NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Bharat Tribes Fest 2026 Begins in New Delhi,
Showcasing Tribal Culture and Entrepreneurship: Bharat
Tribes Fest 2026 commenced in New Delhi, showcasing tribal artisans,
entrepreneurs, and cultural performers from across India.The festival
is organised by Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of
India (TRIFED) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.Union
Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram inaugurated the festival in the presence
of Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey.A key highlight is the
Bharat Tribes Business Conclave, scheduled from March 19 to 27, focusing on
promoting tribal trade and entrepreneurship.
2. Cabinet Approves ₹33,660 Crore BHAVYA Scheme to
Develop 100 Industrial Parks Across India: The Union Cabinet has approved
the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) with an outlay
of ₹33,660 crore to boost industrial development in India.Under the
scheme, 100 industrial parks will be developed across the country, each
spanning 100 to 1,000 acres.The scheme will be implemented by
the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) in
collaboration with state governments and private sector players.BHAVYA follows
the industrial corridor model (building on NICDP) and provides up to 25%
support for external infrastructure, ensuring strong connectivity with
transport networks.
3. Pushkar S Dhami Celebrates Phool Dei Festival Marking
Arrival of Spring in Uttarakhand: Pushkar Singh Dhami celebrated
the traditional folk festival Phool Dei in Uttarakhand.The festival marks
the arrival of the spring season and is considered a Spring/Harvest Festival.
It is mainly celebrated in the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, reflecting the rich
cultural traditions of the state.
4. Ministry of Ayush Launches “Yoga 365” Campaign to
Promote Daily Yoga Practice: Ministry
of Ayush launched the “Yoga 365” campaign to promote yoga as a daily
practice instead of a once-a-year activity, unveiled during Yoga Mahotsav–2026
at Vigyan Bhawan.The initiative aims to bridge the gap between high awareness
(95% in rural and 96% in urban areas) and actual practice, promoting yoga for
physical, mental, and emotional well-being.The campaign builds on initiatives
like Y-Break and Common Yoga Protocol, supporting the growing global movement
of yoga with over 26 crore participants in International Day of Yoga 2025.
5. Narcotics Control Bureau Marks 41st Raising Day (17th
March) with Nationwide Campaign for Drug-Free India: Narcotics Control
Bureau marked its 41st Raising Day, celebrating over four decades of
efforts against drug trafficking and substance abuse in India.Nationwide youth
mobilisation programmes for a Drug-Free India were held at around 40 locations,
including Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Chennai.
6. Meghalaya
Extends GHADC Term Amid Election Row: The Meghalaya government has extended the tenure
of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) by six months following
unrest in the Garo Hills region. The decision was taken during a State Cabinet
meeting held in Shillong, amid protests over the participation of non-tribals
in the council’s electoral process. The extension comes in response to growing
tensions and public protests demanding restrictions on non-tribal participation
in GHADC elections. The issue has triggered significant political debate in the
region, with local groups asserting that the council should remain exclusively
representative of tribal communities.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India–Indonesia Launch Joint Restoration of Prambanan
Temple in Yogyakarta: India and Indonesia have launched a joint
initiative to restore the Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta, strengthening
cultural cooperation.Prambanan Temple is the largest Hindu temple complex in
Indonesia, located in Sleman near Yogyakarta, and is also known as Roro
Jonggrang (“Temple of the Slender Virgin”).Built in the 9th century by the
Sanjaya Dynasty, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti—Shiva, Vishnu,
and Brahma.The complex comprises around 240 temples with advanced architecture
and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
2. Asia Africa Agri Alliance Formed to Boost Agricultural
Trade, Investment and Cooperation: Asia Africa Agri Alliance has been formed as
a new institutional platform to enhance agricultural trade,
cooperation, investment, and technology exchange between the two regions.It is
established as a Section 8 not-for-profit institution, aiming to build structured
frameworks for trade partnerships, policy alignment, and agri-food value chain
development.Asia and Africa together contribute over 40% of global agricultural
production, with bilateral agri-trade exceeding $90 billion annually,
highlighting the alliance’s strategic importance.
3. Argentina Withdraws from World Health Organisation: Argentina has
officially withdrawn from the World Health Organisation, following a
similar move by the United States.The withdrawal was initially announced in
February last year and later formalised, with the US completing its exit in
January.The decision was taken under the government of Javier Milei, marking a
significant shift in global health cooperation.
4. Vikram K. Doraiswami Appointed as India’s Next
Ambassador to China: Vikram
K. Doraiswami has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to China,
as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs.He is currently serving as
India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and is expected to take up the
new assignment soon.Pradeep Kumar Rawat is the current Ambassador to China,
while Doraiswami has earlier served as Ambassador to Bangladesh, South Korea,
and Uzbekistan.
5. Anutin Charnvirakul Re-elected as 32nd Prime Minister
of Thailand: Anutin
Charnvirakul has been re-elected as the Prime Minister of
Thailand after a parliamentary vote, becoming the country’s 32nd Prime
Minister.He is the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party and continues to play a key
role in Thailand’s political landscape.
6. Kaveh
Madani Wins 2026 Stockholm Water Prize: Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations
University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), has been
awarded the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize, one of the most prestigious global
honours in water research. The announcement was made on 18 March 2026 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, ahead
of World
Water Day, with the award to be
presented in August during World Water Week in Stockholm. At 44, Madani is the
youngest recipient in the prize’s 35-year history. He is also the first United
Nations official and the first former politician to receive the award. The
prize committee recognised his work for combining scientific research with
policy engagement, diplomacy, and public outreach, often carried out under
challenging political circumstances.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India
Eyes European Sixth-Gen Fighter Jet Collaboration: India is considering
joining one of Europe’s major sixth-generation fighter aircraft
programmes—Future Combat Air System (FCAS) or Global Combat Air Programme
(GCAP)—as part of its strategy to enhance future air combat capabilities. A
Parliamentary panel has recommended evaluating such partnerships to accelerate
access to advanced aerospace technologies while complementing domestic defence
initiatives. FCAS is a collaborative project led by France, Germany and Spain, aimed at developing a networked combat
ecosystem that integrates a next-generation fighter with drones and digital
warfare systems. GCAP, led by the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan, focuses on building a stealth
sixth-generation fighter expected to enter service by the mid-2030s. Both
programmes represent cutting-edge advancements in air combat design and
integration.
2. Indian
Navy Launches IOS SAGAR Initiative 2026: The Indian Navy has commenced the second edition of
the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative from 16 March 2026, reinforcing India’s
commitment to maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. The initiative
follows India’s recent assumption of chairmanship of the Indian
Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and involves
participation from 16 member nations, highlighting growing regional engagement.
The IOS SAGAR initiative is aligned with India’s broader vision of Security and
Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). It also supports the expanded MAHASAGAR
framework, which focuses on mutual and holistic advancement in maritime
security. The programme is designed as an operational engagement platform to
strengthen naval cooperation and regional stability.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. India Successfully Tests Indigenous Floating LiDAR
Buoy System for Advanced Ocean and Wind Monitoring: India successfully
tested an indigenously developed Floating LiDAR Buoy System, marking a
major milestone in ocean observation and atmospheric data collection, conducted
off the coast of Muttom.The system, developed by the National Institute of
Ocean Technology (NIOT), uses LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to
measure wind speed, direction, and variations over offshore environments.It
works by emitting laser pulses from a floating buoy and can measure wind
profiles up to 300 metres above sea level, offering highly accurate real-time
atmospheric data.
2. Ladakh
Magmatic Arc Reveals Tectonic Evolution: Scientists have decoded the evolution of the Ladakh
Magmatic Arc (LMA) in the north-western Himalaya, uncovering a geological
record spanning nearly 130 million years. This arc provides crucial evidence of
the long-term interaction between the Indian and Eurasian plates, including
subduction, magmatic development and eventual continental collision. The
findings shed light on processes that predate the rise of the Himalaya, when
the present-day Ladakh region lay above the ancient Neo-Tethys Ocean. Before the
Himalayan uplift, Ladakh existed above the Neo-Tethys Ocean, where oceanic
crust was being forced beneath the Eurasian margin in a process called
subduction. This led to the formation of the Ladakh Magmatic Arc, a belt of
igneous rocks developed between the Jurassic and Eocene periods, roughly 201 to
34 million years ago. The arc represents a classic subduction-related volcanic
system that recorded continuous tectonic activity beneath the ocean.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Axis Bank to Infuse ₹1,500 Crore into Axis Finance to
Boost Growth: Axis Bank has approved an investment of
₹1,500 crore in its wholly owned subsidiary Axis Finance (AFL) through a
rights issue, to be completed by March 31, 2027, after approval from the
Reserve Bank of India.The bank will retain 100% shareholding in AFL both before
and after the capital infusion, aimed at strengthening the NBFC’s growth.
2. India
Initiates Probe into Ethyl Chloroformate Imports: India has launched an
anti-dumping investigation into imports of ethyl chloroformate from China following allegations by domestic
manufacturer Paushak Ltd that the chemical is being sold at unfairly low
prices. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry, has initiated the probe to assess whether such imports
have caused material injury to the domestic industry. Paushak Ltd, identified
as India’s sole producer of ethyl chloroformate, has filed the complaint
claiming that increasing imports from China have led to price suppression in
the domestic market. The company has stated that it accounts for the entire
domestic production of the chemical and has suffered financial losses due to
underpriced imports. The DGTR has accepted the firm’s standing as the domestic
industry for the purpose of the investigation.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Sahitya Akademi Announces Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025
Honouring Excellence in 24 Languages: Sahitya Akademi, under the
Ministry of Culture, announced the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025 to
honour excellence in Indian literature.The awards recognise outstanding
literary works in 24 Indian languages, promoting linguistic and cultural
diversity.
8 books of poetry, 4 novels, 6
books of short stories, 2 essays, 1 literary criticism, 1 autobiography and 2
memoirs have won the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025.The award includes an engraved
copper plaque designed by Satyajit Ray, a ceremonial shawl, and a cash prize of
₹1,00,000.
2. Chandrasekaran Conferred Honorary Knighthood by United Kingdom: Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group, has been awarded an honorary knighthood by the United Kingdom for strengthening India–UK business ties.He was conferred the title of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE), recognising his outstanding contribution to global business relations.
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