Mar 23 – Mar 29
From farm to software, how fresh WTO talks expose deep faultlines between rich and developing nations
The 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) took place from March 26–29, 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon — the first Ministerial Conference ever he...
In a first, 5 Sahiwal calves have been born through advanced IVF tech. Here’s why this matters
The ICAR–Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, has achieved a landmark breakthrough by successful...
Artemis 2 launch: How NASA’s Moon missions aim to prepare the ground for deeper space exploration
NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch no earlier than April 1, 2026, carrying four astronauts on a free-return trajectory around the Mo...
WTO talks stalled going into final day amid US-India e-commerce deadlock
WTO MC14 in Yaounde, Cameroon entered its final day (March 29, 2026) with talks stalled primarily over the US-India deadlock on the e-commer...
U.S., Israeli strikes hit Iran port city near Strait of Hormuz: state media
Joint US-Israeli strikes hit a quay at Bandar Khamir, an Iranian port city near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, on 29 March 2026, killing fi...
Voice of Global South: India bats strongly to shield WTO’s core mandates at MC14
At the conclusion of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon, India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal described India...
Pakistan will be honoured to facilitate talks between U.S. and Iran: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar (also Deputy Prime Minister) announced that Pakistan is ready and "honoured" to facilitate di...
2 Indian, 1 Pakistani ships cross Strait of Hormuz
Two Indian LPG carriers belonging to the state-owned Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) — Shivalik and Nanda Devi — crossed the Strait of H...
India blocks China-backed investment pact at WTO MC14 in solo push-back
At the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaounde, India became the sole vocal opponent to block the incorporation of the China-backed Inves...
Two more India-bound LPG tankers pass Hormuz as Iran allows ‘non-hostile’ ships
Two LPG tankers — BW Tyr and BW Elm — carrying approximately 94,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas successfully transited the Strait of H...
A Bill that secures IPS officers’ role in deputation
The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on March 25, 2026 by Minister of State...
PM-KUSUM 2.0 must address the overdependence on State procurement
Analysis of PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) points to its central structural weakness: implementation ...
India's economy shows early signs of moderation amid West Asia crisis, despite strong start to 2026
The Finance Ministry's March 2026 Monthly Economic Review warns that India's economic momentum, which was strong through February 2026, is s...
Early economic data for March 2026 shows ‘moderation in economic momentum’: Finance Ministry
The Finance Ministry's Monthly Economic Review for March 2026 reported that early high-frequency indicators show a "moderation in economic m...
One month of Israel-U.S. war on Iran: A timeline
The US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, 2026, with joint strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, air defences, missile sy...
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu launches Digi Yatra at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu launched Digi Yatra at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, extending the face-biometric seamless travel...
Economists divided over impact of excise revision on States
The central government revised fuel excise duties on March 26, 2026, cutting the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on petrol by ₹10/litr...
Sri Lankan President thanks India for sending 38,000MT fuel amid West Asia crisis
Sri Lanka's President publicly thanked India for supplying 38,000 metric tonnes of fuel — comprising 20,000 MT of diesel and 18,000 MT of pe...
Sustained rise in crude oil prices may hit remittances, stoke inflation: Finmin report
The Finance Ministry's Monthly Economic Review warned that a sustained rise in crude oil prices could moderate India's remittance inflows, g...
India Backs Russian Weapons as Part of $25 Billion Purchase
India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared procurement proposals worth ₹2.38 lakh crore (...
China Urges Philippines to Stabilize Ties Amid Maritime Row
China and the Philippines held two days of formal diplomatic consultations at Quanzhou in Fujian province, China on 28–29 March 2026 — the f...
IBC reforms: Government moves to fix insolvency delays
The Union Cabinet approved a comprehensive set of amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, accepting all recommendation...
Govt eases kerosene rules for quick household distribution amid LPG supply crunch due to West Asia war
The central government relaxed petroleum safety and licensing rules to enable faster kerosene distribution to households across 21 states an...
WTO’s fisheries pact: India for 25 year transition period, stronger disciplines on distant-water industrial fishing
At the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon (March 26–29, 2026), fisheries subsidies were one of the key agenda items...
Despite assurance from Centre, MGNREGS workers denied work
Thousands of rural workers across states including Bihar and Rajasthan have been denied work under MGNREGS, with some district officials inf...
Maoist campaign saw continuity across regimes, sharper push recently: Former MHA official
A former Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) official gave a detailed assessment of India's anti-Maoist campaign, noting that the overall strateg...
How will India’s new Nationally Determined Contribution accelerate climate action?
The Union Cabinet approved India's new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the period 2031–2035, to be submitted to the United Nati...
Finance Ministry flags rising external risks as trade deficit and CAD expand
The Finance Ministry's Monthly Economic Review flagged a sharp widening of India's merchandise trade deficit, which expanded to USD 27.1 bil...
Report highlights steps taken to mitigate risks posed by offshore Virtual Asset Service Providers
A report highlighted India's multi-pronged approach to mitigating risks posed by offshore Virtual Asset Service Providers (oVASPs) — cryptoc...
West Asia conflict may take pace off India's growth; CEA Nageswaran flags impact on inflation, fiscal deficit
Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran, in the government's monthly economic review for March 2026, warned that the ongoing West Asia c...
India sends 38,000 MT petroleum to Sri Lanka amid global energy crisis
India dispatched an emergency shipment of 38,000 metric tonnes (MT) of petroleum products to Sri Lanka — comprising approximately 20,000 MT ...
Govt ramps up measures to ensure fuel, LPG supplies amid Hormuz disruption
The Central Government announced a comprehensive set of measures to secure fuel and cooking gas supplies for India following the closure of ...
WTO members try to close gap between US, India on e-commerce tariff moratorium
At WTO MC14 in Yaounde, several member countries attempted to act as mediators between the United States and India to resolve the impasse on...
FCRA Bill emerges as poll issue in Kerala; UDF, LDF seek withdrawal
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2026, introduced in the Lok Sabha on 25 March 2026 by Minister of State for Home Affair...
India proposes “new approaches” for farm talks at WTO consistent with Doha mandate
At the Fourteenth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, India called for a permanent solution on Public Stockholding (PSH)...
WTO MC: Members intensify talks on e-commerce duty moratorium extension at Yaounde
On the final day of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon, member countries intensified efforts to bridge differen...
Piyush Goyal meets UK, EU, NZ, Canada trade ministers at WTO MC14 sidelines
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a series of bilateral meetings with trade ministers from the UK, EU, New Zealand, and Canad...
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to visit Canada in May for trade talks
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed he will lead a major Indian business delegation to Canada in May 2026 for trade talks,...
WTO talks near deal on reform roadmap amid US-India e-commerce deadlock
At the Fourteenth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, trade ministers were close to agreeing on a reform roadmap for the...
Rules finalised, rollout of all 4 labour codes likely in April
Final rules for all four labour codes have been notified and full implementation is expected from April 1, 2026, marking a historic consolid...
Israel-Iran war: Remittances, rupee at risk; fiscal strain may rise, warns SBI Funds Management report
An SBI Funds Management report warned that the West Asia conflict poses multi-dimensional risks to India's external sector and public financ...
IONS MARITIME EXERCISE (IMEX) TTX 2026 HELD AT SOUTHERN NAVAL COMMAND, KOCHI
The Indian Navy hosted the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Maritime Exercise (IMEX) Tabletop Exercise (TTX) 2026 at the Maritime Warfare...
Israel-Iran war: India’s economy shows early strain; CEA warns of 'significant' hit to growth, inflation, balances in March review
Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran's March review has flagged that the Israel-Iran war poses a "significant" combined risk to India...
Parliamentary committee backs age-restrictions for social media platforms
A parliamentary committee has backed the introduction of age-based restrictions on social media platforms for children and adolescents in In...
Indus Water Treaty suspension speeding up projects, govt says J-K hydropower capacity to rise 46%
The Government of India has stated that the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan is accelerating hydropower development...
Strait of Hormuz: Who gets through, who doesn’t — and can Iran charge ships for passage?
Iran has drafted legislation to impose tolls on vessels seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with reports of individual fees r...
Aligning MSP with the real cost of farming: Lessons from Maharashtra
A policy analysis piece highlights the gap between the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by the government and the actual comprehensive ...
Bio-isobutanol : India’s answer to energy security for diesel economy
India is actively exploring bio-isobutanol as an alternative blending agent for diesel — filling the critical gap left by ethanol, which can...
France to host ‘No Money for Terror’ conference later this year as part of its G7 presidency
France will host the fifth edition of the 'No Money for Terror' (NMFT) Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing on May 19, 2026...
Two ships with petroleum products for India crossing Strait of Hormuz, more expected to follow: Sources
Two India-flagged merchant vessels carrying petroleum products for India are crossing the Strait of Hormuz, with more expected to follow, ac...
India signals openness to extending tariff-free deal on e-commerce, two diplomats say
At MC14 in Yaoundé, Cameroon (March 26–29, 2026), Indian diplomats privately signalled openness to extending the WTO moratorium on customs d...
Government revises PM e-DRIVE scheme, sets new deadlines for e-scooters, e-rickshaws
The Ministry of Heavy Industries officially revised the PM e-DRIVE scheme, setting differentiated deadlines for EV incentive eligibility: el...
PM E-DRIVE extends EV incentives for two-wheelers till July 2026; e-rickshaws gain till 2028
The Ministry of Heavy Industries revised guidelines under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM e-DRIVE) sc...
Thailand PM says reached deal with Iran for vessels to transit Hormuz Strait
Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on March 28, 2026, that Thailand has reached a diplomatic agreement with Iran allowi...
India relaxes rules for some state-run firms to procure critical equipment from China
The Government of India issued an order on March 27, 2026, allowing select state-run companies to procure critical equipment from Chinese su...
‘Area behind Charminar used as urinal’: House panel flags state of India’s monuments, staff crunch
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture tabled a report on the Ministry of Culture's budget for 2026-27, flag...
WTO is relevant, necessary guardrails must in place before plurilaterals’ inclusion: India
At the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) held in Yaoundé, Cameroon (March 26–29, 2026), India articulated its position that plurilatera...
Rajya Sabha clears Finance Bill 2026 | Excise duty cut to not burden citizens, says FM; poll move: Opposition
The Rajya Sabha cleared the Finance Bill 2026, completing Parliament's approval of the Union Budget's legislative framework ahead of the new...
Prolonged disruption in West Asia to have global credit implications: Moody’s
Moody's has warned that a prolonged disruption in West Asia — particularly to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz — would trigger sustai...
In photos: A pesticide tragedy that haunts an Indian state
A photographic report revisits the endosulfan pesticide tragedy in Kasargod district of Kerala, where aerial spraying of endosulfan over cas...
Rs 2.38 lakh cr-defence push: DAC clears 5 S-400 missile systems from Russia, transport aircraft
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on March 27, 2026 approved acquisition proposals worth Rs 2.38 lakh crore, one of the largest single-d...
A shade of dark: On the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 13, 2026, seeking to amend the pare...
NIA gets 10-day custody of 7 foreign nationals held for suspected Myanmar links
A special NIA court remanded seven foreign nationals — six Ukrainian citizens and one American — to 10–11 days of NIA custody in a case invo...
India signs ₹858-crore defence deals with Russian, U.S. firms
India's Ministry of Defence signed two contracts totalling Rs 858 crore at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi on March 27, 2026. The first contrac...
Hoping to paper cracks in BRICS over war, New Delhi sends out invitations for FMs’ meet and Summit
India, as BRICS Chair for 2026, sent invitations for the BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting and the main Leaders' Summit — signalling the form...
5 India-bound LPG ships stay anchored near Hormuz Strait
Five large LPG tankers carrying a combined cargo of over 1.7 lakh tonnes (approximately 230,000 metric tonnes) of liquefied petroleum gas re...
PM calls for ‘Team India’ effort in meet with CMs over West Asia crisis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a virtual meeting with Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors of states and Union Territories to revi...
UN Creates Task Force Aimed at Addressing Hormuz Closure
The United Nations has established a dedicated task force to address the humanitarian consequences arising from the effective closure of the...
Trade deal with India not far-off, but there are still gaps: U.S. official
A senior US official stated that an India-US bilateral trade agreement is "not far off" but acknowledged that significant gaps remain in the...
Stronger trade corridors and supply chains needed, says Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Paris, argued that the uncertainties created by the...
Centre to borrow ₹8.2 trillion in FY27 first half; no impact of Iran war — yet
The Finance Ministry announced that the central government will borrow Rs 8.20 trillion (Rs 8.20 lakh crore) in the first half of FY27 (Apri...
In reset of bilateral ties, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister expected to visit India in April
Bangladesh's Foreign Minister is expected to visit India on April 7, 2026 — the first high-level visit from Dhaka to New Delhi since Prime M...
Courier export value limit to be scrapped
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has removed the per-consignment value cap on exports made through courier services, effectiv...
Lok Sabha to discuss govt’s efforts to end Naxal problem on March 30
The Lok Sabha has listed a discussion on "efforts to free the country from Left Wing Extremism" under Rule 193 of the Rules of Procedure and...
Press Note 3 of 2020 amendment provides for beneficial ownership definition: Govt to Parliament
The government informed Parliament that the 2026 amendment to Press Note 3 (PN3) of 2020 formally defines "beneficial ownership" for FDI pur...
India may face credit stress if Gulf conflict drags on: Moody's
Moody's Ratings identified India as "highly vulnerable" to a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, warning of rising credit stress for ...
India, US review next steps in trade pact talks
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (...
RBI tightens norms on net open positions to curb rupee’s slide
The Reserve Bank of India directed authorised dealer banks to limit their net open position (NOP) on the rupee in the foreign exchange marke...
India, Europe eye deeper ties as PM Modi plans May-June visits
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Oslo, Norway in May 2026 for the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, where leaders of all five Nordi...
Tariff cuts fail to revive US demand for Indian export; Policy uncertainty, Section 301 probe delay recovery in shrimp, textiles
Indian exports to the United States are struggling to recover despite the India-US bilateral trade deal announced in February 2026 that redu...
Indian ships face GPS jams, mine alerts in Hormuz
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has been broadcasting warnings over maritime VHF channels, declaring the Strait of Hormuz ...
Freedom of navigation important for global economic security: EAM Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Paris, underscored that freedom of navigation is i...
Def council clears Rs 2.4L cr proposals for procurement of more S-400 units, transport aircraft, desi Bofors
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs 2.38 ...
Defence ministry inks Rs 445cr deal for Tunguska missile systems with Russia, signs Rs 413cr P8I jet maintenance contract with Boeing
India's Ministry of Defence signed two contracts worth a combined Rs 858 crore on March 27, 2026 at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi. The Rs 445...
NCERT reset, AI push: Pradhan spells out education roadmap
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan outlined India's education roadmap centred on NCERT restructuring and AI integration, responding...
Explained: The Transgender Persons Amendment Bill and the debate over self-determination
Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, amending the 2019 parent Act The Bill deletes Section...
Oscillation trial of India’s first Hydrogen trainset completed: Ashwini Vaishnaw
India's first hydrogen-powered trainset has successfully completed its oscillation trial, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced — a cr...
What Iran’s drone blitz says about the future of warfare
Iran has deployed mass drone swarms — primarily variants of its Shahed-series loitering munitions — in its military campaign against US and ...
Prolonged West Asia conflict to cut growth in Asia by 1.3 points, spike inflation by 3.2 points over 2026-27: ADB
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has warned that a prolonged and severe West Asia conflict could reduce growth in developing Asia and the Pa...
Trump’s Iran war pushes India to rekindle old friendship with Russia
India and Russia have revived talks on a direct LNG supply deal, with a verbal agreement reached during a March 19 meeting between Russian D...
Arctic winter sea ice extent record low for two consecutive years
Arctic winter sea ice reached its annual maximum extent on March 15, 2026 — just 14.29 million square kilometres, matching the record low se...
Indian exports to West Asia come to a near-halt four weeks into the crisis
Indian exports to West Asia have nearly ceased four weeks after the US-Israel strikes on Iran (February 28, 2026), with exporters facing a c...
Defence Acquisition Council approves proposals worth ₹2.38 lakh crore
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on March 27, 2026, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) f...
Govt hikes commercial LPG allocation to 70% of pre-war levels, in sign of easing supply constraints
The Petroleum Ministry raised states' commercial (non-domestic) LPG allocation to 70% of pre-West Asia conflict levels — an increase of 20 p...
Indian farmers’ woes may rise as 50% of India’s key reservoirs half empty
About 50% of India's 166 major reservoirs monitored by the Central Water Commission (CWC) are storing less than half their capacity as of Ma...
New butterfly species recorded in Arunachal named after Zubeen Garg
A new butterfly species, Euthalia zubeengargi, has been recorded in the Basar region of Leparada district, Arunachal Pradesh, and named afte...
India faces mounting pressure on investment pact at WTO as Türkiye withdraws objection
At the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Türkiye announced it was withdrawing its objection to the Investment F...
Government sanctions ₹31,000 crore to fence Myanmar border
The Union government has sanctioned ₹31,000 crore for fencing the entire 1,643-km India-Myanmar international border, with the Cabinet Commi...
Centre cuts excise duty by Rs 10/litre to absorb global oil shock, levies export tax to steady supply
The Central Government announced a reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre and simultaneously imposed an export tax o...
India’s fourth S-400 system ready in Russia, undergoing final testing before delivery
India's fourth S-400 Triumf (Sudarshan) air defence squadron has completed assembly in Russia and is undergoing final factory acceptance tes...
India's carbon emissions in 2025 grew at slowest rate in two decades: CREA analysis
India's carbon dioxide emissions grew by just 0.7% in 2025, the slowest rate of increase in over two decades, excluding the pandemic year 20...
U.S. weighs sending up to 10,000 troops to West Asia: reports
The United States is reportedly weighing the deployment of up to 10,000 additional troops to West Asia, as the month-long US-Israeli air cam...
Rupee slumps to record low past ₹94 per dollar, set for worst fiscal in more than a decade
The Indian rupee fell past ₹94 per US dollar on March 27, 2026, touching an intraday low of ₹94.82 — a fresh all-time record low. The rupee ...
India greenlights procurement of 5 more S-400 air defence systems from Russia
India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on March 27, 2026, granted Acceptance of Necessity (Ao...
Cloud seeding, early warning, protected area expansion: How Saudi Arabia restored 1 million hectares of degraded land
Saudi Arabia has successfully restored one million hectares of degraded land, achieving one of the largest dryland restoration milestones gl...
India, Mauritius, Pakistan: Bangladesh Foreign Minister to embark on 3-nation tour in April
Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain is scheduled to embark on a three-nation tour in April 2026, visiting India, Mauriti...
Develop indigenous Web browser, grab cash prizes
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC), offering a tot...
Excise duty cut on petrol, diesel; hike in export duties to cost exchequer Rs 5,500 cr in fortnight
The Central Government sharply reduced the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on petrol from ₹13 per litre to ₹3 per litre, and on diesel...
India levies duties on diesel, jet fuel exports amid oil supply threat due to US-Iran war
The central government imposed a fresh export duty of ₹21.5 per litre on diesel and ₹29.5 per litre on aviation turbine fuel (ATF), reinstat...
Goyal holds talks with USTR Jamieson Greer; discusses next steps in India-US BTA negotiations
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the WTO's 14th Minis...
Jan Vishwas Bill: Changes made to fines under DDA Act
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of State for Law and Justice, proposing ame...
West Asia crisis, sea route disruptions hit India’s coffee exports to the region, Europe, U.S.
Approximately 300 containers of Indian coffee exports are stranded at various ports or moving slowly through the Strait of Hormuz, as the on...
China launches two 'reciprocal' probes into US trade practices
China's Ministry of Commerce announced on March 27, 2026, that it has launched two formal "reciprocal" trade investigations into US practice...
Middle East crisis: Rajnath Singh to head inter-ministerial group to monitor conflict-linked issues
The Union government has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to monitor issues arising fro...
RBI plans shared liability for digital frauds, pushes open card ecosystem in Vision 2028
The Reserve Bank of India's Payments Vision 2028 proposes a shared responsibility framework for unauthorised digital payment transactions, d...
Unemployment rate falls to 3.1% in 2025; labour participation and wages improve: PLFS
India's unemployment rate dropped to 3.1% in calendar year 2025, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), marking a significant...
Standing committee on labour directs govt to track placement data on NCS portal
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development, chaired by Basavaraj Bommai, directed the government to syst...
Union Budget 2026 gets Parliament nod; Finance Bill approved
Parliament approved the Finance Bill 2026, formally completing the legislative process for the Union Budget 2026-27 presented by Finance Min...
Synergy, Team India spirit: What was discussed in key PM Modi-CMs meet amid Iran war
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a virtual meeting with Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors of all states and Union Territories on ...
Army’s Southern Command conducts fusion drill to boost military-civil coordination
The Indian Army's Southern Command conducted a series of Military-Civil Fusion exercises as part of a "Military Civil Fusion Abhiyan" spanni...
Payments Vision 2028
The Reserve Bank of India released Payments Vision 2028, providing strategic direction for the development of India's payment and settlement...
RBI releases Master Direction on Unique Identifiers in Financial Markets
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a consolidated Master Direction on Unique Identifiers in Financial Market Transactions (Press Relea...
Implementation of Section 51A of UAPA, 1967: Updates to UNSC’s 1267/ 1989 ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List: Listing of 02 Entries
The Reserve Bank of India issued a circular to all Regulated Entities (banks, NBFCs, financial institutions) directing them to implement upd...
Master Direction - Reserve Bank of India (Unique Identifiers in Financial Markets) Directions, 2026
The Reserve Bank of India issued the Master Direction — Reserve Bank of India (Unique Identifiers in Financial Markets) Directions, 2026 — u...
Stock markets fall 1%, rupee falls past 94/$ on Iran war, crude oil prices
Indian equity benchmarks (BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50) fell approximately 1% (Sensex down ~800 points) on March 27, 2026, as global crude oi...
Excise duty on petrol slashed to Rs 3, diesel zero amid West Asia crisis
The central government slashed excise duty on petrol by ₹10 per litre, reducing the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) from ₹13 to ₹3, an...
Verdict holding Meta, YouTube accountable for addiction could encourage responsible design
A California jury on March 25, 2026 found Meta and Google (YouTube) negligent and liable in a landmark trial, ruling that their platforms we...
India’s new climate targets are modest, but significant. Here’s why
India's Union Cabinet approved its new NDC for 2031–2035, committing to a 47% reduction in emissions intensity, 60% non-fossil installed cap...
Nirav Modi case: Dismissing risk of torture and suicide, how UK court rejected plea against extradition
The UK High Court of Justice, King's Bench Division, rejected Nirav Modi's petition to reopen his extradition appeal to India in late March ...
A perfect storm: Why gold prices are down after 2025’s historic surge
Gold, which gained approximately 64% in 2025 (its best annual performance since 1979), posted its worst seven-day decline since 1983 in the ...
How petrol, diesel excise duty cut provides some respite to oil companies, shields consumers from fuel price shock
The Central Government reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre to protect consumers from a global crude oil price shock tr...
Lok Sabha sends Corporate Law Amendment Bill 2026 to JPC
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha on March 23, 2026. The Lok Sabha...
WTO MC14: Reform discussions anchor agenda as Ministerial opens in Cameroon
The World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) opened on March 26, 2026 in Yaounde, Cameroon, with 166 member delegations...
While the US retreats, India steps up on climate: Union Cabinet announces new NDC
The Union Cabinet approved India's new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the period 2031–2035, submitting it to the UNFCCC under ...
Hormuz disruption risks ripple across global agri markets, says Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs has flagged risks to global agricultural markets from a potential disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the nar...
AI is giving bad advice to flatter its users, says new study on dangers of overly agreeable chatbots
A major study published in the journal Science in March 2026, testing 11 leading AI systems (including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and DeepSeek...
Banas Bio-CNG model gains national traction; Gujarat allocates ₹60 crore for expansion
Gujarat has allocated ₹60 crore in its 2026–27 state budget to expand Bio-CNG plant infrastructure through cooperative milk production socie...
ICAR-IVRI ranked in QS World University Rankings 2026, placed in 51–100 band for veterinary science
For the first time, two ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) institutions have secured places in the QS World University Rankings ...
Centre cuts special additional excise duty on petrol, diesel by ₹10; retail prices unchanged
The central government reduced the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre each, effective March 26, 202...
India eyes China pivot for edible oil supplies to rein in prices
India is exploring the possibility of sourcing edible oils from China to help moderate domestic edible oil prices, which have remained eleva...
Trump extends deadline for Iran to open Strait of Hormuz to April 6
US President Donald Trump announced on March 26, 2026, via a social media post, that he was extending his deadline for Iran to reopen the St...
Beyond oil: The crucial exports blocked by Hormuz closure
The Strait of Hormuz closure triggered by the 2026 Iran-US-Israel conflict has disrupted far more than oil and gas — affecting the global su...
The Transgender Persons Amendment Bill and the question of identity: Who gets to define a trans life?
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced in Lok Sabha on March 13, 2026, has reignited the debate on ...
“PM wanted consumer prices not to rise”: Sitharaman hails fuel excise cuts
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the Prime Minister's priority was ensuring domestic consumer prices do not rise despite the ...
From hills to markets: Indigenous seeds make a comeback in Andhra Pradesh
A grassroots network of tribal and smallholder farmers in Andhra Pradesh's Eastern Ghats is conserving hundreds of indigenous seed varieties...
Rupee crashes, hits record low of 94.56 against U.S. dollar
The Indian rupee fell to an unprecedented intraday low of 94.56 against the US dollar on March 27, 2026, the weakest level ever recorded The...
India sends medical supplies to Afghanistan
India dispatched a 2.5-tonne consignment of emergency medical supplies to Afghanistan following Pakistan's airstrike on Kabul on March 16, 2...
Iran-Israel war LIVE: U.N. Security Council to meet on Iran on March 27, says Russian state media
The UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on the Iran situation for March 28, 2026, as the conflict between Iran, the US, and I...
Centre cuts excise duty for petrol to Rs 3/litre & zero for diesel amid global oil shock
The central government reduced excise duty on petrol by approximately ₹10 per litre, bringing the effective rate down to ₹3 per litre, while...
What we know so far about the Supreme Court’s ruling on reservation for converted Dalits
A Supreme Court bench of Justices P.K. Mishra and N.V. Anjaria ruled on March 24, 2026 that a person belonging to a Scheduled Caste loses th...
Israel launches new wave of strikes on Iran with no sign of diplomatic breakthrough
Israel launched a new and intensified wave of airstrikes on Iran on March 27, 2026, targeting weapons production facilities in and around Te...
India seeks steelmaking raw material from Argentina, Indonesia, Oman, sources say
India is engaged in diplomatic and commercial discussions with Argentina, Indonesia, and Oman to secure long-term supplies of steelmaking ra...
ICRA revises Indian aviation outlook to negative
Rating agency ICRA revised its outlook for the Indian aviation sector from stable to negative, citing surging Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) co...
From beer to cosmetics, Asia feels full force of war-fuelled energy crisis
Asia — which is more heavily dependent on crude oil, gas, fuel, and fertilisers from West Asia than any other world region — is experiencing...
Iran-Israel war highlights: Trump delays Strait of Hormuz deadline as Wall Street has biggest loss of war
On March 26, 2026, US President Donald Trump announced he was extending his ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by ten days — ...
China's top chipmaker has supplied chipmaking tech to Iran military, U.S. officials say
Two senior Trump administration officials disclosed on March 26, 2026 that SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation) — Ch...
G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meet: Jaishankar, Canada’s Anita Anand discuss trade, West Asia on sidelines
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held...
CAG flags gaps in Gujarat’s financial oversight; ₹7,400 crore in UCs pending
A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on Gujarat's finances found that as of March 2025, 4,258 Utilisation Certificates (UCs) total...
Govt reduces excise on petrol, diesel by ₹10 per litre each to cushion pressure on OMCs
The central government reduced excise duty on petrol by ₹10 per litre (from ₹13/litre to ₹3/litre) and fully eliminated excise duty on diese...
‘Will address sensitive issues with India in all sincerity & candour’—envoy on Bangladesh National Day
On Bangladesh's 56th Independence Day (March 26), Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah said Dhaka would address sensitive...
Cabinet approves ₹33,660 crore BHAVYA scheme for 100 new industrial parks by 2032
The Union Cabinet approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA), a ₹33,660 crore scheme to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks a...
Oil drops as Trump pauses Iran strikes, but stock traders nervous
Oil prices fell sharply after US President Donald Trump announced a pause in US military strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure, with ...
Heatwaves will be worst for rural parts of Africa — new model shows tens of millions face dangerous warming by 2100
A new multi-model climate study — using 10 global climate models bias-corrected to observed conditions — projected heatwave exposure for rur...
As ‘Ladki Bahin’ spends crores, malnutrition deaths persist in Melghat, Bombay HC asks State for explanation
The Bombay High Court administered a sharp rebuke to the Maharashtra government, observing that while the state allocates thousands of crore...
Bangladesh envoy calls for amicable resolution of 'sensitive' issues between New Delhi, Dhaka
Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, called for an "amicable resolution" of sensitive issues between New Delhi and Dhak...
The recipe behind China’s EV boom: Technology over price
BYD, China's leading electric vehicle manufacturer and the world's top EV seller in 2025, has stated that meaningful global competition in t...
U.S. judge blocks Pentagon's Anthropic blacklisting for now
A US federal judge (Judge Rita Lin) issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Pentagon's (Department of Defense) order blacklisting AI co...
U.S.-Israel-Iran war: List of countries allowed to cross the Strait of Hormuz
Following the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict on February 28, 2026, Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow maritim...
Govt asks auto industry to optimise production as Iran war hurts energy supplies
India's Ministry of Heavy Industries issued an advisory to the automobile industry on March 25, 2026, urging companies to optimise productio...
Mosquitoes carrying malaria are evolving more quickly than insecticides can kill them — researchers pinpoint how
A new study published in the journal Science analysed over 1,000 genomes of Anopheles darlingi — South America's primary malaria vector — fr...
Balen Shah to take oath as Nepal PM today; releases 'Jay Mahakali' rap song ahead of swearing-in | Watch
Balendra Shah (known as Balen), a 35-year-old structural engineer and former rap artist, was sworn in as Nepal's Prime Minister at Sheetal N...
Govt slashes excise duty on petrol to Rs 3/litre, exempts diesel
The central government reduced the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on petrol by Rs 10 per litre, bringing the SAED component to Rs 3 p...
T.N. election 2026: When an ‘underdog’ MGR stunned many with his 1980 victory in Tamil Nadu
As Tamil Nadu approaches the 2026 Assembly Elections, a historical retrospective has examined how M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) — dismissed by pol...
Reserve Bank of India to hold interest rates until at least mid-2027: Reuters poll
A Reuters poll of economists indicated that the Reserve Bank of India is expected to maintain its key policy repo rate at 5.25% until at lea...
Govt cuts excise duty on petrol, diesel; windfall tax on fuel export back
The Central government cut excise duty on petrol by ₹10 per litre and on diesel by ₹10 per litre, reducing petrol's Special Additional Excis...
Rupee hits record low of 94.56 against US dollar
The Indian rupee hit an intraday record low of 94.56 per US dollar on March 27, 2026 — the first time it breached the 94.50 level. The depre...
Rolling back rights: Karnataka’s gender minority communities question Trans Bill 2026
Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha clearing it by a voice vote afte...
Rupee slides past 94 per dollar to record low as prospect of prolonged Iran war deepens energy risks
The Indian rupee slid past the 94-per-dollar mark to a record low, depreciating approximately 3.5% since the Iran-related West Asia conflict...
Parliament panel calls for preserving British-era heritage sites not under ASI ambit
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, chaired by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, released a ...
Watch: Multiple drones strike U.S. embassy in Baghdad
Multiple drones struck the US embassy compound in Baghdad's Green Zone amid the escalating conflict between Iran, the United States, and Isr...
SC: Vague allegations no basis for dowry case
The Supreme Court of India reaffirmed in a recent 2026 ruling that vague, general, and omnibus allegations cannot form the basis of prosecut...
Nagaland Assembly refers FNTA Bill back to govt
The 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly deferred the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill, 2026 on March 27 — a day after it w...
India’s 2026 wheat output seen higher, but misses estimates after weather hit
India's wheat production for the 2025-26 crop year is now expected to be approximately 113.5–114 million tonnes — higher than last year's 10...
In veiled dig at US, Beijing says India and China's growth built on hard work, not due to foreign generosity
China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement asserting that India and China's economic growth is "built on a different foundation" than the U...
Assam Rifles personnel injured in firing by militants during fencing work at India-Myanmar border
An Assam Rifles soldier (identified as Ravi Kumar) was injured in an exchange of fire with suspected militants during border fencing constru...
Army puts to test its new ‘Shaurya’ drone squadron for tank units
The Indian Army has operationalised dedicated drone units called 'Shaurya Squadrons' and embedded them directly within armoured (tank) regim...
India’s FY27 fiscal deficit target faces oil price risks amid Iran war: ICRA
Rating agency ICRA warned that India's fiscal deficit target for FY27 faces material downside risks due to elevated global energy prices dri...
India’s power demand hits five-year high in early 2026
India's electricity demand in January 2026 reached 143 billion units (BU) — the highest January demand in 16 years — while peak demand touch...
Iran hands Hormuz pass to India, Pak, Russia, China, Iraq
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on March 26, 2026 that ships owned by five nations — India, Pakistan, Russia, China, and Ir...
Jaya Bachchan’s fiery standoff in Rajya Sabha as controversial Transgender Bill clears Parliament
The Rajya Sabha passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 on March 25, 2026, completing its passage through...
We are working jointly for security of Strait of Hormuz: India, France
India and France jointly announced that they are working together on the security of the Strait of Hormuz, amid the 2026 West Asia crisis th...
Tepid promises: On India and non-fossil capacity
India has pledged to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based electricity capacity by 2030, a commitment made at COP26 (Glasgow, 2021) and en...
Faiths and fences: On reservation benefits, religious groups
The Supreme Court of India has reaffirmed that a person who converts to a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism loses their Sch...
S-400 deliveries accelerated as India enhances air defence capability
Russia has accelerated deliveries of S-400 Triumf air defence systems to India, with the fourth squadron expected by June 2026 and the fifth...
China warns U.S. against building arms facility in Philippines
China's Foreign Ministry issued a warning to the United States against constructing a new arms and military facility in the Philippines, sta...
Relying on limited number of launch pads for rockets poses operational risks: panel
A parliamentary panel has flagged the operational risks posed by India's reliance on a single spaceport — the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SD...
JN Port cargo traffic hits record 100 million tonnes in FY26
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) crossed 100 million tonnes (MMT) of cargo traffic in FY26, marking the first time the port has crosse...
Indian Navy launches ‘Operation Urja Suraksha’ to secure energy lifelines through Strait of Hormuz
The Indian Navy launched Operation Urja Suraksha ("Energy Protection") to provide protected transit for India-bound energy vessels — carryin...
‘Trade deal not far-off, but there are still gaps’: U.S. official
A senior US official stated that a bilateral trade deal between India and the United States is "not far off" but acknowledged that significa...
India calls for Inclusive WTO reforms at MC14
At the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal called for WTO reforms that are transpare...
Steel ministry seeks intervention for mills facing LPG shortages, source says
India's Steel Ministry formally sought intervention from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to secure LPG supplies for steel mills fa...
What is driving the fall in gold prices? | Explained
Gold prices saw a notable correction in March 2026, falling despite ongoing geopolitical conflicts and an oil price spike — a deviation from...
Willing to work with India for ‘common interests’ in Global South, BRICS: China
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with India's outgoing ambassador to China, Pradeep Kumar Rawat, in Beijing on 26 March 2026, and convey...
Dowry claims lives of thousands, do not give bail for such deaths mechanically: SC
The Supreme Court has strongly cautioned high courts against granting bail mechanically in dowry death cases, cancelling the bail granted to...
CBI arrests human trafficking ‘kingpin’ in Myanmar-based cyber scam compounds case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Sunil Nellathu Ramakrishnan (alias "Krish"), a Mumbai resident, as the alleged kingpin of...
WTO's dispute settlement system should be fully functional, says Piyush Goyal
At the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon (26–29 March 2026), Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged WTO members to r...
Iran-India fuel trade begins after strait open sesame. Traffic of 'friendly' India can pass, says Araghchi; first LPG cargo due this week
Indian refiners have resumed purchasing Iranian crude oil and LPG following a temporary US sanctions waiver granted in March 2026 amid escal...
46 pc of CSR spends in Maharashtra, aspirational districts need more attention: Crisil
A new report by CRISIL (released March 27, 2026, marking a decade of mandatory CSR) found that 46% of India's total Corporate Social Respons...
At WTO meet, Piyush Goyal says plurilateral agreements must not be imposed
The 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) opened in Yaoundé, Cameroon from 26–29 March 2026, with India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal le...
Terror recruitment case: Raids in 10 locations in 3 Kashmir districts
The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted raids at 10 locations across three Kashmir districts — Gan...
Gulf conflict puts FY27 growth at risk
Escalating conflict in West Asia — centred on the US-Israel-Iran war — is disrupting India's macroeconomic sweet spot, prompting multiple in...
Turkiye lifts objection to IFD pact incorporation
Turkiye withdrew its long-standing objection to the incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement into the WT...
CSR spends up but aspirational districts fail to get bigger share
A recent study revealed that Indian companies have cumulatively spent over ₹1.22 lakh crore on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activit...
India has begun process to take a leap from 5G to 6G: Scindia
Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that India has formally begun the process of transitioning from 5G to 6G te...
President urged not to grant assent to transgender bill
Over 140 legal professionals and activists have written to President Droupadi Murmu urging her not to grant assent to the Transgender Person...
Kenya faces hotter, riskier year after one of its warmest years in 2025
Kenya recorded its seventh warmest year in 36 years during 2025, extending a long-term warming trend of approximately 0.22°C per decade sinc...
West Asia war: As India’s oil imports from Gulf countries crash, Russian oil flows surge 82% to near-peak levels
India's crude oil imports from Gulf countries — historically its dominant source — have declined sharply due to the ongoing conflict in West...
SC-appointed panel urges Govt to withdraw Transgender Persons Amendment Bill
A Supreme Court-appointed expert committee has formally urged the Union Government to withdraw the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights...
Young voters in focus, EC plans on reviving electoral literacy clubs in schools and colleges
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced plans to revive and reinvigorate Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs) as part of its effort ...
Explained: Amid Iran war, the rise of Israeli settler violence in West Bank
Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has sharply escalated since the United States and Israel launched ai...
How Karnataka is looking to curb screen time among students
The Karnataka government has released a draft "Policy for Responsible Digital Use Among Students," targeting students in Grades 9–12 (second...
Social media addiction trial: Why Meta and YouTube were held guilty
A California jury in Los Angeles Superior Court found Meta (parent of Instagram and Facebook) and YouTube (owned by Google/Alphabet) liable ...
Can Parsi women be excommunicated for marrying non-Parsis? SC to examine
The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Nagpur Parsi Panchayat (as of March 24, 2026) to respond to a plea challenging the practice of ex...
WTO conference begins: What’s at stake for the world body, and for India?
The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization is scheduled to be held from 26–29 March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, u...
Mass death of African penguins owing to overfishing and warm seas | Green Humour by Rohan Chakravarty
African penguins are dying in record numbers due to a severe collapse in their food supply — sardines and anchovies — caused by a combinatio...
Researchers use deep transfer learning to study nest site fidelity in painted stork in Delhi zoo
A study published on March 1, 2026 in the journal Royal Society Open Science has demonstrated that deep transfer learning — a form of artifi...
OECD cuts India’s growth forecast to 6.1% in FY27
The OECD released its Economic Outlook Interim Report on March 26, 2026, projecting India's GDP growth at 7.6% for FY 2025-26 and 6.1% for F...
Ragam-26 fest begins at NIT-C
Ragam-26, the annual inter-college cultural festival of the National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT-C), commenced at the NIT Calicut c...
Milkweed is a toxic treat for monarch butterflies
A study published in March 2026 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) revealed a new evolutionary mechanism in the a...
Reliance Industries refutes purchasing any Iranian oil
Reliance Industries, operator of the world's largest private refinery complex at Jamnagar, Gujarat, publicly refuted reports that it had pur...
Global initiative marks taking steps to curb illegal and unsustainable taking of migratory wildlife
A global initiative has marked significant steps to curb Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, highlighting progress under int...
New India bill to amend transgender rights sparks protests
Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha clearing it on March 25 after th...
India, US face off over e-commerce moratorium at WTO meet
India and the United States are engaged in a direct confrontation at the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), bein...
Cabinet nod for 50% waiver of property tax arrears in Andhra Pradesh
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved a one-time scheme waiving 50% of accumulated interest on property tax arrears for the financial year...
Israel took Iran's Araghchi, Qalibaf off hit list on Pakistan request: report
Israel removed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf from its targeted assassination list a...
Karnataka govt. announces 60-day age relaxation for 2026-27 class 1 admission
Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa announced a one-time 60-day relaxation in the minimum age requirement for Class 1 (Grade 1) sc...
Iran’s Parliament working on bill to impose fees on ships in Strait of Hormuz
Iran's parliament is working on a draft bill that would impose transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to stat...
KPCC delegation fails to placate rebel candidate Sadiq Pahilwan
In Davangere, Karnataka, last-minute efforts by KPCC Working President Saleem Ahmed and MLA Rizwan Arshad to persuade rebel Congress candida...
Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: 890 candidates in the fray in Kerala as deadline for withdrawal of nominations ends
With the last date for withdrawal of nominations (March 26, 2026 at 3 PM), the final candidate count for the Kerala Assembly Elections 2026 ...
Toothless ban: Single-use plastic rules 84% of surveyed sites in four cities
A new report titled "Revisiting Single Use Plastic Ban" by Toxics Link — a New Delhi-based environmental research and advocacy organisation ...
India’s strategic oil reserves tell a tale of structural constraints & stalled expansion. Here’s why
India's combined petroleum reserves cover approximately 74–75 days of consumption — far below the 90-day benchmark required of International...
British Airways adds extra flights to Delhi, Mumbai
British Airways announced the addition of extra flights to Delhi and Mumbai, expanding its Indian operations during the peak travel season (...
The judicial push for environmental CSR
In a landmark judgment delivered on December 19, 2025, the Supreme Court of India held that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) under the ...
Rupee, inflation, GDP growth under pressure as Iran escalation fuels oil, inflation risks
Iran's rejection of a 15-point US ceasefire plan and continued military escalation have intensified concerns about prolonged disruption to g...
Nipah virus could turn into something “far more severe”, scientists warn
Scientists have issued fresh warnings that the Nipah virus — already among the world's most lethal zoonotic pathogens — could mutate into a ...
Chinese Envoy assures Pakistan of 'continued support' in meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on March 26, 2026. The ambassador reaffirmed C...
SpaceX IPO leaves some private share buyers unsure what they own
With SpaceX preparing for a public stock market debut at a valuation approaching $1.75 trillion, investors who purchased SpaceX shares throu...
Supreme Court voices concern over growing 'menace' of citing AI-generated non-existent judgements
The Supreme Court of India voiced serious concern over the growing practice of citing AI-generated judgments that do not exist in any real l...
India eyes local currency payments for West Asian oil amid price surge; rupee fall hurts finances
India is exploring local currency payment arrangements for crude oil imports from West Asian suppliers, as the surge in oil prices and the r...
India’s Resilient Production Systems in Agriculture
The Government of India has highlighted India's resilient agricultural production systems, citing a record foodgrain output of 357.73 millio...
Iran, U.S. harden their positions as Tehran keeps its grip on Strait of Hormuz
Iran has moved to formalise its sovereign control over the Strait of Hormuz, with its parliament working on legislation to institutionalise ...
Over 8,000 complaints on MCC violations received through cVIGIL app in Kozhikode
The Election Commission of India (ECI) reported that over 8,000 complaints about Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations have been received t...
ICICI Bank projects India’s FY27 growth at 6.9% amid energy supply strain
ICICI Bank's Economic Research Desk released a report on March 26, 2026 revising India's FY27 GDP growth forecast downward to 6.9%, from its...
‘Giving sectarian colour to support from India’—Iran embassy’s selective tweets play on ‘Kashmir angle’
The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi posted, then deleted, messages on X (formerly Twitter) thanking the "kind people of Kashmir" and India for ...
Israel Defence Minister claims Iran Guards navy commander killed in strike
Israel's Defence Minister announced that Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, was killed in...
‘Designated authority’, takeover clause: What FCRA Amendment Bill means for NGOs under govt lens
Following the introduction of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, a detailed analysis of its two mo...
North Korea, Belarus sign ‘friendship’ treaty during Lukashenko visit
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a "friendship and cooperation" treaty on March 26, 2026...
Fertiliser production to dip 10-15% if Middle East issues persist: Crisil Ratings
Crisil Ratings released a report warning that if Middle East supply disruptions persist, India's domestic fertiliser production could fall 1...
General Elections and bye-elections 2026: Scrutiny of Nominations concludes
The scrutiny of nomination papers for the 2026 General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and th...
Cabinet to promote use of PNG, targets to give 10 lakh connections in Andhra Pradesh
The Union Cabinet approved a push to promote Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connectivity for households, setting a target of 10 lakh (1 million) ne...
Updates on Key Sectors in View of Developments in West Asia
The Indian government issued a comprehensive update on key sectors — energy, trade, and the welfare of the Indian diaspora — in light of the...
Blue-collar salaries outpace white-collar entry-level jobs: Report
A recent industry report on India's labour market found that blue-collar wages grew by approximately 8.6% in 2025, outpacing salary growth f...
India to scale up critical mineral exploration and build strong domestic value chains to reduce import dependence and meet strategic needs: Dr. Jitendra Singh
Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that India is scaling up exploration of critical minerals, creating a startup-driven mi...
15 women professionals term menstrual leave policy ‘benevolent sexism’, move Karnataka High Court
Fifteen women professionals have moved the Karnataka High Court challenging the state government's paid menstrual leave policy as a form of ...
West Asia war may hit fertilizer output by 10-15%, raise subsidy burden, says Crisil report
Escalating conflict in West Asia — centred on Iran — has disrupted global fertilizer supply chains, with analysts warning of a 10–15% declin...
Within a year of getting powers, MHA agency issued 290 takedown notices a day on average for online content
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Annual Report for 2024-25 revealed that the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) — designated as ...
OECD lowers India’s FY27 growth outlook to 6.1% amid global uncertainty
The OECD's Interim Economic Outlook (March 2026) projected India's GDP growth at 7.6% for FY2025–26 and 6.1% for FY2026–27 — a notable downw...
Death of winter: In Ladakh, a fading cold season is rewriting life in the high Himalayas
Ladakh recorded its warmest winter in years during 2025-26, with the average temperature in Leh rising to -2.3°C, approximately 2°C above th...
Consensus key to include plurilaterals, careful reconsideration of ecomm moratorium: India at WTO MC14
At WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal articulated India's position on two critica...
Groups urge President not to grant assent to ‘regressive’ Transgender Amendment Bill
The All-India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA) and the National Alliance for Justice, Accountability and Rights (NAJAR), along with several other c...
India holds bilateral meetings with EU, Russia, NZ, others on MC14 sidelines
On the sidelines of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal conducted a series ...
SC flags 'menace' of AI-generated fake judgments, cautions lawyers
The Supreme Court of India flagged the growing "menace" of lawyers and litigants citing AI-generated, non-existent judgments in court procee...
Mega anti-Naxal operation launched as March 31 deadline nears, CoBRA units shifted to Jharkhand
Security forces have launched large-scale anti-Naxal operations across Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected states as the March 31, 2026 deadl...
Health insurance sector records Strong growth momentum with premiums exceeding ?1.2 lakh crore in 2024-25
India's health insurance sector recorded strong growth momentum in FY2024–25, with total health insurance premiums crossing ₹1.2 lakh crore ...
BJP got highest donations in 2024-25, over 10 times all other national parties combined: ADR
According to contribution reports filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the financial year 2024–25, the Bharatiya Janata Par...
Parliament panel flags funding gap in uranium hunt, seeks priority boost for AMDER
A parliamentary standing committee has flagged a significant funding gap for the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (A...
PM Modi to attend G7 summit in France from June 15-17, focus on global economy and Hormuz security
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed his participation in the 52nd G7 Summit, to be held at Évian-les-Bains, France, from June 15–17, ...
West Asia conflict to strain India's FY27 fiscal math, says ICRA
Credit rating agency ICRA (an affiliate of Moody's) warned that the West Asia conflict is creating significant headwinds for India's Union B...
West Asia turmoil to swell fertiliser subsidy by up to Rs 25,000 Crore, hit output: Crisil Ratings
A Crisil Ratings report warned that sustained disruptions from the ongoing West Asia conflict could push India's fertiliser subsidy bill up ...
WTO’s dysfunctional dispute settlement system deprives countries of effective redressal: Goyal
The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization opened on March 26, 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, bringing together trad...
With modern tech and an old-fashioned oath, Puri’s Jagannath Temple opens treasure trove for first time in 48 years
The Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, was reopened for a fresh inventory after a gap of 4...
Naxalism on its last legs, what happens to 200-plus police camps in Chhattisgarh?
With Naxalism assessed to be on its "last legs" in India, the question of what to do with 200-plus police and security camps established acr...
India’s CO2 emissions grew at the slowest pace in over two decades in 2025: Analysis
India's carbon dioxide emissions grew by approximately 0.7% in 2025 — the slowest annual increase in more than two decades, excluding the an...
News Today Live Updates, 26 March | SC status on Dalit Christians: Why Chinthada Anand verdict isn’t the final word despite recent outcry
The Supreme Court, in *Chinthada Anand v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors.* (2026 INSC 283), ruled on March 24, 2026 that conversion to Christ...
From biometric checks to cap of 9 SIM cards per person, Centre moves to tighten SIM issuance to curb digital arrest fraud
The Central Government is pushing for mandatory biometric authentication for all SIM card issuances, including at the point of sale by retai...
After Galwan clashes, ITBP strengthens presence with 29 new outposts along China border
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has established 29 new border outposts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, part of a br...
War in West Asia: Why Pakistan’s peacemaker role is filled with landmines
Pakistan has positioned itself as a potential mediator between the United States and Iran in the ongoing West Asia conflict, with Prime Mini...
Are India’s forex reserves really ‘adequate to provide cushion against external shocks’?
India's foreign exchange reserves reached an all-time high of $725.727 billion in the week ending February 13, 2026, surpassing the previous...
Meta, YouTube found liable for ‘addiction’ in the US. Could it have implications in India?
A California jury on March 25, 2026, found Meta (Instagram, Facebook) and Google's YouTube liable on all counts in a landmark social media a...
IMA Haryana flags ₹400 crore dues under Ayushman Bharat
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Haryana has written to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini flagging over ₹400 crore in unpaid dues owed to...
Why is Chennai’s microplastic problem bigger than it looks? | Explained
A study on Chennai's beach sediments reveals that despite a relatively low mean microplastic abundance of 30.13 ± 3.13 MPs/kg, the ecologica...
Infrastructure projects see ₹5.66 lakh crore cost overrun, says government report
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's (MoSPI) monthly Flash Report for February 2026 revealed that 1,948 central infrast...
Names of 13 lakh Bengal voters under adjudication deleted, say sources
Around 13 lakh names have been deleted from West Bengal's electoral rolls through the adjudication process, representing approximately 40% o...
India's fertiliser supplies under strain as war disrupts shipments
The West Asia conflict has disrupted fertiliser shipments to India, with urea benchmark prices surging from approximately $484 per metric to...
Litani river as marker, Israel’s plan for ‘security zone’ within Lebanon & its implications for Hezbollah
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have revealed plans to establish a permanent "sterile zone" or "security zone" within Lebanese territory, u...
Iran denies toll claims as report alleges strict controls in Strait of Hormuz
A Lloyd's List Intelligence report revealed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has established a tightly controlled shipping ...
Transnational terror case: J&K Police's Counter Intelligence Wing carries out raids in three districts
The Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out raids at 10 locations across three districts — Gande...
NPPA allows 0.64% MRP hike on essential medicines based on WPI
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) announced that manufacturers of scheduled (essential) medicines may increase their Maxi...
European lawmakers push WTO to review Israel’s most-favoured-nation status
Ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon (March 26–29, 2026), European Parliament members called for Israel'...
Iran says it is reviewing a U.S. ceasefire plan but no talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran has received and is reviewing a 15-point ceasefire plan from the United States...
G7 allies meet in France to narrow transatlantic Iran split
G7 foreign ministers gathered at Vaux-de-Cernay Abbey near Paris for a two-day meeting to narrow significant divergences between the United ...
India rejects Pakistan’s condemnation of life term to Kashmiri separatist Asiya Andrabi
On March 24, 2026, a Delhi NIA Special Court sentenced Asiya Andrabi, 64, founder and chief of Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM), to life imprisonmen...
Iran-Israel war highlights: Israel strikes Tehran as Trump says U.S. negotiating to end war
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched fresh waves of missile and drone strikes against targets in Israel (including Tel Aviv...
Climate study shows drying of Cauvery to persist until 2050, even as other rivers swell
A new climate study warns that the Cauvery river faces a "near-term decline" of approximately 3.5% of its water volume between 2026 and 2050...
India among five nations granted passage through Strait of Hormuz by Tehran
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that five "friendly nations" — India, Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iraq — have been granted...
Why has Madras High Court ordered eradication of seemai karuvelam? | Explained
The Madras High Court issued 34 detailed directions on March 18, 2026 for the eradication of Prosopis juliflora — commonly known as seemai k...
Transgender persons Amendment Bill opposed by community collectives
Transgender community collectives across multiple states, including Maharashtra, mounted protests against the Transgender Persons (Protectio...
When drinking water became a revolution | Mahad Satyagraha
The Mahad Satyagraha, led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on 20 March 1927, completes 99 years in 2026 and enters its centenary year (the 100th anniver...
From India to South Korea, Asia is getting crushed between oil prices and the dollar amd Iran war
The West Asia conflict (US and Israeli strikes on Iran, February 28, 2026) triggered twin pressures on Asian economies: Brent crude oil surg...
Middle East crisis: Amit Shah heading informal GoM on 'overall strategic issues'
Home Minister Amit Shah is heading an informal Group of Ministers (GoM) tasked with addressing the overall strategic issues arising from the...
Space co Agnikul successfully tests 3D-printed ‘Agnite’ booster engine
Chennai-based space startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully tested its booster engine 'Agnite' — a one-metre-long, single-piece 3D-printed rocke...
BRO entrusted with task of developing infra along 1600-km Myanmar border: Rajnath at parl panel meet
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, chairing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting for the Ministry of Defence on the Border Roads Or...
Freight surge, LPG shortage amid West Asia crisis hit eastern India's exports
The ongoing conflict in West Asia, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, has closed the Strait of Hormuz to norm...
Op Urja Suraksha: Navy deploys 5 warships to guide cargo vessels exiting troubled Strait of Hormuz
The Indian Navy has launched Operation Urja Suraksha ("Energy Security"), deploying more than five frontline warships to escort India-bound ...
West Asia war: Disruption hits chemicals, steel, aluminium, textile, breweries
The ongoing military conflict in West Asia — involving the US, Israel, and Iran — has caused severe disruptions to India's supply chains acr...
India unveils new UN climate target: 47% emissions intensity cut by 2035, 60% non-fossil power capacity
The Union Cabinet approved India's new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the period 2031–2035, to be submitted to the UNFCCC unde...
'It's not must': SC nixes plea against Vande Mataram circular
The Supreme Court declined to entertain a petition challenging the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) circular directing schools to begin the da...
West Asia war: how finding oil changed the Persian Gulf’s ecology
A feature article examines how the discovery of oil in the Persian Gulf region — and the subsequent industrial buildup — fundamentally alter...
PG admission row: Petitioner contacts CJI kin amid SC heat
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant publicly rebuked a litigant's father on March 25, 2026, after the father telephoned the CJI's brothe...
Amid oppn protest, FCRA amendment bill tabled in Lok Sabha
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 by Minister of State for Home Affairs...
EAM Jaishankar: Israel helped us during conflicts; key to defence tech
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing the all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis, emphasised that Israel helped India durin...
All-party meet on West Asia crisis: Opposition flags Pakistan mediation, Govt says India not a ‘dalal’ nation
The government convened an all-party meeting to brief parliamentary leaders on the West Asia crisis, with Cabinet Committee on Security mini...
FCRA Amendment Bill introduced in Lok Sabha, Opposition calls it ‘draconian’, ‘dangerous’
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026 by Union Minister Nityanand Rai (on...
Parliament passes Bill to amend law to protect transgenders
Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 amid strong protests from Opposition parties who deman...
India, US review priority areas for co-development and co-production of defence equipment
India and the US reviewed and identified priority areas for co-development and co-production of defence equipment at the 18th Defence Policy...
Allahabad HC refuses to quash 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases in Kanpur
The Allahabad High Court (Justice Anish Kumar Gupta) dismissed 7 petitions filed by 9 accused persons seeking to quash criminal proceedings ...
Jaishankar defends India’s stand as Opposition targets govt. on ‘Pak. mediation’ in West Asia
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told an all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis that India is not a "dalal" (broker) nation, sharp...
India raises clean-energy ambition with 60% non-fossil fuel power goal by 2035
The Union Cabinet approved India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the period 2031–2035 on March 25, 2026, to be communicated t...
Iran rejects U.S. proposal, sets out conditions to end war
Iran formally rejected a U.S. 15-point peace proposal that offered a ceasefire and sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran dismantling its t...
After GHADC amendment, Meghalaya groups seek curbs on non-tribal voters
Meghalaya Governor C.H. Vijayashankar approved the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC)'s amendment making it compulsory for candi...
India–U.S. Defence Policy Group reaffirms commitment to expanding strategic cooperation
India and the US held the 18th India-US Defence Policy Group (DPG) meeting in New Delhi, reaffirming their commitment to expanding strategic...
Two members from National Council for Transgender Persons resign, citing ‘regressive’ Amendment Bill
Kalki Subramaniam (southern representative) and Rituparna Neog (northeast representative) resigned from the National Council for Transgender...
Parliament clears Transgender Bill amid an uproar
Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, amending the parent Act of 2019. Lok Sabha passed it ...
Climate study shows drying of Cauvery to persist until 2050, even as other rivers swell
A new climate study projects that the Cauvery river will face a "near-term decline" of approximately 3.5% of its total water flow between 20...
India’s ‘newest voters’ caught in SIR adjudication trap in West Bengal
Thousands of former Bangladesh enclave residents in Cooch Behar, West Bengal — who received Indian citizenship after the 2015 India-Banglade...
What is at stake at the WTO’s MC14? | Explained
The 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) is being held from March 26-29, 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon — the first Ministerial Conference host...
West Asia crisis: Shivraj Singh Chouhan sets up cell to track seed, fertiliser availability
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level inter-departmental committee meeting to address the impact of the West...
Iran War tests European unity amid German economic slowdown and fears over Ukraine support
The Iran war has exposed deep divisions within the European Union over how to respond to the U.S.-Israeli military campaign, which was launc...
U.S. to deploy 1,000 elite troops to West Asia
The United States ordered approximately 1,000 elite paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to deploy to the Middle East, with 2,000–3,...
India gathers data to counter US claims of excess capacity
India's Commerce Ministry is compiling detailed industry data — covering production volumes, employment figures, and policy support — to cou...
Financial burden no excuse to deny fair dues for land buys: SC
A Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan ruled that the constitutional guarantee of "just compensation" fo...
With Rs 1,800cr outlay, immigration scheme extended for 5 years
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tr...
Have PNG access but not switched? Govt will stop LPG refills
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order, 2026 on March 24, 2026, mandatin...
India, US take stock of bilateral defence ties
The 18th India-US Defence Policy Group (DPG) meeting was held in New Delhi, co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and US Under ...
Lok Sabha approves Finance Bill, tax rules eased
Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill 2026-27 on March 25, 2026 with 32 amendments, completing a key step in the Union Budget 2026-27 legislativ...
Rajnath Singh chairs parliamentary panel meeting on BRO, reviews border infrastructure push
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting for the Ministry of Defence on March 25, 2026, focusin...
India tightens digital security with strict rules
India has implemented a multi-layered digital security framework mandating stricter compliance for telecom equipment, CCTV surveillance syst...
Rupee slide may fuel imported inflation risks, say experts
The Indian rupee hit a fresh record low of approximately ₹93.94 against the US dollar in March 2026, extending year-to-date depreciation to ...
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moves Bill to amend IBC, speed up resolution
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026, aim...
Par panel recommends ‘expeditious’ passage of AMASR Act amendment
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, headed by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, tabled its report on Demands for ...
Parliament passes bill to amend transgender law; two members of council for TG persons quit in protest
Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 — the Rajya Sabha approved it by voice vote after the ...
India retains inflation target at 4% for next five years
The Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), issued a gazette notification on March 25, 2026 retaining the...
Government moves CAPF Bill in Rajya Sabha, Opposition alleges violation of separation of powers
The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026 was introduced in Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Ra...
Households must switch to piped gas where available, else lose LPG supply: Govt order
A government order issued on March 24, 2026, mandates that households in areas where piped natural gas (PNG) connectivity is available must ...
As Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill, Finance Minister Sitharaman targets Congress, TMC, DMK on economy
Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill 2026–27 amid opposition protests, giving legislative effect to the tax proposals and spending provisions o...
Centre introduces FCRA Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha amid Opposition protest
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was formally introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Union Home Minister, triggering a...
Need to formalise a comprehensive integrated roadmap based on lessons learnt in West Asia conflict: Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh convened a high-level review meeting on 24 March 2026 with the Chief of Defence Staff, all three Service Chie...
Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill 2026 with 33 government amendments
The Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill 2026 by voice vote, incorporating 32 government-proposed amendments (with some reports citing 33 amend...
India targets 47% emission intensity cut, 60% electricity capacity from non-fossils by 2035
The Union Cabinet approved India's enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the period 2031–2035, to be submitted to the UNFCCC...
1,000 dead, a million displaced: Expert explains the latest Israeli offensive in Lebanon, and what is next
A renewed war in Lebanon began on 2 March 2026 after Hezbollah launched projectiles into northern Israel for the first time since the Novemb...
Explained: Trump’s 15-point Iran peace plan, and the questions it raises
The United States transmitted a 15-point peace proposal to Iran through Pakistan as intermediary, calling for a ceasefire and comprehensive ...
Amid war in West Asia, why Europe-bound LNG cargoes are now headed to Asia and India
The 2026 West Asia conflict — triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February — has severely disrupted LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) ...
Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill: What it changes, what are the objections
The Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, proposes 107 amendments to the Companies Act, ...
Modified UDAN scheme gets Cabinet nod; over ₹28,000 crore outlay approved
The Union Cabinet approved the Regional Connectivity Scheme — Modified UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore, f...
China’s GMO rejection of Indian rice: trade dispute, quality issue, or something else?
China has rejected three shipments of non-basmati rice from India, citing the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), raising con...
Lok Sabha gives nod to two retrospective amendments in I-T Act
The Lok Sabha approved two significant retrospective amendments to the Income Tax Act as part of the Finance Bill 2026, with the explicit po...
Lok Sabha clears Finance Bill with buyback tax clarity tweaks
The Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill 2026 on 25 March 2026, incorporating 32 government amendments. A key amendment clarified that the addi...
SEBI calls-on tech players to fight finfluencers
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launched a "tick mark" verification system in collaboration with Google, which will appear...
Excommunicating members for marrying outside Church violates their constitutional rights: Kerala HC
The Kerala High Court ruled that excommunicating members of the Knanaya Catholic Church for marrying outside the community violates their co...
Next phase of demand-led growth of ethanol to focus on higher blending target, flex-fuel vehicles and E-100
India is entering the next phase of its ethanol demand-side strategy, focusing on higher blending targets beyond E20, promotion of flex-fuel...
Reforms driven by conviction, not compulsion; Budget backs middle class, MSMEs: FM
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, speaking in the context of the Finance Bill 2026 passage, asserted that the government's economic refor...
PNG push gathers pace as LPG risks mount
India has sharply accelerated its push to expand piped natural gas (PNG) adoption across households, driven by mounting risks to liquefied p...
Inflation targeting range to be unchanged for 5-year period starting April 1
Following a mandatory five-year review, the Central Government has formally notified that the inflation target of 4% with a ±2% tolerance ba...
The South at the centre
With the United States disengaging from multilateral climate commitments under the Trump administration and Europe grappling with energy cri...
How corporate amendment Bill trades prosecution for penalties & why critics say the math isn’t adding up
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026, amending both the C...
India’s first repository of major psychiatric disorders, CALM-Brain, launched in Bengaluru
CALM-Brain, India's first repository of major psychiatric disorders built on Indian patient data, was formally launched in Bengaluru. The da...
India buys first Iran LPG cargo in years after U.S. eases sanctions, sources say
India purchased its first cargo of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in several years, as the US temporarily eased sanctions on Iran's o...
Civil society warns of ‘WTO reform capture’ as MC14 opens in Yaoundé
The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) opened in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on March 26, 2026 — the first MC h...
WTO MC14: India to prioritise food security, policy space, development concerns
At WTO MC14 (Yaoundé, Cameroon, March 26–29, 2026), India entered negotiations with a clear set of priorities: a permanent solution on publi...
TB Tales: journey to slay bacteria
On World TB Day (March 24), health observers assessed India's progress toward tuberculosis elimination, noting a 21% reduction in new TB cas...
Antibiotic resistance fuels 87% of India's typhoid economic burden: Study
A modelling study published in The Lancet Regional Health — Southeast Asia found that antibiotic-resistant typhoid infections account for 87...
Iranian strikes pose ‘existential threat’, Gulf states tell UN
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states addressed the 47-member UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, describing Iranian drone and missil...
Sweeping govt order to speed up PNG switch—faster approvals, stricter timelines, nudge to households
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation ...
India eyes end to popcorn imports by 2030, targets Rs 810 crore forex savings: ICAR’s Jat
India is targeting an end to popcorn imports by 2030, aiming to save approximately ₹810 crore in foreign exchange annually, according to a s...
With eyes on trade deals and reform in global governance, Lula heads to India with 260 firms
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited India (February 18–22, 2026) with the largest-ever Brazilian delegation to India: 260 ...
Trump’s boycott and Europe’s backslide may make BRICS lead climate debate and action at COP30
COP30, the 30th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC, was held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025 — the first COP hosted in the Amazon region...
UDAN revamp: Centre extends subsidy to five years, shifts funding to exchequer
The government cleared a revamped UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional air connectivity scheme with an outlay of ₹28,840 crore — a nearly ...
China border patrols went up significantly post Galwan clash, data shows
Data published in the Union Home Ministry's Annual Report 2024–25 shows that the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) significantly ramped up p...
'India belongs to its people, not a select few': Rahul meets tribal leaders opposing Great Nicobar project
Tribal leaders of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands met with Rahul Gandhi to express opposition to the Great Nicobar Island Holistic Developme...
Govt eyes more control of foreign-funded assets under FCRA amendment Bill
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha, proposing a new 'designated authority' with civi...
Constitution makers knew what they were doing: FM Sitharaman defends Centre’s cess collections
During a Lok Sabha discussion on central finances, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the Centre's practice of levying cess and su...
Rural job scheme demand falls to a six-year low as work rises in farms, urban centres
Demand for work under the rural employment guarantee scheme has fallen to its lowest level in six years, according to official data tracked ...
Govt asks RBI to maintain retail inflation at 4 pc till Mar 2031
The Government of India formally directed the Reserve Bank of India to maintain retail (CPI) inflation at 4%, with a margin of 2% on either ...
BRICS shifts gears as Brazil passes the gavel to India amid global tensions and ambitious goals
Brazil formally transferred the BRICS presidency to India on December 12, 2025, at the 4th BRICS Sherpas Meeting, when Ambassador Mauricio L...
Hotter world, hungrier futures: India among most vulnerable large economies to food insecurity as global temperatures rise
A study by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) assessed food security across 162 countries using a climate-se...
Turbulent South America builds up resistance to U.S.’s ‘Donroe doctrine’
Following the US military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on 3 January 2026, Latin America — a continent of more than 450 mil...
Trump’s ‘Spear of the South’ sparks regional alarm as Venezuela braces for U.S. moves
Operation Southern Spear — formally named on 13 November 2025 by the Trump administration — is a US military and surveillance campaign in th...
Govt says no shortage of petrol, diesel, urges public to avoid panic buying
Government officials clarified that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, LPG, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or fuel oil in India...
LPG supply to be cut off if households refuse PNG switch where available: Govt order
A government order dated March 24, 2026, states that LPG supply "shall cease after three months" to any household that does not opt for PNG ...
'Historic step': After Uttarakhand, Gujarat passes Uniform Civil Code Bill
The Gujarat Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, following a debate lasting more than seven hours, making Gujarat ...
Delhi among worst performers in single-use plastic ban compliance: Study
A study by an environmental group found that Delhi is among the worst-performing cities in complying with India's ban on single-use plastic ...
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code has failed to serve purpose: Opposition members in Lok Sabha
Opposition members in the Lok Sabha raised pointed criticism of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, arguing it has failed to ful...
India retains headline inflation target at 4% following review
The Government of India formally retained the retail inflation target at 4%, with a tolerance band of ±2% (i.e., a range of 2% to 6%), effec...
'In the Chair, but have a query': A rare moment when presiding officer participated in LS Question Hour
In an unusual parliamentary occurrence, the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha — TDP leader Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was in the Chair dur...
Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill 2026–27, advancing government’s fiscal plans
The Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill 2026 on March 25, 2026 by voice vote, incorporating 32 government-proposed amendments. Finance Ministe...
With NavIC setback, India unable to use satellite system for security purposes: experts
The last functioning atomic clock aboard IRNSS-1F stopped working on March 10, 2026, just days after the satellite completed its 10-year des...
TB remains India’s biggest infectious killer, but mass screening push shows results
Tuberculosis (TB) remains India's largest single infectious disease killer, even as the country's mass screening programme under the TB Mukt...
Women’s quota: Why govt may run into hurdles in bid to expand Lok Sabha with same states’ heft
The Union government is exploring amendments to delink women's reservation from the census and delimitation processes, potentially fast-trac...
Not just Jammu, Kashmir: Proposed legislation seeks 2 new divisions in J-K — Chenab and Pir Panjal
PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) MLA and youth wing president Waheed-ur-Rehman Para (representing Pulwama constituency) introduced the Jammu a...
SC ruling on conversion puts spotlight on Punjab’s ‘faith without conversion’ phenomenon
The Supreme Court of India, in a ruling delivered on March 24, 2026, held that conversion from Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism to any other r...
West Asia conflict: Why Centre ordered coal plants to full capacity during summer
The Central government directed all coal-based power plants to operate at full capacity to meet summer peak power demand, amid a severe supp...
After Supreme Court allows withdrawal of medical treatment, Harish Rana passed away at AIIMS
Harish Rana, 31, an engineering student from Ghaziabad, died at AIIMS Delhi's palliative care unit on March 24–25, 2026 — becoming the first...
Beavers can turn riverbeds into powerful carbon sinks: Study
An international study published in the journal *Communications Earth & Environment* has found that beaver-engineered wetlands can store car...
India delays coal flexibility plan by one year as solar power curbs rise
India has delayed its coal flexibility plan by one year, pushing back the timeline for requiring thermal power plants to operate at lower mi...
Trump’s use of Pakistan as possible mediator with Iran sparks memories of Nixon’s China talks and Bangladesh liberation
Pakistan is emerging as the primary backchannel intermediary between the US and Iran in 2026, with senior Pakistani officials — reportedly i...
Petroleum Ministry issues directions to strengthen natural gas infra, address present complexities and delays
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued directions to strengthen natural gas pipeline infrastructure, remove bottlenecks in PNG (Pi...
Anduril, Palantir developing Golden Dome missile shield's software, source says
Anduril Industries and Palantir Technologies are developing the command-and-control software backbone for the United States' Golden Dome ant...
Indian man whose life support was removed after court go-ahead dies
Harish Rana, a 31-year-old man from Ghaziabad who had been in a comatose/vegetative state since 2013 after falling from a fourth-floor balco...
Supreme Court-appointed panel asks Centre to withdraw Transgender Bill that removes right to gender self-determination
A Supreme Court-appointed committee has recommended that the Central Government withdraw the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amen...
S&P Global raises India growth forecast to 7.1% for FY27, flags risks
S&P Global Ratings raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY27 (2026-27) to 7.1%, citing strong private consumption, investment, and export ...
Trans Amendment Bill 2026: Don’t impose changes without consensus, T.N. CM Stalin tells Centre
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 13, 2026, and was passed by the Lok...
Assam floats tender for satellites to monitor floods, borders
Assam has floated a tender for procurement of at least five satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO) to provide real-time monitoring of floods an...
Iran-Israel war LIVE: Iran military spokesperson says U.S. is negotiating with itself, state media reports
Iran's military spokesperson stated on March 25, 2026 that the US is "negotiating with itself," rejecting Trump's claims that direct US-Iran...
Parliament Budget Session LIVE updates: Nirmala Sitharaman replies to discussion on Finance Bill 2026 in Lok Sabha
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman replied to the discussion on the Finance Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026, a key legislative st...
10 lakh litres a day: Women SHGs lead dairy push in 31 UP districts
Women-led Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Uttar Pradesh are collectively collecting 10 lakh litres (1 million litres) of milk daily across 31 dis...
New Income Tax Rules 2026: All you need to know about the new tax regime
The Income Tax Act 2025 comes into force on April 1, 2026, replacing the Income Tax Act, 1961, which had undergone over 4,000 amendments acr...
Iran-Israel war highlights: Trump sends peace plan as Iran opens to 'non-hostile' oil vessels
US President Trump stated on March 24, 2026 that negotiations with Iran to end the West Asia war were underway, asserting that Tehran "wants...
Explained | The Scheduled Caste classification and the religion bar: What has the Supreme Court ruled?
A Supreme Court bench (Justices P.K. Mishra and N.V. Anjaria) ruled on March 24, 2026 that conversion from Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism to...
India notifies new gas pipeline order to fast-track infrastructure amid West Asia concerns
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation an...
When an explosion was triggered on the map of India to protest imposition of Hindi
In a report recalling a historical incident, cadres of the Tamil Viduthalai Padai triggered a bomb blast targeting the map of India at the G...
Tough for women, tougher for men: The grim reality of India's youth jobs
Recent analysis of India's labour market data reveals a deeply fractured employment landscape for youth, with distinct patterns for men and ...
Agnikul test-fires first-of-its-kind 3D-printed booster engine
Agnikul Cosmos, an IIT Madras-incubated private space startup, successfully test-fired its Agnite engine — the world's largest single-piece ...
Oil prices drop 5% amid hopes of ceasefire in the war in West Asia, Brent below $100
Brent crude oil prices dropped approximately 5–6% to around $98–100 per barrel on ceasefire hopes after the US indicated willingness to purs...
Bird flu kills 4,400 chickens in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur; surveillance intensified
Around 4,400 chickens died due to avian influenza (bird flu) at a government poultry farm in the Koni area of Bilaspur district, Chhattisgar...
Allahabad HC issues notices to U.P. Government, Central Ministries, ASI over dilapidated heritage structures
The Allahabad High Court issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs,...
Centre intensifies regulatory surveillance over GLP-1 weight loss drugs
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), in collaboration with State Drug Controllers, has launched targeted enforcement actions across...
'U-turn Ustad': Congress slams PM bid for 'special session' to pass women quota law amendments
The central government has indicated it may convene a special session of Parliament to pass amendments that would allow the Nari Shakti Vand...
Falling emissions intensity masks India’s rising absolute output
India has achieved a ~33% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP from 2005 levels (as of 2023), putting it on track to meet its NDC target ...
When the Chief Justice steps away
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant recused himself on March 20, 2026 from hearing petitions challenging the Chief Election Commissioner...
Four queer voices explain the impact of the Trans Amendment Bill 2026
Gender-diverse individuals and activists who participated in nationwide protests against the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amen...
Watch: Trump should end the war and ask Israel to leave Iran alone | The Hindu Editorial
The US administration has signalled a shift from military escalation to diplomacy, with President Trump indicating negotiations with Iran ar...
US-Iran conflict to hit Q4FY26 earnings, supply chain restoration may take 1-2 months: Report
The ongoing US-Iran conflict is expected to dent Indian corporate earnings in Q4FY26 (January–March 2026), with the impact likely extending ...
GLP-1 gold rush under scanner: Raids across India expose easy access to weight-loss drugs
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) conducted inspections and audits at 49 entities — including online pharmacy warehouses, drug wh...
Everyday life in Asia is being upended by Iran war fuel crisis
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Iran war has triggered the largest oil supply disruption in the history of the global e...
Middle East crisis: PM Modi sets up 7 empowered groups to assess impact of war
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of seven empowered groups to assess and manage the impact of the ongoing West Asia conf...
5 India-flagged LPG-loaded tankers stuck at Hormuz
Five India-flagged very large gas carriers (VLGCs), loaded with approximately 2.3 lakh tonnes of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas/cooking gas), ...
SC/ST act applies only to Scheduled Castes and Tribes who have not converted: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court ruled on March 24, 2026 that a person who converts from Hinduism (or another qualifying religion) to Christianity or Islam...
Lok Sabha passes transgender Bill amid Opposition protests
The Lok Sabha passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 on March 24, 2026, by voice vote, amid sharp opposi...
Modi, Dissanayake discuss ‘energy cooperation’ over telephone call
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, 2026, to discuss the escalating situation in ...
China is mapping the ocean floor as it prepares for submarine warfare with the U.S.
A Reuters investigation, published in The Hindu, has revealed that China has been conducting systematic bathymetric (ocean floor) surveys ac...
Transgender Bill passed by voice vote in Lok Sabha amid walkout by Opposition MPs
The Lok Sabha passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 (Bill No. 79 of 2026) by voice vote, amending the p...
Supreme Court flags long-term bias against women in the armed forces
A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh, upheld perma...
Odisha’s last remaining top Maoist leader surrenders
Sukru, alias Kosha Sodhi, Odisha's most-wanted Maoist leader and a state committee member of the banned CPI (Maoist), surrendered before Kan...
SC grants full pension to women denied permanent commission
A three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and N. Kotiswar Singh ruled on March 24, 2026, that wo...
Gujarat CM invokes Sanatan values, Rigveda as UCC Bill tabled in Assembly
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel tabled the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, one week after a ...
I-PAC raid: Supreme Court poses question to West Bengal CM
The Supreme Court (Bench: Justices PK Mishra and NV Anjaria) posed sharp questions to the West Bengal government on March 24, 2026, regardin...
T.N. CM Stalin calls for constitutional safeguards to retain current share of States’ representation in delimitation
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin called for a constitutional amendment to ensure that the current proportional representation of states ...
Exports grow at estimated 20 pc CAGR between FY24- 26 due to RoDTEP scheme: Official
Government officials have projected that exports under the RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products) scheme have grown at an...
Trump dials Modi as US contemplates peace talks with Iran
US President Donald Trump called PM Narendra Modi on March 24, 2026, as the US contemplated peace talks with Iran following four weeks of in...
No seat gain for single-member states and UTs in delimitation
Under the proposed Delimitation Bill 2026, states and UTs with a single Lok Sabha seat will not receive any additional seats, even as all ot...
ET Graphics: The WTO divide and India's position as a war burns West Asia
The WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), termed a "reform ministerial," is set for March 26-29, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, amid an alr...
His family did everything they could for him, say Harish Rana’s neighbours
Harish Rana, 31, India's first person to be legally allowed passive euthanasia by the Supreme Court, passed away at AIIMS, New Delhi on Marc...
US seeks flexible pathway to include plurilateral pacts at WTO
The WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) is scheduled for March 26-29, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon — the first time a WTO ministerial is ...
SC: Trials in UAPA cases must be completed in 1 year
A Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed that all UAPA cases investigated by the National Inve...
Scheduled caste status only for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs: SC
A Supreme Court bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan ruled that no person professing a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism...
Gujarat government plans India’s third spaceport near Gir Somnath
The Gujarat government has identified a site near Kodinar in Gir Somnath district, on the Arabian Sea coast between Diu and Kodinar, for Ind...
India can mobilise ₹8 lakh crore annually for roads, but spending lags: Transport minister Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that India can mobilise up to ₹8 lakh crore annually for highway development — ₹5 lakh crore from capita...
Opposition seeks all-party meet on women's quota after polls
Opposition parties, including Congress, wrote to the government on March 24, 2026, requesting an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Mini...
India remains engaged with US on Chabahar Port sanctions; meets $120 million obligation
India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that India is actively engaging with the United States regarding the conditional sanctions wa...
Gujarat assembly passes UCC Bill after over 7-hour debate amid Cong’s strong opposition
The Gujarat Legislative Assembly passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code, 2026 after more than seven hours of debate; passed by voice vote wit...
Study lessons from West Asia conflict to improve India’s def preparedness: Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh convened a high-level review meeting in New Delhi on March 24, 2026, with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), S...
Lok Sabha clears tweak to bill on trans persons amid opposition protests
Lok Sabha passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026 by voice vote despite opposition demands for referral to...
No one country can ensure balance of power in Asia, India’s role indispensable: US official
US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby visited New Delhi on March 24, 2026, and described India as a "waxing power" whose d...
Delimitation & women reservation bill: Southern states backs 50% seat hike, seeks share status quo
The government introduced two bills in Parliament: a Delimitation Bill proposing a 50% increase in Lok Sabha seats for all states, and an am...
Trump speaks to PM Modi: Leaders discuss Middle East tensions, importance of keeping Hormuz strait open
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke on March 24, 2026 — the first call between the two leaders since the US-Isr...
‘India will play central role...’: Senior US official Elbridge Colby’s over West Asia crisis
US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby arrived in New Delhi on March 24, 2026 for a two-day visit — his first official trip to ...
Nitin Gadkari launches NHAI sponsored RIIT on BSE, calls it ‘Game-Changing’ for infra growth
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari formally launched the NHAI-sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) at ...
West Asia war impact: India’s private sector posts weakest growth in 3.5 years in March
The West Asia war's economic ripple effects deepened in March 2026, with India's private sector activity falling to its weakest pace in over...
Govt measures have helped mitigate LPG crisis, says Vaishnaw; oil ministry says large number of LPG cargoes lined up
Two India-flagged Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs), Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, transited the Strait of Hormuz on March 23, 2026, carrying appro...
No permission, payment needed for vessels to cross Strait of Hormuz; movements based on safety assessments, says Govt
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke on March 24, 2026 — the first call between the two leaders since the US-Isr...
Women’s quota: Govt to take Opposition on board for hike in LS, Assembly seats
Opposition parties demanded an all-party meeting with the government on a proposed amendment to the Women's Reservation Act (Nari Shakti Van...
Opposition demands all-party meet on Women’s Reservation Act amendment, seeks govt note
Opposition parties demanded an all-party meeting with the government on a proposed amendment to the Women's Reservation Act (Nari Shakti Van...
West Asia conflict: PM Modi says India has adequate crude storage and arrangements for supplies despite ‘serious crisis’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed both houses of Parliament on March 24, 2026, providing the government's assessment of the West Asia c...
Strait of Hormuz blockade: MHA directs states to guard LPG lifeline amid West Asia fuel fears
Two India-flagged Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs), Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, transited the Strait of Hormuz on March 23, 2026, carrying appro...
Trump dials Modi, both discuss keeping Strait of Hormuz open
US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, 2026 — their first direct conversation since the US-Israel milita...
Explained: Difference between LPG and LNG, and why West Asia war affected LPG supply more
The West Asia conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption triggered India's worst LPG shortage in decades, prompting widespread questions about...
Do protections for Scheduled Castes carry over with religious conversion? What the law says
A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan ruled on March 24, 2026, that conversion to an...
Trump, Modi discuss Strait of Hormuz, West Asia situation
US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, 2026, in the first such call since the outbreak of the US-Iran wa...
Goldman Sachs slashes India’s growth forecast for CY26 by 60 bps to 5.9%
Goldman Sachs slashed India's GDP growth forecast for calendar year 2026 (CY26) by 60 basis points to 5.9%, marking the second downward revi...
India 6th most polluted country in the world: World Air Quality Report
IQAir's World Air Quality Report for 2025 (released March 2026) ranked India as the 6th most polluted country globally, based on annual aver...
Govt plans to redirect 90 lakh tonne FCI broken rice to ethanol industry from next year: Food Sec
Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra announced that the government plans to redirect approximately 90 lakh tonnes (9 million tonnes) of broken rice...
Nepal’s political shift opens a strategic window for India
Nepal's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by Balendra Shah, swept the March 5, 2026 general elections, winning 182 of 275 seats in the Pra...
Two Indian LPG tankers exit Hormuz choke point, 20 vessels remain stuck
Two India-flagged Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs), Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, transited the Strait of Hormuz on March 23, 2026, carrying appro...
China rejects 3 Indian rice shipments, alleging presence of GMOs
China has rejected three consignments of Indian rice, alleging the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), in a development that ...
India an ‘essential’ U.S. partner in Indo-Pacific, its rise is good for American interests, says top Pentagon official
US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby arrived in New Delhi on March 24, 2026 for a two-day visit — his first official trip to ...
US paper questions core WTO principles ahead of Ministerial Conference
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) released a report questioning foundational WTO principles — specifically the Most-Favoured-Nat...
Nitin Gadkari launches NHAI-backed Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the NHAI-backed Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (Raajmarg InvIT or RIIT) on the Bombay Stock Exchange ...
Scientists at CERN took some antiprotons out for a spin in a never-tried-before test drive
Scientists at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) successfully transported antiprotons outside the Antiproton Decelerator faci...
Unincorporated sector units grew by 8% in 2025
The Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025 shows that the number of unincorporated sector enterprises grew by nearl...
India sets up seven empowered groups to tackle West Asia war squeeze
Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed the Rajya Sabha on March 24, 2026 that the government has constituted seven empowered groups of senior...
Government extends validity of TRQ license for gold imports under trade pact with UAE
The government has extended the validity of Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) licenses for gold imports under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Par...
Trump dials Modi amid talks with Iran. Importance of keeping Hormuz open discussed
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke on March 24, 2026 — the first call between the two leaders since the US-Isr...
Modi, Trump speak for first time since Iran war, discuss importance of keeping Strait of Hormuz open
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke on March 24, 2026 — the first call between the two leaders since the US-Isr...
India-Japan to finalise deal to co-develop & co-produce UNICORN mast ‘soon’, says Japanese envoy
Japan's Ambassador to India confirmed that the two countries are close to finalising a co-development and co-production agreement for the UN...
LS passes transgender amendment bill amid Oppn walkout. Medical board & narrowed definition under fire
Lok Sabha passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026 by voice vote; sections of the Opposition staged a walko...
Navy chief says drones, mines threatening choke points like Hormuz without as much as formal blockade
India's Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, warned at the International Conference on India-Japan Cooperation in the Indo-Paci...
India-US ties driven not by dusty formalities but clear-eyed interests—US under secy of war Colby
US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby arrived in New Delhi on March 24, 2026 for a two-day visit — his first official trip to ...
Only Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh can claim Scheduled Caste status: Supreme Court
A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan ruled on March 24, 2026, that conversion to an...
Supreme Court widens doors to permanent commission for women in armed forces, flagging ‘systemic discrimination’ behind denials
A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh ruled that women Short Servic...
US trade deal to increase agricultural exports in India’s areas of strength: Jitin Prasada
Minister of State for Commerce Jitin Prasada, speaking in the context of the India-US interim trade deal framework announced in February 202...
Summer crop acreage dips—rice, maize down, pulses gain
As of March 24, 2026, total summer (Zaid) crop sown area stands at 4.27 million hectares, down from 4.37 million hectares at the same point ...
Rajnath Singh reviews West Asia situation, calls for integrated defence roadmap
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high-level review meeting on March 24, 2026, to assess the impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict...
India warns of risks as cheap generic weight-loss drugs flood market after Semaglutide patent expiry
Novo Nordisk's patent on semaglutide (brand names: Ozempic for diabetes, Wegovy for weight loss) expired in India on March 20, 2026, trigger...
RBI's policy battle amid oil shock, rupee pressure to be complex as many challenges ahead: Report
The West Asia war's economic ripple effects deepened in March 2026, with India's private sector activity falling to its weakest pace in over...
Goldman Sachs again cuts India’s 2026 growth forecast to 5.9%
Goldman Sachs lowered India's 2026 GDP growth forecast to 5.9%, down from 6.5% (earlier revised in March 2026) and from the pre-conflict bas...
Warming oceans linked to rise in land heatwaves: Study
A new study, titled "Large-scale aggregation of humid heatwaves exacerbated by coastal oceanic warming," published in a leading climate jour...
Delhi court sentences Kashmiri separatist Asiya Andrabi to life in UAPA case; two associates jailed for 30 years
A Delhi court (Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh) on March 24, 2026, sentenced Kashmiri separatist leader Asiya Andrabi to life im...
Goldman Sachs cuts India's 2026 growth forecast to 5.9%
The West Asia war's economic ripple effects deepened in March 2026, with India's private sector activity falling to its weakest pace in over...
Path ahead for Nepal’s new leadership
Nepal's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by Balendra Shah, swept the March 5, 2026 general elections, winning 182 of 275 seats in the Pra...
'Strong India good for US': Trump admin on countering China's hold on Indo-Pacific
US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby arrived in New Delhi on March 24, 2026 for a two-day visit — his first official trip to ...
No permission required to sail through Strait of Hormuz, says govt official
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke on March 24, 2026 — the first call between the two leaders since the US-Isr...
How can a ₹2-crore BMW i7 draws same ₹8,000 tax as ₹12-lakh Punch.ev
Under the Income Tax Rules 2026 (effective April 1, 2026), employer-provided electric vehicles are now valued for perquisite tax purposes at...
'Brazen attack on constitutional rights of transgender people': Rahul Gandhi slams govt on bill
Opposition leaders and civil society groups have strongly condemned the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, int...
Harish Rana, India's first passive euthanasia case, dies after 13 years in vegetative state
Harish Rana, the first person in India to be legally permitted passive euthanasia by the Supreme Court, died on March 24, 2026, at 4:10 PM a...
'Hatched conspiracy to secede Kashmir from India': Why J&K separatist Asiya Andrabi got life term in UAPA case
A Delhi court (Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh) sentenced Kashmiri separatist leader Asiya Andrabi to life imprisonment on March...
RBI building more digital payments intelligence platforms to empower users: ED
The Reserve Bank of India is actively building advanced digital payments intelligence platforms that leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) a...
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel introduces Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026 in Assembly
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel tabled the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, a day after a sta...
Lok Sabha passes Bill redefining 'transgender'; excludes sexual orientations, self-perceived identities
The Lok Sabha passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, on March 24, 2026, by voice vote. The Bill was int...
Plea in SC challenges gender bias in Parsi interfaith marriages
The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, Nagpur Parsi Panchayat, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Maharashtra government, and Charit...
India, Nepal & a shifting security landscape
Nepal's security landscape is undergoing significant shifts, driven by changing domestic politics (including the rise of a new generation of...
Geopolitics is a permanent force in global policy, feels economist Gita Gopinath
Prominent economist Gita Gopinath — former IMF First Deputy Managing Director and currently Professor at Harvard University — stated at the ...
Centre flags unapproved drug combinations, raises safety concerns
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has launched a nationwide crackdown on unapproved Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs, directing ...
SEBI revamps framework on conflict of interest, enhances ease of doing business
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) board, at its meeting on March 24, 2026, approved a sweeping overhaul of conflict-of-inter...
Foreign exchange reserves adequate to provide cushion against external shocks: RBI’s State of the Economy article
The Reserve Bank of India's March 2026 Bulletin, through its "State of the Economy" article, assessed that India's foreign exchange reserves...
As govt considers expanding Lok Sabha to 816 MPs, how states’ seat count will change
The government is considering expanding the Lok Sabha from the current 543 seats to 816 seats — a 50% increase — as part of the plan to impl...
Jaishankar speaks to Marco Rubio on ‘energy security concerns’
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio focused on the ongoing W...
Over half dozen Navy warships escorting Indian-flagged vessels in Gulf region
India deployed more than half a dozen Navy warships to escort Indian-flagged vessels through the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz,...
Non-tribals can no longer contest polls for Garo hills council
The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in Meghalaya passed an amendment mandating that only Scheduled Tribe (ST) members can con...
After 48 years, Puri Jagannath temple’s Ratna Bhandar inventory starts: How ‘secret chambers’ will be audited
After a gap of 48 years, the inventory process of the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, commenced on M...
Expert Explains: Iran’s F-35, Diego Garcia strikes only of propaganda value, says former Air Chief Dhanoa
Former Indian Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa assessed that Iran's missile strikes targeting the F-35 fleet and Diego Garcia were primarily of p...
Moon was formed around 4.51 billion years ago: study
A new scientific study has refined the age of the Moon to approximately 4.51 billion years, placing its formation within the first 60 millio...
Trump sends mixed signals on Iran
The Trump administration sent contradictory signals on Iran throughout March 2026, simultaneously threatening military action and pursuing d...
Watch: ‘Unacceptable’: EU President slams Iran for Strait of Hormuz tensions
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz "unacceptable," making one of the EU'...
Sattankulam custodial deaths: Family wants strong punishment for convicted policemen
A Madurai District Additional Sessions Court on March 23, 2026, convicted all nine police personnel accused in connection with the 2020 cust...
Arctic hydrological change not uniform: Study
A new study published in Remote Sensing of Environment used ESA satellite data from the STREAM-NEXT project to assess river flow patterns ac...
Mumbai to lose 45,000 mangroves for Rs 18,000 crore coastal road
The Supreme Court on March 20, 2026 refused to interfere with the Bombay High Court's order allowing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ...
Parliament Budget session resumes today, Modi to address Rajya Sabha on West Asia conflict
Parliament's Budget Session 2026 resumed on March 24, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a statement in the Rajya Sabha on the West As...
Government may bring bills to implement women’s reservation before delimitation
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has initiated consultations with NDA allies and opposition leaders — including Congress president Mallikarjun ...
Why damage to Qatar’s gas infrastructure could push costs higher for years to come
Iranian missile and drone strikes on Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City — the hub of the world's largest LNG export operation — caused sever...
Oil jumps 4% as Iran denies US talks, tensions flare again
Oil prices jumped over 4% after Iran denied US claims of bilateral talks, reviving fears of renewed military escalation in West Asia and a p...
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel gets started on building India’s largest greenfield steel plant in Andhra
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) held the groundbreaking ceremony on March 23, 2026, at Rajayapeta, Anakapalli District, Andhr...
Trump announces ‘very good’ Iran talks denied by Tehran
US President Donald Trump claimed that the US and Iran had held "very good and productive conversations" over the previous two days regardin...
Week before 31 March deadline, last Maoist commander in Bastar to surrender before Chhattisgarh Police
Papa Rao — also known by aliases Mangru Dada, Chandran, and Sunam Chandran — a top CPI (Maoist) Divisional Committee commander active in the...
25 leopards relocated from Maharashtra to Gujarat's Vantara facility: Minister
Maharashtra's Forest Minister Ganesh Naik confirmed that 25 leopards have been relocated from the state to Vantara, a large-scale wildlife f...
Pakistan Army Chief Munir speaks to Trump, steps up mediation to end US-Iran war—FT report
Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir spoke with US President Trump on Sunday (March 23, 2026), reinforcing Pakistan's position as ...
U.S. jury begins deliberations in landmark New Mexico trial over Meta risk to children
A New Mexico state court jury found Meta liable for nearly $375 million in civil damages after a landmark trial centred on allegations that ...
Future of jobs: Will AI create ghost workplaces or millions of new jobs?
A new analysis in Livemint examines the sharp divide in expert opinion on AI's impact on employment: one camp predicts a "demand collapse" a...
Transgender persons hold protests demanding withdrawal of amendment to Transgender Bill
Transgender rights activists held protests across India — including in Chennai — demanding the withdrawal of the Transgender Persons (Protec...
India mulls rules to make oil firms fortify LPG buffer as war chokes supply
India is considering regulations mandating oil companies to maintain minimum LPG buffer stocks after a structural supply crisis was exposed ...
Parliament Budget Session LIVE: Lok Sabha to discuss Bill to amend trans rights
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 — introduced in Lok Sabha on March 13, 2026 by Union Social Justice and ...
EU and Australia agree on text of free trade pact, announce a new defence partnership
The European Union and Australia concluded the text of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on March 24, 2026, following negotiations that began in ...
Iran-Israel war LIVE: Six injured in Tel Aviv after Iranian missile attacks, Israeli first responders say
US President Donald Trump publicly declared that the United States and Iran are "in negotiations right now" and hailed earlier talks as "ver...
IMD unveils a digital surface meteorological observation system
On World Meteorological Day (March 23, 2026), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) inducted a new digital surface meteorological observ...
Research identifies new mechanisms to detect and weaken TB bacteria
Scientists have identified new molecular mechanisms through which tuberculosis (TB) bacteria — Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) — sense thei...
From India to Italy, Trump’s Iran war is rippling through the world economy
The US-Israel military campaign against Iran, launched in early March 2026, has sent shockwaves through the global economy, pushing up price...
Ahead of Chandrayaan-4, IIT and PRL team decodes moon’s titanium-rich rocks
Researchers from IIT Kharagpur and the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, have decoded the formation and behaviour of ilmenite-b...
The latest world climate report is grim, but it’s not the end of the story
The WMO's State of the Global Climate 2025 report confirms that 2015–2025 are the hottest 11 consecutive years on record, with 2025 ranking ...
Iran sends waves of missiles into Israel, dismisses Trump's talk of negotiations as 'fake news'
Iran launched multiple waves of missile attacks on Israel on March 24, 2026, triggering air raid sirens across Israel including Tel Aviv, wi...
Kim vows to ’irreversibly’ cement North Korea’s nuclear status, calls South ’most hostile’
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, addressing the Supreme People's Assembly (parliament), vowed to "irreversibly" cement North Korea's status ...
Budget Session: Narendra Modi govt plans bills to roll out women’s quota before delimitation: What will change?
The Modi government is preparing to introduce two bills in the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament to implement the Women's Reservation Act...
114 Rafales, 60 MTA aircraft, AEW&C deals to be concluded in 2026-27: Defence ministry to parl panel
India's Ministry of Defence has informed a Parliamentary Standing Committee that three landmark defence acquisition contracts will be conclu...
Israel, Iran War: Goldman Sachs slashes India growth forecast, warns currency strain will force rate hike
Goldman Sachs revised India's 2026 calendar year GDP growth forecast downward to 5.9%, its second cut in less than a month — the earlier rev...
Govt to post official in London for IMO matters
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has received approval to post a dedicated official at India's High Commission in London to han...
No Scheduled Caste status on conversion to religions other than Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court upheld an Andhra Pradesh High Court order, ruling that individuals who convert from Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism to anot...
Days after TN order, doctors seek similar rules nationwide as hair transplant boom raises safety alarm
Tamil Nadu issued a Government Order regulating cosmetology, aesthetic treatment, and hair transplant clinics, bringing them under the Tamil...
Jaishankar, Rubio discuss energy security crisis
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a detailed telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focusing on ...
'Adversely affected overall merit': SC slams bias in evaluating women officers for Permanent Commission
A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) of women officers in the Armed Forces...
Nepal’s political shift opens a strategic window for India
Nepal's general elections on March 5, 2026, delivered a decisive political shift: the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by 35-year-old fo...
Anti-graft agencies meet to chart group's strategic roadmap
India hosted the 12th Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Net...
Large private companies see no growth in capex in FY27, shows government survey
The National Statistics Office (NSO) released findings of its second Forward-Looking Survey on Private Corporate Sector Capital Expenditure ...
Greater cooperation needed between India, Russia under evolving multipolar order: Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and stated that the evolving multipolar world order neces...
Two more Indian vessels cross Strait of Hormuz
Two foreign-owned, Indian-flagged LPG carriers — Hellas Gladiator and Gas Jupiter — successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on March 23, 2...
Three Flamingo habitats have high toxin levels, report
Three satellite wetland lakes — DPS, NRI, and T S Chanakya lakes at Nerul, Navi Mumbai — have been found to have dangerously high toxin and ...
Net FDI negative for fifth straight month in January 2026 as outflows exceed inflows by $1.4 billion
RBI balance-of-payments data shows India's net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was negative by $1.4 billion in January 2026 — the fifth cons...
Govt restores full tax refund benefits to support exporters
The Government of India restored full benefit rates under the RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products) scheme effective fro...
Bill to amend trans rights law listed for consideration, passing in Lok Sabha on March 24
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 has been listed for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha on 24 Mar...
Impact of West Asia war likely to be felt for long time, PM tells Lok Sabha
Prime Minister Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on March 23, 2026, calling for national preparedness and unity to face long-term impacts of the ...
Centre mulls delimitation based on 2011 Census to fast-track Women’s Reservation Act
The Central government has intensified multi-party consultations to fast-track implementation of the Women's Reservation Act (Constitution 1...
Path ahead for Nepal’s new leadership
Balendra Shah (known as "Balen"), a 35-year-old former civil engineer and hip-hop artist, led the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to a histor...
2029 Lok Sabha poll plan: Over 800 seats, 33% women's quota
The government is finalising a plan to increase Lok Sabha and state assembly seats by approximately 50%, from 543 to over 800, using the 201...
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveils three new initiatives to promote ‘orange economy’
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw launched three new initiatives at an event aimed at strengthening India's cre...
Proactive steps needed to limit adverse spillovers of Iran war: RBI report
The Reserve Bank of India's monthly report called for proactive steps to limit the adverse spillovers of the West Asia (Iran) war on India's...
Need to create regional dependency instead of relying on global supply chains: BIMSTEC secy gen
BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey, speaking at an ASSOCHAM event, called for building regional dependency in supply chains rather ...
West Asia crisis: Full benefits restored under RoDTEP scheme
The government fully restored benefits under the RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products) scheme, reversing a reduction t...
Parliament seats may be increased to 816 for 1/3rd women's reservation
The Central government is actively consulting opposition parties to build multi-party consensus for amending the Constitution (106th Amendme...
Sebi adopts conflict of interest, disclosure framework for top officials
At its 213th board meeting in Mumbai on March 23, 2026, SEBI adopted a comprehensive conflict of interest and disclosure framework for its t...
Ladakhi leaders say Wangchuk should be part of Ladakh-Centre talks panel
Following the Central government's revocation of Sonam Wangchuk's detention under the National Security Act (NSA) on 14 March 2026, Ladakhi ...
PM Modi: India has strategic petro reserves of over 53 lakh tonne
The government has been actively managing India's energy supply chain amid the West Asia conflict, ensuring uninterrupted supplies of petrol...
Government introduces bill to amend companies, LLP laws; proposes changes in CSR norms
The Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced by the Finance Minister in Lok Sabha, proposes simultaneous amendments to the Companie...
Middle East crisis: PM Modi warns of threats to India’s internal security
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on the ongoing West Asia (Middle East) conflict, warning that certain elements attempt ...
Exclusive: For women’s quota, govt looking at increasing Lok Sabha seats based on Census 2011; ‘816 in Lok Sabha, 273 for women’
The central government is in active consultations with Opposition parties to delink the Women's Reservation Act (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniya...
Indo-Nepal rail link: Detailed Project Report ready for Raxaul-Kathmandu new line project
The Ministry of Railways completed the Final Location Survey (FLS) and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed 136 km Raxaul–Kathmand...
‘Be prepared to face long-term impacts of West Asia war’: PM Modi in Parliament | Key points
PM Modi told the Lok Sabha on March 23, 2026, that the long-term impacts of the West Asia war would be felt for a prolonged period, calling ...
Disruptions around Strait of Hormuz made shipping ‘very challenging’: Modi assures minimal impact on domestic supplies
India officially described shipping disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz as "very challenging," marking one of its strongest public state...
From Strait of Hormuz to dialogue and diplomacy: 5 takeaways from PM Modi’s Lok Sabha speech on West Asia conflict
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session on the ongoing West Asia conflict, now in its fourth week, of...
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan calls for more tolerance for dissent, says some in judiciary ‘more loyal than the king’
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan of the Supreme Court of India delivered a pointed address at the Supreme Court Bar Association's (SCBA) first national ...
Iran war: Why India must step on the gas with ethanol
With the Iran war disrupting oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, analysts and industry bodies are arguing that India must urgently accel...
Supporters in Nehru and Jinnah, staunch atheist: On Shaheed Diwas, recalling the life of Bhagat Singh
23 March marks Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day), commemorating the 95th anniversary of the execution of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev at La...
Pakistan National Day today: What is the Lahore Resolution, which it marks
March 23 is Pakistan's National Day, commemorating the adoption of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, when the All-India Muslim League...
One-third of India’s strategic petroleum reserves are empty: Why this matters for fuel security
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas informed the Rajya Sabha on March 23, 2026 that India's Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs) are ho...
Government restores RoDTEP benefits for exporters
The government issued a notification on March 23, 2026, restoring Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) benefits to th...
Watch: NATO chief: 22-nation group forming to secure Strait of Hormuz
NATO Secretary General announced the formation of a 22-nation group to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing West Asia conflict that ...
Key decisions taken in the SEBI Board Meeting dated 23rd March, 2026
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board met on March 23, 2026, and approved a series of significant regulatory changes aimed...
Govt restores full RoDTEP rates to support ailing exporters
The government fully restored RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products) rates, reversing the 50% rate cut that had been im...
Finance Minister introduces bill to amend Company Law, LLP Act amid protest by the Opposition
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on March 23, 2026, amid protests b...
India, Russia reaffirm $100 billion trade goal as West Asia simmers
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks in Moscow, reaffirming India and Russia's comm...
U.S.-led Pax Silica a step towards digital colonialism, says Congress MP in Rajya Sabha
Senior Congress MP Digvijaya Singh raised a Zero Hour notice in the Rajya Sabha on March 23, 2026, warning the government against unconditio...
RBI steps back on forex intervention as war bites
A recent analysis of RBI data reveals that the central bank has strategically reduced its scale of foreign exchange intervention, shifting f...
India-Russia committed to increase trade to $100 billion: Jaishankar hails Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, reaffirmed India and Russia's commi...
India eyes Venezuelan, Iranian crude as supply crunch looms amid West Asia crisis & Hormuz disruption
As the Strait of Hormuz disruption following the West Asia conflict (which began February 28, 2026) squeezes India's crude supply pipeline, ...
Love in the time of KYC: House panel wants KYC made mandatory for social media, dating & gaming apps
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Empowerment of Women (2025-26) tabled its Fourth Report in both Houses of Parliament, recommendi...
Trump postpones Iran strikes; says deal is possible
US President Donald Trump announced on 23 March 2026 that military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure — which ha...
As West Asia conflict intensifies, OMCs to push for more LPG storage facilities
As the West Asia conflict exposed India's acute vulnerability in LPG supply, the three state-owned Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) — Indian O...
Can nations save the shorebird that flies 30,000 km a year?
Conservation scientists are raising alarm over the Hudsonian godwit, a shorebird whose population has plummeted 95% over four decades and wh...
Ethanol producers urge government to increase blending
The All India Distillers Association (AIDA), the apex body representing India's ethanol, bio-energy, and potable alcohol producers, wrote to...
No platform’s ever lost safe harbour despite cases of delayed compliance with takedown notices—House panel
A Parliamentary panel — the Committee on the Empowerment of Women (2025–26), chaired by D. Purandeshwari — found that no social media or dig...
India ‘must prepare to face long-term impact’ of West Asia war, conditions will be difficult: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on March 23, 2026, calling the West Asia war situation "worrisome" and warning that Ind...
Will talk to Khamenei, not dealing with ‘Supreme Leader’ yet, Trump says after declaring ‘5-day halt’
US President Donald Trump announced a five-day pause in American military strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure on March 23, 2026, d...
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: TRANSPARENCY IN UPSC EXAMS
Parliament was informed that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has formulated new guidelines to release a Provisional Answer Key on...
India in talks with global partners for safe passage for vessels carrying essential commodities via Strait of Hormuz: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in the Lok Sabha, stated that India is in active talks with global partners to ensure safe passage fo...
Indian economy at risk if Gulf conflict continues: Moody's Analytics
Moody's Analytics released its Asia-Pacific Economy Outlook report, warning that a prolonged Gulf conflict could push India's GDP nearly 4% ...
Sathankulam custodial deaths: 9 cops convicted 5 years after father, son killed in Tamil Nadu
A Madurai court on 23 March 2026 convicted nine police officers for the custodial torture and deaths of P. Jeyaraj (59) and his son J. Benni...
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: EVALUATING EFFECTIVENESS OF RTI ACT
A Parliamentary question evaluated the effectiveness of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, focusing on the appeal architecture availa...
E-filing portal to facilitate compliance under both tax laws during transition: I-T Dept
The Income Tax Department issued a detailed FAQ clarifying how the transition from the Income Tax Act, 1961 to the new Income Tax Act, 2025,...
'Situation worrisome': PM Modi clears India's stand on Iran war, flags impact of Hormuz disruption
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha to articulate India's stand on the West Asia conflict and its multifaceted impact on In...
English rendering of PM’s remarks in the Lok Sabha on the ongoing conflict in West Asia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a comprehensive address to the Lok Sabha outlining India's response to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict...
IBA pitches for up to 20pc CBG blending in CNG in Delhi to improve air quality
The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has formally pitched to the Delhi government for up to 20% blending of Compressed Biogas (CBG) into Comp...
BUDGETARY PROVISIONS FOR WATER SECURITY
Parliament was informed about the budgetary provisions allocated for water security under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) — Har Ghar Jal, the f...
Two Indian LPG tankers carrying day’s supply sail through Strait of Hormuz
Two Indian-flagged LPG tankers — Pine Gas and Jag Vasant — began their transit from the Persian Gulf through the war-hit Strait of Hormuz on...
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the Lok Sabha on the ongoing conflict in West Asia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which began on February 28, 2026, with US-Israel ...
Trans rights activists stage protest in Hyderabad opposing the amendment bill, demanding withdrawal
Transgender rights activists staged a protest in Hyderabad demanding the withdrawal of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendm...
India needs to take proactive steps limit impact of West Asia crisis, says RBI bulletin
The March 2026 RBI Bulletin warned that India needs to closely monitor the evolving West Asia conflict and take proactive measures to limit ...
“TDB-DST supports Indigenous Cybersecurity Solution for Secure Data Transfer Across Air-Gapped Networks”
The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has extended financial support to Matisoft Cyb...
West Asia crisis: Govt restores full RoDTEP benefits to exporters
The government restored full benefit rates under the RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products) scheme for exporters, effec...
China to recoup 2% share in Indian FDI after Press Note 3 changes: Crisil
India's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued Press Note 2 (2026) on March 15, 2026, amending the restricti...
Ministry of Rural Development Launches Real-Time Internal Audit Portal to Revolutionize Governance and Oversight
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) operationalised a comprehensive Internal Audit Portal (IAP) on March 23, 2026, shifting audit proce...
EPFO plans auto-settlement to clear Rs 5,200 crore in inoperative accounts
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is developing an auto-settlement mechanism to proactively credit unclaimed balances from i...
Iranian oil purchase to depend on techno-commercial feasibility, payments route unclear
A senior government official confirmed that India will consider resuming purchases of Iranian crude oil, with the decision contingent on tec...
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: USE OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY IN J&K
In a response to a Parliament question, the government detailed the wide range of space technology applications being deployed in Jammu & Ka...
SWAMIH Fund II rollout underway, Rs 15,000 crore boost for stalled housing, says Nirmala Sitharaman
The Finance Minister confirmed that the rollout of SWAMIH Investment Fund II is underway, backed by a corpus of Rs 15,000 crore to complete ...
India’s largest pregnancy cohort study of 12,000 women to develop AI-driven solutions for preterm births: Dr. Jitendra Singh
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that India's largest pregnancy cohort study — the GARBH-INi initiative — has enrolled 12,000 wom...
Forward-Looking Survey on Private Corporate Sector CAPEX Investment Intentions
The National Statistics Office (NSO) released the second round of its Forward-Looking Survey on Private Corporate Sector CAPEX Investment In...
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SPACE DOCKING TECHNOLOGY
In a parliamentary question, the government revealed that ISRO is studying two follow-on orbital docking experiments — SPADEX-2 and SPADEX-3...
For India, the costs of the Iran war beyond LPG
The ongoing US-Iran military conflict and the effective de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz have created far-reaching economic risks fo...
War in West Asia: Decoding deadline, red line in Trump’s new threat to Iran
US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran on March 21, threatening to "obliterate" Iranian power plants if the Strait of ...
Parliament Budget Session LIVE: Opposition opposes introduction of Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill 2026
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha during the second phase of the Budget ...
US, Iran threaten critical infrastructure as war escalates into fourth week
The US-Iran conflict, now in its fourth week, has escalated into a mutual threat to destroy critical infrastructure, including power plants,...
Satellite data shows Turkmenistan topping Methane emissions despite joining ‘Global Methane Pledge’
Satellite data has identified Turkmenistan as the world's top emitter of methane from oil and gas operations, holding 15 of the top 25 metha...
Wangchuk returns to Ladakh after NSA revocation, calls for relief to detainees
Sonam Wangchuk, 59, prominent Ladakhi climate activist and education reformer, returned to Leh after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA...
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) notified the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations, ...
World could face worst energy crisis in decades, IEA chief warns
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol issued an urgent warning that the world is facing the worst energy crisis in decades, with global oil sup...
Nirmala Sitharaman to introduce Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha
The Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was introduced in the Lok Sabha during the second phase of the ongoing Budget Session by Finance ...
Iran-Israel war LIVE: Iran issues indirect threat at West Asian electrical, water stations, including a UAE nuclear plant
Iran issued threats to target electrical grids, water supply stations, and critical infrastructure across West Asia, including a direct impl...
DGCA releases summer flights schedule for Indian domestic carriers; in effect from March 29
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released the summer flight schedule for Indian domestic carriers, effective March 29 to Oct...
U.S. jury signals tech titans on hook for social media addiction
In a landmark trial underway in Los Angeles, a jury deliberating on the first "bellwether" social media addiction case sent the judge a quer...
Saudi Arabia and the UAE targeted in fresh attacks
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been subjected to sustained ballistic missile and drone attacks from Iran, marking the first time in history t...
SoftBank plans massive U.S. power plant for AI data centres
SoftBank Group announced plans to build a $33.3 billion gas-fired power plant at the US Department of Energy's Portsmouth site in Piketon, O...
Iran threatens to attack West Asia electrical plants powering U.S. bases
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement on March 23 threatening to attack electrical plants in Gulf Arab states t...
Two co-founders of CoinDCX crypto exchange held on charges of fraud
Co-founders of CoinDCX — India's largest cryptocurrency exchange — Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal were arrested by Thane police following...
Asian shares decline as hopes dim for resolution in Iran
Asian stock markets fell sharply on March 23 following Trump's 48-hour ultimatum to Iran over the Strait of Hormuz: South Korea's KOSPI plun...
Global economy faces major threat amid worsening energy crisis: IEA chief
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol stated that the West Asia conflict has triggered a global energy crisis worse than the twin oil shocks of...
Tencent integrates WeChat with OpenClaw AI agent amid China tech battle
Tencent launched ClawBot, a tool that integrates its WeChat messaging platform with OpenClaw — an open-source AI agent capable of performing...
As Gor makes first trip as U.S. Special envoy to South Asia, Delhi watches strategic signals closely
US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor undertook his first official trip to Sri Lanka and Maldives (March 19-24, 2026), skip...
DGTR recommends anti-dumping duty on rayon yarn imports from China
India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended imposing anti-dumping duties ranging from $386 to $1,071 per metric ton...
Chaitanya Baghel case: Supreme Court to hear question of law; ED maintains case is infructuous
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a "question of law" in the Chaitanya Baghel case, even as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) argued the matte...
Graduate and unemployed: India’s middle-class rulebook for career & success no longer works
A structural crisis in India's graduate employment market has become increasingly visible: approximately 40% of graduates under the age of 2...
Fertiliser imports at risk ahead of sowing season, 26% sourced from current hotspot West Asia: CareEdge Report
A CareEdge Ratings report flagged that approximately 26.2% of India's fertiliser imports originate from West Asia, a region currently affect...
Eight TSPC Maoists arrested in Jharkhand's Hazaribag
Eight cadres of the Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), a banned Maoist splinter group, were arrested in Jharkhand's Hazaribag distr...
How the West Asian conflict upended global monetary policy
The US-Iran war in West Asia has disrupted the monetary policy trajectories of major central banks globally, forcing a pause in the rate-cut...
The Sattankulam custodial torture deaths of a father and son in Tamil Nadu | Explained
The verdict in the custodial death case of P. Jeyaraj and his son J. Benicks was delivered on March 23, 2026, by the Madurai District Princi...
Donald Trump’s changing course on Strait of Hormuz strategy raises questions about U.S. war preparation
US President Trump's approach to the Strait of Hormuz has undergone a series of contradictory shifts within a single week, raising questions...
Air Force staffer arrested for spying for Pakistani handlers, sharing sensitive information
Sumit Kumar, a 36-year-old multi-tasking staff (MTS) employee at the Indian Air Force Station in Chabua, Dibrugarh district of Assam, was ar...
2026 Assembly elections schedule: Dates for Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
The Election Commission of India (ECI), led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, announced the schedule for 2026 assembly elections...
'Need to give diplomacy a chance': Congress MP Manish Tewari over supply chain disruptions amid West Asia conflict
As the US-Iran conflict continues with no sign of de-escalation, supply chain disruptions from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are sprea...
Majority of Japanese Oppose Sending Warships to Middle East
Polls conducted over the weekend of 21–22 March 2026 show a clear majority of Japanese oppose sending Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) warshi...
Shaheed Diwas 2026: PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal & other politicians pay tribute to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru
March 23 is observed as Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day) across India to commemorate the execution of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhde...
PM Narendra Modi to speak in Lok Sabha on West Asia conflict today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on 23 March 2026 on the ongoing West Asia conflict (US-Iran war), emphasising India's c...
How birds are spreading plastic pollution
Scientists have for the first time quantified the process by which gulls and other waterbirds transport plastic waste from landfills and was...
Watch: Why is the assassination of Congo’s first PM Patrice Lumumba being talked about now?
On 17 March 2026, a Belgian court ordered Étienne Davignon, a 93-year-old former Belgian diplomat and ex-European Commissioner, to stand tri...
Why is ‘Vishwaguru’ not advancing BRICS summit for diplomatic initiative on West Asia crisis: Cong
The Congress party questioned why Prime Minister Modi is not advancing the BRICS+ Summit (which India is set to host in 2026) to mount a dip...
India’s limited oil buffers, reliance on subsidies heighten risks from Middle East conflict, Moody’s warns
A Moody's assessment has identified India as "highly vulnerable" to a prolonged disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, specifically citing two ...
‘Outlook has grown more daunting’: Moody’s warns on Asia-Pacific growth, sees slowdown to 4% in 2026 amid heightened Middle East risks
Moody's Ratings has warned that the outlook for Asia-Pacific economies has "grown more daunting," projecting a regional growth slowdown to a...
Sitharaman to move Finance Bill 2026 and Corporate Laws Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha today
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved the Finance Bill, 2026 for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha during the second phase of t...
PM calls Lohia ‘outstanding thinker’, one of foremost voices of social justice
March 23, 2026 marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (born March 23, 1910; died October 12, 1967). Prime Minister Narendra Mo...
Supreme Court judge flags overuse of UAPA, laments poor representation of women in HCs, SC
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan of the Supreme Court of India criticised the excessive use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the P...
Manipur: Mob attacks Kuki Zo Council chairman's residence in Churachandpur, blank fire reported
On March 22, 2026, an irate mob of youths attacked the residence of Kuki Zo Council (KZC) Chairman Henlienthang Thanglet in Churachandpur, M...