On the occasion of World Wildlife Day, the Indian Army and the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department of Ladakh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to preserve the fragile ecology and conserve majestic species.
The Species include Snow Leopard, Himalayan Wolf, Bharal, Ibex, Marmot, Black-necked Crane and their habitats under the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Forum. The Defence Ministry said that the MOU aims to promote sustainable development and environmental protection in the high-altitude ecosystems of Ladakh,
reaffirming a shared commitment to preserving Ladakh’s rich biodiversity and fragile ecosystem for future generations. Furthermore, it added that the Indian Army has always been committed to sustainable development and nature conservation, balancing sometimes-competing needs of safeguarding our borders and protecting the local flora and fauna.
NCVET and Orion Educational Society (OES) have signed agreement on 02.03.2026 for NCVET Recognition as Awarding Body (AB - Standard) to OES. Through this recognition, OES will be eligible to award and certify the learners where training is directly being imparted by the Awarding Body in campuses or training centers owned or fully managed by it for its approved or,
fully managed by it for its approved or adopted qualifications.
OES has been recognized as a Awarding Body (Standard) with PAN India territorial jurisdiction. OES specializes in vocational skill development and certification across job roles aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
The Society’s integrated program model combines hands-on practical training with recognized industry certifications and structured placement support. By focusing on marginalized youth and women, OES aims to empower communities through sustainable livelihood interventions and entrepreneurship facilitation.
(BASE 2011-12=100)
Index of Industrial Production (IIP) recorded a 4.8 % year-on-year growth in January 2026, supported by 4.8% growth in Manufacturing sector and 5.1% growth in Electricity sector.
The Quick Estimate of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is released on 28th of every month (or next working day if 28th is a holiday).
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has proposed April 1, 2026, for insurers to implement Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS).
The date will be applicable to all categories of insurers, including life insurers, general insurers, health insurers and re-insurers, the regulator said,
placing an exposure draft and a consultation paper in the public domain for comments.
The exposure draft sets out the proposed regulatory framework governing the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial statements by insurers adopting Ind AS.
The swtich is aimed to promote greater consistency, transparency and comparability in financial reporting across the insurance sector, in alignment with globally accepted standards, while preserving regulatory prudence and safeguarding policyholder interests, IRDAI said.
The framework has been developed after comprehensive engagement with insurers, including structured gap assessments and analysis of pro-forma financial submissions, to evaluate operational readiness and the impact assessment. These measures are intended to facilitate a smooth and orderly transition to Ind AS-based financial reporting, it said.
H.K. Dua, former editor of three leading national dailies and Rajya Sabha MP, passed away. He was 88.
Apart from the distinction of serving as the Editor of The Hindustan Times (1987-94), the Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express (1994-96) as well as The Tribune (2003-09).
He also worked as the media adviser to two former Prime Ministers, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and H.D. Deve Gowda. He was also Editorial Adviser for The Times of India from 1997 to 1998.
A recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Mr. Dua also served as India’s Ambassador to Denmark from 2001 to 2003. In 2009, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, where he served until 2015.
Axis Bank, the country’s third-largest private sector lender said it has partnered with Tesla to become its preferred financing partner. Under the arrangement, the bank will offer tailored financing solutions and a differentiated customer experience for Tesla buyers.
According to the bank, customers in the premium electric vehicle (EV) segment will, for the first time, be able to access loans with a tenure of up to 10 years, significantly reducing the monthly financial commitment. The bank will also introduce bespoke schemes designed to suit the financial profiles of Tesla’s diverse customer base.
Axis Bank said the offering will feature an end-to-end paperless process aimed at enabling rapid loan sanctions and ensuring a seamless transition from booking to vehicle delivery.
The lender will roll out the financing offers across India, enabling customers in major metros as well as emerging EV hubs to access convenient, digitally enabled financing options.
Nearly 15 million children aged five to nine years and more than 26 million children aged 10 to 19 years in India were overweight or obese in 2025, according to the World Obesity Atlas 2026 released on World Obesity Day, which falls on March 4.
The World Obesity Federation, a global organisation focused on obesity warned that the world was set to miss the 2025 global target to halve the rise in childhood obesity. Though the deadline is now being extended to 2030, most countries remain off track, and India is no exception, it said, in a press release.
An international team of researchers from Germany, India, and Switzerland has discovered a remarkably strange new species of fish living in a hand-dug well in a village in Assam. This discovery of Gitchak nakana is a major milestone for science, as it marks the first time an aquifer-dwelling fish has been documented in Northeast India or the Eastern Himalayan region.
The findings were published recently in Scientific Reports, a nature portfolio journal. The scientific team comprised of Ralf Britz and Amanda Pinion (Senckenberg Museum, Dresden, Germany), Rajeev Raghavan (Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi), Wimarithy Marak and Kangjam Velentina (Assam Don Bosco University, Guwahati),
Yumnam Lokeshwor (Dhanamanjuri University, Manipur) and Lukas Rüber (Natural History Museum, Bern, Switzerland).
The new species has been named Gitchak nakana, drawing from the Garo language to describe its appearance. “Gitchak” means red, while “na-tok” and “kana” refer to absence of eyes.
The Competition Commission of India announced that it has approved the acquisition of additional shareholding in Generali Central Insurance Company and Generali Central Life Insurance Company by Central Bank of India.
The clearance comes months after the bank consolidated its position in the joint ventures with Italy’s Assicurazioni Generali, which operate under the unified ‘Generali Central’ brand.
In June 2025, the Mumbai-headquartered lender acquired a 25.18% equity stake in Generali Central Life Insurance and a 24.91% stake in Generali Central Insurance.
The 25th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India, was celebrated today at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, in the presence of senior dignitaries, policymakers, partner organisations, and stakeholders from across the country.
On the occasion, the BEE@25 logo was formally released to mark BEE’s entry into its 25th year. The logo symbolically reflects the core principles of energy efficiency, sustainability, and forward-looking innovation.
The design prominently integrates the “@25” motif to signify the milestone year while incorporating visual elements that represent energy, growth, and environmental responsibility. The dynamic styling and colour scheme convey continuity, impact, and the Bureau’s evolving role in India’s energy transition.
During the event, the RCO Portal was unveiled as a significant step towards strengthening monitoring, facilitating compliance, and streamlining coordination among stakeholders under various energy efficiency programmes.
The Minister also launched the BEE Star Label Mobile Application, developed in collaboration with CLASP. The application will enable consumers to scan the QR code affixed to star-labelled appliances to instantly access authentic product information, including energy performance, model details, and compliance status.
The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness seeks to promote better awareness and understanding of disarmament issues among the public, especially young people.
Observed on 5 March, the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness plays a role in deepening the global public’s understanding about how disarmament efforts contribute to enhancing peace and security, preventing and ending armed conflicts, and curbing human suffering caused by weapons.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the Nation and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over 2,700 crore rupees in Puducherry. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that with investments in spiritual tourism, eco-tourism and health tourism, the government is taking Puducherry to greater heights.
Inaugurating projects worth 1,142.23 crore rupees, Mr. Modi said that across the country there is strong emphasis on building world-class infrastructure. He noted that 12 lakh crore rupees has been earmarked in this year’s Union Budget for infrastructure development.
Hinting at the rollout of e-buses under the PM e-Bus Seva initiative, the Prime Minister said that in a tourism hub like Puducherry, electric buses can be a game changer in reducing pollution. Projects inaugurated included the Integrated Command and Control Centre under the Smart City Mission,
tenements for the economically weaker sections under the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain initiative, and major sewerage and water supply projects of the Puducherry Government.
He also announced the development of the 750-acre Karasur-Sedarapet Industrial Estate.
Launching the composite engineering block of NIT Karaikal, the Regional Cancer Centre at JIPMER and new buildings of Pondicherry University, Mr. Modi said a strong and empowered youth forms the foundation of the nation’s growth, and the government is committed to realising that vision.
