The Union Minister of Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, led India’s engagements at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, with high-level participation at the GSMA Ministerial Programme and the MWC Main Stage, outlining India’s vision for affordable, inclusive and future-ready digital connectivity.
Union Minister Shri Scindia addressed the MWC Main Stage in the keynote session titled “Built for What’s Next.” The address focused on the evolution of networks into intelligent, adaptive and human-centric platforms powered by AI, cloud-native technologies and next-generation infrastructure.
President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Governors in different States and Union Territories. The Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shiv Pratap Shukla, has been appointed as Governor of Telangana. Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has been appointed Governor of Maharashtra.
Former Bihar Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav has been appointed as Governor of Nagaland. Lieutenant General (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain has been appointed as Governor of Bihar.
The Governor of Tamil Nadu, RN Ravi, has been appointed as the Governor of West Bengal.
The Governor of Tamil Nadu, RN Ravi, has been appointed as the Governor of West Bengal. The Governor of Kerala, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, will discharge the functions of the Governor of Tamil Nadu. The President has accepted the resignation of the Governor of West Bengal, Dr C.V. Ananda Bose.
The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, has been appointed as Governor of Himachal Pradesh. The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena, has been appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. Former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora flagged off the first export of GI-tagged Karbi Anglong Ginger to London during a programme held at Krishi Bhawan, Khanapara in Guwahati.
Vineeta Sudhanshu, General Manager, APEDA, said this is the first time ginger from Assam is being exported to London.
She added that this is a trial consignment of 1.2 metric tonnes, and if successful, further shipments will follow.
The export marks a significant milestone for Assam’s agricultural sector, particularly for farmers in Karbi Anglong district. The Geographical Indication (GI) tag adds value to the product and ensures its authenticity and quality in international markets.
Waking from a six-year slumber, the Echinus Geyser, the world's largest acidic geyser, has roared back to life in Yellowstone National Park. After remaining dormant since 2020, the Norris Geyser Basin landmark surprised officials with an initial eruption on February 7, followed by a series of bursts on February 9, 12, and 15.
This particular geyser is made acidic because of a mix of acidic gases and neutral waters. Many acidic geysers break down the rock that forms a geyser, but the acidity at Echinus is not strong enough to eat away at the surrounding stone. The acidic nature of the water results in unusual chemistry, with the red colours caused by iron, aluminium, and arsenic compounds.
The geyser is about 66 feet wide and is surrounded by rocks that resemble sea urchins. The geyser was named for those rocks, after mineralogist Albert Charles Peale noted the resemblance during a visit to the site in 1878.
In a first, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi has been unveiled in the US state of Montana, as authorities underscored that the ideals of nonviolence espoused by him are much needed in the current world order.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, along with Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta jointly unveiled the bust, which is a gift from the Government of India to the state of Montana.
The bust has been installed at the prestigious Mike Mansfield Centre of the University of Montana in Missoula.
Gandhi statues have been installed by the Consulate at the Base of Space Needle in Seattle (October 2024) and the State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska (December 2024). The earliest Gandhi statute was installed at the Bellevue Public Library in October 2009.
Finn Allen delivered one of the greatest innings in ICC T20 World Cup history, smashing a 33-ball century to lead New Zealand into the 2026 final against South Africa. The explosive knock broke multiple records, including the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, the first hundred in a knockout match, and the most sixes in a single edition of the tournament.
New Zealand chased 170 in just 12.5 overs, one of the fastest successful chases in tournament history. Finn Allen smashed a breathtaking 33-ball century, the fastest ever in a men’s T20 World Cup. The previous record belonged to Chris Gayle’s 47-ball ton in 2016, underlining the scale of Allen’s historic acceleration.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 5, 2026 unveiled two mascots, ‘Pragati’ and ‘Vikas’, for the upcoming Population Census 2027. Mr. Shah also soft launched four digital tools to be used during the exercise.
This will be the first Census that will be digital, and the first to allow self-enumeration and enumeration of caste.
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has developed advanced digital platforms to facilitate enumeration operations across the country. Several senior officials, including Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Mritunjay Narayan, were present on the occasion.
Census 2027 is to be conducted in two phases — Houselisting Operations (HLO), and Population Enumeration.
The mascots Pragati (’female enumerator’) and Vikas (’male enumerator’) have been unveiled to serve as friendly, relatable faces of the Census 2027, a statement by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.
The four digital platforms soft launched by the Minister are the Houselisting Block Creator (HLBC) web application, the HLO mobile application, the Self-Enumeration (SE) portal, and the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) portal.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers is observing Janaushadhi Saptah 2026, a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting affordable and high-quality generic medicines. On the third day of the campaign today, 47 camps were executed, engaging thousands and emphasising services for women, senior citizens, and children.
The camps featured health check-up camps delivering on-site diagnostics, free consultations, and extensive distribution of Janaushadhi medicines. The initiative will continue till the 7th March 2026..
On 8 March 2026, International Women’s Day, UN Women issues a global alert: Justice systems meant to uphold rights and the rule of law are failing women and girls everywhere. Women globally hold just 64 per cent of the legal rights of men, exposing them to discrimination, violence, and exclusion at every stage of their lives.
Motilal Oswal Home Finance (MOHFL) secured $100 million in debt financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to expand lending to women borrowers in the affordable housing segment and support green-certified residential projects, the company said in a press release.
The funding, raised in rupee-equivalent terms through non-convertible debentures (NCDs), marks a significant milestone for the housing finance company and reflects continued interest from global development finance institutions in India’s affordable housing space.
According to the company, the proceeds will be used to provide affordable housing loans to women borrowers.
Around 10 per cent of the funds will be deployed to finance the construction of residential units that meet recognised green building certification standards, promoting environmentally sustainable construction practices.
MOHFL is the housing finance arm of Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited and focuses on first-time homebuyers in low- and middle-income segments, particularly across Tier-II, Tier-III and emerging urban markets.
Private sector lender Yes Bank announced the launch of an exclusive salary account, a solution designed to support the financial and lifestyle needs of working women ahead of International Women's Day.
This new offering will bring together a suite of specialised services spanning financial protection, preventive healthcare, lifestyle privileges and wealth-creation, all benefits on a single platform, the Bank said in a statement.
YES Essence Women's Salary Account will have features like exclusive free locker facility for the first year, Rs 5 lakh top-up health cover complimentary for a year and annual preventive health check-up once a year.
Besides, the account holder would get a complimentary Elegance Debit Card with 5 per cent cashback worth up to Rs 6,000 annually on select categories.
In Maharashtra, the historic ‘Hatti Risala’ procession, a cherished cultural tradition of Jalna, marked its 138th year this Dhulivandan with great enthusiasm and community participation.
Organized annually on the occasion of Dhulivandan (the day following Holi), the grand procession passes through the city’s main roads.
A decorated elephant carries a symbolic king and his prime minister, who shower sweets (revdis) on the crowd. The beautifully adorned elephant, participants in traditional attire, rhythmic drum beats, and the scattering of dry colors create a vibrant and festive atmosphere.
The ‘Hatti Risala’ procession stands as a symbol of Jalna’s rich cultural heritage and communal harmony. People from all religions actively take part in the celebrations, spreading a message of social unity. It is a local belief that residents along the procession route refrain from playing with colors as a mark of respect while it passes.
