National Affairs

Union Minister C.R. Patil Inaugurates New NDSA Office in New Delhi

Union Minister C. R. Patil, Ministry of Jal Shakti, inaugurated the new office of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) at West Block II, R.K. Puram, New Delhi.

During the event, key digital initiatives were launched to strengthen dam safety governance, risk assessment, monitoring, and regulatory access.

Digital Initiatives Launched:

NDSA Website

The new NDSA website was developed in line with the Digital Brand Identity Manual 3.0.

Key Feature:
It includes a GIS-based “Specified Dams” section, offering a map-based interface with key information on dams across India.

NETRA

NETRA stands for NDSA Engine for Tracking and Review using Artificial Intelligence.

Developed By:
NDSA in collaboration with the Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment of the Indian Navy.

Purpose:
It provides an AI-enabled conversational interface to access dam safety:

• Regulations
• Policies
• Documents
• Guidelines

Rashtriya Bandh Suraksha Darpan

RBSD was developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing.

Purpose:
It is a visualisation platform for Dam Break Analysis, helping improve:

• Risk assessment
• Monitoring
• Planning
• Dam safety preparedness

Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy Dedicates Infrastructure Projects at BHEL Haridwar

Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy, Ministry of Steel and Ministry of Heavy Industries, visited the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited manufacturing facility in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

He dedicated key infrastructure projects and flagged off advanced indigenous industrial, defence, and power equipment.

Key Launches:

Significance:
The initiatives support indigenous manufacturing, defence preparedness, renewable energy adoption, and domestic metallurgical capacity.

Government Adds 7 Districts in 6th Phase of Mandatory Gold Hallmarking

The Government of India implemented the 6th phase of mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery and gold artefacts under the Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts Amendment Order, 2026.

The new phase became effective from 2 March 2026.

New Districts Added:

About Mandatory Gold Hallmarking:
Mandatory gold hallmarking is a quality certification system implemented by the Bureau of Indian Standards to ensure the purity and authenticity of gold jewellery and artefacts sold in India.

Phase-wise Implementation:

Objective:
The move strengthens consumer protection and ensures standardised gold purity certification across India.

India Post Releases Special Cover on Annapurna Devi’s Birth Centenary

India Post, under the Ministry of Communication, released a special cover to commemorate the birth centenary of legendary Hindustani classical musician Annapurna Devi.

The special cover was released in collaboration with the Annapurna Devi Foundation at the Kolkata General Post Office, Kolkata, West Bengal.

About Annapurna Devi:

Profile:
Annapurna Devi was a legendary Hindustani classical musician known for her mastery in classical music and her reclusive lifestyle.

She focused more on teaching and preserving music traditions than public performances.

Major Awards and Honours:

MSDE Signs MoU with GATI Foundation to Strengthen Global Skill Mobility

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship signed an MoU with the Global Access to Talent from India Foundation to strengthen overseas employment pathways for skilled Indian workers.

The agreement is valid for an initial period of three years on a non-financial and collaborative basis.

Objective:
The MoU aims to position India as the global skills capital by 2047 by creating structured international job access through data-driven overseas skilling roadmaps.

Key Roles of MSDE:

• Coordinate with Ministry of External Affairs
• Coordinate with Ministry of Labour and Employment
• Provide foreign language training
• Provide cultural orientation
• Support documentation for international placements

Role of GATI Foundation:
The GATI Foundation will set up a Project Management Unit at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi.

PMU Focus Areas:

• Research
• Monitoring
• International partnerships
• Workforce mobility readiness
• Global employer engagement

Skill India International Centres:
The collaboration will support the development of Skill India International Centres and strengthen partnerships with:

• Industrial Training Institutes
• Polytechnics
• Global employers

DEPwD and Coalition of the Willing Launch Life-Cycle Support Model for Hearing Impaired

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, signed an MoU with the Coalition of the Willing.

The partnership will launch India’s first integrated life-cycle support model for persons with hearing impairment.

Coalition Partners:

• Yunikee / Gopalakrishnan Foundation for the Deaf
• Blee Tech Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
• Training and Educational Centre for Hearing Impaired
• WinVinaya Foundation
• Buddy4Study India Foundation
• VCrop Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
• Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre

Collaboration Model:
The initiative is a public-private-civil society partnership.

Key Focus Areas:

• Awareness generation
• Assistive technologies
• Early identification
• Education
• Skill development
• Employment
• Scholarships
• Indian Sign Language learning
• Sustainable livelihood opportunities

Alignment:
The initiative aligns with DEPwD’s vision of an inclusive India, ensuring accessibility, opportunity, and dignity for all Divyangjan.

OIL Signs MoU with NSTFDC to Upgrade Healthcare in Tribal Areas of Madhya Pradesh

Oil India Limited signed an MoU with the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation at the OIL corporate office in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

The partnership focuses on improving healthcare infrastructure in tribal-dominated regions of Madhya Pradesh.

Financial Sanction:
OIL sanctioned ₹86.27 lakh to strengthen healthcare facilities in Rajgarh district, an Aspirational District of Madhya Pradesh.

Healthcare Facilities Covered:

• Community Health Centres
• Primary Health Centres

Medical Infrastructure Support:

• Ambulances
• Life-care equipment
• Diagnostic equipment
• Ventilators
• CPAP machines
• BiPAP machines
• Ultrasonography machines

Significance:
The initiative supports tribal healthcare access and aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat through inclusive development.

NE Indian Institutions and Japan Sign LoI to Form Academic and Research Consortium

A total of 22 institutions from North-East India, led by IIT Guwahati, signed a Letter of Intent with Japan’s Gifu University to establish the North East Region–Japan International Academic and Research Consortium.

The LoI was signed during the Japan-North East Academic Industry Cooperation Symposium 2026 held at IIT Guwahati.

Aim:
The consortium aims to bring together institutions and stakeholders across the North-East Region to promote research, innovation, and regional development.

Participating Institutions Include:

• 8 National Institutes of Technology
• 2 Indian Institutes of Technology
• North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology
• AIIMS Guwahati
• NERIWALM
• Tezpur University
• Gauhati University
• Cotton University
• Assam Engineering College

Key Areas of Cooperation:

• Education
• Research
• Technology transfer
• Social engagement
• Academic exchanges
• Research partnerships in science, technology and medicine

Key Roles:

NCB and TraceXero Technologies Partner for Carbon Capture Technologies in Cement Sector

The National Council for Cement and Building Materials, under DPIIT, partnered with TraceXero Technologies Private Limited to support the development of Carbon Capture and Utilisation technologies for the cement sector.

The agreement was signed at NCB Ballabgarh, Haryana.

Signatories:

• Dr. S.K. Chaturvedi, Joint Director and Secretary, NCB
• Reetam Chaudhary, Co-founder, TraceXero Technologies

Objective:
The partnership aims to promote sustainable and low-carbon technologies in the cement industry.

Key Role of NCB:
NCB will support research, technology development, laboratories, pilot facilities, and technical services for the cement and construction materials sector.

TraceXero Technology:
TraceXero has developed a process that captures carbon dioxide using a proprietary solvent and converts it into:

• Graphitic carbon
• Graphene

Why It Matters:
The cement industry contributes nearly 7% of global CO₂ emissions, making carbon capture technologies important for industrial decarbonisation.

Banking & Finance

RBI Launches Awareness Program on Digital Payments

Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra launched a pilot programme titled “Awareness Program on Digital Payments” in March 2026.

The programme aims to promote safe and widespread adoption of digital payments across India.

Digital Payments Awareness Week 2026:
The sixth edition of Digital Payments Awareness Week is being observed from March 9 to 13, 2026.

Pilot Programme:
The Awareness Program on Digital Payments was launched as part of the DPAW 2026 initiative.

Campaign Launched:
RBI also launched a multimedia awareness campaign titled “Thoda Dhyan Se”.

Campaign Message:
The campaign encourages users to remain careful while:

• Making digital payments
• Transacting online
• Sharing payment information
• Using online financial services

Economy & Business

T-Hub and JETRO Partner to Strengthen India-Japan Deep-Tech Startup Collaboration

T-Hub, India’s largest startup incubator based in Hyderabad, partnered with the Japan External Trade Organisation to strengthen collaboration between Indian and Japanese deep-tech startups.

The partnership aims to create high-impact innovation networks across deep-tech and manufacturing sectors.

Market Access:
The collaboration will help:

• Japanese startups access India’s innovation ecosystem
• Japanese corporates and investors connect with Indian startups
• Indian startups expand into Japan through structured pathways

Focus Areas:

• Pharma and medical equipment
• Space and aerospace
• Defence
• Mobility
• Smart infrastructure
• Deep technology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Emerging technologies
• Industry 4.0
• Internet of Things
• Cloud computing

Key Initiatives:

• Startup exchange programmes
• Corporate open-innovation engagements
• Market access support
• Regulatory guidance
• Cross-border innovation networking

Significance:
The partnership supports the broader India-Japan agenda on technology cooperation and startup ecosystem integration.

Appointments & Resignations

Jose Antonio Kast Sworn in as President of Chile

Jose Antonio Kast Rist, founder and leader of the Republican Party of Chile, was sworn in as the 38th President of Chile in March 2026.

He will serve a four-year term after winning the 2025 Chilean presidential election.

Ceremony Venue:
National Congress, Valparaíso, Chile

Symbolic Transfer:
He formally assumed office in the Hall of Honor and received the Piocha de O’Higgins, a traditional symbol of the Chilean presidency, from outgoing President Gabriel Boric Font.

Indian Representation:
Union Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh, Ministry of External Affairs, represented the Government of India at the inauguration ceremony.

ACC Approves Appointment of K.V. Ramana Murty as SEBI Whole-Time Member

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the appointment of K.V. Ramana Murty as a Whole-Time Member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Tenure:
Three years from the date of assuming charge or until further orders.

Key Highlight:
Following his appointment, the total number of Whole-Time Members on the SEBI board reached four.

About K.V. Ramana Murty:

Service:
He is a 1991-batch Indian Defence Accounts Service officer.

Previous Role:
He served as Additional Controller General of Defence Accounts in the Ministry of Defence.

SEBI Experience:
He also served as a part-time member of the SEBI board as a representative of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Composition of SEBI Board:

Other Whole-Time Members:

• Kamlesh Chandra Varshney
• Sandip Pradhan
• Amarjeet Singh

Science & Technology

ISRO Successfully Conducts Sea-Level Hot Test of CE20 Cryogenic Engine

The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully conducted a 165-second sea-level hot test of the CE20 Cryogenic Engine at 22-tonne thrust.

The test was conducted at the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

Technology Used:

• Nozzle Protection System
• Multi-element igniter

Purpose:
The test supports the development of the uprated Cryogenic Stage C32 for future LVM3 missions.

Significance:
Operating the CE20 engine at 22-tonne thrust will enhance the payload capability of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3.

Earlier Tests:
Previous sea-level hot tests were conducted at 19-tonne thrust using the Nozzle Protection System.

Testing Challenge:
Sea-level testing is difficult due to the high area-ratio nozzle and exit pressure of around 50 millibar, which can cause:

• Flow separation
• Vibrations
• Thermal stress
• Mechanical damage

Protection Mechanism:
The Nozzle Protection System was used to control flow separation effects and ensure safe testing.

Validation:
The tested CE20 engine completed a record 20 hot tests, enabling qualification of multiple technologies using a single engine.

Important Days

World Rotaract Day 2026 – March 13

World Rotaract Day is observed every year on 13 March to recognise the contributions of Rotaractors in community service and leadership development across the world.

2026 Observance:
2026 marks the 58th anniversary of the establishment of the first Rotaract club.

First Rotaract Club:
The first Rotaract club was established in North Carolina, United States, in 1968.

World Rotaract Week 2026

World Rotaract Day is observed as part of World Rotaract Week, celebrated annually by members of Rotaract Clubs and Rotary Clubs.

2026 Observance:
World Rotaract Week 2026 is being observed from 9 to 15 March 2026.

Important Days at a Glance