Postal Services
India Post ’24 Speed Post’ Launch
India Post launched ’24 Speed Post’ effective 17 March 2026, covering 6 metro cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Three tiers: ’24 Speed Post’ (D+1) for documents, ’48 Speed Post’ (D+2), and ’24 Speed Post Parcel’ (up to 5 kg, D+1). Features include OTP delivery, SMS tracking, money-back guarantee, and BNPL.
Food Regulation
FSSAI Reforms 2026
MoHFW approved sweeping FSSAI reforms effective 1 April 2026: registrations now carry perpetual (lifetime) validity; basic registration threshold raised from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore; State licence: Rs 1.5 croreβRs 50 crore; Central licence: above Rs 50 crore. Over 10 lakh street vendors under Street Vendors Act 2014 deemed auto-registered under FSSAI.
Environment & Biodiversity
Nagoya Protocol β India’s First National Report
MoEFCC and National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) submitted India’s First National Report (NR1) on the Nagoya Protocol to the CBD Secretariat (covering Nov 2017βDec 2025). India published 3,556 IRCCs β over 60% of global total. The Nagoya Protocol governs Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) of genetic resources under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Digital Economy
Puducherry IT SEZ Approval
Government approved a Rs 1,250 crore IT SEZ for Puducherry, spanning 21.30 acres near Thattanchavady. The SEZ will generate 30,000 jobs and Rs 10,000 crore in service exports over 10 years. Infrastructure: 70% Plug-and-Play offices and 30% social infrastructure (housing, medical centre, fire station). Features eco-friendly green buildings and smart waste management.
Literature & Culture
Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025
Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025 announced for 24 Indian languages. English award: Navtej Sarna (former Indian Ambassador) for novel ‘Crimson Spring’. Other winners: Hindi β Mamta Kalia (‘Jeete Jee Allahabad’); Tamil β Sa Tamilselvan; Bengali β Prasun Bandyopadhyay; Sanskrit β Sadhu Bhadreshdas. Prize: copper plaque (designed by Satyajit Ray), shawl, and Rs 1 lakh cash.
Defence
Exercise Sea Dragon 2026
Exercise Sea Dragon 2026 is a US-led multinational Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise held at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, hosted by the US Navy’s 7th Fleet. Participants: Indian Navy, Japan (JMSDF), Australia (RAAF), New Zealand (RNZAF), and USA (USN). Enhances India’s submarine detection capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region and strengthens Indo-Pacific multilateral security cooperation.
Environment
World Bank β UP Clean Air Loan
World Bank approved USD 300 million to Uttar Pradesh under its Regional Air Quality Management Program for the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills (IGP-HF), supported by ESMAP. Loan maturity: 10 years (2-year grace period). Key signatories: Juhi Mukherjee (DEA) and B Chandrakala (CEO, Clean Air Management Authority). UP hosts many of India’s most polluted cities.
Clean Energy
Reliance Green Ammonia Deal
Reliance Industries (RIL) signed a USD 3 billion Supply and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Samsung C&T Corporation, South Korea, for green ammonia supply over 15 years (from H2 FY 2028-29). One of the world’s largest green fuel off-take agreements. Green ammonia is a zero-carbon fuel for shipping, power, and fertilisers. Aligns with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) and RIL’s net-zero target by 2035.
Science & Ecology
New Lichen Moth Species β ZSI Discovery
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered two new lichen moth species from the Eastern Himalayas: Caulocera hollowayi (Golitar, Sikkim) and Asura buxa (Panijhora, West Bengal). Published in Zootaxa. Lichen moths are vital bio-indicators of air pollution as their caterpillars feed on lichens, which are highly sensitive to atmospheric quality β critical for monitoring Himalayan ecosystem health.
Gender & Development
World Water Day 2026
World Water Day is observed on 22 March every year since 1993, coordinated by UN-Water. 2026 theme: ‘Water and Gender’; slogan: ‘Where Water Flows, Equality Grows’. Links to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). UN Report 2026 title: ‘Water for all people: Equal rights and opportunities’. Globally, 2.1 billion people lack safely managed drinking water.