National Affairs

PM Narendra Modi Visits Assam and West Bengal; Launches Projects Worth Over ₹66,280 Crore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Assam and West Bengal from 13–14 March 2026, where he inaugurated, dedicated to the nation, and laid foundation stones for multiple development projects worth over ₹66,280 crore.

Total Project Value:

Assam Projects

PM Modi launched infrastructure, energy, railway, waterways, welfare, and education projects across:

• Kokrajhar
• Guwahati
• Silchar

Key Highlight:
PM Modi performed Bhoomi Poojan for Assam Mala 3.0, a road infrastructure programme worth ₹3,200 crore.

Assam Mala 3.0 Details:

• Roads to be constructed: Over 900 km
• Districts covered: 34
• Bridges included: 37
• Objective: Strengthen inter-state connectivity

West Bengal Projects

In Kolkata, West Bengal, PM Modi inaugurated development projects worth around ₹18,680 crore.

Key Sectors:

• Road infrastructure
• Ports
• Railways

National Highway Projects:
National Highway projects with a combined length of over 420 km, worth about ₹16,990 crore, were launched to improve connectivity and road safety.

Sagar Defence Lays Foundation of World’s First Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding Centre in Andhra Pradesh

Sagar Defence Engineering Private Limited laid the foundation stone for the world’s first Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding and Systems Centre at Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh.

About the Centre:
The proposed centre will operate as an advanced shipyard integrating robotics and Artificial Intelligence into shipbuilding processes.

Objective:
The centre aims to improve:

• Shipbuilding efficiency
• Workforce productivity
• Sustainability
• Defence technology manufacturing

Integrated Facilities:

• Autonomous shipbuilding units
• Testing infrastructure
• Research and Development centre
• Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities
• Specialised training hub

Technologies to be Used:

• Robotic fabrication systems
• Automated welding
• Automated cutting
• Robotic painting
• Robotic assembly
• Automated guided vehicles
• Additive manufacturing / 3D printing

Significance:
The centre will strengthen India’s maritime defence manufacturing and autonomous systems ecosystem.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Announces ₹100 Crore Integrated Aqua Park in J&K

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ministry of Panchayati Raj, announced a ₹100 crore Integrated Aqua Park project in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir.

The announcement was made during the first National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries held at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre, Srinagar.

Organised By:
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Key Launch:
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh released the Model Guidelines for the Development of Cold-Water Fisheries.

Guidelines Cover:

• Scientific Seed Stocking
• Cage and Pen-Based Aquaculture
• Governance mechanisms
• Biodiversity conservation
• Value-chain development
• Monitoring systems

Awards Presented To:

• Best Fisheries Cooperative Societies
• Progressive Fish Farmers
• Kisan Credit Card beneficiaries
• Fisheries Start-ups

Significance:
The project will support cold-water fisheries, aquaculture development, and livelihood opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir.

International Affairs

IISc Professor Arpita Patra Summits World’s Highest Volcano Nevado Ojos del Salado

Arpita Patra, Professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, successfully summited Nevado Ojos del Salado, the world’s highest volcanic peak.

The mountain is located on the Chile–Argentina border in the Atacama Desert.

Summit Details:

Key Achievement:
She became the second Indian woman to scale the peak after Arunima Sinha, who completed the climb in 2019.

Previous Mountaineering Achievements:

• Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa – 5,895 m
• Mount Elbrus, Europe – 5,642 m
• Mount Giluwe, Oceania – 4,367 m
• Pico de Orizaba, North America – 5,636 m

Recent Records:

• In May 2025, she became the first Indian woman to summit Mount Giluwe
• In October 2025, she became the second Indian woman to scale Pico de Orizaba

Banking & Finance

Finance Ministry Restructures Norms for Minimum Public Shareholding

The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, revised rules related to Minimum Public Shareholding for large companies planning to list on stock exchanges.

The amendment introduces a graded framework allowing large companies to offer a smaller proportion of shares to the public at the time of their Initial Public Offering.

Key Reform:
The amendment to the Securities Contracts Regulation Rules, 1957 reduces the MPS required at the time of listing from 5% to 2.5%.

Earlier Framework:
Previously, norms for achieving 25% MPS were based on three categories of post-issue capital:

• ₹1,600 crore
• ₹1,600 crore to ₹4,000 crore
• ₹4,000 crore to ₹1 lakh crore

New Framework:
The framework has now been expanded to six categories:

Significance:
The revised framework is expected to support large IPOs and make public listing easier for big companies.

RBI Imposes ₹2.7 Lakh Penalty on Manappuram Finance

The Reserve Bank of India imposed a monetary penalty of ₹2.70 lakh on Manappuram Finance Limited, a Non-Banking Financial Company.

The penalty was imposed for non-compliance with Key Managerial Personnel compensation guidelines.

Inspection Basis:
The violation was identified during RBI’s statutory inspection based on the company’s financial position as of 31 March 2025.

Regulatory Action:
The penalty was imposed under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

RBI Clarification:
The action relates to regulatory deficiencies and does not affect the validity of existing customer transactions.

Corrective Measures:
Manappuram Finance revised its Remuneration Policy to include:

• Mandatory deferral
• Malus provisions
• Clawback provisions

Additional Action:
The board has started recovering deferred compensation from the concerned KMPs in instalments to comply with the Scale Based Regulation framework.

DCM Shriram Secures USD 90 Million Funding from IFC

DCM Shriram Limited secured USD 90 million from the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group.

The funding was raised through sustainability-linked Non-Convertible Debentures.

Key Focus:
The funds will support the company’s strategic initiatives and long-term growth.

Use of Proceeds:

• Expansion of downstream chemicals business
• Capital expenditure in agri-businesses
• Rural job creation
• Farmer engagement at ground level

Alignment:
The deal aligns with global sustainability financing standards, including:

• ICMA Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles
• LMA Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles

Validation:
DCM’s sustainability-linked framework was independently validated by CareEdge ESG, a specialised subsidiary of CARE Ratings.

Economy & Business

Fitch Ratings Raises India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 7.5% for FY26

Fitch Ratings released its Global Economic Outlook – March 2026, projecting India’s GDP growth at 7.5% for FY 2025–26.

The projection is supported by strong domestic demand and stable economic indicators.

Key Forecasts:

FY27 Revision:
Fitch revised India’s FY27 growth projection upward to 6.7%, compared to 6.4% projected in December 2025.

Global Outlook:
Global GDP growth is projected at 2.6% in 2026, slightly lower than 2.7% in 2025.

Awards & Recognitions

98th Academy Awards 2026: ‘One Battle After Another’ Wins Six Oscars

The 98th Academy Awards, also known as Oscars 2026, were held on 15 March 2026 at the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA.

The awards honoured the best films released in 2025 across 24 categories.

Organiser:
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Major Highlights

Biggest Winner:
The film “One Battle After Another”, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, won six Oscars.

Awards Won by ‘One Battle After Another’:

• Best Picture
• Best Director
• Best Supporting Actor – Sean Penn
• Best Adapted Screenplay
• Best Film Editing
• Best Casting

Maximum Nominations:
The film “Sinners” received 16 nominations, the highest among all films.

New Category:
The Academy introduced a new category: Achievement in Casting.

First Winner of Achievement in Casting:
Cassandra Kulukundis won the inaugural award for “One Battle After Another.”

Major Acting Awards:

Key Highlight:
Jessie Buckley became the first Irish actress to win the Best Actress Oscar.

Indian Representation:
Priyanka Chopra presented the Best International Feature Film award along with Spanish actor Javier Bardem.

R. Vairamuthu Selected for 2025 Jnanpith Award

Renowned Tamil poet and lyricist R. Vairamuthu was selected for the 60th Jnanpith Award for the year 2025.

The Jnanpith Award is India’s highest literary honour.

Key Highlight:
R. Vairamuthu became the third Tamil writer to receive the Jnanpith Award.

Previous Tamil Recipients:

About Jnanpith Award:

Prize Components:

• Cash prize of ₹11 lakh
• Bronze statue of Vagdevi
• Citation

Environment

New Plant Species ‘Osbeckia zubeengargiana’ Discovered in Manas National Park

Researchers from Gauhati University discovered a new plant species named Osbeckia zubeengargiana in the grassland ecosystems of Manas National Park, Assam.

Manas National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Named After:
The species has been named after Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg.

Published In:
The discovery was published in the scientific journal Phytotaxa.

Research Period:
The species was documented during floristic surveys conducted between 2021 and 2025 in Baksa district, Assam.

Taxonomy:

Key Features:

• Similar to Osbeckia rostrata
• Differs in leaf structure
• Differs in flower arrangement
• Differs in hypanthium shape
• Differs in seed size
• Produces distinctive pink tetramerous flowers

Flowering and Fruiting Period:
Mid-September to January

Significance:
The discovery enriches Assam’s botanical diversity and adds to scientific knowledge of the genus Osbeckia, which is widely distributed across Southeast Asia, Eastern Himalayas, and the Western Ghats.

Sports

India Tops Medal Table at World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 in New Delhi

India topped the medal standings at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 – New Delhi leg, held from 11–13 March 2026 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.

This was the second stop of the 13th Grand Prix season.

Medal Tally:

Organiser:
The event was organised by World Para Athletics, a division of the International Paralympic Committee, with support from the Paralympic Committee of India.

Events Included:

• 100 m
• 200 m
• 400 m
• 800 m
• Long jump
• High jump
• Javelin throw
• Shot put
• Discus throw
• Wheelchair racing
• Adapted athletics events

Qualification Pathway:
The event served as a key qualifying platform for:

• 2026 World Para Athletics Championships
• 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics

Mayank Chakraborty Becomes India’s 94th Grandmaster

Mayank Chakraborty, a 17-year-old International Master from Guwahati, Assam, became India’s 94th Grandmaster.

Key Highlight:
He became the first-ever Grandmaster from North East India.

Tournament:
First Hotels Young Talents Tournament, Stockholm, Sweden

Final GM Norm:
Mayank secured his third and final Grandmaster norm at the 8th GM Tournament.

Tournament Performance:

• Score: 7/9 points
• Wins: 6
• Draws: 2
• Losses: 1
• Final Position: 1st

FIDE Requirement:
Along with three GM norms, he crossed the mandatory 2500 FIDE rating, fulfilling all criteria for the Grandmaster title.

Former Pakistan Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed Announces Retirement from International Cricket

Former Pakistan cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed announced his retirement from international cricket in March 2026.

His international career spanned nearly two decades from 2007 to 2023.

Career Overview:

Runs Scored:
6,164 runs across formats

Batting Record:

• Centuries: 6
• Half-centuries: 35

Wicketkeeping Record:

• Catches: 315
• Stumpings: 56

Captaincy Achievements:

• Captained Pakistan in 100 international matches
• Led Pakistan to No.1 T20I ranking
• Led Pakistan to 11 consecutive T20I series wins
• Won ICC Champions Trophy 2017
• Earlier won ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2006 as captain

Final International Match:
Test match against Australia at Perth, Australia, in 2023.

Important Days

International Day of Mathematics 2026 – March 14

International Day of Mathematics is observed annually on 14 March to highlight the importance of mathematics in modern life and global development.

2026 Observance:
14 March 2026 marked the 7th observance of the day.

Theme 2026:
“Mathematics and Hope”

Importance of Mathematics In:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Climate change
• Energy
• Sustainable development
• Science and technology

Background:

UNESCO Proclamation:
The 40th General Conference of UNESCO proclaimed 14 March as the International Day of Mathematics in November 2019 through Resolution 40C/30.

First Observance:
14 March 2020

Organising Bodies:

• UNESCO International Basic Sciences Programme
• International Mathematical Union

India’s Related Observance:
India observes National Mathematics Day every year on 22 December to commemorate the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan.

International Day of Action for Rivers 2026 – March 14

The International Day of Action for Rivers is observed every year on 14 March to highlight the importance of rivers in sustaining ecosystems, livelihoods, and water security.

2026 Observance:
14 March 2026 marked the 29th observance of the day.

Theme 2026:
“Protect Rivers, Protect People”

Earlier Name:
International Day of Action Against Dams and For Rivers, Water and Life

Background:

Origin:
The day was established in March 1997 during the International Meeting of People Affected by Dams held in Curitiba, Brazil.

First Observance:
14 March 1998

Date Significance:
The date aligns with Brazil’s Day of Action Against Large Dams.

Important Days at a Glance

State News

Chhattisgarh CM Launches Gaudham Yojana to Establish 1,460 Cattle Shelters

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai launched the Gaudham Yojana at Lakhasar village in Bilaspur district.

The scheme aims to establish 1,460 cattle shelters across the state for the protection and proper management of stray and abandoned cattle.

First Phase:
During the event, the CM virtually inaugurated 29 Gaudhams across 11 districts from Guru Ghasidas Central University, Bilaspur.

Official Name:
All shelters will be named Surabhi Gaudham.

Target:
The Chhattisgarh Government plans to establish:

• 1,460 Gaudhams across the state
• 10 shelters in every Development Block
• Capacity of around 200 cattle per shelter

Training Role:
Gaudhams will also function as training centres for:

• Animal husbandry
• Green fodder cultivation
• Value-added products from cow dung

Daily Feed Assistance:

Infrastructure Support:
Each Gaudham will receive ₹5 lakh annually for infrastructure development and maintenance.

Honorarium:

Fodder Development Support:
Financial assistance of ₹47,000 per acre annually will be provided for fodder development up to 5 acres, amounting to ₹2.35 lakh per year.