Daily Current Affairs: 29 March 2026

Analysis for 29 March 2026

Gurjant Singh retired from international hockey.

Key Updates:

Gurjant Singh announced his retirement from international hockey during the 8th Hockey India annual awards on 27 March 2026.
He won two Olympic medals and scored 48 goals in 130 appearances for India.
Persistent back injuries and competition from Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh influenced his decision to retire.
He plans to continue playing in domestic tournaments and the Hockey India League while serving in a government job in Punjab.

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Michael Nobbs, Former India Men's Hockey Coach, Passed Away (End of January) ▼

Michael Nobbs, the former head coach of the Indian men’s hockey team, passed away at the age of 72 in Melbourne after a battle with lung cancer first detected in March 2020.
He served as the head coach of the Bharat Chettri-led Indian men's hockey team from June 2011 to July 2013.
Under his tenure, the Indian team qualified for the 2012 London Olympics by winning all six matches during the qualifying tournament.
During the 2012 London Olympics, the Indian team finished in the last position among the 12 participating nations.
He was a former Australian hockey player who represented his country at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
He was credited with reintroducing Australian-style aggression and counter-attacking strategies while implementing a scientific approach to the Indian team's field play.

India defeats Italy to qualify for Hockey World Cup 2026 (Mid of March) ▼

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

Davinder Singh Garcha passes away at 73 (Mid of January) ▼

Davinder Singh Garcha, former international hockey player and 1980 Moscow Olympics gold-medallist, passed away at his Jalandhar home.
He played six matches and scored eight goals in the 1980 Olympics where India defeated Spain 4-3 in the final.
He was the top scorer for India at the Champions Trophy held in Karachi.
He played more than 30 international matches across three tournaments and scored 19 goals.
He received the Dhyan Chand award in 2021.
Besides hockey, he served as an IPS officer and was DIG of Punjab Police.
He was president of the Olympian Surjit Hockey Society which organizes an annual hockey tournament.

India defeat Wales to qualify for FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 (Mid of March) ▼

India defeated Wales 4-1 in a Pool B match of the women’s hockey World Cup Qualifiers at the GMC Balayogi Hockey Ground in Hyderabad.
Navneet Kaur scored a hat-trick for India, finding the net in the 29th, 34th and 55th minutes.
Sakshi Rana opened the scoring for India in the 7th minute.
India finished as Pool B table-toppers ahead of Scotland on goal difference.
India secured qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 before the semifinals because they cannot drop below Japan (world No 15) in the rankings even if they lose their remaining matches.

Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay received Saraswati Samman 2025 for 'Hara Parbati Katha'.

Key Updates:

Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay's Bengali novel 'Hara Parbati Katha' won the Saraswati Samman for 2025.
The K.K. Birla Foundation established the Saraswati Samman in 1991.
The award is given annually to an outstanding literary work written in any Indian language by an Indian citizen and published within the last 10 years.
The recipient receives ₹15 lakh, a citation, and a plaque.

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Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025 announced on 16 March (Mid of March) ▼

Sahitya Akademi announced its 2025 awards on 16 March 2026 for 24 Indian languages.
The award ceremony will be held in New Delhi on 31 March 2026.
Each awardee receives an engraved copper plaque, a shawl and ₹1,00,000.
Navtej Sarna won the English award for his novel ‘Crimson Spring’ set around the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Mamta Kalia won the Hindi award for her memoir ‘Jeete Jee Allahabad’.
Nandini Sidha Reddy won the Telugu award for poetry collection ‘Animesha’.

Tamil poet Vairamuthu named 2025 Jnanpith Award winner (Mid of March) ▼

Vairamuthu has been conferred the 60th Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, announced by Bharatiya Jnanpith on Saturday.
He becomes the third Tamil writer to receive the Jnanpith Award after Akilan and Jayakanthan.
The Jnanpith Selection Committee chaired by Pratibha Ray selected Vairamuthu for his originality, creative depth and distinct poetic voice.
Vairamuthu has authored over 37 books including poetry collections, novels and travel writings such as Kallikattu Ithikasam, Karuvachi Kaviyam, Thanni Desam and Moondraam Ulaga Por.
He has won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics seven times.
Vairamuthu received the Padma Shri in 2003 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014.
He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Kallikattu Ithikasam.
The Jnanpith Award carries a cash prize of ₹11 lakh, a bronze statuette of Goddess Saraswati and a citation.

Vice President releases book "Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi – Challenge and Response" on January 21, 2026 (End of January) ▼

Vice President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book titled “Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi – Challenge and Response”, authored by former Secretary to the Government of India Shri Surendra Kumar Pachauri.
Shri Nripendra Mishra serves as the Chairman of the Construction Committee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust led a crowd-funded campaign that mobilised over ₹3,000 crore from devotees worldwide.
The Dhwaja-rohan ceremony of the Shri Ram Mandir was held on 25 November 2025.
The event was attended by Shri Vinod Rai, former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, and Shri Deepak Gupta, former Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

CM unveils two books by Bishwabhushan Harichandan (Mid of February) ▼

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi unveiled the Odia book 'E Mati Katha Kahe' and the English book 'Buxi Jagabandhu: The Great Commander' written by former Governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan on 8 February 2026 in Bhubaneswar.
The English book highlights the 1817 Paika Rebellion, which the state wants recognised as India’s First War of Independence.
The Odia book contains 30 essays on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, world peace, and the Jagannath Nabakalebara Yatra.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) records India unemployment rate at 6.5% in 2025

Key Updates:

India’s unemployment rate declined to 6.5% in 2025 from 7.0% a year earlier under the usual status measure for persons aged 15 years and above.
Urban female unemployment edged lower to 6.4% in 2025 from 6.7% in the previous year.
The aggregate unemployment rate for persons aged 15 and above stood at 3.1% in 2025.
Youth unemployment (15–29 years) eased to 9.9% in 2025 from 10.3% a year earlier.
Share of workers in regular wage or salaried jobs rose to 23.6% in 2025 from 22.4% in 2024.
Employment in manufacturing and services saw an uptick while agriculture’s share declined in 2025.
Nominal earnings rose across categories with female wages growing faster than men’s in self-employment and salaried roles.

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Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) Reports India Unemployment Rate at 4.9% in February 2026 (Mid of March) ▼

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for February 2026.
India’s overall unemployment rate eased to 4.9% in February from 5% in January, based on the Current Weekly Status (CWS).
The female unemployment rate declined to 5.1% in February from 5.6% in January, while the male unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.8%.
Urban unemployment dropped to 6.6% from 7% in the previous month, while the rural unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%.
Youth unemployment in the 15-29 years age group rose slightly to 14.8% in February from 14.7% in January.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) remained unchanged at 55.9%, with female LFPR increasing to 35.3% from 35.1%.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), or employment rate, rose to 53.2% in February compared with 53.1% in January.
The survey covered 89,333 households and 374,879 individuals across rural and urban areas to track employment activity.

Goldman Sachs Cuts India 2026 Growth Forecast to 5.9% (End of March) ▼

Goldman Sachs has lowered India’s 2026 growth forecast to 5.9% from its pre-Iran war estimate of 7%.
The bank predicts a 50 basis points increase in policy rates by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) due to currency depreciation pressures.
India’s inflation is projected to rise to 4.6% in 2026 from an earlier forecast of 3.9%, while remaining within the RBI target range of 2-6%.
The Current Account Deficit (CAD) of India is projected to widen to 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2026 from 1.3% in the October-December 2025 period.
Retail inflation in India rose to 3.21% year-on-year in February from 2.74% in January.
The RBI kept the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25% during its February meeting.
Brent crude prices are projected to average $105 per barrel in March and $115 in April before declining to $80 per barrel in the fourth quarter of the year.
Growth forecasts for other economies were revised to 4.7% for China, 1.9% for South Korea, and 1.8% for Hong Kong.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI is scheduled to meet earlier next week.

National Statistics Office (NSO) reports India's unemployment rate falls to 4.8 per cent in Q3 FY26 (Mid of February) ▼

The National Statistics Office (NSO) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for the third quarter (Q3) of 2025–26, covering the October–December period.
India's unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above eased to a three-quarter low of 4.8 per cent in Q3 FY26.
The unemployment rate in rural areas fell to 4 per cent from 4.4 per cent in Q2, while the urban unemployment rate declined to 6.7 per cent from 6.9 per cent.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) rose to 55.8 per cent in Q3 from 55.1 per cent in the second quarter (Q2), driven by higher women participation.
Youth unemployment for the 15–29 age group declined to 14.3 per cent from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter.
Joblessness among young women fell to 16.6 per cent from 17 per cent, while unemployment among young men dropped to 13.5 per cent from 14.1 per cent.
The share of self-employed workers rose to 56.3 per cent in Q3, while the proportion of regular salaried workers declined to 24.9 per cent.
Employment in the agriculture sector increased to 43.2 per cent, whereas the share of workers in the secondary sector edged down to 24 per cent.
The NSO uses the Current Weekly Status (CWS) framework, classifying a person as unemployed if they did not work for even one hour during the reference week.
The survey methodology employs a rotational panel sampling design where selected households are surveyed four times across rural and urban areas.

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) releases December 2025 unemployment data (Mid of January) ▼

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reported the unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above at 4.8 per cent in December 2025.
The rural unemployment rate remained stagnant at 3.9 per cent, while the urban unemployment rate increased to 6.7 per cent from 6.5 per cent in the previous month.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) among persons aged 15 years and above improved to 53.4 per cent in December 2025 from 53.2 per cent in November 2025.
The overall labour force participation rate (LFPR) among persons aged 15 years and above rose to 56.1 per cent in December 2025 compared to 55.8 per cent in November 2025.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reports India’s forex reserves down USD 11.41 billion to USD 698.34 billion

Key Updates:

India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by USD 11.41 billion to USD 698.34 billion in the week ending 20 March.
Gold reserves dropped USD 13.49 billion to USD 117.19 billion during the week.
Foreign currency assets rose USD 2.13 billion to USD 557.70 billion in the same week.
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) declined USD 65 million to USD 18.63 billion.
India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased USD 19 million to USD 4.83 billion.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data shows forex reserves jump $4.885 billion to record $728.494 billion (Start of March) ▼

India’s foreign exchange reserves rose $4.885 billion to an all-time high of $728.494 billion in the week ended 27 February 2026.
Foreign currency assets, the largest component, increased $561 million to $573.125 billion during the same week.
Gold reserves surged $4.141 billion to $131.630 billion, according to RBI data.
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) grew $26 million to $18.87 billion.
India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) climbed $158 million to $4.87 billion.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) records India's forex reserves at $725.73 billion after $8.66 billion weekly rise. (End of February) ▼

India's foreign exchange reserves rose by $8.66 billion to a record $725.73 billion in the week ended 13 February 2026.
Foreign currency assets increased by $3.55 billion to $573.60 billion during the week.
Gold reserves surged by $4.99 billion to $128.47 billion on higher international gold prices.
Special Drawing Rights rose by $0.10 billion to $18.92 billion.
India's reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased by $0.02 billion to $4.73 billion.
The latest reserve level surpassed the previous peak of $723.77 billion recorded in January 2026.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Reports $9.809 Billion Decline in India's Forex Reserves (Mid of January) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data shows India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $9.809 billion to $686.801 billion in the week ended January 02, 2026.
Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs), the largest component of the reserves, decreased by $7.622 billion to stand at $551.99 billion.
Gold reserves decreased by $2.058 billion during the week to reach a total of $111.262 billion.
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dropped by $25 million to $18.778 billion.
The country’s reserve position in the IMF decreased by $105 million to $4.771 billion as of December 26.
In the previous week ending December 26, the reserves had increased by $3.293 billion to $696.61 billion.
The RBI intervenes in the foreign exchange market to curb excessive volatility in the rupee without anchoring to any predetermined exchange rate level.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reports India’s forex reserves rose $392 million to $687.19 billion (Mid of January) ▼

India’s foreign exchange reserves jumped by $392 million to $687.19 billion in the week ended January 9, 2026.
Foreign currency assets (FCAs) fell by $1.124 billion to $550.87 billion.
Gold holdings rose by $1.568 billion to $112.83 billion.
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) edged down by $39 million to $18.739 billion.
India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund fell by $13 million to $4.758 billion.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) launches Verified App Label with Google to curb digital fraud

[Securities and Exchange Board of India]

Key Updates:

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) introduced the Verified App Label Initiative in collaboration with Google to help investors identify genuine trading and investment apps on the Google Play Store.
Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey stated the initiative is designed to reinforce trust and safety in India’s digital investment ecosystem.
India’s securities market has over 140 million unique investors and a market capitalisation of nearly ₹423 trillion.
Sebi has escalated over 1.3 lakh instances of misleading investment-related content for takedown and flagged 66 fake trading apps, which have been removed from app stores.
Sebi has also implemented an API-based framework to ensure only verified intermediaries can run advertisements.

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Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approves AIF, FPI, InvIT, REIT and governance reforms in 213th board meeting. (End of March) ▼

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) held its 213th board meeting in Mumbai on 23 March 2026.
SEBI amended AIF Regulations 2012 to allow Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) with no active fund management to retain residual assets for up to 3 years subject to 75% investor approval.
SEBI introduced net settlement for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in the cash market to cut funding and forex conversion costs.
SEBI expanded retail access to Social Impact Funds (SIFs) by lowering minimum investment and easing disclosure norms.
SEBI allowed Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to invest in greenfield projects, hold multiple SPVs, borrow for capex and refinancing, and undertake maintenance expenses.
SEBI revised fit-and-proper criteria to bar persons with pending FIRs for economic offences or securities law violations and reduced disqualification period to six months in specified cases.
SEBI mandated SEBI staff to liquidate or freeze personal securities holdings, file initial, annual and event-based conflict disclosures, and recuse from decisions when conflicts arise.
SEBI approved creation of an Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC), a digital monitoring system and a whistle-blower framework for stronger conflict-of-interest oversight.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) removes 1.2 lakh misleading finfluencer posts using AI tool Sudarshan (Start of March) ▼

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has removed more than 1.2 lakh misleading social media posts by unregistered financial influencers.
SEBI’s in-house AI tool 'Sudarshan' tracks multilingual audio, video, and other content to detect violations.
SEBI norms mandate that only entities registered with SEBI can give investment advice.
SEBI introduced a pop-up warning that 9 out of 10 investors lose money in options trading.
Union Budget raised Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures to 0.05% from 0.02% and on options premium to 0.15% from 0.1%.

India Post-SIDBI MoU for Nationwide Verification of Informal Enterprises to Boost Credit Access (Start of January) ▼

The Department of Posts (DoP) and SIDBI signed an MoU for Contact Point Verification (CPV) of Informal Micro Enterprises registered on the Udyam Assist Platform.
India Post will leverage its 1.64 lakh Post Offices to conduct on-ground CPV including physical verification of business existence, location, activity and key business parameters.
SIDBI will integrate CPV reports into the Udyam Assist Platform to strengthen data credibility and enable informed credit decisions for informal micro enterprises.
A dedicated digital CPV mobile application will drive the initiative, ensuring speed, transparency and nationwide scalability.
The MoU is valid for two years from 31 December 2025 to 30 December 2027, with provisions for extension and includes clauses on data confidentiality, dispute resolution and termination.

Competition Commission of India (CCI) Approves MUFG Bank Stake Acquisition in Shriram Finance

[Japan, MUFG Bank]

Key Updates:

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposal by Japan's MUFG Bank Ltd to acquire a stake in Shriram Finance Limited.
MUFG Bank, a part of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (MUFG), will acquire a 20 per cent minority stake in the non-bank lender for ₹39,618 crore (approximately USD 4.4 billion).
The transaction represents the largest cross-border investment in India's financial sector to date.
Shriram Finance Limited is classified as an investment and credit company by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and categorised as an NBFC-Upper Layer.
The CCI also approved the acquisition of Groww Asset Management Ltd by State Street Global Advisors, Inc., which is a subsidiary of State Street Corporation (SSC).
Groww Asset Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Billionbrains Garage Ventures and manages various schemes of Groww Mutual Fund (Groww MF).

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State Bank of India (SBI) and MUFG Bank Ltd. (MUFG) sign partnership to strengthen India-Japan economic corridor (Mid of March) ▼

State Bank of India (SBI) and Japan-based MUFG Bank Ltd. (MUFG) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to advance bilateral financial collaboration.
The alliance aims to strengthen the India-Japan economic corridor by leveraging the domestic reach of SBI and the global network of MUFG.
The partnership focuses on facilitating cross-border capital flows and supporting sustainable economic growth for businesses in both nations.
Collaboration will target specific sectors including Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) advisory, Aviation finance, and Real Estate finance.
The agreement includes cooperation on trade finance, retail banking solutions, and identifying financing opportunities for Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The initiative aims to support Japanese corporates expanding in India and Indian enterprises pursuing growth in Japan and other global markets.

Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves Central Bank of India’s acquisition of additional stake in GCICL and GCLICL (Start of March) ▼

Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved Central Bank of India’s acquisition of 1.09% additional equity in Generali Central Insurance Company (GCICL) and 0.82% additional equity in Generali Central Life Insurance Company (GCLICL) on 03 March 2026.
Post-acquisition, Central Bank of India’s shareholding in GCICL will rise from 24.91% to 26%.
Post-acquisition, Central Bank of India’s shareholding in GCLICL will rise from 25.18% to 26%.

Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd (IRFC) raises JPY-equivalent $400 million overseas loan (End of February) ▼

The Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd (IRFC) has signed a loan agreement for a JPY-equivalent $400 million External Commercial Borrowing (ECB).
The loan was raised from a consortium comprising Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), GIFT City Branch, and MUFG Bank Ltd, GIFT City Branch.
The ECB has a five-year tenor and is benchmarked to the Tokyo Overnight Average Rate (TONAR).
This transaction marks the second overseas borrowing for IRFC in Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26), following a $300 million raise in December 2025.
The facility agreement was executed on February 25, 2026, and the loan is unsecured in nature.
The proceeds will be utilised for financing projects with forward or backward linkages to the railway sector or other projects compliant with ECB guidelines.

Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves Tata Steel Ltd acquisition of 50.01% equity in Thriveni Pellets Pvt Ltd. (End of January) ▼

Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of 50.01% equity share capital of Thriveni Pellets Pvt Ltd by Tata Steel Ltd.
Tata Steel Ltd is a public limited listed entity engaged in integrated steel manufacturing operations including mining, steelmaking, and further processing.
Thriveni Pellets Pvt Ltd is a private limited company engaged in the sale of iron ore pellets in India.
TPPL’s wholly owned subsidiary, Brahmani River Pellets Limited, is also engaged in production and sale of iron ore pellets in India.

PM E-DRIVE scheme revised with tighter deadlines and capped incentives

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Heavy Industries issued revised guidelines for the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme with a total outlay of ₹10,900 crore.
Electric two-wheelers registered till 31 July 2026 and electric three-wheelers (including e-rickshaws and e-carts) registered till 31 March 2028 are eligible for incentives.
Ex-factory price caps for eligibility are ₹1.5 lakh for electric two-wheelers and ₹2.5 lakh for electric three-wheelers.
Support is capped at 24,79,120 electric two-wheelers and 39,034 electric three-wheelers.
The electric three-wheeler (L5) sub-component closed on 26 December 2025 after its target was met.
If funds are exhausted before 31 March 2028, the scheme or its relevant sub-components will close early and no further claims will be entertained.

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Kerala leads 2025 personal EV adoption with highest private four-wheeler share (Mid of January) ▼

Kerala records EV-to-ICE penetration of 12.08%, second only to Delhi’s 13.91%.
Personal vehicles form 93.4% of Kerala’s total EV basket, the highest among major states.
Share of private four-wheelers in Kerala’s EV mix is 18%, against 9% for Karnataka.
State has 1,389 charging stations—553 fast and 836 slow—run by private players and Kerala State Electricity Board.
Ather Energy, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor command 29%, 24% and 19% of Kerala’s electric two-wheeler sales.
Tata Passenger Electric Mobility holds 53% of the 18,891 private four-wheelers sold in Kerala in 2025.

India to cut EU car import tariff to 40% under planned free-trade pact (End of January) ▼

India will immediately lower customs duty on EU cars priced above €15,000 from up to 110% to 40%.
The tariff is set to drop further to 10% over time for these vehicles.
The reduction will apply to an annual quota of about 200,000 combustion-engine cars.
Battery electric vehicles are excluded from duty cuts for the first five years to safeguard domestic firms Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors.
European carmakers Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Renault and Stellantis are expected to benefit from the lower tariffs.
EU carmakers currently hold less than 4% share in India’s 4.4 million units a year car market.
The India-EU free trade agreement could be announced as early as Tuesday and has been dubbed the "mother of all deals".

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Yojana: Rs 55 per month can secure Rs 3,000 pension

Key Updates:

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Yojana is a voluntary, contributory pension programme for unorganised sector workers aged 18-40 years with monthly income below Rs 15,000.
Subscribers contribute monthly amounts ranging from Rs 55 (entry at 18 years) to Rs 200 (entry at 40 years) until age 60 to receive a minimum monthly pension of Rs 3,000.
The government matches the subscriber’s monthly contribution and provides a family pension equal to half of the pension to the spouse after the subscriber’s death.
Workers covered under National Pension Scheme (NPS), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) scheme, or income-tax payees are not eligible.
Enrolment is facilitated through Common Service Centres (CSCs) across India using Aadhaar and savings bank account details.

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Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana offers up to Rs 72 lakh on maturity for girl child (End of January) ▼

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) was introduced on 22 January 2015 under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign.
SSY is a government-backed small savings scheme aimed at securing the financial future of the girl child.
The current interest rate under SSY is 8.2% compounded annually.
Interest is calculated every month and added to the principal at the end of each financial year.
Deposits qualify for deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and interest earned is tax-free.
Minimum annual deposit is Rs 250 and maximum is Rs 1.50 lakh, either lump sum or in multiple instalments.
Deposits can be made till completion of 15 years from account opening, and the account matures after 21 years.
Investing Rs 1.50 lakh annually for 15 years yields a maturity value of approximately Rs 71.83 lakh at 8.2% interest.
Early closure is allowed only under specific conditions such as marriage after age 18 or death of the account holder.
Up to 50% of the balance can be withdrawn for the girl’s higher education once she turns 18 or passes class 10.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) launches NPS Swasthya pilot for medical corpus (End of February) ▼

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has introduced NPS Swasthya on a pilot basis to help subscribers build a separate health corpus within their pension account.
Any Indian citizen can voluntarily enrol in NPS Swasthya and contribute any amount without an upper limit through their chosen pension fund manager.
Existing non-government NPS subscribers above 40 years can transfer up to 30% of their total contributions from Common Account to Swasthya Account.
Subscribers can withdraw up to 25% of their own contributions per instance for medical expenses after accumulating a minimum corpus of Rs 50,000.
For critical hospitalisation bills exceeding 70% of the Swasthya corpus, 100% lump-sum withdrawal is allowed under the premature exit option.
Withdrawn amounts are paid directly to the Health Benefit Administrator (HBA) or Third Party Administrator (TPA) against valid medical bills, and any surplus is transferred back to the Common Scheme Account.
The scheme operates under PFRDA's Regulatory Sandbox Framework with limited enrollment, and if found unviable, the accumulated corpus can be transferred back to the Common Account without loss.

ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company launches Swasthya Pension Scheme under PFRDA sandbox (End of February) ▼

ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company introduced the Swasthya Pension Scheme under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) regulatory sandbox framework.
Subscribers can make multiple withdrawals of up to 25 per cent of their own contributions.
In medical emergencies exceeding 70 per cent of the corpus, premature closure is allowed with payments made directly to the healthcare provider.
For the sandbox phase, the healthcare network is anchored by Apollo Hospitals and services are accessible through the Apollo 24/7 app, pharmacies, hospitals and diagnostic centres.
Physical pharmacies and hospitals under the scheme are currently limited to Bengaluru and Hyderabad during the pilot.
KFin Technologies is the digital partner for the initiative.

Atal Pension Yojana extension ensures monthly pension for informal sector (End of January) ▼

The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) till 2030-31.
The scheme provides a guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 from age 60 based on contributions.
Government funding continues for outreach, development work and gap funding to keep the scheme financially viable.
As of January 19, 2026, more than 8.66 crore people have enrolled under APY.

Modified UDAN scheme cleared with ₹28,840 crore outlay to expand regional air connectivity

Key Updates:

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the modified UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore.
The scheme will fund development of 100 new airports through a challenge-based mode with budgetary support of ₹12,159 crore.
200 modern helipads will be developed in hilly regions, the North-East, island territories and aspirational districts with funding of ₹3,661 crore.
₹400 crore is allocated to support acquisition of domestically manufactured aircraft.
Enhanced viability gap funding (VGF) will provide 80–90 per cent Central support to airlines on regional routes, tapering over five years, with an allocation of ₹10,043 crore.
Operational and maintenance (O&M) support for three years is approved for RCS aerodromes with an annual ceiling of ₹3 crore per airport and ₹90 lakh per helipad, totalling ₹2,577 crore.
The revised scheme targets connecting 120 new destinations and enabling air travel for around 4 crore additional passengers.
Since its launch, UDAN has operationalised 663 routes and 95 aerodromes with 10 airline operators, carrying about 1.62 crore passengers on over 3.41 lakh flights.

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du and Datawave Networks invest in Singapore-India-Gulf subsea cable system (Mid of February) ▼

UAE-based telecom operator du has partnered with Cyprus-based Datawave Networks to invest in the Singapore-India-Gulf (SING) subsea cable system.
The SING cable will connect six strategic landing points: Kalba (UAE), Muscat (Oman), Mumbai and Chennai (India), Kedah (Malaysia), and Singapore.
The system will feature 16 fibre pairs and support tens of terabits per second of data capacity.
Industry estimates suggest the cable could go live by 2030.

Reform Express initiative introduces five new reforms to boost cargo and passenger services (End of March) ▼

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced five new reforms under the Reform Express initiative, raising the 2026 total to nine.
Indian Railways launched stainless steel containers with top-loading and hydraulic side-discharge systems for salt transport to cut corrosion and handling damage.
Flexible wagon designs tailored to route-specific tunnels and bridges will be introduced to raise the current 24% share of passenger vehicle movement by rail.
Stricter contractor eligibility, fixed 2% bid security, mandatory bid-capacity evaluation, tighter subcontracting rules, and extra performance guarantees for under-priced bids will improve infrastructure project quality.
Aadhaar-based OTP verification and deletion of nearly three crore fake IRCTC accounts have been implemented to curb ticketing misuse.
Passengers may now cancel tickets 72, 24, or 8 hours before departure aligned with revised chart timings, cancel counter tickets at any station, receive automatic e-ticket refunds, upgrade class up to 30 minutes before departure, and change boarding stations digitally within the same timeframe.

Amended BharatNet Programme: Rs 24.32 billion approved for Andhra Pradesh to connect 13,426 gram panchayats (End of February) ▼

Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), Department of Telecommunications and Andhra Pradesh government signed a memorandum of cooperation for expedited rollout of the Amended BharatNet Programme in the state.
The Amended BharatNet Programme is a Rs 1,390 billion publicly funded programme to take optical fibre cable and broadband to every village.
Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited, a new special purpose vehicle, will implement the programme covering 13,426 gram panchayats.
The project includes upgradation of 1,692 Phase I gram panchayats from linear to ring topology, coverage of 11,254 Phase II gram panchayats, and inclusion of 480 newly created gram panchayats.
An additional 3,942 villages will receive connectivity on demand to strengthen last-mile access.
Government of India has approved financial support of Rs 24.32 billion for the programme in Andhra Pradesh.
The initiative targets over 0.5 million rural home fibre connections with government of India support.

Cabinet clears ₹3,630.77 crore for Jewar airport road connectivity (Mid of March) ▼

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the revised total capital cost of ₹3,630.77 crore for greenfield connectivity to Jewar international airport.
The 31.42 km project corridor will provide direct high-speed connectivity from South Delhi, Faridabad and Gurugram to the airport in Uttar Pradesh.
About 11 km of the project will be developed as an elevated highway between DND-Ballabhgarh Bypass and Jewar International Airport at an additional cost of ₹689.24 crore.
The Government of Haryana has agreed to bear ₹450 crore of the elevated corridor cost.
The corridor intersects the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, the Yamuna Expressway, and the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) to enable multimodal transport convergence.
The airport has received an aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and is expected to start operations soon.

NCW and Truecaller launch TrueCyberSakhi Digital Safety Toolkit to enhance Women's Online Security

[National Commission for Women]

Key Updates:

The National Commission for Women (NCW) and Truecaller launched a nationwide Women’s Digital Safety Awareness Initiative on 25 March 2026 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi.
The collaboration introduced an interactive digital safety resource titled TrueCyberSakhi: A Digital Safety Toolkit, Created for Her, to equip women with practical knowledge for navigating online spaces.
The toolkit features interactive modules, quizzes, and self-assessment tools covering digital safety concerns such as spam, phishing, impersonation, harassment, and financial fraud.
Truecaller has verified the NCW 24x7 helpline number on its Government Directory Service (GDS) to enhance the authenticity and visibility of the official support channel.
The NCW is an autonomous statutory body established under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, to protect and promote the rights of women.
The initiative aims to strengthen pathways to institutional redressal by providing clear guidance on how women can access the NCW 24x7 helpline in cases of digital harm.
The partnership includes a coordinated digital and social media awareness campaign to promote responsible digital participation and safer communication habits.

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Safeena Husain named among TIME Women of the Year 2026 (Start of March) ▼

Safeena Husain, founder of the non-profit Educate Girls, has been selected as one of the TIME Women of the Year 2026.
TIME magazine announced the annual list recognising women leaders driving global change.
Husain’s organisation works to enrol out-of-school girls and improve learning outcomes in rural India.
The TIME Women of the Year list for 2026 highlights 12 women across fields including activism, science and business.

Kerala Cyber Safety Protocol 2026 to secure students in AI era (Start of March) ▼

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

National Conference on Safety of Women at Workplace and SHe-Box Portal Implementation (Mid of February) ▼

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) will organise the National Conference on Safety of Women at Workplace, SHe-Box at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
The conference aims to strengthen the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act).
Union Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi and Minister of State Savitri Thakur will attend the event to administer a National Workplace Safety Pledge.
The MWCD launched the SHe-Box portal in August 2024 as a multilingual single-window platform for online complaint filing and real-time tracking.
The portal serves as a resource hub for workplaces to upload compliance-related information, including Internal Committee details and annual reports under the POSH Act.
The platform ensures strict confidentiality and automatic forwarding of complaints to the concerned Internal or Local Committee to enhance accountability.

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

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

BHASHINI–PFRDA MoU integrates multilingual AI and voice technologies into India’s pension ecosystem

[Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority]

Key Updates:

Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) signed a strategic MoU under the initiative 'BHASHINI for Seva / Sanchalan – A BHASHINI Sahayogi Program'.
The collaboration enables seamless access to pension services in all 22 scheduled Indian languages.
PFRDA platforms will use BHASHINI translation APIs for real-time multilingual content, AI-driven language models for contextual communication, and voice-enabled interfaces to simplify user interaction.
The integration aims to bring first-time savers into the pension ecosystem, improve financial literacy, and enhance trust and engagement with digital platforms.
BHASHINI, developed under the Digital India programme, provides real-time translation across Indian languages, speech-to-text and text-to-speech systems, and AI models adaptable to sector-specific needs.
The MoU includes structured enrichment of linguistic datasets to improve accuracy and contextual understanding of AI models and enable domain-specific customisation for pension-related communication.
Voice-based access will allow users to seek pension information through spoken queries, navigate services without complex interfaces, and interact with systems in natural, conversational language.

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ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company launches Swasthya Pension Scheme under PFRDA sandbox (End of February) ▼

ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company introduced the Swasthya Pension Scheme under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) regulatory sandbox framework.
Subscribers can make multiple withdrawals of up to 25 per cent of their own contributions.
In medical emergencies exceeding 70 per cent of the corpus, premature closure is allowed with payments made directly to the healthcare provider.
For the sandbox phase, the healthcare network is anchored by Apollo Hospitals and services are accessible through the Apollo 24/7 app, pharmacies, hospitals and diagnostic centres.
Physical pharmacies and hospitals under the scheme are currently limited to Bengaluru and Hyderabad during the pilot.
KFin Technologies is the digital partner for the initiative.

Madhya Pradesh and Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) Partner for Multilingual AI-Driven Governance (Mid of January) ▼

The Government of Madhya Pradesh and the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable multilingual digital governance.
Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav announced that Madhya Pradesh will soon introduce a State AI Policy in mission mode, aimed at accelerating responsible and inclusive AI adoption across departments.
The MoU formalises the integration of BHASHINI’s language technologies, translation APIs and AI-powered language tools across state government digital platforms to ensure wider and more equitable access to public services in multiple Indian languages.
The partnership aims to support the deployment of voice-first and multilingual AI solutions across the digital governance ecosystem of Madhya Pradesh to strengthen accessibility and last-mile service delivery.
The collaboration was announced during the Madhya Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 held in Bhopal on 15-01-2026.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) launches NPS Swasthya pilot for medical corpus (End of February) ▼

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has introduced NPS Swasthya on a pilot basis to help subscribers build a separate health corpus within their pension account.
Any Indian citizen can voluntarily enrol in NPS Swasthya and contribute any amount without an upper limit through their chosen pension fund manager.
Existing non-government NPS subscribers above 40 years can transfer up to 30% of their total contributions from Common Account to Swasthya Account.
Subscribers can withdraw up to 25% of their own contributions per instance for medical expenses after accumulating a minimum corpus of Rs 50,000.
For critical hospitalisation bills exceeding 70% of the Swasthya corpus, 100% lump-sum withdrawal is allowed under the premature exit option.
Withdrawn amounts are paid directly to the Health Benefit Administrator (HBA) or Third Party Administrator (TPA) against valid medical bills, and any surplus is transferred back to the Common Scheme Account.
The scheme operates under PFRDA's Regulatory Sandbox Framework with limited enrollment, and if found unviable, the accumulated corpus can be transferred back to the Common Account without loss.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) approves NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme pilot under regulatory sandbox. (End of January) ▼

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) issued the circular on Tuesday.
The pilot NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme operates under the Regulatory Sandbox Framework as a proof of concept.
Subscribers can withdraw up to 25 per cent of their own contributions for medical expenses with no cap on the number of withdrawals.
A minimum accumulated corpus of Rs 50,000 is required before the first withdrawal.
Full premature exit with 100 per cent lump sum is allowed if inpatient medical expenses exceed 70 per cent of the total corpus in a single instance.
Subscribers above 40 years (excluding government sector) may transfer up to 30 per cent of contributions from their existing NPS common account to the Swasthya Pension Scheme account.
Pension funds (PFs) must obtain prior PFRDA approval and may partner with fintech firms, health benefit administrators (HBAs), or third-party administrators (TPAs).
The pilot runs for a limited period with a restricted subscriber base; unviability will allow corpus transfer back to the common NPS account.

Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya: Ministry of Education (MoE) 3-Year Action Plan (2026–2029) for Drug-Free School Zones

Key Updates:

Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education (MoE), released a three-year action plan (2026–2029) for the Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya initiative under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA).
A 500-meter drug-free zone will be mandated around every school.
School heads and nodal teachers must report suspicious activities within the zone to local administration and police.
Teachers will receive specialised training to identify early signs of substance abuse and provide counselling.
Peer-led programmes will be promoted to build student support against substance abuse.
Monitoring and reporting system will operate at school, district, and state levels.
NMBA was launched on 15 August 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and now covers all districts.

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Uttar Pradesh launches Nivesh Mitra 3.0 to streamline investor approvals (End of March) ▼

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched Nivesh Mitra 3.0, an upgraded single-window investment portal, in Lucknow.
The portal consolidates over 530 services from 43 departments into fewer than 200 simplified services.
Key features include PAN-based single login, dynamic common application form, AI-powered chatbot, real-time application tracking, automated alerts, and integration with NSWS, IGRS, and GIS-based land bank systems.
The state government disbursed ₹2,781.12 crore in incentives to 85 industrial projects across manufacturing, automobiles, electronics, cement, and food processing sectors.
₹73 crore was allocated to IT and electronics projects and ₹20 crore to food processing units.
45 companies received incentives and 62 companies were issued Letters of Comfort (LoCs), together representing nearly ₹50,000 crore in investment potential and an estimated 50,000 job opportunities.
The earlier complex land-use approval process under Section 80 has been removed; approval under the master plan now grants automatic land-use clearance.
Between 2012 and 2017, only 16 Letters of Comfort were issued, rising to 3,367 in the last nine years, reflecting growing investor confidence.

Madhya Pradesh Budget 2026-27: Total Outlay of ₹4.38 Lakh Crore with Focus on Women and Infrastructure (Mid of February) ▼

Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presented the state budget for 2026-27 with a total outlay of ₹4,38,317 crore.
The budget is framed on the GYANII model, which stands for Garib Kalyan (poor), Yuva Shakti (youth), Annadata (farmers), Nari Shakti (women empowerment), Infrastructure, and Industry.
A total allocation of ₹1,27,555 crore has been earmarked for women welfare schemes, including the construction of 5,700 hostels for working women.
The Ladli Behna Yojana has been provisioned with ₹23,883 crore to provide monthly assistance of ₹1,500 to over 1.25 crore women.
The state government introduced a rolling budget provision for the first time to allow carrying forward funds to the next financial year.
A special provision of ₹3,600 crore has been made for the Simhastha Kumbh religious event scheduled to be held in Ujjain in 2028.
The Panchayat and Rural Development Department received an allocation of ₹40,062 crore, while the rural employment guarantee scheme (GRAM G) was allocated ₹10,428 crore.
The budget allocated ₹900 crore for the PM Janman scheme, which is dedicated to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Over ₹1 lakh crore each has been allocated for agriculture-related development works and infrastructure projects.
The government announced the recruitment of 15,000 teachers and the provision of free milk in tetra packs for children up to Class 8 in government schools.
A provision of ₹4,454 crore has been proposed for the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and ₹12,690 crore for road repairs.
The budget includes a plan to provide solar pumps to 1 lakh farmers and allocates ₹1,335 crore for the Labour Department.

Madhya Pradesh declares 2026 as 'Year of Agriculture' with ₹27,000 crore budget (End of January) ▼

Madhya Pradesh will observe 2026 as the 'Year of Agriculture' with a sector budget of ₹27,000 crore.
The agriculture budget rose from ₹600 crore in 2002-03 to ₹27,000 crore in 2024-25.
The 10-point agricultural development model covers technology transfer, income enhancement, natural farming, marketing and export, innovation, and digital transparency.
e-Mandi scheme covers 259 markets with 40 lakh farmers registered.
Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Kamdhenu Yojana targets raising Madhya Pradesh's share in national milk output from 9% to 20%.
Cow shelter grant doubled to ₹40 per destitute animal; related budget increased from ₹250 crore to ₹505 crore.
Procurement price for milk raised from ₹2.50 to ₹8.50 per litre; 1,200 new milk cooperatives formed.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana sanctioned over 11 lakh houses in Madhya Pradesh last year, with 4 lakh completed.
Chief Minister's Majra-Tola Yojana approved ₹21,000 crore to connect nearly 20,000 settlements with roads.
Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G) extends MNREGA employment from 100 to 125 days.
Dropout rate at elementary level in Madhya Pradesh fell from 6% to zero in 2024-25.
94,234 Class 12 students scoring above 75% received laptops worth ₹25,000 each.

Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana (MGY) launched with ₹663 Crore outlay for 2,666 village panchayat offices (Start of February) ▼

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana (MGY) at Bhadran village in Anand district on 30 January 2026.
The scheme involves the construction of new panchayat offices-cum-talati residences across 2,666 villages at a total cost of ₹663 crore.
Under the first phase of the MGY, villages under 114 taluka headquarters will be covered.
The scheme aims to provide urban equivalent facilities including road infrastructure, water, sanitation, solar street lights, e-grams, and community halls to rural areas.
The MGY is planned to eventually expand to all village panchayats in Gujarat with a population exceeding 10,000.
Each Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the state has been allocated a special grant of ₹50 lakh for rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge under the Catch the Rain campaign.
The launch event coincided with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to honour his message of gram swaraj.

DPIIT-Razorpay MoU empowers startups with zero-fee incorporation, mentorship and fintech tools

[Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Razorpay]

Key Updates:

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) partnered with Razorpay on 26 Mar 2026 to provide financial tools, founder enablement programmes and ecosystem support to startups.
Startup Sahayak platform launched to give end-to-end assistance including company incorporation, access to central and state government schemes, funding guidance and structured interface for ecosystem support.
DPIIT-recognised startups will receive incorporation support with zero professional fees, excluding applicable government charges.
Selected startups will be onboarded into curated founder communities for peer learning, networking and domain-specific support in engineering, hiring and marketing.
Knowledge sessions on applied artificial intelligence, marketing, product development and financial management will be conducted through Startup India Hub.

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Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signs MoU with Blue Star Limited to boost manufacturing and startup innovation. (End of March) ▼

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed an MoU with Blue Star Limited on 24 March 2026.
The partnership targets startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs in HVAC technologies, digital solutions, advanced manufacturing, and supply chain innovation.
Startups will gain access to industry mentorship, R&D facilities, testing infrastructure, and pilot opportunities.
The initiative supports proof-of-concept development and integration into existing industry value chains.
DPIIT and Blue Star will organise innovation challenges and hackathons under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge focused on manufacturing, HVAC, and digital technologies.
The MoU was signed by T. L. K. Singh, Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, and B Thiagarajan, Managing Director, Blue Star Limited.

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recognises over 1.02 lakh women-led startups (Mid of March) ▼

Among 2.12 lakh entities recognised as startups by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), over 1.02 lakh have at least one woman director or partner.
Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) have invested ₹2,995 crore in women-led startups since 2020.
The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme has approved ₹294 crore for women-led ventures out of ₹592 crore sanctioned since 2021.
Under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups, loans of ₹925 crore have been guaranteed since April 2023, including ₹39 crore for women-led startups.
Of the 6,789 recognised startups that are closed, 2,950 had at least one woman director or partner.

National Startup Day 2026 highlights India’s startup-driven future (Mid of January) ▼

National Startup Day is observed every year on January 16 across the country.
India currently ranks as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, with over 1.59 lakh startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as of early 2025.
DPIIT-recognised startups have generated over 16.6 lakh direct jobs across sectors as of October 31, 2024.

Prime Minister Modi celebrates decade of Startup India movement (Mid of January) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Startup India Movement on National Startup Day.
He congratulated stakeholders and highlighted the courage, spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial zeal of India’s youth powering India’s rise in the global startup ecosystem.
Modi emphasized reforms creating a conducive atmosphere for startups to venture into areas like space and defence.
He noted Indian startups are contributing to Atmanirbhar Bharat by turning youth into problem solvers.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the role of mentors, incubators, investors and academic institutions in supporting startups.
Startup India was launched on 16 January 2016 to nurture innovation and promote entrepreneurship.
Over the past decade more than 2,00,000 startups have been recognised across India, driving employment and innovation-led economic growth.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) operationalises India’s first Port of Refuge

Key Updates:

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) operationalised India’s first designated Port of Refuge on 27 March 2026.
The International Maritime Organisation defines a Port of Refuge as a location where ships can seek shelter to stabilise conditions, protect lives and limit environmental damage.
APSEZ designated Dighi Port on the west coast and Gopalpur Port on the east coast as Ports of Refuge.
The facilities will provide salvage and wreck removal, firefighting, pollution containment, and emergency coordination.
The initiative is backed by a tripartite memorandum of understanding with SMIT Salvage and the Maritime Emergency Response Centre (MERC).

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Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) Scheme Launched with ₹497 Crore Outlay (Mid of March) ▼

The Government of India introduced the Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme with a total budget outlay of ₹497 crore.
The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) will implement the scheme to support exporters affected by disruptions from the West Asia conflict.
The RELIEF scheme covers export consignments to approximately 17 countries where global reinsurers have reduced coverage, including routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The scheme provides enhanced insurance coverage of up to 100% for losses in eligible cases, compared to the standard 70-80% risk cover currently provided by the ECGC.
The package includes automatic extensions of export obligations and logistical support to assist smaller exporters facing high freight rates and limited working capital.
The intervention applies to both shipments already dispatched during the disruption window and upcoming exports.

Indian Navy commences second edition of IOS SAGAR with 16 IONS nations (Mid of March) ▼

The Indian Navy (IN) has commenced the second edition of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative to enhance collaborative maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Naval personnel from 16 friendly foreign countries belonging to the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) are participating in the event.
The IN assumed the chair of the IONS in February 2026.
The initiative supports the Government of India's vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and the Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions (MAHASAGAR) framework.
The programme includes professional training interactions at naval training establishments in Kochi followed by sea deployment onboard an IN ship.
The sea phase involves operational activities, maritime engagement, and port visits to foster professional linkages and exchange best practices.

Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry sign MoU to strengthen bilateral trade

[Latvia]

Key Updates:

Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) signed an MoU on 25 March 2026 to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
CCCI becomes the second Indian chamber and the first in South India to sign an MoU with LCCI.
Saurabh Pramod Shah, Indian Representative to Latvia, highlighted opportunities for Indian businesses in Latvia’s pharmaceuticals, education and wood industry sectors.
India’s current exports to Latvia include rubber, chemicals and vegetables.
Latvia, an EU and NATO member, offers access to a 450 million-strong European consumer base.

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ASSOCHAM and ICCC sign MoU to strengthen India-Canada business collaboration (Mid of March) ▼

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) signed an MoU on Monday during the India-Canada Business Roundtable held in New Delhi.
The MoU provides a framework for collaboration to strengthen trade, investment, and economic cooperation between members of both organisations.
Both organisations will facilitate exchange of information on trade policies, economic laws, and investment opportunities in India and Canada.
Joint initiatives under the MoU include trade missions, business delegations, exhibitions, seminars, conferences, and workshops.
Notable attendees included Anil K Agarwal (Past President & Chairman, ASSOCHAM International Council), Kam Rathee (Chair of the Advisory Board, ICCC), Prashant Srivastava (President, ICCC), Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra (Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Council on Education), Ed Jager (Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada to India), and Nina Tangri (Associate Minister of Small Business, Government of Ontario).

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.

India and European Union to grant each other Most Favoured Nation status for five years under trade deal (Start of March) ▼

India and the European Union (EU) will grant each other Most Favoured Nation status for five years after their trade deal takes effect.
The deal aims to eliminate or reduce tariffs on 96.6% of traded goods by value and is expected to double EU exports to India by 2032.
European companies are projected to save 4 billion euros in duties once the agreement is implemented.
Agriculture-related items such as soya, beef, sugar, rice and dairy have been excluded from the trade deal.
Both sides agreed not to impose new import or export restrictions beyond World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
India and the EU will align food safety and plant health measures with WTO standards and streamline certification and audit procedures.
The pact includes commitments to enhanced customs cooperation and faster clearance of goods.
Annual import data will be exchanged one year after the pact takes effect to monitor implementation and tariff preference usage.
The agreement promotes paperless trade and legal recognition of electronic contracts, signatures and authentication.
The EU will mobilise finance and investment to support India’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions under the pact.

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

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

UK government issues first evidence-backed guidance limiting under-fives' screen time to one hour daily

[United Kingdom]

Key Updates:

The UK government released its first evidence-backed guidance recommending that children under five be limited to one hour of screen time per day.
Under-twos should not watch screens alone, and parents are advised to avoid fast-paced videos.
The guidance was reviewed by Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza and Russell Viner, professor of paediatrics and adolescent health at University College London (UCL).
The guidance applies to all screen types including computers, tablets, mobile phones, and televisions.
The government states that about 98% of children are watching screens daily by age two.
The guidance exempts screen-based assistive technologies used for children with special educational needs and disabilities from the time limits.
The guidance discourages the use of artificial intelligence (AI) toys or tools for under-fives.
Researchers at the Institute for the Science of Early Years at the University of East London observed that fast-paced content can trigger stress responses in under-fives.
Prof Sam Wass noted a link between emotional dysregulation and time spent watching fast-paced, unpredictable content in young children.

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Kerala Cyber Safety Protocol 2026 to secure students in AI era (Start of March) ▼

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

Brazil restricts social media for under-16s from March 18, 2026 (Mid of March) ▼

Brazil began implementing new measures on Tuesday to restrict minors' access to social media and prevent them from viewing violent or illegal content.
Adolescents up to 16 must now have their accounts linked to that of a legal guardian.
Digital platforms are required to demand reliable age verification to prevent minors under 18 from accessing prohibited content.
The National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) is the government body tasked with implementing the law.
Companies face fines up to 50 million reais (approximately 9 million dollars) and possible account suspensions or bans for non-compliance.
The law bans advertising aimed at children and adolescents and prohibits loot boxes in video games.

Karnataka Social Media Ban for Children Under 16 (Start of March) ▼

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

Govind Mohan urges stronger response to online crimes against women and children. (Mid of March) ▼

Govind Mohan, Home Secretary, addressed the inaugural session of the national dialogue on 'online crimes against women and children' (OCWC) organised by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) launched a master trainers induction programme for states and UTs to create a national pool of trained officers for capacity-building against online crimes targeting women and children.
The national dialogue brought together senior officials from state and UT law enforcement agencies, representatives from Union ministries, social media intermediaries, internet service providers, academia, civil society organisations, legal experts, and student representatives.
Discussions covered emerging trends in online crimes against women and children, strengthening investigative frameworks and digital forensics, improving victim support and reporting mechanisms, and enhancing coordination with digital platforms for timely removal of harmful content.

India completes successful trial run of first hydrogen-powered trainset

Key Updates:

India completed a successful trial run of its first hydrogen-powered trainset.
The oscillation trial was conducted by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO).
The train is planned to operate between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana.
The 10-coach train was built in Chennai and is the world's most powerful hydrogen train on broad-gauge track.
The train only releases water vapour instead of carbon dioxide.
Hydrogen fuel for the train is supplied from a special plant in Jind.

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Kerala HVIC Foundation and Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) sign MoA for ₹8.7 crore hydrogen bus project (Start of February) ▼

The Kerala HVIC Foundation and Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the procurement and operation of three hydrogen-powered buses.
The project has a total outlay of ₹8.7 crore and is part of the Kerala Hydrogen Valley initiative.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is supporting the development of Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters (HVIC) across India under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) is the state nodal agency for renewable energy and green hydrogen leading the Kerala HVIC initiative.
The hydrogen valley is being developed in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram and includes initiatives such as hydrogen-powered water transport and biogenic hydrogen production.
CIAL has commissioned South India’s first hydrogen refuelling station in collaboration with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) to support the vehicles.

India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme and University of Groningen–19 IITs MoU launched (Start of February) ▼

Department of Science and Technology (DST) released the Scheme Guidelines and Call for Proposals for the India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme.
The fellowship is open to Indian doctoral researchers, postdoctoral scholars and faculty members across institutions.
University of Groningen signed an MoU with 19 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) for cooperation in hydrogen and green energy research.
The MoU enables faculty and student exchange, joint research programmes and knowledge sharing without automatic financial commitments.
The initiatives support India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, Energy Independence 2047 vision and Net-Zero 2070 objectives.

Indian Railways (IR) Prepares India’s First Hydrogen Train for Pilot Run on Jind–Sonipat Route (Start of January) ▼

The Northern Railway (NR) is entering the final stages of a pilot project to launch India’s first hydrogen-powered train on the Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana.
The train features 10 coaches, including two driving power cars and eight passenger coaches, designed and manufactured indigenously at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai.
A state-of-the-art hydrogen production plant with a 3,000-kg storage capacity has been established at Jind to generate green hydrogen using the electrolysis process.
The project involves retrofitting a Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) with hydrogen fuel technology, delivering a total output of 2,400 kW across two power cars.
The Research, Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO) laid down the technical specifications for the hydrogen train-set as part of a green mobility initiative.
The train is designed to reach an operational speed of 110 km per hour and is capable of covering 180 km using 360 kg of hydrogen.
The coaches are equipped with metro-style features, including two doors on each side and safety mechanisms that ensure doors are fully closed before departure.
The hydrogen plant at Jind is supported by a stable 11 kV power supply to ensure uninterrupted electrolysis for fuel generation.
Target dates for trial runs have been reported as January 26, 2026, according to project officials and state government statements.

Indian Railways (IR) nears 100% electrification of broad-gauge network (Start of January) ▼

As of November 2025, Indian Railways (IR) electrified 69,427 route km, which is approximately 99.2% of the 70,001 km broad-gauge network.
The electrification rate for IR increased from an average of 1.42 km per day between 2004 and 2014 to more than 15 km per day between 2019 and 2025.
Railway electrification in India began in 1925 using a 1500V DC system for the first electric train between Bombay Victoria Terminus and Kurla.
IR utilized new construction technologies, including mechanised cylindrical foundations and automatic wiring trains, to replace slower, labour-intensive methods.
The transition from diesel-powered engines to electric trains marks a major leap towards a modern and sustainable future for the network.

Earth Hour marks 20th anniversary, urges sustained eco-friendly habits beyond 60-minute lights-off

[World Wildlife Fund]

Key Updates:

Earth Hour is organised annually by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Participants switch off non-essential lights for 60 minutes from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on March 28.
The movement began in Sydney in 2007 and now involves millions across more than 190 countries.
The 20-year milestone campaign emphasises reducing waste, conserving energy daily, and engaging in community conservation efforts.
In the Philippines, an in-person celebration will be held in Pasig City with environmental advocates and youth groups.

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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.

United Nations (UN) releases State of Finance for Nature 2026 report (End of January) ▼

The United Nations (UN) released the State of Finance for Nature 2026 report on 22 January 2026.
The report finds that for every $1 invested in protecting nature, $30 is spent on activities that destroy it.
Global nature-negative finance flows are estimated at $7 trillion, while nature-positive finance flows amount to $200 billion.
Environmentally harmful subsidies are concentrated in sectors including fossil fuels, agriculture, water, transport, and construction.
The data identifies utilities, industrials, energy, and basic materials as sectors where environmental damage is particularly significant.
The report advocates for scaling up nature-positive investments such as regenerative agriculture, sustainable forestry, and nature-based infrastructure.

Mumbai Climate Week 2026: City-Led Initiative to Showcase Climate Action as Fundamental Child Right (End of January) ▼

Mumbai is slated to host the ‘Mumbai Climate Week 2026’ from February 17 to 19, marking India’s first city-led initiative dedicated to fostering local action through citizen-driven solutions.
UNICEF India and YuWaah have been named the official youth engagement partners for the event.
The initiative is curated by Project Mumbai in collaboration with UNICEF and YuWaah to empower the next generation to become active agents of change within their communities.

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Proclaims 2026 as International Year for Rangelands, Volunteers, and Women Farmers (Start of January) ▼

The United Nations (UN) declared 2026 as the 'International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP)' to highlight ecosystems that cover about half the world’s land.
Through Resolution 78/127, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 2026 as the 'International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY)'.
The United Nations (UN) declared 2026 the 'International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026)' to spotlight roles in agrifood systems.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared the first-ever 'United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport' to run from 2026 to 2035.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported a 'historic 10% decline in freedom of expression globally between 2012 and 2024'.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the 'Global Environment Outlook, Seventh Edition: A Future We Choose (GEO-7)' on 9 December 2025, involving 287 scientists from 82 countries.
Slovenia, acting as President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for December 2025, held an open debate on 'Leadership for peace' on 15 December 2025.
The Republic of Sierra Leone, as President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for November 2025, held a briefing on 18 November 2025 regarding 'Enhancing regional counter-terrorism cooperation in West Africa and the Sahel'.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a new safety guide titled 'Monitoring for Protection of the Public and the Environment' to help countries design radiation monitoring programmes.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/79/137 proclaiming 'World Meditation Day'.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) launched a database compiling national laws and decrees governing meteorology and hydrology across all member nations.
The World Bank released the 'World Development Report 2025: Standards for Development' to assess how standards accelerate economic development.

India's maternal mortality drops nearly 80% since 1990: Global study

Key Updates:

India's maternal mortality ratio fell from 508 per one lakh livebirths in 1990 to 116 per one lakh livebirths in 2023.
India recorded 24,700 maternal deaths in 2023.
The Sample Registration System (SRS) 2021-23 places India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) at 88 per lakh live births.
India has achieved an 86% reduction in MMR since 1990, surpassing the global average reduction of 48%.
The global maternal mortality ratio declined from 321 per one lakh livebirths in 1990 to 190.5 in 2023.
The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target is an MMR below 70 per one lakh livebirths by 2030.
104 of 204 countries and territories have not yet met the SDG maternal mortality target.

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India builds home-grown AI tools to predict preterm births early (End of March) ▼

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.

Haryana Beti Bachao Beti Padhao follow-up measures yield 923 sex ratio in 2025 (Start of January) ▼

Haryana’s sex ratio at birth improved to 923 in 2025, a 13-point rise from 910 in 2024.
State government cracked down on sex-selective abortions and illegal sale of MTP kits, registering 114 FIRs under the MTP Act and conducting 154 raids under the PC-PNDT Act.
Reverse tracking of 12-week pregnant women with a previous girl child was introduced to curb illegal abortions.

BA.3.2 COVID-19 variant (Cicada) first identified in November 2024

Key Updates:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorised the BA.3.2 COVID-19 variant as a variant under monitoring.
The variant is nicknamed Cicada because it remained undetected for a long period before resurfacing, mirroring the behaviour of the insect.
The BA.3.2 variant was first identified in November 2024 in a respiratory sample in South Africa.
The variant is a descendant of the older BA.3 branch of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and is genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineage.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has detected the variant in wastewater samples in at least 25 states in the United States.
The variant features approximately 70–75 mutations in its spike protein, which is the component that allows the virus to enter human cells.

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WHO prequalifies Biological E. Limited’s novel oral polio vaccine type 2 to boost outbreak response (Mid of February) ▼

The World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified an additional novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) on 13 February 2026.
Biological E. Limited manufactures the vaccine using bulk material transferred from PT Bio Farma.
UNICEF and other UN agencies can now procure the vaccine for outbreak response programmes.
nOPV2 is more genetically stable than traditional oral polio vaccine, lowering the risk of seeding new outbreaks.
WHO noted that expanding nOPV2 manufacturers improves supply reliability for countries facing circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, especially in under-immunised communities.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported a significant decline in wild polio cases in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

West Bengal on Nipah alert as two nurses test positive; hospitals activate isolation wards and PPE protocols (Mid of January) ▼

Two nurses from a private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas, have tested positive for Nipah virus and are on ventilator support due to severe lung and brain infection (encephalitis).
All government and private healthcare units must immediately report patients with high-grade fever, acute respiratory distress, or encephalitis to the state health department.
Major private hospitals like CMRI and Manipal Hospital have activated dedicated isolation wards and conducted mock drills following Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and West Bengal Health Department guidelines.
The Union Health Ministry has deployed the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT), led by All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, to assist the state.
Nipah virus has two known strains—NiV-Malaysia (NiV-M) and NiV-Bangladesh (NiV-B)—and the strain in West Bengal is yet to be confirmed.

Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards 2026 presented in New Delhi

Key Updates:

The 20th edition of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards was presented by Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi.
The Ramnath Goenka Foundation instituted the awards to recognise 24 journalists across 19 categories for work in print, digital and broadcast platforms.
The jury included Justice B N Srikrishna, Prof C Raj Kumar, Prof K G Suresh, Rohini Nilekani and Dr S Y Quraishi.
Avadhesh Akodia (Dainik Bhaskar) won in Print (Hindi).
Sarvapriya Sangwan (BBC News Hindi) won in Broadcast/Digital (Hindi).
Muhammad Sabith & Akhil Sivanand (Mathrubhumi) won in Print/Digital (Regional Languages).
Fousiya Musthafa (News Malayalam 24×7) won in Broadcast/Digital (Regional Languages).
Jayashree Nandi & Tannu Jain (Hindustan Times) won in Environment, Science & Technology Reporting.
Rohini Krishnamurthy & Dhruval Parekh (Down to Earth) won in Environment, Science & Technology Reporting (Broadcast/Digital).
Vijay Pal Dudi (Dainik Bhaskar) won in Uncovering India Invisible.
Basant Kumar (NewsLaundry) won in Uncovering India Invisible (Broadcast/Digital).
Praveen Paramasivam, Munsif Vengattil & Aditya Kalra (Thomson Reuters) won in Business & Economic Journalism.
Deeptiman Tiwary (The Indian Express) won in Reporting on Politics and Government.
Rishika Kashyap (Deccan Herald) won in Reporting on Politics and Government (Broadcast/Digital).
Srikkanth Dhasarathy (DT Next) won in Sports Journalism.
Mridulika Jha (Aaj Tak) won in Investigative Reporting (Print/Digital).
Sreya Chatterjee (India Today) won in Investigative Reporting (Broadcast).
Vidheesha Kuntamalla (The Indian Express) won in Feature Writing.
Sandip Dighe (The Times of India) won in Civic Journalism.
Sreya Chatterjee & Arvind Ojha (India Today) won in Civic Journalism.
Praveen Jain (The Print) won in Photojournalism.
Aparajith Ramnath (Penguin Random House) won in Books (Non-Fiction).

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Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025 announced on 16 March (Mid of March) ▼

Sahitya Akademi announced its 2025 awards on 16 March 2026 for 24 Indian languages.
The award ceremony will be held in New Delhi on 31 March 2026.
Each awardee receives an engraved copper plaque, a shawl and ₹1,00,000.
Navtej Sarna won the English award for his novel ‘Crimson Spring’ set around the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Mamta Kalia won the Hindi award for her memoir ‘Jeete Jee Allahabad’.
Nandini Sidha Reddy won the Telugu award for poetry collection ‘Animesha’.

Anke Gowda received Padma Shri 2026 in Unsung Heroes category. (End of January) ▼

Anke Gowda, 75, was awarded Padma Shri 2026 for lifelong service to librarianship.
He runs Pustaka Mane in Haralahalli village, Pandavapura taluk, Mandya district, housing over 20 lakh books.
His collection includes 5,000 dictionaries, five lakh rare foreign books, 35,000 international magazines, 2,500 Kannada magazines, 2,500 titles on Mahatma Gandhi, 2,500 books on the Bhagavad Gita, and over 100 religious texts.
He received Limca Book of Records in 2016, Rajyotsava Award in 2014, Alva’s Nudi-Siri Award in 2011, and G.P. Rajaratnam Sahitya Paricharika Award in 2009.

Padma Awards 2026 announced with 131 recipients across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri categories. (End of January) ▼

The Government of India announced 131 Padma Awards for 2026, including 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri.
Veteran actor Dharmendra Singh Deol and former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandhan were awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.
Cricketer Rohit Sharma, actor R Madhavan, and Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty featured among prominent awardees across Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan categories.
Maharashtra topped the list with 15 awardees, followed by Tamil Nadu (13), Uttar Pradesh (11), West Bengal (11) and Kerala (8).
Adman Piyush Pandey received the Padma Bhushan posthumously for contributions to the Indian advertising industry.
Techi Gubin, President of Arunachal Vikas Parishad, was named for the Padma Shri in social service.
45 awardees were recognised as ‘unsung heroes’ under the Padma Shri category, including former bus conductor Anke Gowda and paediatrician Armida Fernandez.
The Padma Awards are conferred by the President of India and will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually around March–April.

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

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

BRICS CCI WE Summit 2026 held in New Delhi from March 21 to 23

[BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry]

Key Updates:

The 6th edition of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI) Women Empowerment (WE) Annual Women’s Summit & Felicitations 2026 was held in New Delhi from March 21 to 23.
The summit theme was 'Women in Innovation, Science Leadership, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (WISE) – Inspiring Change, Shaping Tomorrow'.
Ruby Sinha, President of BRICS CCI WE, launched the commemorative coffee table book 'WISE Collective: Echoes of Excellence' during the summit.
A memorandum of understanding was signed with SEBRAE, Brazil’s Micro and Small Business Support Service, to enhance collaboration for women-led enterprises.
The convocation ceremony of the third edition of the BRICS CCI WE Global Women Leadership Programme took place at the summit.
Mission ShakthiSAT was unveiled by Meenakshi Lekhi, former Minister of State for External Affairs and Global Chair of the initiative.
Actor Shabana Azmi received the BRICS CCI WE Trailblazer: Living Legend recognition for her five decades in Indian cinema.
Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog and former President of NASSCOM, was conferred the Lifetime Achievement recognition.
Kalpana Murmu Soren, MLA from Gandey, Jharkhand, was recognised as the BRICS CCI WE Inspiring Woman of the Year.
Actor and climate advocate Bhumi Pednekar was felicitated as a BRICS CCI WE Woman Icon.

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India launches BRICS India 2026 logo featuring lotus and Namaste gesture (Mid of January) ▼

India formally launched the logo and official website for its BRICS Presidency 2026 in New Delhi.
The logo is inspired by the lotus, India’s national flower, with inner petals forming two hands in a Namaste gesture.
Five petals are coloured to represent the founding BRICS members: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar stated the theme underscores strengthening capacities, promoting innovation and ensuring sustainable development.
India’s 2026 BRICS chairship priorities are resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability across political-security, economic-financial and cultural-people-to-people pillars.

India joins BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies to promote manufacturing sector (Start of February) ▼

India joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) on 4 February 2026.
BCIC was launched by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in 2025.
The National Productivity Council (NPC) has been designated as the India Centre for BCIC.
A trust fund agreement formalising India’s participation was signed between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and UNIDO.
The agreement was signed by Economic Adviser, DPIIT, Agrim Kaushal, and Director, UNIDO, Cristiano Pasini.
NPC will operate under DPIIT’s policy direction to support capacity building and manufacturing-related initiatives for MSMEs within the BRICS framework.
The launch event was presided over by Secretary, DPIIT, Amardeep Singh Bhatia.
Attendees included senior officials from DPIIT, the Ministry of MSME, the Ministry of External Affairs, UNIDO representatives, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

India hosts first BRICS Sherpas’ meet of its chairship in New Delhi (Mid of February) ▼

The first meeting of BRICS Sherpas and Sous Sherpas under India’s Chairship was held from 9-10 February 2026 in New Delhi.
Secretary (Economic Relations) Sudhakar Dalela, India’s BRICS Sherpa, chaired the meeting, supported by Joint Secretary (Multilateral Economic Relations) Shambhu L Hakki, India’s BRICS Sous Sherpa.
BRICS Sherpas and senior officials from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and UAE participated in the meeting.
India presented its 2026 Chairship priorities under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'.
Ministries outlined proposed activities in health, agriculture, labour and employment, disaster risk reduction, environment, climate change, energy, innovation, ICT, security and counter-terrorism, economic and financial domains.
Presentations on people-centric initiatives included sports, youth connect, cultural engagements, BRICS Academic Forum, BRICS Think Tank Council, BRICS Civil Forum, BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women’s Business Alliance.
BRICS Members and Partner countries appreciated India’s theme and priorities and shared perspectives on advancing resilience, innovation, cooperation, sustainability and a people-centric approach.
Delegates visited the National Crafts Museum & Hastakala Academy and Akshardham Temple during the meeting.

India to host India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi from February 16 to 20 (Mid of February) ▼

India is scheduled to host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi from February 16 to 20, 2026.
The Summit is organised under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is built around three foundational Sutras: People, Planet, and Progress.
The event will see participation from ministerial-level delegations representing over 45 countries and the United Nations (UN) Secretary General.
Confirmed attendees from Europe include President Emmanuel Macron (France), President Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon (Spain), Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (Finland), Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Greece), Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic (Croatia), President Alar Karis (Estonia), President Peter Pellegrini (Slovakia), President Aleksandar Vucic (Serbia), President Guy Parmelin (Switzerland), Prime Minister Dick Schoof (Netherlands), and Hereditary Prince Alois (Liechtenstein).
Leaders from the Americas and Asia-Pacific attending include President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Brazil), Vice President Edmand Lara Montano (Bolivia), Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo (Guyana), Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay (Bhutan), President Anura Kumara Disanayaka (Sri Lanka), and Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov (Kazakhstan).
Participants from Africa, the Indian Ocean, and the Middle East include Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam (Mauritius), Vice President Sebastien Pillay (Seychelles), and Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (United Arab Emirates).

World Tuberculosis Day observed on 24 March 2026 with the theme Yes! We can end TB

Key Updates:

World Tuberculosis Day is observed annually on 24 March to raise global awareness about the infectious disease.
The theme for World Tuberculosis Day 2026 is Yes! We can end TB, emphasizing political will, increased funding, and community participation.
The date commemorates 24 March 1882, when Dr Robert Koch discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes the disease.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 3,500 people die from tuberculosis and approximately 30,000 fall ill every day globally.
India carries the highest share of the global tuberculosis burden and implements the National TB Elimination Programme to combat the disease.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus serves as the Director-General of the WHO.
The National TB Elimination Programme in India utilizes nutrition initiatives and digital tracking to improve treatment adherence.

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World TB Day 2026 spotlights science-driven push to eliminate tuberculosis (End of March) ▼

World Health Organization (WHO) reported an estimated 10.6 million people developed TB in 2022, including 1.3 million children.
WHO recorded 1.3 million TB deaths among HIV-negative individuals and an additional 300,000 deaths among people living with HIV in 2022.
Approximately 410,000 people developed multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) in 2022.
Sustainable Development Goal 3 calls for ending the TB epidemic by 2030.
WHO’s End TB Strategy targets a 90% reduction in TB deaths and an 80% reduction in TB incidence by 2030 compared with 2015 levels.

World Leprosy Day 2026 observed on 25 January (Start of February) ▼

World Leprosy Day is observed on the last Sunday of January every year.
In 2026, World Leprosy Day falls on 25 January.
The theme for World Leprosy Day 2026 is 'Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma'.
In India, World Leprosy Day is celebrated on 30 January, marking the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

World Cancer Day 2026 observed on February 4 with theme 'United by Unique' (Start of February) ▼

World Cancer Day is observed on February 4 every year.
The theme for World Cancer Day 2026 is 'United by Unique'.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer-related deaths globally in 2022.
India reported over 15 lakh cancer cases in 2024, up from 13.5 lakh in 2019.
Cancer cases in India rose from 13.9 lakh in 2020 to 14.2 lakh in 2021, 14.6 lakh in 2022, and 14.9 lakh in 2023.

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day observed on 30 January (End of January) ▼

World Health Organisation (WHO) designated 30 January as World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day at the 74th World Health Assembly on 31 May 2021.
The date commemorates the adoption of the London Declaration on NTDs on 30 January 2012.
WHO’s 2030 targets include 90% reduction in people needing treatment for NTDs and 75% reduction in years of life lost due to NTDs.
By 1 January 2026, 58 countries had eradicated at least one NTD.
Global financial aid for NTDs fell by 41% between 2018 and 2023.
USAID’s dismantling and the United States withdrawal from WHO have suspended 47 treatment campaigns affecting 143 million people worldwide.
ANRS MIE, responsible for monitoring emerging infectious diseases, prioritises dengue and chikungunya under its Emergence epidemic response system.
ANRS MIE funds projects including LSDengue, ARBOGEN, DENGAGE, DENGAFRICA, and LEISHNEW targeting dengue, chikungunya, and leishmaniasis.
ANRS MIE co-directs Global Health EDCTP3 and serves as one of nine international coordination centres for the STRIVE network linking over 300 clinical trials in 40 countries.

Theme of the Year 2026: Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063

Key Updates:

The African Union (AU) designated 2026 Theme of the Year as 'Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063'.
Agenda 2063 is Africa’s 50-year development blueprint for inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development.
The Theme of the Year 2026 Concept Note was released on July 11, 2025.

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United Nations observes International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March (End of March) ▼

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed on 21 March each year.
The date commemorates the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa when police killed 69 peaceful demonstrators protesting apartheid pass laws.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed this day as an international observance in 1966.
In 1979 UNGA decided that a week of solidarity with peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination should be organized annually starting on 21 March.
The observance led to the creation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

United Nations Observes International Day for the Right to the Truth on 24 March 2026 (End of March) ▼

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 24 March as the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims on 21 December 2010.
The observance commemorates Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero, a human rights defender in El Salvador who was murdered on 24 March 1980.
The year 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état in Argentina, which initiated a military junta dictatorship lasting from 1976 to 1983.
The Joinet/Orentlicher Principles, formally known as the Updated Set of Principles for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights through Action to Combat Impunity, define the right to truth as an inalienable right.
Historical truth-seeking bodies include the National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons (CONADEP) established in Argentina in 1984 and the Commission for the Clarification of Truth in Colombia in 2017.
The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence is Bernard Duhaime.
The UN Special Rapporteur is preparing a report on negationism, revisionism, and politicization for the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
A report regarding emerging technologies in the context of transitional justice will be submitted for the 81st session of the UNGA.

International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust observed on 27 January (End of January) ▼

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 60/7 designated 27 January as the annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust in 2005.
The date marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Death Camp on 27 January 1945.
The Holocaust led to the adoption of foundational documents by the United Nations (UN) in 1948, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
The UNGA established the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme in 2005 to mobilize outreach for combatting antisemitism and defending human rights.
Key UNGA resolutions related to this observance and the prevention of Holocaust denial include A/RES/60/7, A/RES/61/255, and A/RES/76/250.
The annual observance is held at the UN Headquarters in New York and through the global network of United Nations Information Centres (UNICs).

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.

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members observed on 25 March 2026

Key Updates:

The United Nations (UN) observes the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members on 25 March 2026.
In 2025, 179 UN personnel were arrested or detained.
As of the observance date, 118 UN colleagues remain in detention.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed the call for the immediate release and safe return of unlawfully detained staff.

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United Nations Observes International Day for the Right to the Truth on 24 March 2026 (End of March) ▼

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 24 March as the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims on 21 December 2010.
The observance commemorates Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero, a human rights defender in El Salvador who was murdered on 24 March 1980.
The year 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état in Argentina, which initiated a military junta dictatorship lasting from 1976 to 1983.
The Joinet/Orentlicher Principles, formally known as the Updated Set of Principles for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights through Action to Combat Impunity, define the right to truth as an inalienable right.
Historical truth-seeking bodies include the National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons (CONADEP) established in Argentina in 1984 and the Commission for the Clarification of Truth in Colombia in 2017.
The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence is Bernard Duhaime.
The UN Special Rapporteur is preparing a report on negationism, revisionism, and politicization for the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
A report regarding emerging technologies in the context of transitional justice will be submitted for the 81st session of the UNGA.

World Social Work Day observed on the third Tuesday in March; observed on March 17 (Mid of March) ▼

World Social Work Day is observed annually on the third Tuesday in March to recognise the contributions of social workers and social justice advocates.
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) first established the observance in 1983.
The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) later joined the IFSW to make the event a worldwide observance.
The day is currently celebrated in over 140 countries through conferences, public marches, and educational seminars.
The themes for the day are often derived from the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development, which is a ten-year plan developed by international social work bodies.
In 2026, the event will be observed on 17 March, followed by 16 March in 2027 and 21 March in 2028.

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.

Global Tourism Resilience Day observed on February 17 (Mid of February) ▼

Global Tourism Resilience Day is observed annually on February 17.
The day was established by a United Nations General Assembly resolution led by Jamaica and first celebrated on February 17, 2023.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General praised Jamaica’s leadership in initiating the day.
Over 90 countries have supported the Global Tourism Resilience Day initiative.