NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Madurai Airport Declared as an International Airport
by the Union Cabinet: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Narendra Modi, approved the
declaration of Madurai Airport in Madurai, Tamil Nadu as an International
Airport.Madurai Airport, situated in the famous temple city of Madurai, is
among the oldest airports in Tamil Nadu, enhancing its role in domestic and
international connectivity.
2. Uttar Pradesh Signs MoU with OneOTT Intertainment Ltd
to Expand High-Speed Broadband under ‘Project Ganga’: The Uttar Pradesh
government signed an initial pact with OneOTT Intertainment Ltd, a
subsidiary of the Hinduja Group, to expand high-speed broadband
connectivity across the state under ‘Project Ganga’.The MoU, signed between the
State Transformation Commission and OneOTT Intertainment Ltd, aims to provide
high-speed internet to over 20 lakh households in the next two to three
years.Under Project Ganga (Government Assisted Network for Growth and
Advancement), the initiative is expected to benefit nearly one crore people and
promote technology-driven employment opportunities for youth in the state.
3. NITI Aayog Partners with Tata Electronics Private
Limited to Boost Electronics and Semiconductor Manufacturing in India: NITI Aayog partnered
with Tata Electronics Private Limited to promote the growth of electronics
manufacturing in India, supporting the country’s industrial development
goals.The partnership aligns with government initiatives like Atmanirbhar
Bharat, aiming to strengthen domestic capabilities in electronics and
semiconductor manufacturing.
4. NHAI Signs MoU with Commercial Vehicle Aggregator
Platforms to Enhance Safety and Efficiency on National Highways: The National
Highways Authority of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with commercial vehicle aggregator platforms to enhance commuting ease,
safety, and efficiency for commercial vehicle drivers and fleet operators on
National Highways in New Delhi.Under the agreement, aggregator platforms will
integrate the Rajmargyatra App and a dedicated Call 1033 feature, enabling
timely safety communication and one-click access to the National Highway
Helpline.The initiative will also include Vishisht Saarthi commercial driver
recognition to encourage safe driving, along with Jan Bhagidari – Driver-Led
Reporting, allowing geo-tagged reporting of National Highway issues to be
integrated with the Rajmargyatra ecosystem for centralized resolution.
5. Kavinder Gupta Sworn in as the 30th Governor of
Himachal Pradesh: Kavinder Gupta took oath as the 30th Governor of Himachal
Pradesh at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Shimla.The oath of office and
secrecy was administered by Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, the Chief
Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
6. Jishnu Dev Varma Sworn in as the New Governor of
Maharashtra:
Jishnu Dev Varma was sworn in as the Governor of Maharashtra at
Darbar Hall, Lok Bhavan, Mumbai. The oath was administered by Justice Devendra
Kumar Upadhyay, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
Varma succeeded Acharya Devvrat, who was holding
additional charge as Maharashtra Governor
7. Gujarat
Launches ‘Lake and Air Watch’ for Urban Environmental Monitoring: Gujarat is strengthening its efforts
toward sustainable urban development with the launch of the ‘Lake and Air
Watch’ initiative under the Gujarat Urban Development Mission (GUDM).
The programme aims to monitor lake health and air quality in real time across
cities. Introduced under the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department of
the state government, the initiative supports the broader vision of building
environmentally resilient and future-ready cities as part of India’s ‘Viksit
Bharat’ mission. Rapid urbanisation has created multiple environmental
challenges in cities, including polluted lakes, declining groundwater recharge
and deteriorating air quality. Urban lakes are increasingly affected by
pollution, siltation and reduced water quality, while densely populated areas
face rising levels of air pollution. The ‘Lake and Air Watch’ initiative seeks
to tackle these issues by integrating monitoring systems across departments,
enabling faster and coordinated responses.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. International Malaria Conference 2026 Held in New
Delhi: The International
Malaria Conference 2026 was held in New Delhi and organised by the
ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research under the Indian Council of Medical
Research.The conference focused on accelerating global efforts for malaria
control and elimination, with the theme: “Discovery, Development and Delivery:
Driving Malaria Elimination and Beyond.”India aims to eliminate malaria by 2030
under the National Framework for Malaria Elimination, highlighting the
country’s commitment to public health goals.
2. Mojtaba Khamenei Appointed as the Third Supreme Leader
of Iran:
Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the third Supreme Leader of the
Islamic Republic of Iran by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, succeeding his
father, Ali Khamenei.His appointment followed the death of former Supreme
Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in airstrikes earlier in the conflict,
creating the vacancy for the country’s highest authority.The leadership
transition marks only the third time in the Islamic Republic’s history that a
new Supreme Leader has been named since its establishment in 1979, highlighting
continuity amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
3. Global
Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems Begins in New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu
inaugurated the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems 2026 in New
Delhi. The three-day international conference will be held at the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Convention Centre with the theme “Driving Progress,
Attaining New Heights.” The event aims to highlight the critical role of women
in agriculture and promote inclusive growth within the global agri-food sector. The conference is being organised to recognise and
strengthen the contribution of women in agriculture and food systems. It seeks
to provide a global platform for discussions on empowering women farmers and
addressing gender gaps in agricultural production, technology access, and decision-making.Union
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will also
attend the inaugural session, reflecting the government’s focus on promoting
inclusive agricultural development. According to ICAR Director General Dr M. L.
Jat, the event is being organised during the United Nations-declared
International Year for Women Farmers in 2026. The theme “Driving Progress,
Attaining New Heights” aligns with the global effort to recognise the role of
women farmers in ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture. The
conference aims to highlight the challenges faced by women in the agricultural
sector and explore ways to strengthen their participation in farming,
agribusiness, and rural entrepreneurship.
4. Rare
Oarfish Sighting Reported Near Cabo San Lucas Coast: Two giant oarfish were recently spotted
near the shoreline of Cabo San Lucas, a coastal city in Mexico, in a rare marine encounter that has
attracted widespread attention. Beachgoers first noticed one oarfish struggling
close to the shore and attempted to guide it back into deeper waters. While
assisting the first fish, another oarfish was spotted nearby, making the
incident even more unusual. Oarfish are deep-sea creatures that are rarely seen
near the ocean surface, making such sightings noteworthy for both scientists
and the public. Oarfish are among the most mysterious fish species in the
ocean. They usually inhabit deep ocean layers at depths of around 3,000 feet
(approximately 900 metres), where sunlight barely penetrates. These fish have
extremely long, ribbon-like bodies with a silvery appearance and a striking red
dorsal crest extending from the head along the back. Oarfish can grow up to
about 30 feet (9 metres) in length, making them the longest bony fish known in
the world’s oceans.
5. Gurudongmar
Lake Tourism Revives After 2023 South Lhonak GLOF: Tourism to Gurudongmar
Lake in North Sikkim has begun to recover after more than two years of
disruption caused by the South Lhonak Lake glacial
lake outburst flood (GLOF) in October
2023. The disaster had severely damaged road infrastructure and washed away
several bridges, cutting off access to the region. With the reopening of the
Chungthang–Lachen road and the inauguration of the newly constructed 400-foot
Taram Chu bridge, authorities have resumed issuing tourist permits for travel
towards Lachen, the key base for visitors heading to the high-altitude lake.
The South Lhonak Lake GLOF in October 2023 caused widespread destruction across
North Sikkim. Several bridges collapsed and large stretches of road were damaged,
disrupting transportation and isolating communities in the Lachen belt. Tourism
activity came to a near halt as access to Gurudongmar Lake became impossible.
The disaster highlighted the vulnerability of Himalayan infrastructure to
climate-induced hazards such as glacial lake outburst floods.
6. HRW
Accuses Israel of Using White Phosphorus in Lebanon: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Israel of unlawfully using white
phosphorus munitions over residential areas in southern Lebanon during recent
military operations. The allegation comes amid escalating tensions along
the Israel–Lebanon border following renewed
clashes involving Hezbollah. According to the rights group, the use
of such munitions in populated areas poses serious risks to civilians and may
violate international humanitarian law. The New York-based organisation stated
that Israeli forces fired artillery shells containing white phosphorus over the
southern Lebanese town of Yohmor on March 3, 2026. HRW reported that it
verified and geolocated several images showing airburst white phosphorus munitions
exploding above residential areas. The images also reportedly showed civil
defence workers responding to fires in homes and vehicles within the town,
indicating damage to civilian property. White phosphorus is a chemical
substance that ignites immediately when exposed to oxygen. Militaries often use
it to produce smoke screens, illuminate battlefields, or mark targets during
operations. However, when used as an incendiary weapon, it can cause severe
burns, respiratory damage, organ failure, and potentially death. Because the
substance burns intensely and spreads quickly, its use in populated areas is
highly controversial and subject to restrictions under international
humanitarian law.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Centre
Approves ₹117.54 Crore Renovation of Kolkata Bascule Bridge: The Union Government has
approved the renovation of the historic Bascule Bridge at the Syama Prasad
Mookerjee Port in Kolkata. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Sarbananda Sonowal cleared the project with an estimated cost of ₹117.54 crore.
The renovation aims to modernise the decades-old bridge and improve cargo and
vehicular movement within the Kolkata Dock System, a key maritime hub in
eastern India. The proposal for the bridge’s renovation was submitted by the Syama
Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, and examined by the Delegated Investment Board
(DIB). The board, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping
and Waterways, reviewed the proposal during a meeting held on February 16,
2026. After appraisal, the project received approval to proceed with the
planned modernisation works.
2. DRDO
and Navy Test Indigenous ADC-150 Air Droppable Container: The Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy have successfully conducted
four in-flight release trials of the indigenous Air Droppable Container
(ADC-150). The trials were carried out from the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft
off the coast of Goa between February 21 and March 1,
2026. Conducted under various extreme release conditions, the successful tests
mark a significant step toward strengthening India’s naval logistics
capabilities during operations at sea. The ADC-150 is an indigenously designed
container developed to deliver payloads of up to 150 kilograms from aircraft to
naval vessels deployed far from the coastline. The system allows rapid delivery
of essential supplies such as critical equipment, spare parts, medicines and
emergency stores. This capability is particularly useful for ships operating in
deep seas that require urgent logistical support during missions or distress
situations.
3. Sheshnaag-150
Swarm Drone Boosts India’s Unmanned Warfare Capability: India is advancing its
unmanned warfare capabilities with the development of the Sheshnaag-150, a
long-range swarming attack drone currently undergoing testing. Developed by
Bengaluru-based defence startup Newspace Research Technologies, the drone
represents India’s effort to build cost-effective and flexible unmanned systems
similar to those increasingly used in modern conflicts. The system completed
its maiden flight about a year ago and is being evaluated as part of India’s
evolving strategy in drone warfare. Modern conflicts have highlighted the
strategic impact of relatively inexpensive drones. Platforms such as Iran’s Shahed-136 and the United States’ LUCAS unmanned aerial vehicle have
demonstrated that low-cost drones can deliver significant battlefield effects
by striking infrastructure, military vehicles and logistics networks. These
systems allow armed forces to conduct precision strikes without deploying
expensive fighter aircraft or missiles. India’s Sheshnaag-150 aims to replicate
this cost-effective capability through indigenous technology and swarm-based
operations.
SPORTS
1. BCCI Announces Record ₹131 Crore Cash Reward for
Suryakumar Yadav and India’s T20 World Cup-Winning Team: The Board of Control for
Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a record ₹131 crore cash reward for
Suryakumar Yadav and the T20 World Cup-winning Indian team following their
historic triumph in Ahmedabad. This reward is the highest ever in Indian
cricket, surpassing the ₹125 crore awarded to Rohit Sharma and his team after
winning the T20 World Cup in Barbados two years ago. For context, India’s
Champions Trophy-winning team received ₹58 crore, and last year’s Women’s World
Cup-winning team was awarded ₹51 crore, highlighting the scale of the new
reward.
2. India
and New Zealand Plan Expanded Sports Cooperation in Centenary Year: India and New Zealand have initiated discussions to
expand bilateral sports cooperation as 2026 marks 100 years of sporting
relations between the two countries. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and
Sports Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level ministerial meeting in New Delhi with
a New
Zealand sports delegation to
explore new avenues of collaboration in sports development, training and
innovation. The dialogue highlighted sports diplomacy as an important component
of the broader India–New Zealand partnership. The year 2026 commemorates the
centenary of sporting ties between the two nations, tracing back to the Indian
Army hockey tour to New Zealand in 1926. That historic visit marked one of the
earliest sporting engagements between India and New Zealand and laid the
foundation for long-standing sporting exchanges. Building on this legacy, both
sides are exploring initiatives to deepen engagement between their sporting
institutions and athletes.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. FSI
Halts AI-Based Anavaran Deforestation Alert System: The Forest Survey of
India (FSI), the central
agency responsible for monitoring the country’s forest resources, has stopped
issuing fortnightly deforestation alerts through its AI-based Anavaran portal.
The system, which provided near-real-time alerts on forest cover loss using
satellite data and machine learning, has not been updated since November 2025.
Active monitoring through the portal reportedly ceased in January 2026, halting
the regular alerts that were previously sent to states every 15 days for
targeted field inspections. The Anavaran-Deforestation Alert System was
operational from January 2024 and used satellite imagery and advanced
algorithms to detect changes in forest cover. The portal analysed
before-and-after images to identify new patches of deforestation and sent
precise location alerts to state forest departments. The system relied on
Google Earth Engine for data processing and was designed to strengthen
real-time monitoring of deforestation across India. Despite its operational use
for nearly two years, officials say the portal functioned only as a pilot
project and its effectiveness is currently under review.
2. ESA’s
Proba-3 Mission Faces Setback After Losing Contact with Coronagraph: The European Space
Agency’s ambitious Proba-3 mission to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere has
encountered a major technical setback after losing contact with one of its two
spacecraft. The mission aims to capture detailed images of the Sun’s corona by
creating artificial solar eclipses in space. Scientists are now investigating
an anomaly that caused the Proba-3 Coronagraph spacecraft to lose attitude
control, interrupting communication with mission control. The problem began in
mid-February 2026 when an onboard anomaly triggered a progressive loss of
attitude control in the Coronagraph spacecraft. Attitude control refers to a
satellite’s ability to maintain its orientation in space. Due to this failure,
the spacecraft’s solar panels stopped facing the Sun, preventing it from
generating sufficient power. As a result, the onboard battery rapidly
discharged, forcing the satellite to enter survival mode where only essential
systems remain active and communication with Earth is halted.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. SBI Named Strongest Indian Bank with AAA+ Brand
Rating: State
Bank of India (SBI) has been named the strongest Indian bank and the
16th strongest globally, earning the AAA+ brand strength rating,
highlighting its reputation, customer trust, and brand resilience in the global
banking sector.HDFC Bank remains India’s most valuable banking brand, valued at
$12.4 billion, despite a 7% YoY decline, and improved its global brand strength
ranking, reflecting strong customer confidence and influence.ICICI Bank showed
a 19% YoY increase in brand value to $5.5 billion and improved its global rank
to 76th, indicating a strong growth trajectory among Indian private sector
banks.
2. NABARD
Launches National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
(NABARD), in collaboration with the Gates Foundation and Dalberg Advisors, has
launched the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge to strengthen India’s
climate resilience framework for rural regions. The initiative aims to build
foundational technological layers of a National Climate Stack that will
integrate diverse climate datasets and enable more effective climate
intelligence for agriculture, rural finance, and public planning.
India is increasingly facing climate-related risks such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, and cyclones, which pose serious threats to agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. Although climate data availability has improved over the years, forecasting and risk management systems remain fragmented across different platforms. The new initiative aims to bridge these gaps by creating interoperable and accessible climate data systems. The National Climate Stack seeks to integrate multiple climate datasets and models into a unified technological framework. According to NABARD Chairman Shaji K V, the challenge lies in the fact that climate data currently exists across isolated platforms and websites, limiting its effective use. The proposed stack aims to bring together these data streams into a seamless system that can support predictive analysis and real-time decision-making. The initiative aligns with India’s broader vision of using digital technology to build resilient rural ecosystems.
