March 2026

National and State News 

• Brahmaputra Riverway Expansion: Assam inaugurated key infrastructure projects on Brahmaputra River under National Waterway-2 to boost regional tourism and trade. 

• Caste-Free Village Resolution: Soundala village in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district officially declared itself ‘caste-free’ via a unanimous gram sabha resolution. 

• Micron Semiconductor Facility: India’s first semiconductor ATMP facility by Micron Technology was established in Sanand, Gujarat, with a ₹22,516 crore investment. 

• Rail Tech Policy 2026: Indian Railways launched Rail Tech Policy 2026 and e-RCT to accelerate digitalization and technology adoption. 

• Rajasthan District Renaming: Rajasthan state government officially renamed Mount Abu as Aburaj, Kaman as Kamvan, and Jahazpur as Yagyapur. 

• North Sikkim Connectivity: Border Roads Organisation restored the strategic Chungthang-Lachen Axis and Taram Chu Bridge in North Sikkim. 

• Divyang Sahayak Portal: Maharashtra launched the ‘Divyang Sahayak Portal’ as India’s first fully integrated online disability welfare platform. 

• Varanasi Plantation Record: Varanasi created a Guinness World Record by planting over 2.51 lakh saplings within one hour at Sujabad Domari. 

• Chhattisgarh Annual Budget: Chhattisgarh presented an annual budget of ₹1.72 lakh crore centered around the inclusive development theme ‘SANKALP’. 

• Rajmarg Pravesh Version 2.0: Union Ministry launched the upgraded Rajmarg Pravesh Version 2.0 portal for seamless highway utility permissions. 

• Tamil Nadu Dark Sky Park: Tamil Nadu established its first Dark Sky Park at Ariyur Shola Reserve Forest in Kolli Hills to promote astro-tourism. 

 

• Sashakt Nari Delhi Program: Delhi government launched four key women-centric welfare schemes during the ‘Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi’ program. 

• Nationwide HPV Vaccination Drive: India launched a nationwide HPV vaccination drive utilizing single-dose Gardasil 4 to prevent cervical cancer in young girls. 

• BEE 25th Foundation Day: Bureau of Energy Efficiency celebrated its 25th Foundation Day highlighting India’s achievement of non-fossil fuel capacity targets. 

• Debrigarh Bison Fest: Odisha hosted the second Indian Bison Fest at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary following a robust surge in gaur populations. 

• Project HANUMAN in Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh launched ‘Project HANUMAN’ to mitigate escalating human-wildlife conflicts across vulnerable districts. 

• Haryana AI Mission Budget: Haryana presented a ₹2.23 lakh crore budget featuring a dedicated ₹474 crore allocation for the state AI Mission. 

• CWC 70th Foundation Day: Central Warehousing Corporation celebrated its 70th Foundation Day at Bharat Mandapam, highlighting robust food security logistics. 

• Childhood Obesity Rankings: World Obesity Atlas ranked India as the second highest country globally for childhood obesity prevalence. 

• Saksham Skill Census: Maharashtra launched the ‘Saksham Skill Census’ as India’s first AI-driven skill assessment survey for youth. 

• IIT Madras EV Drive System: MeitY launched an indigenous 30 kW Wide Band Gap integrated drive system for electric vehicles at IIT Madras. 

• NITI Aayog-JICA Partnership: NITI Aayog and JICA signed an agreement for Phase Two of sustainable development goals cooperation in aspirational districts. 

• Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Projects: Tamil Nadu and Puducherry received major road and infrastructure development projects worth over ₹7,100 crore. 

• New Seed Act & Pesticide Act: Union Agriculture Ministry announced the New Seed Act 2026 and Revised Pesticide Act 2026 to modernize agricultural laws. 

• herSTART 5.0 Program: Gujarat launched the ‘herSTART 5.0’ program at Gujarat University to empower women-led startups and entrepreneurship. 

• Andhra Pradesh Fertility Incentive: Andhra Pradesh announced a ₹25,000 cash incentive for couples having a second or third child to counter declining fertility rates. 

• World Engineering Day Partner: Adani Group was selected as the official global partner for World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development 2026. 

• MeHEALTH Mobile App: Kerala launched the ‘MeHEALTH’ mobile app to streamline citizen access to public healthcare facilities. 

• Karbi Anglong Ginger Export: Assam exported its first trial consignment of GI-tagged Karbi Anglong Ginger to London. 

• Census 2027 Mascots: Union Home Ministry unveiled official mascots ‘Pragati’ and ‘Vikas’ for the upcoming Census 2027. 

• Riverine Lighthouses: India’s first Riverine Lighthouses were foundation-laid along National Waterway-2 on the Brahmaputra River. 

• TV News TRP Suspension: Government temporarily suspended TV news TRP reporting for four weeks amidst sensitive international conflict coverage. 

• Punjab Mawan Dhiyan Scheme: Punjab presented a ₹2.60 lakh crore budget featuring the ‘Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana’ financial security scheme. 

• Karnataka Child Social Media Ban: Karnataka proposed a landmark social media ban for children under 16 years in its state budget to prevent digital addiction. 

• SWAYATT Initiative 7 Years: Government e-Marketplace celebrated seven successful years of the SWAYATT initiative promoting inclusive public procurement. 

• FTA Network Expansion: India expanded its Free Trade Agreement network to cover 38 countries across global trade corridors. 

• Say No To Proxy Sarpanch Campaign: Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the ‘Say No To Proxy Sarpanch’ campaign to eradicate the ‘Sarpanch Pati’ practice. 

• Dombivli Lezim Dance Record: Maharashtra women set a Guinness World Record by performing simultaneous traditional Lezim dances in Dombivli. 

• Cyber Safety Protocol 2026: Kerala introduced the Cyber Safety Protocol 2026 in schools to protect students from AI-based online threats. 

• Delhi Ring Metro Inauguration: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first Ring Metro corridor completing the Delhi Metro Pink Line ring. 

• Green Ammonia Standards: India officially notified strict green ammonia and green methanol standards under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. 

• Project GANGA Broadband: Uttar Pradesh launched ‘Project GANGA’ in partnership with Hinduja Group to expand rural high-speed broadband connections. 

• Inter-Regional Power Target: India’s inter-regional power transmission capacity is targeted to reach 143 GW by 2027. 

• 11th Raisina Dialogue: Prime Minister inaugurated the 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi under the theme ‘Samskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement.’ 

• SHINE App for Women: Indian Railways launched the ‘SHINE’ app for confidential workplace sexual harassment reporting by women employees. 

• Team Kalki Darknet Syndicate: Narcotics Control Bureau dismantled a major pan-India darknet drug trafficking syndicate named ‘Team Kalki.’ 

• Gairan Land Municipal Use: Maharashtra Assembly passed amendments permitting municipal bodies to utilize unused gairan land for public development. 

• Mizo Language Eighth Schedule: Mizoram Assembly unanimously passed a resolution seeking inclusion of the Mizo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. 

• Humanitarian Rice Aid to Malawi: India dispatched 1,000 metric tons of humanitarian rice aid to drought-hit Malawi. 

• Kuno Cheetah Population: India’s wild cheetah population reached 53 following the birth of five healthy cubs to Namibian cheetah Jwala in Kuno. 

• Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Link: Cabinet approved ₹3,630 crore for a greenfield connectivity corridor linking Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to Noida Airport. 

• Jal Jeevan Mission Extension: Union Cabinet extended the Jal Jeevan Mission till December 2028 with a revised outlay of ₹8.69 lakh crore. 

• Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill: Chhattisgarh Cabinet approved the draft Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 to curb fraudulent or coercive conversions. 

• Lake and Air Watch Initiative: Gujarat launched the ‘Lake and Air Watch’ initiative to monitor urban air quality and water body health. 

• Cotton Export Leadership: India surpassed China in 2025 to become the largest exporter of cotton products to the United States. 

• UIDAI Bug Bounty Program: UIDAI launched its first structured Bug Bounty Program inviting ethical hackers to fortify Aadhaar digital security. 

• Fiscal Health Index 2026: NITI Aayog released the Fiscal Health Index 2026 assessing financial sustainability and fiscal performance of Indian states. 

• PureAir Tower Aerocity: New Delhi deployed India’s first microalgae-based PureAir Tower along the Aerocity highway corridor. 

• OBC Creamy Layer Clarification: Supreme Court clarified that parental income alone cannot be the sole criterion for determining OBC creamy layer status. 

• ₹1 Trillion Semiconductor Fund: India announced plans to launch a ₹1 trillion semiconductor fund to bolster domestic chip manufacturing ecosystems. 

• PM Kisan 22nd Installment: PM Kisan Samman Nidhi 22nd installment transferred over ₹18,600 crore directly to more than 9 crore farmer families. 

• International Rail Coach Expo: International Rail Coach Expo 2026 was hosted at the Integral Coach Factory premises in Chennai. 

• VOC Port Digital Twin: V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Tamil Nadu launched India’s first digital twin platform for advanced maritime port management. 

• Araku Kouni Tribal Menu: Andhra Pradesh launched ‘Araku Kouni’ as the state’s first tribal millet-based culinary menu. 

• Harish Rana Euthanasia Case: Supreme Court permitted the withdrawal of passive life support in the landmark Harish Rana euthanasia case. 

• Tea Garden Land Certificates: Assam distributed legal land ownership certificates to 3.5 lakh tea garden worker families across 825 tea estates. 

• Purple Fest 2026: Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted a special ‘Purple Fest 2026’ celebrating the achievements and inclusion of Divyangjan. 

• Bokaro Steel Plant BIS Certification: Bokaro Steel Plant secured BIS certification for four advanced High Strength Low Alloy steel grades. 

• Tezpur University Incubation Centre: Ministry of Food Processing inaugurated a modern Common Incubation Centre at Tezpur University in Assam. 

• AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav: MoHUA organized AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav 2026 celebrating women self-help groups managing urban water utilities. 

• UPSC DGP Panel Rules: UPSC clarified that state governments cannot delay sending eligible DGP panels without prior judicial approval. 

• Surya Midha Young Billionaire: Indian-origin entrepreneur Surya Midha at age 22 became a self-made billionaire co-founding AI hiring firm Mercor. 

• FSSAI License Perpetual Validity: Government approved perpetual validity for FSSAI food business licenses to ease business compliance burdens. 

• FASTag Annual Pass Revision: NHAI revised the FASTag Annual Pass fee for private non-commercial vehicles to ₹3,075 effective April 1, 2026. 

• SATHEE Portal Expansion: Ministry of Education and IIT Kanpur launched the SATHEE portal for free competitive exam coaching. 

• Gujarat FMD Vaccination Drive: Gujarat launched a statewide Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination drive covering all livestock populations. 

• Kusunpur CSIR Smart Village: Kusunpur village in Odisha’s Kendrapada district was selected to become the state’s first CSIR-backed smart village. 

• PLFS Unemployment Rate: India’s unemployment rate eased slightly to 4.9% in February 2026 according to Periodic Labour Force Survey data. 

• 24 Speed Post Service: Department of Posts launched the ’24 Speed Post’ service for guaranteed next-day delivery across six major metros. 

• Nagoya Protocol National Report: India submitted its first National Report on the Nagoya Protocol regarding biodiversity access and benefit sharing. 

• Assam Joha Rice Export: APEDA facilitated the inaugural export of GI-tagged Joha aromatic rice from Assam to the UK and Italy. 

• NMDC Iron Ore Milestone: NMDC Limited became India’s first mining enterprise to produce 50 million tonnes of iron ore in a single fiscal year. 

• Anantnag Integrated Aqua Park: Government sanctioned a ₹100 crore Integrated Aqua Park in Anantnag to boost cold-water fisheries in Jammu and Kashmir. 

• Adoptive Mother Maternity Leave: Supreme Court struck down age restrictions on maternity leave for adoptive mothers ensuring equal 12-week benefits. 

• IIT Guwahati MXene Material: IIT Guwahati developed a dual-purpose MXene-based material for hydrogen fuel generation and seawater desalination. 

• Tribal Homestay Programme: ITDC and Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the Tribal Homestay Capacity Building Programme 2026. 

• BHAVYA Scheme Industrial Parks: Union Cabinet approved the BHAVYA scheme with ₹33,600 crore to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks. 

• Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill: Maharashtra passed the Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 penalizing fraudulent or coercive conversions. 

• Transgender Rights Amendment Bill: Transgender Rights Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced in Parliament sparking nationwide legal and social debate. 

• Small Hydro Power Scheme: Union Cabinet approved the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme with ₹2,584 crore outlay through 2031. 

• BPCL LPG ATM Pilot: BPCL launched India’s first LPG Automated Teller Machine (ATM) under the BharatGas Insta pilot project in Gurugram. 

• One Nation One Election JPC: Lok Sabha extended the Joint Parliamentary Committee tenure on ‘One Nation One Election’ till Monsoon Session 2026. 

• Kalinjar Fort Geo-Heritage Site: GSI declared Kalinjar Fort Hill in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, as a national geo-heritage site. 

• RELIEF Export Scheme 2026: Government launched the RELIEF Scheme 2026 under Export Promotion Mission to assist exporters impacted by West Asia crises. 

• National Productivity Council Audit: National Productivity Council was designated as an Environment Audit Designated Agency under new audit rules. 

• Indiramma Family Life Insurance: Telangana budget announced the Indiramma Family Life Insurance Scheme offering ₹5 lakh coverage per family. 

• New Income-tax Rules 2026: New Income-tax Rules 2026 were officially notified to take effect from April 1, 2026 under the Income-tax Act, 2025. 

• Tata Steel Scrap EAF Facility: Tata Steel inaugurated India’s first scrap-based Electric Arc Furnace facility in Ludhiana, Punjab. 

• National DMF Summit 2026: Ministry of Mines hosted the National District Mineral Foundation Summit 2026 in New Delhi. 

• PM Modi Longest-Serving Head: Prime Minister Narendra Modi became India’s longest-serving elected head of government surpassing 8,931 days in office. 

• Chandigarh University AI Centre: Chandigarh University UP launched an advanced AI Smart Healthcare Centre of Excellence powered by NVIDIA Blackwell architecture. 

• National Generation Adequacy Plan: Central Electricity Authority released the National Generation Adequacy Plan projecting 1,121 GW capacity by 2035-36. 

• 5G Innovation Hackathon 2026: DoT launched the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2026 under the 100 Use Case Laboratories Programme. 

• Invasive Alien Species Committee: National Biodiversity Authority constituted an expert committee to combat ecological threats from invasive alien species. 

• CAPF Bill IPS Command: Proposed Central Armed Police Forces Bill seeks to retain IPS leadership in senior command positions. 

• Delhi Green Budget 2026-27: Delhi presented a ₹1.03 trillion ‘Green Budget 2026-27’ allocating 21% toward environmental pollution control. 

• Gujarat UCC Bill 2026: Gujarat became the second state after Uttarakhand to pass the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026. 

• West Asia Crisis Empowered Panels: Government constituted seven empowered committees to manage strategic economic and energy impacts of the West Asia crisis. 

• Railway Cancellation Rule Revision: Indian Railways revised its ticket cancellation rule prohibiting refunds within 8 hours before train departure. 

• Garo Hills ST Certificate Rule: Garo Hills Autonomous District Council made Scheduled Tribe certificates mandatory for contesting elections. 

• RISE Centre Andhra Pradesh: NITI Aayog sanctioned ₹1.55 crore for the RISE Centre in Andhra Pradesh to foster rural women entrepreneurship. 

• PM Internship Scheme Expansion: Government revamped the PM Internship Scheme expanding eligibility into semiconductors and green energy sectors. 

• Transgender Persons Bill Passage: Lok Sabha passed the Transgender Persons Amendment Bill refining definitions for traditional communities. 

• India Sports Economy Milestone: India’s sports economy crossed the $2 billion mark in 2025 reaching ₹18,864 crore. 

• SC Status Conversion Ruling: Supreme Court ruled that Scheduled Caste status is lost immediately upon conversion to Christianity. 

• Sugam Digital Gujarat Portal: Gujarat digitized 20 key citizen services under the ‘Sugam Digital Gujarat’ faceless governance initiative. 

• Updated NDC Targets 2031-2035: Union Cabinet approved India’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution targets for 2031-2035 targeting net zero by 2070. 

• Noida Airport Phase I: Noida International Airport Phase I scheduled for inauguration on March 28 with an 11,200 crore investment. 

• Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill: Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced in Lok Sabha proposing amendments to 784 provisions across 79 acts. 

• Fertilizer Subsidy DBT Outlay: Government directed over ₹1.77 lakh crore toward fertilizer subsidies in FY2024-25 through DBT mechanisms. 

• TV Rating Policy 2026: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting notified the TV Rating Policy 2026 to ensure transparency in audience measurement. 

• Port of Refuge Adani Ports: Adani Ports operationalized India’s first Port of Refuge to strengthen maritime emergency response frameworks. 

• PM E-DRIVE Scheme Extension: Government extended the PM E-DRIVE scheme till March 2028 with ₹10,900 crore outlay prioritizing commercial EVs. 

• Lancet Maternal Mortality Report: Lancet study estimated India’s maternal mortality ratio at 116 per lakh live births reporting 24,700 deaths in 2023. 

• SC Panel on Transgender Bill: Supreme Court advisory panel urged Centre to withdraw the controversial Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026. 

• G7 Summit Attendance: PM Narendra Modi confirmed attendance at the G7 Summit 2026 scheduled in Evian-les-Bains, France. 

• IIM Ahmedabad AI School: IIM Ahmedabad launched the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence backed by a ₹100 crore endowment. 

• Hydrogen Trainset Trials: India’s first hydrogen-powered trainset successfully completed rigorous RDSO oscillation trials. 

• Rajasthan Industrial Policy 2026: Rajasthan launched the Industrial Park Promotion Policy 2026 to attract investments and generate jobs. 

• Great Indian Bustard Hatching: A Great Indian Bustard chick hatched successfully in the wild in Kutch grasslands after nearly a decade. 

• IRCTC Food Penalty: Indian Railways imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on IRCTC following a food quality complaint on Vande Bharat Express. 

• Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: Amrit Bharat Station Scheme was advanced to modernize 1,338 railway stations nationwide. 

• PM-SYM Pension Scheme: PM-SYM pension scheme continued providing assured ₹3,000 monthly pensions to unorganized sector workers. 

Government Schemes and Policies 

• Credit Guarantee Scheme 2.0: Government introduced the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Microfinance Institutions 2.0 (CGSMFI-2.0). 

• PRARAMBH 2026 Tax Awareness: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched ‘PRARAMBH 2026’ nationwide awareness drive on the Income Tax Act, 2025. 

• Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme: Government revised the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs enhancing manufacturing and exporter support. 

• PM Internship Scheme Expansion: Government revamped the PM Internship Scheme expanding eligibility into semiconductors and green energy sectors. 

• Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: Amrit Bharat Station Scheme was advanced to modernize 1,338 railway stations nationwide. 

• PM-SYM Pension Scheme: PM-SYM pension scheme continued providing assured ₹3,000 monthly pensions to unorganized sector workers. 

Banking and Financial news 

• SEBI Life Cycle Mutual Funds: SEBI introduced life cycle mutual funds with regulated age-based equity and debt exposure glide paths. 

• SEBI Mutual Fund Reforms: SEBI implemented sweeping reforms in the ₹81 lakh crore mutual fund industry ensuring true-to-label investment discipline. 

• New National Accounts Series: MoSPI introduced India’s New National Accounts Series with base year 2022-23 to enhance GDP estimation accuracy. 

• Ellinas Finance GIFT City: Cyprus-based Ellinas Finance became the first overseas firm to list on NSE International Exchange at GIFT City. 

• Sri Lanka Blue Bond: Sri Lanka’s first Blue Bond secured a historic dual listing on NSE International Exchange at GIFT City. 

• West Bengal ADB Projects: West Bengal cabinet approved ₹4,648 crore ADB-funded projects to upgrade secondary education and ICDS nutrition. 

• Sarvam AI and SBI Life: Sarvam AI partnered with SBI Life to deploy generative AI solutions across insurance distribution networks. 

• IIFL Home Finance ADB Loan: IIFL Home Finance secured a USD 300 million ADB loan to expand affordable housing finance for low-income borrowers. 

• Gnani.ai Razorpay Partnership: Gnani.ai partnered with Razorpay to launch an agentic AI-powered payment collections and UPI platform. 

• Central Bank & Canara Robeco: Central Bank of India partnered with Canara Robeco AMC to distribute diversified mutual fund investment products. 

• Jio Financial Finsider App: Jio Financial Services subsidiary launched the AI-powered ‘Finsider’ financial marketplace app for early access users. 

• RBI Penalty on Mahindra Finance: RBI imposed a ₹11.50 lakh penalty on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services for Fair Practices Code violations. 

• NSO FY26 GDP Growth Projection: NSO projected India’s FY26 real GDP growth at 6% under the new 2022-23 base year GDP series. 

• CBIC SWIFT 2.0 Platform: CBIC rolled out upgraded SWIFT 2.0 digital customs clearance platform and Atithi 2.0 traveler app. 

• Agriculture GVA FY26: Agriculture GVA growth for FY26 was projected at 2.4% reflecting subdued agricultural price realization. 

• FDI Equity Inflows Surge: India recorded a 16.6% year-on-year surge in FDI equity inflows reaching $12.69 billion in Q3 FY26. 

• NUCFDC Urban Co-op Banks: RBI authorized NUCFDC to function as the umbrella organization for Urban Co-operative Banks. 

• RBI-Bank of Japan Swap: RBI and Bank of Japan renewed their USD 75 billion bilateral currency swap arrangement. 

• EPFO Interest Rate Retention: EPFO retained an 8.25% interest rate on provident fund deposits for the second consecutive financial year. 

• SEBI Penalty on Coffee Day: SEBI imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Coffee Day Enterprises for financial statement misstatements. 

• Current Account Deficit Q3 FY26: India’s Current Account Deficit widened to $13.2 billion or 1.3% of GDP in Q3 FY26 due to higher trade deficits. 

• Pine Labs Stablecoin Cards: Pine Labs announced stablecoin-backed prepaid cards across nine international markets by April 2026. 

• India INX GA & HSBC IBU: India INX GA partnered with HSBC IBU to broaden structured global investment access through GIFT City. 

• Eligible Manufacturer Importers: CBIC introduced the Eligible Manufacturer Importers scheme allowing monthly deferred customs duty payments. 

• ADB India Climate Loans: ADB announced plans to provide $1.2 billion in loans to India in 2026 for climate and infrastructure projects. 

• IRDAI Ind AS Regulations: IRDAI released draft regulations to implement Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) for insurers from April 2026. 

• EPFO Anchor Investment in InvIT: EPFO invested as a strategic anchor investor in NHAI’s Rajmarg Infrastructure InvIT public issue. 

• Government Bank Dashboard: Controller General of Accounts unveiled the Government Bank Dashboard and manual for real-time transaction monitoring. 

• Axis Bank Tesla Financing: Axis Bank became the preferred electric vehicle financing partner for Tesla in India offering up to 10-year loans. 

• Bank of Baroda Green Bonds: Bank of Baroda raised ₹10,000 crore through long-term green infrastructure bonds at a 7.10% coupon rate. 

• SBI Strongest Banking Brand: State Bank of India was ranked as the strongest Indian banking brand globally in the Brand Finance Banking 500 Report. 

• SEBI AI System Sudarshan: SEBI deployed an in-house AI system ‘Sudarshan’ removing over 1.2 lakh misleading finfluencer social media posts. 

• DEG and Citibank Facility: DEG and Citibank provided a $76 million co-financing facility to Shriram Finance for sustainable mobility. 

• Motilal Oswal ADB Financing: Motilal Oswal Home Finance secured $100 million debt financing from ADB for affordable housing expansion. 

• Generali Happy Women’s Pay: Generali Central Insurance launched the ‘Happy Women’s Pay’ campaign championing gender pay equality. 

• RBI Business Conduct Directions: RBI issued revised responsible business conduct directions strengthening customer liability protection in digital banking. 

• Yes Bank YES Essence Account: Yes Bank launched the ‘YES Essence’ specialized salary account tailored for women’s financial empowerment. 

• SBI General Pankaj Tripathi: SBI General Insurance launched the ‘Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa’ brand campaign appointing actor Pankaj Tripathi. 

• Federal Bank Fed Wealth Hub: Federal Bank launched the ‘Fed Wealth’ platform inaugurating its first premium Wealth Hub in Kochi. 

• AU Small Finance Bank Rules: RBI modified AU Small Finance Bank’s universal banking transition rules relaxing the strict NOFHC mandate. 

• National Climate Stack Challenge: NABARD, Gates Foundation, and Dalberg launched the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge for rural resilience. 

• SBI Social Term Loan Facility: SBI launched a $500 million syndicated social term loan facility to champion women’s economic empowerment. 

• FATF AML/CFT Public Statements: FATF issued updated AML/CFT public statements keeping North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar on high-risk lists. 

• HDFC Bank & Swiggy Cards: HDFC Bank and Swiggy jointly launched two new co-branded credit cards for travel and dining rewards. 

• J&K Bank Retail Expansion: J&K Bank partnered with NBFCs to expand retail home and gold loan portfolios outside Jammu and Kashmir. 

• Agricultural Credit Targets: Government set comprehensive ground-level agricultural credit targets for banks to boost rural lending. 

• IRDAI New Registrations: IRDAI granted certificates of registration to Allianz Jio Reinsurance and Kiwi General Insurance. 

• Nashik Municipal Green Bond: Nashik Municipal Corporation listed Maharashtra’s first urban local body green municipal bond on NSE. 

• PhonePe RuPay On-The-Go: PhonePe launched the RuPay ‘On-The-Go’ National Common Mobility Card for contactless transit toll payments. 

• RBI Dividend Payout Norms: RBI issued 2026 prudential norms capping commercial bank dividend payouts at 75% of net profit. 

• SEBI Technology Working Group: SEBI constituted a high-level technology working group chaired by Dr. D.B. Phatak for securities market roadmaps. 

• Axis Max Life & Saarathi Finance: Axis Max Life partnered with Saarathi Finance to provide credit-linked life insurance for MSME borrowers. 

• Bob Women Sapphire Savings: Bank of Baroda launched the ‘bob Women Sapphire Savings Account’ offering comprehensive healthcare and wellness perks. 

• South Indian Bank Digital LAMF: South Indian Bank launched digital Loan Against Mutual Funds (LAMF) facility in partnership with smallcase. 

• PayU GoKwik Checkout Stack: PayU and GoKwik collaborated to launch India’s first integrated conversion-to-completion checkout stack for D2C brands. 

• SBI and MUFG Bank Alliance: SBI and MUFG Bank forged a strategic alliance to boost cross-border Indo-Japanese corporate financing. 

• Nomura GDP Growth Revision: Nomura revised India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast to 7% due to rising West Asia geopolitical supply risks. 

• Cancellation of 36 NBFCs: RBI cancelled registration certificates of 36 non-banking financial companies for regulatory non-compliance. 

• Basel III Counterparty Credit Risk: RBI updated counterparty credit risk frameworks for commercial banks to align strictly with Basel III standards. 

• CRED Payment Aggregator: CRED received formal RBI authorization to operate as a payment aggregator under PSSA regulations. 

• EASE 8.0 PSBs Profit Record: EASE 8.0 reforms propelled public sector banks to achieve record net profits of ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY25. 

• CRISIL GDP Forecast FY27: CRISIL Intelligence projected India’s real GDP growth at 7.1% for FY27. 

• Digital Payments Awareness Week: RBI launched the ‘Awareness Program on Digital Payments’ during Digital Payments Awareness Week 2026. 

• Manappuram Finance Penalty: RBI imposed a ₹2.70 lakh penalty on Manappuram Finance for variable pay deferral non-compliance. 

• PSB Third-Party Product Sales: Public sector banks earned over ₹28,600 crore in five years through third-party financial product sales. 

• Minimum Balance Penalties: Private and public sector banks collected ₹19,000 crore in three years from minimum balance non-maintenance penalties. 

• Razorpay AI Agent Studio: Razorpay unveiled the world’s first AI Agent Studio for payment management built on Anthropic Claude SDK. 

• NSE IPO Merchant Bankers: NSE selected 20 merchant bankers and 8 law firms to manage its long-awaited initial public offering. 

• Bank of Baroda GIFT City Loan: Bank of Baroda raised $500 million through a five-year syndicated term loan via its GIFT City IFSC unit. 

• SIBerNet EPF Payment: South Indian Bank launched online EPF payment facilities via SIBerNet internet banking in partnership with EPFO. 

• Retail Inflation February 2026: India’s retail inflation rose slightly to 3.21% in February 2026 driven by food and housing price increases. 

• PayU CoRover Voice Payment: PayU partnered with CoRover.ai to launch multilingual voice-enabled payment execution powered by BharatGPT. 

• Agriculture GVA Milestone: Agriculture and allied sector GVA surpassed ₹48.7 lakh crore in 2023-24 with robust livestock growth. 

• NSE Gold Futures Contract: NSE launched a 10 Grams Gold Futures contract in its commodity derivatives segment. 

• Fitch FY26 GDP Growth Forecast: Fitch Ratings projected India’s FY26 GDP growth at 7.5% citing strong domestic consumer demand. 

• Minimum Public Shareholding: Department of Economic Affairs revised minimum public shareholding rules for large IPO listings. 

• Jan-Dhan Accounts Milestone: Government reported 57.78 crore Jan-Dhan accounts opened with ₹2.94 lakh crore in total deposits. 

• DCM Shriram IFC Debentures: DCM Shriram secured $90 million from IFC through sustainability-linked non-convertible debentures. 

• Digital Retail Payments Growth: Digital retail payments registered explosive growth crossing 22,167 crore transactions in FY25. 

• World Bank UP Clean Air Loan: World Bank approved a $300 million loan for Uttar Pradesh’s clean air transition program. 

• Shriram General Insurance Health: Shriram General Insurance launched Shri Health Suraksha 2.0 with unlimited sum insured restoration benefits. 

• RBI ‘.bank.in’ Domain Award: RBI won the ‘Initiative of the Year’ award from Central Banking for its secure ‘.bank.in’ domain rollout. 

• SEBI Nomination Rules: SEBI proposed streamlined default nomination rules capped at four nominees for demat and mutual fund accounts. 

• Metrocorp Infrastructure FEMA: RBI compounded FEMA violations by Metrocorp Infrastructure ending ED adjudication proceedings. 

• Scapia Pay UPI Services: Scapia introduced ‘Scapia Pay’ UPI services allowing rewards on RuPay credit card spends. 

• Merchandise & Services Exports: India’s cumulative merchandise and services exports rose 5.79% to $790.86 billion in April-February FY26. 

• Universal Health Insurance Target: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a strategic target to achieve universal health insurance coverage by 2033. 

• NIPL UPI in Sri Lanka: NIPL expanded UPI merchant payment acceptance across Sri Lanka for Indian tourists. 

• SBI Securities Women’s Mode: SBI Securities launched ‘Women’s Mode’ on its mobile app offering goal-based investing journeys for women. 

• RBI Central Board Patna Meeting: RBI held its 622nd Central Board meeting in Patna approving the Utkarsh 3.0 medium-term strategy framework. 

• Cashfree Payments Penalty: RBI imposed a ₹3.10 lakh penalty on Cashfree Payments for escrow account debits non-compliance. 

• Anti-Digital Lending Protocols: RBI and government reinforced multi-agency protocols to crackdown on illegal digital lending apps and scams. 

• SEBI Intraday Borrowing Mismatches: SEBI permitted mutual funds to execute intraday borrowing policies for temporary redemption cash mismatches. 

• SBI Basel III Tier-2 Bonds: SBI raised ₹6,051 crore through Basel III-compliant Tier-2 bonds at a 7.05% coupon rate. 

• Edelweiss Hybrid Passive Fund: Edelweiss AMC introduced India’s first hybrid passive index fund combining equities and G-Secs in a 70:30 ratio. 

• Jio Payments Bank UPI Cash: Jio Payments Bank introduced cardless UPI cash withdrawal at business correspondent points nationwide. 

• HSBC Penalty Unclaimed Deposits: RBI imposed a ₹31.80 lakh penalty on HSBC for unclaimed deposit and inoperative account non-compliance. 

• AIC Krishi Sakhi Initiative: Agriculture Insurance Company of India launched the ‘Krishi Sakhi’ initiative to empower women farmers. 

• WTO Trade Outlook 2026: WTO released its trade outlook report projecting global merchandise trade growth to ease to 1.9% in 2026. 

• DPIIT NIRYAT Textile Data: DPIIT released NIRYAT trade data for FY25 highlighting Tamil Nadu as the top textile-exporting state. 

• Lloyd’s of London GIFT City: Lloyd’s of London initiated steps to launch operations in GIFT City boosting India’s reinsurance hub status. 

• Bank of Baroda SHG Overdraft: Bank of Baroda launched a UPI-based ₹5,000 overdraft facility for women SHG members with PMJDY accounts. 

• RNFI Services UPI QR Cash: RNFI Services launched nationwide UPI QR-based cash withdrawal services in partnership with Jio Payments Bank. 

• SEBI InvIT and REIT Relaxation: SEBI relaxed InvIT and REIT regulations permitting continued holding of completed project SPVs. 

• Unclaimed Financial Assets: Financial sector regulators strengthened frameworks to simplify claiming of ₹73,000+ crore in unclaimed financial assets. 

• SEBI Social Impact Funds: SEBI lowered minimum investment in Social Impact Funds from ₹2 lakh to ₹1,000 for retail inclusion. 

• Cooperative Bank Governance: RBI and NABARD enhanced cooperative bank governance limiting board tenures and appointing ombudsmen. 

• RBI MPC Schedule FY27: RBI announced the Monetary Policy Committee meeting schedule for FY 2026-27 starting April 2026. 

• SEBI Prepaid Instruments Proposal: SEBI proposed allowing prepaid payment instruments and gift cards for mutual fund investments up to ₹50,000. 

• Karnataka Grameena Bank Award: Karnataka Grameena Bank was honored with the National Award for Outstanding SHG-Bank Linkage 2024-25. 

• SEBI Intermediary Reforms: SEBI approved key intermediary and AIF regulatory reforms at its 213th board meeting in Mumbai. 

• Electronic Banking Fraud Guidelines: RBI proposed revised compensation guidelines for small-value fraudulent electronic banking transactions. 

• Digital Payment Intelligence Corp: Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation was incorporated to combat digital financial fraud using AI and Big Data. 

• Razorpay & Sarvam AI Voice: Razorpay partnered with Sarvam AI to introduce voice-first multilingual digital commerce solutions. 

• L&T Finance UN Global Compact: L&T Finance signed as a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact strengthening ESG governance. 

• Goldman Sachs CY26 GDP Cut: Goldman Sachs cut India’s CY26 GDP growth projection to 5.9% due to West Asian oil supply shocks. 

• Health Insurance Premiums FY25: India’s health insurance sector premiums crossed ₹1.2 lakh crore in FY25 with mandatory 1-hour cashless approvals. 

• S&P Global FY27 GDP Forecast: S&P Global raised India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast to 7.1% citing robust medium-term economic momentum. 

• HDFC Securities NxtOption: HDFC Securities introduced the ‘NxtOption’ platform to streamline advanced F&O options trading for investors. 

• SEBI & Google Play Store App Badges: SEBI and Google partnered to introduce ‘verified’ badges for genuine financial apps on the Play Store. 

• JICA ODA Loan Agreements: JICA signed four ODA loan agreements worth ₹16,420 crore supporting infrastructure projects across India. 

• Rajmarg Infra InvIT BSE Listing: NHAI-backed Rajmarg Infra Investment Trust was successfully listed on BSE after a 14x oversubscribed IPO. 

• PFRDA & BHASHINI MoU: PFRDA and BHASHINI signed an MoU to enhance multilingual pension service access across 22 scheduled languages. 

• CPGRAMS Bank Grievances: Department of Financial Services reviewed CPGRAMS grievances against banks to strengthen ethical consumer governance. 

International News 

• PM Modi Historic Israel Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a landmark historic visit to Israel meeting PM Benjamin Netanyahu and addressing the Knesset. 

• India-EU MFN Status: India and European Union agreed to grant Most Favoured Nation trade status to each other for five years. 

• Strait of Hormuz Disruption: Geopolitical conflict involving Iran, US, and Israel disrupted oil and LNG flows through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. 

• Scotland Water Cremation: Scotland became the first UK nation to legalize water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) as an eco-friendly funeral reform. 

• Canadian PM Visit to India: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney paid an official visit to India to foster bilateral trade and AI cooperation. 

• India-Finland Mobility Agreement: India and Finland signed a Mobility and Migration Partnership Agreement during President Alexander Stubb’s visit to India. 

• UN Women Legal Rights Report: UN report revealed that women globally hold only 64% of the legal rights compared to men across surveyed nations. 

• WHO Leprosy Elimination Chile: WHO certified Chile as the first country in the Americas and second globally to eliminate leprosy as a public health issue. 

• Mobile World Congress 2026: Mobile World Congress 2026 concluded in Barcelona showcasing cutting-edge AI and telecom integrations under ‘The IQ Era’. 

• WHO Denmark HIV Certification: WHO certified Denmark as the first EU country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. 

• Romania International Solar Alliance: Romania ratified the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement officially becoming its 118th member country. 

• India-Uzbekistan Pharma Corridor: India and Uzbekistan launched a pharma-nutraceutical trade corridor targeting the USD 7-10 billion Eurasian healthcare market. 

• SIPRI Arms Import Ranking: SIPRI report ranked India as the second-largest global arms importer after Ukraine during 2021-2025. 

• US-Reliance Texas Oil Refinery: US President Donald Trump announced a $300 billion partnership with Reliance Industries to construct a major Texas oil refinery. 

• Brazil Social Media Regulations: Brazil enacted strict social media regulations for users under 16 years following digital safety concerns. 

• Argentina WHO Withdrawal: Argentina officially completed its formal withdrawal from the World Health Organization citing profound policy differences. 

• India-Italy Foreign Office Consultations: India and Italy held their 9th Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi reviewing strategic bilateral partnerships. 

• Asia Africa Agri Alliance: Asia Africa Agri Alliance was formally launched in New Delhi as an NPO to boost agricultural trade and technology exchange. 

• UNESCO Western Ghats Concern: UNESCO raised conservation concerns over the proposed Aghanashini-Vedavathi river-linking project in the Western Ghats. 

• International Year of Woman Farmer: UN declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer recognizing rural female agricultural contributions. 

• India-EU Aviation Manufacturing Pact: India and EU inked an industrial aviation manufacturing pact aligning certification processes with European safety standards. 

Summits & Conferences 

• 11th Raisina Dialogue: Prime Minister inaugurated the 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi under the theme ‘Samskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement.’ 

• National District Mineral Summit: Ministry of Mines hosted the National District Mineral Foundation Summit 2026 in New Delhi. 

• Mobile World Congress 2026: Mobile World Congress 2026 concluded in Barcelona showcasing cutting-edge AI and telecom integrations under ‘The IQ Era’. 

MoUs and Agreement 

• NITI Aayog & JICA Agreement: NITI Aayog and JICA signed an agreement for Phase Two of sustainable development goals cooperation in aspirational districts. 

• PFRDA & BHASHINI MoU: PFRDA and BHASHINI signed an MoU to enhance multilingual pension service access across 22 scheduled languages. 

Science and Technology 

• IIT Guwahati Hydrogen Material: IIT Guwahati developed a dual-purpose MXene-based material for hydrogen fuel generation and seawater desalination. 

• Digital Intelligence Corporation: Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation was incorporated to combat digital financial fraud using AI and Big Data. 

• Hydrogen Trainset Trials: India’s first hydrogen-powered trainset successfully completed rigorous RDSO oscillation trials. 

Environment News 

• Green Ammonia Standards: India officially notified strict green ammonia and green methanol standards under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. 

• Great Indian Bustard Hatching: A Great Indian Bustard chick hatched successfully in the wild in Kutch grasslands after nearly a decade. 

Important Days 

• Zero Discrimination Day: Zero Discrimination Day is observed globally on March 1 to champion inclusion, equality, and compassion worldwide. 

• World Civil Defence Day: World Civil Defence Day is celebrated annually on March 1 to honor disaster preparedness and civil protection personnel. 

• Self-Injury Awareness Day: Self-Injury Awareness Day is marked on March 1 globally to eliminate stigmas surrounding mental health and self-harm. 

• World Hearing Day: World Hearing Day is observed on March 3 to promote ear care and early screening for hearing impairments. 

• World Wildlife Day: World Wildlife Day is celebrated on March 3 to highlight biodiversity conservation and endangered species protection. 

• National Safety Day: National Safety Day is observed across India on March 4 under the diamond jubilee theme ‘Engage, Educate & Empower People’. 

• International Women’s Day: International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 with the empowering theme ‘Rights. Justice. Action For ALL Women and Girls.’ 

• CISF Raising Day: CISF Raising Day is commemorated nationwide on March 10 honoring the force’s vital role in protecting critical infrastructure. 

• National No Smoking Day: National No Smoking Day is observed on March 11 to encourage individuals to quit tobacco and nicotine addiction. 

• World Sleep Day: World Sleep Day is celebrated on March 13 under the theme ‘Sleep Well, Live Better’ to emphasize healthy sleep habits. 

• International Day of Action for Rivers: International Day of Action for Rivers is marked on March 14 under the theme ‘#Protect Rivers ProtectPeople.’ 

• Pi Day & Mathematics Day: Pi Day and International Day of Mathematics are celebrated on March 14 to honor mathematical constants and scientific literacy. 

• World Consumer Rights Day: World Consumer Rights Day is observed on March 15 to safeguard consumer interests against market exploitation. 

• National Vaccination Day: National Vaccination Day is marked on March 16 commemorating the historic 1995 rollout of the Pulse Polio immunisation campaign. 

• World Social Work Day: World Social Work Day is observed on the third Tuesday of March under the theme ‘Co-Building Hope and Harmony’. 

• Ordnance Factories Day: Ordnance Factories Day is celebrated on March 18 to highlight India’s defense manufacturing milestones and ordnance legacy. 

• World Sparrow Day: World Sparrow Day is marked on March 20 to advocate for urban bird conservation and biodiversity protection. 

• World Oral Health Day: World Oral Health Day is observed on March 20 under the theme ‘A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life.’ 

• International Day of Happiness: International Day of Happiness is celebrated on March 20 to prioritize global well-being and emotional health. 

• Day of Forests & Poetry Day: International Day of Forests and World Poetry Day are jointly observed on March 21 to promote afforestation and literary arts. 

• World Down Syndrome Day: World Down Syndrome Day is marked on March 21 under the theme ‘Together Against Loneliness’ to foster inclusivity. 

• World Water Day: World Water Day is observed on March 22 with the focus theme ‘Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows.’ 

• World Meteorological Day: World Meteorological Day is celebrated on March 23 under the theme ‘Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow.’ 

• World Tuberculosis Day: World Tuberculosis Day is marked on March 24 under the inspiring global theme ‘Yes! We can end Tuberculosis!’ 

• International Day of the Unborn Child: International Day of the Unborn Child is marked on March 25 to promote respect for human dignity prior to birth. 

• Remembrance of Victims of Slavery: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery is observed on March 25 to honor victims and combat racism. 

• World Theatre Day: World Theatre Day is celebrated on March 27 under the unifying theme ‘Theatre and a Culture of Peace.’