Digital Governance
SWAYATT on GeM — 7th Anniversary
SWAYATT (Startups, Women and Youth Advantage through e-Transactions) was launched on 19 February 2019 under the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). It promotes inclusive public procurement by onboarding women entrepreneurs, startups, and youth. Women entrepreneur order value surged from Rs 1,265 crore (FY2019) to Rs 83,323 crore (FY2026).
Environment
India’s 7th National Report to CBD
Submitted by MoEFCC with inputs from 33 ministries, India’s NR7 evaluates progress on 23 national biodiversity targets. These align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), adopted at COP15 in 2022, which sets 23 action-oriented targets to be achieved by 2030.
Science & Technology
OTEC Plant — Kavaratti, Lakshadweep
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) harnesses the temperature differential between warm surface and cold deep seawater to generate electricity. India’s first integrated OTEC plant is at Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, developed by NIOT under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Climate & Energy
Green Hydrogen Mission — Emission Standards 2026
MNRE notified lifecycle GHG emission standards on 27 Feb 2026: Green Methanol — max 0.44 kg CO2 eq/kg; Green Ammonia — max 0.38 kg CO2 eq/kg. Both are measured as 12-month rolling averages under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Infrastructure
Noida International Airport, Jewar
Built by YIAPL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG (Switzerland). The PPP project holds a 40-year concession from 2021. Phase 1 capacity: 1.2 crore passengers/year; ultimate capacity: 7 crore passengers/year.
Defence
Rs 5,083 Crore Defence Deals — 3 March 2026
Two simultaneous deals: (1) VL-Shtil surface-to-air missiles (Rs 2,182 crore) with JSC Rosoboronexport, Russia, and (2) ALH Mk-III Maritime Role helicopters (Rs 2,901 crore) from HAL for the Indian Coast Guard under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
Sports
ICC Men’s T20 WC 2026 — India’s Historic Treble
India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, posting 255/5 — the highest T20 WC Final total. India became the first defending champion, first host nation to win at home, and first team to win three T20 World Cup titles.
Sports
T20 WC 2026 — Key Award Winners
Player of the Tournament: Sanju Samson (89* off 46 balls in Final). Player of the Match: Jasprit Bumrah (4/15). Joint-highest wicket-takers: Bumrah & Varun Chakravarthy (14 each). India’s women’s team received a historic Laureus World Team of the Year nomination.
International
Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 — Madrid
Ceremony at Cibeles Palace, Madrid, Spain. India’s women’s cricket team became the first women’s cricket team ever nominated for the Laureus World Team of the Year — often called the “Oscars of Sport.”
Gender & Development
International Women’s Day 2026 — Theme: ‘Rights’
IWD 2026 theme: ‘Rights’ — emphasising the protection of fundamental women’s rights globally. The UN declared March 8 as IWD in 1977, rooted in women’s labour movements in New York (1908). Prior themes: Accelerate Action (2025), Inspire Inclusion (2024).