National Affairs

Cabinet Approves 2% DA Hike and ₹24,815 Crore Railway Projects
The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for Central Government employees, alongside clearing major railway multitracking projects in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

• 2% DA and DR Hike: Raised from 58% to 60% of Basic Pay/Pension effective from January 1, 2026. The revision aligns with the 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations.
• Two Railway Projects: Includes the Ghaziabad–Sitapur line in UP (403 km, costing ₹14,926 crore) and the Rajahmundry–Visakhapatnam line in AP (198 km, costing ₹9,889 crore).

Govt Expands RELIEF Scheme Destinations Amid West Asia Situation
The Government of India expanded the scope of the Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme by adding Egypt and Jordan to the eligible destinations list, supporting Indian exporters facing logistics disruptions in West Asia.

• Policy Clarification: The ECGC insurance support under Component II now includes exporters obtaining a fresh Whole Turnover Policy on or after March 16, 2026.
• Government Response: Reflects the GoI’s continuous assessment of evolving trade conditions, extending geographical coverage across the extended West Asia and North Africa corridor.
• Impact: Expected to drastically strengthen export resilience, sustain trade flows, and mitigate geopolitical uncertainties.

MHA Receives Indigenous Satellite Imaging System ‘Prajna’
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) received ‘Prajna’, an indigenously developed AI-enabled satellite imaging system designed to greatly enhance real-time decision support for national security agencies.

• Developed by: Engineered by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) under DRDO.
• Significance: Expected to play a vital role in monitoring sensitive regions, tracking suspicious activities, and fortifying counter-terrorism and border management efforts.

India’s First Petroglyph Conservation Park to be Set Up in Ladakh
Coinciding with World Heritage Day, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena laid the foundation stone for India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park on the banks of the Indus River at Sindhu Ghat in Leh.

• Objective: To conserve centuries-old rock carvings (petroglyphs) threatened by unregulated tourism and rapid infrastructure development.
• Purpose & Access: Will house vulnerable petroglyphs relocated from across Ladakh, offering visitors an educational and curated setting.
• Institutional Collaboration: An MoU was signed between the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for scientific preservation.

India Launches First Advanced 3D Glass Chip Packaging Unit in Odisha
Odisha hosted the groundbreaking ceremony for India’s first advanced 3D glass semiconductor packaging unit at Info Valley in Bhubaneswar, marking a major milestone for the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

• Developer: Implemented by US-based 3D Glass Solutions Inc. (3DGS) through its Indian subsidiary Heterogeneous Integration Packaging Solutions Private Limited (HIPSPL).
• Investment: Involves a total outlay of roughly ₹1,943.53 crore, supported heavily by Central and State fiscal incentives.
• Production Capacity: Projected to produce 70,000 glass panels and 50 million assembled units annually. Commercial production is slated for August 2028.
• Applications: The chips will cater to high-tech sectors including aerospace, defense, AI, 5G technologies, and data centers.

C-DOT Signs MoU with Jumps Automation to Develop Cybersecurity Platform
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) signed an MoU with Jumps Automation LLP to develop an innovative, gamification-based cybersecurity awareness and training platform.

• Objective: To strengthen institutional cybersecurity preparedness through a highly engaging and interactive training ecosystem.
• Technology Base: Combines Jumps Automation’s AI expertise with C-DOT’s telecom technologies, deployed as a commercial-grade SaaS solution.
• Platform Features: Includes a gaming arena, leaderboards, discussion forums, and simulation-based scenarios covering phishing, malware response, and crisis management.

MoMA Signs MoU with IIT Patna Under PM VIKAS to Train Minority Youth
The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) signed an MoU with IIT Patna under the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme to promote technology-driven skill development among minority youth.

• Objective: To improve employability and create robust placement opportunities through modern skill development interventions.
• Scope: Will train 600 minority youth from Bihar in emerging tech roles such as AI Technocrat and Business Analytics Executive.
• PM VIKAS Scheme: Launched to promote entrepreneurship among minorities by focusing strictly on market-relevant skills.

Banking & Finance

SBI Targets Balance-Sheet Size Equal to 25% of India’s GDP by 2030
The State Bank of India (SBI) set an ambitious target to expand its balance sheet to approximately 25% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030, up from the existing 20%.

• Customized Strategies: The bank aims to increase its market share by 1% across all 800 districts in FY27, treating each district as a distinct growth unit.
• Current Status: As of December 2025, SBI's balance sheet stood at ₹71.62 lakh crore, with total business reaching ₹103.29 lakh crore (Deposits: ₹57.01 lakh crore, Advances: ₹46.28 lakh crore).
• Market Dominance: SBI’s current market share in deposits and advances stands at nearly 22% and 20%, respectively.

Economy & Business

UN Report Projects India’s Economy to Grow at 6.4% in CY26
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) released its "Economic and Social Survey of Asia and Pacific 2026", projecting India’s economy to grow at 6.4% in CY26 and 6.6% in CY27.

• India’s Inflation: The survey projects India’s inflation to sit at 4.4% in CY26 and 4.3% in CY27.
• Top Greenfield FDI: India attracted a massive USD 50 billion in greenfield FDI in the first three quarters of CY26, topping the regional charts ahead of Australia and South Korea.
• Remittances: The report noted India remains the world's largest remittance recipient, though it may face losses due to the USA imposing a new 1% tax on remittances since January 2026.

Awards & Recognitions

NHA Concludes Chintan Shivir 2026; Awards Excellence to States & UTs
The National Health Authority (NHA) concluded a two-day Chintan Shivir in Pune focusing on AB PM-JAY and ABDM implementation, awarding 18 States and UTs for outstanding execution of health schemes.

• Participation: Senior officials discussed enhancing healthcare delivery through digital systems, data analytics, and governance reforms.
• Best Practices Showcased: Highlighted Karnataka's online referral system, Gujarat's digital clinical governance, and Jharkhand's healthcare infrastructure upgrades in Ranchi.
• Digital Health Initiatives: Featured demonstrations of the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX)-enabled Hospital Management Information System (HMIS).

Former MP Santosh Kumar Honoured as ‘Global Green Icon’ in UK
Prominent environmentalist and former Rajya Sabha MP Joginapally Santosh Kumar was conferred the ‘Global Green Icon’ award at the World Climate Leaders Conclave 2026 at the House of Lords in London.

• Key Initiatives: Recognized for founding the Green India Challenge (GIC) in 2018, one of the world’s largest citizen-led afforestation movements.
• Commonwealth Presentation: In April 2026, he presented the ‘Green India model’ to the Commonwealth Secretariat as a scalable template for 56 member nations to achieve UN SDGs.
• Authorship: Authored notable works including Vriksha Vedam 2.0 and Wings of Passion.

Appointments & Resignations

Apple Names John Ternus as Next CEO; Tim Cook to Step Down
Apple Inc. officially announced that John Ternus, the current Senior VP of Hardware Engineering, will assume the role of CEO effective September 1, 2026. Tim Cook will step down but remain as Executive Chairman.

• Early Life & Joining Apple: Ternus began his career working on early VR headsets before joining Apple in 2001.
• Legacy at Apple: He led the first iPad’s design in 2010, successfully drove the transition to Apple Silicon, and rose to Senior Vice President in 2021.

Science & Technology

Titagarh Naval Systems Launches Fourth DSC A23 for Indian Navy
Titagarh Naval Systems Limited launched the 4th Diving Support Craft (DSC A23, Yard 328) on the Hooghly River in Kolkata, significantly boosting the Indian Navy's clearance diving operations.

• Background: The vessel is part of a 5-vessel series being developed natively under the GoI’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
• Design: These 30-meter catamaran-type vessels are equipped with advanced, indigenously sourced systems designed specifically to support the IN’s Command Clearance Diving Teams (CCDTs).

Sports

Aronyak Ghosh Becomes India’s 95th Chess Grandmaster
Kolkata’s Aronyak Ghosh officially became India’s 95th Chess Grandmaster (GM) after securing his third and final GM norm at the 23rd Bangkok Chess Club (BCC) Open 2026 in Thailand.

• Achievement: He scored an unbeaten 7/9 to tie for first place with a performance rating of 2584. He previously earned norms at the Sants Open (2023) and Annemasse Masters (2024).
• Ratings: Boasts a peak Elo rating of 2555 and a live rating of 2541.
• Titles: Became the National Rapid Chess Champion in March 2026 and previously won a bronze medal at the Under-16 World Youth Championship (2019).

Important Days at a Glance