Daily Current Affairs: 10 March 2026

Elon Musk Ranked Wealthiest in Hurun Global Rich List 2026; Mukesh Ambani Named Richest Person in Asia

Key Updates:

• Elon Musk, aged 54, was ranked the wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of US$792 billion, followed by Jeff Bezos of Amazon (US$300 billion) and Larry Page of Alphabet (US$271 billion).
• Larry Ellison of Oracle (US$267 billion) and Sergey Brin (US$247 billion) were ranked fourth and fifth, followed by Mark Zuckerberg of Meta (US$234 billion), Bernard Arnault of LVMH (US$178 billion), and Warren Buffett (US$173 billion).
• Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) was named the richest person in Asia with a wealth of US$109 billion, while Gautam Adani ranked second in India with US$83 billion.
• Cyrus Poonawalla of the Serum Institute of India (SII) recorded a wealth of US$33 billion, followed by Lakshmi N Mittal (US$25 billion), Niraj Bajaj of Bajaj Auto (US$24 billion), and Anil Agarwal (US$18 billion).
• Uday Kotak was ranked with a wealth of US$16 billion, while new Indian billionaires included Shahid Bilakhia of Meril Life Science (US$6.2 billion) and Basant Bansal of M3M India (US$4.6 billion).
• Other Indian entrants were Madhusudhan Agarwal (US$4.3 billion) and Rajendrakumar Agrawal (US$3.8 billion) of Haldirams, Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari of Physics Wallah (US$1.7 billion each), Ritesh Agarwal of OYO (US$1.6 billion), and actor Shah Rukh Khan (US$1.3 billion).
• Jensen Huang of Nvidia entered the global top 10 for the first time with US$172 billion, while Steve Ballmer rounded out the top 10 with US$159 billion.
• Bill Gates dropped out of the top 10 after donating US$20 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), while the report recorded the deaths of Wang Linpeng (56), Shao Genhuo (60), Henri Beaufour (60), James Irsay (65), David Murdock (102), and S. Daniel Abraham (100).

Romania Ratifies International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement

[Romania, International Solar Alliance]

Key Updates:

• Romania’s Ambassador Sena Latif presented the Instrument of Ratification to Joint Secretary (ED) P.S. Gangadhar, the Head of Depository.
• Secretary (ER) Sudhakar Dalela of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Romanian Vice Minister Clara Alexandra Volintiru witnessed the ratification.
• Romania became a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) after depositing its ratification.

KG George, 1965 India-Pakistan War Veteran and Vir Chakra Recipient, Dies at 95

[Pakistan]

Key Updates:

• Retired Lance Havildar K G George, a veteran of the 1965 India-Pakistan War, passed away at the age of 95 in Kottayam, Kerala.
• He was a recipient of the Vir Chakra, which is the third highest wartime gallantry award in India.
• George served in the Indian Army's Corps of Signals, a unit that was established on 15 February 1911.
• He was cited for restoring disrupted communications in the Wagah Sector in Pakistan under persistent enemy shelling between 6 and 10 September 1965.
• On the night of 8 and 9 September 1965, he established a vital line of communication from Brigade Headquarters to forward battalions during an enemy attack.
• Born in February 1931 in Kerala, the veteran was recognised for displaying courage and devotion to duty of a high order during his military service.

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) dismantles darknet drug syndicate Team Kalki using cryptocurrency

[Narcotics Control Bureau]

Key Updates:

• The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) dismantled a nationwide darknet-based drug trafficking network operating under the name Team Kalki.
• The syndicate utilized the dark web forum Dread and the encrypted messaging application Session to coordinate synthetic drug deliveries across India.
• Seized narcotics included 2,338 LSD blotters, 160 MDMA pills (77.5 grams), 73.6 grams of charas, 3.6 grams of amphetamine, and 3.6 kg of liquid MDMA.
• The network employed a cryptocurrency-based payment system involving unhosted wallets and privacy coins such as Monero and USDT (Tether).
• Funds were routed through intermediary wallets and cold storage accounts, with proceeds laundered through mule Know Your Customer (KYC)-compliant wallets into bank accounts.
• The NCB traced drug consignments to several states including Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, and Karnataka.
• The syndicate sourced LSD and MDMA from darknet vendors located in the Netherlands, Poland, and Germany.

Payr secures $2.1 million seed funding to modernise UK rent payments via credit cards.

[United Kingdom]

Key Updates:

• London-based fintech Payr raised $2.1 million in seed funding led by Ingenii Capital with participation from Haatch, Velocity Capital, British Business Bank and strategic angel investors.
• Payr enables UK tenants to pay rent using existing credit cards while landlords continue receiving payments through standard bank transfers without registration or software changes.
• The UK rent payment market targeted by Payr is estimated at $165 billion annually.
• Fresh capital will be used to strengthen payment infrastructure, expand product integrations and build partnerships across the residential property ecosystem.

Bank of Baroda (BoB) raises ₹10,000 crore via 7-year green infra bonds at 7.10% coupon.

[Bank of Baroda]

Key Updates:

• Bank of Baroda (BoB) issued its first 7-year green infra bond, raising ₹10,000 crore at a coupon of 7.10%.
• The issue received bids totalling ₹16,000 crore, allowing full utilisation of the ₹5,000 crore green-shoe option over the base ₹5,000 crore target.
• Proceeds will finance renewable energy projects—wind, solar, hydro, bioenergy—and energy-efficient infrastructure projects.
• The bonds were subscribed by domestic institutional investors including life insurance companies, pension and provident funds.
• Rating agencies Care and ICRA assigned AAA rating to the bond issue.
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) withdrew its proposed ₹8,000 crore NCD issue (₹2,000 crore base plus ₹6,000 crore green-shoe) due to investor-demand mismatch for the 3-year 4-month tenor.
• SIDBI’s withdrawal is rare and highlights weaker appetite for short-tenor AAA paper at expected fine pricing versus long-duration bonds.

Swiggy and HDFC Bank launch BLCK and Ornge co-branded credit cards with up to ₹48,000 annual savings.

[Swiggy, HDFC Bank]

Key Updates:

• Swiggy and HDFC Bank introduced Swiggy BLCK HDFC Bank Credit Card and Swiggy Ornge HDFC Bank Credit Card.
• Both cards target food delivery, quick commerce, travel, and online shopping users.
• Cardholders can earn up to ₹48,000 in annual savings through cashback and partner discounts.
• The cards amplify 5% cashback earnings across various partner merchants alongside Swiggy cashback.
• Rewards ecosystem covers over 30 online platforms including Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Cleartrip, and Nykaa.
• Existing Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card holders launched in 2023 continue to receive cashback benefits.
• Applications for the new cards will be accepted via the Swiggy app and HDFC Bank digital channels in a phased rollout.

Fino Payments Bank Appoints Ketan Merchant as Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Anup Agarwal as Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

[Fino Payments Bank]

Key Updates:

• The board of Fino Payments Bank has approved the appointment of Ketan Merchant as Interim CEO, subject to approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Merchant will carry out the duties of the Managing Director (MD) and CEO under the Banking Regulation Act for a period not exceeding four months from the date of RBI approval.
• Anup Agarwal has been appointed as the Interim CFO for a period of up to four months with effect from 6 March 2026.
• The appointments follow the arrest of MD and CEO Rishi Gupta by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) in connection with an alleged Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion probe.
• Merchant joined the bank in 2018 and has over 27 years of banking experience, including previous roles at HSBC, Standard Chartered, and Barclays.
• Agarwal is a Chartered Accountant with around 20 years of experience and has been associated with the bank since June 2022, leading Finance – Investor Relations & Analytics.

Kerala Cyber Safety Protocol 2026 to secure students in AI era

[Kerala]

Key Updates:

• Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) published the 'Cyber Safety Protocol 2026' to create a secure digital learning environment in public schools.
• The protocol lists 13 core objectives including awareness on sharing confidential data with Generative AI and cultivating critical thinking toward digital content.
• It defines nine operational areas covering academic AI integration, administrative data management and maintenance of secure online learning spaces.
• School heads must ensure 17 mandates such as teacher-supervised internet access during school hours and formation of School Cyber Security Committees.
• Teachers are advised to avoid homework requiring internet and must provide school-based access for programmes like 'Key to Entrance'.
• Students receive 25 safety guidelines including identifying suspicious links, protecting live locations on social media and managing permissions in online gaming.
• Parents are given 16 actionable guidelines on screen time management, understanding digital footprints and using monitoring tools like Family Link.
• The framework integrates protections from IT Act 2000, DPDP Act 2023 and POCSO Act and incorporates 2026 IT rule amendments on Synthetically Generated Information (SGI).
• It details 20 major cyber threats such as deepfakes, AI grooming and 'digital arrest' along with legal contexts and precautions.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) launches 'Say No To Proxy Sarpanch' campaign

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) launched the 'Say No To Proxy Sarpanch' social media campaign on 8 March 2026 to combat the 'Sarpanch Pati' practice.
• The campaign runs from 8 March to 18 March 2026 and targets proxy leadership where male relatives exercise authority in place of elected women sarpanches.
• An advisory committee set up by MoPR in September 2023 recommended exemplary penalties for proven proxy leadership cases and a helpline-based reporting mechanism with whistleblower rewards.

Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) 2.0: Uttarakhand Ranks First Nationally

[Uttarakhand]

Key Updates:

• Uttarakhand has secured the first position in the national implementation of the ICJS 2.0 with a score of 93.46, as per data up to January 2026.
• The ranking was published in the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS)/ICJS Progress Dashboard of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
• The top five performing states are Uttarakhand (93.46), Haryana (93.41), Assam (93.16), Sikkim (91.82), and Madhya Pradesh (90.55).
• The implementation covers the new criminal laws: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).
• The ICJS 2.0 framework employs a One Data, One Entry mechanism to integrate data across Police (CCTNS), e-Courts, e-Prisons, e-Prosecution, and e-Forensics.
• The e-Sakshya mobile application is used for mandatory videography of crime scenes and secure storage of digital evidence.
• The state has introduced Nyaya Shruti for virtual court hearings and prioritised the use of forensic mobile vans.
• More than 23,000 police personnel in Uttarakhand have been trained on the provisions of the new legal framework.

Government constitutes 17-member committee for comprehensive SEZ 2.0 reforms

Key Updates:

• The government has constituted a 17-member committee to recommend broad-based reforms for a new SEZ 2.0 policy.
• The committee will submit a concept paper with a roadmap for harmonising SEZs with export-oriented units (EoUs), MOOWR, Advance Authorisation, EPCG, and Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA).
• Members are drawn from the commerce ministry, customs, NITI Aayog, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
• The committee will review the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act, 2005, to assess its effectiveness in the current global trade and investment environment.
• It will evaluate recent and proposed reforms covering Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) sales, fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, compliance requirements, and operational flexibilities.
• The panel will assess SEZ performance in attracting domestic and foreign investment, promoting manufacturing and services, technology upgradation, value addition, and employment, including for MSMEs.
• It will identify operational, procedural, and regulatory challenges faced by SEZ developers and units, covering customs, taxation, compliance burden, infrastructure, and stakeholder coordination.

Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) outlay raised to ₹40,000 crore

Key Updates:

• Union Budget 2026-27 increased the outlay for the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) to ₹40,000 crore to deepen domestic electronics manufacturing capacity.
• NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery met Tata Electronics MD & CEO Randhir Thakur to discuss scaling electronics production, strengthening resilient supply chains and enhancing India’s participation in global value chains.
• The policy push aligns with the government’s atmanirbhar Bharat drive in the semiconductor and electronics space.
• India’s electronics production has risen nearly six-fold in the past eleven years, creating 25 lakh jobs and establishing the country as a major electronics-manufacturing hub.

Goa Budget 2026-27: ₹30,195 crore outlay with ₹1,357 crore Central assistance

[Goa]

Key Updates:

• Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presented a ₹30,195 crore budget for 2026-27 in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
• The budget expects ₹1,357 crore assistance from the Central government for various schemes and an additional ₹1,600 crore as special assistance from the Government of India.
• A dedicated cell for implementing centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) will prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) for different central sector schemes.
• The fiscal deficit is projected at ₹3,895 crore, or 2.9%, keeping borrowings at 33% of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) limit.
• The state commercial tax department has been given a revenue target of ₹6,945 crore for 2026-27.
• New excise licence fees raised to ₹20 lakh for Goans and ₹25 lakh for non-Goans to control new liquor outlets, restaurants, and bars.

India and New Zealand discuss expanding sports cooperation as 2026 marks 100 years of sporting ties

[New Zealand]

Key Updates:

• Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level ministerial meeting with the New Zealand sports delegation in New Delhi to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in sports.
• The year 2026 marks 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand, dating back to the 1926 Indian Army hockey tour to New Zealand.
• The Indian delegation included Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), senior officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Indian Olympic Association, and representatives from national sports federations.
• Priority sports identified for collaboration include rugby, rowing, canoeing, sailing, athletics, and cycling.
• The New Zealand delegation was led by Chris Bishop, Associate Minister for Sport and Recreation, and included Patrick John Rata, New Zealand High Commissioner to India, former international cricketer Ross Taylor, Raelene Castle, CEO of Sport New Zealand, and representatives from Hockey New Zealand, Athletics New Zealand, and Paralympics New Zealand.
• The discussions focused on the India-New Zealand Centenary Sports Cooperation Programme 2026, a year-long initiative to commemorate the centenary of sporting ties and expand collaboration in sports development, high-performance training, innovation, and people-to-people engagement.
• Both sides discussed organising a proposed 'India-New Zealand Sports and Culture Week' to be hosted across cities in both countries.
• A key focus was strengthening collaboration in high-performance sports through joint training camps, coaching exchanges, and knowledge sharing in sports science, analytics, and athlete performance systems.
• The discussions explored integrating New Zealand's coach development framework into the curriculum of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala.
• Both countries agreed to constitute a Joint Working Group to oversee implementation of the cooperation framework, nominate nodal officers, and establish a monitoring mechanism with periodic reviews.

India and Seychelles commence 11th edition of Lamitiye exercise

[Seychelles]

Key Updates:

• The 11th edition of the biennial Joint Military Exercise 'Lamitiye' is being held in Seychelles from 9 March to 20 March 2026.
• The exercise is conducted at the Seychelles Defence Academy and involves the tri-service Indian contingent and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF).
• The Indian contingent includes personnel from the Assam Regiment, Indian Navy ship INS Trikand, and an Indian Air Force C-130 aircraft.
• Exercise Lamitiye, meaning 'friendship' in Creole, has been held in Seychelles since 2001.
• The 12-day programme features field training exercises, combat discussions, case studies, lectures, and a two-day validation exercise.

Iran Kharg Island remains central to United States and Israel strategic calculations

[Iran, United States, Israel]

Key Updates:

• Kharg Island is a coral island located 25 km off the Iranian coast in the Persian Gulf, serving as the country's primary crude oil export terminal.
• The facility handles approximately 90% of Iran’s crude exports and has the capacity to load up to 7 million barrels of oil per day.
• Developed in the 1960s with assistance from the United States (US) company Amoco, the terminal is connected to southern Iranian oilfields via subsea pipelines.
• Satellite imagery from the European Union (EU) Copernicus Browser showed a very-large crude carrier at the island on 2 March during the US and Israel military campaign titled Operation Epic Fury.
• The island is situated near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint that facilitates one-fifth of global oil shipments, primarily to Asian markets including China.
• White House energy adviser Jarrod Agen indicated that US strategic goals could involve seizing the island to restrict Iran's oil revenues.

India remains world’s 2nd largest arms importer despite Make-in-India push: SIPRI report

Key Updates:

• India held 8.2% of global major arms imports between 2021 and 2025, ranking second worldwide.
• Russia’s share of Indian arms imports fell from 70% in 2011-15 to 40% in 2021-25.
• France and Israel raised their shares to 29% and 15% respectively in 2021-25.
• India’s arms imports dropped 4% compared with the 2016-2020 period owing to emphasis on indigenous production.
• Planned purchases include 114 Rafale fighters from France (approx. ₹3.25 lakh crore), six AIP-equipped submarines from Germany, six additional P-8I aircraft from the United States, and missile defence plus drone deals with Israel.
• The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) cited Operation Sindoor and the dual threat from China and Pakistan as drivers for India’s import volumes.
• Pakistan sourced about 80% of its arms from China and rose to become the 5th largest global recipient in 2021-25, up from 10th in 2016-20.
• Top five arms importers for 2021-25 were Ukraine, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan, together accounting for 35% of global imports.
• Global arms transfers grew 9.2% in 2021-25 versus 2016-20.
• The United States (US) led exporters with 42% of global exports, followed by France (9.8%) and Russia (6.8%).
• Europe became the largest importing region (33%) for the first time since the 1960s, followed by Asia and Oceania (31%) and West Asia (26%).

Iran appoints Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader on 8 March 2026

[Iran]

Key Updates:

• The 88-member Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei, aged 56, as the new Supreme Leader of Iran.
• The appointment follows the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint United States (US) and Israeli strikes.
• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian armed forces have pledged their support to the new leader.
• Key political figures supporting the appointment include President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
• Ali Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), is currently steering the national security strategy.
• Sadiq Larijani serves as the head of the Expediency Council, which also backed the appointment.
• Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described following the new leader as a religious and national duty.
• Mojtaba Khamenei succeeds his father, who held power since 1989 after the first Supreme Leader, Ruhollah Khomeini.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged unwavering support for the appointment, while China opposed any targeting of the new leader.

Rare marine amphipod Stenothoe lowryi discovered in Odisha

Key Updates:

• Researchers from Berhampur University (BU) have discovered a rare shrimp-like marine amphipod species, Stenothoe lowryi, for the first time in Indian waters at Arjyapalli in Ganjam district, Odisha.
• The species was previously recorded only in Malaysia and is distinguished by its large claws, a length of approximately 5.5 mm, and a preference for rocky environments.
• The study was conducted using funds provided under the Mukhyamantri Research Innovation Extramural Programme (MRIEP) of the Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC) 2024-25.
• The research findings, led by Assistant Professor Shesdev Patro, have been published in the latest edition of the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.
• The BU research team previously discovered the marine amphipod Grandidierella geetanjalae from Chilika lagoon in January last year and Parhyale odian from Chilika lake in November 2022.

Scientists discover 200-million-year-old bipedal reptile species Sonselasuchus cedrus in USA

[USA]

Key Updates:

• Paleontologists from the University of Washington (UW) and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture have identified a new ancient reptile species named Sonselasuchus cedrus.
• The species belongs to the shuvosaurid group and existed during the Late Triassic period, approximately 225 to 201 million years ago.
• Fossils of the reptile were discovered in the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, United States (US), with nearly 950 specimens recovered since 2014.
• Sonselasuchus cedrus stood approximately 25 inches tall and featured a toothless beak, large eye sockets, and hollow bones.
• The creature exhibited bipedalism, transitioning from walking on four legs to two legs as its hind legs grew longer and stronger with age.
• The discovery indicates that traits such as bipedalism and toothless beaks, typically associated with ornithomimid dinosaurs, also evolved independently within the crocodilian lineage.

Entomologists discover two new fruit-fly species and genus Rhagoletis in Himachal Pradesh using patented Solan Bait

[Himachal Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Entomologists identified two new fruit-fly species, Acidoxantha paratotoflava and Hemilea suneriae, in the Solan region of Himachal Pradesh.
• Acidoxantha paratotoflava is a medium-sized greenish-yellow fly with four black thoracic stripes and larger abdominal black spots, plus unique hook-like male structures.
• Hemilea suneriae is a reddish-brown fly with prominent black dots and a single clear wing window, named in memory of Maneesh Pal Singh’s mother Verma Suneri.
• The study recorded the genus Rhagoletis in India for the first time, a group globally known for infesting fruit crops.
• Researchers captured and described the male of Euphranta nigripeda, previously known only from females since 1913.
• The team used sweep nets and the patented female attractant Solan Bait to lure the elusive flies for examination.
• Host plants identified include the Silk Cotton tree (Bombax ceiba), aiding ecosystem understanding.

Baylor University-led team unearths intact 2,600-year-old Etruscan tomb in central Italy

[Italy]

Key Updates:

• The San Giuliano Archaeological Research Project (SGARP), led by Baylor University, discovered an undisturbed Etruscan chamber tomb at the San Giuliano necropolis approximately 70 kilometres northwest of Rome.
• The sealed tomb dates to the 7th century BC and contains the remains of four individuals laid on carved stone beds surrounded by over 100 grave goods including ceramic vases, iron weapons, bronze ornaments, and silver hair spools.
• The excavation operates under Italy’s Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Virgil Academy in Rome and the town of Barbarano Romano.
• Since 2016 Baylor University students have participated in the excavation through the ‘Archaeology Research in Italy’ study abroad programme, gaining hands-on experience in stratigraphic excavation and artifact documentation under Italian heritage law frameworks.

Koala population rebound in southeastern Australia boosts genetic diversity and curbs inbreeding risks.

[Australia]

Key Updates:

• Koala numbers in Victoria rebounded from ~500 in the early 20th century to nearly 500,000 by 2020.
• Research published on 5 March in Science analysed genetic data from 418 koalas across 27 populations in eastern Australia.
• Rapid population growth has increased beneficial genetic combinations and reduced rates of tooth and testicle malformations in Victorian koalas.
• Northern koalas currently show higher genetic diversity but face a genetic bottleneck due to population decline.
• Cesar Australia evolutionary biologist Collin Aherns compared the recovery pattern to the Roesel’s bush cricket in Sweden, which regained lost genetic diversity in 15 generations.
• University of East Anglia evolutionary geneticist Cock van Oosterhout noted that wild-species data supporting evolutionary recovery theories remain limited.

Sambar deer recorded at high altitudes in Chamba for the first time

Key Updates:

• The Wildlife Wing of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department recorded the presence of sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) in high-altitude areas of Chamba district through camera traps.
• The species was documented in the Kalatop-Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary and Gamgul Wildlife Sanctuary, which are situated at elevations exceeding 2,500 metres and 3,000 metres respectively.
• The finding has been published in the February quarterly edition of the Records of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
• The sambar deer is the largest deer species in South Asia and is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
• The species is protected under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The Kalatop-Khajjiar landscape now hosts three different deer species: sambar deer, musk deer, and barking deer.
• Chamba district contains nearly 985 sq km of protected forest area, including the Kugti, Tundah, and Sechu Tuan Nala wildlife sanctuaries.

IIT-Guwahati (IIT-G) partners with Coventry University Group (CUG) for AI in healthcare

[Coventry University Group]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Coventry University Group (CUG), UK, to strengthen global research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and healthcare.
• The strategic partnership aims to expand research collaboration, support academic mobility, and enable joint degree initiatives between the two institutions.
• The collaboration is structured around academic and research mobility, including short-term faculty and student exchanges.
• The agreement includes the establishment of joint doctoral programmes featuring a dual-award PhD under a joint supervision framework.
• The partnership focuses on AI for One Health, which aligns with the National AI Mission of India.
• The MoU was formalised during a visit to IIT-G by a delegation from CUG led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Richard Dashwood.

ISRO and ESA sign new Earth observation cooperation pact

[European Space Agency]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed the 'ESA–ISRO Arrangement concerning Joint Calibration and Validation Activities and Scientific Studies for Earth Observation Missions' on 4 March 2026.
• ISRO Scientific Secretary M. Ganesh Pillai and ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes Simonetta Cheli signed the agreement virtually.
• The collaboration covers Earth observation, navigation systems, ground station support and human spaceflight cooperation.
• The partnership between ISRO and ESA began in 1978 and was renewed in 2002.
• The upcoming ESA Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) mission will benefit from joint calibration and validation campaigns.
• ISRO and ESA have previously cooperated on ground station support for Chandrayaan and Aditya missions and on deep-space communications.

9,111 Dombivli women set Guinness record with lezim dance

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

• 9,111 women in Dombivli, Thane district, set a new Guinness World Record for the largest lezim dance performance on International Women's Day.
• The previous record was held by 7,338 participants from Sangli Shikshan Sanstha.
• The five-and-a-half-minute performance took place at the Shri Sant Savalaram Sports Complex.
• Swapnil Dangarikar, the official Guinness adjudicator, confirmed the record.
• The event was organised by Dombivlikar Ek Sanskriti Parivar, led by Maharashtra BJP president and local MLA Ravindra Chavan.

George Russell wins 2026 Australian Grand Prix for Mercedes

[Australia]

Key Updates:

• George Russell (No. 63 Mercedes) won the season-opening 2026 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
• Russell secured pole position and led a Mercedes 1-2 finish with teammate Kimi Antonelli (No. 12) in second place.
• Charles Leclerc (No. 16 Ferrari) finished third after Ferrari’s strategy error.
• Oscar Piastri (No. 81 McLaren) crashed 40 minutes before the start after hitting a curb and did not start the race.
• The Mercedes power-unit, under scrutiny from rival teams, remains legal and powered Russell to victory.

India dispatches 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to drought-hit Malawi on March 9

Key Updates:

• India dispatched 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to Malawi from Nhava Sheva Port on March 9.
• The humanitarian aid responds to drought caused by the El Niño effect.
• Over 4 million people, roughly 20 per cent of Malawi’s population, face acute food shortages.
• Lake Chilwa and other major water bodies have dried up, prompting Malawi to declare a state of disaster.
• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced the dispatch on X.
• President Droupadi Murmu undertook a State visit to Malawi in 2024 and signed MoUs on arts and culture, youth matters, sports and pharmaceutical cooperation.

150-million-year-old dinosaur eggs discovered in Portugal on March 9, 2026

[Portugal]

Key Updates:

• A nest containing 10 intact dinosaur eggs from the Upper Jurassic era was discovered at Santa Cruz Beach in Torres Vedras, Portugal.
• The discovery was made by Carlos Natário, a researcher at the Centre for Research in Paleobiology and Paleoecology (Ci2Paleo) under the Torres Vedras Natural History Society (SHN).
• Preliminary studies suggest the eggs, measuring 5 centimetres in diameter, belong to a carnivorous theropod, which was a two-legged predator of the Jurassic era.
• Researchers at the SHN laboratory are using Computed Tomography (CT) scans to perform a virtual excavation and create high-resolution 3D models of the egg interiors.
• The eggs were found in granular sandstone, indicating they were laid on a riverbank and fossilised at the original location without being moved by ancient floods.

Global Mumps Resurgence reported with 100,000 cases in 2025

Key Updates:

• Mumps is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects the parotid salivary glands, causing painful swelling near the jaw or cheeks.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 100,000 cases worldwide in 2025, primarily in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.
• The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is the primary tool for prevention, with two doses providing approximately 88 per cent effectiveness and one dose offering 78 per cent protection.
• According to WHO and CDC guidance, children should receive the first dose of the MMR vaccine at 12–15 months and the second dose at 4–6 years.
• Potential complications of the disease include orchitis (inflammation of testes), oophoritis (inflammation of ovaries), meningitis, encephalitis, pancreatitis, and hearing loss.
• There is no specific antiviral treatment for mumps, and infected individuals should isolate for at least five days after symptoms appear to prevent transmission.