National Affairs

Union Cabinet Approves Revamped UDAN Scheme to Strengthen Air Connectivity

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the launch and implementation of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Modified Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN), aimed at strengthening regional air connectivity and expanding aviation infrastructure across the country.

• Objective: To deepen regional air connectivity, especially in underserved and unserved areas, and drive economic growth, trade and tourism in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
• Timeline: The scheme will be implemented over a 10-year period from FY27 to FY36.
• Financial Outlay: Total financial outlay of Rs 28,840 crore.
• New Destinations: The revamped programme is expected to connect around 120 new destinations and cater to nearly 40 million passengers.

Cabinet Approves Rs 1,800 Crore IVFRT Scheme Extension till March 2031 to Modernise Immigration System

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the extension of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme for another five years — from April 01, 2026 to March 31, 2031 — with a total budget outlay of Rs 1,800 crore.

The scheme aligns with the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and aims to interlink and streamline functions related to immigration, visa processing, and registration of foreign nationals in India.

• Background: Originally approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in May 2010, with a budget outlay of Rs 1,011 crore. Identified as a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).
• Implementing Agency: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through the Bureau of Immigration (BoI).
• Focus Areas (Next Phase): Emerging technology innovations, Transformation of Core infrastructure, and Technology and service optimization.

Cabinet Approves India's NDC Targets for 2031–35; Emissions Intensity Reduction Target Raised to 47%

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the period 2031–2035, strengthening India's climate ambition under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

Overview of BRICS CCI WE Summit 2026 Held in New Delhi

The 6th edition of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry Women Empowerment (BRICS CCI WE) Summit was held from 21 to 23 March 2026 in New Delhi, Delhi.

• Theme: "Women in Innovation, Science Leadership, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (WISE) – Inspiring Change, Shaping Tomorrow."
• Organisers: BRICS CCI WE vertical with support from the BRICS Women Business Alliance (BRICS WBA).
• Key Highlights:
• Unveiling of Mission ShakthiSAT by Meenakshi Lekhi, former MoS for External Affairs and Global Chair of the initiative.
• Veteran Indian actress Shabana Azmi was honoured with the BRICS CCI WE Trailblazer: Living Legend award for "50 Years of Excellence in Indian Cinema."

NCW and Truecaller Partner to Strengthen Women's Digital Safety

The National Commission for Women (NCW) collaborated with Truecaller, a leading global communications platform, to launch a women's digital safety awareness initiative across India.

• Objective: To raise awareness of women's digital risks and strengthen access to institutional redressal, including the NCW 24x7 helpline.
• Initiative: Launched 'TrueCyberSakhi: A Digital Safety Toolkit, Created for Her' — a comprehensive resource using quizzes and self-assessment tools to raise awareness of digital risks such as spam, phishing, and financial fraud.
• Digital Campaign: Supported by a coordinated digital awareness campaign to promote women's online safety, responsible digital participation, and access to redressal mechanisms.
• About NCW: An autonomous statutory body established under the National Commission for Women (NCW Act, 1990) in 1992, with a mandate to protect and promote women's rights.

BHASHINI–PFRDA Sign MoU to Enable Multilingual Pension Services

On 25 March 2026, the Digital India BHASHa Interface for India (BHASHINI) Division (DIBD) under MeitY and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under MoF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the initiative 'BHASHINI for Seva–Sanchalan' to enhance multilingual accessibility of pension services across India.

• Inclusion: Enables multilingual access across PFRDA platforms in all 22 Eighth Schedule languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, and Sanskrit, enhancing outreach to rural, informal sector, and first-time savers.
• Digital Infrastructure: Leverages BHASHINI as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) using Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) models for real-time translation and contextual processing.
• Technology Integration: Provides voice-enabled user interfaces with speech-to-text and text-to-speech technologies and integrates BHASHINI tools into PFRDA systems under the BHASHINI Sahayogi Programme.
• About BHASHINI: India's AI-driven language technology initiative launched under the National Language Translation Mission by MeitY, supports 36 Indian languages, 23 voices, and 35 international languages.

MoE Issues 3-Year Action Plan for Nationwide Implementation of 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan'

A joint advisory from the Secretary of Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSL), Ministry of Education (MoE) and Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has been issued to the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories for mission-mode implementation of the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) Action Plan' in schools.

• Aim: A national initiative aimed at creating a drug-free India, focusing on preventing substance abuse among students and raising awareness about harmful effects of drugs in schools.
• Key Provisions: Mandates declaring a 500-metre radius around schools as drug-free zones and requires school heads or nodal teachers to report violations to local authorities, including the police.
• Holistic Approach: Includes awareness programs, preventive education in schools, teacher and head capacity building, and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) interventions such as posters, signage boards, and creative campaigns.

DPIIT Signs MoUs with Razorpay to Strengthen India's Startup Ecosystem; Launches 'Startup Sahayak' Platform

On 25 March 2026, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), signed strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Razorpay to strengthen India's startup ecosystem and promote innovation-led growth.

• Signatories: T. L. K. Singh, Deputy Secretary, DPIIT; Arif Khan, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Razorpay.
• Objective: To empower startups, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, by providing financial tools, technical and advisory support, founder enablement programs, and digital payment solutions.
• Startup Sahayak: A dedicated platform launched to provide end-to-end assistance, including company incorporation, access to central and state government schemes, and guidance on funding opportunities.
• Capacity Building: Sessions on AI, marketing, product development, and financial management via the Startup India Hub (SIH) and fintech-focused challenges under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge (BSGC).
• Community: Selected startups will receive mentorship, pitch deck reviews, application guidance, and access to curated founder communities for peer learning and domain-specific support.

International Affairs

QS World University Rankings 2026: IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and IIM Ahmedabad Topped Among Indian Institutes

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) released the 16th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, in which IIT-ISM Dhanbad (Jharkhand) ranked 21st globally in Engineering – Mineral and Mining and IIM Ahmedabad (Gujarat) secured 21st place in both Business and Management Studies and Marketing, marking India's debut in the Marketing subject ranking.

The USA continues to lead globally with first place in 37 subjects, while the UK ranks second with the top position in 15 subjects.

Key Highlights:

• Institutional Presence: USA leads with 228 institutions, followed by China (158) and UK (114), while India has 99 institutions (up from 79 in 2025).
• New Entries: India becomes the fourth-largest higher education system by entries, with 120 new Indian entries, after USA (287), China (181), and UK (159).
• India's Growth: India has doubled its top-50 subject presence since 2024, achieving 27 positions across 12 institutions, while expanding to 599 subject entries, including 20 newly ranked universities.

Top Indian Institutions in Global Subject Rankings:

Banking & Finance

SEBI Launches 'Verified App Label' Initiative to Strengthen Investor Protection

Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), launched the 'Verified Application (App) Label' Initiative to protect investors against fraudulent mobile applications and ensure safe digital investing in India.

• Approach: Over 1.3 lakh fraudulent investment apps, including 66 fake trading apps, have been reported and removed, prompting SEBI to build preventive safeguards under the principle: "First verify. Then invest."
• Mechanism: Apps of SEBI-registered intermediaries will display a verified badge on the Google Play Store to help investors easily identify genuine apps and reduce impersonation risks.
• Partner with Google: SEBI partnered with Google to monitor financial influencers (Finfluencers) who violate market regulations, aiming to strengthen the digital investment ecosystem and protect investors.

Economy & Business

Cochin Chamber Signs MoU with Latvian Chamber to Strengthen Bilateral Trade

The Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Latvia, to bolster bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Latvia and India.

Following this MoU, CCCI became the second Chamber of Commerce in India and the first in South India to enter into an agreement with the LCCI.

• Expansion: The strategic partnership is expected to open significant business opportunities to expand and explore into new markets across Europe.
• Key Sectors: Pharmaceuticals, education, and the wood industry in Latvia.
• About CCCI: Established in 1857, the CCCI is the oldest Chamber of Commerce in Kerala and one of the oldest in India. It is one of the 5 promoter chambers of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

Awards & Recognitions

Bengali Writer Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay Selected for Saraswati Samman 2025

Eminent Bengali writer Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay was selected for the 35th Saraswati Samman (2025) for his novel 'Hara Parbati Katha' (2020), marking a significant recognition for Bengali literature.

• Establishment: Instituted in 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation. Named after Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and learning.
• Nature of Award: One of India's highest literary honours, awarded for an outstanding work published in the last 10 years in any of the 22 languages listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution.
• Award Components: Cash prize of Rs 15 lakh, along with a citation and a plaque.

Acquisitions & Mergers

CCI Approves Japan's MUFG Bank Proposal to Acquire 20% Stake in SFL for Rs 39,618 Crore

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposal of Japan's MUFG Bank Limited, wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, to acquire a 20% stake in Shriram Finance Limited (SFL) for Rs 39,618 crore (approximately USD 4.4 billion).

This marks the largest cross-border investment in the financial sector of India to date.

Important Days at a Glance