Hyderabad hosted the inaugural of the World Buddhist Peace Conference 2026, bringing together ministers, monks, scholars and delegates from over 20 countries in a bid to advance dialogue on peace, reconciliation and ethical leadership.
The two-day conference, inaugurated at The Plaza Hotel in Begumpet, is part of a larger global initiative aimed at positioning Telangana as a centre for Buddhist heritage diplomacy and peace-building.
The summit, themed around Buddhist approaches to conflict resolution, reconciliation and healing, seeks to move beyond abstract calls for peace and instead emphasise inner transformation, ethical values and sustained dialogue as the foundation for harmony.
The Minister also highlighted the State government’s efforts to develop an integrated Buddhist tourism circuit linking key heritage sites such as Phanigiri, Dhulikatta and Nagarjunakonda with Buddhavanam, envisioned as a global centre for spiritual tourism and peace.
Organised by the Buddhavanam project of the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation in collaboration with international Buddhist institutions, the summit will conclude with a visit to Buddhavanam at Nagarjunasagar, where a global peace declaration is expected to be adopted.
India's Sheetal Devi has been named 'Para Archer of the Year 2025' by World Archery, adding to her extraordinary achievements, which also include a historic world championship crown.
The 19-year-old from Jammu & Kashmir became the first and only female armless archer to win gold at the World Para Archery Championships by claiming the top honours in the women's compound individual event in Gwangju, South Korea last year.
Born without arms, Sheetal skilfully uses her feet, legs, and shoulder to draw the bow and shoot. She also secured a complete set of medals at the World Championships, winning the women's team silver and mixed team bronze.
Beyond her World Championship gold, Sheetal also boasts of a Paris Paralympics bronze in the mixed team event, along with individual silvers from the 2022 Asian Para Games and the 2023 Asian Championships in Bangkok.
The awards, launched in 2011, honour excellence and outstanding contributions to the sport, celebrating the athletes and support staff who have defined the international archery season.
This year, the awards were presented across eight categories, including 'Archer of the Year,' which went to Emircan Haney of Turkey; 'Young Archer of the Year,' awarded to Baptiste Addis of France; and 'Best Team of the Year'.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has moved decisively to rein in currency speculation just as the rupee slid to record lows around the 95-per-dollar mark.
On March 27, the central bank directed authorised dealer banks to ensure their net open position in rupee (NOP-INR) in the onshore deliverable market does not exceed $100 million at the end of each business day, with full compliance required by April 10.
The circular, issued under FEMA, is explicitly aimed at curbing the excessive build-up of open rupee positions and restoring orderly conditions in the foreign-exchange market.
NOP-INR is essentially the net rupee exposure a bank carries after offsetting its long and short foreign-exchange positions.
Until now, boards had considerable leeway to set these limits, subject to an overall ceiling of up to 25 per cent of capital, which allowed large institutions to run sizeable directional books in USD/INR.
By imposing a uniform hard cap of $100 million, the RBI has shifted from a bank-driven to a centrally mandated regime, sharply reducing the scope for leveraged one-way bets on the currency. Unsurprisingly, banks have pushed back on the speed of implementation.
According to Reuters and other reports, lenders have asked the RBI for roughly three months to comply, warning that an April 10 deadline could trigger disorderly unwinding of positions and crystallise mark-to-market losses.
A large part of the exposure sits in one-to-three-month arbitrage trades linking the offshore non-deliverable forward market with onshore positions;
closing these in a hurry could mean selling dollars and buying rupees into a stressed market rather than allowing contracts to mature naturally.
For the rupee, the immediate effect of the cap is to reduce the firepower of speculative positions that have thrived on elevated oil prices, foreign portfolio outflows and a resurgent dollar.
The Indian Air Force is stepping into a new phase of aerial warfare with the planned integration of ASRAAM missiles on its MiG-29 fleet. Known for its speed and agility, the MiG-29 will now gain a significant boost in combat effectiveness with a missile that offers greater range, faster engagement and high accuracy.
The shift from older missile systems to ASRAAM reflects the changing nature of air combat, where first strike capability and pilot flexibility are crucial. With fire-and-forget technology, pilots can focus on manoeuvring while the missile tracks its target independently.
This upgrade also strengthens India’s position in a region where advanced air combat technologies are rapidly evolving. Backed by collaboration between global and domestic defence players, the move aligns with India’s long-term goal of reducing import dependence and building a strong indigenous defence ecosystem.
WWF India, in collaboration with The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), organised awareness and outreach activities in Gwalior to mark 20 years of Earth Hour, with a nationwide call to “Give an Hour for Earth”.
The activities were conducted under WWF-India’s Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building & Livelihood Programme (EIACP) as part of the nationwide observance of Earth Hour.
The programme was held in the presence of Ms. Nameeta Prasad, Joint Secretary, MoEFCC, and Ms. Lipika Roy, Joint Director, along with participation from trainees of the Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) on “Nature Conservator cum Eco-Tourism Guide”.
An Earth Hour awareness campaign and exhibition were organised at The Scindia School, Gwalior, engaging a large number of students and promoting sustainable lifestyles and environmental responsibility.
The initiative was further carried forward at the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Gwalior, in the presence of Dr. Chandra Shekhar Barua, Assistant Professor – Tourism Studies and Chairman & Placement Officer – MBA (Tourism and Travel Management).
The observance included a symbolic switch-off of lights from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM to reinforce the message of energy conservation and climate action.
The initiative was strengthened by the presence of Dr. G. Areendran, Director – Tech for Conservation, WWF-India and EIACP Coordinator, who emphasised the importance of youth engagement & capacity building in environmental conservation.
GSDP students from more than 15 States and Union Territories actively conveyed messages during Earth Hour and committed to promoting sustainable lifestyles.
Earth Hour, the world’s largest grassroots environmental movement, marks its 20th anniversary this year. Since its inception in 2007, it has grown into a global initiative across over 190 countries.
The contract for the supply of 93 Telescopic Handlers under the Buy (Indian) category has been signed with M/s JCB India Ltd at a total cost of Rs. 25.90 crore. This pioneering procurement reflects a transformative shift in the Army’s acquisition process by leveraging the GeM portal for capital purchases.
In a landmark development, the Indian Army has executed its first-ever capital procurement contract through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), marking a significant milestone in defense acquisition.
The contract for the supply of 93 Telescopic Handlers under the Buy (Indian) category has been signed with M/s JCB India Ltd at a total cost of Rs. 25.90 crore.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced its ‘Payments Vision 2028’, outlining a roadmap to strengthen and expand India’s rapidly growing digital payments ecosystem.
Anchored in the theme, ‘Shaping India’s Payment Frontier’, the Vision document focuses on user empowerment, safeguards against fraud, improving the efficiency of cross-border payment frameworks, and promoting ease of doing business. Through its various initiatives, the Vision Document charts a course of action up to December 2028.
Among key initiatives, the RBI has proposed developing an interoperability framework for Trade Receivables Discounting Systems (TReDS) to create a more integrated & efficient receivables financing ecosystem. It also plans to explore a “switch on/off” facility across all digital payment modes, similar to card controls, to help users manage transactions and reduce fraud risks
The central bank will review the cross-border payments ecosystem to enhance efficiency and streamline authorisation under the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007 and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.
The Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, addressed the 20th Edition of Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards organised by The Indian Express Group in New Delhi.
The Vice President said that the awards celebrate not only professional achievement but also the enduring spirit of fearless and principled journalism.
Noting that the awards are in their 20th year, he said they honour the legacy of Shri Ramnath Goenka, defined by courage, independence, and an unwavering commitment to truth, particularly during some of the most challenging periods in India’s history. He added that in an era where media is both powerful and under intense scrutiny, Shri Goenka’s ideals remain a guiding light
The Vice President highlighted Shri Goenka’s role during the Quit India Movement, when he chose to shut down the newspaper in protest against British censorship. He also recalled Shri Goenka’s contribution as a member of the Constituent Assembly, including his interventions on issues such as taxation of newspapers.
The Vice President observed that Shri Goenka’s life journey - from Darbhanga to Chennai and later as a Member of Parliament from Vidisha reflected the essence of India’s unity in diversity.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix for his second straight victory, as the 19-year-old Italian became the youngest driver in Formula One history to lead the world championship standings.
Antonelli took advantage of a mid-race safety car to leapfrog into the lead after a dreadful start from pole position and led home McLaren's Oscar Piastri by 13.722sec with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc a further 1.548sec back in third.
He moved up to 72 points and leads the championship by nine points after three races, building on the first grand prix win of his career two weeks ago in China.
Former Raymond chairman Vijaypat Singhania died in Mumbai, his family said. He was 87. His son, Gautam Singhania, the group’s current chairman and managing director, announced the death on the microblogging platform ‘X’.
Vijaypat Singhania, a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, was also a keen aviator and held a world record for the highest altitude achieved in a hot air balloon. He led Raymond as chairman for two decades until 2000. After handing over the reins of the company to Gautam, Vijaypat also transferred his entire 37 per cent stake in the company to his son.
The eighth annual Hockey India (HI) awards was held here on March 28, 2026 to recognise the standout performances during the 2025 season. Two-time Olympic medallist Hardik Singh and Navneet Kaur won the coveted Balbir Singh Sr Award for Player of the Year in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, at the Hockey India Annual Awards 2025 ceremony in New Delhi.
Zafar Iqbal, who played an integral part in India’s gold medal win at the Moscow 1980 Olympics and also won two silvers at the Asian Games in 1978 and 1982, received the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award.
In a significant step toward making information about evidence-based Ayurveda accessible across linguistic barriers, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, signed a MoU with Anuvadini AI, a platform designed by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
The initiative aims to expand public access to evidence-based Ayurveda knowledge across India. Under this MoU, Anuvadini AI will facilitate the translation of CCRAS's research outputs and educational materials into 13 regional languages, including Hindi, ensuring that evidence-based Ayurveda knowledge reaches every corner of the country.
CCRAS, with its network of 30 institutes across 25 states in India, conducts and publishes scientific research in Ayurveda sciences. One of its flagship publications, the CCRAS Bulletin, a quarterly research journal, along with other Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, is currently published primarily in English.
Under the MoU, Anuvadini AI will facilitate translation of these research outputs and educational resources into 13 regional languages, helping extend the reach of authentic Ayurveda knowledge to a wider range of the population and reduce the risk of misinformation.
Dr. Buddha Chandrasekhar, is the CEO of Anuvadini AI.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has postponed the implementation of its new rules on capital market exposure by three months. The revised deadline is now July 1, 2026, instead of April 1. The central bank said the decision comes after requests from banks, capital market intermediaries, and industry bodies, which sought more time and clarity on certain operational issues.
The amended guidelines were originally issued in February this year. They aim to make it easier for banks to finance acquisitions by Indian companies, streamline lending limits against shares and similar instruments, and introduce a more principles-based approach for lending to market intermediaries.
The RBI has also clarified rules related to acquisition finance. The definition now includes mergers and amalgamations, and such financing will be allowed only when acquiring control of a non-financial company.
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is set to become the first India international to appear in U.S.-based Major League Cricket (MLC), after San Francisco Unicorns announced his signing for the Twenty20 competition's 2026 season.
Ashwin, who represented India in 287 matches across all formats and took 765 wickets, retired from international cricket in 2024 and ended his Indian Premier League (IPL) career last year.
