NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Maharashtra govt collaborates with Meta to launch WhatsApp-based citizen services: The Government of Maharashtra has partnered with Meta (formerly Facebook) during the Mumbai Tech Week 2025.The aim of this collaboration is to provide all citizen services via WhatsApp on a single number, empowering 125 million citizens to access government services from anywhere, at any time.The chatbot, ‘Aaple Sarkar’, will be available in three languages – Marathi, English, and Hindi and will offer service through both text and voice.The chatbot will offer services like addressing grievances, downloading critical documents and certificates, convenience services like booking bus tickets via Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) or Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and providing timely information to farmers and citizens across Maharashtra.
2. Amit Shah inaugurate Workshop on Sustainable Dairy Sector in New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has inaugurated the workshop on sustainability and circularity in the dairy sector in New Delhi.The workshop focused on policies and initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation and the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries aimed at promoting sustainable dairy farming while ensuring economic growth with environmental responsibility.During the workshop, experts from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), industry, and global organisations discussed ways to expand circular dairy practices and explore financing options, carbon credit opportunities, and waste-to-energy solutions.
3. NHRC & MEA to Host ITEC Executive Programme on Human Rights for Global South in New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, will organize the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Executive Capacity Building Programme on human rights in New Delhi.This six-day programme for senior-level functionaries of the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) of the Global South will commence from 3 March.The programme aims to provide insights into various dimensions of human rights and international perspectives and share the NHRC experience to enhance awareness among participants of various NHRIs.It seeks to strengthen South-South cooperation, enhance collaboration and networking, and improve human rights protection mechanisms through comprehensive capacity building and experience sharing.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM Modi chaired NBWL meeting at Sasan Gir on World Wildlife Day: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chaired a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Sasan Gir in Junagadh district of Gujarat on the occasion of World Wildlife Day.The NBWL has 47 members, including the Chief of Army Staff, members from different states, representatives from NGOs working in this field, chief wildlife wardens and secretaries from various states.This board works for the promotion of the conservation and development of wildlife and forests with the Prime Minister as its chairperson.
2. 1 March – Zero Discrimination Day : Zero Discrimination Day is observed annually on March 1st to promote equality and stand against discrimination in all its forms.Theme 2025 – We stand togetherLaunched by UNAIDS in 2014, the day emphasizes the right of every individual to live with dignity, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, health status, disability, or other differences.
3. 1 March – World Seagrass Day: World Seagrass Day is celebrated every year on March 1st to raise awareness about the importance of seagrass ecosystems and the need to conserve them.In May 2022, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/76/265 proclaiming 1 March as World Seagrass Day.
4. 3 March – World Wildlife Day: World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually on March 3rd to raise awareness about the importance of conserving wildlife and their habitats.Theme 2025 – Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet It was initiated by the United Nations in 2013 to celebrate the wonderful animals and plants that inhabit our planet.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. GRSE Signs Landmark MoU with Army for Modular Steel Bridge in Arunachal Pradesh: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd signed an MoU with the Indian Army for the construction of a 130-foot-long Single Lane Modular (SLM) Steel Bridge (70R) in Arunachal Pradesh.In 2022, GRSE earned the distinction of being the only Indian company to receive the Green Channel Certification for Portable Steel Bridges (Bailey Type) from the Indian Army.Earlier, GRSE delivered Modular Bridges to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), apart from several state governments and friendly countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.
2. Exercise Desert Hunt 2025: An integrated Tri-Service Special Forces exercise named Exercise Desert Hunt 2025 was conducted by the Indian Air Force at Air Force Station Jodhpur.The exercise involved elite Para (Special Forces) from the Indian Army, the Marine Commandos from the Indian Navy along with the Garud (Special Forces) from the Indian Air Force.This high-intensity drill was aimed at enhancing interoperability, coordination and synergy among the three Special Forces units to ensure swift and effective response towards emerging security challenges.
SPORTS
1. Chile Open 2025: Indian-Colombian duo claim men’s doubles title: In Tennis, India’s Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli and his Colombian partner Nicolás Barrientos have claimed the men’s doubles title of the Chile Open in Santiago.The Indian- Columbian duo upset top seeds Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni of Argentina, 6-3, 6-2, in straight sets. This is the first title of Rithvik and Nicolas as a team.In the semifinal, the duo defeated the third seeds, Guido Andreozzi of Argentina and Theo Arribage of France 4-6, 7-6, 10-5.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. India’s core sectors’ output grew 4.6% in January: Output in India’s eight core infrastructure sectors, which constitute about 40% of overall industrial production, grew 4.6% in January, mildly slower than the upgraded 4.8% growth recorded in December but still the second highest uptick in six months. The core sectors had grown 4.2% in January 2024.On a sequential basis, however, the Index of Core Industries (ICI) was up 2.4% from December 2024 with a reading of 173, which marks a 10-month high and indicates the highest output level recorded so far in 2024-25. January’s growth was largely driven by a 14.5% surge in cement production and an 8.3% uptick in refinery products.The Commerce and Industry ministry also revised upwards core sectors’ growth for October to 3.8% from the 3.1% growth estimated earlier, and November’s growth to 4.4% from 4.3% reported initially. Steel and electricity generation grew 3.7% and 1.3%, respectively, reflecting the slowest growth in four months for both segments.
2. GST collections jump 9.1% in Feb to ₹1.84 lakh crore: India’s gross Goods and Services Tax, GST, collections jumped 9.1 per cent in February to 1.84 lakh crore rupees in comparison to the same month last year.February marks the 12th consecutive month of over 1.7 lakh crore rupees of collections.As per the data, mop up from Central GST stood at 35,204 crore rupees, State GST at 43,704 crore rupees, Integrated GST at 90,870 crore rupees and compensation cess of 13,868 crore rupees.Total refunds issued during February were 20,889 crore rupees. Net GST collections, after discounting the refunds, for February rose 8.1 per cent to about 1.63 lakh crore rupees.
3. World Bank: India needs 7.8 % growth to become Viksit Bharat by 2047: A new World Bank report, India will need to grow by 7.8 per cent on average over the next 22 years to achieve the country’s aspirations of reaching high-income status by 2047.The new India Country Economic Memorandum titled ‘Becoming a High-Income Economy in a Generation,’ finds that this target is possible.The World Bank classifies the economy based on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. GNI is measured in United States dollars (USD) and is determined using conversion factors derived according to the World Bank Atlas method.The classifications are updated each year on 1st July and are based on the GNI per capita of the previous year.The World Bank classifies the countries into Low Income, Middle Income, and High Income. The Middle income is again subdivided into Lower -Middle Income and Upper -Middle Income.
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