Qatar Airways named world’s best full-service carrier for 2026 by AirlineRatings.com.
Key Updates:
Qatar Airways secured the top position among full-service carriers in the 2026 global airline rankings released by AirlineRatings.com.
Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines were ranked second and third respectively in the full-service category.
Korean Air, Japan Airlines, Emirates and Air New Zealand also featured among the top-ranked full-service carriers.
Lufthansa, Delta Air Lines and British Airways were listed among leading hybrid carriers for 2026.
HK Express topped the low-cost segment, followed by Jetstar and AirAsia Group.
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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.
Akasa Air joins International Air Transport Association (IATA) as fifth Indian carrier member. (Start of January)▼
Akasa Air becomes the fifth Indian airline to join IATA after Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet.
IATA members account for more than 80 per cent of global air traffic.
Akasa Air qualified the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in December, a mandatory prerequisite for membership.
Akasa Air has served over 23 million passengers and connects 26 domestic and six international cities.
Akasa Air aims to operate a fleet of 226 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft over ten years and currently operates 31 aircraft of the same model.
In FY25, Akasa Air registered a revenue growth of 49% and improved EBITDA margins by 50%.
The airline registered industry-leading load factors of over 87% and grew ASKs by 48% compared to FY24.
Unit Cost per Available Seat Kilometre (CASK), excluding fuel, reduced by 7%.
Ancillary portfolio expanded to over 25 products, contributing to a diversified revenue model.
Akasa Air carried nearly 100,000 tonnes of cargo by March 2025 and built a network of more than 1,150 corporate partners.
Indian carriers to induct 100 aircraft annually for next 15 years (Start of January)▼
Indian carriers inducted 80 aircraft in calendar year 2025.
106 more aircraft are expected to be inducted in 2026.
For the next 10-15 years, Indian carriers will induct about 100 aircraft annually given the orders of airlines like AI Group, IndiGo and Akasa.
India has 843 aircraft as of now.
Indian carriers (primarily Air India) are in double digits for wide-body aircraft, while Emirates has 250 wide bodies.
Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) grants NOCs to three new airlines to increase competition and lower flight costs (End of December)▼
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has given no objection certificates (NOCs) to three airlines – Al Hind Air, FlyExpress and Shankh Air – to provide more choice for consumers and bring down the cost of flights.
Shankh Air, which aims to be the leading full-service airline of Uttar Pradesh, plans to launch its flight services around the first quarter of 2026.
Al Hind Air, owned by the Kerala-based Alhind Group, has an initial investment between Rs 200 and Rs 500 crore and will focus on domestic and regional travel using ATR 72-600 model aircraft.
FlyExpress, which received its NOC from the MoCA, is reportedly backed by a courier and cargo services company from Hyderabad.
To begin operations, these carriers must next get an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) by proving they have financial backing, aircraft, and trained crew.
Kiran Mani appointed as OpenAI Asia Pacific managing director.
Key Updates:
Kiran Mani stepped down as CEO of Digital at JioStar and will join OpenAI as managing director for Asia Pacific.
He is expected to assume the newly created role in June and will report to OpenAI’s chief strategy officer Jason Kwon.
Mani will relocate from India to Singapore for the position.
He joined Viacom18 in 2023 as CEO for digital ventures and after the 2024 merger of Viacom18 with Disney-owned Star India he oversaw digital operations at the formed entity JioStar.
At JioStar he played a role in the development and integration of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar into the single streaming platform JioHotstar launched in February 2025.
Earlier he served as managing director for Android and Google Play in Asia Pacific at Google and has held roles at Microsoft and IBM.
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Arvind KC appointed as OpenAI's chief people officer. (End of February)▼
Arvind KC has been appointed as the chief people officer of OpenAI.
He will oversee hiring, onboarding, employee development and performance management across OpenAI.
Arvind joins from Roblox where he served as chief people and systems officer.
He holds an MBA from Santa Clara University and a degree in chemical engineering from North Maharashtra University.
Arvind has over 25 years of experience working in tech companies including Facebook, Palantir Technologies and Google.
He replaces Julia Villagra who stepped down in August 2025 after less than six months in the role.
Arvind will be based in the San Francisco Bay Area where OpenAI is headquartered.
OpenAI partners with Tata Group for 100 MW AI data centre in India, eyes 1 GW scale (End of February)▼
OpenAI has partnered with Tata Group to secure 100 megawatts of AI-ready data centre capacity in India.
The capacity is planned to scale to 1 gigawatt over time.
OpenAI becomes the first customer of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) HyperVault data centre business.
The deal includes deploying ChatGPT Enterprise across Tata’s workforce.
The partnership falls under the OpenAI for India initiative.
India has more than 100 million weekly ChatGPT users according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
TCS plans to roll out ChatGPT Enterprise to hundreds of thousands of its employees.
TCS will use OpenAI’s Codex tools to standardise AI-native software development.
Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said the partnership will build state-of-the-art AI infrastructure in India.
TCS secured backing from TPG in November 2025 to develop AI-ready infrastructure under HyperVault.
HyperVault is backed by about ₹180 billion (about $2 billion) in planned investment.
TCS becomes the first organisation outside the United States to participate in OpenAI’s certification programmes.
OpenAI will open new offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru later this year.
The announcement was made during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
OpenAI has partnered with Indian companies including Pine Labs, JioHotstar, Eternal, Cars24, HCLTech, PhonePe, CRED, and MakeMyTrip.
IBM opens first Infrastructure Innovation Centre in India at India Systems Development Lab (ISDL) campus (Start of March)▼
International Business Machines (IBM) launched its first Infrastructure Innovation Centre named Sangam Infrastructure Innovation Centre housed within the new India Systems Development Lab (ISDL) campus.
The collaborative engineering hub will unite IBM systems architects and infrastructure specialists from ISDL to co-create AI solutions with clients, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Global System Integrators (GSIs), Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and ecosystem partners.
A recent IBM Institute for Business Value study found 58 per cent of Indian organisations have increased infrastructure investments due to rising AI demand and projected a 19 per cent growth in infrastructure budgets in 2025.
43 per cent of organisations are establishing or planning AI Centers of Excellence as enterprises move from experimentation to scaled deployment.
IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026 to spotlight population-scale AI deployment and governance (Start of February)▼
The IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026 will be held in New Delhi and positions India as a leader in real-world AI deployment rather than model development.
Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), CEO of IndiaAI Mission, and Director General of National Informatics Centre (NIC), oversees the summit.
GPUs under the IndiaAI Mission are available at ₹65 per GPU hour to democratise access to high-performance computing.
About twelve foundational models are under development and some will be launched ahead of the summit.
The Bhashini initiative provides speech-to-speech and speech-to-text APIs to address India’s linguistic diversity.
The summit features flagship challenges AI for All, AI for Her, and YUVAi, with participation from 136 countries.
YUVAi programme has reached nearly 100,000 students within two weeks and targets over one million learners by the summit.
Stanford AI Index ranked India as the third-largest AI ecosystem globally, up from seventh two years earlier.
Global firms Nvidia, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, Qualcomm, Intel, and Schneider Electric, plus academics from Stanford, will attend the summit.
NIC is deploying AI in judicial systems, agriculture, healthcare, and education integrated with India’s digital public infrastructure.
Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr named successor to Ali Larijani as head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
[Iran]
Key Updates:
Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander, was appointed to succeed Ali Larijani as head of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
The appointment was announced on Tuesday by President Masoud Pezeshkian’s deputy of communications via X.
Ali Larijani was killed in a US-Israeli air strike earlier this month.
Zolghadr served as head of the IRGC’s joint staff for eight years and as deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC for another eight years.
In 2005, he was named deputy interior minister for security and police under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Since 2023, Zolghadr has been secretary of the Expediency Council.
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Iran fires Sejjil missile for first time in West Asia conflict (Mid of March)▼
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) launched the domestically developed Sejjil missile on 15 March 2026 against Israeli and American targets as part of the ‘True Promise 4’ operation.
The Sejjil is a two-stage, solid-propellant medium-range ballistic missile with a range of approximately 2,000 kilometres and a payload capacity of around 700 kilograms.
First test launch of Sejjil took place in 2008; improved variants include Sejjil-2 and the speculated Sejjil-3 under development.
The missile measures about 18 metres in length, 1.25 metres in diameter and has a launch weight of roughly 23,600 kilograms according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Nicknamed the ‘dancing missile’, Sejjil can manoeuvre at high altitudes to evade missile defence systems such as Israel’s Iron Dome.
Iran appoints Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader on 8 March 2026 (Start of March)▼
The 88-member Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei, aged 56, as the new Supreme Leader of Iran.
The appointment follows the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint United States (US) and Israeli strikes.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian armed forces have pledged their support to the new leader.
Key political figures supporting the appointment include President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Ali Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), is currently steering the national security strategy.
Sadiq Larijani serves as the head of the Expediency Council, which also backed the appointment.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described following the new leader as a religious and national duty.
Mojtaba Khamenei succeeds his father, who held power since 1989 after the first Supreme Leader, Ruhollah Khomeini.
Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged unwavering support for the appointment, while China opposed any targeting of the new leader.
Mojtaba Khamenei speculated as successor after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death. (Start of March)▼
Mojtaba Khamenei is the second-eldest son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
He was born on September 8, 1969 in Mashhad, Iran.
He studied at the Qom Seminary and maintains strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia.
He has never held an official government position but is considered an influential behind-the-scenes political figure.
Reports speculate Mojtaba as a potential successor, though no formal appointment is confirmed in the article.
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi appointed as Iran's Interim Supreme Leader. (Start of March)▼
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was appointed as Iran's Interim Supreme Leader after the death of Ayatollah Khamenei.
He was born in 1959 in Yazd province, Iran.
Arafi achieved the rank of mujtahid, granting him authority to issue independent legal rulings.
He formerly headed Al-Mustafa International University, managing global clerical training.
In 2019, he was appointed to the Guardian Council, giving him influence over national legislation and candidate vetting.
His ideology promotes a politically active and revolutionary version of Shia Islam.
S&P Global Ratings (S&P) raises India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast to 7.1%
Key Updates:
S&P Global Ratings (S&P) upgraded India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast by 40 basis points to 7.1%.
The revision follows India’s 7.8% GDP growth in the October–December quarter.
S&P’s FY26 projection for India remains at 7.6%.
S&P assumes Brent crude at $80 per barrel in 2026, up from about $65 at end-2025.
In a stress scenario, S&P sees oil at $130 per barrel; in a severe disruption, up to $200 per barrel.
A $130 oil price could cut 50–70 basis points from Asia-Pacific growth.
India’s growth drivers are domestic consumption, public-private investment, and technology services.
S&P identifies the Strait of Hormuz—handling 15–20% of global oil flows—as a key energy chokepoint.
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Fitch Ratings (Fitch) Raises India FY26 GDP Growth Forecast to 7.5% (Mid of March)▼
Fitch Ratings (Fitch) upgraded India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for the Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) to 7.5% from the previous projection of 7.4%.
The agency revised the India FY27 growth estimate upward to 6.7% from the earlier projection of 6.4%.
India’s GDP grew by 7.8% in the third quarter of FY26 and 8.4% in the second quarter, while the FY25 growth was recorded at 7.1%.
Global GDP growth is projected at 2.6% for 2026, assuming oil prices do not exceed $70 per barrel.
Inflation in India is projected to reach 4.5% by December 2026.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) maintained the policy rate at 5.25% in February, which Fitch expects to remain unchanged through next year.
Brian Coulton serves as the Chief Economist of Fitch.
Crisil Intelligence Forecasts 7.1 Per Cent India GDP Growth for FY27 (Mid of March)▼
Crisil Intelligence expects India's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to moderate to 7.1 per cent in FY27.
The conflict in West Asia is identified as a downside risk to the economic outlook due to its impact on crude oil and commodity prices.
Retail inflation is projected to rise to 4.3 per cent in FY27 from an estimated 2.5 per cent in FY26.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to hold the repo rate steady in FY27 to focus on transmitting the 125 basis points (bps) rate cut implemented in calendar year 2025.
Headline retail inflation is likely to remain close to the central value of the RBI tolerance band.
The new Consumer Price Index (CPI) 2024 series has a reduced weight for food, which is expected to contain the upside to headline inflation.
Export growth is anticipated to maintain momentum, supported by lower United States (US) tariffs relative to FY26 and robust services exports.
Economic growth will be supported by robust private consumption and a recovery in private capital expenditure (capex) driven by emerging sectors.
Inflation is expected to normalise assuming a normal monsoon in 2026 and benign food prices.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) upgrades 2026 global growth forecast to 3.3% (Mid of January)▼
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its 2026 global growth projection by 0.2 percentage points to 3.3%.
The IMF now assumes an effective U.S. tariff rate of 18.5 per cent, down from around 25 per cent in earlier estimates.
The IMF upgraded its U.S. growth forecast for 2026 to 2.4 per cent and trimmed the 2027 outlook to 2.0 per cent.
Spain’s 2026 forecast was raised to 2.3 per cent, while Britain’s projection remained unchanged at 1.3 per cent.
China’s 2026 growth forecast was lifted to 4.5 per cent, below its stronger-than-expected 5 per cent performance in 2025.
The euro zone 2026 projection was lifted to 1.3 per cent, driven by higher public spending in Germany and better performance in Spain and Ireland.
Brazil’s 2026 forecast was cut to 1.6 per cent as tighter monetary policy weighs on growth.
Global inflation is expected to ease from 4.1 per cent in 2025 to 3.8 per cent in 2026 and 3.4 per cent in 2027.
Moody's Ratings projects India GDP growth at 7.3% for FY26 (End of January)▼
Moody's Ratings forecasts India's economy to grow by 7.3% in FY 2025-26, up from 6.5% the previous year.
India's GDP per capita rose 8.2% year-on-year to $11,176 in FY 2024-25 while headline GDP grew 6.5%.
Total insurance premium revenue increased 17% to Rs 10.9 lakh crore in April-November 2025-26, with health premiums up 14% and life new business premiums climbing 20%.
The government has raised the foreign investment limit in Indian insurance companies to 100% of capital from 74%.
Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950: Supreme Court defines religion-based eligibility for Scheduled Caste status
Key Updates:
The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that Scheduled Caste (SC) status is strictly limited to individuals professing Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist religions.
Under Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, conversion to any religion other than those specified leads to the immediate loss of SC status regardless of birth.
The SC bench, comprising Justices P K Mishra and Manmohan, upheld an Andhra Pradesh High Court decision denying SC benefits to individuals who convert to Christianity.
The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, does not include religion-based exclusions, meaning Scheduled Tribe (ST) status depends on tribal identity and community acceptance rather than faith alone.
For an individual to reclaim SC status through reconversion, they must provide credible evidence of original caste membership and total dissociation from the converted religion.
The SC stated that the theological foundation of Christianity does not recognise the institution of caste, making it incompatible with SC status claims.
The ruling establishes that individuals professing religions outside the 1950 Order cannot seek protection under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2015.
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Supreme Court clarifies Merit-Based Allocation for Reserved Category Candidates (Mid of January)▼
The Supreme Court ruled that reserved category candidates who score above the general category cutoff must be adjusted against unreserved seats.
The Court stated that the 'unreserved' category is an open pool based strictly on merit, not a quota for general candidates.
The judgment emphasized that such merit-based adjustment is required under Article 14 and Article 16 of the Constitution.
Supreme Court upholds full arrears of disability pension for ex-servicemen without three-year limitation (Mid of February)▼
The Supreme Court ruled that eligible ex-servicemen are entitled to full arrears of disability pension from the cut-off dates of 1 January 1996 or 1 January 2006.
The Court dismissed the central government's appeal and confirmed that disability pension is a recognition of sacrifice, not charity or executive largesse.
The Court held that pension is a deferred portion of compensation and a vested property right protected under Article 300A of the Constitution.
The central government had argued that arrears should be limited to three years under the Limitation Act, 1963, but the Court rejected this contention.
Supreme Court declines to entertain appeal against Madhya Pradesh HC order on VIP darshan at Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Temple (End of January)▼
The Supreme Court (SC) declined to entertain an appeal challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s dismissal of a petition against VIP entry into the garbhagriha of Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and comprising Justices R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi stated that in the presence of Mahakal, nobody is VIP.
The SC advised the petitioner to approach the relevant authority instead of the courts for decisions on temple entry rules.
Supreme Court Stays University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 (End of January)▼
The Supreme Court (SC) of India stayed the University Grants Commission (UGC) (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, citing concerns that they could divide society.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered that the 2012 Regulations will continue in force under Article 142 until further orders.
The SC directed the Central Government to constitute a committee of eminent jurists to address the issue and obtain court approval for its setup.
Petitioners challenged Section 3(1)(c) of the regulations for defining discrimination only against members of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) while excluding the general category.
The court flagged the omission of ragging as a specific form of discrimination and expressed concern over provisions indicating separate hostels, classrooms, or mentorship groups.
The 2026 Regulations were developed following a 2019 petition seeking anti-discrimination mechanisms in higher education institutions.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has relaxed CSR obligation requirement for companies to join the PM Internship Scheme.
New-age sectors like semiconductors, renewable energy and global capability centres are now eligible under the scheme.
The monthly stipend has been raised to ₹9,000 from ₹5,000.
Minimum age for candidates lowered to 18 years and maximum age raised to 25 years.
Postgraduates and MBAs are now eligible to apply.
Internship duration revised to 6 and 9 months instead of one year.
Third phase targets about 100,000 internships with over 15,500 offers across 19 sectors and 32 states.
Allocation for current fiscal sharply cut to ₹526 crore in revised estimate from ₹10,831 crore budgeted earlier.
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India hosts BIMSTEC Young Professionals Exchange Programme in Maharashtra from 9 to 15 March 2026 (Mid of March)▼
India hosted the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Young Professionals Exchange Programme in Maharashtra from 9 to 15 March 2026.
The programme brought together 30 young innovators, technology developers, and entrepreneurs from BIMSTEC member countries.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the initiative aimed to promote knowledge exchange and provide exposure to India’s innovation, start-up, and research ecosystems.
The exchange programme was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit to strengthen engagement among the youth of the Bay of Bengal region.
Participants called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who highlighted the state’s potential as a platform for international partnerships in technology.
PM-SETU Programme gets $830 million World Bank loan to upgrade ITIs (Start of February)▼
World Bank approved $830 million loan for PM-SETU to revamp Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
PM-SETU targets training over 1 million skilled workers annually and mobilising at least $680 million in private investment.
Loan has 19.5-year final maturity including 4-year grace period.
Curricula will be updated and at least 25% of ITI students will be women.
Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with anchor firms will manage government-owned but industry-run operations.
Focus sectors include manufacturing, electric vehicles (EVs), artificial intelligence (AI), green energy, textiles, and construction.
NITI Aayog proposes convergence of MSME schemes to unlock efficiency (Mid of January)▼
NITI Aayog released the report 'Achieving Efficiencies in MSME Sector through Convergence of Schemes' recommending convergence of 18 Ministry of MSME schemes.
The report recommends an AI-powered central portal integrating schemes, compliance, finance and market intelligence.
It proposes integrating the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) with the MSE–Cluster Development Programme under a unified governance structure.
A dedicated Marketing Assistance Wing with domestic and international components is suggested to streamline market access.
Skill development initiatives are to be rationalised into a three-tier structure covering entrepreneurship, technical skills and training for rural and women artisans.
The report stresses safeguarding targeted initiatives such as the National SC/ST Hub and programmes for the North Eastern Region, while retaining flagship schemes like PMEGP and PM Vishwakarma.
PM VIKAS: Skill Training for 2,110 Minority Youth through NIFTEM-K (End of December)▼
The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) has selected the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) Kundli as a Project Implementing Agency (PIA) to implement the PM VIKAS scheme.
Under this project, NIFTEM-K will train a total of 2,110 beneficiaries from the minority community.
The training will be conducted across seven locations in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Punjab, and Haryana.
The program includes three training categories: Multi Skill Technician (Food Processing), Millet Products Processor, and Assistant Baking Technician.
The project will provide National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant skill training through National Council of Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) approved courses.
The initiative aims to facilitate placement in wage employment, self-employment, or apprenticeship, with certification from institutions approved by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
The program is scheduled to be rolled out in January 2026.
Indian Railways revised ticket cancellation rules effective April 1-15 2026
Key Updates:
Indian Railways will implement revised ticket cancellation rules between 1 April 2026 and 15 April 2026.
Maximum refund with flat cancellation charge applies if ticket is cancelled more than 72 hours before train departure.
25% of fare will be deducted if ticket is cancelled between 72 hours and 24 hours before departure.
50% of fare will be deducted if ticket is cancelled between 24 hours and 8 hours before departure.
No refund will be given if ticket is cancelled less than 8 hours before train departure.
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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Postpones Phase 2 of Continuous Cheque Clearing Mechanism (End of December)▼
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) postponed the implementation of the second phase of the 'Continuous Clearing and Settlement on Realisation in Cheque Truncation System' to allow banks to streamline operations.
The second phase of the faster cheque clearance mechanism was originally scheduled for implementation on January 3.
The first phase of the clearing system implementation commenced on October 4.
Under the second phase, banks are required to clear cheques within three hours of realisation in the Cheque Truncation System (CTS).
The RBI modified the presentation session timing to 9 am to 3 pm and the confirmation session timing to 9 am to 7 pm.
The previous presentation session was scheduled from 10 am to 4 pm, while the confirmation session was from 10 am to 7 pm.
In Phase 1, drawee banks must confirm cheques by 7 pm, or they are deemed approved and included for settlement.
The new process replaces the previous cheque clearing cycle of up to two working days with a system that clears cheques within a few hours of presentation.
The item expiry time for cheques in Phase 2 was set to be changed to T+3 clear hours.
National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 Notified to Impose Double Toll for Defaults (End of March)▼
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.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancels 36 NBFCs’ Certificate of Registration and accepts surrender of 9 licences in February 2026. (Mid of March)▼
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of 36 NBFCs in February 2026.
Nine NBFCs surrendered their CoR to RBI during the same month.
Cancellation dates for the 36 NBFCs range from 16 February 2026 to 24 February 2026.
Among the cancelled NBFCs, Excellence Broking & Finance (P) Ltd. had its CoR issued on 1 November 2006 and cancelled on 16 February 2026.
Manglam Vanijya Private Limited surrendered its CoR issued on 19 August 2013 and the surrender was accepted on 11 February 2026.
KKR India Asset Finance Private Limited surrendered its CoR issued on 29 May 2024 and the surrender was accepted on 23 February 2026.
Premier Ferro Alloys & Securities Limited surrendered its CoR issued on 23 October 2003 and the surrender was accepted on 16 February 2026.
OTP-based ticketing system to enhance transparency in 300 trains (Mid of January)▼
Indian Railways (IR) introduced an OTP (One Time Password)-based ticketing system in 300 major trains across the country to enhance transparency and check touts.
The system applies to online ticket bookings as well as counter tickets in premium trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto Express services.
Under the new arrangement, passengers booking tickets at railway counters are now required to provide a valid mobile number on which an OTP can be received to issue tickets.
The North Central Railway (NCR) stated the measure will effectively curb fake bookings, multiple ticket purchases by a single individual, and the involvement of unauthorised agents.
The OTP-based ticketing system is being rolled out in a phased manner and may be gradually extended to all trains if the results are positive.
Gujarat Assembly passes Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill
Key Updates:
The Gujarat Assembly passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by a majority vote, making Gujarat the second state in India after Uttarakhand to adopt such legislation.
The Bill seeks to regulate personal civil matters including marriage, divorce, succession, adoption, and live-in relationships for residents of the state.
The legislation was drafted based on a report submitted by a committee headed by former Supreme Court (SC) judge Ranjana Desai.
The Ranjana Desai committee studied the civil codes of France, Azerbaijan, Nepal, Germany, and Turkey and received over 20 lakh suggestions before drafting the Bill.
The Bill excludes members of all tribal communities falling within specific constitutional provisions from its jurisdiction.
Specific provisions include legal security for daughters in live-in relationships and the application of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for cases involving minors.
The Bill clarifies that customary traditions, such as cousin marriages, will be considered legal if they are an accepted tradition within a community.
Penal provisions have been included for individuals who enter into marriages by concealing their identity or through fraud.
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Gujarat UCC report emphasises equal rights, women protection and cultural diversity (Mid of March)▼
The high-level committee on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for Gujarat submitted its final report to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar.
The committee was headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.
The report suggested a common legal framework for all religions and communities on marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.
The committee prepared the report after detailed study and district visits to collect public opinion.
Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 passed to prevent coercive conversions (Mid of March)▼
The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, introduced by the Mahayuti government to curb religious conversions involving coercion, inducement, fraud, or deception.
The legislation mandates that individuals intending to convert to another religion must provide a formal notice 60 days in advance.
Under the provisions of the bill, the burden of proof to demonstrate that a religious conversion is lawful rests entirely on the accused.
Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis stated that the bill provides specific legal provisions currently lacking in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) regarding unlawful conversions.
The CM noted that similar laws have already been enacted in 12 other states, including Odisha, Karnataka, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Arunachal Pradesh.
The bill was supported by the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) (Sena (UBT)) but faced opposition from the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) (NCP (SP)), Samajwadi Party (SP), and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)).
Opposition parties demanded that the bill be referred to a joint select committee for public review and suggestions, alleging it violates the right to privacy and Article 25 of the Constitution.
The motion to pass the bill in the assembly was moved by the Minister of State (MoS), Pankaj Bhoyar.
Maharashtra Land Revenue Code and Stamp Amendment Bills 2026 unlock grazing land for public works and speed up stamp duty refunds (Mid of March)▼
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code Amendment Bill 2026 allowing municipal corporations, municipal councils and municipal areas to use uncultivated grazing land (gairan) within their jurisdiction for public purpose projects while ownership remains with the state government.
The available land pool comprises about 7,700 hectares in municipal corporation areas, around 4,000 hectares in municipal areas and nearly 3,000 hectares in municipal council areas.
The Assembly also passed the Maharashtra Stamp Amendment Bill 2026 that raises financial limits for stamp duty refund decisions: district collectors can now sanction up to ₹20 lakh, Deputy Inspector General of Registration and Deputy Controller of Stamps up to ₹50 lakh, and Additional Controller of Stamps and Joint Inspector General of Registration and Superintendent of Stamps up to ₹1 crore, while cases above ₹1 crore will continue with the Chief Controlling Revenue Authority.
Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2026 introduces procedural, administrative and penal improvements for effective implementation. (End of January)▼
Uttarakhand Government implemented the Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, after Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) approved it under Article 213 of the Constitution of India.
The ordinance amends the UCC Act, 2024, and came into force immediately.
It simplifies marriage registration, enabling fully online application from anywhere without physical presence at Sub-Registrar offices.
Within less than a year of UCC implementation, 4,74,447 marriages have been registered, averaging about 1,400 registrations per day compared to 67 per day under the previous Uttarakhand Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2010.
Couples and witnesses can now upload documents and record video statements online to complete registration.
Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 limits Scheduled Caste status to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists
Key Updates:
The Supreme Court bench of Justices PK Mishra and NV Anjaria ruled that conversion to a religion outside Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism ends Scheduled Caste status.
The court cited Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 which recognises only Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists as eligible for Scheduled Caste benefits.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court had earlier held that continued practice of Christianity disqualifies a person from claiming Scheduled Caste reservation.
The Allahabad High Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure Scheduled Caste status is not granted to converts and ordered district magistrates to identify such cases within four months.
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Supreme Court clarifies OBC creamy layer criterion for PSU and private sector employees (Mid of March)▼
The Supreme Court ruled that income alone cannot be the sole criterion to determine the creamy layer among Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
The Bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice R Mahadevan held that treating children of PSU and private sector employees as excluded from OBC reservation based only on salary income leads to hostile discrimination.
The court set aside the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) clarification of 14 October 2004 that included salary income of PSU and private sector employees for creamy layer determination.
The Supreme Court directed creation of supernumerary posts to accommodate candidates who satisfy the revised non-creamy layer criteria, subject to eligibility conditions.
Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 passed to prevent coercive conversions (Mid of March)▼
The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, introduced by the Mahayuti government to curb religious conversions involving coercion, inducement, fraud, or deception.
The legislation mandates that individuals intending to convert to another religion must provide a formal notice 60 days in advance.
Under the provisions of the bill, the burden of proof to demonstrate that a religious conversion is lawful rests entirely on the accused.
Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis stated that the bill provides specific legal provisions currently lacking in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) regarding unlawful conversions.
The CM noted that similar laws have already been enacted in 12 other states, including Odisha, Karnataka, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Arunachal Pradesh.
The bill was supported by the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) (Sena (UBT)) but faced opposition from the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) (NCP (SP)), Samajwadi Party (SP), and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)).
Opposition parties demanded that the bill be referred to a joint select committee for public review and suggestions, alleging it violates the right to privacy and Article 25 of the Constitution.
The motion to pass the bill in the assembly was moved by the Minister of State (MoS), Pankaj Bhoyar.
Supreme Court clarifies Merit-Based Allocation for Reserved Category Candidates (Mid of January)▼
The Supreme Court ruled that reserved category candidates who score above the general category cutoff must be adjusted against unreserved seats.
The Court stated that the 'unreserved' category is an open pool based strictly on merit, not a quota for general candidates.
The judgment emphasized that such merit-based adjustment is required under Article 14 and Article 16 of the Constitution.
Supreme Court Stays University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 (End of January)▼
The Supreme Court (SC) of India stayed the University Grants Commission (UGC) (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, citing concerns that they could divide society.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered that the 2012 Regulations will continue in force under Article 142 until further orders.
The SC directed the Central Government to constitute a committee of eminent jurists to address the issue and obtain court approval for its setup.
Petitioners challenged Section 3(1)(c) of the regulations for defining discrimination only against members of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) while excluding the general category.
The court flagged the omission of ragging as a specific form of discrimination and expressed concern over provisions indicating separate hostels, classrooms, or mentorship groups.
The 2026 Regulations were developed following a 2019 petition seeking anti-discrimination mechanisms in higher education institutions.
Philippines declares national energy emergency amid fuel supply crisis
[Philippines]
Key Updates:
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a national energy emergency on 25 Mar 2026 citing the US-Israel war on Iran and imminent danger to the country’s energy supply.
The emergency declaration empowers the government to procure fuel and petroleum products and, if necessary, pay part of contract amounts in advance for one year.
A committee has been formed to ensure orderly movement, supply, distribution and availability of fuel, food, medicine, agricultural products and other essential goods.
Secretary of Energy Sharon Garin stated the country has about 45 days of fuel supply left based on current consumption levels.
The government is working to procure 1 million barrels of oil from countries within and outside Southeast Asia to build buffer stock.
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Manila is seeking US exemptions to purchase oil from countries under US sanctions, with all options including Iranian and Venezuelan oil under discussion.
Transport unions and senators criticised the government for lacking coordinated action; Piston federation called the emergency declaration a superficial band-aid.
The government is providing free bus rides for students and workers in some cities and a 5,000 peso ($83) subsidy to motorcycle taxi drivers and other public transport workers nationwide.
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United States proposes naval coalition to reopen Strait of Hormuz after Iranian attacks (End of March)▼
Iran has struck more than a dozen ships in the 21-nautical-mile-wide Strait of Hormuz since hostilities began two weeks ago.
US President Donald Trump publicly called on China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to send warships to secure the strait.
Trump later extended the invitation to all countries that receive oil through the strait and specifically asked NATO member states to join, threatening consequences for non-participation.
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain is 'intensively looking' at what it can do to help reopen the maritime passage.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated Japan has 'not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships'.
France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs confirmed France will not send ships, maintaining a defensive posture.
South Korea, which imports 70 percent of its oil from the Gulf, said it was 'closely monitoring' and exploring measures to ensure safe energy transport.
Australia confirmed it will not send naval ships to assist in reopening the strait.
Two Indian-flagged LPG tankers have been allowed by Iran to sail through the strait, while a Turkish-owned vessel was similarly granted passage after direct negotiations.
Fourteen more Turkish vessels are awaiting clearance from Tehran.
France and Italy are reportedly in talks with Iranian officials to negotiate passage for their vessels, though no official confirmation has been given.
India Prime Minister addresses Lok Sabha on West Asia crisis and national security (End of March)▼
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha (LS) regarding the West Asia conflict, highlighting its impact on India’s energy security and the safety of nearly 1 crore Indian citizens in the region.
The Government of India has facilitated the return of approximately 1,000 Indians from Iran and established 24/7 helplines through Indian missions for on-ground support.
India has diversified its energy imports from 27 to 41 countries over the last 11 years and currently imports Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from 41 nations.
The country maintains Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) of 5.3 million metric tonnes (MMT), with plans to add an additional 6.5 MMT to strengthen fuel security.
Ethanol blending initiatives have resulted in a reduction of 4.5 crore barrels of oil imports annually.
India’s renewable energy capacity has reached approximately 250 GW, including 140 GW of solar power and 40 lakh rooftop solar installations.
Domestic coal production has exceeded 100 crore tonnes, while the agriculture sector has been supported by the deployment of over 22 lakh solar pumps.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled examinations in the Middle East due to the ongoing crisis.
Iran marks Nowruz under US-Israeli strikes amid internet blackout (End of March)▼
Iran celebrated Nowruz on 20 March 2026 as US and Israeli warplanes conducted overnight and periodic bombardment.
Spring equinox in Iran occurred at 18:15:59 local time (14:45:59 GMT) on 20 March 2026.
Tehran’s air-defence batteries fired intermittently after the new-year moment in an apparent celebratory move.
Iranian government allows citizens 30 litres of petrol daily via personal fuel cards and claims no fuel shortage despite depot bombings.
State maintains near-total internet shutdown for 21st consecutive day, reducing connectivity to under 1 percent of previous levels.
Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) documented over 7,000 deaths during January protests; UN special rapporteur Mai Sato estimates more than 20,000 civilian deaths.
Iranian authorities executed three men, including 19-year-old national wrestling team member, and a Swedish dual national for alleged protest-related crimes and spying for Israel.
United States Pentagon Pizza Index surges 1,250% on January 5, 2026, following Venezuela operation (Mid of January)▼
The Pentagon Pizza Index also called the Pizza Meter is an open-source intelligence theory suggesting that late-night pizza orders near U.S. government buildings spike before major geopolitical events.
On August 1, 1990, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) ordered a record 21 pizzas in a single night. The next day, Iraq invaded Kuwait.
The index has preceded multiple major events: October 1983 Unusual late-night orders U.S. invasion of Grenada, December 1989 Pentagon surge U.S. invasion of Panama, and January 1991 Spike before Desert Storm Coalition strikes Iraq.
Recent events include: June 12, 2025 'Huge surge' at District Pizza Palace Operation Lion strikes Iran and January 2-3, 2026 700% surge operation captures Maduro in Venezuela.
The Geopolitical Risk (GPR) Index currently sits around 158 and trending upward.
India sets up seven inter-ministerial groups to tackle West Asia crisis
[Gujarat, Uttarakhand]
Key Updates:
The Cabinet Secretariat constituted seven Groups of Secretaries (GoS) covering security, economy, energy, fertiliser, logistics, essential commodities and public outreach.
Around 60-65 senior officials are involved, with each group including about two officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and one from the Cabinet Secretariat.
The strategic issues group is headed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and includes Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
The economic, finance and supply chain group led by Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) Secretary Anuradha Thakur has 11 members including eight secretaries.
The petroleum, LNG and LPG group headed by Neeraj Mittal comprises 10 members including the Chairmen and Managing Directors of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), GAIL and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
The fertiliser group led by Rajat Kumar Mishra has 11 members including heads of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative and KRIBHCO.
The price and essential commodities group chaired by Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare has seven officials.
The transport and logistics group headed by Shipping Secretary Vijay Kumar has six members.
The information, communication and public engagement group led by Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Secretary Sanjay Jaju has 10 members.
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India nominated to chair United Nations Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters for 2026–27 term (Mid of January)▼
Senior Indian diplomat DB Venkatesh Varma has been nominated by the UN Secretary General to chair the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters for the 2026–27 term.
This marks the first time an Indian will hold the position of chair of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters.
The Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters was established in 1978 pursuant to paragraph 124 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly.
The Board advises the Secretary-General on issues related to arms limitation and disarmament, including studies and research carried out under the auspices of the United Nations or institutions within the UN system.
The Board also serves as the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.
Members of the Advisory Board are chosen by the Secretary General from all regions of the world based on their knowledge and experience in disarmament and international security.
India Prime Minister addresses Lok Sabha on West Asia crisis and national security (End of March)▼
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha (LS) regarding the West Asia conflict, highlighting its impact on India’s energy security and the safety of nearly 1 crore Indian citizens in the region.
The Government of India has facilitated the return of approximately 1,000 Indians from Iran and established 24/7 helplines through Indian missions for on-ground support.
India has diversified its energy imports from 27 to 41 countries over the last 11 years and currently imports Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from 41 nations.
The country maintains Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) of 5.3 million metric tonnes (MMT), with plans to add an additional 6.5 MMT to strengthen fuel security.
Ethanol blending initiatives have resulted in a reduction of 4.5 crore barrels of oil imports annually.
India’s renewable energy capacity has reached approximately 250 GW, including 140 GW of solar power and 40 lakh rooftop solar installations.
Domestic coal production has exceeded 100 crore tonnes, while the agriculture sector has been supported by the deployment of over 22 lakh solar pumps.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled examinations in the Middle East due to the ongoing crisis.
India attends inaugural meeting of Board of Peace for Gaza reconstruction as observer on 19 February 2026 (End of February)▼
India participated as an observer in the first meeting of the Board of Peace convened by United States (US) President Donald Trump.
The meeting was held at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace on 19 February 2026, focusing on the reconstruction of Gaza and the mobilisation of an international stabilisation force.
Namgya C Khampa, the Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington DC, represented India at the proceedings.
India is one of 12 countries participating as observers, a group that includes Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom (UK).
More than 40 countries and the European Union (EU) sent officials to the meeting, which the US President referred to as the Gaza peace plan.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the event as a member of the board alongside other participating world leaders.
India and UAE to co-chair 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi (End of January)▼
The 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be held in New Delhi on Saturday, co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Foreign ministers of 20 Arab League member states and the Arab League Secretary-General will participate in the meeting.
The first India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in Bahrain in 2016, and the current meeting occurs after a 10-year gap.
The 2016 meeting identified five priority cooperation verticals: economy, energy, education, media and culture.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin urged increased Indian participation in Gaza reconstruction and continued support to UNRWA for Palestinian refugees.
India has supported Palestinian education through schools in the West Bank and higher education centres in Gaza, some of which were destroyed in the last two years.
The Gaza peace plan and regional peace and stability are expected agenda items at the meeting.
Panama Canal Authority reports record LNG traffic amid Iran war
[Panama]
Key Updates:
Panama Canal Authority (PCA) administrator Ricaurte Vasquez stated the canal is operating at top capacity with 36-38 vessels transiting daily.
The waterway will offer one LNG tanker slot per day, up from four per month, due to increased U.S. LNG demand triggered by the Iran war.
The Strait of Hormuz, vital for Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain energy exports, has been closed, prompting shippers to seek the Panama route.
A March-September maintenance programme will not affect traffic, and seasonal low container-ship demand from Asia frees additional slots for energy tankers.
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Indian-flagged tanker Jag Laadki carrying 80,886 MT crude oil reaches Mundra Port in Gujarat (Mid of March)▼
Indian-flagged tanker Jag Laadki carrying 80,886 metric tonnes of crude oil arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat on 18 March 2026.
The crude oil was sourced from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and loaded at Fujairah Port.
Jag Laadki measures 274.19 metres in length and 50.04 metres in beam, with a deadweight tonnage of approximately 164,716 tonnes.
Adani Ports, which operates Mundra Port, stated the delivery supports major refinery operations and India’s energy security during regional supply disruptions.
LPG carrier Nanda Devi carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of LPG arrived at Vadinar port in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district on 17 March 2026 after navigating through the Strait of Hormuz.
Another LPG carrier, Shivalik, docked at Mundra Port on 16 March 2026.
India imports about 88% of its crude oil, 50% of natural gas, and 60% of LPG needs.
Before recent West Asia conflict escalations, over half of India’s crude imports, about 30% of gas, and 85-90% of LPG imports came from Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
United States (US) President waives Merchant Marine Act of 1920 for 60 days (Mid of March)▼
United States (US) President Donald Trump has issued a 60-day waiver of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly known as the Jones Act, to ease domestic shipping costs.
The waiver allows foreign-flagged vessels to transport essential commodities including oil, natural gas, fertiliser, and coal between US ports.
The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 requires that ships transporting goods between US ports must be built in the US, owned by US citizens, and crewed primarily by Americans.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has pledged to release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves, with the US contributing 172 million barrels from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The US Treasury Department has eased sanctions on the state oil firm of Venezuela and temporarily allowed Russian oil to re-enter global markets to boost supply.
Global benchmark Brent crude reached approximately $109 per barrel and US crude climbed to $98 per barrel following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US national average for regular gasoline reached $3.84 per gallon according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), marking a 25 percent increase over pre-war levels.
Israel Destroys Litani River Bridges and Targets Infrastructure in Lebanon (End of March)▼
Israeli air strikes destroyed two bridges over the Litani River in southern Lebanon to obstruct the Hezbollah armed group from transporting weapons and fighters.
The Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, confirmed the strikes were a direct action against the use of Lebanese state infrastructure for militant activities.
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict, mandates that armed groups are barred from operating south of the Litani River.
The Zrarieh Bridge was specifically identified as one of the river crossings damaged during the aerial bombardment.
Israeli forces targeted the Al Qard Al Hassan organisation, alleging it serves as a financial wing for Hezbollah military operations.
Recent strikes in central Beirut resulted in 12 fatalities and 27 injuries, with total casualties in Lebanon reaching 968 since 2 March.
The military escalation has led to the displacement of over one million people from southern Lebanon, eastern regions, and the Dahieh suburb of Beirut.
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.
Philippines Declares National Energy Emergency Following Iran Conflict and Global Fuel Price Surge
[Philippines]
Key Updates:
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency in response to the war in Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Philippines, which imports 98% of its oil from the Gulf, became the first country to declare an energy emergency after domestic fuel prices doubled since 28 February.
The government will procure one million barrels of oil to supplement the current national stock, which is estimated to last for 45 days.
The emergency declaration will remain in place for one year, granting the government legal authority to directly purchase petroleum products and oversee the distribution of fuel, food, and medicines.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States (US) Jose Manuel Romualdez stated that Manila is coordinating with the US to secure exemptions for importing oil from sanctioned countries.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin announced that the country will temporarily increase reliance on coal-fired power plants to address the high costs of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
The government has implemented fuel-saving measures including a four-day work week for civil servants, reduced ferry services, and subsidies for transport drivers.
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Christian Aid pegs 2025 climate-disaster bill above USD 122 billion (End of December)▼
Heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, and storms cost the world more than USD 120 billion in 2025.
The single costliest event, California wildfires, caused USD 60 billion in damage and over 400 deaths.
November cyclones and floods across Southeast Asia inflicted USD 25 billion in damage and killed more than 1,750 people.
China’s floods led to USD 11.7 billion in damage, displaced thousands and killed at least 30.
Asia accounted for four of the top six costliest disasters, including flooding in India and Pakistan that killed over 1,860 people and cost up to USD 6 billion.
Typhoons in the Philippines caused more than USD 5 billion in damage and displaced over 1.4 million people.
Flooding in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo affected thousands, with potentially up to 700 deaths in Nigeria alone.
Drought in Brazil, summer wildfires in Spain and Portugal, and February cyclones in Australia and Réunion island all inflicted major losses.
Record-breaking sea temperatures and coral bleaching in Western Australia were recorded alongside worrying extremes in Antarctica.
Christian Aid stresses that continued fossil-fuel expansion and political delay are driving these predictable disasters.
Gulf countries declare force majeure on gas exports after US-Israel war on Iran disrupts Strait of Hormuz shipping (Mid of March)▼
QatarEnergy halted gas liquefaction on 2 March, triggering global LNG market disruption.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and Bahrain’s Bapco Energies declared force majeure days later.
India invoked force majeure on 11 March to redirect gas supplies from non-priority to priority sectors.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the Strait of Hormuz is closed to shipping.
Qatar accounts for nearly 20% of global LNG supply, intensifying market shortages and price spikes.
US LNG exporters could gain $4bn windfall profits in the first month, rising to $108bn over eight months if disruption persists.
Omani trading house OQ declared force majeure to a Bangladeshi customer after Qatari supply halt.
China Unveils New Export Controls on Japan Amid Taiwan Tensions on 7 January 2026 (Start of January)▼
China’s Ministry of Commerce banned the export of dual-use items with military applications to Japan.
The export ban is intended to safeguard national security and applies to all goods that could enhance Japan’s military capabilities.
Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Sanae Takaichi stated in November that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would be a survival-threatening situation for Japan, meeting the threshold for collective self-defence.
The Chinese military recently conducted live-fire drills that simulated a blockade of the island of Taiwan following President Xi Jinping's New Year’s address.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issued a protest against the measures, with officials stating the ban was absolutely unacceptable and did not comply with international practice.
Taiwan’s governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) considers the island a de facto independent country, although it is not officially recognised by most nations, including Japan.
Chile Declares State of Catastrophe in Ñuble and Biobío Regions (Mid of January)▼
Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the regions of Ñuble and Biobío.
The wildfires have killed at least 16 people and forced the evacuation of nearly 20,000 residents.
The fires have destroyed 250 homes and burned nearly 8,500 hectares (around 21,000 acres).
Akasha300 high-temperature 3D printer delivered to Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)
Key Updates:
The Akasha300 is a high-temperature multi-material extrusion 3D printer developed in India.
It was successfully launched and delivered to the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiyamala.
The printer uses dual-extrusion technology operating at temperatures up to 350°C, with future upgrades expected to reach 500°C.
Its heated bed reaches up to 110°C (upgradeable to 150°C) and its enclosed chamber can sustain up to 80°C.
The development was supported by the Space Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre at IIST and the Kerala Startup Mission.
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India Indian Air Force (IAF) completes indigenous overhaul of Pechora Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system (End of January)▼
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has modernised its Soviet-era Pechora Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system through an indigenous overhaul led by Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies Ltd (ADTL).
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded a contract worth approximately ₹591.3 crore to ADTL for the digitisation and refurbishment of the system.
The upgrade features full digitisation of radar and tracking infrastructure, replacing legacy valve and transistor-based electronics with advanced digital chips and modern radar transmitters.
Successful user trials of the enhanced Pechora system were conducted at the Pokhran range from November to December 2025 to validate reliability and accuracy.
The upgraded system is integrated into Mission Sudarshan Chakra, which is India’s initiative to develop a multi-layered air defence shield against drones and fighter aircraft.
The project forms part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat strategy, aimed at achieving self-reliance in defence production by modernising ageing military platforms.
The overhaul includes a redesigned operator station with modern visual displays and health-monitoring tools to reduce crew workload and improve situational awareness.
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) readies 3D-printed Automatic Weather Stations for Delhi rollout (Start of January)▼
Indian scientists led by IITM Pune are deploying 3D-printed Automatic Weather Stations in Delhi under Mission Mausam to strengthen India’s weather observation network.
The first batch of these next-generation stations is set to be installed in the national capital from February.
Manufacturing via 3D printing reduces costs, allows flexible design of geometric structures and is well-suited for large-scale production.
All indigenously developed meteorological instruments are certified by IMD’s Surface Laboratory, which the Bureau of Indian Standards recognises.
Indian Army joins National Additive Manufacturing Symposium 2026 to advance defence indigenisation (Mid of March)▼
The Indian Army participated in the National Additive Manufacturing Symposium (NAMS) 2026 organised by the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing (NCAM) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) at SCOPE Convention Centre, New Delhi.
Lt Gen Rajiv Kumar Sahni, Director General of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (DG EME), led the Indian Army delegation comprising Maj Gen Shivendra Kumar Bhattacharya and Maj Gen P S Bindra.
DG EME underlined additive manufacturing’s role in Combat Force Regeneration at the battlefield edge, rapid prototyping, and sustaining unmanned systems against emerging "Drone Tsunami".
Panel discussion titled "AM for Strategic Autonomy and Enhanced Combat Force Regeneration: Smart Manufacturing for Defence Applications" examined integration of additive manufacturing with digital twin frameworks, predictive maintenance, and data-enabled decision tools.
Discussions addressed decentralised production, forward-area manufacturing, supply-chain compression, lifecycle sustainment, and challenges of material qualification, certification protocols, interoperability, and cyber-physical security.
Industry experts presented metal additive manufacturing advances such as topology optimisation, lattice structures, and light-weighting for high-performance defence platforms.
Academia, represented by IIT Delhi and 3D Graphy, focused on quality assurance, standardisation, non-destructive evaluation, in-situ monitoring, and simulation-driven digital twins for certified outputs.
ISRO and ESA sign new Earth observation cooperation pact (Start of March)▼
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed the 'ESA–ISRO Arrangement concerning Joint Calibration and Validation Activities and Scientific Studies for Earth Observation Missions' on 4 March 2026.
ISRO Scientific Secretary M. Ganesh Pillai and ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes Simonetta Cheli signed the agreement virtually.
The collaboration covers Earth observation, navigation systems, ground station support and human spaceflight cooperation.
The partnership between ISRO and ESA began in 1978 and was renewed in 2002.
The upcoming ESA Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) mission will benefit from joint calibration and validation campaigns.
ISRO and ESA have previously cooperated on ground station support for Chandrayaan and Aditya missions and on deep-space communications.
Hudsonian godwit population declines by 95 percent over four decades
Key Updates:
The Hudsonian godwit, a migratory shorebird, has experienced a 95 percent population decline over the past 40 years.
The species is among 42 proposed for international protection at the upcoming meeting of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) in Brazil.
The bird performs a 30,000-kilometre annual journey from the Arctic to South America and is capable of flying 11,000 kilometres in a single stretch without stopping.
Environmental pressures include climate change in the Arctic, expanded salmon and oyster farming in Chile, and agricultural changes in the United States.
A recent report indicates that 49 percent of species listed under the CMS are now experiencing population declines, up from 44 percent two years ago.
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Climate change threatens Nilgiri Wood Pigeon habitat in Western Ghats (Start of March)▼
A research paper titled Biogeography and habitat suitability of the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon using MaxEnt warns that climate change could restrict the habitat of the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) to isolated pockets by 2100.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy, utilised MaxEnt, a machine-learning method, to model habitat suitability for the species.
The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (NWP) is endemic to the Western Ghats, inhabiting high-elevation wet evergreen and moist deciduous forests in the Nilgiris, Anamalai Hills, Biligirirangan Hills, Nandi Hills, and northern Maharashtra.
Researchers used 9,757 occurrence records from the eBird database, a citizen-science project, to identify 117 presence points and model environmental projections using nine bioclimatic variables.
The model predicts that habitat suitability will initially increase between 2021 and 2040 before witnessing sharp declines in high-suitability areas by the period 2081-2100.
The study highlights the phenomenon of up-slope shifting, where species move higher up mountain slopes as climate change alters their preferred habitats and food sources.
Although the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently down-listed the NWP to Least Concern, researchers from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) advocate for systematic ground surveys to validate population thresholds.
The NWP is one of 16 bird species occupying mid and high-elevation parts of the Western Ghats that are highly susceptible to climate change and anthropogenic pressures like deforestation.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports 65-year peak in Earth energy imbalance (End of March)▼
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the State of the Climate 2025 report, revealing that Earth’s energy imbalance has reached its highest level in at least 65 years.
Approximately 91 per cent of excess energy is absorbed by the oceans, while 5 per cent warms the land, 3 per cent melts ice, and 1 per cent heats the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide levels in 2024 reached a 2-million-year high, while methane and nitrous oxide concentrations are at their highest in 800,000 years.
Global sea levels by the end of 2025 were 11 centimetres higher than in 1993, with the rate of rise increasing from 2.65 mm per year (1993-2011) to 4.75 mm per year (2012-2025).
The global mean temperature in 2025 was approximately 1.43°C above the pre-industrial baseline of 1850-1900, while 2024 remains the warmest on record at 1.55°C above the baseline.
Ocean surface pH levels have declined to their lowest in at least 26,000 years, with significant acidification observed in the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Around 1.2 billion people, representing more than one-third of the global workforce, are exposed to extreme heat annually, particularly in the agriculture and construction sectors.
The report indicates that rising emissions threaten United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 11, SDG 14, and SDG 15.
Rising CO₂ drives hypercapnic hypoxia in mangrove estuaries, endangering global fish nurseries (End of March)▼
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.
World Day for Glaciers 2026: Leaders push for urgent action as global ice loss accelerates (End of March)▼
21 March 2026 is observed as the World Day for Glaciers, concluding a 12-month international campaign to strengthen glacier protection policies.
Glaciers store 70% of the planet’s freshwater and supply seasonal meltwater to billions of people.
Germany’s last four glaciers lost over 25% of their area between 2024 and 2026, according to geographer Wilfried Hagg and glaciologist Christoph Mayer.
Scientists stress that stabilising global temperatures below 1.5°C is crucial to slow ice loss.
Himalayan nations and Arctic communities are advocating for climate financing to mitigate flooding risks and preserve freshwater systems.
Akasha300 high-temperature 3D printer delivered to Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) to boost India’s space manufacturing
Key Updates:
The Akasha300, a high-temperature multi-material extrusion 3D printer, has been successfully launched and delivered to the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiyamala.
It uses dual-extrusion technology operating at temperatures up to 350°C, with future upgrades expected to reach 500°C.
Its heated bed reaches up to 110°C (upgradeable to 150°C) and its enclosed chamber can sustain up to 80°C.
The development was supported by the Space Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre at IIST and backed by the Kerala Startup Mission.
Deployment at LPSC is expected to accelerate research in propulsion systems, materials science, and next-generation manufacturing techniques.
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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.
Government of India (GoI) plans ₹1 lakh crore fund for domestic semiconductor manufacturing (Mid of March)▼
The Government of India (GoI) plans to unveil a fund exceeding ₹1 lakh crore ($10.8 billion) to bolster domestic chipmaking and advance its manufacturing hub ambitions.
The proposed fund will provide subsidies for semiconductor chip design projects, manufacturing equipment, and supply chain development.
The initiative is expected to be launched within two to three months and builds upon the $10 billion incentive programme introduced in 2021.
Under the 2021 programme, the GoI offered to bear 50% of the cost for setting up semiconductor projects in the country.
Micron Technology Inc. is currently establishing an assembly facility in Gujarat, while Tata Group is constructing a semiconductor fabrication plant and a separate packaging unit in the same state.
Foxconn Technology Group has announced a test and assembly facility as part of the existing government incentive programme.
The GoI aims to develop chipmaking capabilities comparable to global leaders such as Taiwan, South Korea, and the United States (US) by 2032.
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) readies 3D-printed Automatic Weather Stations for Delhi rollout (Start of January)▼
Indian scientists led by IITM Pune are deploying 3D-printed Automatic Weather Stations in Delhi under Mission Mausam to strengthen India’s weather observation network.
The first batch of these next-generation stations is set to be installed in the national capital from February.
Manufacturing via 3D printing reduces costs, allows flexible design of geometric structures and is well-suited for large-scale production.
All indigenously developed meteorological instruments are certified by IMD’s Surface Laboratory, which the Bureau of Indian Standards recognises.
Adani Aerospace & Defence and Embraer sign MoU to assemble regional jets in India under Make in India (End of January)▼
Adani Aerospace & Defence and Brazil’s Embraer signed an MoU to assemble Embraer regional jets in India.
The MoU was announced at an event attended by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.
Facility location and final partnership structure are still being finalised.
Embraer is the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer after Airbus and Boeing.
The collaboration targets a full regional transport aircraft ecosystem including manufacturing, supply chains, MRO and pilot training.
Embraer currently operates around 50 aircraft across 11 variants in India for the Indian Air Force, government agencies and Star Air.
Embraer forecasts India will need at least 500 aircraft in the 80–140 seat category over the next 20 years.
Embraer will showcase E195-E2 and E175 at Wings India 2026 starting 28 January.
India builds home-grown AI tools to predict preterm births early
Key Updates:
India’s largest pregnancy cohort study under the GARBH-INi initiative has enrolled about 12,000 pregnant women to develop indigenous AI-driven solutions to prevent preterm births.
The study has created a repository of over 1.6 million well-characterised biospecimens and over one million ultrasound images.
The initiative has established a national biorepository and the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data-sharing platform for wider research access.
Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh stated that the programme supports AI-based pregnancy dating models tailored for Indian populations, microbiome-based predictors, rapid diagnostics, and genetic markers for early risk assessment.
Technology transfer initiatives, including microbiome-based biotherapeutics, were formalised during the event.
Dr V K Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, emphasised that the next phase should focus on effectively utilising the developed predictive models and platforms.
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Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh (CUUP) launches Centre of Excellence in Smart Healthcare (End of March)▼
Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh (CUUP) inaugurated the Centre of Excellence in Smart Healthcare at its Unnao campus.
The centre is powered by 168 GB GPU memory using NVIDIA Blackwell Architecture.
CUUP will train 1.5 lakh Uttar Pradesh youth in responsible AI use within five years through its AI Ethics Training Program launched with upGrad.
The CoE will assist five AI startups in the next two years.
Short-term goals include research collaboration with hospitals, validation of models, research projects and publications.
Focus areas include medical imaging and diagnostics for X-rays, MRIs and CT scans, predictive analytics, precision medicine and large healthcare datasets.
CUUP hosted a national symposium on 'AI in Governance: Policy, Practice and People-Centric Transformation' with panel discussions on AI use cases in government and roadmap for AI-enabled governance.
National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) sets Guinness World Record for most viewers of AI in healthcare live stream (End of February)▼
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) achieved a Guinness World Record for the most viewers of an AI in healthcare lesson live stream on YouTube.
The live stream peaked at 17,999 concurrent viewers, all registered medical practitioners.
The six-month national online training programme comprises 20 modules curated by faculty from Harvard and IIM Lucknow.
NBEMS offers the module free of charge, aligning with India's digital innovation goals in healthcare.
IIT-Guwahati (IIT-G) partners with Coventry University Group (CUG) for AI in healthcare (Start of March)▼
The Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Coventry University Group (CUG), UK, to strengthen global research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and healthcare.
The strategic partnership aims to expand research collaboration, support academic mobility, and enable joint degree initiatives between the two institutions.
The collaboration is structured around academic and research mobility, including short-term faculty and student exchanges.
The agreement includes the establishment of joint doctoral programmes featuring a dual-award PhD under a joint supervision framework.
The partnership focuses on AI for One Health, which aligns with the National AI Mission of India.
The MoU was formalised during a visit to IIT-G by a delegation from CUG led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Richard Dashwood.
National Health Authority (NHA) Organises Federated Intelligence Hackathon at IIT Kanpur (End of January)▼
The National Health Authority (NHA), in collaboration with the ICMR–National Institute for Research in Digital Health and Data Science (ICMR-NIRDHDS) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, organised the Federated Intelligence Hackathon for Healthcare.
The national-level initiative was held at the IIT Kanpur campus to advance secure and scalable Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for India's healthcare ecosystem.
The event featured a Hackathon Week from 19 to 23 January 2026, followed by a two-day on-site programme beginning on 23 January 2026.
The hackathon received a total of 191 registrations, comprising 76 individual participants and 115 teams from health-tech start-ups, clinicians, and researchers.
The competition carries a total prize pool of ₹12 lakh, with winners announced during the valedictory sessions on 24 January 2026.
The programme integrated NHA’s digital health governance through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) with the clinical research expertise of ICMR-NIRDHDS.
Technical sessions covered Health Technology Assessment (HTA), traditional machine learning, and AI use cases in ophthalmology, bone age detection, and computational pathology.
Participating organisations and experts included representatives from NITI Aayog, Samsung India, Google Health AI, CoRover.ai, ArtPark@IISc, and the Wadhwani Foundation.
IIT Kharagpur and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) study Moon's internal structure for Chandrayaan-4
Key Updates:
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) and the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) conducted a study on the formation of ancient lunar rocks.
The research focuses on ilmenite-bearing cumulates (IBC) that formed approximately 4.3 to 4.4 billion years ago during the Moon's global magma ocean stage.
Laboratory simulations recreated lunar conditions using pressures of 3 gigapascals and temperatures exceeding 1,500 degrees Celsius to produce titanium-rich basalts.
The study identifies a process called mantle overturn, involving the upward and downward movement of molten material within the Moon's interior.
Findings will assist the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in selecting landing sites for the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which aims to retrieve lunar samples and return them to Earth.
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Indian Scientists Trace Ladakh Magmatic Arc Formation to Neo-Tethys Subduction (End of March)▼
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.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Identifies Landing Site for Chandrayaan-4 Mission (Start of February)▼
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has identified a landing site near Mons Mouton in the Moon’s south polar region for the Chandrayaan-4 mission.
Researchers at the Space Applications Centre (SAC) selected the specific site labelled MM-4, located at 84.289 degrees south latitude and 32.808 degrees east longitude.
The MM-4 site was chosen for its manageable average slope of approximately 5 degrees, minimal large rocks, and continuous sunlight exposure for 11 to 12 days.
Chandrayaan-4 is India’s first lunar sample return mission and is currently scheduled for launch around 2028.
The mission architecture includes five distinct components: a propulsion module, descender, ascender, transfer module, and re-entry module.
The landing site discovery was made by analysing high-resolution images from the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and using digital elevation models.
The mission aims to collect lunar soil and rock samples using robotic systems and return them to Earth via the ascender module.
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.
University of Warwick (UoW) astronomers discover unique inside-out planetary system around star LHS 1903 (End of February)▼
Astronomers from the University of Warwick (UoW) have discovered a unique planetary system around a cool red dwarf star named LHS 1903.
The discovery was made using the European Space Agency (ESA) CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS).
The system consists of four planets arranged in an unusual rocky-gaseous-gaseous-rocky order, which challenges traditional planetary formation models.
The research, published in the journal Science, proposes a theory of inside-out planet formation where planets develop one after another rather than simultaneously.
The outermost rocky planet in the LHS 1903 system is believed to have formed in a gas-depleted environment after the system ran out of gas required for gaseous atmospheres.
Scientists from the University of Birmingham contributed to the analysis and confirmation of the planetary system properties.
Pakistan Ranked World's Most Polluted Country in 2025 IQAir Report
[Pakistan]
Key Updates:
IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring firm, released its annual report identifying Pakistan as the world’s most polluted country in 2025.
The World Health Organization (WHO) air quality standard for healthy air is an average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) of no more than 5 microgrammes per cubic metre.
Pakistan recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 67.3 microgrammes per cubic metre, which is over 13 times the WHO recommended level.
Bangladesh and Tajikistan were ranked as the second and third most polluted countries respectively, while Chad ranked fourth.
Loni, a city in northern India, was identified as the world’s most polluted city in 2025 with average PM2.5 levels of 112.5 microgrammes per cubic metre.
Hotan in China’s Xinjiang region was ranked the second most polluted city globally with PM2.5 levels of 109.6 microgrammes per cubic metre.
The report found that all of the world’s top 25 most polluted cities were located in China, India, and Pakistan.
Only 13 countries and territories, including Australia, Iceland, Estonia, and Panama, successfully met the WHO air quality guidelines.
Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 is linked to premature births and neurodegenerative conditions including dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Record levels of biomass burning from wildfires in Europe and Canada released approximately 1,380 megatonnes of carbon in 2025.
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Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026 released by Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) (End of March)▼
Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026 published by Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
Pakistan ranked 1st with score 8.57, recording 1,139 deaths and 1,045 incidents in 2025.
Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Somalia, and Democratic Republic of the Congo placed among top 10.
Syria ranked 6th, Cambodia 9th, Israel 10th; Afghanistan 11th, India 13th, Myanmar 14th.
India scored 6.43, reporting 142+ incidents, 100+ fatalities, and 118 injuries in 2025.
Iran ranked 18th, United States (US) 28th in GTI 2026.
Ghaziabad and Delhi ranked most polluted Indian cities in January 2026 by CREA (Start of February)▼
Ghaziabad was the most polluted city in India in January 2026, recording a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 184 micrograms per cubic metre.
Delhi ranked as the second most polluted city with a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 169 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly three times the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre.
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), Delhi recorded 24 Very Poor days, 3 Severe days, 2 Poor days, and 2 Moderate days during the month.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) defines Air Quality Index (AQI) categories as Good (0-50), Satisfactory (51-100), Moderate (101-200), Poor (201-300), Very Poor (301-400), and Severe (401-500).
Across India, 123 out of 248 cities recorded monthly average PM2.5 concentrations above the national standard, and none met the World Health Organization (WHO) daily safe guideline of 15 micrograms per cubic metre.
Of the 97 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) with sufficient data, all 97 breached the WHO daily safe guideline.
The ten most polluted cities in January 2026 were Ghaziabad, Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Greater Noida, Dharuhera, Gangtok, Singrauli, Bhiwadi, and Narnaul.
Uttar Pradesh and Haryana each had three cities featured in the top ten most polluted list.
PM2.5 are defined as fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less that can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
Responsible Nations' Index (RNI) launched on January 19, 2026 (End of January)▼
Singapore ranked first and India 16th in the Responsible Nations' Index (RNI) launched by former president Ram Nath Kovind.
The RNI is a global evaluative framework developed by the think tank World Intellectual Foundation (WIF) in academic collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and methodological validation by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Mumbai.
The index is anchored in three core dimensions -- internal responsibility, environmental responsibility and external responsibility.
The RNI has been operationalised through seven dimensions, 15 aspects and 58 indicators.
Switzerland was second, Denmark third and the Central African Republic stood last on the 154-nation index.
Sudhanshu Mittal, Founder and Secretary, WIF, said the RNI represents a shift from power-centric assessments to responsibility-centric evaluation of nations.
India's neighbour Pakistan was in the 90th place, while China was ranked 68th and the US 66th, according to the RNI.
Responsible Nations Index launch by Ram Nath Kovind on January 19 (Mid of January)▼
Responsible Nations Index (RNI) will be launched by former president Ram Nath Kovind on January 19.
RNI is developed by World Intellectual Foundation (WIF) in academic collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and methodological validation by Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Mumbai.
RNI evaluates countries on internal responsibility, environmental responsibility, and external responsibility.
The index covers 154 countries and will be released every year in March.
RNI is operationalised through seven dimensions, 15 aspects, and 58 indicators sourced from globally recognised datasets.
India sports economy surpasses $2 billion milestone in 2025
Key Updates:
India’s sports economy reached Rs 18,864 crore ($2.1 billion) in 2025, reflecting a 13.4% year-on-year growth according to the 13th edition of WPP Media’s Sporting Nation report.
Cricket accounted for 89% of total industry revenues, generating Rs 16,704 crore and contributing 95% of total media spends.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) remained the primary growth driver, supported by the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and India’s Champions Trophy victory.
Media spending was the largest sector at 51% of the total economy, with advertising investments rising to Rs 9,571 crore.
Digital media spending increased by 24% to Rs 4,449 crore, while television spending grew by 16.4% to Rs 5,117 crore.
Sports sponsorship spending rose to Rs 7,943 crore, representing 42% of the overall market value.
Sports celebrity endorsements reached Rs 1,350 crore in 2025, with cricket accounting for 87% of this value at Rs 1,178 crore.
The industry has nearly doubled in size from Rs 9,530 crore in 2021, recording a compound annual growth rate of 18.6% over four years.
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Khelo India Mission: 10-year push with ₹10,000 cr SME growth fund (Start of February)▼
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Khelo India Mission will run for the next decade.
A dedicated Rs. 10,000 crores SME growth fund is proposed to incentivise sports equipment manufacturing startups.
The initiative brings sports goods manufacturing under the Make in India programme.
India and New Zealand discuss expanding sports cooperation as 2026 marks 100 years of sporting ties (Start of March)▼
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level ministerial meeting with the New Zealand sports delegation in New Delhi to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in sports.
The year 2026 marks 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand, dating back to the 1926 Indian Army hockey tour to New Zealand.
The Indian delegation included Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), senior officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Indian Olympic Association, and representatives from national sports federations.
Priority sports identified for collaboration include rugby, rowing, canoeing, sailing, athletics, and cycling.
The New Zealand delegation was led by Chris Bishop, Associate Minister for Sport and Recreation, and included Patrick John Rata, New Zealand High Commissioner to India, former international cricketer Ross Taylor, Raelene Castle, CEO of Sport New Zealand, and representatives from Hockey New Zealand, Athletics New Zealand, and Paralympics New Zealand.
The discussions focused on the India-New Zealand Centenary Sports Cooperation Programme 2026, a year-long initiative to commemorate the centenary of sporting ties and expand collaboration in sports development, high-performance training, innovation, and people-to-people engagement.
Both sides discussed organising a proposed 'India-New Zealand Sports and Culture Week' to be hosted across cities in both countries.
A key focus was strengthening collaboration in high-performance sports through joint training camps, coaching exchanges, and knowledge sharing in sports science, analytics, and athlete performance systems.
The discussions explored integrating New Zealand's coach development framework into the curriculum of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala.
Both countries agreed to constitute a Joint Working Group to oversee implementation of the cooperation framework, nominate nodal officers, and establish a monitoring mechanism with periodic reviews.
Gujarat Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs 4.08 lakh crore with focus on tourism and sports infrastructure (Mid of February)▼
Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai presented a Rs 4.08 lakh crore Budget for 2026-27 with an estimated surplus of Rs 974 crore and no new taxes.
The Budget continued the 5 per cent tax rebate on Motor Vehicle Tax for electric vehicles, providing Rs 210 crore relief to citizens.
Rs 1,278 crore allocated for infrastructure related to the 2030 Commonwealth Games to be hosted by Gujarat.
Rs 1,331 crore total provision for the sports department, including Rs 500 crore for developing Ahmedabad as an 'Olympic Ready City' and for the SVP Sports Enclave.
Rs 165 crore allocated for developing sports complexes in various districts, Rs 100 crore each for Olympic-level infrastructure at Karai and a Para High Performance Centre in Gandhinagar, and Rs 90 crore for a world-class hockey stadium.
2026 declared as 'Gujarat Tourism Year' with Rs 236 crore allocated for enhancing facilities around the Statue of Unity.
Rs 300 crore proposed for the Ambaji Corridor Masterplan and Rs 447 crore for iconic bus stations at Somnath and Ambaji and a multi-modal transport hub at Somnath.
Rs 60 crore for developing Somnath and Shivrajpur Beach as world-class tourist destinations and promoting tourism in the Visavada-Porbandar region.
Rs 95 crore proposed for tourism promotion initiatives including training 1,000 tourist guides and developing facilities at heritage sites.
Rs 16,116 crore allocated under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana, marking a 17 per cent increase over the previous allocation.
National Sports Governance Act: Establishment of National Sports Board and Tribunal (Start of January)▼
The Sports Ministry (SM) announced that the "Central Government has appointed 1st January, 2026 as the date on which the provisions" of the National Sports Governance Act shall partially come into force.
The Act paves the way for the "institution of an all-powerful National Sports Board (NSB) and a Tribunal to handle sporting disputes."
Under the new framework, National Sports Federations (NSFs) "will be required to have Executive Committees of no more than 15 members with at least two Sportspersons of Merit in them."
The NSB is proposed to be a "three-member body" with the power to "grant affiliation to the National Sports Federations (NSFs)," monitor financial operations, and penalize wrongdoing.
The "age cap for all members of the NSB has been fixed at 65," while members of the National Sports Tribunal (NST) will "hold office for four years with an age cap of 67 years."
It is mandatory for NSFs "to take NSB affiliation to be eligible for government funding."
Bhubaneswar hosts India's first National Indoor Athletics Championships
[Odisha]
Key Updates:
The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar has been named as the venue for the World Indoor Athletics Championships to be held from 3-5 March 2028.
India is hosting its maiden national indoor athletics championship in Bhubaneswar as a preparatory step towards conducting the 2028 global showpiece.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) worked in coordination with the Odisha government to secure the hosting rights for the 2028 world event.
The indoor facility at Kalinga Stadium features a 200m synthetic oval track and a 100m straight track, both compliant with World Athletics Category 1 standards.
The national championship consists of 11 events for both men and women, including 60m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 60m hurdles, high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, and shot put.
Approximately 300 athletes are participating in the national championships, with Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra sending the largest contingents of around 30 athletes each.
National record holders Animesh Kujur, Mohammed Afsal, and Praveen Chitravel are among the key competitors in the indoor event.
The AFI is also bidding to host the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar in 2028, with a decision expected from the Asian Athletics Association in May.
The indoor facility at Kalinga Stadium has a spectator seating capacity of approximately 1700.
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Odisha selected to host World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028 (Mid of March)▼
Odisha in India will host the World Athletics Indoor Championships from 3-5 March 2028.
Astana in Kazakhstan will host the 2030 edition of the championships from 15-17 March 2030.
The decisions were taken during the 240th World Athletics Council Meeting held in Torun, Poland.
Hefei in China was awarded the 2028 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships to be held on 9 April 2028.
Kalinga Stadium hosts National Para Athletics Championship (Mid of March)▼
The National Para Athletics Championship is scheduled to be held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from 19 March to 21 March.
A total of 1,460 para-athletes representing 28 states, the Border Security Force (BSF), and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) will compete in 145 medal events.
The tournament is organised by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) in collaboration with the Sports & Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha, and the Para Sports Association of Odisha.
The championship serves as a selection platform for the upcoming Asian Para Games to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 18 October to 24 October.
Notable participants include triple Paralympic medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu and double Paralympic gold medallist Sumit Antil, who recently threw 69.25m in the men’s Javelin throw (F43/F44/F64).
Other prominent athletes in the event include Navdeep Singh (F41), Praveen Kumar (T64), Preethi Pal, Shailesh Kumar, Yogesh Kathuniya, Dharambir, and Pranav Soorma.
Defending champions Haryana will field the largest contingent in this edition of the championship.
The Odisha contingent comprises 40 athletes led by Suchitra Parida, the national record holder in the F55 Javelin throw event.
The event will be inaugurated by Suryabanshi Suraj, the Minister for Sports and Youth Services of Odisha.
Rekha Gupta inaugurates 47th National Junior Boys Handball Championship (Mid of January)▼
The 47th National Junior Boys Handball Championship was inaugurated at a government school in Pitampura, New Delhi.
The event was organised by the Handball Federation of India (HFI) and the Delhi Handball Association.
A cash prize of ₹1 lakh was announced for the winning team of the championship.
Under the Delhi Government’s updated policy, international medal winners are eligible for ₹7 crore for Gold, ₹5 crore for Silver, and ₹3 crore for Bronze.
Uttarakhand CM Dhami hails past decade as golden chapter for Indian sports (End of January)▼
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami termed the past decade a 'golden chapter' for Indian sports while inaugurating the National Paralympic Powerlifting Championship virtually.
He highlighted India's 29 medals at the Paris Paralympics and the Women's Blind Cricket team's World Cup victory as landmark achievements.
Dhami credited Prime Minister Modi's policies and increased sports budget for the transformation and noted Uttarakhand's progress toward becoming a national 'Land of Sports'.
Rajasthan Royals becomes first IPL team sold for over 1 billion USD
Key Updates:
Rajasthan Royals (RR) became the first Indian Premier League (IPL) team to be sold for over 1 billion USD.
The acquisition deal is valued at 1.63 billion USD (Rs 13,500 crore), marking the largest ownership transaction in the history of the IPL.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) originally sold the franchise to Emerging Media Ventures for 67 million USD before the inaugural 2008 season.
The acquiring consortium is led by US-based entrepreneur Kal Somani and includes Rob Walton, the owner of the Denver Broncos.
Kal Somani is the founder of technology firms including IntraEdge and Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms Truyo and Truyo.AI.
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Gorakhpur International Cricket Stadium: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to contribute Rs 60 crore (End of February)▼
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) signed an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh government to provide Rs 60 crore for constructing an international cricket stadium in Gorakhpur.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The proposed stadium will have a seating capacity of 30,000 spectators and will be developed fully in line with international standards.
The project is targeted for completion by December 2027.
Kotak Mahindra Capital Company (KMCC) divests 30.99% stake in Infina Finance for ₹1,293.91 crore. (End of March)▼
Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited (KMCC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank, signed definitive agreements on 21 March 2026 to sell 30.99% of its holding in Infina Finance Private Limited.
KMCC will transfer 9.90% stake (2,17,899 equity shares) to Derive Trading and Resorts Private Limited and Bright Star Investments Private Limited for ₹413.35 crore.
KMCC will sell 12.10% stake (2,66,321 equity shares) to the estate of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala through its trusts for ₹505.20 crore.
KMCC will divest 8.99% stake (1,97,870 equity shares) to existing shareholder KF Trust for ₹375.35 crore.
Post-transaction, KMCC’s stake in Infina will drop to 19%, and Infina will cease to be an associate company of Kotak Mahindra Bank.
The transactions are expected to complete on or before 31 March 2026, subject to customary conditions precedent.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Records India's Forex Reserves Drop to $723.61 Billion (Start of March)▼
India's Foreign Exchange (Forex) reserves decreased by $2.119 billion to stand at $723.608 billion for the week ending 20 February 2026.
The reserves had reached an all-time high of $725.727 billion in the preceding reporting week following an increase of $8.663 billion.
The Indian Steel Association (ISA) reported that India could achieve a 28% reduction in carbon emissions within the steel industry by utilizing scrap.
Warner Bros signed a $110 billion deal with Paramount after Netflix withdrew its competing bid.
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) acquired assets from Macquarie AirFinance for a total value of $7 billion.
Sri Lanka's construction Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to a level of 75 during the month of January.
Pakistan's central bank recorded a $16 million increase in its foreign exchange reserves.
Russia's recoverable oil reserves are currently estimated at 31 billion tons.
China has abolished the risk reserve requirement ratio for forward foreign exchange sales.
Metal Park has entered into a partnership with Frindt to digitise laser cutting operations.
Kametstal paid approximately UAH 2 billion in taxes during the year 2025.
Murat Ateş was appointed as the Deputy General Manager of Operations at Acarlar Vagon.
The level of gas reserves at the Inchukalna underground storage facility has fallen below 20%.
Shanxi Gaoyi Steel successfully completed the hot commissioning test for its 1200mm full continuous wide strip rolling line.
The Slovak prime minister stated that Ukraine has no interest in resuming oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.
Google Gemini secures IPL sponsorship deal with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) (End of January)▼
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has inked a Rs 270 crore sponsorship deal with Google's AI platform Gemini.
The three-year partnership will begin with the 2026 Indian Premier League.
Gemini's rival ChatGPT is already a sponsor of the ongoing Women's Premier League.
RCB sold for $1.78 bn to Aditya Birla, Times of India-led consortium
Key Updates:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was acquired for $1.78 billion (around ₹16,600 crore) by a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group and The Times of India Group, along with Bolt Ventures and Blackstone.
The franchise is being acquired from United Spirits Limited (USL), a subsidiary of Diageo plc.
The transaction is subject to approvals from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council.
After the 2026 IPL season, Aryaman Vikram Birla will become chairman and Satyan Gajwani of The Times of India Group will serve as vice-chairman of RCB.
United Spirits had originally bought the Bengaluru franchise in 2008 for $111.6 million (around ₹485 crore).
RCB won the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in 2024 and its maiden IPL trophy in 2025.
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Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) restructures Reliance Enterprise Intelligence Limited (REIL) stake; Meta subsidiary acquires 30% stake (Start of March)▼
Reliance Enterprise Intelligence Limited (REIL) allotted 85,31,75,000 equity shares of face value Rs 10 each at par.
Reliance Intelligence Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), received 59,66,22,500 equity shares aggregating Rs 596.6 crore.
Facebook Overseas Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Meta Platforms Inc, received 25,65,52,500 equity shares aggregating Rs 256.6 crore.
Post allotment, Reliance Intelligence Limited holds 70% of REIL's total equity capital and Facebook Overseas Inc holds 30%.
REIL has ceased to be a step-down wholly owned subsidiary of RIL and has become a step-down subsidiary.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves SBI Mutual Fund to acquire up to 9.99% stake in Bandhan Bank. (Start of March)▼
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved SBI Mutual Fund’s proposal to acquire up to 9.99% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights in Bandhan Bank.
RBI communicated the approval through a letter dated 25 February 2026.
The approval is subject to compliance with the Banking Regulation Act, 1949; RBI (Commercial Banks’ Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights) Directions, 2025 dated 28 November 2025; Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999; and Securities and Exchange Board of India regulations.
If SBI Mutual Fund fails to acquire the major shareholding within one year from RBI’s letter date, the approval will stand cancelled.
SBI Mutual Fund’s aggregate holding must not exceed 9.99% of Bandhan Bank’s paid-up share capital or voting rights at any time.
If SBI Mutual Fund’s aggregate holding falls below 5%, prior RBI approval is required to raise it back to 5% or more.
Bandhan Bank shares closed 1.77% higher at ₹186.11 on NSE on Thursday.
Google Gemini secures IPL sponsorship deal with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) (End of January)▼
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has inked a Rs 270 crore sponsorship deal with Google's AI platform Gemini.
The three-year partnership will begin with the 2026 Indian Premier League.
Gemini's rival ChatGPT is already a sponsor of the ongoing Women's Premier League.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) permits ICICI Bank to acquire up to 9.95% stake in eight lenders (Mid of February)▼
The RBI has approved the application for ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited (ICICI Prudential AMC), along with group entities of ICICI Bank, to acquire an aggregate holding of up to 9.95% in eight banks.
The lenders covered under the approval are Bandhan Bank Limited, City Union Bank Limited, Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited, Federal Bank Limited, IDFC First Bank Limited, HDFC Bank Limited, The Karur Vysya Bank Limited, and RBL Bank Limited.
ICICI Bank, the second-largest private sector lender in India, must complete the acquisition of paid-up equity capital or voting rights within one year from the date of the RBI letter.
The permissions were granted under the consolidated Master Direction on acquisition and holding of shares or voting rights in banking companies.
US-Israel Peace Proposal for Iran War on 25 March 2026
[Iran, United States]
Key Updates:
The United States (US) and Israel initiated a military conflict against Iran on 28 February 2026.
United States President Donald Trump proposed a 15-point peace plan delivered to Iran via Pakistan, suggesting a one-month ceasefire.
The plan mandates the dismantling of Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.
The proposal requires Iran to surrender its enriched uranium stockpile to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping at the start of the conflict, later permitting passage for Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese-flagged vessels.
Brent crude oil prices rose from a pre-war benchmark of approximately $65 to over $100 per barrel during the hostilities.
Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of Iran following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 28 February 2026.
The Bushehr civil nuclear plant, located 750 kilometres south of Tehran, is the only commercial nuclear power facility in Iran.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is the 2015 nuclear agreement from which the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018.
The 15-point plan includes the removal of sanctions and the ending of the United Nations (UN) mechanism for reimposing them.
The Iranian health ministry reported 1,500 fatalities and 18,551 injuries in Iran as of 25 March 2026.
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United States official says Hamas disarmament in Gaza to be accompanied by amnesty (End of January)▼
A United States (US) official stated that disarmament by Hamas in Gaza will be accompanied by "some sort of amnesty" for the Palestinian group.
The US official made the comment on Monday after the recovery of the body of the last Israeli captive in Gaza, paving the way for the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal agreed in October.
US President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza plan states that Hamas members who decommission weapons will be given amnesty and safe passage if they wish to leave Gaza.
Hamas said the return of captive remains underscored its commitment to phase one of the ceasefire and demanded Israel open the Rafah crossing without restrictions and withdraw completely from Gaza.
Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan met Hamas officials in Ankara on Monday to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire and humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
Thailand and Cambodia sign ceasefire agreement after weeks of deadly border fighting (End of December)▼
Thailand and Cambodia signed a ceasefire agreement that took effect at noon local time, calling for a halt in military movements and airspace violations for military purposes.
The agreement was signed by Cambodia's Defense Minister Tea Seiha and Thailand's Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit at a border checkpoint in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand.
The deal includes a provision for Thailand to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers held as prisoners since earlier fighting in July, contingent on the ceasefire holding for 72 hours.
The agreement reaffirms commitment to an earlier ceasefire brokered by Malaysia and pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump, formalized in October at a regional meeting in Malaysia.
Both sides agreed to joint humanitarian demining operations and to refrain from disseminating false information or fake news.
The agreement also calls for resumption of previous measures to demarcate the border and cooperation in suppressing transnational crimes, particularly online scams.
United States proposes naval coalition to reopen Strait of Hormuz after Iranian attacks (End of March)▼
Iran has struck more than a dozen ships in the 21-nautical-mile-wide Strait of Hormuz since hostilities began two weeks ago.
US President Donald Trump publicly called on China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to send warships to secure the strait.
Trump later extended the invitation to all countries that receive oil through the strait and specifically asked NATO member states to join, threatening consequences for non-participation.
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain is 'intensively looking' at what it can do to help reopen the maritime passage.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated Japan has 'not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships'.
France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs confirmed France will not send ships, maintaining a defensive posture.
South Korea, which imports 70 percent of its oil from the Gulf, said it was 'closely monitoring' and exploring measures to ensure safe energy transport.
Australia confirmed it will not send naval ships to assist in reopening the strait.
Two Indian-flagged LPG tankers have been allowed by Iran to sail through the strait, while a Turkish-owned vessel was similarly granted passage after direct negotiations.
Fourteen more Turkish vessels are awaiting clearance from Tehran.
France and Italy are reportedly in talks with Iranian officials to negotiate passage for their vessels, though no official confirmation has been given.
India Prime Minister addresses Lok Sabha on West Asia crisis and national security (End of March)▼
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha (LS) regarding the West Asia conflict, highlighting its impact on India’s energy security and the safety of nearly 1 crore Indian citizens in the region.
The Government of India has facilitated the return of approximately 1,000 Indians from Iran and established 24/7 helplines through Indian missions for on-ground support.
India has diversified its energy imports from 27 to 41 countries over the last 11 years and currently imports Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from 41 nations.
The country maintains Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) of 5.3 million metric tonnes (MMT), with plans to add an additional 6.5 MMT to strengthen fuel security.
Ethanol blending initiatives have resulted in a reduction of 4.5 crore barrels of oil imports annually.
India’s renewable energy capacity has reached approximately 250 GW, including 140 GW of solar power and 40 lakh rooftop solar installations.
Domestic coal production has exceeded 100 crore tonnes, while the agriculture sector has been supported by the deployment of over 22 lakh solar pumps.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled examinations in the Middle East due to the ongoing crisis.
International Day of the Unborn Child observed on March 25
Key Updates:
International Day of the Unborn Child is observed on March 25 every year.
The observance was first officially established in Argentina in 1998 under President Carlos Menem.
March 25 was chosen because it coincides with the Feast of the Annunciation in the Christian calendar.
Guatemala, Chile, and El Salvador later adopted similar commemorations.
In 2003, the Knights of Columbus and other international organizations began promoting the day globally.
St. John Paul II expressed support for the initiative.
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World Day of War Orphans observed on 6 January (Start of January)▼
World Day of War Orphans is observed annually on 6 January to show the struggles experienced by children who lost their parents during war or armed conflicts.
The day was launched by the French organisation SOS Enfants en Détresse to draw international attention to children who lose parental care because of wars and armed conflicts.
Historical accounts show that the Second World War left millions of children orphaned across Europe, with Poland and Yugoslavia alone reporting about 300,000 and 200,000 orphans, respectively.
World Down Syndrome Day 2026 observed on March 21 with theme "Together Against Loneliness" (End of March)▼
World Down Syndrome Day 2026 will be observed on March 21.
The global theme for 2026 is "Together Against Loneliness".
The Down Syndrome Resource Foundation (DSRF) is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
World Day of Fight Against Sexual Exploitation observed on March 4 (Start of March)▼
World Day of Fight Against Sexual Exploitation has been observed every March 4 since 2009.
It was created to raise awareness of a global issue that disproportionately affects women and children.
Sexual exploitation is classified as a form of modern slavery and a crime against humanity.
According to a 2016 report by the International Labor Organization (ILO), 5 million people worldwide were victims of forced sexual exploitation.
UNICEF reports that over 3 million children globally are affected by prostitution.
National Girl Child Day observed on January 24 (End of January)▼
National Girl Child Day is observed across India on January 24 to promote awareness about the rights, education, health, safety, and overall welfare of girls.
The day was first observed in 2008 after being initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Government of India.
The primary objective of the observance is to address social challenges such as gender bias, child marriage, and unequal access to opportunities.
Government programmes such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) are highlighted for their role in increasing awareness about the importance of educating and empowering girls.
The initiative focuses on promoting gender equality and social inclusion while highlighting government welfare schemes for the girl child.
The observance serves to encourage families and communities to support the aspirations of girls and challenge discriminatory practices.