📊 Index & Rankings
NITI Aayog released the second annual edition of the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026 in New Delhi, evaluating the fiscal performance of Indian states for FY 2023–24. The report was unveiled by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery and CEO Nidhi Chhibber. The index serves as a data-driven framework to assess fiscal prudence, guide reforms, and promote evidence-based policymaking.
- Quality of Expenditure
- Revenue Mobilisation
- Fiscal Prudence
- Debt Index
- Debt Sustainability
State Categories: Achiever, Front Runner, Performer, and Aspirational.
Achiever States (Major States Ranking):
| Rank | State | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Odisha (2nd consecutive year) | 73.1 |
| 2 | Goa | 54.7 |
| 3 | Jharkhand | 50.5 |
Front Runner States: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka.
Aspirational States (high fiscal stress): Punjab, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala.
NE & Himalayan States (ranked separately):
| Rank | State | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arunachal Pradesh | 59.5 |
| 2 | Uttarakhand | 52.5 |
Lowest ranked in NE/Himalayan category: Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur.
- States account for nearly one-third of India’s general government debt.
- FHI uses audited data from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
- Punjab, Kerala, and West Bengal face elevated interest burdens.
- FHI 2026 is the first edition to include NE/Himalayan states.
Policy Recommendations: Broaden tax base and GST capacity; rationalise subsidies; adopt medium-term fiscal planning; strengthen Public Financial Management Systems (PFMS); monitor off-budget borrowings.
🇮🇳 National News
India, along with 134 other nations (135 co-sponsors in total), co-sponsored UNSC Resolution 2817 of 2026 on 12 March 2026, condemning Iran’s attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan amid the ongoing 2026 West Asia conflict.
The 15-member Security Council adopted the resolution with 13 votes in favour and 2 abstentions (China and Russia). The resolution was led by Bahrain on behalf of the GCC.
- Condemned in ‘strongest terms’ Iran’s attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Jordan.
- Determined acts constitute a breach of international law and a serious threat to international peace and security.
- Demanded Iran ‘immediately and unconditionally’ cease all attacks and threats of Strait of Hormuz closure.
- Called for protection of civilians under international humanitarian law.
India’s Stance: MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated India co-sponsored considering the ‘welfare and well-being of large Indian diaspora in GCC countries’ and India’s energy security needs.
- GCC countries collectively intercepted 954+ Iranian missiles, 2,500 drones, and 17 aircraft.
- Conflict began 28 February 2026 with US-Israeli coordinated strikes against Iran.
- Iran’s new Supreme Leader: Mojtaba Khamenei (appointed 8 March 2026).
- Strait of Hormuz: ~20% of global oil supply passes through it.
- UNSC President (March 2026): USA | US Representative: Mike Waltz.
- GCC HQ: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Secretary General: Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
- Rival Russian resolution calling for cessation (without naming Iran) failed to secure 9 votes.
India marked the 96th anniversary of the historic Dandi March on 12 March 2026. PM Modi honoured the Dandi March participants, recalling its message of truth and sacrifice. The Dandi March, also known as the Salt March or Salt Satyagraha, was a pivotal act of nonviolent civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start | 12 March 1930, Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad — with 78 followers |
| End | 6 April 1930, at Dandi (Navsari), Gujarat — Gandhi broke the British Salt Law |
| Distance | 387 km (240 miles) over 24 days |
| Direct Cause | Salt Act 1882 — British monopoly on salt production + heavy tax |
- Launched the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- Drew global media attention.
- Inspired civil rights movements worldwide, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s movement in the USA.
- 13 March 1930 (Day 2): Gandhi’s group marched from Aslali to Navagam.
The Living Roots Festival (LRF), one of three tribal flagship festivals announced by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), commenced on 13 March 2026 at Bikaner House and India Gate, New Delhi.
- Duration: 13–15 March 2026
- Purpose: Showcase India’s tribal heritage, promote cultural expression, and create livelihood and market opportunities for tribal artisans and communities.
- Tribes Art Fest (TAF 2026): 2–13 March — Travancore Palace Art Gallery, New Delhi
- Living Roots Festival (LRF 2026): 13–15 March — Bikaner House & India Gate, New Delhi
- Bharat Tribes Fest (BTF 2026): 18–30 March — Sunder Nursery, New Delhi
India emerged as the largest supplier of cotton products (apparel and home textiles) to the United States in 2025, surpassing China for the first time. This landmark development for India’s textile and export sector was driven by tariff pressures on China, India’s cost competitiveness, and a diversified supply chain strategy by US buyers.
- Key Sectors: Apparel and home textiles (bedsheets, towels, curtains).
- Trend: Reflects India’s growing role in the China+1 diversification strategy adopted by US buyers.
- Additional Context: India’s textile recycling market projected at USD 3.5 billion by 2030 (per Ministry of Textiles’ textile waste report, 12 March 2026).
Underscores India’s growing competitiveness in labour-intensive manufacturing. Connect with PLI scheme for textiles and India’s export diversification strategy.
The Supreme Court of India ruled that parental income alone cannot be used as the sole criterion to determine whether a candidate from Other Backward Classes (OBC) falls in the ‘creamy layer’ and thus loses reservation benefits. The bench held that occupational status must also be considered alongside income levels.
- The ‘creamy layer’ refers to relatively affluent and advanced sections among OBCs who are excluded from reservation benefits.
- Introduced following the Mandal Commission Report; upheld in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992).
- Current Income Threshold: Rs 8 lakh per annum (as per last revision).
Significance: Safeguards OBC reservation benefits from arbitrary exclusion based purely on salary income; emphasises equity in affirmative action policy.
The 2nd edition of the New Delhi World Para Athletics Grand Prix concluded on 13 March 2026 at Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium, New Delhi. The three-day event brought together around 257 para-athletes from 8 nations, organised by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Participating Nations | India, Russia, Nepal, Bhutan, Hong Kong, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Egypt |
| India’s Contingent | ~219 athletes (largest contingent) |
| PCI President | Devendra Jhajharia |
| World Para Athletics President | Paul Fitzgerald |
| Context | Serves as LA 2028 Paralympic Games preparation |
- Shailesh Kumar — Men’s High Jump T42, 1.84m
- Praveen Kumar — Men’s High Jump T44, 1.96m
- Preeti Pal — Women’s 100m T35, 14.46 sec
- Ankur Dhama — Men’s 1500m T11, 4:38.15
Key Indian participants also included: Sumit Antil and Mariyappan Thangavelu. India’s 2025 edition medal tally: 134 medals (45 gold).
💼 Business & Economy
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted the second tranche of its Open Market Operations (OMO) on 13 March 2026, purchasing Government Securities worth Rs 50,000 crore.
| Tranche | Date | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 9 March 2026 | Rs 50,000 crore |
| 2nd | 13 March 2026 | Rs 50,000 crore |
| Total | — | Rs 1 lakh crore |
Open Market Operations (OMO) is a monetary policy tool where the RBI buys or sells government securities in the open market to regulate money supply and stabilize bond yields. Buying securities injects liquidity; selling absorbs liquidity.
Purpose of this OMO: Inject liquidity into the banking system ahead of financial year-end (31 March), when banks face cash outflows from GST payments and advance tax obligations.
🔬 Science & Technology
India’s Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), received global recognition at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona, Spain (2–5 March 2026) for its indigenous AI-based telecom fraud detection solution.
- Event: World’s largest telecom and connectivity event, hosted by GSMA
- Theme: ‘5G, AI and digital safety’
- Venue: Fira Gran Via, Barcelona
- Dates: 2–5 March 2026
- Established: 1984
- Mandate: Develop indigenous telecom technology (Atmanirbhar innovation)
- Solution: AI-powered system for real-time telecom fraud detection
Significance: Demonstrates India’s growing capability in sovereign AI and telecom technology on the global stage.
📅 Important Days
Pi Day is observed globally on 14 March (3/14) to recognise the mathematical constant π (pi), approximately 3.14159. The day celebrates mathematics and science education.
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| US Recognition | First recognised by the US House of Representatives in 2009 |
| UNESCO Designation | Designated as International Day of Mathematics in 2019 |
| π (Pi) | Ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter; an irrational number (non-terminating, non-repeating). Value: 3.14159265358979… |
| Birthday Connection | 14 March 1879 — birth anniversary of Albert Einstein |
World Glaucoma Day is observed every year on 12 March. It is organised by the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) to raise awareness about glaucoma — the ‘silent thief of sight’ — the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
- A group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, usually due to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).
- Often asymptomatic in early stages — hence ‘silent thief of sight’.
- Over 80 million people affected globally.
- Early diagnosis is key to preventing permanent vision loss.
🌐 International News
The passage of UNSC Resolution 2817 marks a major diplomatic development in the 2026 West Asia conflict, which began on 28 February 2026 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran. The following are key background facts for exam preparation:
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Conflict Start | 28 February 2026 — US-Israeli coordinated strikes against Iran |
| Iran’s New Supreme Leader | Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed 8 March 2026 |
| Previous Supreme Leader | Ali Khamenei (died in US-Israeli strike, 28 Feb) |
| Strait of Hormuz | Iran threatened closure; ~20% of global oil passes through it |
| India’s Response | Invoked Essential Commodities Act due to oil supply concerns |
| UNSC President (March 2026) | USA | Representative: Mike Waltz |
| GCC HQ | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Sec. General: Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi |
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Together, GCC nations intercepted 954+ Iranian missiles, 2,500 drones, and 17 aircraft.
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