Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attendance at Mauritius' National Day emphasizes India's strong relationship with the nation. His participation in events like France's Bastille Day Parade, Nepal's Buddha Jayanti, and Sri Lanka's Vesak Day showcases India's diplomatic outreach and cultural diplomacy, underlining the shared heritage and strategic partnerships with these countries.

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's upcoming second national carrier, has seen significant interest from Indian aviation professionals, with India being one of the top sources of applications. The airline is preparing to launch operations soon and views India as a crucial market for growth. Partnerships with Indian carriers like IndiGo and Air India are being explored.

Rajya Sabha Congress MP Vivek K Tankha has urged the Central government to discuss with Pakistan the creation of a corridor to Sharda Peeth, a revered Hindu temple in PoK, similar to the Kartarpur corridor. He emphasized the need for the rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits and providing them religious access, highlighting security and essential facility concerns.

Dattatray Gade, accused of raping a 26-year-old woman in a parked MSRTC bus at Pune's Swargate terminus, has been remanded to police custody until March 26. The arrest followed an extensive manhunt with Gade attempting suicide multiple times before being captured. Authorities are investigating security lapses at the terminus, while protests and calls for swift justice continue.

BJP leader Amit Malviya shared a photo linking Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah with actress Ranya Rao, who is accused in a gold smuggling case. Malviya took a dig at Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who had earlier denied any political connection to the case, further escalating tensions.

In Ayodhya, Friday prayers at mosques will take place after 2 pm due to Holi celebrations this week. Chief cleric Mohammad Haneef urged the Muslim community to be patient and celebrate Holi with respect. Adequate security arrangements are in place, and peace committee meetings ensure peaceful festivities. Similar adjustments are seen in various parts of Uttar Pradesh.

During his visit to Mauritius, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored with the nation's highest award, dedicating it to the Indian ancestors of Mauritius and all generations. Modi emphasized his commitment to strengthening the India-Mauritius partnership and jointly inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation.

A political controversy has started in Maharashtra over the government's new 'Malhar Certification' initiative. Minister Nitesh Rane launched this certification for Hindu meat traders to ensure shops are 100% Hindu-owned and free from adulteration. Opposition leaders have criticised the move, calling it divisive and unconstitutional. Rane defended the initiative, focusing on ensuring quality and promoting Hindu-owned businesses.

India and Mauritius have signed eight key Memorandums of Understanding to enhance cooperation in banking, trade, security, and governance. Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Pravind Jugnauth emphasized the strong historical and cultural ties, with a new vision for shared growth and security across regions being also outlined.

DMK MP Kanimozhi accused Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of misrepresenting Tamil Nadu's stance on PM-SHRI schools, clarifying they never agreed to the three-language policy or NEP fully. This follows Pradhan's claim of TN staging the language controversy to gain political points. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also weighed in, criticizing the DMK's perceived hypocrisy.

The Allahabad High Court allows whitewashing and decorative lighting of Sambhal Jama Masjid’s exterior, with no structural changes. ASI is tasked with inspecting the site and reporting the necessity of these changes. The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 8.

RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna has lodged a complaint against 3 IPS officers, alleging they submitted false reports in the MUDA scam case. He previously sought a CBI probe, stating a lack of faith in the Lokayukta's inquiry. The scam involves a 3.2-acre land transferred to the CM's wife and may amount to Rs 3,000-4,000 crore.

The Delhi high court has issued a notice to the NIA regarding a plea by jailed J&K MP Engineer Rashid to attend the ongoing Parliament session. Rashid, arrested in 2019 on terror funding charges, seeks permission to fulfill his legislative duties. The court had earlier rejected his custody parole request, with a bail decision expected soon.

Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane supports Malhar certification as an alternative to halal mutton for Hindus, claiming it aligns with Hindu practices. His comments received criticism from Congress MLA Nana Patole, who called for the Chief Minister to take action. BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay backed Rane, citing health concerns about halal practices. The initiative aims to promote Hindu-owned mutton shops.

Passengers traveling from Dubai to India must adhere to customs rules regarding gold. Men can carry up to 20 grams duty-free, while women and children can carry up to 40 grams. Documentation is essential, and any excess should be declared at the airport. Staying in Dubai for over six months allows for reduced duty rates.

BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur criticized Darbhanga mayor Anjum Ara for her Holi advisory, calling it a display of 'terrorist mentality'. Ara requested a two-hour break in Holi festivities to coincide with Friday prayers during Ramzan. Thakur insists Holi celebrations will proceed uninterrupted, warning of strict actions against any disruptions.

US Vice President JD Vance, along with his wife Usha Vance, will visit India later this month. This marks Vance's second international trip after criticizing European leaders at the Munich Security Conference. Usha Vance, of Indian origin with a strong legal background, brings cultural significance to the visit.

The Indian embassy in the United States has issued a warning about fraud calls from scammers pretending to be from the embassy. These callers claim there are errors in passports or visa forms, demanding money for corrections and threatening deportation or imprisonment. The embassy advises the public to ignore these calls and not to share personal information or transfer money.

The Supreme Court emphasized that north-eastern states must ensure diverse and inclusive representation in public services. It upheld the 2016 BJP government's decision to cancel the interview-based recruitment process initiated by the previous Congress government in Assam due to irregularities and lack of representation from 16 districts.

In recent years, the Jaffar Express has faced multiple attacks by Baloch rebels and TTP, causing numerous casualties. These attacks highlight the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan and the rising use of suicide bombings by BLA, particularly targeting Chinese nationals and Pakistani forces. The increased frequency and intensity of these attacks pose significant challenges for the Pakistani government.

Home Minister Amit Shah has announced an investment of Rs 2.5 lakh crore in the NorthEast, aiming to prevent youth migration for employment within the next 10 years. The Modi government has significantly increased the region's budget and improved infrastructure, resulting in a 70% reduction in violent incidents and the surrender of 10,500 insurgents.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has condemned the National Education Policy (NEP), labeling it a 'destructive plan of Nagpur.' At a welfare meeting in Chengalpattu, Stalin criticized the policy for pushing students out of education, encouraging privatization, and imposing communalism. He reiterated DMK's refusal to accept NEP, despite any financial incentives.

India ranked as the fifth most polluted country worldwide in 2024, with Byrnihat in Meghalaya being the most polluted metropolitan area globally. High pollution levels are linked to rapid industrialisation and unregulated emissions. Despite some improvement, Delhi remains the most polluted capital, and India's cities continue to exceed WHO PM2.5 guidelines.

An Indian startup's space surveillance satellite, SCOT, was commissioned last Saturday after capturing images over South America. Bengaluru-based Digantara launched SCOT on January 14 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rocket. The satellite tracks objects as small as 5cm in Earth's orbit and captured a stunning image featuring the city of Buenos Aires.

Lalit Modi challenges Vanuatu government's decision to revoke his passport in court. Modi, currently in Vanuatu, has appealed the cancellation of his citizenship. India's high commission in London had refused his request to surrender his Indian passport. Vanuatu's Citizenship Commission will await the court's outcome before proceeding with citizenship revocation.

A financially troubled couple in Hyderabad poisoned their son, throttled their daughter, and then hanged themselves. The father had been jobless after leaving a teaching position. A suicide note detailed their struggles. Their children were minors, studying in classes V and IX. The family previously moved to Hyderabad from Wanaparthy seeking better prospects.

Jharkhand police killed self-styled don Aman Sahu in a shootout while he was being transported to Ranchi. The incident occurred after Sahu's accomplices hurled bombs at the police van. Sahu, connected to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, was suspected in the murder of an NTPC official. A magisterial inquiry and an NHRC report will follow.

Karnataka's Congress government has launched a probe into DGP Ramachandra Rao's potential involvement in a gold-smuggling racket linked to his daughter, actress Ranya Rao. An inquiry led by ACS Gaurav Gupta will investigate allegations that Rao directed a constable to escort Ranya with 14.2kg of gold from Bengaluru's airport. Other aspects being probed include possible links to a bitcoin scam.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accuses DMK of creating fear among Tamil Nadu's youth regarding the three-language policy. Despite controversy, Tamil Nadu shows willingness to sign an MoU for PM-SHRI schools while statistics reveal a decline in Tamil-medium school enrollments and a rise in preference for English-medium education.