📰 Daily Briefing Saturday, Mar 21

Daily Current Affairs: 21 March 2026

Analysis for 21 March 2026

Rituparna Sengupta receives Women Empowerment Award for Art and Culture at UK House of Commons.

[United Kingdom]

Key Updates:

  • Rituparna Sengupta was honoured with the Women Empowerment Award for Art and Culture at the House of Commons, Westminster Parliament, UK.
  • The award was presented by Seema Malhotra and Virendra Sharma at an event organised by GloWomen CiC to mark International Women's Day.
  • Her husband, Sanjay Chakrabarty, attended the ceremony.

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Krishnan Raghavan posthumously conferred Padma Shri. (Mid of March) ▼
  • 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.
Sashakt Panchayat - Netri Abhiyan and Nirbhay Raho Initiative: ₹4,35,236 Crore Allocated for Rural Bodies (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) organised a national conference in Delhi to commemorate the first anniversary of the Sashakt Panchayat - Netri Abhiyan.
  • The Nirbhay Raho initiative was launched under the Nirbhaya Scheme to enhance women's safety and leadership in rural governance.
  • The initiative aims to provide capacity building and legal rights training to 14.5 lakh elected women representatives.
  • A total of 17.5 lakh male representatives will be sensitised on gender equality as part of the programme.
  • The financial allocation for rural bodies has been increased to ₹4,35,236 crore for the 2026-31 period.
  • The conference showcased the Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled SabhaSaar platform designed to improve inclusive local governance.
Purple Fest held at Rashtrapati Bhavan to celebrate Divyangjan (Mid of March) ▼
  • Purple Fest was organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India.
  • Over 8,000 Divyangjan visited Amrit Udyan which was opened exclusively for them during the day-long celebration.
  • President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu witnessed cultural performances by Divyangjan at the Open Air Theatre in the President’s Estate.
  • The President stated that the Constitution of India’s Preamble establishes ideals of social justice, equality of status and dignity of the individual, and Directive Principles grant Divyangjan the right to education, work and public assistance.
Anke Gowda And 44 Others Named As Padma Awardees 2026 (End of January) ▼
  • A total of 45 distinguished individuals have been selected for the Padma Awards 2026, comprising the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, announced one day ahead of Republic Day.
  • The President of India will personally confer the awards upon the recipients at a ceremonial function to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • Karnataka’s Anke Gowda, a 75-year-old former bus conductor, was recognised for establishing Pustak Mane, a library housing over two million books and rare manuscripts in 20 languages.
  • Mumbai-based paediatrician Armida Fernandes was selected for her contribution to improving infant survival through the initiation of Asia’s first human milk bank.
  • The awardees include 90-year-old Tarpa player Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda from Maharashtra, Bundeli war art trainer Bhagwandas Raikwar from Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir social worker Brij Lal Bhatt.
  • The list features Budri Thati for establishing schools in Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh, Santhali author Charan Hembrom, brass engraving expert Chiranji Lal Yadav, and Hyderabad-based geneticist Kumaraswamy Thangaraj.
  • Other recipients include Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya, Gaffaruddin Mewati Jogi, Haily War, Inderjit Singh Sidhu, K Pazhanivel, Kailash Chandra Pant, Khem Raj Sundriyal, Kollakkayli Devaki Amma ji, Mahendra Kumar Mishra, Meer Hajibhai Kasambhai, and Mohan Nagar.
  • The awardees also include Naresh Chandra Dev Verma, Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala, Nuruddin Ahmed, Othuvar Tiruthani Swaminathan, Padma Gurmeet, Pokhila Lekthepi, Punniyamurthy Natesan, R Krishnan, Raghupat Singh, and Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar.
  • The final set of awardees consists of Rajastapathi Kaiiappa Gounder, Rama Reddy Mamidi, Ramchandra Godbole and Sunita Godbole, SG Sushila Amma, Sangyusang S Pongenor, Shafi Shouk, Shrirang Devba Lad, Shyam Sundar, Simanchal Patro, Suresh Hangawadi, Taga Ram Bhil, Techie Gubin, Thiruvarur Bhaktavatsalam, Vishva Bandhu, and Yumnaam Jatra Singh.

Bhupatiraju Anmish Varma Sets Guinness World Record (GWR) for Seven Volcanic Summits Challenge

Key Updates:

  • Bhupatiraju Anmish Varma from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, established a new Guinness World Record (GWR) by completing the Seven Volcanic Summits challenge.
  • Varma achieved the mountaineering feat in a record time of 92 days, 4 hours, and 45 minutes.
  • GWR officially announced the achievement in March 2026, marking a new global benchmark in adventure sports.
  • The Seven Volcanic Summits challenge is recognised as one of the most demanding pursuits in mountaineering, requiring immense endurance and skill.

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Arpita Patra summits world’s highest volcanic peak Ojos Del Salado (Mid of March) ▼
  • 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.
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.
Kabak Yano summits Mount Aconcagua in Argentina (Start of February) ▼
  • Indian mountaineer Kabak Yano from Arunachal Pradesh successfully summited Mount Aconcagua in Argentina.
  • Mount Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America and the Western Hemisphere at 22,831 feet above sea level.
  • The summit was part of her 7-Summit Mountaineering Expedition flagged off on 28th July last year by Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lieutenant General K.T. Parnaik (Retd).
  • Arunachal Pradesh Governor congratulated 27-year-old Yano on her achievement, praising her as an inspiration to the state's youth.

Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi Releases New Book Karuna: The Power of Compassion

Key Updates:

  • Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi has released his latest book titled Karuna: The Power of Compassion.
  • The book has been published by HarperCollins in association with The Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion.
  • The official unveiling was attended by Justice Surya Kant, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) of the Supreme Court of India (SCI), and Dr. Kiran Bedi, the former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
  • Kailash Satyarthi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for his five decades of work in defending the rights and dignity of marginalised children.
  • The book explores the concept of compassion as a transformative force for addressing global conflicts, inequality, and indifference.

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Bhupendra Patel released Gujarati biography of ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada. (End of February) ▼
  • Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel released the Gujarati biography 'Vishwaguru Srila Prabhupada' in Gandhinagar.
  • The book chronicles the life, struggles, and global spiritual journey of ISKCON Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured Srila Prabhupada on his 150th birth anniversary by releasing a commemorative coin and postal stamp.
  • Dr Usha Upadhyay is the author of the biography 'Vishwaguru Srila Prabhupada'.
  • Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa is the Co-Mentor and Vice Chairman of the Global Hare Krishna Movement.
  • The Akshaya Patra Foundation serves 5 lakh children daily in Gujarat and 23.5 lakh children nationwide.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya releases book "Mahatma: A Great Communicator" (Start of March) ▼
  • Union Minister of Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, released the book "Mahatma: A Great Communicator" at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat, New Delhi.
  • The book was authored by Additional Director General Akashvani, Dr Dhiraj Kakadia.
  • The book is published in Hindi, English, and Gujarati languages.
  • The book focuses on Mahatma Gandhi's life and the impact of his communication skills during the freedom movement.
Karuna Abhiyan: Gujarat Deploys 8,500 Personnel for Bird and Animal Rescue (Mid of January) ▼
  • The Gujarat Government launched 'Karuna Abhiyan' to rescue birds injured by kite strings and address cattle food poisoning: 'the state government has launched Karuna Abhiyan, a campaign aimed at rescuing birds injured by kite strings and addressing cases of cattle suffering from food poisoning.'
  • The campaign is a joint initiative of the Department of Forest and Environment and the Department of Animal Husbandry: 'launched jointly by the departments of Forest and Environment and Animal Husbandry, in coordination with various voluntary organisations.'
  • The initiative runs from January 10 to January 20 and has established 85 control rooms and over 480 treatment centres: 'The campaign, which began on January 10 and will continue until January 20, has set up 85 control rooms and over 480 treatment centres.'
  • The campaign involves 740 veterinary doctors and approximately 8,500 officials and volunteers: 'More than 740 veterinary doctors and approximately 8,500 officials and volunteers are involved in providing services at the 450 collection centres throughout the state.'
  • Citizens can access assistance via the 1962 helpline or a dedicated wildlife WhatsApp number: 'People can call the helpline at 1962 for assistance with injured birds or unwell animals. Additionally, a wildlife helpline has been created at 8320002000.'
'Karmayoga for Empowered Bharat' campaign launched to promote selfless service rooted in spiritual values. (Mid of February) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu launched the nationwide 'Karmayoga for Empowered Bharat' campaign during the All-India Conference of the Brahma Kumaris in New Delhi.
  • The campaign was inaugurated alongside the silver jubilee celebrations of the Om Shanti Retreat Centre in Gurugram.
  • The President emphasised that Karmayoga involves fulfilling responsibilities while adhering to high spiritual principles and practicing selfless service in everyday life.
  • She stated that morality and spirituality must guide economic growth and technological advancement to prevent social and environmental imbalances.
  • Smt. Murmu highlighted that spirituality offers a moral framework based on integrity, compassion, non-violence and service essential for just governance.
  • The campaign aims to inspire citizens to contribute to India’s sustainable and inclusive development by harmonising economic progress with ethical values.

6.7 magnitude earthquake strikes South Shetland Islands; no tsunami threat reported.

[Antarctica]

Key Updates:

  • A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica on Thursday.
  • The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported the quake occurred at a depth of 10 km.
  • No immediate reports of damage or casualties were received.
  • The US Tsunami Warning System stated no tsunami is expected for US Atlantic, Gulf or Pacific coasts.

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) utilises Devon Island for Mars simulation research (Mid of March) ▼
  • Devon Island, located in Nunavut, Canada, is the world's largest uninhabited island and serves as a primary site for Mars research.
  • The island is classified as a polar desert, characterized by freezing temperatures, extreme dryness, and a lack of vegetation.
  • The Haughton Impact Crater, a 20-kilometre-wide formation on the island, is used to simulate the cratered terrain of Mars.
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) uses the island to test next-generation hardware, including analogue pressurised rovers, autonomous drones, and deep-drilling systems.
  • The Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) conducts the Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse experiment to study plant growth in sterile, Mars-like soil.
  • Scientists study endolithic colonisation on the island, a process where microorganisms survive extreme ultraviolet (UV) radiation by living inside rocks.
Silverpit Crater confirmed as 160-m asteroid strike beneath North Sea (Mid of March) ▼
  • On 11 March 2026 scientists confirmed the Silverpit Crater, 130 km off Yorkshire, is an asteroid impact site formed 43–46 million years ago.
  • Heriot-Watt University (HWU) led the study using high-resolution seismic scans and core samples that revealed shocked quartz and deformed feldspars.
  • Imperial College London (ICL) simulations matched the 3.2-km-wide crater to a 160-m asteroid hitting at >15 km/s and generating a >100-m tsunami.
  • The crater lies 700 m below the modern seafloor within a 20-km ring-fault system and is exceptionally preserved under marine sediments.
China Meteorological Administration reports Fengyun-3D satellite shows A23a iceberg in final stage of disintegration (End of January) ▼
  • China's Fengyun-3D satellite has found that A23a, once the world's largest iceberg, has entered the final stage of its disintegration.
  • True-color images with 250-meter resolution captured on January 14 showed that the iceberg's main body has reduced to just 506 square kilometers.
  • The iceberg has shrunk to less than one-eighth its initial size of 4,170 square kilometers when it broke away from the Antarctic ice shelf in 1986.
  • The primary cause of this rapid breakup is hydrofracturing.
  • Satellite images showed blue-colored meltwater accumulating in the iceberg's center, held there by natural bulges on the edges.
Piton de la Fournaise volcano erupts again on Réunion, alert level 2-1 activated (Mid of February) ▼
  • Piton de la Fournaise volcano on Réunion island began a second eruption on 13 February 2026 at around 1:00 PM local time.
  • The eruption is confined to the Enclos Fouqué caldera with lava flows descending the Grandes Pentes.
  • Authorities activated the ORSEC Alert 2–1 protocol and closed all access to the Enclos Fouqué, including the Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob trail.
  • By 9:30 PM on 13 February, the lava front was nearing National Road 2 (RN2) in the Route des Laves area; the road remains open but drivers are advised not to stop.
  • Monitoring equipment recorded 551 volcano-tectonic earthquakes at the summit on 13 February 2026.
  • GNSS stations detected inflation at both summit and distant locations, indicating magma pressure build-up beneath the surface.
  • No significant ash emissions have been reported and no populated areas are currently at risk.
  • The previous eruption occurred from 18 January 2026 at 7:42 PM local time, triggered by a seismic crisis that began at 4:34 PM beneath the summit.
  • During the January eruption, four fissures opened between 7:45 PM and 8:54 PM along the northern flank of the terminal cone within the Enclos Fouqué.
  • Lava discharge rates during the first 24 hours of the January eruption ranged between 2 and 27 cubic metres per second based on satellite thermal data.
  • Between 21 and 28 January, monitoring networks recorded an average of about 20 shallow volcano-tectonic earthquakes per day at depths of 1.5–2.2 kilometres beneath the summit.
  • On 6 February 2026, a swarm of 343 very small (magnitude <1.0) volcano-tectonic earthquakes occurred between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM beneath the summit, accompanied by slight ground deformation.

Kaveh Madani won 2026 Stockholm Water Prize.

[Stockholm]

Key Updates:

  • Kaveh Madani received the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize from the Stockholm Water Foundation and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
  • Madani is the 44-year-old Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health in Ontario.
  • The award citation recognised his groundbreaking research on water resources management with policy, diplomacy and global outreach under personal risk and political complexity.
  • He will be presented the prize by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in August 2026.
  • Madani coined the concept of ‘water bankruptcy’ and co-authored the 2026 UN Report declaring a ‘Global Water Bankruptcy’ era.
  • Earlier Indian recipients include Rajendra Singh of Tarun Bharat Sangh in 2015 and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2005.

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Mumbai to host Prince William-founded Earthshot Prize 2026 in November (Mid of February) ▼
  • Mumbai has been selected as the host city for the Earthshot Prize 2026, a global environmental award founded by Britain's Prince William.
  • The event is scheduled for November 2026, where five winners will each receive 1 million pounds to accelerate their innovative climate solutions.
  • The prize focuses on five categories: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean our Air, Revive our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix our Climate.
  • The Earthshot Prize was inspired by former United States (US) President John F. Kennedy's 1962 'Moonshot' mission to land a man on the moon.
  • India has produced multiple winners including S4S Technologies and Boomitra in 2023, Kheyti in 2022, and Takachar in 2021.
  • Mumbai joins the global list of Earthshot host cities which includes London, Boston, Singapore, Cape Town, and Rio de Janeiro.
  • The announcement was made during the inaugural Mumbai Climate Week in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis.
  • The prize aims to discover 50 winners over 10 years with the mission to repair and restore the planet by 2030.
Tamil poet Vairamuthu named 2025 Jnanpith Award winner (Mid of March) ▼
  • Vairamuthu has been conferred the 60th Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, announced by Bharatiya Jnanpith on Saturday.
  • He becomes the third Tamil writer to receive the Jnanpith Award after Akilan and Jayakanthan.
  • The Jnanpith Selection Committee chaired by Pratibha Ray selected Vairamuthu for his originality, creative depth and distinct poetic voice.
  • Vairamuthu has authored over 37 books including poetry collections, novels and travel writings such as Kallikattu Ithikasam, Karuvachi Kaviyam, Thanni Desam and Moondraam Ulaga Por.
  • He has won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics seven times.
  • Vairamuthu received the Padma Shri in 2003 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014.
  • He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Kallikattu Ithikasam.
  • The Jnanpith Award carries a cash prize of ₹11 lakh, a bronze statuette of Goddess Saraswati and a citation.
Karan Adani received Business Leader of the Year award from All India Management Association (AIMA). (End of February) ▼
  • Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, was honoured as Business Leader of the Year at the Foundation Day of All India Management Association (AIMA).
  • He dedicated the award to employees of the Adani Group, stating they work day and night at plants and remote sites across the country.
  • Karan Adani credited his father for teaching him perseverance, hard work and long-term thinking.
  • He thanked his mother for teaching him compassion, humility and the need to be a better human being.
  • He acknowledged the support of his three brothers and his wife Paridhi for their constant encouragement.
  • He expressed gratitude to his three daughters for inspiring him daily to be a better father and person.
  • The award recognised leadership that combines business growth with strong human values.
Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav Creative Challenges Announce Winners (Start of January) ▼
  • The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) announced winners of four creative challenges under the ‘Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav’ campaign organised with MyGov.
  • Citizens shared personal experiences and creative expressions reflecting India’s transformation over the last 11 years under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
  • Aligned with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’, the campaign engaged citizens across age groups and backgrounds through Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Short AV, and Blog Writing contests.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approves Rs 1,718.56 crore MSP funding to Cotton Corporation of India (CCI).

[Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved Rs 1,718.56 crore to the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) for cotton procurement operations during the cotton season 2023-24.
  • CCI is designated as the central nodal agency for undertaking Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations in cotton.
  • The funding enables direct price support to cotton farmers across India whenever market prices fall below MSP levels.
  • Cotton sustains the livelihoods of approximately 60 lakh farmers and supports 400-500 lakh people engaged in allied activities including processing, trade, and textiles.

Similar Coverage

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approves raw jute Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹5,925 for 2026-27 (End of February) ▼
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of raw jute by ₹275 to ₹5,925 per quintal for the 2026-27 marketing season.
  • The new MSP ensures a return of 61.8 per cent over the all-India weighted average cost of production.
  • The decision follows the Budget 2018-19 principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.
  • The Jute Corporation of India (JCI) will remain the central government nodal agency to undertake price support operations.
  • The MSP for raw jute has risen from ₹2,400 per quintal in 2014-15 to ₹5,925 per quintal in 2026-27, representing a 2.5-fold increase.
  • Total MSP payments to jute farmers reached ₹1,342 crore between 2014-15 and 2025-26, compared to ₹441 crore during the 2004-05 to 2013-14 period.
  • The CCEA meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held at the new Prime Minister's Office (PMO) named Seva Teerth.
NSIC upgraded to Schedule A CPSE status by Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) (Start of March) ▼
  • The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) announced the upgrade of National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) to Schedule A Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) status.
  • Schedule A recognition enhances NSIC’s managerial, operational and financial powers.
  • NSIC received an “Excellent” rating from the Department of Public Enterprises for 2024–25.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) clears Rs 11,000 crore highway projects in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved highway projects worth over Rs 11,000 crore in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Telangana.
  • In Maharashtra, the Ghoti–Trimbak (Mokhada)–Jawhar–Manor–Palghar stretch of National Highway-160A will be rehabilitated and upgraded at a cost of Rs 3,320.38 crore.
  • The 154.635-km NH-160A project in Maharashtra will be executed under Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
  • In Gujarat, the CCEA approved four-laning of the 107.67-km Dhamasiya-Bitada/Movi and Nasarpore-Malotha sections of National Highway-56 at a cost of Rs 4,583.64 crore.
  • The NH-56 four-laning project in Gujarat is designed for 100 km per hour speed and is expected to cut travel time by 40 per cent.
  • In Telangana, the CCEA cleared widening of the 80.01-km Gudebellur to Mahabubnagar stretch of National Highway-167 at a cost of Rs 3,175.08 crore.
  • The NH-167 widening project in Telangana will be executed under Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) through the National Highways (Original) [NH(O)] scheme.
National Strategy for India’s Textiles: Target of USD 350 Billion Industry and USD 100 Billion Exports by 2030 (Start of January) ▼
  • The Ministry of Textiles (MoT) is organizing a national conference to deliberate on a coordinated national strategy for positioning India as a global textiles manufacturing hub.
  • The MoT deliberations align with the national vision of developing a USD 350 billion textile industry and achieving USD 100 billion in textile exports by 2030.
  • A conclave on "‘Strengthening and Empowering the Textiles Sector of the North-Eastern Region of India’" will focus on silk, handloom, and bamboo-based textiles.
  • The initiative focuses on revitalising traditional textiles with emphasis on handloom and handicrafts for modern markets and the promotion of women-led enterprises.

Jawed Ashraf received Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur

[France]

Key Updates:

  • France conferred the Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur on former Indian ambassador to France Jawed Ashraf for strengthening bilateral relations.
  • Ashraf served as Indian envoy to France during 2020-2024 and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1991.
  • He was presented the award by French ambassador Thierry Mathou at the French embassy on a Wednesday.
  • After retirement in 2024 Ashraf was appointed chairman of the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation.
  • During his tenure India purchased 36 Rafale combat jets and advanced joint defence manufacturing with France.
  • Ashraf is the first Indian diplomat and the eighth Indian overall to receive the Commander rank of the Legion of Honour.

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Asim Munir Conferred With Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellence (End of December) ▼
  • Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, was awarded the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellence, the highest national honour of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
  • The award was conferred under a Royal Decree issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
  • The Saudi leadership recognized Field Marshal Munir for his professionalism, strategic outlook, and commitment to strengthening ties between Pakistan and the KSA.
  • During his official visit, Field Marshal Munir also met with Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Minister of Defence of the KSA, to discuss regional security and military cooperation.
Ravi Deecee received the French honour Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (End of December) ▼
  • Ravi Deecee, the Publisher and Managing Director of DC Books, was conferred with the insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters).
  • The Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, presented the award at a ceremony held at the Embassy of France on December 4.
  • The award recognizes his commitment to multilingualism and the publication of Malayalam translations of leading French works by authors such as Annie Ernaux, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Maryse Condé.
  • DC Books also manages the Vagamon Writer Residency in Kerala, which has been part of the Villa Swagatam programme of the French Embassy since its inception.
  • Instituted in 1957, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres recognizes individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the promotion and enrichment of arts and culture.
PM Modi announces India-France Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics and Defence at Kanpur (End of February) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics and Defence at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) in Kanpur.
  • The Centre will operate under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
  • France will collaborate in establishing the Centre, which will offer advanced training in aeronautics, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul operations, airport management, and defence production.
  • A Letter of Intent was exchanged between MSDE and the French government to formalise cooperation under PM-SETU, building on the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding on vocational education and training.
India and France upgrade bilateral ties to Special Global Strategic Partnership during Mumbai talks (Mid of February) ▼
  • India and France elevated their relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership after talks in Mumbai between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
  • The meeting produced 21 outcomes covering defence, critical minerals, technology, startups, advanced materials, health and skilling.
  • Modi and Macron virtually inaugurated the H125 light utility helicopter final assembly line of Tata-Airbus in Karnataka.
  • The first 'Made in India' H125 helicopter is scheduled for delivery in early 2027 and will be exported within the South Asian region.
  • The two leaders launched the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health, Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, and National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics.
  • An annual Foreign Ministers Dialogue was established to review implementation of the elevated partnership and Horizon 2047 Roadmap.
  • India and France renewed their defence cooperation agreement and agreed on a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran to produce Hammer missiles in India.
  • Both countries decided on reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments.
  • A Joint Advanced Technology Development Group on Critical and Emerging Technologies including defence was constituted.
  • A Joint Declaration of Intent for Cooperation in Critical Minerals and Metals was issued.
  • The Protocol on the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement between India and France was amended.
  • Letters of Intent were signed between T-Hub and Nord France on startup ecosystems and between Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and ANRS on infectious disease research.
  • An agreement established the Indo-French Centre for Metabolic Health Sciences and a Letter of Intent launched the National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics.
  • The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the French Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty on Renewable Energy Cooperation was renewed.

Maharashtra Goseva Commission to organise Gau-Tech 2026 exhibition in Pune

Key Updates:

  • The Maharashtra Goseva Commission, in collaboration with the Global Confederation of Cow-Based Industries (GCCBI), will organise the Gau-Tech 2026 exhibition from March 20 to 23.
  • The event will be hosted at the Agriculture College in Pune, Maharashtra.
  • The primary objectives of the exhibition include promoting cow-based agriculture, strengthening the rural economy, and boosting village industries.
  • The initiative aligns with the Developed India 2047 vision by enhancing market opportunities and showcasing technologies for cow conservation.
  • The exhibition will showcase new technologies and business opportunities aimed at empowering the rural economy through cow conservation.

Similar Coverage

Global Conference on the Role of Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) inaugurated (Mid of March) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu addressed the inaugural session of GCWAS-2026 in New Delhi on 12 March 2026.
  • United Nations has declared 2026 as ‘The International Year of the Woman Farmer’.
  • GCWAS-2026 is jointly organised by Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV&FRA).
  • The three-day conference aims to deliberate on strengthening policy frameworks to mainstream gender participation in agri-food systems.
  • President stated that girls comprise over 50 percent of students in state agricultural universities and over 60 percent in many universities.
  • President urged greater role for women in agriculture in policy formulation, decision-making and leadership positions.
  • President highlighted initiatives promoting women-led Self-Help Groups and Farmer Producer Organisations as effective in women empowerment in agriculture.
Himachal Pradesh inks three MoUs with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to expand dairy infrastructure (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Himachal Pradesh government signed three MoUs with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to strengthen the state’s dairy sector and improve milk processing infrastructure.
  • Two milk processing plants of 20,000 litres per day capacity each will be set up at Nahan in Sirmaur district and Nalagarh in Solan district.
  • Two milk chilling centres of 20,000 litres per day capacity each will be established at Jalari in Hamirpur district and Jhalera in Una district.
  • An automated milk processing plant is being developed at Dhagwar in Kangra district at a cost of ₹250 crore; it will initially process 1.5 lakh litres of milk per day with potential to expand to 3 lakh litres.
  • The Dhagwar plant is expected to become operational by October.
  • Himachal Pradesh became the first state to offer the highest support price for milk procurement: cow milk raised from ₹32 to ₹51 per litre and buffalo milk from ₹47 to ₹61 per litre.
  • A third MoU covers implementation of enterprise resource planning software in the state dairy federation to ensure transparency and efficient management.
ICAR–NDDB MoU Targets Climate-Resilient, High-Productivity Dairy Value Chain (Mid of January) ▼
  • ICAR and NDDB signed an MoU to deepen multidisciplinary research, innovation and capacity building across the entire dairy value chain.
  • Partnership focuses on translating science into impact for millions of small and marginal dairy farmers.
  • Key technical areas include integrated farming systems, climate resilience, low livestock productivity and value chain development.
  • Initiatives will deploy modern technologies emerging from ICAR institutes for fodder, manure management, biogas utilisation and gaushala-based stray cattle management.
  • NDDB and ICAR will jointly develop, validate and deploy technologies, share knowledge, run training programmes and create scalable, replicable models across diverse agro-climatic zones.
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.

Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) launches anti-dumping probe into ethyl chloroformate imports from China

Key Updates:

  • The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) initiated the investigation following an application by Paushak, India’s sole domestic producer of ethyl chloroformate.
  • The probe covers ethyl chloroformate imports from China during the period October 2024 to September 2025.
  • Paushak alleged that rising Chinese imports caused material injury, price suppression, and weakened profitability for domestic producers.
  • DGTR’s preliminary assessment indicated a dumping margin above the de minimis level, signalling significant price undercutting by Chinese exporters.
  • The investigation will examine evidence from exporters, importers, and other interested parties before recommending anti-dumping duties to the government.
  • In a separate case, DGTR also opened an anti-dumping investigation into hexamine imports from China, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Similar Coverage

India urges WTO ministerial for time-bound tech-transfer roadmap to aid developing nations (Start of March) ▼
  • India submitted a draft ministerial declaration asking developed members to facilitate transfer of advanced environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) to developing and least-developed countries (LDCs).
  • The declaration cites export controls on inputs such as semiconductor chips and rare earth minerals and rigid intellectual-property regimes as persistent barriers to technology access.
  • India requested developed countries to share regional and sector-specific technology needs, experiences, challenges and best practices to cut high access costs and domestic capacity constraints.
  • New Delhi proposed a detailed review of technology-transfer provisions in WTO agreements covering TRIPS, agriculture, technical barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
  • The text seeks operationalisation of existing TRIPS flexibilities for technology transfer and a time-bound roadmap to be adopted at the forthcoming WTO ministerial meeting later this month.
Anti-Dumping Duty on Chinese Refrigerant Gas and Steel Products (End of December) ▼
  • India has imposed anti-dumping duty on two Chinese goods -- a refrigerant gas and certain kinds of steel products.
  • On steel goods, India has imposed $223.82 per tonne on certain Chinese firms, while on few others $415 per tonne was imposed for five years.
  • On the gas, up to $5,251 per tonne was slapped for five years.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sanctions ₹99.15 lakh to Bharathiar University (BU) for chemical defence project (Start of March) ▼
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Union Ministry of Defence has sanctioned ₹99.15 lakh to Bharathiar University (BU) for a major chemical defence project.
  • The project is titled Development of Novel Antidote(s) for Highly Toxic Organophosphorous Compounds.
  • The research will be conducted under the DRDO Industry Academia – Centre of Excellence (DIA–CoE) at BU in Coimbatore.
  • The initiative aims to enhance India’s preparedness in dealing with toxic chemical exposure and strengthen national chemical defence capabilities.
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.

Edelweiss Asset Management Company launches India’s first hybrid passive index fund combining equities and government securities in a 70:30 allocation.

[Edelweiss Asset Management Company]

Key Updates:

  • Edelweiss Asset Management Company launched the Edelweiss Nifty LargeMidcap250 Plus 8–13 yr G-Sec 70:30 Index Fund, India’s first hybrid passive index fund.
  • The fund replicates the Nifty LargeMidcap250 Plus 8–13 yr G-Sec 70:30 Index with 70% allocation to equities and 30% to government securities.
  • Subscription opened on March 18 and closes on April 1, 2026.
  • Equity portion invests in 250 large- and mid-cap companies via the Nifty LargeMidcap250 Index.
  • Debt portion invests in central government securities with residual maturities of 8–13 years via the Nifty 8–13 yr G-Sec Index.
  • The fund automatically rebalances to the 70:30 equity-debt ratio every month.
  • Equity managers are Bhavesh Jain and Bharat Lahoti; debt managers are Dhawal Dalal and Hetul Raval.

Similar Coverage

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) grants final approval to ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group to operate as mutual fund investment manager. (End of February) ▼
  • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has given final regulatory nod to ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group to commence operations as investment manager for its mutual fund business in India.
  • ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group secured in-principle clearance from SEBI in March 2025 to enter the mutual fund space.
  • The firm will offer active equity, passive strategies, hybrid, and fixed-income products.
  • ASK Mutual Fund will cater to retail investors, long-term savers, HNIs and institutional participants.
  • ASK has over four decades of experience in India’s equity markets through Portfolio Management Services (PMS) and alternative investment platforms.
  • In 2022, Blackstone-managed private equity funds acquired majority stake in ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Revamps Mutual Fund Regulations and Rationalises Brokerage Caps (Mid of January) ▼
  • The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has notified revamped Mutual Fund Regulations that will come into effect from April 1, 2026.
  • Sebi has introduced a provision allowing mutual fund schemes to charge a base expense ratio (BER) linked to the performance of the scheme.
  • The new regulations introduce the concept of a base expense ratio (BER) which represents only the fee charged by an Asset Management Company (AMC) for managing investors’ money.
  • Levies such as brokerage, securities transaction tax, stamp duty, and exchange fees must now be disclosed separately rather than being aggregated under the total expense ratio.
  • The brokerage ceiling in the cash market has been reduced to 6 basis points (bps) from an effective 8.59 bps.
  • The net brokerage cap in the derivatives segment has been lowered to 2 bps from 3.89 bps.
  • The framework expands the responsibilities of trustees and key managerial personnel to tighten oversight and reinforce governance standards across AMCs.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) grants in-principle approval to Ashika Group to sponsor Ashika Mutual Fund. (Start of January) ▼
  • Ashika Group has received in-principle approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to act as sponsor and set up Ashika Mutual Fund.
  • The approval allows the company to proceed with establishing an Asset Management Company (AMC) and preparing for the launch of mutual fund schemes, subject to fulfilling SEBI’s final registration requirements and conditions.
  • Ashika Group’s financial services portfolio includes retail and institutional broking, investment banking, research advisory, global family office services, alternative asset management and private equity.
  • The Group has a retail broking client base exceeding 125,000 and a presence across more than 20 states.
Department of Posts (DoP) and National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) partner to expand mutual fund access (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Department of Posts (DoP) and the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) have signed a pact to expand mutual fund access through the NSE MF Invest platform.
  • The partnership leverages the network of over 1.64 lakh post offices and the zero-cost NSE MF Invest platform to provide mutual fund products.
  • The initiative will be rolled out in a phased manner, with the first phase focusing on Do-It-Yourself (DIY) investments with small, flexible amounts.
  • The second phase will expand to the full mutual fund ecosystem, offering access to all open-ended schemes across 55 Asset Management Companies (AMCs).
  • The second phase also includes goal-based investing, portfolio analytics, vernacular support, and enhanced advisory services.
  • The initiative aims to bridge the gap in mutual fund penetration, which remains low at approximately 10 per cent of Indian households.
  • The mutual fund industry in India has recorded Assets Under Management (AUM) surpassing ₹81 lakh crore with strong Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) inflows.

National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 Notified to Impose Double Toll for Defaults

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) notified the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026, to strengthen toll compliance.
  • Under the new regulations, the unpaid toll fee for missed FASTag payments shall be twice the original amount.
  • Users who settle their dues within 72 hours of receiving an e-notice are required to pay only the original toll amount without any additional penalty.
  • A grievance redressal mechanism has been introduced requiring authorities to resolve cases within five days, failing which the claim for unpaid fees will lapse.
  • If dues remain unpaid beyond 15 days and no dispute is pending, the outstanding amount will be recorded in the VAHAN system.
  • The amendment aims to support the transition towards a seamless, barrier-free tolling ecosystem on India’s national highways.

Similar Coverage

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) increases FASTag Annual Pass fee to ₹3,075 (Mid of March) ▼
  • The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a revision in the FASTag Annual Pass fee for the financial year 2026–27.
  • The annual pass fee will increase from ₹3,000 to ₹3,075, effective from April 1, 2026.
  • The revision is implemented under the provisions of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
  • The pass is valid for one year or 200 toll crossings, whichever is earlier, across approximately 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and Expressways.
  • The scheme is applicable to eligible non-commercial vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans possessing a valid FASTag.
  • The FASTag Annual Pass was launched on August 15, 2025, and currently has over 56 lakh subscribers.
  • Vehicle owners can activate the pass through the Rajmarg Yatra mobile application or the official website of the NHAI.
NHAI discontinues cash toll payments from 1 April 2026 (End of February) ▼
  • National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will stop accepting cash at all national toll plazas from 1 April 2026.
  • All toll payments will be processed only through digital modes using FASTag or Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
  • Vehicles entering a toll plaza without a valid FASTag are charged twice the applicable user fee if payment is made in cash.
  • Users paying via UPI are charged 1.25 times the user fee for the applicable vehicle category.
  • Over 98% penetration of FASTag has transformed toll collection practices across the country.
  • More than 1,150 fee plazas on various National Highways and Expressways will implement the digital-only payment system.
National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 amended to reduce toll on partially operational Expressways (Mid of February) ▼
  • Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) amended the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 with effect from 15 February 2026.
  • On partially operational National Expressways, toll will now be levied only on the completed stretch at the lower rate applicable to regular National Highways instead of the 25 per cent higher Expressway rate.
  • The amendment will remain valid for up to one year from its enforcement date or until the Expressway becomes fully operational, whichever is earlier.
Jyotiraditya Scindia announces Speed Post 24 and 48 services on January 11, 2026 (Mid of January) ▼
  • Union Minister for Communications and Northeast Region Development Jyotiraditya Scindia announced two new India Post services, Speed Post 24 and Speed Post 48, at Pichor in Shivpuri district.
  • Speed Post 24 and Speed Post 48 are designed to ensure document delivery within 24 and 48 hours, respectively.
  • The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), through the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS), rolled out transformative reforms to bolster indigenous manufacturing on December 29, 2025.
  • The telecom reforms are aligned with the principle of DSS, which stands for 'Design in India, Solve in India, Scale for the world'.
  • Reforms include a 90 per cent reduction in compliance burden for women-led and MSME testing laboratories and reduced fees for Telecom Security Testing Laboratories (TSTLs).
  • Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other government institutions have been granted a complete waiver of testing fees.
  • The Pro Tem Security Certification Scheme for OEMs has been extended for a period of 2 years as part of the new telecom security reforms.

Meghalaya extends Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) tenure by six months

[Meghalaya]

Key Updates:

  • The Meghalaya Cabinet extended the tenure of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) from 18 April 2026 to 18 October 2026.
  • Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong announced the decision after a virtual Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
  • The extension follows violence in Tura and adjoining areas over a notification barring non-tribals from contesting GHADC elections.
  • Albinush R Marak resigned as chief executive member (CEM) hours before the Cabinet decision, and Dhormonath Ch Sangma was elected the new CEM.
  • The state government will consult stakeholders during the six-month extension to resolve eligibility issues for tribal and non-tribal candidates.

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One Nation One Election: JPC tenure extended till Monsoon session (Mid of March) ▼
  • Lok Sabha extended the tenure of the Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC) examining simultaneous polls Bills till the last week of the Monsoon Session.
  • The JPC is chaired by senior BJP MP PP Chaudhary and has 39 members.
  • The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were introduced on 17 December 2024 and referred to the JPC.
  • The JPC held its first meeting on 8 January 2024 and has met 17 times so far.
  • The JPC received its fourth extension during the Winter Session last year.
  • EAC-PM working paper estimates ONOE could cut polling personnel deployment by 28 % or 26 lakh personnel.
  • Simultaneous polls could save around 1.4 crore personnel-days over a five-year cycle according to the EAC-PM paper.
  • Election Commission estimates nine polling personnel are needed for separate polls but only six for simultaneous polls.
RN Ravi Appointed Governor of West Bengal, Taranjit Singh Sandhu Appointed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. (Start of March) ▼
  • President of India Droupadi Murmu approved a major reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across states and Union Territories.
  • RN Ravi, former Tamil Nadu Governor, became Governor of West Bengal after CV Ananda Bose resigned.
  • Taranjit Singh Sandhu, former Indian Ambassador to the United States, was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
  • Shiv Pratap Shukla shifted from Himachal Pradesh Governor to Telangana Governor.
  • Jishnu Dev Varma moved from Telangana Governor to Maharashtra Governor.
  • Nand Kishore Yadav, former Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker, was appointed Governor of Nagaland.
  • Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain was named Governor of Bihar.
  • VK Saxena, Delhi Lieutenant Governor, was transferred to Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
  • Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Governor of Kerala, was given additional charge as Governor of Tamil Nadu.
  • Kavinder Gupta, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, was appointed Governor of Himachal Pradesh.
Malaysian PM announces 10-year term limit for Prime Minister (Start of January) ▼
  • Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he would introduce legislation to limit the term of Prime Minister to 10 years or two full terms.
  • Anwar stated, 'We will table a bill to limit the term of the prime minister, not exceeding 10 years or two full terms.'
  • There is currently no term limit in Malaysia for Prime Ministers.
Supreme Court clarifies DGP appointment rules: Follow state law or Prakash Singh guidelines (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Supreme Court of India (SC) clarified that states with a specific law for appointing Directors General of Police (DGPs) must follow that legislation.
  • States without such a law must adhere to the guidelines laid down in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case on police reforms.
  • A bench headed by Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, closed contempt proceedings against Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana after noting the states had sent proposals to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for DGP appointments.
  • Under the Prakash Singh judgment (2006), states send a list of eligible senior IPS officers to the UPSC, which evaluates their service records and prepares a panel of three suitable candidates, from whom the state government appoints one as DGP.
  • The court directed that the selected DGP should normally be given a minimum fixed tenure of two years.
  • Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have enacted their own laws governing the appointment of DGPs.
  • Jharkhand’s law provides that the selection of the police chief is carried out by a committee headed by a retired High Court judge.
  • The court sought responses from the governments of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand within two weeks regarding the status of their DGP appointments.

Fare Se Fursat – One Route One Fare scheme launches fixed-fare flights on six routes

Key Updates:

  • Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu flagged off the inaugural Rewa–Raipur flight on 17 March 2026, launching the Fare Se Fursat – One Route One Fare scheme.
  • The scheme offers fixed airfares on six Alliance Air routes: Delhi–Rewa, Rewa–Raipur, Delhi–Jaipur, Kolkata–Guwahati, Tirupati–Rajahmundry and Chennai–Hyderabad.
  • Passengers can book any seat on these routes at the same fare regardless of booking or travel date.

Similar Coverage

Skyroot Aerospace to Launch Vikram-1 Orbital Rocket in April 2026 (Start of March) ▼
  • Skyroot Aerospace, an Indian space startup founded in 2018, is scheduled to debut its Vikram-1 orbital launch vehicle in April 2026.
  • The Vikram-1 rocket is designed to deliver a payload of approximately 350 kg to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).
  • The company is developing a second vehicle, Vikram-2, which will utilise a cryogenic upper stage to increase payload capacity to 1,100 kg.
  • Skyroot Aerospace employs advanced technologies including solid propellant boosters, carbon composites, and 3D printed engines.
  • The firm has invested in capital expenditure to establish an in-house production capacity of 12 rockets per year.
  • For the 2026 financial year, the company aims to conduct between four and six launches, depending on launch port availability.
  • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is transitioning operational activities in satellite manufacturing and launching to the private sector under India’s new space policy.
  • The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (InSPACe) acts as the regulatory and promotional body for the domestic space sector.
  • The Indian government expects to require launches for approximately 100 small satellites over the next five to six years.
Air India and Lufthansa Group sign MoU to expand India–Europe connectivity (Mid of February) ▼
  • Air India and Lufthansa Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 17 February 2026 to establish a framework for a joint business agreement.
  • The agreement covers Air India, Air India Express, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines.
  • The MoU targets passenger traffic between India and the Lufthansa Group’s core European markets of Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland.
  • The partners currently codeshare on 145 routes across 15 Indian and 29 European cities in 20 countries.
  • Lufthansa Group carried over 131 million passengers in 2024 and operates five national airlines in Europe.
  • Bilateral trade in goods between the European Union (EU) and India exceeded €120 billion in 2024, with the EU being India’s largest trading partner for goods.
  • Since its privatisation in 2022, Air India has expanded to 24 codeshare partnerships and nearly 100 interline agreements, providing access to more than 800 destinations globally.
ISRO to Launch GISAT-1A Earth Observation Satellite via GSLV Mk II (Start of February) ▼
  • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is scheduled to launch the GISAT-1A (EOS-05) earth observing satellite on 20 February 2026.
  • The mission will be launched using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II), which is a fourth-generation three-stage vehicle.
  • The GSLV Mk II rocket features four liquid strap-ons and an indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) as its third stage.
  • The satellite is designed to operate from a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) to facilitate continuous observation of the Indian sub-continent.
  • The GISAT-1A mission aims to provide quick monitoring of natural hazards and disaster management.
  • The launch will be conducted from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), formerly known as the Sriharikota Range (SHAR), in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Since January 2014, the GSLV Mk II vehicle has achieved four consecutive successful launches.
  • ISRO is headquartered in Bangalore and functions as the space agency of the Government of India.
IN-SPACe selects Astrome, Azista, Dhruva Space to build satellite bus platforms under SBaaS initiative (Mid of February) ▼
  • Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), announced selection of Astrome Technologies, Azista Industries, and Dhruva Space to build indigenous small satellite platforms under its “Satellite Bus as a Service” (SBaaS) initiative.
  • Selection followed multi-stage evaluation of 15 proposals after initiative announcement in April 2025.
  • SBaaS model aims to provide cost-effective, standardised flight-ready satellite platforms for domestic and global demand.
  • Grant disbursement will be milestone-linked and IN-SPACe will facilitate access to ISRO and Department of Space infrastructure, testing facilities, and technical expertise.
  • IN-SPACe plans later phases to enable hosted payload missions on these platforms, expanding public-private partnership programmes from platform development to operational missions.

Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0 launched with Rs 3,500 Crore outlay

[Punjab, World Bank]

Key Updates:

  • The Punjab Government launched Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0 in collaboration with the World Bank.
  • The six-year reform programme has a total investment of Rs 3,500 Crore.
  • World Bank loan assistance provides Rs 2,500 Crore and the Punjab Government contributes Rs 1,000 Crore.

Similar Coverage

Punjab Assembly passes Shri Guru Teg Bahadur World Class University Bill, 2026 with ₹300 Crore Investment (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Punjab Assembly passed the Shri Guru Teg Bahadur World Class University, Punjab Bill, 2026, to establish a world-class institute in Sri Anandpur Sahib.
  • The university will offer north India's first specialised courses in defence, aerospace, cyber security, and quantum computing.
  • The Punjab government proposed an investment of ₹300 crore for the project over the next three years, with an initial allocation of ₹20 crore in the current budget.
  • The academic structure includes B.Sc. in Defence Technology, M.Sc. in Strategic and Defence Studies, M.Tech. in Defence, Electronics and Radar Systems, and M.Tech. in Military Robotics and Atomic Systems.
  • Other courses include B.Tech. and M.Tech. in Artificial Intelligence (AI), M.Sc. in Data Sciences, B.Tech. in Drone Engineering and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology, maritime studies, and a Master's in Military History.
  • The institute aims to educate more than 10,000 students over the next decade and intends to commence courses by July 2026.
  • The House also passed the Punjab Regulation of Crusher Units and Stockists and Retailers Bill, 2026, which mandates compulsory registration and digital tracking of minor minerals to curb illegal mining.
Assam rolls out Provincialisation Management System (PMS 1.0) portal and Guru Dakshina scheme (End of February) ▼
  • The Assam government launched the Provincialisation Management System (PMS 1.0) portal to streamline provincialisation of venture educational institutions under the Assam Education (Provincialisation of Services of Teachers and Re-Organisation of Educational Institutions) Act, 2017, as amended in 2025.
  • Institutions established before 2006 will be considered for provincialisation and must submit documentary proof through the portal.
  • The government will open around 75,000 teacher and lecturer vacancies this year, with UGC-qualified candidates assured fair opportunities.
  • The Guru Dakshina scheme provides one-time financial assistance to teachers who missed earlier provincialisation due to lack of certificates or eligibility issues, and they will receive preference marks in future recruitment.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Completes 11 Years with 12-Point Rise in Sex Ratio at Birth (End of January) ▼
  • The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was launched in 2015 to address the falling Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and gender-based educational inequalities.
  • The national SRB improved from 918 in 2014–15 to 930 in 2023–24, according to data released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
  • The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for girls at the secondary level increased from 75.51 per cent in 2014–15 to 78 per cent in 2023–24.
  • Institutional deliveries in India rose from 61 per cent in 2014–15 to over 97.3 per cent by 2023–24.
  • The Kanya Shiksha Pravesh Utsav programme successfully re-enrolled more than 100,000 out-of-school girls into the education system.
  • BBBP has been integrated with Mission Shakti under the Sambal and Samarthya components, linking it to One Stop Centres, women’s helplines, and working women’s hostels.
  • District-level funding is allocated based on SRB performance, providing ₹40 lakh for districts below 918, ₹30 lakh for those between 919 and 952, and ₹20 lakh for better-performing districts.
  • The scheme aims to improve the SRB by two points every year and maintain institutional deliveries above 95 per cent.
Bharat Parv 2026 closing ceremony on 31 January at Red Fort (Start of February) ▼
  • Bharat Parv 2026 is organised by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and runs from 26 to 31 January at the Lawns and Gyan Path in front of the Red Fort.
  • The closing ceremony on 31 January at 5:30 p.m. will have Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan as the chief guest.
  • Punjabi Folk Orchestra and Qalandri Dhamal will perform on 31 January, showcasing traditional instruments like Dhol, Dholki, Taal-Koze, Tansari, Flute, Nagara, Chimta, Sap, Kara, and Vanjli.
  • Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated Bharat Parv 2026 and described it as a vibrant expression of India’s soul and a reminder of constitutional values.

Indian Army Southern Command concludes 13-day mechanised warfare exercise Amogh Jwala in Uttar Pradesh

Key Updates:

  • The Southern Command of the Indian Army conducted a 13-day exercise named Amogh Jwala at the Babina Field Firing Ranges in Uttar Pradesh.
  • The exercise commenced on 6 March and aimed to validate technology-driven mechanised warfare capabilities in a multi-domain operational environment.
  • Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command, witnessed the culmination of the drills.
  • The exercise integrated mechanised forces with Attack Helicopters, Fighter Aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and counter-drone systems.
  • It focused on the seamless integration of land, air, cyber, space, Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR), and Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities.
  • The drills featured real-time drone-enabled surveillance, target acquisition, precision engagement, and advanced battlefield technologies.

Similar Coverage

Indian Air Force conducts Exercise Vayu Shakti 2026 at Pokhran Field Firing Range (Start of March) ▼
  • Exercise Vayu Shakti 2026 was held at the Pokhran Field Firing Range with President Droupadi Murmu as Chief Guest.
  • The theme of the exercise was 'From Inception to Execution'.
  • A total of 77 aircraft including Rafale, Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, C-17, C-130J, IL-76, IL-78, AN-32 and Embraer participated.
  • Indigenous systems Akash and SPYDER air defence systems successfully neutralised simulated aerial threats.
  • Chinook helicopters airlifted M-777 Ultra-Light Howitzers in underslung mode for the first time.
  • Approximately 120 tonnes of ordnance were delivered over a two-square-kilometre area in three hours.
  • A first-ever drone show depicted India’s map, Air Force formations, 1965 Sargodha strike, Kargil’s Tiger Hill bombing, Balakot air strike and Operation Sindoor.
Indian Army conducts Exercise Agni Varsha in Pokhran (End of February) ▼
  • Exercise Agni Varsha was conducted by the Southern Command of the Indian Army in Pokhran deserts, Rajasthan.
  • The exercise featured unmanned aerial vehicles, counter-drone systems, precision strike rockets, modern artillery platforms and surveillance assets.
  • Foreign defence journalists from 25 countries witnessed the exercise.
  • The Integrated Manoeuvre Force comprised T-90 Main Battle Tanks, infantry combat vehicles, K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers, Sharang and Bofors artillery systems, rocket platforms, indigenous weapon systems, Apache attack helicopters and a range of surveillance and strike drones.
India conducts Military Civil Fusion exercise Sanjha Shakti at Khadki Military Station (Mid of January) ▼
  • A joint Military Civil Fusion (MCF) exercise, Sanjha Shakti was successfully conducted on January 8 and 9, at the Dighi Range, Khadki Military Station, under the aegis of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa Area of Southern Command.
  • The exercise witnessed active participation from the Indian Army and 16 key civilian agencies like Maharashtra Police, Force One and Fire Fighting Departments.
  • The exercise focused on enhancing interoperability, rapid response, and coordinated action in evolving emergency and security scenarios.
India and Japan Commence 7th Edition of Dharma Guardian Exercise in Uttarakhand (End of February) ▼
  • The 7th edition of the annual India–Japan Joint Military Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN commenced at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubattia, in Uttarakhand.
  • The two-week exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 24 February to 9 March 2026.
  • The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is represented in the exercise by 120 personnel from the 32nd Infantry Regiment.
  • The Indian Army contingent comprises 120 personnel drawn from the Ladakh Scouts.
  • The exercise is designed to enhance combined operational capabilities in semi-urban terrain and integrate modern military technologies.
  • Tactical activities include establishing a Temporary Operating Base (TOB) and developing an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) grid.
  • Participating forces will conduct Mobile Vehicle Check Posts, Cordon and Search Operations, Heliborne Operations, and House Intervention Drills.
  • The exercise is conducted alternately in India and Japan as a key pillar of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership framework.

India and Vietnam elevate tribal cooperation to ministerial level, push for institutional partnership

[Vietnam]

Key Updates:

  • India and Vietnam elevated collaboration on tribal and ethnic development to the ministerial level through a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on 18 March 2026.
  • The meeting was co-chaired by Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, and Vietnam’s Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, H.E. Dao Ngoc Dung.
  • This is the first ministerial engagement exclusively focused on tribal and ethnic development between the two nations.
  • The dialogue built on prior discussions led by Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and H.E. Y Thong, Deputy Minister of Vietnam, on 17 March 2026.
  • Key areas explored included rights-based approaches to tribal welfare, community-led development models, institutional mechanisms for cultural preservation, and use of digital platforms for tribal outreach.
  • Shri Jual Oram emphasized Vietnam’s pivotal role in India’s Act East Policy and broader Indo-Pacific strategy.
  • India’s tribal population exceeds 104 million people (over 8.6% of the population), while Vietnam is home to 54 officially recognized ethnic groups.
  • A draft Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) aimed at institutionalizing bilateral engagement in tribal and ethnic affairs was reviewed; Vietnam confirmed approval on its side.
  • Vietnam invited Shri Jual Oram for an official visit to formally sign the MoC.
  • The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the India–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Similar Coverage

Oil India and NSTFDC MoU: ₹86.27 Lakh Sanctioned for Tribal Healthcare Infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh (Mid of March) ▼
  • Oil India Limited (OIL) signed an MoU with the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) on 12 March 2026 at OIL’s corporate office in Noida.
  • The MoU sanctions ₹86.27 lakh for upgrading healthcare facilities in Rajgarh district, Madhya Pradesh, an Aspirational District under the Government of India’s programme.
  • Funds will strengthen Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) by providing ambulances, life-care and diagnostic equipment, ventilators, CPAP machines, BiPAP machines, and USG machines.
ITDC–Ministry of Tribal Affairs launch capacity building programme for tribal homestay owners (Mid of March) ▼
  • India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) launched a capacity building programme for tribal homestay owners in New Delhi.
  • The inaugural ceremony was held at Kautilya Hall, Hotel Samrat.
  • The first batch comprises 40 participants from Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Gujarat.
  • Training is delivered by IHM Ashok under ITDC.
  • MoTA Secretary Ranjana Chopra and ITDC Managing Director Mugdha Sinha attended the launch.
  • The ‘Tribal Homestay – Operation & Development Manual 2026’ was released; it is multilingual, including Hindi and Gujarati versions.
India and Namibia hold Foreign Office Consultations and agree to deepen collaboration in defence and critical minerals (End of January) ▼
  • Both sides agreed to further deepen bilateral ties in key areas such as health, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), agriculture, defence and critical minerals.
  • Discussions were also held on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including cooperation at the UN.
  • The FOC was co-chaired by Janesh Kain, Joint Secretary (East & Southern Africa), Ministry of External Affairs and Ambassador Charles Josob, Acting Head of Department for Bilateral Relations and Cooperation, Ministry of International Relations and Trade, Namibia.
India and Nepal sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in Environment and Biodiversity Conservation on 26 February 2026 (End of February) ▼
  • The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Forests and Environment of Nepal in New Delhi.
  • The agreement was signed in the presence of India’s Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and Nepal’s Cabinet Minister Madhav Prasad Chaulagain.
  • The MoU aims to promote bilateral cooperation in forests, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation, and climate change.
  • The partnership focuses on the restoration of wildlife corridors and interlinking areas to create transboundary conservation landscapes.
  • The cooperation includes formulating biodiversity conservation strategies for key species such as elephant, Gangetic dolphin, rhinoceros, snow leopard, tiger, and vultures.
  • The agreement provides for combating forest and wildlife crime and strengthening the capacity of frontline staff in enforcement agencies.
  • Both nations will collaborate on promoting smart green infrastructure in biodiversity hotspots and exchanging technical expertise.

Argentina formally withdraws from World Health Organization (WHO)

[Argentina, World Health Organization]

Key Updates:

  • Argentina’s Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno confirmed the country’s withdrawal from WHO on 17 Mar 2026.
  • The decision was first announced in February 2025 and formal notice was sent to WHO a month later by President Javier Milei’s government.
  • Argentina becomes the second country after the United States to exit WHO under a right-wing administration.
  • WHO lists 194 members on its website, still including Argentina as of the withdrawal day.

Similar Coverage

New York City joins WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network after United States withdrawal (Start of February) ▼
  • New York City Health Department announced it has joined the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN).
  • The decision follows President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the United States from WHO.
  • California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, both Democrats, have also said their states will join GOARN.
  • GOARN comprises more than 360 technical institutions that respond to public health events such as pandemics and disease outbreaks.
  • By joining GOARN, New York City gains access to a global network of over 360 institutions for deployment of staff and resources to affected countries.
United States officially withdraws from the World Health Organization (WHO) (End of January) ▼
  • The United States (US) has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a United Nations (UN) agency.
  • The US Department of Health and Human Services cited the WHO's alleged mishandling of the pandemic and political influence from member states as reasons for the exit.
  • Washington has terminated all government funding and recalled personnel and contractors from the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • The US has not paid its membership fees for 2024 and 2025, with estimated arrears amounting to $260 million.
  • In April last year, the US was the only member state that did not agree to the international pandemic treaty designed for future pandemic response.
  • The WHO board is scheduled to discuss the US withdrawal during its upcoming meeting from 2-7 February.
  • US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that future engagement with the WHO will be limited to safeguarding American health interests.
  • The WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted that the withdrawal represents a loss for both the US and the global community.
  • India link not mentioned in the article.
India abstains from United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on 4th anniversary of Russia-Ukraine war (End of February) ▼
  • India and 50 other countries abstained from a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) draft resolution calling for an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
  • Titled Support for Lasting Peace in Ukraine, the resolution was adopted by the 193 members of the UNGA on February 24, 2026, marking four years of the conflict.
  • The resolution received 107 votes in favour, 12 against, and 51 abstentions.
  • The draft was introduced by Ukraine along with Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States (US).
  • The resolution reaffirmed support for the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, including territorial waters.
  • It urged the full exchange of prisoners of war and the return of all unlawfully detained persons and deported civilians, including children.
  • The document expressed deep concern over intensified attacks by Russia on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and critical energy facilities in Ukraine.
Chile endorses India’s bid for permanent seat on United Nations Security Council (Mid of January) ▼
  • Chile supports India's aspiration of being a permanent member of the Security Council because we believe this body should better reflect the realities of today.
  • India can be a stabilising factor, an established factor, in global affairs.
  • Chile have been supporting reforms of the system.

NASA-backed study reveals why long-lived solar active regions unleash stronger flares

Key Updates:

  • Regions on the Sun whose strong magnetic fields persist for at least a month produce more solar flares than short-lived regions.
  • These long-duration active regions are three to six times more likely to generate the most powerful solar flares.
  • The investigation used data from NASA’s citizen science Solar Active Region Spotter project that analysed image pairs taken by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.
  • Lead researchers Emily Mason of Predictive Science Inc. and Kara Knieszewski of the Air Force Institute of Technology reviewed volunteer classifications to reach the findings.
  • The results enhance space-weather forecasting by highlighting the key role of long-lived active regions.

Similar Coverage

Severe S4 Solar Radiation Storm Triggers Global Aurora and Tech Alerts (End of January) ▼
  • Earth experienced its strongest solar radiation storm in over 20 years, rated S4 (“severe”) on the official space weather scale.
  • The storm was driven by a vast eruption of charged particles from the solar atmosphere that slammed into Earth’s magnetosphere.
  • Brilliant aurorae appeared far from polar regions, with skywatchers in far-southern U.S. states witnessing curtains of coloured light.
  • Airliners flying near the poles were re-routed to lower latitudes to protect passengers and crew from increased radiation.
  • Satellite operators placed spacecraft in safe modes to avoid damaging electronics from the storm’s energetic particles.
  • India’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft, positioned at the L1 Lagrange point, continuously monitors the Sun’s magnetic fields and particle emissions.
  • ISRO states that space weather caused by solar activity can affect satellites, communication, navigation services, and power grid infrastructure on Earth.
X-class solar flare triggers severe G4 geomagnetic storm and red aurora over Hanle, Ladakh (End of January) ▼
  • An X-class solar flare erupted on 18 January 2026, launching a Coronal Mass Ejection that hit Earth in about 25 hours and produced a G4-level severe geomagnetic storm.
  • The storm generated an S4-level solar radiation event, the most intense since 2003, and forced astronauts on the International Space Station to shelter in shielded areas.
  • Indian Astronomical Observatory’s all-sky camera at Hanle, Ladakh, inside the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, recorded the resulting red aurora on 19 and 20 January 2026.
  • ISRO’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft, stationed at the L1 Lagrange point 1.5 million km from Earth, provided early warning of the Coronal Mass Ejection.
  • During the storm, Earth’s magnetosphere was compressed so much that geostationary satellites were briefly exposed to direct solar wind, risking communication, GPS and banking services.
Sun unleashes strongest 2026 flare—X8.3 blast from sunspot 4366 triggers R3 radio blackout (Start of February) ▼
  • An X8.3-class solar flare erupted from sunspot region 4366, the most powerful flare recorded in 2026.
  • The flare peaked at 6:57 pm EST on 1 February 2026.
  • At least 18 M-class and three X-class flares occurred in the past 24-hour period.
  • X-class flares are the most intense explosions the Sun can produce; each letter step (A, B, C, M, X) represents a tenfold energy increase.
  • The blast released strong ultraviolet and X-ray radiation that disturbed Earth’s upper atmosphere and caused R3-level radio blackouts across parts of the South Pacific.
  • Shortwave radio signals were disrupted in eastern Australia and New Zealand, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center.
  • Early assessments suggest most ejected solar material from the X8.3 flare is likely to miss Earth, with only a slight chance of geomagnetic impact around 5 February 2026 that could enhance high-latitude auroras.
  • Sunspot 4366 continues to grow rapidly and is rotating more directly toward Earth, with further solar activity expected.
ESA’s Proba-3 Coronagraph spacecraft loses contact after February 2026 attitude-control anomaly (Mid of March) ▼
  • Proba-3’s Coronagraph spacecraft lost attitude control during 14-15 February 2026, stopping its solar panels from facing the Sun and draining its battery.
  • The European Space Agency (ESA) reported the spacecraft entered survival mode and communications with ground control were cut off.
  • Proba-3 was launched in 2024 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and comprises two satellites, the Coronagraph and the Occulter, flying 150 metres apart to create artificial solar eclipses for studying the Sun’s corona.
  • ESA mission teams are investigating the anomaly and plan to use the healthy Occulter spacecraft to approach the Coronagraph and assess its orientation to aid recovery efforts.

Structural changes in blood plasma proteins may reflect earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease: Study

Key Updates:

  • Analysis of blood plasma samples from over 500 individuals showed structural differences in three proteins are strongly linked to Alzheimer's status.
  • The three proteins identified are C1QA involved in immune signalling, clusterin involved in protein folding and amyloid removal, and apolipoprotein B which transports fats in the bloodstream.
  • The study was published in the Nature Aging journal and involved researchers including those at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), US.
  • Structural changes of plasma proteins helped accurately distinguish cognitively normal individuals from those with Alzheimer's and mild cognitive impairment.
  • Machine learning was used to identify patterns connected to disease stage based on how exposed or buried specific areas were in the three-dimensional amino acid chain.
  • As Alzheimer's disease advanced, specific blood proteins became less structurally open, with structural changes proving more informative than measuring protein concentrations.

Similar Coverage

Lancet Study Flags Inaccuracies in HbA1c Tests for Diabetes Diagnosis in India (Mid of February) ▼
  • A study published in The Lancet Regional Health found that glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) tests may not accurately reflect blood glucose levels, potentially misrepresenting India’s diabetes burden.
  • The study indicates that conditions affecting hemoglobin quantity, structure, or lifespan, such as anemia, hemoglobinopathies, and red blood cell enzyme (G6PD) deficiency, can distort HbA1c values.
  • Exclusive reliance on HbA1c could delay the diagnosis of Type-2 diabetes by up to four years in men with undetected G6PD deficiency.
  • According to data from 2025 cited in the study, more than 50% of the population in some Indian regions are nutritionally challenged with widespread iron deficiency anemia.
  • For low-resource settings, the researchers recommend the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) for diagnosis, involving two glucose values taken fasting and two hours after ingesting 75 gm of glucose.
  • The study suggests Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) using glucose metres two to three times weekly, combined with basic hematologic screening, for monitoring in low-resource areas.
  • In tertiary care settings, the framework suggests combining HbA1c with OGTT for diagnosis and using Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) with alternative markers like fructosamine for monitoring.
Japan becomes first country to approve stem-cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease and severe heart failure. (Start of March) ▼
  • Japan’s health ministry granted manufacturing and marketing approval to Amchepry, Sumitomo Pharma’s iPS cell-based therapy for Parkinson’s disease.
  • The ministry also approved ReHeart, heart muscle sheets developed by medical startup Cuorips, to restore heart function in severe heart failure patients.
  • Both products are expected to reach patients as early as summer 2026, making them the world’s first commercially available treatments using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
  • Amchepry received conditional and time-limited approval under Japan’s fast-track system that relies on smaller patient datasets than standard drug trials.
  • A Kyoto University-led trial of Amchepry involved seven Parkinson’s patients aged 50-69 who received five million or ten million iPS-derived dopamine precursor cells implanted bilaterally in the brain.
  • During the two-year follow-up no major adverse effects were reported and four of the seven patients showed symptomatic improvement.
Sentynl Therapeutics licenses Progerinin for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome treatment (Mid of March) ▼
  • Sentynl Therapeutics Inc. (Sentynl), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zydus Lifesciences Limited (Zydus), has entered into an agreement with Korean company PRG S&T to license the investigational molecule Progerinin (SLC-D011).
  • Progerinin (SLC-D011) is an orally active small-molecule drug candidate being developed to treat Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS), a rare genetic disorder characterised by accelerated ageing in children.
  • The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated Progerinin (SLC-D011) as an orphan drug.
  • The molecule is designed to inhibit the interaction of progerin, an abnormal form of the lamin A protein produced by mutations in the LMNA gene that disrupts nuclear structure.
  • The clinical programme is currently finalising a Phase 2A trial, with data results expected before the end of the first half of 2026.
  • Currently, Zokinvy (lonafarnib) is the only approved treatment for HGPS and certain processing-deficient Progeroid Laminopathies in the United States, European Union, Great Britain, Israel, and Japan.
  • In mouse models of HGPS, Progerinin demonstrated an increase in lifespan by 8 to 10 weeks and improved body weight compared to untreated control groups.
Gene Therapy AMT-130 Slows Cognitive Decline in Huntington’s Disease Trial (Mid of January) ▼
  • AMT-130 gene therapy reduced cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light levels below baseline after three years, indicating active neuroprotection.
  • The therapy slowed cognitive decline, particularly in processing speed and reading ability, in 29 clinically diagnosed Huntington’s disease patients aged 25–65.
  • Somatic expansion of the CAG repeat in Huntingtin gene accelerates disease progression and explains variable onset among individuals with identical inherited CAG length.
  • Early sustained attention deficits linked to inferior frontal gyrus changes appear decades before motor symptoms in HD gene expansion carriers.
  • HD-Young Adult Study recruited 131 participants approximately 24 years before predicted onset to detect early neurodegeneration markers and cognitive flexibility disruption.

World Oral Health Day 2026: Impact of Oral Hygiene on Systemic Diseases

Key Updates:

  • World Oral Health Day was observed on 20 March 2026 to highlight the connection between oral care and overall systemic health.
  • Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a chronic inflammatory condition that can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream and affect other organs.
  • Research indicates that individuals with gum disease may face a higher risk of developing cardiovascular conditions due to inflammation and the impact of oral bacteria on blood vessels.
  • Diabetes and oral health share a bidirectional relationship where diabetics are more prone to gum infections, and severe gum disease can make blood sugar control more difficult.
  • Bacteria present in the mouth can be inhaled into the lungs, increasing the risk of respiratory infections in older adults or individuals with weakened immunity.
  • Severe gum disease during pregnancy is associated with potential complications such as early delivery or low birth weight.
  • Preventative measures for maintaining oral health include brushing twice daily, regular flossing, staying hydrated, and attending routine dental check-ups.

Similar Coverage

World Oral Health Day 2026 observed on March 20 with theme 'A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life' (Mid of March) ▼
  • World Oral Health Day is observed every year on March 20.
  • The theme for World Oral Health Day 2026 is 'A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life'.
  • World Oral Health Day was first celebrated on September 12, 2007.
  • The original date was chosen to mark the birthday of Dr Charles Godon, founder of the FDI World Dental Federation.
  • The observance date was changed to March 20 in 2013.
WHO Foundation–Novo Nordisk initiative to prevent childhood obesity through school-based programmes (Mid of March) ▼
  • The WHO Foundation and Novo Nordisk have launched a joint initiative in India to prevent childhood obesity through school-based programmes.
  • The initiative aligns with the Indian government’s Ayushman Bharat School Health and Wellness Programme and WHO’s Health Promoting Schools framework.
  • It aims to provide financial support for obesity prevention and strengthen health-system readiness.
  • The project focuses on promoting early-life healthy environments and integrating health education in schools.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) researchers unveil first molecular classification of oral cancer for precision therapy (End of December) ▼
  • Banaras Hindu University (BHU) researchers analysed over 8,000 scientific articles and genomic data to create the world’s first systematic molecular classification of oral cancer.
  • The study identifies five distinct biological groups: Cell-Cycle Dysregulation (CCD), Immune-Mediated (IM), Xenobiotic Metabolism-Associated (XMA), Inflammatory Pathway Activation (IPA), and Viral Protein Activation (VPA).
  • Each group is directly linked to specific actionable genes and pathways, guiding clinicians to select targeted therapies such as HER2 inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, or specific immunotherapies.
  • Unlike Western classifications, this model emphasises pathways influenced by tobacco and betel quid use (XMA and IPA), making it highly relevant for the Indian population.
  • The classification clarifies that HPV is a minor driver in most Indian oral cancers, preventing the misapplication of Western treatment protocols.
Study warns of surging metabolic diseases in Asia-Pacific region (Start of March) ▼
  • A study published in the journal Metabolism, based on Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 data, warns of rapidly rising metabolic diseases across the Asia-Pacific.
  • High blood pressure is the largest disease burden in the region, responsible for over 6.2 million deaths and 138 million years of healthy life lost in 2023.
  • Approximately 310 million people in the Asia-Pacific live with type-2 diabetes, resulting in more than 1.1 million deaths last year.
  • In India, type-2 diabetes accounted for over 21 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and nearly 5.8 lakh deaths in 2023.
  • Obesity was linked to around 55 million DALYs and approximately 1.3 million deaths across the region in 2023.
  • India, China, and Indonesia carry the largest shares of the metabolic disease burden in the region.
  • The burden of metabolic conditions has grown between 1.7 and nearly four times across different diseases since 1990.
  • Most metabolic risks are projected to continue rising across the Asia-Pacific region until at least 2030.

Birds Use Cigarette Butts as Chemical Shield Against Parasites in Urban Areas

Key Updates:

  • Studies from Latin America and Europe reveal that birds such as house sparrows and finches are gathering fibres from discarded cigarette butts to incorporate into their nests.
  • Researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) found that smoked cigarette filters serve as a parasite repellent in urban bird nests.
  • Nicotine, a natural insecticide found in tobacco plants, acts as a deterrent against parasitic mites and ticks when used in nesting materials.
  • This behaviour is considered an urbanised adaptation of an ancient survival mechanism where birds used aromatic plants to protect their young.
  • Despite the benefits of parasite reduction, cigarette filters contain toxic heavy metals and chemical residues that pose health risks to both adult birds and developing chicks.

Similar Coverage

World Wildlife Day 2026 highlights medicinal plants amid rising global demand (Start of March) ▼
  • World Wildlife Day is observed annually on 3 March and in 2026 focuses on medicinal and aromatic plants.
  • Danna J. Leaman, outgoing co-chair of the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), stated that plants are critical for ecosystems and economies.
  • Around 30,000 plant species are documented as medicinal or aromatic based on published evidence and trade data.
  • The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) recognises that many species in international trade are plants.
  • Nardostachys jatamansi, a Himalayan herb used in Ayurveda and valued for its aromatic roots, is listed as critically endangered on IUCN’s Red List.
  • The species grows in high-altitude regions of Nepal, India and China, and harvesting its root usually kills the plant.
  • Nepal has imposed trade restrictions on wild Nardostachys jatamansi to promote conservation while affecting rural livelihoods dependent on its harvest.
Scientists Discover New Flying Reptile Species Bakiribu waridza in 100-Million-Year-Old Fossilised Vomit (Mid of March) ▼
  • Scientists have identified a new species of flying reptile named Bakiribu waridza from a 100-million-year-old regurgitalite, which is fossilised dinosaur vomit.
  • The fossil was retrieved from the Romualdo Formation located in the Araripe basin of Northeast Brazil.
  • The discovery, published in the journal Scientific Reports, marks the first time an extinct species has been described entirely from fossilised puke.
  • Bakiribu waridza was a filter-feeding pterosaur that possessed several hundred long, needle-like teeth used to strain microorganisms from water, similar to modern-day flamingos.
  • The fossilised regurgitate contained bones from two individuals of the pterosaur species along with four fossil fish.
  • Researchers suggest the predator responsible for the vomit was likely a Spinosaurid dinosaur, a large predator that inhabited the Araripe basin 100 million years ago.
  • The prey in the fossil showed a head-first alignment, a technique used by modern fish-eating birds to avoid choking on sharp fins.
India reaffirms 2019 e-cigarette ban rejecting Philip Morris lobbying (Mid of February) ▼
  • India banned e-cigarettes including heat-not-burn devices in 2019 and will not revoke, amend or relax the ban.
  • The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated the law explicitly prohibits heat-not-burn products and the situation will stay.
  • Philip Morris International lobbied Indian officials and a parliamentary panel from 2021 to 2025 to exempt its IQOS heated tobacco device from the ban.
  • India is the seventh-largest cigarette market by volume with over 100 billion cigarettes sold annually and tobacco kills more than a million people each year in the country.
  • Philip Morris holds 76% of the global heated tobacco market and IQOS has more than 35 million users across 79 markets.
  • The Indian Council of Medical Research told Reuters it is not considering or undertaking any research on heated tobacco products.
National Bird Day observed on January 5 (Start of January) ▼
  • National Bird Day was first established in 2002 by the Avian Welfare Coalition to promote the welfare of birds both in the wild and in captivity.
  • National Bird Day is celebrated annually on January 5 to raise awareness about the importance of birds in our ecosystems.
  • The day honours the efforts of conservationists and environmental organisations working to safeguard endangered bird species, including the bald eagle and the California condor.

Tamil Nadu initiates action against 42 illegal resorts in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

[Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

  • The Tamil Nadu government informed the Madras High Court (HC) that 42 resorts were found operating without licences within the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR).
  • The illegal establishments are located in the eco-sensitive zone of the STR in the Erode district.
  • A joint inspection of 53 resorts, lodges, and farmhouses revealed that only 11 buildings possessed valid permissions and licences.
  • The Madras HC bench, led by Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, has granted the state three weeks to file a status report by 7 April.
  • The enforcement action follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by R Karpagam regarding unauthorised constructions in the tiger reserve.
  • The Erode District Collector reported that proper licences are mandatory for any construction within the eco-sensitive zone of the reserve.

Similar Coverage

Karnataka High Court halts on-ground work for Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Karnataka High Court directed that no work or activities related to the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project and Kalkatte Bridge construction be carried out in the forest without the court’s permission.
  • A Division Bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Poonacha passed the interim order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Akhilesh Chipli, Ravindranath Shanbhogue, and Manohar Kumar CB.
  • Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty stated that the petition was premature as the matter is with the National Wildlife Board and no approval has been granted to the project so far.
  • Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, representing the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited, contended that there is no impediment in Section 29 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, in carrying out non-forest activities in a sanctuary.
  • The bench noted that the Sharavathi valley sanctuary was declared inter alia for preservation of lion-tailed macaques, and disruption of habitat of such endangered species would prima facie mitigate one of the principal purposes of declaring the sanctuary.
Tamil Nadu Forest staff deploy M-STrIPES app for tiger census in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (Start of January) ▼
  • Forest staff will use the Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (M-STrIPES) app to record census data.
  • The All India Tiger Estimation Survey 2026 in Anamalai Tiger Reserve begins Wednesday, covering 115 transect lines with over 340 staff.
  • Previous census identified 25 tigers in ATR and seven to eight shared between ATR and Parambikulam Tiger Reserve.
Karnataka HC directs inclusion of left-out Kappatagudda Reserve Forest in Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary (Start of March) ▼
  • Karnataka High Court Division Bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Poonacha dismissed petitions by Shivaganga Stone Crushing Industries and others.
  • Court ordered state government to notify inclusion of remaining Kappatagudda Reserve Forest areas into Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary as per 9 January 2019 resolution of Karnataka State Board for Wildlife.
  • 11th meeting of Karnataka State Board for Wildlife on 9 January 2019 had resolved to declare entire 300 sq km of reserve forest as sanctuary.
  • State’s 16 May 2019 notification declared only 244.15 sq km (24,415.73 hectares) in Gadag, Mundaragi and Shirahatti taluks as sanctuary, leaving out about 55 sq km.
  • Petitioners’ stone crushing units fall within Eco-Sensitive Zone notified on 4 June 2025 and cannot operate.
  • Court clarified state may later alter sanctuary boundaries to exclude any part of the left-out reserve forest, provided it follows due legal process.
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Eco-Sensitive Zone Notification (End of January) ▼
  • The Centre has declared the biodiversity-rich area, ranging from zero to one kilometre around Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary, located in one of the most fragile ecosystems of the Aravali range in Rajasthan, as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ).
  • The move will prohibit environmentally hazardous human activities within the earmarked zone of 243 sq km.
  • Prohibited activities within the ESZ include commercial mining, stone quarrying and crushing units; setting up of industries causing water, air, soil and noise pollution; setting up of brick kilns; and erection of new wind mills among others.
  • New construction of hotels and resorts shall not be allowed within one km from the boundary of the protected area or up to the extent of the eco-sensitive zone, whichever is nearer.
  • Forests, horticulture areas, agricultural areas, parks and open spaces earmarked for recreational purposes in the zone will not be used or converted into areas for major commercial or residential or industrial activities.

Rising CO₂ drives hypercapnic hypoxia in mangrove estuaries, endangering global fish nurseries

Key Updates:

  • Hypercapnic hypoxia—high CO₂ and low oxygen—now occurs mildly 34–43% of the time and severely 6–32% of the time across 23 assessed mangrove sites.
  • Climate change will lower oxygen by 5–35% and raise CO₂ by 8–60% in mangrove waters by 2100, making events 15 times more frequent under extreme scenarios.
  • By 2100, 78% of sites will face mild hypoxia lasting 12–24 consecutive hours during heatwaves, while Amazon mangroves may experience hypercapnia 100% of the time.
  • A 10°C temperature rise (20°C to 30°C) cuts dissolved oxygen by 30% and boosts CO₂ by 50%, shrinking safe nursery windows for fish.
  • Commercially valuable species—common silver-biddy (Gerres oyena), silver grunt (Pomadasys argenteus), pink ear emperor (Lethrinus lentjan), and Indian goatfish (Parupeneus indicus)—are among the low-tolerance fish at risk.
  • Mangroves support ~20,000 extra fish per hectare per year worth $10 million and provide livelihoods for ~4 million fishers, mainly in Brazil, Indonesia, and Tanzania.

Similar Coverage

UN proclaims 1 March as World Seagrass Day to spotlight conservation (Start of March) ▼
  • The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/76/265 in May 2022 proclaiming 1 March as World Seagrass Day.
  • Seagrasses cover only 0.1% of the ocean floor yet store up to 18% of the world’s oceanic carbon.
  • Seagrass meadows exist in 159 countries across six continents and cover over 300,000 km².
  • Almost 30% of global seagrass area has been lost since the late nineteenth century.
  • At least 22 of the world’s 72 seagrass species are in decline.
  • Conserving and restoring seagrass meadows can help countries achieve 26 targets and indicators linked to ten Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • Only about a quarter of all seagrass meadows fall within marine protected areas.
Lake Victoria turns green and toxic from nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, threatening East Africa's fisheries (Mid of February) ▼
  • Lake Victoria, the world’s largest tropical lake, now shows near-permanent green algal blooms loaded with liver-damaging microcystin.
  • Nyando River dumps over 6,000 kg of nitrate daily during peak rains, while Nzoia River adds about 22,000 kg daily, fuelling explosive cyanobacterial growth.
  • Microcystis and Dolichospermum dominate the blooms, producing toxins that create dead zones and crash fish populations.
  • The lake supports a $600 million fish export industry and hundreds of thousands of tons of annual catch now at risk from oxygen depletion and food-web collapse.
  • Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda rely on the lake for drinking water and livelihoods, but seasonal die-offs have become systemic and recovery may be impossible on human timescales.
ETH Zurich-led study finds Congo Basin peatland lakes emit millennia-old carbon (Start of March) ▼
  • ETH Zurich-led team reports in Nature Geoscience that large blackwater lakes Lac Mai Ndombe and Lac Tumba in the central Congo Basin are releasing ancient peat carbon.
  • Radiocarbon dating shows up to 40 per cent of the CO₂ emitted from the lakes originates from peat accumulated over thousands of years.
  • The Congo Basin peatlands cover 0.3 per cent of global land surface yet hold one third of all tropical peat carbon.
  • Parallel work on Lake Mai Ndombe published in ESS Open Archive finds higher water levels enhance microbial methane breakdown, while lower dry-season levels increase methane emissions.
  • Population growth and forest-to-cropland conversion in the Democratic Republic of Congo could lower lake levels and amplify greenhouse-gas release.
Goa hosts 4th edition of World Ocean Science Congress 2026 (End of February) ▼
  • The 4th edition of World Ocean Science Congress 2026 is being held in Goa from February 23 to February 26 at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).
  • The event is co-organised by NIO, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and Goa University.
  • Goa has 193 km of coastline and thousands of families depend directly or indirectly on the ocean.
  • A pollution control vessel built in Goa for the Indian Coast Guard has been commissioned to enhance maritime safety, pollution response and surveillance.
  • The congress agenda includes ocean health, climate change, marine ecosystems, coastal hazard resilience and sustainable blue economy models.
  • Special sessions include a fishermen’s meet and student interaction programmes with around 600 high school students.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur develops flexible sensors for early cancer detection

[Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur]

Key Updates:

  • Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur are developing next-generation flexible semiconductor devices for continuous health monitoring and early disease detection.
  • The work is carried out at the HESTECH (Hybrid Electronic Sensor Technologies) Lab led by Dr Akshay Moudgil, Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering.
  • The Organic Electrochemical Transistor (OECT) technology enables flexible, biocompatible sensors for interfacing with biological signals and fluids.
  • The low-power wearable sensors use biocompatible hybrid semiconductor materials fabricated on thin, flexible substrates for skin-conformal devices.
  • The biochemical sensors aim to detect clinically relevant biomarkers in biofluids such as saliva, serum and blood for point-of-care diagnostics.
  • The lab is developing soft ECG patches for cardiac assessment, EMG sensors for muscle activity tracking, and pressure and temperature sensors to detect early signs of pressure ulcers.
  • The flexible semiconductor sensors can monitor physiological stress indicators such as cardiac load, dehydration, fatigue, heat stress and muscle strain for defence personnel.

Similar Coverage

BITS Pilani–Hyderabad and RMIT University develop low-cost biosensor for heart attack detection (Start of February) ▼
  • A joint doctoral researcher from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani–Hyderabad and RMIT University has developed a flexible, low-cost biosensor for early heart attack detection.
  • The graphene-based sensor enables rapid detection of myoglobin, a protein released into the bloodstream shortly after cardiac muscle injury.
  • The device is designed to be lightweight and economical, making it suitable for portable and point-of-care testing in rural hospitals and low-resource healthcare facilities.
  • The research is a collaboration between the MMNE Laboratory at BITS Pilani–Hyderabad and the Centre for Opto-Electronic Materials and Sensors (COMAS) at RMIT University.
  • An Indian patent has been filed for the technology, and the findings were published in the journal IEEE Sensors Letters.
National Highway Quality Monitoring Portal launched with Mobile Quality Control Vans (End of February) ▼
  • Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) rolled out Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) to monitor National Highway quality.
  • Pilot runs are underway in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Odisha.
  • Each MQCV is equipped with non-destructive testing tools such as ultrasonic pulse velocity meters, rebound hammers, asphalt density gauges and reflectometers.
  • MoRTH is developing a National Highway Quality Monitoring Portal with real-time GPS tracking of the vans.
  • Test results will be shared with MoRTH field offices for corrective action on quality deficiencies.
India establishes National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL) for air pollution monitoring (Start of January) ▼
  • India has established the world's second National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL) at the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in New Delhi.
  • The NESL will develop testing and calibration facilities for air pollution monitoring equipment to reduce dependence on foreign certification systems.
  • At present, the United Kingdom (UK) is the only other country in the world to possess such a laboratory.
  • The facility aims to address measurement anomalies caused by high dust load, humidity, and temperature differences prevalent in Indian environmental conditions.
  • The laboratory will provide validated performance data for the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), industrial emission audits, and smart-city monitoring networks.
  • Union Science & Technology Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the laboratory during the 80th Foundation Day celebrations of CSIR-NPL.
CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) opens National Environmental Standard Laboratory to certify air-pollution gear (Start of January) ▼
  • Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the National Environmental Standard Laboratory at the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) premises.
  • The facility will test and calibrate equipment that monitors air pollution, including Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Equipment (OCEMS) and Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS).
  • The Environment Ministry has designated CSIR-NPL as the verification and certification agency for emission and ambient air pollution monitoring equipment in India.

Indian Scientists Trace Ladakh Magmatic Arc Formation to Neo-Tethys Subduction

[Ladakh]

Key Updates:

  • Indian scientists traced the Ladakh magmatic arc formation to subduction of the Neo-Tethys Oceanic Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.
  • The magmatic arc developed prior to the Indian-Eurasian plate collision and produced extensive igneous rocks now dominating the Ladakh region.
  • Study indicates the arc’s evolution contributed crucially to early Himalayan orogeny, crustal growth and mountain uplift.
  • Variations in magma composition and timing revealed by the research provide clues on tectonic processes and geodynamic evolution of the northwestern Himalaya.

Similar Coverage

Scientists discover new class of magma ocean liquid planets using James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) (Mid of March) ▼
  • Scientists have identified a new category of exoplanets known as magma ocean worlds, which exist in a permanent molten state.
  • The discovery, detailed in the journal Nature Astronomy, was made using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
  • The primary example of this new class is L 98-59 d, located approximately 35 light-years away from Earth.
  • L 98-59 d has a radius approximately 1.63 times larger and a mass 1.64 times that of Earth.
  • The planet's surface temperature reaches approximately 1,900°C, and it is enveloped in a thick atmosphere rich in hydrogen sulfide.
  • The molten state is maintained by a runaway greenhouse effect and tidal heating caused by the gravitational pull of neighbouring planets.
  • The planet orbits a small red star and features a mantle composed of molten silicate with a likely molten core.
Geological Survey of India (GSI) Hosts 65th Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) Meeting (End of January) ▼
  • The Geological Survey of India (GSI), under the Ministry of Mines, will host the 65th meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) on 21 January 2026 at the A. P. Shinde Symposium Hall, ICAR, Pusa, New Delhi.
  • The CGPB serves as GSI’s apex coordination platform where the organisation’s Annual Field Season Programme (FSP) is presented, scrutinised, and finalised.
  • Exploration focuses on critical and strategic minerals such as lithium, rare earth elements (REEs), graphite, platinum group elements (PGEs), vanadium, scandium, and cesium, in alignment with India’s energy transition goals.
  • The GSI will adopt next-generation exploration technologies, including AI and machine learning-based data integration, advanced geophysical surveys, hyperspectral remote sensing, deep drilling, and mineral system-based studies.
  • The Annual Programme for Field Season 2026–27 comprises 1,068 rigorously peer-reviewed projects across multiple earth-science disciplines, including carbon sequestration studies and offshore exploration.
  • Environmental initiatives include landslide hazard zonation and slope stability studies, with a focus on disaster risk reduction in the Himalayan and North-Eastern regions.
X-class solar flare triggers severe G4 geomagnetic storm and red aurora over Hanle, Ladakh (End of January) ▼
  • An X-class solar flare erupted on 18 January 2026, launching a Coronal Mass Ejection that hit Earth in about 25 hours and produced a G4-level severe geomagnetic storm.
  • The storm generated an S4-level solar radiation event, the most intense since 2003, and forced astronauts on the International Space Station to shelter in shielded areas.
  • Indian Astronomical Observatory’s all-sky camera at Hanle, Ladakh, inside the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, recorded the resulting red aurora on 19 and 20 January 2026.
  • ISRO’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft, stationed at the L1 Lagrange point 1.5 million km from Earth, provided early warning of the Coronal Mass Ejection.
  • During the storm, Earth’s magnetosphere was compressed so much that geostationary satellites were briefly exposed to direct solar wind, risking communication, GPS and banking services.
Fossil discovery in Gujarat identifies giant snake from Eocene era (End of December) ▼
  • Fossil evidence discovered in Gujarat has attracted scientific notice due to evidence of a snake of extraordinary size that existed during what is loosely defined as the Eocene era, some 47 million years ago.
  • The species was identified as a related member of the extinct madtsoiid species, the clade of species recognised for having evolved the largest species of snake throughout history.
  • The fossils of the collected Gujarat species are dominated by well-preserved vertebrae in sedimentary deposits from the early Eocene period.
  • Described in the study published in Scientific Reports, the species has outstanding vertebral features compared with similar species of the madtsoiid genus.
  • The Eocene was a time when the planet saw hot conditions year-round, and the polar regions were mostly devoid of ice.
  • Analysis of the geological and palaeobotanical data available for Gujarat has revealed a landscape dominated by rivers, deltas, and dense forests.
  • Madtsoiids have been found on various southern continents: Africa, South America, and Australia; these continents all comprised the supercontinent Gondwana.

Geological Survey of India (GSI) declares Kalinjar Fort area National Geo-Heritage Site

[Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

  • The Geological Survey of India (GSI) declared the hill region surrounding Kalinjar Fort in Banda district a National Geo-Heritage Site on 16 March 2026.
  • The site exhibits the Eparchaean Unconformity where 2.5-billion-year-old Bundelkhand granite is overlain by 1.2-billion-year-old Kaimur sandstone.
  • The region lies within the Vindhya Mountain range and contains temples from the Gupta dynasty including the Neelkanth Mahadev temple.
  • GSI installed an information board at the site to highlight its geological importance and historical relevance.

Similar Coverage

Kanger Valley National Park Status 1982 (End of December) ▼
  • Kanger Valley got the status of a national park in the year 1982.
  • The state bird, Bastar Maina, is a type of Hill maina (gruncula Dhariosoa), which is capable of emulating the human voices.
  • This National Park is home to three exceptional caves – famous for their amazing geological structures of Kutumbasar, Kailash and Dandak- Stellagmites and Stalactitees.
  • Tirathgarh Waterfall is located in Kanger Valley National Park.
  • The Kenjhardhara and Bhainsadhara are famous for Crocodile Park.
  • Bastar has its own Airport which is operated by State Government under UDAN Scheme.
  • The name of Kanger Ghati National Park is derived from the Kangar river, which flows in its length.
  • Kanger Valley is spread over 200 square kilometers.
Rajasthan Government Renames Mount Abu, Kaman, and Jahazpur to Abu Raj, Kamvan, and Yagyapur (Start of March) ▼
  • Rajasthan Chief Minister (CM) Bhajan Lal Sharma announced the renaming of three historic destinations during Assembly discussions on the Finance Bill.
  • Mount Abu, the only hill station in the state located in the Aravalli range at an elevation of 1,722 metres, has been renamed Abu Raj.
  • The town of Kaman, situated in the Bharatpur district and linked to the Braj religious heritage, is officially renamed Kamvan.
  • Jahazpur, located in the Bhilwara district and known for its ancient fort and Rajput-era ruins, has been renamed Yagyapur.
  • The renaming initiative is aimed at preserving cultural heritage and emphasising indigenous and historical identity over colonial-era nomenclature.
  • The changes will be reflected in future official maps, signboards, tourism materials, and railway announcements.
Musi River Rejuvenation Plan: 55-km corridor restoration and heritage tourism integration. (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Musi rejuvenation plan targets restoration and development of around 55 km of the river corridor.
  • The plan focuses on river cleaning, ecological restoration, riverfront development and public access.
  • Key historic structures mapped include Golconda fort, Qutb Shahi tombs, Taramati Baradari, Shri Veerabhadra Swami Devalayam, Purana Pul, Government City College, Macca Masjid, Charminar, the Telangana High Court building, Osmania General Hospital and the British Residency at Koti.
  • E.V. Narasimha Reddy, MD of the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation (MRDCL), unveiled the heritage concept map.
  • Authorities aim to integrate these historic structures into a heritage tourism network while preserving Hyderabad’s historic character.
Indian ambassador to Bhutan explores Odisha’s ancient Buddhist heritage (Start of January) ▼
  • India’s ambassador to Bhutan, Sandeep Arya, visited the historic Buddhist sites of Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri, known as the ‘Diamond Triangle’ in Jajpur district.
  • At the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) museum in Ratnagiri, Arya explored a vast collection of 3,535 Buddhist antiquities, with 244 items on display across four galleries.
  • During his visit to the museum at Lalitgiri, the ambassador paid respect to the relic of Lord Buddha kept in a casket in the museum.

Reliance MET City’s Metropolis earns India’s first LEED Platinum pre-certification under LEED for Cities: Plan and Design.

[Reliance]

Key Updates:

  • Metropolis by Reliance MET City, Haryana, received India’s first LEED Platinum Pre-Certification under the LEED for Cities: Plan and Design rating system, as confirmed by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI).
  • LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
  • The LEED for Cities and Communities: Plan and Design program evaluates large-scale developments at the planning stage across infrastructure, energy, water, mobility, ecology, and livability.
  • Metropolis is part of a 140-acre master plan within the 8,250-acre Reliance MET City in Jhajjar district, Haryana.
  • Reliance MET City hosts over 650 companies from 11 countries and supports more than 40,000 jobs.
  • Metropolis is located in Village Daryapur on MDR 123, 0 km from Delhi and 5 minutes from the KMP Expressway.
  • Nearby assets include AIIMS Badsa, the upcoming Haryana Orbital Corridor, and the proposed BCCI international cricket stadium.

Similar Coverage

Zero Prize launched as India’s first ₹5 crore results-based environmental award (End of February) ▼
  • Zero Prize is India’s first national results-based environmental award linking financial reward to independently verified reductions in air, water, and land pollution.
  • Convened by the School of Policy and Governance (SPG), the initiative is supported through philanthropic contributions, corporate CSR partnerships, and institutional stakeholders.
  • Total corpus of ₹5 crore will award ₹1 crore each across three categories — Air, Water, and Land — to solutions demonstrating scientifically validated pollution reduction within defined geographies.
  • Announcement event held at India Habitat Centre with award-winning actor and environmental advocate Dia Mirza as Chief Guest.
  • Prize open to startups, NGOs, corporates, municipal bodies, research institutions, and individual innovators across India.
  • Eligible applicants must implement a real-world pilot within defined urban or peri-urban contexts and undergo independent third-party monitoring and validation.
  • Each shortlisted solution will establish a documented baseline and demonstrate quantifiable reduction over a 12-month challenge period.
  • Applications open in March 2026 and close in August 2026, with winners announced in February 2027 after technical evaluation, pilot implementation, and independent validation.
  • Prize follows milestone-based disbursement aligned with successful pilot execution and verification.
Mumbai Climate Week 2026 inaugurated; Maharashtra targets over 50% green energy by 2030 (Mid of February) ▼
  • Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the three-day Mumbai Climate Week (MCW) 2026.
  • MCW 2026 is India’s first platform dedicated to accelerating transformative, citizen-driven climate action in the Global South.
  • Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on ‘Urban Heat Mitigation, Passive Cooling and Nature-based Resilience systems, Climate adaptation frameworks’ with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Resources Institute (WRI), C40, and Urban Land Institute (ULI).
  • Fadnavis stated Maharashtra aims for more than 50% of its energy from green sources by 2030, up from 21% renewable share in its current 48 GW installed capacity.
  • Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi announced 1 lakh additional solar pumps for Maharashtra under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM Kusum) scheme.
  • Under PM Kusum in Maharashtra, energy production cost is Rs 3 with Rs 5 savings, and excess power is fed into the grid.
India secures 2nd rank globally in LEED-certified green building space outside United States in 2025. (Start of February) ▼
  • India ranked second outside the United States with 16 million gross square meters of LEED-certified space in 2025.
  • United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) released the annual country rankings.
  • China led the non-US list with 26 million GSM, while Vietnam entered the top 10 for the first time.
  • Over 7,500 commercial projects worldwide achieved LEED certification in 2025, totaling more than 147 million GSM.
  • India recorded the highest growth in LEED Operations and Maintenance (O+M) certification, surpassing new and interior construction projects.
  • LEED certification in India is expanding beyond offices into industrial manufacturing, warehousing, hospitality, retail, and education sectors.
V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) becomes India’s first Major Port to receive IGBC Platinum Rating (Mid of February) ▼
  • V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) has become India’s first Major Port to receive the IGBC Platinum Rating from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
  • The rating was conferred on VOC Port’s Administration Building which integrates rooftop solar panels, high Solar Reflectance Index reflective roof coating, rainwater harvesting, IoT-enabled water meters and indoor air quality monitoring systems.
  • The building operates 100% on renewable energy with 89% of electricity met through on-site solar power and the remaining 11% sourced from off-site renewable sources.
  • Potable water usage has been reduced by 37% and all wastewater is treated in an on-site Sewage Treatment Plant for full reuse.
  • VOC Port’s Hospital and CISF Barracks have received Shunya Plus certification while the Administrative Building and Guest House hold Shunya certification from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
  • The port maintains over 70% green cover and is aligned with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Harit Sagar – Green Port Guidelines.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd secures $39 million SCI contract for India’s first methanol-powered platform supply vessel

[Shipping Corporation of India, Mazagon Dock]

Key Updates:

  • Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) signed a $39 million shipbuilding contract with Shipping Corporation of India Ltd (SCI) on 18 March for a 3,000 Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) methanol dual-fuel platform supply vessel.
  • SCI reduced the order to one vessel from the original plan of two firm and two optional platform supply vessels due to high costs quoted by Indian yards.
  • The methanol-powered dual-fuel platform supply vessel is funded under India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.
  • SCI selected high-pressure injection technology for the dual-fuel engine to lower pilot fuel percentage despite higher capital expenditure.

Similar Coverage

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) Secures $360 Million Contract from CMA CGM Group (End of February) ▼
  • Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has signed an international shipbuilding contract worth approximately $360 million (around ₹3,267 crore) with the France-based CMA CGM Group.
  • Under the agreement, CSL will construct and deliver six Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered container vessels.
  • Each vessel will have a capacity of 1,700 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) and is estimated to cost approximately $60 million.
  • The vessels will be designed by Korea Maritime Consultants Co., Ltd. (KOMAC) and manufactured at the CSL facility in Kerala.
  • The first vessel is expected to be delivered by February 2029, with a subsequent delivery target of two vessels per year.
  • This contract has increased the total order book of CSL to approximately ₹23,000 crore.
  • The supply agreement was signed in the presence of Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
PM Modi inaugurates Adani Ports’ Haldia Bulk Terminal with 4 MMTPA capacity (Mid of March) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned the Haldia Bulk Terminal (HBT), a fully automated dry bulk handling facility developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) at the Haldia Dock Complex of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port.
  • The terminal has an annual cargo handling capacity of four million metric tonnes (MMTPA) and is located on the Hooghly River.
  • Developed under a 30-year concession through the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model by HDC Bulk Terminal Ltd, construction began on July 14, 2023.
  • The facility includes a 2,000-tonne Railway Wagon Loading System (RWLS), a 1.54-km dedicated rail line for direct ship-to-train cargo evacuation, advanced conveyor systems, two stacker-cum-reclaimers for automated stockyard operations, and two mobile harbour cranes.
  • The terminal is designed to handle imported coal and other dry bulk commodities and will serve industrial consumers in West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.
Indian Navy signs contract with Shoft Shipyard for four 500T Self-Propelled Fuel Barges (Start of March) ▼
  • Indian Navy concluded a contract on 02 Mar 2026 with M/s Shoft Shipyard Private Limited, Thane (MSME Shipyard) for construction of 04 X 500T Self Propelled Fuel Barges.
  • The barges will be built under the Classification Rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
  • Their primary role is replenishment of fuel to ships and submarines in harbour and at anchorage.
  • The project supports Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives and aligns with Maritime India Vision 2030.
Kerala government signs ₹2,000 crore MoUs with central PSUs for Vizhinjam logistics master plan (End of February) ▼
  • Kerala government signed MoUs with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) for a ₹2,000 crore logistics plan at Vizhinjam International Seaport.
  • IOCL will invest ₹700 crore to set up large-scale bunkering facilities for mother ships at Vizhinjam.
  • CONCOR will invest ₹600 crore to build rail-linked infrastructure including inland container depots and container freight stations.
  • CWC will invest ₹700 crore to develop a 50-acre multimodal logistics park with cold storage and export-oriented units.
  • The agreements were executed in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Legislative Assembly Building.
  • The initiative aims to prevent monopolisation in cargo handling, guarantee fair pricing, and keep critical infrastructure under public sector oversight while the port operates on a Public-Private Partnership model.

Masi Magam observed by Irular community on Mamallapuram seashores

Key Updates:

  • Masi Magam is celebrated on the full moon day (Pournami) in the Tamil month of Masi.
  • The Irular community gathers in thousands on the Mamallapuram seashore to perform marriages, naming ceremonies, ear piercing and tonsuring.
  • They worship their patron deity Kanniammal, believed to have left the community in anger during the Tamil month of Margazhi.
  • Seven sand steps representing the seven Kannis (virgins) are created and offerings of flowers, betel leaves, lemons, puffed rice, neem leaves, broken coconuts and bananas are placed at dawn.
  • Edgar Thurston documented in Castes and Tribes of Southern India that Irulas periodically worship Kanniammal and Mari, the goddess of epidemic diseases.
  • Romulus Whitaker, a noted herpetologist, worked closely with the Irulars while studying snakes and venoms.
  • K.V. Kanniappan from Villupuram served as district coordinator for the International Justice Mission (IJM) in rehabilitating rescued bonded Irula labourers.

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Gudi Padwa 2026 celebrated on March 19 (Mid of March) ▼
  • Gudi Padwa 2026 is celebrated on March 19, 2026.
  • Pratipada Tithi begins at 06:52 AM on March 19, 2026 and ends at 04:52 AM on March 20, 2026.
  • Gudi Padwa is mainly celebrated in Maharashtra and Goa by the Marathi and Konkani communities.
  • The festival falls on the pratipada tithi of shukla paksha in the month of Chaitra.
  • Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of the harvest season and is celebrated as Marathi New Year.
  • According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Brahma created the universe on this day.
  • Primary rituals include early holy bath, oil bath, rangoli, neem-jaggery dish, worship of Lord Brahma, yajna, hawan, bamboo stick flags, raising a Gudi, and distributing prasadam, cumin seeds, and gram lentils.
Darjeeling Hill Festival showcasing tribal heritage inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu. (Start of March) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the Darjeeling Hill Festival at the Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan in Darjeeling, now renamed Lok Bhavan.
  • The festival is curated by experts from the Indian Museum and involves Indian Museum, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Victoria Memorial Hall, Maulana Abul Kalam Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), Asiatic Society, universities, public institutions, and non-governmental organisations.
  • Governor C V Ananda Bose, chairman of the board of trustees at the Indian Museum, conceived the festival.
  • The exhibition titled ‘Roots and Rhythm’ will display rare artefacts from Indian Museum’s ethnographic collections representing tribal communities across North-East hills, Central India forests, Eastern India, southern highlands, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
  • Indian Museum director Sayan Bhattacharya stated that objects include Adi cane helmets, Naga warrior sculptures, Santhal jewellery, Kondh Dokra effigies, Toda embroidered textiles, and Onge wooden vessels.
  • A Tribal Art Camp for Darjeeling school students will be organised by Indian Museum, Kolkata to engage youth with indigenous art traditions.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) organises month-long tribal cultural heritage events from 2 to 24 March 2026 (Start of March) ▼
  • Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) will host Tribal Art Fest, Tribal Music Fest, Bharat Tribes Fest, and Tribal Business Conclave between 2 and 24 March 2026.
  • Nearly 1,000 participants from all States are expected to join the Tribal Art Fest.
  • Minister Jual Oram launched official logos for Tribal Art Fest, Living Roots: Soundscapes of Tribal India, and Bharat Tribes Fest 2026.
Pongal 2026 observed on January 14, 2026 (Mid of January) ▼
  • Pongal is a four-day Hindu harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God that marks the beginning of Uttarayan, the sun’s journey northward.
  • Thai Pongal and Makar Sankranti both fall on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, with the Sankranti Moment occurring at 03:13 PM.
  • The festival includes four specific days: Bhogi Pandigai (Jan 13), Thai Pongal (Jan 14), Mattu Pongal (Jan 15), and Kaanum Pongal (Jan 16).
  • The traditional sweet dish Pongal dates back to the Chola dynasty, with recipes appearing in temple inscriptions from the Chola and Vijayanagara Empire periods.
  • The AIFF announced that the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season will be recognized by the AFC.
  • Nasa's crewed lunar mission, Artemis II, is scheduled for a February 6 liftoff.

Global Recycling Day 2026 marked by SOMANY Ceramics waste tile reuse initiative

Key Updates:

  • Global Recycling Day 2026 was marked by SOMANY Ceramics expanding its waste tile reuse initiative.
  • The initiative repurposed 8,100 sq. ft. of waste tile, diverting 12 tons from landfills and cutting an estimated 4.8 tons of CO₂ emissions.
  • Over 3,000 students across 40 institutes—including Manipal University Rajasthan, Amity University Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, KIIT School of Architecture and Planning Odisha, Sushant University Haryana, Indian Institute of Art and Design Delhi, and the Institute of Indian Interior Designers Hyderabad—participated in the campaign.

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Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Program (DRAP) launched to achieve Zero Dumpsite India by September 2026 (Start of February) ▼
  • The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Program (DRAP) under Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U) 2.0.
  • DRAP targets scientific remediation of 8.8 crore metric tonnes of legacy waste across 1,428 dumpsites in India.
  • Sites with over 45,000 metric tonnes of waste are prioritised; no minimum limit for Union Territories and Northeastern states.
  • Central financial support under DRAP is ₹550 per tonne of waste.
  • States must prepare Micro Action Plans and monitor progress through the DRAP Portal.
Government promotes domestic recycling and circular economy in solar sector (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) estimate India will generate about 600 kilo-tonnes of solar waste by 2030.
  • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules 2022 mandating safe recycling of solar power system waste.
  • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) operates an online Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal for collection, storage and disposal of solar panel waste.
  • MNRE launched the Innovation Challenge for Circularity in Renewable Energy Technologies funding research on recycling, second-life applications and sustainable design of solar modules and batteries.
  • The Department of Science and Technology (DST) invited proposals to develop economically viable recycling methods through academia-industry partnerships.
  • The Ministry of Mines set up a Rs. 1,500 crore (US$ 162.3 million) recycling incentive under the National Critical Mineral Mission to recover critical minerals from renewable energy e-waste.
PLASTINDIA 2026 exhibition features over 2,000 global exhibitors (Start of February) ▼
  • PLASTINDIA 2026 commenced in New Delhi on 5 February 2026.
  • The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers (MCF) stated that more than 2,000 international exhibitors will showcase innovations in machinery, raw materials, and circular economy solutions.
  • The exhibition theme is BHARAT NEXT, aligned with the vision of Viksit and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
  • For the first time, PLASTINDIA is envisaged as a Zero Waste exhibition.
  • A dedicated space for youth, innovators, and start-ups will showcase sustainable plastic solutions.
  • The event will conclude on 10 February 2026.
United Nations marks International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness on 5 March 2026 (Start of March) ▼
  • The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness is observed every year on 5 March to promote better awareness and understanding of disarmament issues among the public, especially young people.
  • Global military expenditures reached a record $2.7 trillion in 2024.
  • An interactive ballot-box installation at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) Rotunda from 2 to 6 March 2026 invites visitors to vote on global spending priorities and reflect on redirecting resources toward education, health, and climate action.
  • The UN General Assembly has held three Special Sessions on Disarmament (SSOD) that shaped the disarmament architecture, yet a fourth session remains elusive since 1995.
  • The United Nations Secretary-General’s report titled 'The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future' will be discussed in a virtual briefing on 5 March at 10:15 am Nepal Time.
  • UNODA Occasional Paper No. 47, 'Revisiting Consensus in Multilateral Disarmament Discussions: Trends, Challenges and the Way Forward', authored by Adedeji Ebo and Katherine Prizeman, will be launched on 5 March at 3 PM EST at the Dag Hammarskjöld Library.
  • A second interactive ballot-box installation will be held at Schwedenplatz, Vienna, on 5 March afternoon to engage the public on global spending priorities.
  • On 5 March, the UN Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) will meet high-school students from the Sacré-Coeur Avépozo Institute in Togo to discuss small arms, light weapons, and autonomous weapons systems.
  • On 6 March, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) will meet high-school students from Hiroshima, Japan, to discuss its work on disarmament and peacebuilding.
  • Suzuka Nakamura, a Japanese peace activist and third-generation hibakusha from Nagasaki, was selected as one of the UN Youth Office's 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2025-2027.