TODAYS TOP NEWS
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1. The Parliament has passed The Appropriation Bill 2026 with the Rajya Sabha returning it to the Lower House after discussion. Lok Sabha has already given its approval to the Appropriation Bill. It seeks to authorise payment and appropriation of certain further sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2025-26.
2. The government is mulling advancing the timeline for the rollout of the Women’s Reservation Act, with the Union Cabinet likely to take up the matter on Wednesday.
*In the present form of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023, the Act provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, but its implementation is linked to the completion of the next Census and subsequent delimitation, making 2031 the likely timeline. However, sources indicate that there is a proposal to advance the implementation by two years to 2029.
3. Gujarat state has launched a statewide Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination drive under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) from March 1 to April 15. The campaign aims to protect livestock, prevent disease outbreaks and safeguard farmers’ livelihoods.
4. The Government of India has relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) rules to allow overseas companies with up to 10 per cent Chinese shareholding to invest in India through the automatic route. The change was notified by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and aims to ease investment flows while retaining safeguards against strategic risks.
5. The Himachal Pradesh state government has signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) on 16 March 2026 to strengthen the dairy sector in the state. This agreement aims to the enhance milk processing capacity and improve dairy infrastructure.
6. In West Bengal,
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has released its candidate list for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, announcing nominees for 291 of the 294 constituencies.
TMC has set the stage for a high-stakes electoral contest by announcing candidates for 291 of the 294 West Bengal Assembly seats. At the forefront is Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who will once again contest from her prestigious Bhabanipur constituency, reinforcing her strong political base and continuity in leadership.
7. The Congress on Tuesday released its first list of 55 candidates for the crucial Kerala Assembly polls 2026, with its popular leaders V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala contesting from Peravur and Haripad, respectively.
8. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is likely to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the phase-I of the Musi Rejuvenation Project by laying stone for the Gandhi Sarovar Project on March 28.
9. Kusunpur village in Odisha is set to become the state’s first smart village under a CSIR initiative. The project will introduce modern technologies in agriculture, infrastructure, renewable energy and skill development to promote sustainable rural development.
10. 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 to commence in Delhi tomorrow, showcasing tribal culture and entrepreneurship. Organised by Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India, the fest will be inaugurated by Union Tribal Affairs Minister.
11. The Government has enhanced the Budget allocation of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare from 21 thousand 933 crore during 2013-14 to 1 lakh 27 thousand 290 crore during 2025-26. This was stated by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Bhagirath Choudhary in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
12. The government has modified Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to ensure transparency, accountability and timely payment of claims to farmers.
13. Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal today virtually interacted with the crew of Indian-flagged LPG Carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, after their arrival at the Indian coast.
14. The Andhra Pradesh government will launch the Divyang Shakti Scheme today, offering free bus travel to persons with disabilities across the State as part of its Ugadi initiatives. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the scheme in Amaravati.
15. Haryana Government is set to introduce a Green Hydrogen Policy soon to promote clean energy in the state. Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi informed.
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LEGAL REPORT
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1. A special NIA court in New Delhi remanded seven foreigners—six Ukrainians and one American—to 11 days’ custody with the National Investigation Agency (NIA). They face allegations of providing weapons and drone training in Myanmar, as well as conspiring to carry out terrorist activities against India.
2. Sonam Wangchuk views his release from detention under the National Security Act (NSA) as a positive step towards fostering trust and dialogue between the Centre and the people of Ladakh.
Wangchuk emphasises that protests in Ladakh are aimed at initiating a constructive dialogue process with the government regarding statehood and the Sixth Schedule.
He plans to consult with leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) to determine the next steps in their agitation for Ladakh’s demands.
3. The scheduled retirement of Col Shrikant Purohit has been kept in abeyance by the Principal Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT). Col Purohit, who was acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, was due to retire on March 31.
4. The Supreme Court has said that an adoptive mother should be entitled to maternity leave of 12 weeks, irrespective of the age of the adopted child.
5. The Election Commission, modifying its earlier order, has appointed Merlin Joseph, an SP rank officer, as the Police Commissioner at Kozhikode in Keralam. Shri Narayanan, who was earlier transferred as the Police Commissioner at Kozhikode, will continue as DIG at Thrissur.
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DEFENCE News
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1. The Indian Army has added another Pinaka regiment and is preparing to induct one more by the end of the year as it expands rocket artillery capability along the western and northern frontiers. Two more regiments from a batch of six ordered in 2020 are expected to be operationalised next year, which will take the total number of Pinaka regiments in service to ten.
2. Indian Navy is participating in Exercise Sea Dragon 2026, a United States-led multinational anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drill being conducted at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The exercise, held annually in the Indo-Pacific, gains added significance amid evolving geopolitical tensions, particularly due to the ongoing instability in West Asia.
3. Indonesia is on the verge of officially securing a landmark procurement of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from India. Recent statements from the Indonesian Ministry of Defence indicate that negotiations are effectively complete, paving the way for a formal contract signing expected early in the upcoming 2026–2027 fiscal year.
FINANCE
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INDIAN RUPEE VALUE
💷 GBP ₹123(Approx)
€ Euro : ₹107(Approx)
USD ₹ 92(Approx)
🇨🇦 Canada :CAD ₹67
🇦🇺 Australia : ₹ 65
🇦🇪 UAE Dirham : ₹ 25
🇨🇳 China Yuan ¥ : ₹ 13
🇲🇻 Maldives Rufiya : ₹ 6.00
🇧🇹 Bhutan ngultrum : ₹ 1.00
🇳🇵 Nepal Rupee : ₹ 0.63
🇧🇩 B’desh Taka* : ₹ 0.70
🇵🇰 Pak Rupee : ₹ 0.32
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Rupee : ₹ 0.29
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BSE SENSEX
76,070.84 +567.99 (0.75%)🌲
NIFTY
23,581.15 +172.35 (0.74%)🌲
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Rates in Financial Capital Mumbai
GOLD : ₹ 15,800/ 01gm (24 krt)
SILVER : ₹ 280,000/KG
1. As per the latest Fiscal Health Index 2026 released by NITI Aayog. the state of Odisha emerging as the top performing state once again. This report evaluates the fiscal strength of states for FY 2023-24. Which is focusing on key indicators such as revenue, expenditure quality and debt sustainability.
2. HD (Hyundai Development) Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the holding company for South Korea’s HD Hyundai shipbuilding and offshore division, is finalising plans for a massive $4 billion greenfield shipyard at Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) in Tamil Nadu.This facility aims to produce between 3.5 and 4 million gross tonnage (GT) annually.
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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
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Salman Khan’s upcoming war drama has officially been renamed. The film, previously known as Battle of Galwan, will now be released as Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, and the timing of the change is very deliberate.
With global tensions rising, particularly the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the production team felt the original title no longer reflected where they wanted the film to land emotionally. The new title, Maatrubhumi, combines the Hindi words for mother (matri) and land (bhumi) to mean motherland.
18 Mar(Wednesday)
Vedic Ritu/ Shishir
Drik Ritu : Vasant (Spring)
पक्ष :: Krishnapaksh
(In Purnimanta calendar)
Vikram Samvat – 2082
Month : Chitra 14,
(In Amanta calendar)
Shaka Samvat – 1947
Month : Phlguna 29
Tithi : Chaturdashi (up to 8:25 am) Amavasya
Nakshatra:Purva Bhadrapada/ Uttara Bhadrapada
Rahu : 12:35 PM – 02:04 PM
Yamaganda : 08:06 AM – 09:35 AM
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Ms. Pooja, |
