📰 Daily Briefing Saturday, Mar 14

Daily Current Affairs: 14 March 2026

Analysis for 14 March 2026

Krishnan Raghavan posthumously conferred Padma Shri.

Key Updates:

  • Krishnan Raghavan, pen-name 'Kitna', was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for 2023.
  • He belonged to the Alu Kurumba tribal community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.
  • The award recognised his role in reviving and popularising the 3,000-year-old Kurumba painting tradition.
  • Fewer than 10 indigenous Kurumba painters remain, with only three knowing the natural colour extraction techniques.

Similar Coverage

Padma Shri Awardee Utsav Charan Das Dies at 80 (Start of March) ▼
  • Renowned Odia folk dancer Utsav Charan Das passed away at the age of 80 in Choudwar, Cuttack.
  • He was a celebrated exponent of Odisha's traditional folk dance form known as Ghoda Nacha (horse dance).
  • The Government of India conferred the Padma Shri upon him in 2020 for his six-decade-long dedication to preserving and popularising the dance form.
  • He was also honoured by the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi for his outstanding contribution to traditional performing arts.
  • Born in Tangimania village and raised in Choudwar, he began his journey in Ghoda Nacha while studying in Class 8.
  • He is credited with training generations of artistes and elevating the rural cultural tradition of Ghoda Nacha to national platforms.
Prof Hermann Kulke passes away at 87; Padma Shri awardee and global voice of Odisha history. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Prof Hermann Kulke, eminent historian and Indologist, died on Tuesday at the age of 87.
  • He was born in Berlin in 1938 and held the position of Professor Emeritus of South and Southeast Asian History at Kiel University in Germany.
  • He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2010 for his contributions to Indology and Odisha studies.
  • Kulke was a founding member and coordinator of the first two Orissa Research Projects of the German Research Council.
  • He completed his PhD in Indology on the temple city of Chidambaram from Freiburg University in 1967.
  • He earned his D.Litt on Gajapati Kingship and the Jagannath Cult from Heidelberg University in 1975.
  • Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo condoled his death and highlighted his pioneering research on Odisha’s heritage.
K Pajanivel Conferred Padma Shri Award (End of January) ▼
  • K Pajanivel, a 53-year-old Silambattam exponent from Puducherry, has been conferred the Padma Shri award by the Centre.
  • He has been practicing and teaching the ancient stick-based martial art for 40 years.
  • Pajanivel hails from the rural Poornankuppam area of Puducherry.
  • The award recognizes his efforts in preserving and promoting the traditional martial art form.
  • Silambattam is highlighted for its benefits in improving mental agility, concentration, and self-defence.
Late T T Jagannathan awarded Padma Shri posthumously in trade and industry category. (End of January) ▼
  • Late T T Jagannathan, chairman emeritus of TTK Prestige Group, received the Padma Shri posthumously for his contributions to trade and industry.
  • He invented the GRS safety mechanism for pressure cookers and transformed TTK Prestige into a globally exported cookware brand.
  • Jagannathan served on the TTK Prestige board for 50 years and led the group to become debt-free.
  • He was a gold medallist from IIT Madras and held a PhD in operations from Cornell University, USA.
  • He authored the book 'Disrupt And Conquer - How TTK Prestige Became A Billion Dollar Company'.
  • Jagannathan passed away in October 2025 at the age of 77.

Arpita Patra summits world’s highest volcanic peak Ojos Del Salado

[Chile]

Key Updates:

  • Arpita Patra, a faculty member of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, became the first Bengali woman to scale Ojos Del Salado.
  • Ojos Del Salado is the highest volcanic peak in the world, standing at an altitude of 22,615 feet on the Chile-Argentina border.
  • The climber reached the summit on 7 March 2026, after starting the final ascent from the base camp in the Atacama Desert.
  • As part of the acclimatisation process, she completed climbs of Laguna Verde (over 14,000 feet) and Nevado San Francisco (over 19,700 feet).
  • Patra has previously scaled four other volcanic peaks prior to this successful expedition.
  • The final stretch of the climb involved a steep 50-metre slope at an altitude of nearly 7,000 metres amid cold and strong winds.

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NIM and JIM&WS Joint Team Summits Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina (End of February) ▼
  • A six-member joint team from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi and the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM&WS), Pahalgam successfully summited Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina on February 22, 2026.
  • Mt. Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America and the second-highest peak in the world outside of Asia.
  • The team was led by Col Hem Chandra Singh, Principal of NIM and JIM&WS, and was ceremonially flagged off by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on February 5, 2026.
  • The team reached the summit at 14:10 hours after completing acclimatisation at Bonete Peak (5,050m).
  • The expedition members included Capt G Santhosh Kumar, Shri Deep Bahadur Sahi, Shri Vinod Gusai, Nb Sub Bhupinder Singh, and Hav Ramesh Kumar.
Rajnath Singh flagged off joint NIM-JIM&WS expedition to Mount Aconcagua. (Start of February) ▼
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the joint expedition to Mount Aconcagua, Argentina, on 5 February 2026.
  • The expedition is organised by Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi, and Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM&WS), Pahalgam.
  • Mount Aconcagua, at 6,961 metres, is the highest peak in South America and the tallest mountain outside Asia.
  • The six-member instructor team includes Col Hem Chandra Singh, Capt G Santhosh Kumar, and Deep Bahadur Sahi.
  • The expedition commenced on 6 February 2026 and is scheduled to conclude by the end of February 2026.
Indonesia Raises Alert for Mount Bur Ni Telong Amid Increased Volcanic Activity (Start of January) ▼
  • Indonesian authorities have escalated the alert level for Mount Bur Ni Telong volcano, located in the western Aceh province, following heightened volcanic activity.
  • The stratovolcano, standing at 2,624 meters, has shown an increased frequency of both shallow and deep volcanic earthquakes.
  • Officials are evacuating nearby residents and urge caution around fumaroles and solfataras due to toxic gases.
Aritra Roy summited Mt. Aconcagua in HAL-sponsored solo expedition. (Mid of January) ▼
  • Aritra Roy is a HAL-sponsored Indian mountaineer.
  • He summited Mt. Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside Asia, standing at 6,967.15 metres above mean sea level.
  • The solo expedition was fully sponsored by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
  • Roy reached the summit on January 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM local time.
  • He completed a 44-kilometre trek and faced temperatures plunging to minus 40 degrees Celsius, snowstorms and blizzards.
  • HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr D K Sunil congratulated Roy on the achievement.
  • Roy dedicated the summit to those who aspire to dream big and pursue their goals with perseverance.

Canara Bank raises MCLR-linked lending rates by 10 basis points for 2-3 year tenors.

[Canara Bank]

Key Updates:

  • Canara Bank increased the 2-year MCLR to 8.95% from 8.85% effective Thursday.
  • The 3-year MCLR was raised to 9% from 8.90%.
  • Roughly half of Canara Bank’s loan book is linked to MCLR.
  • The bank’s loan portfolio stood at Rs 11.92 lakh crore as of December end.
  • Bank of Baroda and Uco Bank kept their MCLR rates unchanged on Tuesday.
  • Uco Bank reduced treasury bill-linked benchmark rates by 5 basis points for 3-month and 6-month tenors while leaving the 1-year rate unchanged.

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Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) cuts Base Rate and Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR). (Start of January) ▼
  • Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) revised its Base Rate from 11.15 per cent to 10.70 per cent.
  • KVB also reduced the Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR) from 16.15 per cent to 15.70 per cent.
  • Both revised rates will be effective from January 07, 2026.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposes 6-year Kisan Credit Card (KCC) tenure and higher loan limits. (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed merging all existing KCC instructions into a single unified guideline for banks.
  • The proposed KCC framework extends total facility validity to six years.
  • Credit limits will be aligned with the officially approved Scale of Finance for each crop season.
  • Expenses on technological interventions such as modern farm equipment and agri-tech tools may be formally included as eligible uses under KCC.
  • Under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), farmers can access short-term crop loans at 7 per cent interest through KCC.
  • The government provides 1.5 per cent interest subvention to lending institutions under MISS.
  • Timely repayment gives farmers an additional 3 per cent prompt repayment incentive, reducing the effective interest rate to 4 per cent per year.
  • The loan limit under MISS has been raised from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh in the latest Budget.
  • For animal husbandry and fisheries, interest benefit is available on loans up to ₹2 lakh under MISS.
  • By 31 December 2024, about 5.9 crore farmers had been mapped on the Kisan Rin Portal (KRP).
  • Interest subvention claims worth over ₹1.08 trillion had been processed through KRP by 31 December 2024.
  • As of March 2024, there were around 7.75 crore KCC accounts with outstanding credit of about ₹9.81 lakh crore.
Government of India keeps small savings scheme interest rates unchanged for January–March 2026 quarter. (Start of January) ▼
  • Interest rates on all major small savings instruments remain unchanged for the January–March 2026 quarter.
  • Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) and Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA) offer the highest rate at 8.2 per cent.
  • Public Provident Fund (PPF) continues at 7.1 per cent with exempt–exempt–exempt tax status.
  • National Savings Certificate (NSC) offers 7.7 per cent annual compounding and qualifies for Section 80C deduction.
  • Five-year Post Office Time Deposit provides 7.5 per cent and is eligible for Section 80C benefits.
  • Monthly Income Scheme pays 7.4 per cent with monthly interest payouts.
  • Kisan Vikas Patra carries 7.5 per cent interest and matures in 115 months.
  • Post Office Savings Account retains 4 per cent interest rate.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) keeps repo rate at 5.25% and caps fraud-hit customer compensation at ₹25,000 or 85% of amount (Start of February) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% after the sixth bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee meeting of FY26 concluded on 4 February.
  • The policy stance remains 'neutral'.
  • Since February 2025 the RBI has cumulatively cut the repo rate by 125 basis points.
  • The Standing Deposit Facility rate stays at 5%, while the Marginal Standing Facility rate and Bank Rate remain at 5.5%.
  • Consumer price inflation stood at 1.33% year-on-year in December 2025 (provisional).
  • Fraud-hit bank customers will be compensated up to ₹25,000 or 85% of the lost amount, whichever is lower.

South Indian Bank partners with Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to launch EPF payment services

[Employees' Provident Fund Organisation]

Key Updates:

  • South Indian Bank has integrated EPFO payment services into its internet banking platform SIBerNet.
  • Employers and establishments can now remit EPF contributions, dues, remittances and related charges directly through the EPFO portal using South Indian Bank's net banking facility.
  • The integration was completed between the Thrissur-based bank and EPFO.

Similar Coverage

Mansukh Mandaviya chairs 239th Central Board of Trustees (CBT) meeting of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). (Start of March) ▼
  • Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour and Employment, chaired the 239th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) in New Delhi.
  • The CBT recommended an annual interest rate of 8.25% to be credited to EPF accumulations for the financial year 2025-26.
  • The government will officially announce the 8.25% interest rate before EPFO credits it into subscribers' accounts.
  • The Board approved a one-time amnesty scheme to address compliance issues arising from trusts recognized by income tax.
  • New simplified SOP on EPF exemption and updated EPF, EPS, and EDLI schemes aligned with the Code on Social Security, 2020, were approved to enhance efficiency, transparency, and ease of compliance.
EPFO Single-Window Service Centres Revamp (End of December) ▼
  • Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, announced that EPFO offices will be revamped into modern, technology-enabled, single-window service centres.
  • All upcoming and several existing EPFO offices will be redesigned on the lines of passport seva kendras, allowing citizens to resolve any EPF-related issue at any regional office nationwide.
  • EPFO will undertake mission-mode KYC verification and launch a dedicated digital platform for simplified claim filing and faster settlements.
  • Claims up to ₹5 lakh are now settled automatically and withdrawals of up to 75 percent of EPF balances have been eased.
  • EPFO will introduce EPF Suvidha Providers—authorised facilitators to assist members in accessing benefits and resolving grievances.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB) license to Skydo (Start of January) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted final authorisation to Bengaluru-based Skydo to operate as a Payment Aggregator–Cross Border (PA-CB).
  • The license enables the company to offer cross-border payment services to Indian MSMEs, freelancers, and startups across multiple currencies and markets.
  • Skydo currently serves over 30,000 Indian MSMEs, freelancers, and startups across more than 50 cities.
  • The platform supports payment collections in over 32 currencies.
  • The company recently raised USD 10Mn in Series A funding led by Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital, with participation from Elevation Capital.
  • The total funding raised by Skydo to date stands at USD 20Mn.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants BRISKPE final PA-CB authorisation for cross-border inward and outward payments. (Start of January) ▼
  • BRISKPE receives RBI final authorisation to operate as a Payment Aggregator-Cross Border under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007.
  • Authorisation covers both inward and outward payment flows within the RBI PA-CB regulatory framework.
  • BRISKPE becomes one of India’s youngest cross-border payments fintechs to secure PA-CB approval.
  • Platform serves over 10,000 customers, majority being MSME exporters.
  • BRISKPE targets scaling transaction volumes above USD 1 billion by end-2026.
  • Operations integrate with global banks for collections and AD Category-I banks in India.
  • Platform holds ISO 27001, SOC-II-Type-II certifications and is GDPR compliant.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reports CPI inflation at 3.2% for February 2026

[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation]

Key Updates:

  • India’s retail inflation quickened to 3.2% in February 2026, a 10-month high, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on 12 March 2026.
  • CPI inflation was last higher in April 2025 at 3.3%.
  • Food and beverages inflation rose to 3.35% in February 2026 from 2.1% in January 2026.
  • Inflation in ‘paan, tobacco and intoxicants’ increased to 3.5% in February 2026 from 2.9% in January 2026.
  • Core inflation, excluding food & beverages and electricity, gas & other fuels, remained unchanged at 3.4% between January and February 2026.
  • Inflation in ‘personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods & services’ stood at 19.6% in February 2026, up from 19.02% in January 2026, driven by higher prices of precious metals.

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Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) releases January 2026 CPI at 2.75% under new 2024=100 base (Mid of February) ▼
  • Retail inflation stood at 2.75 per cent in January 2026 under the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series with base year 2024=100.
  • Year-on-year inflation based on the All India CPI (Base 2024) for January 2026 stood at 2.75 per cent (provisional) compared with January 2025.
  • The corresponding inflation rates were 2.73 per cent for rural areas and 2.77 per cent for urban areas.
  • Food inflation based on the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) stood at 2.13 per cent, with rural food inflation at 1.96 per cent and urban food inflation at 2.44 per cent.
  • Housing inflation for January 2026 stood at 2.05 per cent, with rural housing inflation at 2.39 per cent and urban housing inflation at 1.92 per cent.
  • The new CPI series replaces the earlier 2012 base and is based on the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24.
  • The revised framework adopts 12 consumption divisions in place of six earlier groups, in line with the Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP) 2018 framework.
  • The total number of weighted items has increased to 358 from 299 earlier, with goods items rising to 308 from 259 and services items increasing to 50 from 40.
  • The series introduces rural house rent for the first time and strengthens coverage of modern consumption patterns such as online services and cleaner fuels like CNG and PNG.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) records December CPI inflation at 1.33% (Mid of January) ▼
  • India’s headline retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 1.33 per cent in December 2025 from 0.71 per cent in November.
  • Retail food prices fell 2.71 per cent year-on-year in December after falling by 3.91 per cent the previous month.
  • The December 2025 retail inflation figure is the last under the existing CPI series; a new series with base year 2024 will be introduced next month.
  • The October–December CPI inflation averaged ~0.8 per cent, about 20 basis points higher than the Monetary Policy Committee’s Q3FY26 forecast.
  • Core inflation rose to 4.6 per cent in December from 4.4 per cent the previous month, driven by gold and silver price surges.
  • Gold inflation hit a record high of 68.66 per cent and silver inflation reached 97.07 per cent in December.
  • Excluding gold and silver, December CPI inflation would have been 0.26 per cent.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expects inflation to average around 4 per cent in the first half of 2026-27.
Ministry of Industry data shows Wholesale Price Index inflation at 0.83% in December 2025. (Mid of January) ▼
  • Wholesale price inflation recorded at 0.83% in December 2025, returning to positive territory after negative readings of (-)0.32% in November and (-)1.21% in October.
  • Retail inflation rose to 1.33% in December from 0.71% in November, driven by rising food prices.
  • Deflation in vegetables narrowed to 3.50% in December from 20.23% in November.
  • Inflation in manufactured products increased to 1.82% in December from 1.33% in November.
  • Deflation in fuel and power sectors continued at 2.31% in December compared to 2.27% in November.
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cut policy interest rates by 1.25 percentage points during the current fiscal year.
  • RBI lowered inflation projection for the current fiscal to 2% from the earlier 2.6%.
  • RBI reduced key policy interest rates by 25 basis points to 5.25% last month.
  • RBI raised FY26 GDP growth projection to 7.3% from the previous 6.8%.
  • India registered GDP growth of 8.2% in the September quarter and 7.8% in the June quarter.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) records CPI inflation at 0.71% for November 2025. (Mid of December) ▼
  • Headline inflation rose to 0.71% in November 2025, up from 0.25% in October.
  • The All India Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) shows a year-on-year inflation rate of -3.91% for November 2025.
  • Rural headline inflation reached 0.10% in November 2025, up from -0.25% in October.
  • Urban headline inflation increased to 1.40% in November 2025 from 0.88% in October.
  • Fuel and light inflation stood at 2.32% year-on-year in November 2025, rising from 1.98% in October.

V O Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) launches India’s first Digital Twin platform for major ports

[V O Chidambaranar Port Authority]

Key Updates:

  • V O Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, became the first major port in India to implement a comprehensive Digital Twin platform for port management.
  • Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the platform on 23 February 2026 as part of infrastructure projects worth over ₹1,500 crore at the port.
  • The Digital Twin platform creates a real-time virtual replica of the port’s infrastructure, operational assets and maritime ecosystem using IoT sensors, GPS tracking, LiDAR mapping, drone imaging and CCTV networks.
  • The system enables real-time monitoring of berth occupancy, vessel movements, crane utilisation and yard capacity, and supports predictive maintenance of cargo handling equipment through AI-based asset monitoring.
  • The platform facilitates berth and traffic optimisation, reduces congestion and waiting time, and provides energy and emissions tracking for sustainability management.
  • From April 2025 to January 2026, VOCPA handled 35.97 million tonnes of cargo, up six per cent year-on-year, including a record four million tonnes in January 2026.
  • Container volumes rose 9.4 per cent to more than 716,000 TEUs during the same period.
  • VOCPA has also installed an advanced anti-drone system to strengthen security of critical infrastructure.

Similar Coverage

Sagar Defence Engineering (SDE) Lays Foundation for World's First Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding Centre in Andhra Pradesh (Mid of March) ▼
  • Sagar Defence Engineering (SDE) laid the foundation stone for the world's first Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding and Systems Centre at Juvvaladinne fishing harbour in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh.
  • The Government of Andhra Pradesh authorised the allocation of 29.58 acres of land for the project to enable direct sea access for vessel construction, testing, and deployment.
  • The centre will focus on developing platforms such as Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), and intelligent navigation systems.
  • The facility will deploy digital twin technology to create virtual replicas of vessels and shipyard infrastructure for performance simulation and design optimisation.
  • Manufacturing operations will include robotic fabrication systems for automated welding, cutting, painting, and assembly.
  • The shipyard will utilise Autonomous Material Handling (AMH) systems, including robots and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), to transport components.
  • The facility will employ additive manufacturing (3D printing) for the rapid production of specialised maritime components and spare parts.
  • The initiative aims to support smart fishing fleet networks by providing real-time fish location maps and weather alerts through satellite and cloud-based systems.
VOC Port Anti-Drone System Project for India’s First Maritime Counter-Drone Shield (Start of February) ▼
  • V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) has become the first port in India to implement an advanced Anti-Drone System to strengthen maritime and coastal security.
  • The VOC Port Authority signed an agreement for the project with Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a Government of India enterprise under the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology.
  • The project involves the deployment of an integrated Radio Frequency (RF) and radar-based drone detection and jamming system with 360-degree coverage and an operational range of up to 5 km.
  • The security setup includes a drone detector, drone detection radar, and a man-pack jammer to facilitate real-time tracking, classification, and neutralisation of unauthorised drones.
  • The initiative is aligned with the Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, with the project scheduled for completion within three months.
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.
Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), and port authorities form Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) with ₹15,000 crore joint funding. (Start of February) ▼
  • Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA), Chennai Port Authority, and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) signed an agreement on Tuesday to form Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL).
  • The agreement provides for joint funding of up to ₹15,000 crore for eligible projects aimed at port capacity expansion under the Sagarmala Programme and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
  • India will place orders for 15 domestically manufactured container vessels through BCSL during fiscal 2026-27 as part of a strategy to procure 51 vessels in the next five years under phase one.
  • The initiative is aligned with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS) announced in Union Budget 2026-27.

Razorpay launches AI-powered Agent Studio for payment automation

[Razorpay]

Key Updates:

  • Razorpay has launched Agent Studio, described as the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) platform for payments built on Anthropic’s Claude Agent Software Development Kit (SDK).
  • The platform was unveiled at the FTX 2026 event to automate business tasks including dispute resolution, cart recovery, and cash-flow forecasting.
  • Razorpay introduced an Agentic Experience Platform that enables businesses to manage payment operations through natural-language commands instead of traditional dashboards.
  • The AI agents can automatically intervene during abandoned purchases and integrate with third-party platforms such as Shopify, Shiprocket, and WhatsApp.
  • The company is integrating these capabilities into in-app commerce with partners including Zomato, Swiggy, and PVR Inox.
  • The initiative builds on previous developments with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and technology firms Anthropic and OpenAI.
  • The platform allows businesses to complete onboarding by submitting basic details such as Permanent Account Number (PAN) and website information.

Similar Coverage

Google launches Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) for AI-era shopping (Mid of January) ▼
  • Google has launched the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), which allows retailers to set up relevant offers to feature in their campaign settings.
  • The Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) will introduce a new checkout feature for eligible Google product listings in AI Mode in Search and the Gemini app.
  • Google is testing “Direct Offers,” a new Google Ads pilot designed to help retailers connect with shoppers who use AI for product discovery and seek value.
  • The Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) establishes a common language for agents and systems to operate together across consumer surfaces, businesses, and payment providers.
  • The protocol works in tandem with existing industry protocols such as Agent2Agent (A2A), Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), and Model Context Protocol (MCP).
  • Google co-developed the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) with industry leaders, including Shopify, Target, Walmart, and received endorsements from American Express, Flipkart and Mastercard.
  • Google is rolling out Business Agent, a new way for shoppers to chat with brands right on Search to answer product questions in a brand’s voice.
Gnani.ai and Razorpay launch agentic AI platform for in-call UPI payments (Start of March) ▼
  • Gnani.ai and Razorpay have partnered to launch an agentic AI collections platform that can complete Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions during live customer calls.
  • The platform utilizes Razorpay’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) server to connect AI agents directly to payment infrastructure for real-time transaction initiation and tracking.
  • The system currently supports two payment flows: one-time UPI payments and mandate-based UPI SBMD, also known as Reserve Pay, for recurring obligations.
  • Gnani.ai’s voice AI systems support conversations in more than 38 languages and currently handle over 10 million calls per day.
  • The partnership builds on previous work by Razorpay with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and OpenAI to integrate UPI payments within chat interfaces like ChatGPT.
  • Security protocols ensure that customer payment details do not pass through the voice AI system and are processed exclusively through Razorpay’s infrastructure.
  • The platform allows AI agents to assess customer intent, generate transaction-specific payment links, and confirm receipt during the same interaction.
Jio Finance Platform and Service Limited (JFPSL) launches AI-powered JioFinance app with Finsider early access. (Start of March) ▼
  • Jio Finance Platform and Service Limited (JFPSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL), launched the JioFinance app and introduced an early access initiative titled ‘Finsider’.
  • The app aggregates financial products including home loans, loans against securities, personal loans, credit cards, insurance, UPI services, life and general insurance, mutual funds, investment advisory, fixed deposits, digital gold, tax filing tools, and a savings account with automated liquidity management.
  • The platform uses artificial intelligence-based systems with multiple AI agents and decision engines to assess user intent, eligibility and financial profile in real time for customised product recommendations.
  • Select users in the Finsider early access programme can test the app, provide feedback, and earn JioPoints redeemable against rewards.
DBS Bank and Visa pilot Visa Intelligent Commerce for AI agent-initiated payments in Asia Pacific. (Mid of February) ▼
  • DBS Bank is the first issuer in Asia Pacific to pilot Visa Intelligent Commerce (VIC) for agent-initiated payments.
  • VIC uses integrated APIs and Visa’s secure infrastructure to enable consent-driven payments by AI agents on behalf of consumers.
  • Close to 77% of Singapore residents use generative AI tools such as chatbots in daily life.
  • Eight in ten Singapore consumers rely on AI assistance when shopping online.
  • DBS and Visa demonstrated AI-powered agents completing food and beverage transactions using DBS/POSB credit and debit cards.
  • Future trials will explore agentic commerce in online shopping and travel bookings.
  • DBS is validating AI-ready credentials, advanced authentication, and intent-driven transaction controls for agent-led commerce.

Government of India (GoI) plans ₹1 lakh crore fund for domestic semiconductor manufacturing

Key Updates:

  • The Government of India (GoI) plans to unveil a fund exceeding ₹1 lakh crore ($10.8 billion) to bolster domestic chipmaking and advance its manufacturing hub ambitions.
  • The proposed fund will provide subsidies for semiconductor chip design projects, manufacturing equipment, and supply chain development.
  • The initiative is expected to be launched within two to three months and builds upon the $10 billion incentive programme introduced in 2021.
  • Under the 2021 programme, the GoI offered to bear 50% of the cost for setting up semiconductor projects in the country.
  • Micron Technology Inc. is currently establishing an assembly facility in Gujarat, while Tata Group is constructing a semiconductor fabrication plant and a separate packaging unit in the same state.
  • Foxconn Technology Group has announced a test and assembly facility as part of the existing government incentive programme.
  • The GoI aims to develop chipmaking capabilities comparable to global leaders such as Taiwan, South Korea, and the United States (US) by 2032.

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Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) outlay raised to ₹40,000 crore (Start of March) ▼
  • 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.
Union Cabinet approves Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with ₹10,000 crore corpus. (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Union Cabinet approved the second edition of the Startup India Fund of Funds (FoF) with Rs. 10,000 crore (US$ 1.2 billion).
  • The FoF aims to provide patient capital to deep technology companies, technology-driven innovative manufacturing ventures, and early-stage growth enterprises.
  • The scheme adopts a sectoral and stage-focused investment approach to improve efficient capital deployment across business stages.
  • Startup India initiative, launched in 2016, has increased recognised startups from a few hundred to over 2 lakh.
  • The Fund expects to catalyse private investments, create jobs, and support India’s position as a global innovation hub.
PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Micron Technology ATMP plant in Sanand (Start of March) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) plant of Micron Semiconductor Technology India Pvt. Ltd. (Micron) in Sanand, Gujarat, on 28 February 2026.
  • The project involves a total investment of ₹22,516 crore and is expected to create 5,000 direct employment opportunities.
  • The facility will manufacture Solid State Drive (SSD) storage devices as well as Random Access Memory (RAM) products, specifically Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) and NAND.
  • The plant will receive advanced DRAM and NAND wafers from global factories and convert them into finished memory products for the global market.
  • The technical operations at the ATMP facility include chip assembly, performance testing for speed and memory capacity, marking, and final packaging.
  • The facility currently employs 2,000 people and includes specially-abled citizens serving as operators and technicians.
Qualcomm completes 2-nm chip tape-out at Bengaluru Development Centre (Start of February) ▼
  • Qualcomm Technologies announced the tape-out of its 2-nanometre semiconductor design at its Bengaluru Development Centre.
  • Tape-out is the final design stage before sending the chip to a fabrication facility for manufacturing.
  • Union electronics and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated the next target is to build 2-nanometre fabs in India.
  • The milestone follows the government’s announcement of India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 in Union Budget 2026.
  • Qualcomm’s India president Savi Soin noted the achievement as the outcome of over two decades of sustained effort in India.
  • Qualcomm’s largest engineering workforce outside the US is based in India, contributing across design implementation, validation, system integration, and AI optimisation.
  • Qualcomm president and CEO Cristiano R Amon will keynote the India AI Impact Summit scheduled from 16 to 20 February.

GCWAS-2026: President Highlights SHE Marts and 6 Crore Lakhpati Didi Target

Key Updates:

  • President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the three-day Global Conference on the Role of Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) in New Delhi on 12 March 2026.
  • The United Nations (UN) has declared 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers to promote leadership roles for women across the agri-food value chain.
  • The Union Budget 2025-26 introduced SHE Marts (Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts), which are community-owned retail outlets to be established in every district for Self-Help Group (SHG) products.
  • The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) has set a target of creating 6 crore Lakhpati Didis earning over ₹1 lakh annually, with over 3 crore women already achieving this status.
  • Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana—National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), over 10 crore rural households and 90 lakh SHGs have been mobilised.
  • The Jan Dhan Yojana has reached 570 million bank accounts, of which 56% are held by women, while women constitute 68% of all Mudra loan beneficiaries.
  • The Namo Drone Didi scheme provides drones to women SHGs to facilitate precision agriculture and reduce drudgery in the farm sector.
  • The President highlighted 'Sarlaben', an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered initiative inspired by the government livestock care vision, as a tool for women farmers.
  • The government has conferred Padma Shri awards on women farmers from the states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Bihar.
  • Key attendees included Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General M L Jat, and Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority (PPVFRA) chairperson Trilochana Mohapatra.

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Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS–2026) appoints Dr Renu Swarup as Conference Chair. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Dr Renu Swarup, former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, has been appointed Conference Chair for GCWAS–2026.
  • Dr Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has been appointed Co-Chair of GCWAS–2026.
  • Dr Raj S. Paroda, Chairman of Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), will serve as Chief Patron of GCWAS–2026.
  • Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary of Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, is one of the Patrons of GCWAS–2026.
  • Dr T. Mohapatra, Chairperson of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), is also a Patron of GCWAS–2026.
  • Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), is another Patron of GCWAS–2026.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) and World Food Programme (WFP) sign MoU for rice supply to combat global hunger (Mid of February) ▼
  • Food Corporation of India (FCI) and World Food Programme (WFP) signed a five-year MoU for supply of rice to support global humanitarian operations.
  • FCI will supply 2 lakh tonnes of rice (up to 25% broken) to WFP under the agreement.
  • The price is fixed at Rs 2,800 per quintal up to 31 March 2026 and will be mutually agreed annually thereafter.
  • The MoU was signed by Rabindra Kumar Agarwal, CMD, FCI and Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director, WFP in presence of Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution.
Tamil Nadu Government–UN Women MoU for Gender-Responsive Governance (Start of January) ▼
  • The MoU aims to strengthen institutional capacities for gender-responsive governance and planning.
  • It focuses on achieving Sustainable Development Goals through a gender-equality perspective.
  • It seeks to strengthen gender-responsive planning and budgeting and create economic opportunities for women.
  • UN Women will provide technical support to the Government of Tamil Nadu for implementing these initiatives.
  • The Social Welfare and Women’s Rights Department, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department will be directly involved.
India named Country of the Year at BIOFACH 2026 in Germany (Mid of February) ▼
  • India has been designated as the Country of the Year at BIOFACH 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for organic products, to be held from February 10 to 13 in Nuremberg, Germany.
  • The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is organising India’s participation with a 1,074 square metre India Pavilion featuring 67 co-exhibitors.
  • The pavilion will showcase organic rice, oilseeds, herbs, spices, pulses, cashew, ginger, turmeric, large cardamom, cinnamon, mango puree, and essential oils.
  • Exhibitors from 20 states and Union Territories including Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand are participating.
  • Five GI-tagged rice varieties—Indrayani, Navara, Gobindbhog, Red, and Chak Hao (Black rice)—will be served to highlight India’s heritage rice varieties.
  • Live sampling of aromatic biryani prepared using premium organic basmati rice and spices will be organised at the India Pavilion.

PM-KISAN 22nd instalment releases Rs 18,640 crore to 9.32 crore farmer families

Key Updates:

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 22nd instalment of PM-KISAN at 5:00 PM on 13 March 2026 from Guwahati, Assam.
  • Over 9.32 crore farmer families received more than Rs 18,640 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
  • The cumulative amount disbursed under PM-KISAN since February 2019 will reach Rs 4.27 lakh crore after this instalment.
  • Each eligible farmer receives Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000.
  • Over 2.15 crore women farmer beneficiaries are covered in the 22nd instalment.
  • e-KYC is mandatory for all registered beneficiaries; a face-authentication mobile app allows completion from home without OTP or biometric device.
  • Farmers who acquired land ownership after 1 February 2019 and cases with multiple family members receiving benefits are temporarily excluded pending physical verification.
  • Beneficiary status can be checked on the official portal pmkisan.gov.in by selecting state, district, block and village under the ‘Beneficiary List’ option in Farmers Corner.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposes 6-year Kisan Credit Card (KCC) tenure and higher loan limits. (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed merging all existing KCC instructions into a single unified guideline for banks.
  • The proposed KCC framework extends total facility validity to six years.
  • Credit limits will be aligned with the officially approved Scale of Finance for each crop season.
  • Expenses on technological interventions such as modern farm equipment and agri-tech tools may be formally included as eligible uses under KCC.
  • Under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), farmers can access short-term crop loans at 7 per cent interest through KCC.
  • The government provides 1.5 per cent interest subvention to lending institutions under MISS.
  • Timely repayment gives farmers an additional 3 per cent prompt repayment incentive, reducing the effective interest rate to 4 per cent per year.
  • The loan limit under MISS has been raised from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh in the latest Budget.
  • For animal husbandry and fisheries, interest benefit is available on loans up to ₹2 lakh under MISS.
  • By 31 December 2024, about 5.9 crore farmers had been mapped on the Kisan Rin Portal (KRP).
  • Interest subvention claims worth over ₹1.08 trillion had been processed through KRP by 31 December 2024.
  • As of March 2024, there were around 7.75 crore KCC accounts with outstanding credit of about ₹9.81 lakh crore.
National Farmers Day observed on December 23 (End of December) ▼
  • National Farmers Day, also popularly known as Kisan Diwas, is observed on December 23.
  • The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Choudhary Charan Singh, India's 5th Prime Minister, who served from 1979–80.
  • Choudhary Charan Singh is widely remembered as the 'Champion of India’s Farmers' and the 'messiah of farmers'.
  • The observance honors farmers as the backbone of the nation and marks their contributions to the growth and progress of India’s economy.
  • The Indian government observed the previous National Farmers Day with the theme of 'Empowering ‘Annadatas’ for a Prosperous Nation'.
  • Shivraj Singh Chouhan serves as the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Maharashtra Budget 2026-27: Crop loan waiver up to ₹2 lakh and Ladki Bahin Yojana to continue (Start of March) ▼
  • 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.
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.

KSRTC Dhwani Spandana: Award for innovation aiding visually impaired

Key Updates:

  • Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) received the Governance Now 12th PSU National Award in the 'Excellence in Innovation' category for its Dhwani Spandana initiative.
  • KSRTC implemented the Dhwani Spandana — Onboard Bus Identification and Navigation System on 200 Mysuru city transport buses with support from the German company GIZ.
  • KSRTC Director Personnel and Vigilance Gayithri KM received the award in New Delhi on Wednesday.

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Dr Haripriya Aravind and Dr R Venkatesh Selected for Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award 2026 (Mid of February) ▼
  • Dr Haripriya Aravind and Dr R Venkatesh from the Aravind Eye Hospital in Puducherry have been selected for the Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award for 2026.
  • The award is presented by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation to recognise service and compassion in the field of cataract blindness and disability.
  • The presentation ceremony will be held during the ASCRS Foundation’s conference in Washington DC on 11 April 2026.
  • The award includes a prize of $100,000, which is donated to the non-profit organisation of the awardee's choice.
  • The doctors have earmarked the $100,000 cash prize for the Aravind Eye Care System.
  • The Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award was instituted in 2017 and is endowed by a gift from David and Victoria Chang.
  • Dr Haripriya Aravind serves as the chief of cataract and intraocular lens services, and Dr R Venkatesh is the chief medical officer at the hospital.
World Braille Day observed on January 4 (Start of January) ▼
  • World Braille Day marks the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, the French educator who developed the six-dot code that bears his name.
  • Braille is a tactile writing system of raised dots arranged in cells of six, enabling representation of letters, numbers, punctuation, and even musical and mathematical notation through touch.
  • India is home to one of the largest populations of visually impaired individuals in the world, with millions living with partial or complete vision loss.
Uttar Pradesh Braille Library: 4,000 Academic Books for Visually Impaired Students (Start of January) ▼
  • Uttar Pradesh has launched its first Braille library at Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University (DSMNRU) in Lucknow.
  • The library houses more than 4,000 National Education Policy (NEP)-based academic books produced by the university’s Braille press covering 54 undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
  • The facility is open to visually impaired individuals beyond university students through membership, including special categories for scholars, researchers, academicians, and Lucknow residents with proof of residence.
Thanya Nathan C. set to become first visually challenged woman judge in Kerala. (Mid of February) ▼
  • Thanya Nathan C. ranked first on the merit list of persons with benchmark disabilities in the Kerala Judicial Service examination for Civil Judges (Junior Division).
  • Joyson Sajan, who has cerebral palsy, secured the second rank in the same list.
  • A 2025 Supreme Court Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan ruled that visually impaired candidates are eligible for judicial service posts.
  • The Kerala High Court has completed selection and forwarded the list to the State government for appointment letter issuance.
  • Ms. Nathan, 24, had earlier secured first rank in her LLB examination from Kannur University.
  • She began legal practice as a junior to K.G. Sunilkumar at Taliparamba in Kannur district.

Andhra Pradesh CM launches ‘Araku Kouni’ tribal millet menu to mainstream indigenous cuisine

[Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

  • Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched ‘Araku Kouni’, the state’s first tribal millet-based food menu, during the Collectors’ Conference at the Secretariat.
  • The menu features traditional recipes sourced from indigenous communities in Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district.
  • Dishes include Korra Payasam, Ragi Chapati, Samala Pulihora, Kantla Ambali, Corn Vada and Toor Dal Curry.
  • The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) will introduce the menu in all Haritha restaurants across ASR district and later extend it to other tourism outlets in the state.
  • The ASR district administration led the initiative with support from tribal anganwadi workers, the Indian Culinary Institute, Tirupati, and the Department of Tourism.
  • Ingredients are cultivated without chemical fertilisers or pesticides.
  • The district tourism team and the Indian Culinary Institute documented recipes along with nutritional values, calorific indices and health benefits.

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Nagauri Pan Methi granted Patent under PPVFRA as Community Farmers' Variety (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA) formally granted a patent to Nagauri Pan Methi (Trigonella corniculata L.) under the community farmers' variety category.
  • The patent registration was published in the February 2026 issue of the Plant Variety Journal, conferring statutory ownership and legal rights to the farming community of Nagaur district, Rajasthan.
  • The community of farmers, represented by women farmer Geeta Devi, Pradhan of Panchayat Samiti Mundwa, is now the legally recognised custodian and rights holder of the variety.
  • Nagauri Methi is cultivated exclusively on more than 7,000 hectares in the Rajasthan regions of Mundwa, Nagaur, Merta City, Jayal, Degana, and Khinvsar.
  • During the 2024–25 season, farmers produced approximately 30,000 metric tonnes of dried leaves, generating a total income of around ₹450 crore.
  • The South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Biotech Kisan Hub provided scientific and field-level evidence for the registration.
  • The registration aims to protect farmers against biopiracy and is a primary step towards securing a Geographical Indication (GI) tag and food safety standards from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
  • Technical support for the initiative was provided by the ICAR-National Research Centre on Seed Spices and the NABARD-supported Agri Export Facilitation Centre (AEFC).
Tripura to pilot Nari Adalat scheme in 10 gram panchayats across 8 districts (Start of March) ▼
  • Tripura council of ministers approved rollout of the central government’s Nari Adalat scheme as a pilot in 10 selected gram panchayats.
  • Scheme spearheaded by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) to function as panchayat-level arbitration forum for violence, abuse and atrocities against women.
  • Each Nari Adalat committee will comprise up to nine members chosen for community reputation and standing to support and counsel women in adversity.
  • Pilot covers gram panchayats from all eight districts of Tripura with village-level courts as local justice and dispute-resolution platforms for women.
Punjab launches 'Meri Rasoi' scheme to provide quarterly food kits to 40 lakh families (End of February) ▼
  • Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the 'Meri Rasoi' scheme for 40 lakh families registered under the National Food Security Act.
  • The scheme will distribute essential food kits quarterly through Markfed and the Department of Food and Civil Supplies.
  • Each kit will contain pulses, sugar, iodised salt, turmeric, and mustard oil to address nutritional gaps beyond subsidised wheat.
  • The first distribution round is scheduled for April with quality control measures in place.
New Seed Act and Revised Pesticide Act to Increase Agricultural Production and Farmer Income (Start of March) ▼
  • Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the implementation of a new Seed Act and a revised Pesticide Act.
  • The announcement was made during a press conference in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, to improve agricultural production and farmers' income.
  • The Central Government is updating a digital platform under the Ek Bharat initiative to provide a single-point information source for farmers.
  • An Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system has been developed to facilitate access to essential agricultural information.

Goa Advocate Protection Bill 2026 to introduce imprisonment up to seven years and fine up to Rs 1 lakh for assaulting advocates.

[Goa]

Key Updates:

  • The Goa government will introduce the Goa Advocate Protection Bill 2026 in the Assembly to protect advocates from violence, intimidation, harassment, and false implication.
  • The bill prescribes imprisonment up to seven years and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh for those assaulting advocates.
  • Assaulting or using criminal force against an advocate carries imprisonment of up to two years and a fine up to Rs 55,000.
  • Causing grievous hurt to an advocate is punishable with seven years’ imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 1 lakh.
  • Intimidating or harassing an advocate invites up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 25,000; if the threat involves death, grievous hurt, or property destruction, imprisonment may extend to seven years.

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Maharashtra Land Revenue Code and Stamp Amendment Bills 2026 unlock grazing land for public works and speed up stamp duty refunds (Mid of March) ▼
  • Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code Amendment Bill 2026 allowing municipal corporations, municipal councils and municipal areas to use uncultivated grazing land (gairan) within their jurisdiction for public purpose projects while ownership remains with the state government.
  • The available land pool comprises about 7,700 hectares in municipal corporation areas, around 4,000 hectares in municipal areas and nearly 3,000 hectares in municipal council areas.
  • The Assembly also passed the Maharashtra Stamp Amendment Bill 2026 that raises financial limits for stamp duty refund decisions: district collectors can now sanction up to ₹20 lakh, Deputy Inspector General of Registration and Deputy Controller of Stamps up to ₹50 lakh, and Additional Controller of Stamps and Joint Inspector General of Registration and Superintendent of Stamps up to ₹1 crore, while cases above ₹1 crore will continue with the Chief Controlling Revenue Authority.
Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers’ Welfare Board Notified under 2025 Act (End of January) ▼
  • The Karnataka government formally notified the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers’ Welfare Board under Section 33 of the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Act, 2025.
  • The 16-member board is chaired by the Labour Minister as the ex-officio chairperson and includes a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) functioning as Member Secretary.
  • The board composition includes five government representatives, four aggregator platforms, four gig worker unions, and two civil society organisations.
  • Aggregator representatives on the board include Porter, Zomato, Uber, and Amazon, while the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy and IT for Change represent civil society.
  • Gig worker representatives include Vinay Sarathy of United Food Delivery Partners’ Union (UFDPU), Mohammed Inayath Ali of Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT), Satyananda of AITUC Karnataka, and Tanveer Pasha of Ola Uber Drivers’ and Owners’ Association.
  • The state government will levy a welfare fee of 1-1.5% on every transaction on aggregator platforms to fund social security benefits including accident insurance, health coverage, and maternity benefits.
  • The Act mandates algorithmic transparency in automated decision-making systems and requires a 14-day notice period with written reasons for the termination of workers.
  • Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives has been named as a special invitee and technical expert on digital platforms and data for the board.
  • The Act includes a reconciliation clause ensuring welfare fees paid to the state count toward contributions required under the Central Code on Social Security, 2020.
Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) provides 125 days of guaranteed wage employment (End of December) ▼
  • "President Droupadi Murmu has given assent to the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005."
  • "The VB-G RAM G provides for a new rural job programme with the statutory wage employment guarantee of 125 days per financial year."
  • "The Ministry of Law and Justice (MLJ) published a notification in the official gazette, declaring that the President gave her assent on December 20."
  • "As per the Section 3(1) of the Act, the State government shall within six months from the date of commencement of this Act, by notification, make a scheme consistent with the provisions of this Act."
  • "The provision for unemployment allowance in case of failure to provide work has been further strengthened and there is also a provision for providing additional compensation if wages are delayed."
  • "With the guarantee of 125 days of employment, provisions have also been made to ensure that small farmers do not face difficulties during agricultural work."
Goa Bill bars land sale till mundkar rights settled (Start of January) ▼
  • The Goa government will introduce a bill to stop landlords from selling land until mundkars’ rights are settled.
  • The bill is likely to be introduced in the winter session of the Goa legislative assembly beginning from Jan 12.
  • CM Pramod Sawant said the move protects mundkars who live in landlords’ properties but are yet to be officially declared mundkars.

International Rail Coach Expo (IRCE) 2026 inaugurated at Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai

[Integral Coach Factory]

Key Updates:

  • Integral Coach Factory (ICF) general manager U. Subba Rao inaugurated the International Rail Coach Expo (IRCE) 2026 at ICF ground in Chennai on Thursday.
  • IRCE 2026 is organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with ICF and is scheduled from March 12 to 14.
  • The expo, previously held in 2018, serves as a global platform for national and international companies focusing on sustainability, safety, and indigenous development with a quality-first approach.

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Coffee Table Book on Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train launched on 23 February 2026 (End of February) ▼
  • Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, Shri V. Somanna, launched the coffee table book 'Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train: Journey of a Thousand Shrines' at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi, on 23 February 2026.
  • The book documents the Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train initiative under Indian Railways’ Bharat Gaurav Policy.
  • The initiative was conceptualised and driven by Dr. Anup Dayanand, IRTS (Retd.).
  • 46 trips have been operated, carrying 28,786 pilgrims and generating ₹25.57 crore in earnings for Indian Railways.
India hosts 7th All India Conference of Government Railway Police Chiefs at Vigyan Bhawan (End of February) ▼
  • The 7th All India Conference of Government Railway Police Chiefs was held at Vigyan Bhawan.
  • The conference was organised by the Ministry of Railways (MoR).
  • The event focused on strengthening passenger and railway infrastructure security.
  • Key discussion areas included coordinated operations, speedy FIR registration and advanced surveillance technologies.
PM Gati Shakti Plan: ₹4,474 crore multitracking projects approved for West Bengal and Jharkhand (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved two railway multitracking projects worth ₹4,474 crore.
  • The projects will add fourth lines on the Sainthia–Pakur and Santragachi–Kharagpur routes, adding about 192 km across West Bengal and Jharkhand.
  • Proposed by the Ministry of Railways (MoR), the works are scheduled for completion by 2030–31 under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
  • The expansion will benefit around 5,652 villages with a combined population of nearly 1.47 crore people.
  • Freight movement is expected to rise by about 31 million tonnes annually, saving an estimated six crore litres of oil and cutting carbon emissions by nearly 28 crore kg.
  • Tourist spots gaining better rail access include Bolpur-Shantiniketan, Nandikeshwari Temple, Tarapith, Patachitra Gram, Dhadika Forest, Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, and Rameshwar Kund.
Union Cabinet approves infrastructure projects worth Rs 12,236 crore across railways, aviation, urban transport, power and agriculture (End of February) ▼
  • The Union Cabinet approved infrastructure and policy proposals worth Rs 12,236 crore, covering railways, aviation, urban transport, power sector reforms and agriculture.
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) cleared three railway projects—Gondia-Jabalpur doubling, Punarakh-Kiul third and fourth line, and Gamharia-Chandil third and fourth line—costing Rs 9,072 crore.
  • These railway projects span Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, adding 307 km to the network and enhancing connectivity to 5,407 villages with a population of nearly 98 lakh.
  • The railway capacity augmentation is expected to handle 52 million tonnes of additional freight traffic per annum, save 6 crore litres of oil and cut CO2 emissions by 30 crore kg.
  • CCEA approved a new civil enclave at Srinagar International Airport at a cost of Rs 1,677 crore, featuring a 71,500 square metre terminal with peak-hour capacity of 2,900 passengers and annual capacity of 10 million passengers.
  • The Srinagar airport project includes a 1,000-car multi-level car park, apron for 15 aircraft and targets a 5-star GRIHA rating.
  • The Cabinet cleared a 3.33-km Ahmedabad Metro extension from GIFT City to Shahpur at Rs 1,067.35 crore with three elevated stations to be implemented by Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Limited.
  • The Ahmedabad Metro extension is projected to serve over 23,700 passengers daily by 2029 and nearly 58,000 by 2041.
  • Power sector reforms enhanced delegation to Powergrid, raising per-project equity investment limit for subsidiaries from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 7,500 crore to boost participation in high-value tariff-based competitive bidding projects.
  • The Cabinet approved renaming Kerala to 'Keralam' through the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to be referred by the President to the Kerala Legislative Assembly under Article 3 of the Constitution.
  • The Cabinet fixed the minimum support price (MSP) for raw jute (TD-3 grade) at Rs 5,925 per quintal for 2026-27, an increase of Rs 275 per quintal over the previous year.

China National People's Congress approves Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress law mandating Mandarin education

[China]

Key Updates:

  • The National People's Congress (NPC) of China approved the Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress law during its annual parliamentary session in Beijing.
  • The legislation mandates that all children must be taught Mandarin from before kindergarten until the completion of high school.
  • The law aims to promote integration among the 56 officially recognised ethnic groups, dominated by the Han Chinese who constitute over 90% of the 1.4 billion population.
  • The new law provides a legal basis to prosecute parents or guardians who instil views described as detrimental to ethnic harmony in children.
  • The policy is part of a broader sinicisation effort to create a unified national identity by assimilating minority groups into the dominant Han culture.
  • The United Nations (UN) has previously accused the Chinese government of grave human rights violations in the Xinjiang region involving the detention of Uyghur Muslims.
  • The law calls for mutually embedded community environments, which analysts suggest could lead to the restructuring of minority-heavy neighbourhoods.

Similar Coverage

National Chintan Shivir concluded at Nalanda University, Rajgir, Bihar (End of February) ▼
  • The two-day National Chintan Shivir was organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs at Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar.
  • Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the NIGRANI App, Haj Wrist Band and AI Chatbots during the event.
  • Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PMVIKAS), National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), UMEED Central Portal and Haj modernisation were showcased as key minority welfare initiatives.
  • Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian described PMJVK as a transformative scheme for infrastructure development in minority concentration areas.
  • Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Chandra Shekhar Kumar, acknowledged the support of the Bihar Government and Nalanda University officials for hosting the Shivir.
  • State Ministers Imkong Mar (Nagaland), Kento Jini (Arunachal Pradesh), Samdup Lepcha (Sikkim) and Sukla Charan Noatia (Tripura) shared regional perspectives on minority welfare schemes.
  • The Chintan Shivir focused on five thematic areas: Infrastructure Development (PMJVK), Socio-economic Empowerment (PMVIKAS + NMDFC), Waqf Management, Haj Management and Scholarship Schemes.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy: Union Cabinet eases norms for bordering countries (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved the easing of FDI norms for all countries sharing land borders with India.
  • The decision involves the amendment of Press Note 3 of 2020, which previously mandated prior government approval for investments from bordering nations in any sector.
  • The target countries sharing land borders with India include China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.
  • China currently ranks 23rd in India's FDI equity inflow with a 0.32 per cent share, totalling 2.51 billion United States Dollar (USD) from April 2000 to December 2025.
  • In the 2024-25 fiscal year, India's exports to China were 14.25 billion USD and imports were 113.45 billion USD, resulting in a trade deficit of 99.2 billion USD.
  • During the April-January 2025-26 period, India's exports to China rose to 15.88 billion USD, while imports reached 108.18 billion USD.
  • Following military tensions in June 2020, India banned over 200 Chinese mobile apps, including TikTok, WeChat, and Alibaba's UC browser.
Canada implements Bill C-3 citizenship changes for 'Lost Canadians' (Mid of December) ▼
  • Bill C-3 became law last month and the new rules took effect on Monday, Dec. 15.
  • Citizenship can now be passed down to children born or adopted abroad beyond the first generation if the Canadian parent spent at least three cumulative years in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.
  • Children born outside Canada before Dec. 15 who are second generation or later will be granted automatic Canadian citizenship.
  • Those adopted before Dec. 15 can now apply for citizenship under the new rules.
  • The 2009 first-generation limit was deemed unconstitutional by the Ontario Superior Court in December 2023; the Liberal government did not appeal.
  • Intercountry adoptees remain subject to the three-year 'substantial connection' test, a point critics argue violates the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.
Government of China (GoC) Records Record Low Birth Rate of 5.63 Per 1,000 People (Mid of January) ▼
  • China's birth rate fell to a record low of 5.63 per 1,000 people in 2025, the lowest since 1949.
  • The national death rate rose to 8.04 per 1,000 people, marking the highest level since 1968.
  • The total population of China decreased by 3.39 million to reach 1.4 billion by the end of 2025.
  • The Government of China (GoC) offers parents 3,600 yuan ($500) for each child under the age of three to boost birth rates.
  • A new 13% tax has been implemented on contraceptives, including condoms, birth control pills, and devices.
  • The YuWa Population Research Institute (YPRI) reported that China's fertility rate is approximately one birth per woman, significantly below the 2.1 replacement rate.
  • The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) indicates the national pension pot is running dry as the country faces a population of 300 million pensioners.

India hosts 12th Asian and Pacific Regional Conference in New Delhi

Key Updates:

  • Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal participated in the 12th Asian and Pacific Regional Conference organised by the All India Prosecutors’ Association (AIPA) in New Delhi.
  • Discussions at the conference focused on judicial system reforms and strengthening the prosecution mechanism.
  • The Minister stated that the government is promoting innovation in the judicial sector through technology and institutional reforms to enhance transparency, accessibility, and effectiveness of the justice system.
  • Efforts are ongoing to ensure swift and accessible justice delivery to all citizens.

Similar Coverage

Nepal and India sign Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (End of February) ▼
  • The Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters was signed on Tuesday at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in Kathmandu.
  • The agreement enables Nepal and India to cooperate in criminal investigations and legal proceedings.
  • It aims to strengthen cooperation in investigation, prosecution and judicial processes related to criminal cases.
  • The agreement facilitates exchange of legal assistance including evidence collection, information sharing and coordination between competent authorities.
  • It is expected to help minimise financial crime in Nepal and make criminal investigation, accusation and judicial procedure more effective.
  • The agreement will also help combat money laundering and financial investment in terrorist activities.
  • Joint Secretary Binod Kumar Bhattarai signed on behalf of the Nepal government.
  • Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava signed on behalf of the Indian government.
United States hosts G7 finance-minister session on critical minerals (Mid of January) ▼
  • U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent convened finance ministers to discuss critical minerals.
  • Australia invited to Washington meeting alongside G7 members.
  • India invited; acceptance status unclear.
Australia and Israel Strengthen Diplomatic Ties Following Official Visit Invitation on 23-12-2025 (End of December) ▼
  • Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese extended a personal invitation to Israeli President Isaac Herzog to visit Australia.
  • The diplomatic outreach follows an attack at a Jewish community Chanukah event held at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
  • President Isaac Herzog also received an official invitation from the President of the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA).
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the developments and the acceptance of the invitation on the social media platform X.
India to host 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth (CSPOC) in January 2026 (Mid of January) ▼
  • 42 of 56 Commonwealth countries have confirmed participation, marking the highest turnout in CSPOC history.
  • 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers are expected to attend the conference hosted by the Parliament of India.
  • Pakistan will not participate; Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom are among the confirming nations.
  • Conference agenda focuses on the future of parliamentary democracy, including use of artificial intelligence and technology-driven legislative processes.
  • A web-based and mobile application is being developed to facilitate interaction between participating countries and their media.

US and Israel strikes on 12 March 2026 damage UNESCO World Heritage sites in Iran

[United States, Israel, Iran]

Key Updates:

  • The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) verified damage to at least four cultural and historical sites in Iran following strikes by the United States (US) and Israel.
  • The affected landmarks include the Qajar-era Golestan Palace in Tehran, the 17th-century Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan, and the Masjed-e Jame, which is the oldest Friday mosque in Iran.
  • Damage was reported near the Khorramabad Valley, a site containing five prehistoric caves and a rock shelter with evidence of human occupation dating back to 63,000 B.C.
  • Iran and Lebanon have submitted a formal request to UNESCO to include additional locations on the agency’s enhanced protection list.
  • UNESCO confirmed that heritage sites in other regions have also been impacted by the conflict, including Tyre in Lebanon and the White City in Israel.
  • The US government announced its intention to withdraw from UNESCO by December, following a previous announcement made in July.

Similar Coverage

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned hospital strike in Iran. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
  • He described the damage to Gandhi Hospital in Tehran as extremely worrying and stated that health facilities are protected under international humanitarian law.
  • Mohammad Raeiszadeh heads Iran's Medical Council and reported that the hospital's IVF department was destroyed by the strike.
  • Janina Dill, an international law expert at Oxford University, noted that the status of media outlets as military targets during conflict can be contested.
  • Dr Michael Becker, assistant professor of law at Trinity College Dublin, stated that deliberate strikes on civilian sites are illegal under international law unless those sites are used for military purposes.
European Union designates Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as terrorist organisation (End of January) ▼
  • The European Union (EU) foreign ministers agreed to add Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the bloc’s terrorist list on 29 January 2026.
  • EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the designation on social media platform X.
  • The sanctions target the IRGC, Iranian officials, and entities responsible for internet censorship.
  • The IRGC is currently led by General Mohammad Pakpour, appointed after his predecessor Hossein Salami was killed in an Israeli strike during the 12-day war in June 2025.
  • Protests in Iran began on 28 December 2025 after a sharp fall in the currency value and spread nationwide.
  • The US-based Human Rights Activists Network reported nearly 6,000 civilians killed in the crackdown.
  • Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi criticised the EU move on social media platform X, accusing Europe of fanning the flames of conflict in the Middle East.
Archaeologists digitally map Alexander-era Mesopotamian city Charax Spasinou in Iraq. (Mid of February) ▼
  • Charax Spasinou, founded in 324 BCE near the Tigris River, was one of Alexander the Great’s final planned settlements.
  • Drones captured thousands of aerial images and magnetometers scanned the soil to build a digital map without excavation.
  • The survey revealed wide streets, oversized housing blocks, temples and kiln-equipped industrial workshops across more than 500 square kilometres.
  • Pottery, bricks and industrial debris scattered across the surface helped archaeologists confirm the city’s extent.
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.

Perplexity AI launches Personal Computer, an always-on AI system running on a dedicated Mac mini.

[Perplexity AI]

Key Updates:

  • Perplexity AI introduced Personal Computer, a cloud-based system that runs continuously on a dedicated Mac mini.
  • The system merges locally with Perplexity Computer to work 24/7 across user files, apps and sessions.
  • It connects to the user’s local apps and Perplexity’s secure servers, allowing task continuation even when the user is offline.
  • Sensitive actions require user approval and each session creates an audit trail recording AI actions.
  • The system includes a kill switch for immediate shutdown by the user.
  • Personal Computer will initially be available to a limited group via a waitlist.
  • Perplexity AI also launched Computer for Enterprise linking to Snowflake, Salesforce and HubSpot for internal data queries.
  • Comet Enterprise, an AI-powered workplace browser, automates tasks across tabs and includes CrowdStrike-developed security features.
  • Four developer APIs—Search, Agent, Embeddings and Sandbox—were released based on Perplexity Computer technology.

Similar Coverage

Meta acquires Artificial Intelligence (AI) social media network Moltbook (Mid of March) ▼
  • Meta has acquired Moltbook, a social media networking platform designed for Artificial Intelligence (AI) bots to communicate with each other.
  • The Moltbook team will be integrated into Meta's Superintelligence Labs to develop new methods for AI agents to assist individuals and businesses.
  • Moltbook was developed using OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent tool that functions as a personal digital assistant to manage tasks like writing emails and building applications.
  • Meta previously acquired Manus, a Chinese-founded AI firm specialising in general-purpose bots, in December to compete with rivals like OpenAI and Google.
  • Peter Steinberger, the creator of OpenClaw, was hired by OpenAI in February to assist in developing the next generation of personal agents.
  • China's cyber security agency has issued warnings regarding the risks associated with OpenClaw after local governments and technology firms began experimenting with the tool.
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.
Coforge launches EvolveOps.AI for autonomous IT operations (End of December) ▼
  • Coforge has introduced EvolveOps.AI, an agentic AI platform built to push enterprises into AI-first operations across hybrid cloud.
  • The platform uses a mix of fine-tuned Small Language Models (SLMs) and deterministic models for reliability and cost control.
  • Coforge has built 28 agent personas-covering SRE, Infrastructure, Cloud, Network, Kubernetes, Command Center, Service Management, and FinOps-so the system can analyze, reason, decide, and act across real IT scenarios.
  • Reported outcomes from early adopters include a 25% reduction in system downtime and a 40% reduction in IT operational expenses.
  • Mission Zero-Zero Disruption, Zero Touch, Zero Friction-anchors Coforge's approach.
Microsoft Boosts AI Deployment and Renewable Energy Infrastructure in India (Mid of December) ▼
  • Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant, Infosys and Wipro have emerged as “frontier firms”, with each deploying more than 50,000 Microsoft Copilot licences and building “AI factories” that create industry-specific digital agents and experiences.
  • Companies are already integrating Fabric, Foundry and Copilot Studio to reimagine software development, data intelligence and customer operations.
  • Microsoft views GitHub as the “agent HQ” where developers issue daily tasks to AI agents as part of their coding workflow.
  • The company will open a new Azure data centre region in South Central India in 2026, its most sustainable facility in Asia, powered entirely by renewable energy.
  • Microsoft’s new Agent 365 runtime enables organisations to choose between public, sovereign and private cloud configurations while maintaining cybersecurity and compliance, ensuring observability and governance in a world of autonomous agents.
  • Microsoft’s AI stack now extends from Copilot to Copilot Studio, which lets enterprise developers create their own AI agents using natural language prompts, down to Microsoft Foundry, a toolchain for building multi-agent, multi-model solutions using over 11,000 available AI models.
  • This investment of $17.5 billion is part of what Nadella described as Microsoft’s largest in Asia, following its previous $3 billion commitment to India.
  • Microsoft will train 20 million people across India in AI and digital technologies.

India hosts first National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries in Srinagar

Key Updates:

  • Department of Fisheries, Government of India, organised the National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre, Srinagar on 14 March 2026.
  • Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh guided the conference.
  • Participants included Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying SP Singh Baghel, George Kurian, and Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Production Minister Javid Ahmad Dar.
  • Cold-water fisheries in India cover over 5.33 lakh sq km across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
  • Government has sanctioned Rs 2,299.56 crore under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for cold-water states to strengthen hatcheries, seed and feed systems, raceway facilities, cold chain and transport networks.
  • Union Minister released model guidelines for cold-water fisheries development and distributed scheme benefits to fishers, cooperatives and Kisan Credit Card beneficiaries.
  • National Vision for Cold Water Fisheries 2030 aims to double trout and mahseer production and generate livelihoods in hilly regions.
  • Under PMMSY, 5,600 raceways, 54 hatcheries, 5,600 trout rearing units, 293 cold storages, 8,044 transport vehicles and 260 feed mills have been approved.

Similar Coverage

SmartGreen Aquaculture produces food-grade rainbow trout inland near Hyderabad using closed-loop RAS (Start of January) ▼
  • The integrated aquaculture facility uses a closed-loop recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) to grow trout in a biosecure indoor environment.
  • RAS allows precise control of temperature, oxygen levels and water quality, enabling cold-water species production on the warm Deccan Plateau.
  • The project includes plans for a microalgae biorefinery to support feed and sustainability beyond aquaculture.
India to host World Seafood Congress 2026 in Chennai (Start of February) ▼
  • Chennai will host the World Seafood Congress (WSC) 2026, marking India’s first time hosting the biennial forum.
  • The Congress is jointly organised by the International Association of Fish Inspectors (IAFI), PDA Ventures, and the National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad.
  • Co-organisers include the Department of Fisheries with support from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and NITI Aayog – Government of India.
  • Technical partners are the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and WorldFish.
  • Supporting industry bodies include Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Foundation for Aquaculture Innovation & Technology Transfer (FAITT), Indian Marine Ingredients Association (IMIA), and National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training (NIFPHATT).
  • The inaugural session will feature addresses from Dr Manuel Barange (FAO), Mr Alejandro Rivera Rojas (UNIDO), Dr Jörn O Schmidt (WorldFish), Dr K N Raghavan (SEAI), Mr G Pawan Kumar (SEAI), Mr Dodda Venkata Swamy (MPEDA), and Dr Ian Goulding (IAFI).
  • Keynote address titled 'Netting Aqua Potentials for Nutrition Security and Economic Prosperity' will be delivered by Dr Tarun Shridhar, Former Secretary of Fisheries and Chairman of the WSC 2026 International Advisory Committee.
  • The Congress agenda includes plenary sessions, expert panels, technical workshops, and thematic discussions on sustainable seafood trade, inspection standards, market access, and inclusive growth.
  • The WSC 2026 exhibition will showcase innovations in processing, packaging, quality control, logistics, certification, digital systems, and cold-chain solutions.
  • Winners of the 2026 Peter Howgate Award are Ms Harini Ravi from the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship, India, and Ms Riza Jane Banicod from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Republic of the Philippines.
Government of India (GoI) doubles fish production and creates 74.66 lakh jobs in a decade. (Mid of January) ▼
  • India’s fish production surged 106 percent to 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024–25 from 95.79 lakh tonnes in FY 2013–14.
  • Average aquaculture productivity improved to 4.77 tonnes per hectare.
  • India is now the world’s second-largest fish producer and leads in shrimp production and exports.
  • Seafood exports reached 16.98 lakh tonnes worth Rs 62,408 crore in 2023–24.
  • Government approved projects worth Rs 32,723 crore under PMMSY, PMMKSSY, FIDF and Blue Revolution since 2014–15, with total investments of Rs 38,572 crore.
  • 74.66 lakh direct and indirect jobs created under various fisheries schemes since 2014–15.
  • 34.71 lakh fishers covered under group accident insurance.
  • 4.49 lakh Kisan Credit Cards worth Rs 3,569.60 crore issued to fishers.
  • 4.33 lakh fisher families receive nutritional support during lean fishing periods.
India and Israel sign Joint Ministerial Declaration to deepen fisheries and aquaculture cooperation (Mid of January) ▼
  • India and Israel signed a Joint Ministerial Declaration of Intent on 14 January 2026 to strengthen cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture.
  • The Indian delegation was led by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; and Panchayati Raj, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
  • The Declaration was signed during the Second Global Summit on 'Blue Food Security: Sea the Future 2026' held in Eilat, Israel.
  • Key cooperation areas include Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Biofloc systems, Cage culture, Aquaponics, and Aquarium systems.
  • Both countries will explore the establishment of new Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

New plant species Osbeckia zubeengargiana discovered in Assam named after Zubeen Garg

[Assam]

Key Updates:

  • The new plant species Osbeckia zubeengargiana was discovered in Assam.
  • Researchers Barnali Das and Prof. Namita Nath from the Botany Department of Gauhati University described the species.
  • The species has been named after Assamese singer Zubeen Garg.

Similar Coverage

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovers two new lichen moth species in eastern Himalayas (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) identified two new lichen moth species named Caulocera hollowayi and Asura buxa.
  • Caulocera hollowayi was discovered in Sikkim and Asura buxa in West Bengal.
  • The findings were documented in the journal Zootaxa by a team of Indian researchers.
  • Lichen moth caterpillars feed on lichens, making the moths indicators of environmental health and air quality in Himalayan ecosystems.
New trapdoor spider species Titanidiops kolhapurensis discovered in Maharashtra (Start of February) ▼
  • A new species of trapdoor spider, named Titanidiops kolhapurensis, has been discovered in the grasslands of Kolhapur district, Maharashtra.
  • The discovery was made by a joint research team from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation and Shivaji University, Kolhapur (SUK).
  • The findings were published in the Journal of Natural History, an international research publication based in the United Kingdom (UK).
  • The spider is nicknamed darkari koli in Marathi because of its unique ability to craft hinged doors for its burrows.
  • The species was classified under the Titanidiops genus based on its specific tooth structure and the arrangement of its eight eyes.
  • The spider has been recorded in specific locations including the SUK campus, Shenda Park, Kolhapur Chitranagari area, and Puikhadi hill.
  • Researchers found the species is absent in areas overtaken by exotic tree plantations such as Gliricidia sepium, commonly known as Undirmari.
  • The research team included Satpal Gangalmale, Sunil Gaikwad, Tejas Thackeray, and Akshay Khandekar.
ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research (ICAR-DFR) Pune discovers new blossom midge pest Contarinia icardiflores damaging jasmine crops in India. (End of February) ▼
  • Scientists at ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research (ICAR-DFR), Pune, discovered Contarinia icardiflores, a new species of blossom midge.
  • The pest was found causing significant economic losses in jasmine cultivation in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
  • Contarinia icardiflores is about 1.5 to 2 mm in size and completes its life cycle in 16 to 21 days.
  • The species is named in honour of ICAR-DFR to recognise the institute’s contributions to floriculture research.
  • Although C. icardiflores closely resembles C. maculipennis, the only other midge known to attack jasmine, it is genetically distinct.
Entomologists discover two new fruit-fly species and genus Rhagoletis in Himachal Pradesh using patented Solan Bait (Start of March) ▼
  • 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.

Yashwant Gupta conferred with MP Birla Memorial Award

Key Updates:

  • The MP Birla Planetarium (MPBP) conferred the MP Birla Memorial Award on Yashwant Gupta, the director of the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
  • The biennial award was instituted in 1993 and was last presented to Prof Thanu Padmanabhan in 2019.
  • The award ceremony resumed after a six-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and renovation work at the planetarium.
  • Notable past recipients of the award include Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, Govind Swarup, K Kasturirangan, and APJ Abdul Kalam.
  • The award was not presented in 2015 and 2017 as the MPBP was undergoing renovation during those years.

Similar Coverage

Prof Hermann Kulke passes away at 87; Padma Shri awardee and global voice of Odisha history. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Prof Hermann Kulke, eminent historian and Indologist, died on Tuesday at the age of 87.
  • He was born in Berlin in 1938 and held the position of Professor Emeritus of South and Southeast Asian History at Kiel University in Germany.
  • He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2010 for his contributions to Indology and Odisha studies.
  • Kulke was a founding member and coordinator of the first two Orissa Research Projects of the German Research Council.
  • He completed his PhD in Indology on the temple city of Chidambaram from Freiburg University in 1967.
  • He earned his D.Litt on Gajapati Kingship and the Jagannath Cult from Heidelberg University in 1975.
  • Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo condoled his death and highlighted his pioneering research on Odisha’s heritage.
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev launches Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Award (Mid of February) ▼
  • Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev launched the Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Award to recognise individuals for their contributions to the growth and well-being of the nation.
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the launch event as the chief guest and felicitated the award recipients during the Mahashivaratri celebrations.
  • The award recognises contributions across seven categories: national security, business, arts and entertainment, sports, community welfare, science and technology, and literature and academia.
  • Noted violinist N Rajam was among the individuals honoured with the Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Award.
  • Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Kiran Kumar received the award as a representative of the organisation for its decades of work in space technology.
  • The Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Award is a national honour established by the Isha Foundation.
President Droupadi Murmu presents Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2025 to distinguished scientists (End of December) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu presented the annual ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ (RVP) to distinguished scientists from diverse fields at a special function at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • Under the second edition of the Puraskar, 24 awards were presented to scientists in four categories - Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva, and Vigyan Team.
  • The highest science award - Vigyan Ratna - was given posthumously to India’s eminent physicist, Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, for lifetime achievements and contributions made in the field of science and technology.
  • The Vigyan Team award was presented to the Team- Aroma Mission Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the field of Agricultural Science.
  • The awards are given to scientists across 13 domains including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics & Computer Science, Earth Science, Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Technology & Innovation, Atomic Energy, and Space Science and Technology.
  • Jayan N was conferred the Vigyan Shri award for Space Science and Technology, while Ankur Garg received the Vigyan Yuva in the same category.
  • S Venkata Mohan was recognized with the Vigyan Shri award in the field of Environmental Science.
President Droupadi Murmu presented Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025 (End of December) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu presented the annual Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar to distinguished scientists from diverse fields at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • A total of 24 awards were presented under the second edition of the Puraskar in four categories: Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva, and Vigyan Team.
  • Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was posthumously awarded the Vigyan Ratna, the highest science award, for his lifetime achievements and contributions in the field of science and technology.
  • The Vigyan Team award was conferred upon the Team- Aroma Mission CSIR for contributions to Agricultural Science.
  • The awards are modeled on the Padma awards and recognize outstanding contributions across 13 domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, and Space Science and Technology.

NASA targets early April for Artemis II crewed lunar fly-by mission

Key Updates:

  • NASA plans to launch Artemis II in early April, with the earliest possible launch date of 1 April.
  • The mission was delayed from March after a helium leak forced the rocket’s return to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  • The four-member crew comprises NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
  • During the 10-day mission the crew will fly around the far side of the Moon and return to Earth aboard the Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
  • NASA will not conduct another wet dress rehearsal; the next time the rocket is fuelled will be for launch.
  • Artemis II has already been delayed by two years following heat-shield issues uncovered after the uncrewed Artemis I mission.

Similar Coverage

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Reschedules Artemis II Moon Mission Launch (End of January) ▼
  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) delayed the Artemis II moon mission launch to no earlier than 8 February 2026, following a delay in the fueling test due to a cold snap in Florida.
  • The mission will utilise the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to transport a four-member crew on a nine-day flight around the moon and back.
  • The Artemis II crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
  • NASA is preparing the Crew 12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to replace the Crew 11 team that returned on 15 January.
  • The Crew 12 mission includes Commander Jessica Meir, pilot Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and cosmonaut Andrey Fedaev.
  • During the wet dress rehearsal at Launch Complex 39B of the Kennedy Space Center, the SLS rocket will be loaded with over 750,000 gallons of supercold hydrogen and liquid oxygen (LOX).
  • The Artemis II flight represents the first crewed lunar mission in 54 years and serves as a precursor to a planned landing near the moon south pole in 2028.
  • Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson confirmed that the Artemis II vehicle incorporates upgrades based on data learned from the unpiloted Artemis I test flight in 2022.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Schedules Artemis 2 Crewed Lunar Mission for February 2026 (Mid of January) ▼
  • The Artemis 2 crewed mission is scheduled to launch on February 5, 2026, carrying Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a historic lunar flyby.
  • The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which produces 8.8 million pounds of thrust, will launch the mission from the Kennedy Space Center.
  • The Orion spacecraft will carry the crew on a 10-day mission following a free-return lunar trajectory that passes 5,000+ nautical miles beyond the lunar far side.
  • The crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
  • Mission objectives include the validation of Orion life support systems and the execution of biomedical research investigating radiation exposure and immune system function.
  • The Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) will execute translunar injection maneuvers to propel the spacecraft toward the lunar vicinity.
NASA validates first Mars rover drives planned entirely by generative AI (Start of February) ▼
  • NASA confirmed that the Perseverance rover completed drives on 8 and 10 December 2025 planned entirely by generative AI.
  • The AI analysed high-resolution orbital imagery to autonomously map a 246-metre path through Jezero Crater.
  • Engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) validated the AI’s logic using a digital twin before transmitting commands across 225 million kilometres of space.
  • The success provides a blueprint for NASA’s Artemis programme to use AI for split-second decisions on the Moon and Mars when Earth is out of reach.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) schedules LVM3-M6 launch for 24 December (End of December) ▼
  • ISRO announced that the launch of its LVM3-M6 mission has been scheduled for December 24, 2025, at 08:54 hours IST.
  • The heavy-lift launch vehicle will lift off from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
  • Under a commercial agreement facilitated by New Space India Limited, the LVM3 on this mission will place the Bluebird-6 communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile into orbit.

NASA rules out 2024 YR4 asteroid impact on Moon in 2032 after James Webb Space Telescope data

Key Updates:

  • NASA confirmed asteroid 2024 YR4 will miss the Moon on 22 December 2032, reducing collision risk from 4.3% to zero percent.
  • James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) near-infrared camera provided refined trajectory showing a flyby distance of 13,200 miles.
  • Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) discovered 2024 YR4 in Chile during late 2024.
  • Asteroid 2024 YR4 measures roughly 200 feet in diameter, comparable to a 15-story building.
  • A lunar impact would have excavated a 1.2-mile-wide crater on the Moon's surface.

Similar Coverage

NASA DART impact altered orbit of both Dimorphos and Didymos around Sun (Mid of March) ▼
  • NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft crashed into Dimorphos at roughly 14,000 mph in September 2022.
  • The mission shortened Dimorphos' 12-hour orbit around Didymos by 33 minutes.
  • New study published 6 March in Science Advances found Didymos' 770-day solar orbit changed by a fraction of a second.
  • NASA stated this marks the first time a human-made object has measurably altered the path of a celestial body around the Sun.
  • European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft Hera launched 7 October 2024 atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, and is scheduled to reach the Didymos system by end-2026.
  • NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, established in 2016, catalogues near-Earth objects that could crash into Earth.
  • NASA's NEO Surveyor telescope, set to launch no earlier than September 2027, is designed to discover 90% of asteroids and comets 460 feet or larger within 30 million miles of Earth's orbit.
State Space Corporation Roscosmos (Roscosmos) plans nuclear power plant on the moon by 2036 (End of December) ▼
  • State Space Corporation Roscosmos (Roscosmos) planned to build a lunar power plant by 2036 and signed a contract with the Lavochkin Association aerospace company to do it.
  • The purpose of the plant is to power the infrastructure of the joint Russian-Chinese International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), including rovers and an observatory.
  • Project participants include the Russian State Nuclear Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom) and the Kurchatov Institute, Russia's leading nuclear research institute.
  • The moon, which is 384,400 km (238,855 miles) from our planet, moderates the earth's wobble on its axis, which ensures a more stable climate.
  • The moon also causes tides in the world's oceans.
  • Russia's ambitions suffered a massive blow in August 2023 when its unmanned Luna-25 mission smashed into the surface of the moon while attempting to land.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Reschedules Artemis II Moon Mission Launch (End of January) ▼
  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) delayed the Artemis II moon mission launch to no earlier than 8 February 2026, following a delay in the fueling test due to a cold snap in Florida.
  • The mission will utilise the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to transport a four-member crew on a nine-day flight around the moon and back.
  • The Artemis II crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
  • NASA is preparing the Crew 12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to replace the Crew 11 team that returned on 15 January.
  • The Crew 12 mission includes Commander Jessica Meir, pilot Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and cosmonaut Andrey Fedaev.
  • During the wet dress rehearsal at Launch Complex 39B of the Kennedy Space Center, the SLS rocket will be loaded with over 750,000 gallons of supercold hydrogen and liquid oxygen (LOX).
  • The Artemis II flight represents the first crewed lunar mission in 54 years and serves as a precursor to a planned landing near the moon south pole in 2028.
  • Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson confirmed that the Artemis II vehicle incorporates upgrades based on data learned from the unpiloted Artemis I test flight in 2022.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Schedules Artemis 2 Crewed Lunar Mission for February 2026 (Mid of January) ▼
  • The Artemis 2 crewed mission is scheduled to launch on February 5, 2026, carrying Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a historic lunar flyby.
  • The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which produces 8.8 million pounds of thrust, will launch the mission from the Kennedy Space Center.
  • The Orion spacecraft will carry the crew on a 10-day mission following a free-return lunar trajectory that passes 5,000+ nautical miles beyond the lunar far side.
  • The crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
  • Mission objectives include the validation of Orion life support systems and the execution of biomedical research investigating radiation exposure and immune system function.
  • The Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) will execute translunar injection maneuvers to propel the spacecraft toward the lunar vicinity.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) recognised at Mobile World Congress 2026 for indigenous AI-driven fraud detection solution.

Key Updates:

  • The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) received global recognition at the Mobile World Congress 2026 held in Barcelona, Spain.
  • C-DOT’s indigenous AI-driven fraud detection solution, Fraud Pro, made it a top finalist at the Global Mobile Awards in the category of Best Network Security and Fraud Prevention.
  • The Ministry of Communications stated that the recognition marks India’s growing role in shaping next-generation telecom technologies.
  • The Ministry added that the global acknowledgement highlights India’s capability to develop advanced cybersecurity and fraud prevention solutions for large-scale digital networks.

Similar Coverage

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) removes 1.2 lakh misleading finfluencer posts using AI tool Sudarshan (Start of March) ▼
  • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has removed more than 1.2 lakh misleading social media posts by unregistered financial influencers.
  • SEBI’s in-house AI tool 'Sudarshan' tracks multilingual audio, video, and other content to detect violations.
  • SEBI norms mandate that only entities registered with SEBI can give investment advice.
  • SEBI introduced a pop-up warning that 9 out of 10 investors lose money in options trading.
  • Union Budget raised Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures to 0.05% from 0.02% and on options premium to 0.15% from 0.1%.
Gnani.ai and Razorpay launch agentic AI platform for in-call UPI payments (Start of March) ▼
  • Gnani.ai and Razorpay have partnered to launch an agentic AI collections platform that can complete Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions during live customer calls.
  • The platform utilizes Razorpay’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) server to connect AI agents directly to payment infrastructure for real-time transaction initiation and tracking.
  • The system currently supports two payment flows: one-time UPI payments and mandate-based UPI SBMD, also known as Reserve Pay, for recurring obligations.
  • Gnani.ai’s voice AI systems support conversations in more than 38 languages and currently handle over 10 million calls per day.
  • The partnership builds on previous work by Razorpay with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and OpenAI to integrate UPI payments within chat interfaces like ChatGPT.
  • Security protocols ensure that customer payment details do not pass through the voice AI system and are processed exclusively through Razorpay’s infrastructure.
  • The platform allows AI agents to assess customer intent, generate transaction-specific payment links, and confirm receipt during the same interaction.
United Nations Convention against Corruption Eleventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties convenes in Doha, Qatar (End of December) ▼
  • The eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) took place in Doha, Qatar, on 15-19 December 2025.
  • The Conference is the largest global anti-corruption gathering and brought together representatives from governments, regional and intergovernmental organizations, civil society, and the private sector.
  • Under the theme 'Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity', participants discussed emerging threats in the fight against corruption and explored ways to harness AI and new technologies to strengthen international cooperation against complex criminal activities.
  • The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument and enjoys near universal adherence.
  • The UNODC GlobE Network connects law enforcement and anti-corruption investigators worldwide, enabling fast, direct cooperation and information sharing on cross-border corruption cases.
  • The International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award Ceremony recognized individuals and initiatives driving integrity, accountability, and progress against corruption.
  • The 5th Anti-Corruption Academic Symposium focused on how Artificial Intelligence can support the fight against corruption.
Indian Railways deploys AI-enabled apps for grievance redressal and crowd management (End of February) ▼
  • Indian Railways has integrated artificial intelligence into seven mobile applications including RailMadad, Coach Mitra, and RailOne app.
  • RailOne app uses AI to predict confirmation percentage of waiting tickets.
  • RailMadad uses AI to classify and prioritise complaints based on urgency and type.
  • Coach Mitra is operational in 74 trains.
  • Centre For Railway Information Systems (CRIS) is embedding AI into 15 more applications to improve security, freight loading, and train operations.
  • CRIS is developing an AI system to predict railway traffic congestion and identify potential bottlenecks at station entry points and foot over bridges.
  • AI system will merge reserved and unreserved ticketing data with train movement data to predict platform-specific crowd density on an hourly basis.
  • CRIS has created 300 freight clusters using GST data to identify potential freight movement areas for Indian Railways.
  • An AI-based incident prediction model is under development to forecast asset failures using historical data.
  • Bhashini integration in RailMadad converts voice in 12 languages to text and identifies complaint trends and passenger sentiment.

ICC and CWI suspend Javon Searles, Chitranjan Rathod, and Trevon Griffith for anti-corruption breaches

Key Updates:

  • The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have provisionally suspended Javon Searles, Chitranjan Rathod, and Trevon Griffith from all forms of cricket.
  • The charges involve alleged breaches of anti-corruption codes during the 2023-24 Bim10 tournament held in Barbados.
  • Chitranjan Rathod, owner of the Titans team, faces three charges, while player Javon Searles and official Trevon Griffith face four charges each under the CWI code.
  • Trevon Griffith faces an additional allegation under the ICC code relating to international fixtures.
  • Javon Searles previously represented the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2018 and played in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) from 2014 to 2019.
  • The ICC confirmed these charges are part of a wider investigation that previously led to USA batter Aaron Jones being charged with five breaches.
  • The individuals have been given 14 days from 11 March 2026 to respond to the allegations.

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Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) directs BARC to withhold TRP reporting for news channels. (Start of March) ▼
  • 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.
India tops World Anti-Doping Agency list as worst dope offender for third straight time (Mid of December) ▼
  • India recorded 260 adverse analytical findings (AAFs) in 2024, the highest among nations that conducted 5,000 or more tests.
  • India's positivity rate stood at 3.6 per cent, based on 7,113 tests conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada).
  • France tested 11,744 samples and recorded 91 anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs), a 0.8 per cent positivity rate.
  • Russia had 76 ADRVs from 10,514 samples, a 0.7 per cent rate.
  • China recorded 43 dope failures with a 0.2 per cent positivity rate from 24,214 samples.
  • The US anti-doping agency conducted 6,592 tests and had a positivity rate of 1.1 per cent.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposes ₹11.50 lakh penalty on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited. (Start of March) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹11.50 lakh on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited on 27 February 2026.
  • The penalty was for non-compliance with RBI directions on ‘Fair Practices Code’ and ‘Internal Ombudsman for Regulated Entities’.
  • The statutory inspection of the company was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on 31 March 2025.
  • The company levied revised foreclosure charges on certain borrower accounts without incorporating suitable conditions in loan agreements.
  • The company failed to escalate certain complaints to its Internal Ombudsman within the prescribed time and did not communicate final decisions to complainants within the prescribed time in certain cases.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) levies penalties totalling Rs 1.35 crore on three banks and two NBFCs (Mid of February) ▼
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed penalties totalling Rs 1.35 crore on CSB Bank (Rs 63.60 lakh), Bank of Maharashtra (Rs 32.50 lakh), DCB Bank (Rs 29.60 lakh), IIFL Finance (Rs 5.30 lakh) and Navi Finserv (Rs 3.80 lakh).
  • CSB Bank was penalised for non-compliance with directions on ‘Scope of activities to be undertaken of Business Correspondents (BCs)’ and ‘Customer Service in Banks’ and for failure to classify certain accounts as non-performing assets on restructuring.
  • Bank of Maharashtra was penalised for non-compliance with directions on ‘Credit information reporting in respect of Self Help Group members’ and ‘Know Your Customer’, including not reporting Self Help Group member level data to Credit Information Companies and not identifying Beneficial Owners in certain accounts.
  • DCB Bank was penalised for non-compliance with directions on loans against pledge of gold ornaments and jewellery for non-agricultural end uses by failing to maintain the prescribed loan-to-value ratio in certain non-agricultural gold loan accounts.
  • IIFL Finance was penalised for non-compliance with directions on ‘Asset Classification’ by entering into an arrangement with BCs for activities outside the permitted scope and levying charges in savings bank accounts without ensuring prior customer awareness.
  • Navi Finserv was penalised for non-compliance with directions on ‘Recovery Agents’ by contacting customers after 7:00 p.m. and before 8:00 a.m. for recovery of overdue loans and not following due protocol while sending messages to customers.

India defeats Italy to qualify for Hockey World Cup 2026

Key Updates:

  • India women's national field hockey team qualified for the Hockey World Cup 2026 by reaching the final of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey World Cup Qualifiers.
  • The Indian team defeated Italy 1-0 in the semi-final match held at the GMC Balayogi Hockey Stadium in Hyderabad on 13 March 2026.
  • Manisha Chauhan scored the winning goal for India in the 40th minute through a penalty corner drag-flick.
  • India is set to face the England women's national field hockey team in the final of the tournament on 14 March 2026.
  • Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam and Italian goalkeeper Lucia Ines Caruso recorded key saves during the match.
  • Indian players Navneet Kaur and Salima Tete were involved in significant penalty corner attempts during the first half.

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India defeat Wales to qualify for FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 (Mid of March) ▼
  • India defeated Wales 4-1 in a Pool B match of the women’s hockey World Cup Qualifiers at the GMC Balayogi Hockey Ground in Hyderabad.
  • Navneet Kaur scored a hat-trick for India, finding the net in the 29th, 34th and 55th minutes.
  • Sakshi Rana opened the scoring for India in the 7th minute.
  • India finished as Pool B table-toppers ahead of Scotland on goal difference.
  • India secured qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 before the semifinals because they cannot drop below Japan (world No 15) in the rankings even if they lose their remaining matches.
Sjoerd Marijne returns as India women’s hockey chief coach (Start of January) ▼
  • Sjoerd Marijne has been appointed as the chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team.
  • He guided India to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics.
  • Marijne takes over from Harendra Singh, who resigned in December citing ‘personal reasons’.
  • His first assignment will be the World Cup qualifying tournament in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14.
Haryana wins overall team title at Khelo India Winter Games 2026 (End of January) ▼
  • Haryana won the team championship title of the Ladakh phase of Khelo India Winter Games 2026 after securing four gold medals.
  • Indian Army team retained the men’s ice hockey title by defeating Chandigarh in the final with the match-winner scored three minutes before full-time.
  • Ladakh, Maharashtra and Telangana each won two gold medals and were separated by silver count: Ladakh (5 silver), Maharashtra (3 silver), Telangana (2 silver).
  • National coach Mohammad Abbas Nordak stated that the overall standard of ice skating improved noticeably compared to the previous five editions.
  • Muthakani Vishnu Vardhan (Telangana) and Sachin Singh (Haryana) delivered strong individual performances in men’s events.
  • Among women skaters, Nayana and Skarma stood out with consistent and competitive performances.
Indian women's cricket team nominated for 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award after maiden World Cup triumph. (Start of March) ▼
  • Indian women's cricket team nominated for 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award after winning their first ICC Women's World Cup title.
  • Laureus Sport confirmed the nomination on Tuesday.
  • Team recorded highest successful run chase in women's ODI history during semi-final win against Australia.
  • BCCI announced Rs 51 crore cash prize for the squad after the victory.
  • Award winners to be announced at Cibeles Palace in Madrid on April 20, 2026.
  • Other nominees include England Women's Football Team, European Ryder Cup Team, McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Yoga Mahotsav 2026 launched on 13 March 2026; 100-day countdown to 12th International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2026

Key Updates:

  • Yoga Mahotsav 2026 was launched by the Ministry of Ayush in New Delhi on 13 March 2026, marking the 100-day countdown to the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on 21 June 2026.
  • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, inaugurated the event and unveiled '10 Yoga Protocols for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Target Groups'.
  • The International Day of Yoga was adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2014 following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal.
  • Over 26 crore people participated in International Day of Yoga 2025.
  • The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) signed an MoU with Habuild under the Yoga 365 campaign to offer free daily online Yoga sessions, with registrations via toll-free number 1800-315-7008.
  • An AI-based tool under the Ayush Grid helps practitioners correct Yogasana postures, and Advanced Y-Break courses are available on the Karmayogi Bharat platform with over 10 lakh enrolled participants.
  • The Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) demonstration at 7:00 AM at MDNIY was attended by over 1,000 Yoga enthusiasts, and the one-day event saw around 1,500 total participants.

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Ministry of Ayush invites applications for Prime Minister’s Awards for Yoga-2026 (End of February) ▼
  • The Ministry of Ayush has invited applications for the Prime Minister’s Awards for Yoga-2026 to recognise exemplary contributions to the development and promotion of Yoga at national and international levels.
  • Each award comprises a trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.
  • The awards are conferred in two primary categories: Individuals (National and International) and Institutions (National and International).
  • Applications for the awards must be submitted through the National Awards Portal (www.awards.gov.in).
  • The final date for the submission of applications is 21 March 2026.
  • The felicitation ceremony for the award winners will coincide with the International Yoga Conference.
World Unani Day observed on 11 February 2026 (Mid of February) ▼
  • World Unani Day was observed on 11 February 2026 at the Mini-Secretariat in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The event was organised by the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in collaboration with the Information Department.
  • The theme for the 2026 observance was Innovation and Evidence in Unani Practice, focusing on scientific validation and quality assurance.
  • A publication titled Handbook of Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Care was released during the occasion.
  • A Kashmiri skit titled Aalow was presented by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) to promote traditional healthcare systems.
  • Clinical kits were distributed to Multipurpose Health Workers of Ayush Centres to enhance healthcare delivery in the Shopian district.
  • The event was attended by the Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Shopian, Dr Nasir Ahmed Lone, and the District Ayush Officer, Dr Javid Ahmed.
Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram Statehood Day celebrated on February 20 (End of February) ▼
  • Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrate their Statehood Day on February 20 every year.
  • The article marks 12 years of transformative change in both states since 2015-16.
  • Arunachal Pradesh recorded a 166% increase in GSDP since 2015-16.
  • Mizoram maintained an average annual real GSDP growth of 10.1% between 2012 and 2022.
9th Siddha Day celebrations on 3 January 2026 themed 'Siddha for Global Health' (Start of January) ▼
  • Siddha Day is annually observed on 6 January to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sage Agathiyar, revered as the father of Siddha medicine.
  • The 9th Siddha Day celebrations will be held on 3 January 2026 at Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai.
  • The theme of the 9th Siddha Day is 'Siddha for Global Health'.
  • The Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, will preside over and inaugurate the 9th Siddha Day celebrations.