Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, held high-level bilateral discussions with Mr. Todd Michael McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand, on the sidelines of WTO MC14. The ministers briefly reviewed preparations for the upcoming New Zealand visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Both sides also reviewed the progress toward the signing of the recently concluded India-New Zealand FTA. Discussions also focused on pursuing incremental and practical cooperation outside the formal FTA framework, specifically in sectors such as sports and agriculture, including the training of Indian farmers in kiwi and apple cultivation.
The Indian Navy hosted IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) TTX 2026 at the Maritime Warfare Centre, Southern Naval Command, Kochi on 27 March 2026. The high-level engagement brought together distinguished delegates from Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) member navies, international officers of IOS SAGAR,
and officers from the Indian Navy to deliberate on evolving non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The exercise witnessed participation from Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Timor-Leste.
This diverse multinational representation underscores a shared commitment to fostering mutual trust and enhancing collaborative maritime security across the region. As India assumes the IONS Chairmanship for the 2026–2028 cycle after a gap of sixteen years, IMEX TTX 2026 marks a significant milestone in strengthening regional maritime leadership.
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom R&D institution under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Delhi Police in a landmark step towards advancing technology-driven, indigenous, and secure policing solutions for the national capital.
Under the MoU, C-DOT will deploy nine advanced solutions purpose-built for modern policing requirements. The Facial Recognition System (FRS)/FraudPro will enable identification of suspects, missing persons, and repeat offenders through photograph-matching with available databases, strengthening investigation processes, crowd monitoring, and,
identity verification during law-and-order deployments. SAMVAD, C-DOT's Unified Communication Solution, will provide a secure platform for one-to-one and group chats, audio/video calls, and official data sharing, enabling seamless and secure coordination across units, districts, and specialized branches during both routine operations and emergencies.
C-DOT Meet, a secure web-based video conferencing solution featuring multi-camera access, presentation sharing, and collaborative whiteboards, will facilitate briefings, inter-unit coordination, and training sessions.
The C-DOT Mission Critical Services (MCX) platform will enable secure, private, and low-latency communications specifically designed for public safety and emergency operations, ensuring real-time coordination among field officers during large-scale events, disaster response, and law-and-order situations.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on March 28, 2026, chaired the first meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) set-up to monitor the evolving situation in West Asia, and recommend proactive measures in response to the developments.
Held at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi.
The IGoM took a holistic stock of the evolving situation and its impact on various sectors in India. Raksha Mantri emphasised the need for a proactive, coordinated and forward-looking approach, and underscored the importance of remaining vigilant in view of the evolving scenario.
As part of the meeting, presentations were made by the seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries (EGoS), outlining key sectoral issues identified and the policy measures already put in place to manage the situation.
The Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) is an Apex Autonomous Body established as a registered Society, formed by subsuming 14 Autonomous Institutes of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
To ensure effective oversight of BRIC's research initiatives, a Research Advisory Board (RAB) has been constituted under the Chairpersonship of Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, DAE Homi Bhabha Professor, former Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, and former Secretary, DBT.
The inaugural meeting of the BRIC-Research Advisory Board (BRIC-RAB) was held on 27th-28th March 2026 at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad. The two-day event featured a dynamic gathering deliberating on bold and ambitious national initiatives,
prioritizing shared infrastructure while envisioning governance reforms designed to guide BRIC's transformation into a cohesive, decentralized national biotechnology laboratory. The goal is to establish BRIC as a formidable global frontrunner in biotechnology research, paving the way for innovative advancements in the field.
The Government has implemented Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes across 14 sectors to enhance domestic manufacturing, attract investment, promote exports and generate employment in the country.
The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts, worth a total of Rs 858 crore, for the procurement of Tunguska Air Defence Missile System and Inspection (Depot Level) of P8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft. The contracts were inked at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi on March 27, 2026.
The contract for the procurement of Tunguska Air Defence Missile Systems, valued at Rs 445 crore, for the Indian Army, was signed with JSC Rosoboronexport, Russia in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh.
The contract for the Inspection (Depot Level) of P8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft for Indian Navy under Buy Indian category with 100% Indigenous Content, valued at Rs 413 crore, was signed with Boeing India Defense Private Ltd, a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of Boeing, in the presence of senior officials of the Ministry of Defence.
The Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has finalised its borrowing programme for the first half (H1) of FY 2026-27.
Gross Market Borrowings in BE 2026-27 was Rs. 17.20 lakh crore. Since Budget presentation, switches of G-Sec were conducted, reducing Gross Market borrowing to Rs. 16.09 lakh crore.
Of Rs. 16.09 lakh crore, Rs. 8.20 lakh crore (51.0%) is planned to be borrowed in H1 through issuance of dated securities, including Rs. 15,000 crore of Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs).
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) released the TV Ratings Policy 2026, which sets out comprehensive guidelines for regulating television ratings in India. The policy defines clear standards for the registration, operation, audit, and oversight of agencies providing TV rating services, with the aim of ensuring transparency, independence and accountability.
The Ministry of Heavy Industries has extended subsidies for electric two-wheelers till 31 July 2026, and for electric rikshaw and electric carts till 31 March 2028 under the Prime Minister's Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme, according to a notification dated 27 March 2026.
The PM E-DRIVE Scheme provides outlay of Rs. 1,772 crore for electric vehicles (EVs) of which Es 1,259.91 crore expenditure was approved for e2ws, as per estimates. The Scheme gives manufacturers a Rs. 5,000-incentive on sale of each EV, which on an average, is about 5% of an e-two wheeler’s price.
Official estimates peg the total number of e2ws sold till date at 10 lakh, while e-three-wheelers have exceeded targets at over 1.62 lakh sold against target of 1.59 lakh. For e-rickshaws and e-carts, less than 10% of the goal has been achieved.
The government launched the Rs. 10,900 crore PM E-Drive scheme in September 2024 to incentivise two-wheelers, three-wheelers, electric trucks and buses, as well as charging infrastructure. While the scheme was slated to run till March 2026, it was extended till March 2028 for electric trucks and buses.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) said that it has operationalised India’s first Port of Refuge (PoR), creating a formal system to handle maritime emergencies and support vessels in distress. The move fills a long-standing gap in India’s maritime safety infrastructure.
A PoR, as defined by the International Maritime Organization, is a designated place where ships can seek shelter during emergencies to stabilise conditions, protect lives and reduce environmental damage. While such systems are common in major maritime nations, India did not have a formal framework until now.
With a coastline of over 11,000 kilometres and its location along key global shipping routes, the country is working to strengthen its emergency response systems.
The initiative is supported by a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SMIT Salvage, part of Royal Boskalis Westminster NV (Boskalis), and the Maritime Emergency Response Centre (MERC).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase I of Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar, marking the opening of the National Capital Region's second international airport and one of India's most significant greenfield aviation projects in recent years.
Phase I of the airport has been developed at a total investment of around Rs 11,282 crore, of which Rs 6,876 crore was invested by the concessionaire and Rs 4,406 crore spent by the state government on land acquisition.
The airport is being developed across four phases at an estimated total cost of Rs 29,560 crore.
It is developed and operated by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a 100% subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, in partnership with the governments of Uttar Pradesh and India. The terminal was designed by a consortium of Nordic, Grimshaw, Haptic, and STUP, with Tata Projects Ltd as the EPC contractor.
Modi also inaugurated the cargo terminal and laid the foundation stone for a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport. The proposed 40-acre MRO facility is expected to strengthen domestic aircraft maintenance capabilities.
Transgender women athletes are now excluded from the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy on March 26, 2026, which aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on women's sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Veteran actor and theater personality E.A. Rajendran, known for his versatile performances in Malayalam cinema and television, passed away at his residence at Pattathanam, Kollam, Kerala, in the early hours of March 26, 2026. He was 71
A prominent figure in the cultural sphere, Rajendran carved a niche for himself through a wide array of character and antagonist roles. His career spanned decades, during which he became a familiar face to the Malayali audience through several blockbuster films, including Kaliyattam, Narasimham, Meeshamadhavan, Pattabhishekam, and Thachiledathu Chundan.
In a significant step towards strengthening skill development and capacity building in India’s construction sector, the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a leading cement manufacturer.
The partnership will focus on structured training and certification programmes across the country, aimed at capacity building of civil engineers, ready-mix concrete (RMC) professionals, contractors, construction workers, and masons.
On 14 December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution at its seventy-seventh session to proclaim 30 March as International Day of Zero Waste, to be observed annually.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) jointly facilitate the observance of International Day of Zero Waste.
For this year’s International Day of Zero Waste, the focus is on food – what we eat, what we waste, and how we can move towards a more circular future.
The world wastes food on a staggering scale. Every year we throw away about 1 billion tonnes of edible food, nearly one-fifth of all food available to consumers. This impacts both people and the environment.
