1 lakh.
The Rural Development Ministry (RD Ministry) targets three crore women SHG members achieving ₹1 lakh annual income by 2027.

Karnataka Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

[Karnataka]

Key Updates:

Karnataka government proposed a ban on social media usage for children under 16 years during the state budget presentation.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the ban to prevent adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children.
The ban was part of the 17th state budget with a total outlay of ₹4,48,004 crore.
Karnataka IT Minister Priyanka Kharge had earlier indicated the state was exploring restrictions on social media access for children.
Andhra Pradesh government had earlier considered banning mobile phone usage in schools.
Goa IT minister stated the state is examining restricting social media use for children below 16 years due to digital addiction and cyberbullying concerns.

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Indonesia to ban social media and other online platforms for under 16s from 28 March (Start of March) ▼

Indonesia will deactivate accounts for under 16s on high-risk platforms starting 28 March.
Initial platforms covered include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.
Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said Indonesia will be the first non-Western country to delay children's access to digital spaces by age.
Unicef reported in 2023 that roughly half of 510 Indonesian children surveyed had been exposed to sexual images on social media.
Australia began enforcing a social media ban for under 16s in December, with Spain and the UK considering similar measures.

Karnataka Social Media Ban Policy and ₹4,48,004 Crore State Budget Outlay (Start of March) ▼

The Karnataka government proposed a ban on social media usage for children under the age of 16 in the tech-state to address digital addiction and online safety concerns.
Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah announced the proposal during the presentation of his 17th state budget in Bengaluru.
The Karnataka government proposed a total budget outlay of ₹4,48,004 crore for the state's growth and development.
The budget highlights include a focus on flood relief and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The ban aims to prevent the adverse effects of increasing mobile phone usage and negative impacts on minors.
Karnataka Information Technology (IT) Minister Priyanka Kharge indicated that the state is exploring restrictions on social media access for children.
The Andhra Pradesh government is considering a ban on mobile phone usage in schools, while Goa is examining restrictions for children below 16 years.

Government rejects lowering age of consent to protect child safety under Pocso Act (Start of February) ▼

Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Annpurna Devi stated that any dilution of the age of consent or introduction of exceptions would undermine child safety and weaken India's commitment to protecting children.
The age of consent is uniformly fixed at 18 years across statutes including Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Pocso Act 2012, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006, Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act 1956, Juvenile Justice Act 2015, and Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act 1956.
Pocso Act does not explicitly define 'consent' and treats any sexual act with a person below 18 years as an offence irrespective of purported consent.

Karnataka government mulls social media and mobile phone ban for children under 16 (End of February) ▼

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sought views from vice chancellors on banning social media and mobile phones for children below 16 years during an interaction at the Karnataka State Higher Education Council.
The proposal cites Australia and other Western countries that have implemented similar bans to curb gadget overuse affecting learning, behaviour, and mental health.
Some vice chancellors noted that elite private schools assign homework via mobile phones, while the CM emphasised protecting government school students from being misled.
IT Minister Priyanka Kharge had earlier stated in the Assembly that the government is considering a ban on social media for minors.

Upgraded Indian Culture Portal launched with AI chatbot 'Bharti'

Key Updates:

Ministry of Culture (MoC) Secretary Vivek Aggarwal launched the upgraded Indian Culture portal in New Delhi on 06-03-2026.
The portal features an AI-powered chatbot named 'Bharti' integrated with the Government of India's Bhashini platform to respond in 22 Indian languages.
It offers 46 curated cultural categories and new sections such as Iconic Battles of India, Folktales of India, Healing Through the Ages, Legendary Figures of India, and Classical Dances of India.
The upgraded portal functions as a Progressive Web App (PWA) enabling app-like access across devices without app store downloads.
It includes 3D walkthroughs and 360-degree virtual tours of heritage monuments and interactive cultural games, quizzes, puzzles, and crosswords for all age groups.

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Ministry of Culture (MoC) & Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) sign MoU to develop comprehensive strategy for India’s Cultural & Creative Economy (Start of March) ▼

The Ministry of Culture (MoC) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) signed an MoU on 25 February 2026 to craft a comprehensive strategy for India’s Cultural and Creative Economy.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated the agreement positions culture as the foundation of economic prosperity.
The MoU aims to secure a brighter future for India’s artists and artisans.
The Minister highlighted that the MoU can help gain global recognition for Indian cultural products and services.

Delhi CM launches CM Jan Sunwai Portal and app for integrated grievance redressal (End of February) ▼

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the CM Jan Sunwai Portal and mobile app for public grievance submission.
Complaints can be registered via portal, app, call centre (1902), or offline through the Chief Minister’s Office.
A three-tier grievance redressal mechanism—Grievance Redressal Officer, Appellate Authority, and Final Appellate Authority—has been implemented.
Each complaint receives a unique reference ID and SMS updates at every stage.
Negative feedback triggers automatic escalation to a higher authority.
The system operates on 100% feedback-driven monitoring to ensure officer accountability.
A secure, cloud-based e-admission portal for EWS, DG, and CWSN categories replaced the earlier outdated software.
Aadhaar-based identity verification and digital birth-certificate verification are mandatory to prevent fraud.
Income certificates will be verified through an integrated online system.
Over 7,000 active Common Service Centre (CSC) centres across Delhi will deliver e-District services locally.
The Delhi government is already providing 75 e-District services online, including income, caste, residence, birth and death certificates, and services related to social welfare, food and civil supplies, labour, and education.
CM Pragati portal created the first comprehensive digital record of all Delhi government land and building assets.

Rashtrapati Bhavan colonial-era changes in 2024-26 (End of February) ▼

Edward Lutyens statue in Rashtrapati Bhavan central courtyard to be replaced by statue of C Rajagopalachari, India’s only Indian-born governor-general (1948-50).
Granth Kutir library inaugurated on 23 January 2026 with 2,300 books and manuscripts in 11 classical Indian languages, replacing works of Lord Curzon and William Hogarth.
Param Vir Dirgha gallery created in January 2026 displaying 21 portraits of Param Vir Chakra awardees, replacing portraits of British aides-de-camp.
Durbar Hall renamed Ganatantra Mandap and Ashok Hall renamed Ashok Mandap in July 2025 to remove colonial and anglicised connotations.
Mughal Gardens collectively renamed Amrit Udyan in January 2024, covering 15 acres inspired by Mughal gardens of Jammu and Kashmir and Taj Mahal.
Rajpath from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate renamed Kartavya Path in 2022 to symbolise shift from power icon to public ownership.

RAJMARG PRAVESH Portal Upgrade Launched for Faster Highway NOCs (End of February) ▼

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari launched the upgraded RAJMARG PRAVESH web portal to streamline issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for facilities along National Highways.
The portal provides single-window online applications for permissions covering fuel stations, wayside amenities, rest area complexes, private properties, connecting roads, and industrial access points.
It also facilitates utility permissions for water pipelines, gas pipelines, optical fibre cables, electrical transmission lines, and other infrastructure services along or across National Highways.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) redesigned the portal to ensure streamlined digital workflows, reduced approval timelines, improved transparency, and real-time application tracking.
The portal can be accessed at http://rajmargpravesh.morth.gov.in.

United States announces tactical shift to precision gravity bombs in Iran military campaign

[United States, Iran]

Key Updates:

United States (US) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a tactical pivot from standoff munitions to precision gravity bombs in the ongoing campaign against Iran.
The US military will deploy the Mark 80 series of conventional gravity bombs, specifically the 500-pound Mk 82, 1,000-pound Mk 83, and 2,000-pound Mk 84 variants.
Gravity bombs are unpowered munitions that are converted into precision weapons using Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) and steerable fins.
The shift follows the degradation of Iranian air defences, allowing the use of gravity bombs which cost approximately $25,000 to $30,000 per unit compared to more expensive standoff missiles.
Previous operations utilised standoff munitions such as Tomahawk cruise missiles and Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones to dismantle radars and missile batteries.
The Mark 80 series can be deployed by various aircraft, including the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-35 stealth jets, and B-52 Stratofortress heavy strategic bombers.
While the current campaign uses conventional bombs, the US arsenal also includes nuclear gravity bombs like the B61 and B83 series, which require explicit authorisation from the US President.
India link not mentioned in the article.

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United States Pentagon Pizza Index surges 1,250% on January 5, 2026, following Venezuela operation (Mid of January) ▼

The Pentagon Pizza Index also called the Pizza Meter is an open-source intelligence theory suggesting that late-night pizza orders near U.S. government buildings spike before major geopolitical events.
On August 1, 1990, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) ordered a record 21 pizzas in a single night. The next day, Iraq invaded Kuwait.
The index has preceded multiple major events: October 1983 Unusual late-night orders U.S. invasion of Grenada, December 1989 Pentagon surge U.S. invasion of Panama, and January 1991 Spike before Desert Storm Coalition strikes Iraq.
Recent events include: June 12, 2025 'Huge surge' at District Pizza Palace Operation Lion strikes Iran and January 2-3, 2026 700% surge operation captures Maduro in Venezuela.
The Geopolitical Risk (GPR) Index currently sits around 158 and trending upward.

Israel deploys multi-layered missile defence umbrella against Iranian threat (Start of March) ▼

Israel’s long-range Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 interceptors engage targets inside and outside the atmosphere and are developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) with Boeing producing the interceptors.
David's Sling mid-range system, developed jointly by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and RTX Corp, intercepts ballistic missiles fired from 100–200 km as well as aircraft, drones and cruise missiles.
Short-range Iron Dome, operational since 2011, uses radar-guided missiles to destroy rockets, mortars and drones in mid-air and determines whether a rocket will hit a populated area before engaging.
A naval version of Iron Dome was deployed in 2017 to protect ships and sea-based assets.
Ground-based high-power laser system Iron Beam, developed for over a decade and declared fully operational in late 2025, intercepts UAVs and mortars at lower cost than missile-based interceptors.
United States (US) military deployed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to Israel in October 2024 to intercept short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase.
US ground-based systems and a US Navy destroyer in the Eastern Mediterranean helped shoot down Iranian missiles fired at Israel in June 2025.
Israeli combat helicopters and fighter jets have fired air-to-air missiles to destroy drones heading toward Israel.

Iran unveils Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missile with 2,000 km range (Mid of February) ▼

Iran deployed the Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missile, also called Kheibar, inside underground missile cities.
The missile was publicly shown for the first time during the unveiling of a new missile city belonging to the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Khorramshahr-4 has a range of approximately 2,000 kilometres and can carry a 1,500-kilogram warhead.
The missile uses an Arvand engine with self-igniting fuel, enabling launch from mobile platforms in under 15 minutes.
It reaches speeds of about Mach 16 outside the atmosphere and Mach 8 inside it, with total flight time of 10 to 12 minutes.
The missile features mid-flight guidance and a manoeuvring warhead with tactical engines to improve terminal accuracy and counter electronic warfare.

United States launches Operation Hawkeye Strike against ISIS targets in Syria (End of December) ▼

The U.S. military launched retaliatory strikes on Friday against dozens of ISIS targets in Syria.
More than 70 ISIS targets were struck using over 100 munitions from fighter jets, attack helicopters and rocket artillery.
Jordanian fighter aircraft also participated in the strikes.
The operation named 'Operation Hawkeye Strike' was carried out in response to the attack on U.S. forces in Palmyra, Syria.
The strikes targeted ISIS weapon areas and infrastructure in central Syria.
There are currently 1,000 U.S. troops in Syria, mostly in eastern Syria.
The U.S. estimates between 1,500 to 3,000 ISIS militants remain active in Syria and Iraq.

United States tests Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base

[United States]

Key Updates:

The United States Air Force Global Strike Command launched an unarmed LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile at 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time on 3 March from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
The missile, designated GT 255, carried two test re-entry vehicles that traveled thousands of miles to a pre-determined target at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
The test launch was scheduled years in advance and was not conducted in response to current world events, according to the Office of Public Affairs of the Air Force Global Strike Command.
The LGM-30G Minuteman III is a silo-launched, surface-attack intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of more than 9,650 kilometers and a speed of approximately 24,000 kilometers per hour at burnout.
The current force structure comprises 400 Minuteman III missiles assigned across three missile wings: the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming; the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana; and the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.
The Air Force plans to replace the Minuteman III with the LGM-35A Sentinel to modernize the land-based leg of the US nuclear triad.

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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) qualifies upgraded third stage of SSLV via static test (Start of January) ▼

ISRO successfully carried out a static ground test of an improved version of the third stage of its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
The test was conducted at the Solid Motor Static Test Facility at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.
The improved SS3 motor features a carbon-epoxy composite motor case, reducing inert mass and yielding a payload gain of about 90 kg for SSLV.
The third stage alone delivers velocities of up to 4 km/second to the launch vehicle.
Nozzle control is achieved through a fault-tolerant electro-mechanical actuation system supported by low-power control electronics.

India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile from Odisha (Start of February) ▼

India successfully carried out a test launch of the Agni-III intermediate-range ballistic missile on 06 Feb 2026.
The missile was fired from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha.
The launch met all mission objectives and validated operational and technical parameters.
The test was conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).

Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully flight-tests man portable anti-tank guided missile (Mid of January) ▼

The third generation fire and forget man portable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) with top attack capability was flight-tested successfully against a moving target in KK Ranges, Ahilya Nagar.
The test-firing was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The warhead is capable of defeating modern main battle tanks.
The missile can be launched from a tripod or military vehicle launcher.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented the DRDO and the industry partners for the successful test-firing of the missile.

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Successfully Conducts Flight Tests of Indigenously Developed Taimoor Missile on January 04, 2026 (Start of January) ▼

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully tested the Taimoor Weapon System, which was developed in Pakistan and can hit targets up to 600 kilometres away.
The Taimoor Air-Launched Cruise Missile can accurately strike enemy targets on land and at sea within a 600 kilometer range and carries a conventional warhead.
Equipped with a state-of-the-art navigation and guidance system, Taimoor is designed to fly at very low altitudes to help it avoid enemy air and missile defenses.
The successful test demonstrates the technical skill, innovation, and independence of Pakistan’s defense industry.
Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu congratulated the scientists, engineers, and the entire PAF team for their achievement.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia leads India’s engagements at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona

Key Updates:

Mobile World Congress 2026 is being held from March 2–5, 2026 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain.
Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia delivered the Closing Keynote at the GSMA Ministerial Programme session themed 'Breaking the Cost Barrier'.
He addressed the MWC Main Stage keynote session titled 'Built for What’s Next'.
The Bharat Pavilion was inaugurated by the Minister, with 40 Indian companies showcasing telecom solutions.
India Mobile Congress 2026 was announced to be held from 7th–10th October 2026 in New Delhi.
Tejas Networks launched the TJ1600-D3 Hyper-scalable DCI Platform engineered in India.
Shri Scindia met ITU Secretary General Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin during the visit.
Bilateral meetings were held with Eutelsat and Viasat to advance connectivity frameworks for India.
Interactions took place with Bharti Group led by Sunil Bharti Mittal.
Demonstrations were witnessed at booths of Meta, Rakuten, VVDN Technologies, Ericsson, Nokia, Intel, Cisco and Qualcomm.
MWC 2026 is organised by GSMA and themed 'The IQ Era'.
India’s participation is organised by Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC), supported by Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India.

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Saudi Arabia to host HCI Conference 2026 in Riyadh (Mid of February) ▼

The HCI Conference 2026 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The conference focuses on human-computer interaction across healthcare, smart cities, education, accessibility, gaming, virtual reality, and future workplaces.
Riyadh was selected for its smart infrastructure, modern venues, advanced connectivity, growing tech ecosystem, and strong government support for research and development.
The event aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, emphasising digital transformation, knowledge-based economies, and human-centred development.
HCI 2026 will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, research presentations, workshops, and interactive exhibitions on artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, human-centred AI, smart cities, digital health, immersive experiences, accessibility technologies, and future user interfaces.
The conference will bring together thousands of participants from universities, corporations, research institutes, and startups worldwide.
Hosting the event is expected to generate economic benefits for Riyadh through hospitality, tourism, transport, and local business activity.
Saudi universities and innovation centres anticipate increased global collaboration and opportunities for local talent to showcase work on an international stage.

United States Department of State launches $200 million Edge AI Package for Indo-Pacific (End of February) ▼

The United States Department of State (US State Department) announced the Edge AI Package on 19 February 2026.
The programme offers up to $200 million in competitive funding to support secure and affordable smartphones across the Indo-Pacific region.
It is framed within the broader Pax Silica strategy launched in December 2025 to secure global AI and semiconductor supply chains.
Pax Silica reportedly includes the United States, Japan and South Korea, with India set to join on 20 February 2026.
Proposals are invited from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for distributing low-cost, AI-ready smartphones in designated Indo-Pacific countries.
Interested parties must email EdgeAI@state.gov to request technical requirements and the submission window remains open for 90 days.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) bags SKOCH Award 2025 for indigenous Cell Broadcast Solution powering India’s disaster early-warning infrastructure (End of January) ▼

C-DOT’s Cell Broadcast Solution is a fully integrated national platform that connects disaster-alert originators, approval authorities, and telecom operators on a single automated system.
The platform enables near real-time, geo-targeted delivery of life-saving alerts to millions of mobile users simultaneously without network congestion or dependence on internet connectivity.
CBS supports multi-hazard alerting across weather, floods, tsunamis, landslides and forest fires with geo-fenced targeting and multi-lingual messaging in 21 Indian languages.
The solution aligns with the United Nations’ “Early Warnings for All (EW4All)” initiative, the ITU Call to Action, and multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Smart India Hackathon 2025 Grand Finale: 8,160 students code across 60 centres (Mid of December) ▼

The eighth edition of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025 Grand Finale is being held simultaneously at 60 nodal centres—42 software hubs and 18 hardware hubs.
A total of 72,165 ideas were submitted by 68,766 student teams, out of which 1,360 teams comprising 8,160 students qualified for the 36-hour national coding and prototyping marathon.
Among the finalists, 2,993 are female students including 53 all-women teams, highlighting the initiative’s commitment to women-led innovation.

Tajikistan and Uzbekistan propose inclusion of Striped Hyena in CMS Appendices I and II

[Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)]

Key Updates:

Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have submitted a proposal to include the Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) in Appendix I and II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
The proposal will be considered during the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CMS COP15) scheduled for March 23-29 in Campo Grande, Brazil.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Striped Hyena is classified as Near Threatened globally and Vulnerable within the Mediterranean region.
The global population of mature Striped Hyenas is estimated to be between 5,000 and 9,999 individuals.
The Striped Hyena is one of four species belonging to the family Hyaenidae, which also includes the Spotted Hyena, the Brown Hyena, and the Aardwolf.
The species is found across North and Sub-Saharan Africa, West Asia (Middle East), and Central and South Asia, including India.
Listing under both Appendices would obligate member states to implement measures to safeguard the species and its habitats through coordinated transboundary conservation actions.
Major threats to the species include habitat loss, fragmentation due to urbanisation and agricultural expansion, illegal hunting, and human-wildlife conflict.

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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.

Endangered Asiatic Wild Dog sighted for first time in Madhya Pradesh's Ratapani Tiger Reserve (End of January) ▼

The Asiatic Wild Dog (Dhole), listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has been camera-trapped for the first time in Ratapani Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
PCCF (Wildlife) Shubharanjan Sen stated this is the sixth rare wildlife species recorded on camera in the reserve during 2026.
Wildlife expert Amey Vikram Singh noted that Dholes were previously believed restricted to Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench protected areas.

Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) MoU signed for Ladakh wildlife conservation (Start of March) ▼

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.

Kyrgyzstan bans import of animals and animal products from India over Nipah virus risk (End of January) ▼

Kyrgyzstan has halted imports of animals and animal products from India following reports of a Nipah virus outbreak there.
Enhanced screening for passengers arriving on international flights has been introduced at Manas International Airport in Bishkek and Osh airport.
All arriving passengers at Manas International Airport are undergoing temperature checks using specialised screening equipment.
The Kyrgyz Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Food Processing Industry stated the import ban aims to prevent potential entry of the Nipah virus into Kyrgyzstan.

Study warns of surging metabolic diseases in Asia-Pacific region

[Asia-Pacific]

Key Updates:

A study published in the journal Metabolism, based on Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 data, warns of rapidly rising metabolic diseases across the Asia-Pacific.
High blood pressure is the largest disease burden in the region, responsible for over 6.2 million deaths and 138 million years of healthy life lost in 2023.
Approximately 310 million people in the Asia-Pacific live with type-2 diabetes, resulting in more than 1.1 million deaths last year.
In India, type-2 diabetes accounted for over 21 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and nearly 5.8 lakh deaths in 2023.
Obesity was linked to around 55 million DALYs and approximately 1.3 million deaths across the region in 2023.
India, China, and Indonesia carry the largest shares of the metabolic disease burden in the region.
The burden of metabolic conditions has grown between 1.7 and nearly four times across different diseases since 1990.
Most metabolic risks are projected to continue rising across the Asia-Pacific region until at least 2030.

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India ranks second globally in childhood obesity, projected to have 20 million obese children by 2040: World Obesity Atlas 2026 (Start of March) ▼

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.

World Obesity Day 2026 highlights 8 billion reasons to change the obesity story (Start of March) ▼

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.

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.

Union Minister J P Nadda announces India ranks 8th globally in World Health Organization (WHO) Pharmacovigilance Contributions (Start of January) ▼

India now stands at the 8th position globally in World Health Organization (WHO) Pharmacovigilance Contributions, rising from the 123rd position held ten years ago.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the 10th edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 2026, which serves as the official book of drug standards for India.
The Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 2026 has incorporated 121 new monographs, increasing the total count to 3,340 monographs.
India has become the first country to include 20 blood component monographs to expand research in blood transfusion, thalassemia, hemophilia, and anaemia.
The new monographs are designed to benefit the National TB Elimination Programme, Anaemia Mukt Bharat, and the Universal Immunisation Programme.
The Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) is currently recognized as a standard in 19 Global South countries.

MeerKAT telescope detects most distant hydroxyl megamaser 8 billion light-years away

Key Updates:

Astronomers using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa detected the most distant hydroxyl megamaser ever observed, located in a galaxy more than 8 billion light-years away.
The discovery paper was accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters and a pre-print is available on arXiv.
The megamaser’s intensity qualifies it as a gigamaser, the brightest class of space lasers produced when hydroxyl molecules in merging galaxies collide and amplify radio emissions.
A foreground galaxy, perfectly aligned with the distant megamaser, acts as a gravitational lens, further amplifying the radio signal during its journey to Earth.
Dr. Thato Manamela, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pretoria, is the lead author of the study.
Prof. Roger Deane, Director of the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA) and professor at the Universities of Cape Town and Pretoria, is a co-author.
MeerKAT’s centimeter-wavelength sensitivity and advanced computational pipelines processed terabytes of data to enable the discovery.
Systematic surveys led by the University of Pretoria aim to find hundreds to thousands of similar systems ahead of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) era.

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India approves two new telescopes and Himalayan Chandra Telescope upgrade in Ladakh (Mid of February) ▼

Union Budget sanctioned National Large Solar Telescope (NLST), a 2-metre aperture solar telescope to be built in Merak near Pangong Tso lake, Ladakh.
NLST will operate in visible and near-infrared wavelengths and help study solar dynamics, magnetism, energetic solar events, and space-weather processes affecting Earth and national space assets.
NLST will be India’s third ground-based solar observatory, joining Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (Tamil Nadu, 1899) and Udaipur Solar Observatory (Rajasthan, 1975).
National Large Optical–Near Infrared Telescope (NLOT) will be a 13.7-metre segmented-mirror telescope with 90 hexagonal segments, to be built in Hanle, Ladakh.
NLOT will enable frontier research on exoplanets, stellar and galactic evolution, supernovae, and origins of the universe, leveraging Ladakh’s high altitude and clear skies.
Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) will be upgraded from 2-metre to 3.7-metre segmented primary mirror and continue optical-infrared observations of transient astronomy.
Upgraded HCT operations will complement international facilities like LIGO-India and the Square Kilometre Array.
Hanle village in Ladakh is India’s first and only Dark Sky Reserve.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captures galaxy cluster MACS J1149.5+2223 (End of January) ▼

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured a detailed image of the massive galaxy cluster MACS J1149.5+2223.
The galaxy cluster is located approximately 5 billion light-years away from Earth in the constellation Leo.
The image demonstrates gravitational lensing, a phenomenon where the immense gravity of the cluster distorts light from background galaxies into arcs and elongated streaks.
MACS J1149.5+2223 contains over 300 verified galaxies and is identified as one of the largest gravitationally bound objects in the universe.
A lensed spiral galaxy within the cluster, resembling a pink jellyfish, previously hosted the most distant single star ever discovered and a supernova seen four times due to lensing.
The observations were conducted using the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), and Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) instruments.
The study is part of the Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS) programme, which aims to investigate the first generations of galaxies and the era of reionisation.

Union Budget 2026-27 allocates over ₹500 crore for four mega-telescope projects (Mid of February) ▼

The Union Budget 2026-27 announced funding for four mega-telescope facilities to be spearheaded by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).
The National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) is a 2-metre class Gregorian multi-purpose telescope to be located in Merak, near Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh.
The NLST is designed to study the Sun's magnetic fields and atmospheric processes with a spatial resolution of approximately 50 kilometres.
The National Large Optical-Infrared Telescope (NLOT) will be a 10-12 metre class facility situated at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) in Hanle, Ladakh.
The NLOT will utilise segmented mirror technology to observe star births, early galaxies, and chemical signatures of distant exoplanets in the deep infrared.
The 2-metre Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) at Hanle, operational since 2001, will receive an upgrade to its sensors and backend instrumentation for transient astronomy.
The COSMOS-2 Planetarium will be established in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, as a Cosmology Education and Research Training Centre featuring an 8K LED dome.
The Union Government has allocated a combined investment of over ₹500 crore specifically for these space science infrastructure projects.

NASA’s SPHEREx Mission Tracks Brightening of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS (Start of February) ▼

NASA’s SPHEREx mission observed comet 3I/ATLAS in December 2025, detecting infrared light from dust, water, organic molecules, and carbon dioxide in its coma.
Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object discovered passing through our solar system.
SPHEREx detected organic molecules including methanol, cyanide, and methane within the comet’s coma.
The comet showed a dramatic brightness increase two months after its closest approach to the Sun, due to sublimation of water, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
The mission is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and launched on March 11, 2025.
SPHEREx completed the first of four planned all-sky infrared maps of the cosmos in late 2025.
Comet 3I/ATLAS was discovered by the NASA-funded ATLAS survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, on July 1, 2025.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal lays foundation for India's first river lighthouses in Assam

[Assam]

Key Updates:

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal laid foundation stones for four river lighthouses on the Brahmaputra in Assam, the first such infrastructure on an inland waterway in India.
The lighthouses are located at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, Pandu in Kamrup Metropolitan, Silghat in Nagaon, and Biswanath Ghat in Biswanath along National Waterway-2 (NW-2).
The project has a combined outlay of ₹ 84 crore, with each 20-metre-high lighthouse powered entirely by solar energy.
Each structure will have a geographical range of 14 nautical miles and a luminous range of 8–10 nautical miles to enable 24x7 safe navigation and accommodate weather observation sensors.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project in April 2025.
The DGLL, under the MoPSW, is the statutory authority responsible for providing aids to navigation across India's 11,098 kilometre coastline and inland waterways.
The initiative follows a 53 per cent surge in cargo movement on the Brahmaputra waterway recorded by IWAI in the financial year 2024–25.

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Inland River Lighthouses on Brahmaputra: ₹84 Crore Navigation & Tourism Infrastructure (Start of March) ▼

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) laid foundation stones for India’s first inland river lighthouses on Brahmaputra River.
Four lighthouses will come up at Bogibeel (Dibrugarh), Pandu (Kamrup Metro), Silghat (Nagaon) on the south bank and Biswanath Ghat (Biswanath) on the north bank along National Waterway-2.
Combined project outlay is approximately ₹84 crore; each 20-metre solar-powered lighthouse will give 14 nautical miles geographical range and 8–10 nautical miles luminous range.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) signed on 8 April 2025 for all four sites.
Every lighthouse complex will house a museum, amphitheatre, cafeteria, children’s play area, souvenir shop and landscaped public spaces to boost tourism.
Completion target is 24 months from contract award after geotechnical investigation, topographic survey and detailed design.
Cargo movement on NW-2 rose 53 percent in FY 2024–25, making 24×7 safe navigation critical for Assam’s tea, coal and fertiliser supply chains.

Sanjay Seth inaugurates restored Taram Chu Bridge and Chungthang-Lachen axis in Sikkim (Start of March) ▼

The Minister of State for Defence (MoS), Sanjay Seth, inaugurated the restored 400-foot Bailey Suspension Bridge at Taram Chu and the 28 km-long Chungthang–Lachen road in North Sikkim on 26 February 2026.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restored the critical Lachen Axis following damages from the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) of October 2023, Cyclone Remal in June 2024, and cloud bursts in 2025.
Project Swastik of the BRO, led by Brigadier Amit Sakhre, cleared 96 landslides, constructed four major bridges, and performed eight kilometres of fresh formation cutting to restore the lines of communication.
The BRO previously opened the 7.5 km Naga-Toong stretch in October 2025 as part of the efforts to enhance connectivity in the disaster-hit region.
The restoration of these assets supports the Atmanirbhar Sikkim- Viksit Bharat Vision aimed at regional development and security.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Inaugurates Three Infrastructure Projects on National Waterway-2 (Start of March) ▼

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated three major inland waterways infrastructure projects on National Waterway-2 (NW-2) on the River Brahmaputra.
The three projects comprise the Customs and Immigration Complex at Bogibeel, the Customs and Immigration Complex at Dhubri, and the renovated Heritage Building of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) at Dibrugarh.
The Bogibeel complex serves as a modern tourist-cum-cargo terminal designed to improve operational efficiency and facilitate trade under the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes.
The Dhubri complex is designed to enhance regulatory oversight and boost export-import operations with Bangladesh and Bhutan in western Assam.
The renovated Heritage Building at Dibrugarh will serve the administrative needs of the IWAI and promote riverine tourism.
Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, twenty rivers in the Northeast have been declared National Waterways, including NW-2 (Brahmaputra), NW-16 (Barak), NW-31 (Dhansiri), and NW-57 (Kopili).

Assam Govt announces Rs 50 Cr grant to preserve Darrang Koch dynasty heritage (Start of February) ▼

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a Rs 50 crore grant for preserving the heritage of the Darrang kings of the Koch dynasty.
The grant was announced during the 516th Biswa Mahabir Chilarai Divas celebrations held at Pipora Dookan in Darrang district.
The Chief Minister directed the Darrang district administration and the Public Works Department to immediately implement the heritage preservation project.
A 37-foot-high statue of 8th century Koch king Maharaj Krishnanarayan was unveiled at the event.
Chilarai Bhawans at Mangaldoi and Golaghat were virtually inaugurated during the programme.
Land allotment and construction of an office for the All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani at Amingaon were also announced.

IBM launches first Infrastructure Innovation Centre in India at Bengaluru ISDL campus

[IBM]

Key Updates:

IBM opened the Sangam Infrastructure Innovation Center inside its India Systems Development Lab (ISDL) campus in Bengaluru on 5 March 2026.
The centre will co-create secure, scalable enterprise AI solutions with clients, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Global System Integrators (GSIs), Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and ecosystem partners.
A recent IBM Institute for Business Value study found 58% of Indian organisations have raised infrastructure investments due to rising AI demand and projected a 19% growth in infrastructure budgets in 2025.
43% of Indian organisations are establishing or planning AI Centers of Excellence as enterprises shift from experimentation to scaled AI deployment.

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IBM opens first Infrastructure Innovation Centre in India at India Systems Development Lab (ISDL) campus (Start of March) ▼

International Business Machines (IBM) launched its first Infrastructure Innovation Centre named Sangam Infrastructure Innovation Centre housed within the new India Systems Development Lab (ISDL) campus.
The collaborative engineering hub will unite IBM systems architects and infrastructure specialists from ISDL to co-create AI solutions with clients, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Global System Integrators (GSIs), Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and ecosystem partners.
A recent IBM Institute for Business Value study found 58 per cent of Indian organisations have increased infrastructure investments due to rising AI demand and projected a 19 per cent growth in infrastructure budgets in 2025.
43 per cent of organisations are establishing or planning AI Centers of Excellence as enterprises move from experimentation to scaled deployment.

India and Sweden launch Sweden–India Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor (SITAC) (End of February) ▼

India and Sweden have jointly developed a dedicated programme called the Sweden–India Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor (SITAC).
The partnership was formalised through a Statement of Intent to connect the AI and digital technology ecosystems of both nations.
Kavita Bhatia, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the IndiaAI Mission, stated that the collaboration positions both countries to shape global technological change based on shared democratic values.
Sofia Hogman, Trade and Invest Commissioner of Sweden to India, noted that the corridor initiative aims to create new business opportunities and deliver real-world industrial outcomes.
The collaboration focuses on using AI to drive innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development while managing potential risks.

IBM AI GovTech Innovation Centre and Software Lab inaugurated by UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow (End of February) ▼

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the IBM AI GovTech Innovation Centre and Software Lab in Lucknow on 22 February 2026.
The 500-seater facility is located at Platinum Mall in Sushant Golf City and is IBM’s first software lab in Northern India.
The centre will focus on advancing Generative AI and Agentic AI technologies for government and enterprise use cases.
It will operate under IBM India Software Labs (ISL), contributing to IBM’s global portfolio in data and AI, automation, cybersecurity, and sustainability.
The lab will develop AI-powered solutions using Large Language Models (LLMs) and Small Language Models (SLMs) for Indian and global markets.
CM Yogi Adityanath stated the lab will boost Uttar Pradesh’s economy by creating jobs and engaging local talent.
The state government aims to develop Lucknow as an “AI city” and supports IBM’s expansion to strengthen the IT and ITeS sector.
The lab will offer roles in software engineering, application development, technical testing, and UX design.
IBM Software Labs in India currently operate from Bengaluru, Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Kochi, Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai.

Sarvam AI launches Sarvam Startup Program to support AI builders in India (Start of March) ▼

Sarvam AI announced the Sarvam Startup Program on 5 March 2026 to help early-stage companies build AI-powered products using its models and infrastructure.
Selected startups receive six to twelve months of API credits scaled to their usage requirements.
Participants gain access to Sarvam’s Speech-to-Text, Text-to-Speech, Translation, Chat Completion, and Document Intelligence APIs.
The platform supports more than 22 Indian languages alongside English.
Startups receive direct engineering support, co-branded case study opportunities, and launch amplification.
Applications are open through Sarvam’s website.
Sarvam AI was founded by Vivek Raghavan and Pratyush Kumar.

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bellatrix Aerospace sign MoU to develop Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellite technologies.

[Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bellatrix Aerospace]

Key Updates:

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bengaluru-based Bellatrix Aerospace signed an MoU on Thursday to collaborate on design, development and manufacturing of satellite systems and payloads for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) operations.
VLEO altitude ranges between 100 and 450 kilometres, enabling higher-resolution images, faster communications and better atmospheric science.
Bellatrix Aerospace, founded in 2015, specialises in satellite propulsion technologies and satellite subsystems.

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IN-SPACe selects Astrome, Azista, Dhruva Space to build satellite bus platforms under SBaaS initiative (Mid of February) ▼

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), announced selection of Astrome Technologies, Azista Industries, and Dhruva Space to build indigenous small satellite platforms under its “Satellite Bus as a Service” (SBaaS) initiative.
Selection followed multi-stage evaluation of 15 proposals after initiative announcement in April 2025.
SBaaS model aims to provide cost-effective, standardised flight-ready satellite platforms for domestic and global demand.
Grant disbursement will be milestone-linked and IN-SPACe will facilitate access to ISRO and Department of Space infrastructure, testing facilities, and technical expertise.
IN-SPACe plans later phases to enable hosted payload missions on these platforms, expanding public-private partnership programmes from platform development to operational missions.

BEML, IISc Bengaluru and FSID sign tripartite research pact for aerospace, defence and green tech. (Start of February) ▼

BEML Limited, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID) signed a Tripartite Master Research Agreement (MRA) at IISc campus.
The collaboration targets blue-sky, applied and translational research in aerospace and defence, rail and metro systems, mining and construction equipment, maritime technologies, next-generation mobility, green technologies and advanced manufacturing.
The partnership will be anchored through BEML’s newly established Central Research Facility (CRF) for joint knowledge creation, simulation, prototyping, technology validation and intellectual property generation.
BEML has committed significant R&D investments to sustain the collaborative programmes aligned with national priorities of indigenisation and self-reliance.

MoS&T-TDB and VMSPL Sign IC-CIR&D Pact for 20-Passenger Electric Boat (Start of January) ▼

The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), signed an agreement with Vijai Marine Services Private Limited (VMSPL), Goa for the 'Smart Sea Project by Vijai Autonomous Craft for Environment (VACE)'.
The project will develop and demonstrate a 20-passenger electric boat with IRS-certified FRP hull, electric propulsion and battery systems supplied by Canadian partner ACEL Power Inc.
Aimed at reducing emissions and noise, the initiative supports India’s goals of clean waterways and sustainable tourism under the Indo-Canada Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme (IC-CIR&D).

Bharat Forge Limited (BFL) Secures Rs 300 Crore Contracts for Unmanned Systems (End of January) ▼

The aerospace division of Bharat Forge Limited (BFL) has secured contracts of around Rs 300 crore under the ongoing Emergency Procurement – VI framework of the government.
The contracts cover a range of indigenous unmanned systems, including Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and loitering munitions for the Indian Army and Indian Navy.
The contracted platforms, namely Omega One, Omega Nine, Bayonet, and Cleaver, are developed to meet urgent operational requirements across diverse terrains and mission profiles.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded BFL a Rs 1,661 crore contract for the supply of over 2.55 lakh units of Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines to the Indian Army.

India defeats England to reach 2026 T20 World Cup final

Key Updates:

India secured a seven-run victory over England in the second semi-final of the 2026 T20 World Cup held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Jasprit Bumrah became the 44th bowler in history to reach 500 international wickets, achieving the feat by dismissing England captain Harry Brook.
Bumrah established a new world record for the best bowling average among players with 500 international wickets at 20.62, surpassing Glenn McGrath's average of 21.76.
The Indian pacer's career wicket tally includes 234 wickets in 52 Test matches, 149 in One Day Internationals (ODI), and 117 in Twenty20 Internationals (T20I).
Bumrah recorded a career strike rate of 33.2, the second-best among bowlers with 500 wickets, trailing only Lasith Malinga who holds a strike rate of 32.8.
The list of bowlers with the best averages at 500 wickets includes Allan Donald (22.04), Richard Hadlee (22.1), and Curtly Ambrose (22.11).
India will face New Zealand in the tournament final on 8 March at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

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Rashid Khan becomes first bowler to reach 700 T20 wickets (Mid of February) ▼

Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan became the first player in cricket history to reach the milestone of 700 wickets in T20 cricket.
He achieved the landmark during an International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Delhi.
Rashid Khan is the highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals (T20Is) with 191 victims, followed by Tim Southee (164) and Ish Sodhi (162).
In the overall T20 wicket-takers list, Dwayne Bravo holds the second position with 631 wickets, while Sunil Narine is third with 613 wickets.
He was the first Afghan player to join the Indian Premier League (IPL), winning the title with Gujarat Titans (GT) in 2022.
Rashid Khan holds the records for being the youngest player to top the ICC One Day International (ODI) bowling rankings and the fastest to reach 100 ODI wickets.
His domestic career includes winning the Big Bash League (BBL) title with Adelaide Strikers in 2018.

Jasprit Bumrah becomes first Indian to take 100 wickets in all three formats (Mid of December) ▼

Jasprit Bumrah has become the country’s first bowler to complete 100 wickets in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
He reached the milestone during the first T20I against South Africa at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.
India defeated South Africa by 101 runs; India scored 175/6 and South Africa were all out for 74.

Virat Kohli surpasses Michael Bevan to own List A average world record (End of December) ▼

Virat Kohli's career List A average has risen to 57.87, narrowly eclipsing Bevan's iconic mark of 57.86.
Kohli achieved this during his 77-run knock for Delhi against Gujarat in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Kohli has become the fastest player in history to reach 16,000 List A runs, beating Sachin Tendulkar's previous record by a staggering 61 innings.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashes 36-ball century to script List A history (End of December) ▼

Vaibhav Suryavanshi reached the triple-digit score in just 36 balls, courtesy of 10 fours and 8 sixes.
At the age of 14 years, 272 days, Suryavanshi also became the youngest to hit a century in men's List A cricket.
The milestone puts him second in the list of fastest hundreds in List A cricket among Indians.

Lakshya Sen defeats Victor Lai to reach All England Open Badminton final

Key Updates:

India's Lakshya Sen, ranked world number 12, defeated Canada's Victor Lai (world number 16) in the men's singles semifinal of the All England Open Badminton Championships 2026.
The match lasted one hour and 37 minutes (97 minutes) with a final score of 21-16, 18-21, 21-15.
This victory marks Lakshya Sen's second final appearance at the tournament, having previously finished as runner-up in 2022.
The tournament is held in Birmingham, England, and is sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Lakshya Sen will face Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei in the final, who advanced after defeating world number two Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.
During the event, Lakshya Sen also secured victories against world number one Shi Yuqi, Hong Kong’s NG Ka Long Angus, and China’s Li Shifeng.

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Saina Nehwal retired from competitive badminton (End of January) ▼

Saina Nehwal confirmed her retirement from competitive badminton on a podcast.
She won the bronze medal in women’s singles at the 2012 London Olympic Games, becoming the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal.
She won the gold medal at the 2008 World Junior Championships.
She secured a silver medal at the 2015 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships.
She won the bronze medal in women’s singles at the 2018 Asian Games.
She won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Her last competitive match was at the Singapore Open in 2023.
She cited severe knee degeneration, arthritis, and complete cartilage loss as the reasons for her retirement.

Pankaj Advani defeats Kamal Chawla to win inaugural Liber Win Champions Cup 2026 (End of February) ▼

Pankaj Advani clinched the inaugural Liber Win Champions Cup 2026 by defeating Kamal Chawla 6-3 in the best-of-11 final at Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA), Bengaluru.
Kamal Chawla compiled the highest break of the championship with a 140.
Advani trailed 4-1 in the semi-final against Laxman Rawat before winning 5-4.
Kamal Chawla beat Sourav Kothari 5-4 in the other semi-final after trailing 4-1.
Liber Win appointed Pankaj Advani as its Indian Brand Ambassador at the end of the tournament.

Surya Charishma Tamiri outlasts Tanvi Patri for national badminton title (End of December) ▼

Surya Charishma Tamiri beat Tanvi Patri 17-21, 21-12, 21-14 in the women’s singles final.
The final was held at the 87th Senior National Badminton Championships in Vijayawada.
Rithvik Sanjeevi Sathish Kumar defeated Bharat Raghav 21-16, 22-20 to win the men’s singles title.

Hanne Vandewinkel defeats Vaishnavi Adkar to win ITF Women’s Open Bengaluru W100 singles title (End of February) ▼

Hanne Vandewinkel defeated Vaishnavi Adkar 6-0, 6-1 in the ITF Women’s Open W100 singles final in Bengaluru.
Vaishnavi Adkar became the first Indian woman to reach a W100 singles final since Sania Mirza in 2009.
Vandewinkel earned 100 WTA ranking points and $15,239, while Adkar received 65 points and $8,147.

Chhattisgarh to host first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games from March 25 to April 6.

[Chhattisgarh]

Key Updates:

The inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games will be held from 25 March to 6 April 2026 in Raipur, Jagdalpur and Sarguja, Chhattisgarh.
Seven medal sports are athletics, football, hockey, weightlifting, archery, swimming and wrestling; demonstration sports are mallakhamb and kabaddi.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya stated the Games expand opportunity under PM Modi’s Viksit Bharat vision.
Logo, theme song and mascot 'Morveer' were unveiled on 23 December at Late B. R. Yadav Sports Stadium, Bilaspur, by CM Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy CM Arun Sao.
The event is jointly managed by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Indian Olympic Association, National Sports Federations and Chhattisgarh state committee with international-level technical standards.
Khelo India Games were declared an 'Event of National Importance' in 2020 under the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act, 2007.

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Army defends Khelo India Winter Games team championship (End of February) ▼

Army defended their Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) team championship title by winning nine gold medals overall, eight in the Gulmarg edition.
Himachal Pradesh finished as runners-up in the team championship.
Jammu & Kashmir clinched their first gold of KIWG 2026 through Zubaid Ahmad Lone in the men's giant slalom snowboarding event.
Bhavani Thekkada Nanjunda of Karnataka won the Nordic women's sprint across 1.5 km.
Mayank Panwar of Army was the slalom man of the Games with a pair of gold medals.
In the 15 km nordic skiing race, Mohammad Ali (34:21.49 secs) led Army 1-2-3, followed by Padma Namgail (34:36.74 secs) and Sunny Singh (35:16.83 secs).
Kajal Kumari Rai of CRPF, Mayank Panwar of Army, and Preeti Thakur of Himachal Pradesh each finished with double gold medals in snowboarding.

Bharat Steel 2026 scheduled for 16-17 April at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (Start of March) ▼

Bharat Steel is India’s premier annual steel industry event convened under the Ministry of Steel, Government of India.
The 2026 edition will be held on 16 and 17 April 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Stall booking for the event is currently open.
Russia, Oman, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, South Korea, Mozambique, Brazil and Sweden are listed as International Partners.
Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Maharashtra are listed as State Partners.

Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 to provide Rs 5 lakh annual scholarship for eight years to identified athletes (End of December) ▼

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, will conduct the first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) starting February 14, 2026 in Chhattisgarh.
Promising athletes identified during KITG will be inducted as Khelo India Athletes and receive Rs 5 lakh per year for eight years, including financial support and 360-degree assistance.
The Games will feature seven competitive disciplines—Archery, Athletics, Football, Hockey, Wrestling, Swimming and Weightlifting—and two demonstration sports showcasing indigenous traditions.

Chandigarh University defends Khelo India University Games 2025 title (Mid of December) ▼

Chandigarh University topped the KIUG 2025 medal table with 42 gold, 14 silver and 11 bronze medals.
Lovely Professional University finished runner-up with 32 gold, 25 silver and 22 bronze medals.
The Games were held across seven cities in Rajasthan: Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota and Bharatpur.
Jain University’s Srihari Nataraj was the most successful athlete, winning nine gold and two silver medals.

Balen Shah frontrunner for Nepal Prime Minister after 2026 election

[Nepal]

Key Updates:

Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, is contesting for the post of prime minister after serving three years as the mayor of Kathmandu.
He resigned as Kathmandu's mayor in January to contest the Jhapa 5 seat in the Nepal elections 2026.
Balen Shah is 35 years old and is seen as the frontrunner for the prime minister’s post.
His party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), finished fourth in the 2022 general election and was ahead in 38 seats as per initial trends.
The RSP has promised to create 1.2 million jobs, curb forced migration, raise Nepal’s per capita income from $1,447 to $3,000, and double the country’s GDP to $100 billion within five years.
Balen Shah gained fame as a rapper; his 2020 track 'Balidan' has over 11 million YouTube views.
He pursued a master’s degree in structural engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University in Karnataka.

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Tarique Rahman sworn-in as Prime Minister of Bangladesh. (Mid of February) ▼

Tarique Rahman took oath as Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 17 February at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to Tarique Rahman and his initial cabinet.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won over 200 of the 300 seats in the 12 February parliamentary elections.
Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha (India), attended the ceremony and handed over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal letter to Tarique Rahman.
Other foreign attendees included Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Pakistan Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Nepal Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Sri Lanka Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, and UK Indo-Pacific Under Secretary Seema Malhotra.

Nitish Kumar to contest Rajya Sabha elections from Bihar. (Start of March) ▼

Nitish Kumar announced on March 5, 2026, that he will file nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 16, 2026.
Kumar took oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for a record 10th time on November 20, 2025, following the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) victory in the 2025 Assembly elections.
If elected, Kumar will have served in all four legislative roles: MLA, MLC, Lok Sabha MP, and Rajya Sabha MP.
The Rajya Sabha elections will fill five vacancies from Bihar arising from the retirement of Harivansh Narayan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur of Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Upendra Kushwaha of Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
Probable Chief Minister candidates from BJP include Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Industry Minister Dilip Jaiswal, and Digha MLA Sanjeev Chourasia.
JD(U) is likely to have two Deputy CMs: Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Nishant Kumar, son of Nitish Kumar.

Nitai Roy Chowdhury sworn in as cabinet minister in Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government. (Mid of February) ▼

Nitai Roy Chowdhury is the only Hindu minister in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's cabinet.
He was elected MP from Magura-2 on a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) ticket, defeating Jamaat-e-Islami rival.
Chowdhury previously served as Minister of Youth and Sports for about three months from September 1990 in Hussain Muhammad Ershad's government.
He is Vice Chairman of BNP's Central Committee and a senior advisor and strategist to the party leadership.
Chowdhury is an alumnus of University of Dhaka and studied law there after early education at Magura Government College.
His daughter Nipun Roy Chowdhury is an active BNP member and has held district-level leadership positions.

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.