India and Canada launched negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in New Delhi and decided to finalise it soon. The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were signed by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry and,
Mr. Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade of Canada on 2nd March 2026 and were exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Prime Minister Mr. Mark Carney of Canada at Hyderabad House, New Delhi.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Modi highlighted that the goal for bilateral trade is to reach US$50 billion by 2030. The priority is to unlock the full potential of economic cooperation for which India and Canada has decided to finalize the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) soon.
The negotiations would cover trade in goods, services and other mutually agreed policy areas.
Canada represents a market of 41.65 million people (2025) and US$ 2.34 trillion in terms of GDP at PPP.
Shri B.P. Singh Assumed Charge as Director General of Naval Armament (DGONA) at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, on 01 Mar 2026 . An officer of the 1994 batch of the Indian Naval Armament Service (INAS), he succeeds Shri Divakar Jayant, who superannuated on 28 Feb 2026, after rendering distinguished service to the nation.
Shri B.P. Singh brings with him over three decades of rich and diverse experience in the Naval Armament Organisation. Prior to his appointment as DGONA, he was serving as Chief General Manager, Naval Armament Depot (NAD), Mumbai, where he led critical operational, logistics and infrastructure initiatives.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026, held from 16–21 February 2026, marked a significant milestone in the global artificial intelligence landscape. The Summit witnessed extensive participation, with approximately 6 lakh attendees in person and over 9 lakh cumulative views through live virtual streaming.
Delegations from more than 100 countries and 20 international organisations participated in the proceedings.
During the Summit, India achieved a Guinness World Record for the “Most pledges received for an AI responsibility campaign in 24 hours,” with over 2.5 lakh validated pledges reaffirming public commitment towards responsible AI adoption.
In a significant step towards strengthening India–Japan development cooperation, NITI Aayog and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Record of Discussions (RoD) for the “Project for Promotion of the Program for Japan - India Cooperative Actions Towards Sustainable Development Goals – Phase II”.
This collaboration reaffirms the strong India–Japan development partnership and advances joint efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in Aspirational Districts (ADs) and Aspirational Blocks (ABs).
The project under ADP and ABP aims to strengthen policy frameworks and implementation systems across six themes—Global Partnership, Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development and Basic Infrastructure.It focuses on institutional capacity building, improved monitoring and evaluation and effective localisation of SDGs.
President Droupadi Murmu on March 2, 2026 launched the Pink National Common Mobility Card and three other women-centric welfare schemes of the Delhi Government.
At the event held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the President also launched a scheme providing two free LPG cylinders annually to ration card-holding families on Holi and Diwali.
The ₹129-crore benefit will be transferred directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer, the statement said.
She further launched the Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana and the "Meri Poonji, Mera Adhikar" initiative. Ms. Murmu said empowered women, with freedom to make decisions, can change the direction of society and the nation.
The Varanasi Municipal Corporation planted more than 2.5 lakh saplings in less than one hour, with the participation of more than 20,000 citizens.
Officials claimed this was also recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records. “Varanasi has established a new benchmark with 2.5 lakh trees planted in just one hour creating a Guinness world record.
The commissioner further said that apart from this, provisions had been made for the survival and irrigation of these plants. He said that this would be taken a step further, and converted into an ‘urban forest park’ with a ‘meditation plaza.’
Officials said this was a “historic initiative”, with mass public participation in the mega drive.
With this, the VMC broke the previous world record of 1.53 lakh saplings planted in an hour, held by China, they added.
The planned urban forest will “enhance biodiversity, strengthen the Ganga riverbank, and improve ecological balance,” officials said.
A slew of investment proposals worth over Rs. 1,600 crore were announced on Sunday that aim to strengthen Gujarat’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem—covering manufacturing units, chemicals, equipment, R&D centres, and advanced technology startups—reflecting growing interest from Japanese and South Korean companies in the state’s electronics sector.
Japan’s Horiba Group, through its Indian subsidiary Horiba India Pvt Ltd, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gujarat government for establishing a dedicated R&D centre in Ahmedabad that will be focused on semiconductor-grade mass-flow controllers and advanced instrumentation.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma announced in the Assembly that three historic cities will be renamed. Mount Abu will now be called Abu Raj, while Kaman and Jahazpur have been renamed Kamvan and Yagyapur, respectively. The Chief Minister said the move was part of the BJP government's decolonisation drive and a tribute to the state's heritage and local sentiments.
In December last year, the state government had annulled nine of the 17 new districts and three divisions created by the previous Congress regime, saying they were unnecessary.
The state government said the decision was taken to honour local sentiments and revive the traditional and cultural heritage associated with these places.
State Bank of India said Nitin Chugh has been relieved from his position as Deputy Managing Director and Head (Digital Banking & Transformation) with effect from March 2, 2026.
In a regulatory filing under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, the bank said Chugh’s contractual tenure was set to end on March 3, 2026.
IIFL Home Finance has signed a $300 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank for onlending to lower income borrowers.
The loan marks the mortgage lender's first syndicated external commercial borrowing, the company said.
ADB, the mandated lead arranger and bookrunner for the arrangement, will itself put in $150 million. There will be another $150 million parallel loans from Japan's MUFG, Emirates Bank and Sri Lanka's Sampath Bank and Hatton National Bank.
India is estimated to have a housing shortage of 31 million units by 2030, mostly affecting low-income groups.
The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released 16 significant books brought out by the Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, at Uparashtrapati Bhavan. The publications celebrate renowned Tamil scholars, heritage, architecture, literature and culture. Of the total titles launched, 13 are based on the Tamil language.
The Tamil titles include Rameswaram, Ramanujar, Nadukal, 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, and Mahavidwan Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai.
A special highlight of the event was the release of the book on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, penned by S. K. Bose, in English, Hindi and Tamil. Brought out on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, the enriched edition explores the life and times of the eminent literary figure and his contribution to the Indian literary movement.
The English reprint features a newly conceptualised cover along with additional archival photographs and illustrations. The cover has been specially designed by an IIT Delhi-supported start-up, blending contemporary aesthetics with classical spirit.
On Zero Discrimination Day, 1 March, we celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and productive life—and live it with dignity. Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change.
This year the theme is “We stand together”.
Communities are essential to the sustainability of the HIV response and the broader global health efforts, and they remain steadfast committed to their mission: ensuring that all people living with and affected by HIV are treated with dignity and respect.
In May 2022, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/76/265 proclaiming 1 March as World Seagrass Day. The resolution highlights the urgent need to raise awareness at all levels and to promote and facilitate actions for the conservation of seagrasses in order to contribute to their health and development,
bearing in mind that enhancing ecosystem services and functions is important for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that are found in shallow waters in many parts of the world, from the tropics to the Arctic circle.
On 20 December 2013, the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly decided to proclaim 3 March as World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora. The date is the day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.
This 2026 the theme of the international day, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods”, highlights the vital role of these plants in sustaining human health, cultural heritage, and local livelihoods, and showcases the growing pressures they face from habitat loss, overharvesting, and climate change.
