National Affairs

PM Narendra Modi Visits Tamil Nadu and Puducherry; Launches Projects Worth Over ₹7,100 Crore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on March 1, 2026, where he inaugurated, dedicated to the nation, and laid foundation stones for multiple infrastructure and development projects worth over ₹7,100 crore.

The visit focused on improving regional connectivity, mobility, infrastructure, public welfare, education, health, and industrial development.

Tamil Nadu Projects:
PM Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth over ₹4,400 crore in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Key Focus Areas:

• Road connectivity
• Urban mobility
• Regional economic growth
• Transport infrastructure

National Highway Projects:

Marakkanam–Puducherry NH-332A:
The four-laning project will strengthen connectivity to:

• Mamallapuram
• Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station
• Auroville
• Puducherry region

Paramakudi–Ramanathapuram NH-87:
The four-laning project will improve access to:

• Madurai
• Rameswaram
• Dhanushkodi
• INS Parundu

Puducherry Projects:
PM Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth over ₹2,700 crore in Puducherry.

Sectors Covered:

• Infrastructure
• Education
• Health
• Mobility
• Industrial development

Shivraj Singh Chouhan Announces New Seed Act 2026 and Revised Pesticide Act 2026

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, announced two major legislative reforms in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, on March 1, 2026.

The two reforms are:

• New Seed Act 2026
• Revised Pesticide Act 2026

These reforms aim to modernise India’s agricultural regulatory system and protect farmers from substandard seeds and pesticides.

About New Seed Act 2026

Transparency:
The Act introduces mandatory registration for all seed companies.

QR Code System:
Seed packets will carry unique Quick Response codes to improve traceability and transparency.

Penalty:
Penalties have been increased up to ₹30 lakh, along with possible imprisonment for deliberate offences.

About Revised Pesticide Act 2026

The Revised Pesticide Act 2026 will replace the Insecticides Act, 1968.

Objective:
It aims to modernise pesticide regulation in India and ensure quality, safety, and accountability in pesticide use.

NITI Aayog and JICA Sign Phase II Pact to Promote SDGs in Aspirational Districts

NITI Aayog and the Japan International Cooperation Agency signed the Record of Discussions for Phase II of the Japan–India Cooperative Actions towards Sustainable Development Goals.

The agreement aims to strengthen development interventions in Aspirational Districts and Blocks.

Signatories:

• Rohit Kumar, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme, NITI Aayog
• Takeuchi Takuro, Chief Representative, JICA India

Objective:
The second phase aims to strengthen India–Japan collaboration for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Focus Areas:

• Institutional capacity building
• Governance improvement
• District-level planning
• Block-level development
• Evidence-based planning
• Monitoring and evaluation

Implementation Framework:
The initiative will be implemented under:

• Aspirational Districts Programme
• Aspirational Blocks Programme

Bureau of Energy Efficiency Celebrates 25th Foundation Day in New Delhi

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, under the Ministry of Power, celebrated its 25th Foundation Day on March 1, 2026, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Union Minister Manohar Lal, Ministry of Power and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, attended the event as Chief Guest.

Keynote Address:
Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, described energy efficiency as India’s “First Fuel.”

Key Launches:

BEE@25 Logo:
A special logo was released to mark BEE’s silver jubilee year.

Renewable Consumption Obligation Portal:
The RCO Portal was launched to strengthen monitoring and support compliance.

BEE Star Label Mobile App:
The mobile app was developed with the Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program.

Key Feature:
Consumers can scan QR codes on star-labelled appliances to access authentic energy performance details.

Survey of India Signs 5-Year MoU with Kerala Digital University for Geospatial Research

The Survey of India, under the Department of Science and Technology, signed a five-year MoU with Kerala Digital University to collaborate on geospatial research and digital innovation.

Objective:
The partnership aims to advance geospatial data collection, processing, and analysis using advanced technologies.

Technologies Covered:

• Geoinformatics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Spatial data sciences

Key Areas of Collaboration:

• Research and Development in mapping
• Spatial data sciences
• Training programmes
• Workshops for students and professionals
• Internships
• Knowledge exchange
• Joint projects aligned with national geospatial priorities

Significance:
The MoU will strengthen India’s geospatial capabilities and promote innovation in advanced spatial technologies.

MeitY Launches 30 kW Wide Band Gap-Based Integrated Drive System for EVs

S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, launched an indigenously developed 30 kW Wide Band Gap-based Integrated Drive System for electric vehicles at IIT Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Objective:
The initiative aims to strengthen India’s self-reliance in the EV powertrain segment.

Key Goals:

• Reduce import dependency
• Lower system costs through localisation
• Support scalable domestic manufacturing
• Promote Production-Linked Incentive-linked manufacturing

System Design:
The Integrated Drive System combines the electric motor and inverter into a compact, high power-density unit.

Technology Used:

• Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor architecture
• Silicon Carbide MOSFET power modules

Benefits:

• Higher efficiency
• Better thermal stability
• Improved performance
• Compact EV powertrain design

Maharashtra Launches India’s First AI-Driven Skill Census ‘Saksham’

Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar, Department of Information Technology and Cultural Affairs, launched ‘Saksham Skill Census’, India’s first AI-powered skill census, at RD National College, Bandra West, Mumbai.

The survey aims to evaluate the skills of youth aged 18–40 years to improve employability.

Conducted By:
The survey will be conducted by Sapio Analytics.

Coverage:
The skill census is expected to cover 55,000 houses in the H-West ward of Mumbai.

Technology Used:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Geographic Information System mapping
• Hyperlocal skill mapping

Survey Method:
Enumerators will conduct AI-based door-to-door surveys to assess:

• Educational qualifications
• Skill interests
• Training requirements
• Employment readiness

Key Target:
The Maharashtra Government aims to train 15,000 candidates by 2027, with 5,000 candidates becoming self-reliant through jobs or entrepreneurship.

Raksha Khadse Announces Nationwide ASMITA Athletics League for International Women’s Day

Union Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, announced a special nationwide edition of the ASMITA Athletics League to mark International Women’s Day, observed on March 8.

ASMITA Full Form:
Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action

Background:
ASMITA leagues were launched in 2021 to promote women’s participation in sports.

Achievements So Far:

• More than 2,600 events organised
• 34 sports covered
• Over 550 districts reached
• 700 cities covered
• More than 3 lakh women athletes engaged

Mission:
The initiative is part of the Khelo India Mission and aims to identify women sports talent from the grassroots.

Supported By:

• Sports Authority of India
• State and District Sports Associations
• Khelo India Centres
• MY Bharat
• National Centres of Excellence

Athletics Events:
Competitions will be organised at around 250 locations across India.

Race Categories:

• 100 metre
• 200 metre
• 400 metre

Age Groups:

• Under-13
• 13–18 years
• 18+ years

Banking & Finance

RBI and Bank of Japan Renew USD 75 Billion Bilateral Swap Arrangement

The Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Japan, acting as agent of the Minister of Finance, Japan, signed the third Amendment and Restatement Agreement of the Bilateral Swap Arrangement for up to USD 75 billion.

The renewed arrangement became effective from 28 February 2026.

Objective:
The BSA aims to strengthen bilateral financial cooperation and enhance economic stability between India and Japan.

Background:
The India-Japan Bilateral Swap Arrangement was initially signed in October 2018.

Previous Restatement:
The first restatement took place in 2022.

Current Update:
The 2026 amendment represents the third restatement, reaffirming long-term mutual financial cooperation.

Nodal Agencies:

Economy & Business

India INX GA Partners HSBC IBU to Expand Overseas Investment Access via GIFT City

India INX Global Access IFSC Limited, a subsidiary of India International Exchange, entered into a strategic partnership with HSBC IFSC Banking Unit.

The partnership aims to expand structured access to global investment products for Indian investors through GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Model:
The partnership operates under a referral model, enabling HSBC IBU clients to use the India INX GA platform for international portfolio diversification.

Regulatory Framework:
India INX GA is registered as a Global Access Provider with the International Financial Services Centres Authority.

Investment Access:
Eligible investors can invest in:

• Foreign equities
• Exchange-Traded Funds
• Other permitted securities

Market Reach:
The platform provides access to more than 135 exchanges in 33 countries.

LRS Limit:
Investments will be within the RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme limit of USD 250,000 per financial year.

Impact:
The partnership strengthens GIFT City’s ecosystem and expands compliant global investment channels for Indian investors.

Awards & Recognitions

Safeena Husain Features in TIME Women of the Year 2026 List

Safeena Husain, founder of the non-profit organisation Educate Girls, was featured in the TIME Women of the Year 2026 list.

She was recognised alongside Indian-origin leaders Reshma Kewalramani and Reshma Saujani for contributions to education, biotechnology, and social advocacy.

Other Honourees Include:

• Teyana Taylor
• Lucy Liu
• Brandi Carlile
• Sheryl Lee Ralph
• Chloé Zhao
• Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

TIME Event:
TIME will honour the 2026 Women of the Year at the Women of the Year Leadership Forum and Women of the Year Gala on 10 March 2026 in Los Angeles, USA.

About Safeena Husain and Educate Girls:

Founder:
Safeena Husain founded Educate Girls in 2007.

Objective:
The organisation works to bring out-of-school girls back into education, especially in rural, remote, and tribal communities affected by poverty and gender bias.

Expansion:
Educate Girls expanded from a few villages in Rajasthan to over 30,000 villages across 12 states.

Major Recognition:
In 2025, Educate Girls became the first Indian organisation to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award.

Obituary

Veteran Congress Leader and Former Union Minister K.P. Unnikrishnan Passes Away

Veteran politician and former Union Minister K.P. Unnikrishnan passed away in Kozhikode, Kerala, at the age of 90.

He was born on September 20, 1936, in Koyilandy, Kozhikode.

About K.P. Unnikrishnan:

Journalism Career:
Before entering active politics, he worked in journalism and was associated with Mathrubhumi, a leading Malayalam newspaper.

Political Career:
He joined the Indian National Congress in the 1960s.

AICC Role:
By 1962, he became a member of the All India Congress Committee.

Parliamentary Contribution:
He remained an important figure in Indian parliamentary history for more than three decades.

Committee Role:
He served as a member of the Public Accounts Committee from 1980 to 1982.

About PAC:
The Public Accounts Committee examines government appropriation accounts and reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Books & Authors

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan Releases 16 Publications on Tamil Scholars, Heritage and Culture

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan released 16 books published by the Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at Uparashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Language Breakup:

• 14 books in Tamil
• 1 book in Hindi
• 1 book in English

Major Tamil Titles Released:

• Rameswaram
• Ramanujar
• Nadukal tradition
• Arikaimedu
• Bakthi Ilakkiyam
• Iyarkai Velanmai
• Pazhanthamizhan Isai Karuvigal
• Tamizhaga Naattar Deivangal
• Pudhiya Ariviyal Thozhilnutpangal
• Bankim Chandra Chatterji
• Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple
• Thanjavur Peruvudayar Koil
• Manimegalai
• Mahavidwan Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai

Book on Rameswaram:
The Tamil book on Rameswaram explains the temple’s sacred sites, architecture, sculptures, deities, and references from Puranas and literary sources.

Book on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee:
The Vice President also released a book on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, written by S.K. Bose, in three languages:

• English
• Hindi
• Tamil

Focus:
The book highlights Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s life, times, and contribution to the Indian literary movement.

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Releases Book ‘Mahatma: A Great Communicator’

Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Labour & Employment and Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, released the book “Mahatma: A Great Communicator” at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat, New Delhi.

Author:
Dr. Dhiraj Kakadia, Additional Director General of Akashvani

Theme:
The book examines the life of Mahatma Gandhi, with special focus on his communication skills during India’s freedom struggle.

Objective:
The book aims to create public awareness and encourage people to learn from Gandhi’s ideals and apply them in daily life.

Publisher:
Navajivan Trust

Languages:
The book has been published in:

• Hindi
• English
• Gujarati

Important Days

World Seagrass Day 2026 – March 1

The United Nations World Seagrass Day is observed every year on 1 March to raise awareness about the importance of seagrass ecosystems.

2026 Observance:
March 1, 2026 marked the 4th World Seagrass Day.

Importance of Seagrass Ecosystems:

• Preserve marine biodiversity
• Maintain ocean health
• Support climate change mitigation
• Support climate adaptation
• Protect coastal ecosystems

Background:

UN Resolution:
On 23 May 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/76/265, declaring 1 March as World Seagrass Day.

First Observance:
The first World Seagrass Day was observed on 1 March 2023.

Facilitated By:
The observance is facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme.

Key Global Bodies Involved:

• IUCN
• Convention on Biological Diversity
• UN-Oceans
• UNFCCC
• WWF
• Ramsar Secretariat
• UNDRR
• Global Environment Facility
• Commonwealth Secretariat

Civil Accounts Day 2026 – March 1

Civil Accounts Day is observed every year in India on March 1 to mark the foundation day of the Indian Civil Accounts Service.

2026 Observance:
March 1, 2026 marked the 50th Civil Accounts Day.

Role of ICAS:
The Indian Civil Accounts Service functions under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.

Public Financial Management Reform:
In 1976, the Government of India initiated a major reform in public financial management.

Establishment:
ICAS was established to handle government accounts and financial management.

Background:
ICAS was carved out from the Indian Audit and Accounts Service through reforms linked to the CAG’s Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service Amendment Act, 1976.

Legal Basis:
The Departmentalisation of Union Accounts (Transfer of Personnel) Act, 1976 was passed by Parliament and received Presidential assent on 8 April 1976.

Effective Date:
The Act came into effect retrospectively from 1 March 1976, marking the foundation of ICAS.

Important Days at a Glance

State News

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini Presents ₹2.23 Lakh Crore Budget for FY27

Haryana Chief Minister and Finance Minister Nayab Singh Saini presented the state budget for FY 2026–27 with an outlay of ₹2.23 lakh crore.

This was the 12th consecutive State Budget and was 10.28% higher than the revised allocation of ₹2.028 lakh crore.

Key Financial Indicators:

Major Allocations:

Major Announcements:

• Haryana Agri Discom to manage 5,084 feeders and supply power to farmers
• ₹100 crore Green Climate Resilience Fund
• Rollout of Green Hydrogen Policy
• First green hydrogen plant to be set up at Panipat
• AMRIT pharmacies in all district hospitals
• Haryana Veterinary Epidemiology Centre at Hisar
• Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex to be upgraded into a Para Sports Stadium
• Anti-Terrorist Squad units to be formed in Gurugram and Panchkula