The government's Poshan Tracker data reveals that as of February, 8.8 crore children aged 0-6 years were enrolled in Anganwadis. Out of them, 8.5 crore children were measured on growth parameters. The Ministry highlights a 37.7% stunting rate and 17.1% underweight rate among these children. The government's data shows improvement compared to National Family Health Surveys.

The post-mortem reports of three youths from Kathua who were found dead suggest they died from trauma injuries caused by an accidental fall. There were no signs of physical assault or gunshot wounds, ruling out a terrorist attack. They were last in contact with family members before losing their way to a wedding, with alcohol found at the scene.

Two woman journalists, Pogadadanda Revathi and Bandi Sandhya, were arrested in Hyderabad for circulating a derogatory video about Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy. The video, involving an elderly farmer, led to a complaint from the Congress’s social media cell. Their arrest sparked criticism from BRS's KT Rama Rao, questioning Congress's stance on free speech.

The India Meteorological Department issued health risk warnings due to a heatwave affecting Konkan, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, and southwest Rajasthan. Temperatures have soared above normal, with Pune reaching 40.2°C. Vulnerable populations are advised to avoid heat exposure and stay hydrated. Some regions might see a temperature decline from Thursday, as Maharashtra's Akola reached 41.3°C, the state's highest.

Socialite Shalini Passi has been summoned by the Meerut unit of Directorate General of GST Intelligence in a case of alleged GST evasion linked to Pasco Motors LLP. Allegations involve split invoicing to apply different GST rates. Her lawyer denies the accusations, which have been challenged in court. Further investigation and compliance are awaited.

Jharkhand cabinet has approved new recruitment rules for police, excise, home guard, and prison departments, introducing a uniform physical endurance test for constable posts. Male candidates must complete a 1.6 km run in six minutes, while female candidates must finish it in ten minutes, significantly reducing the previous strenuous requirements.

Uttarakhand High Court acquitted a polio-affected man convicted of rape and ordered the state government to compensate him with Rs 5 lakh due to investigation flaws. The man, an employee at a cybercafe, had been serving a 20-year prison sentence. The court cited his physical condition making the charges questionable and found improper police investigation.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah backed Tamil Nadu's campaign against the population-based delimitation, contrasting with his deputy's cautious stance. A Tamil Nadu delegation proposed a joint action committee, aiming to involve multiple states. The protest revolves around accusations of bias against southern states in the delimitation process. Siddaramaiah condemned actions that weaken democracy and federal principles.

An Indian Army soldier stationed at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir was injured by cross-border firing from Pakistan in the Rajouri district. The incident occurred at Kalsiyan of Nowshera sector. Another explosion took place in the Poonch district later, though no casualties were reported.

Maharashtra's transport minister, Pratap Sarnaik, admitted that employees' provident fund and gratuity were used to cover daily expenses and salary hikes for the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. The opposition demanded a complaint against the MSRTC's managing director. Sarnaik assured that future improper use of funds would be avoided and employees would not lose interest on diverted money.

BJP dominated the municipal polls in Haryana, winning nine out of ten mayoral seats. Woman candidates secured seven mayoral positions. CM Nayab Singh Saini hailed the outcome as public endorsement. Congress suffered setbacks, including in Rohtak. Some independent candidates also triumphed, notably in Manesar and Faridabad. BJP claimed 90% of councillor seats.

Interpol red corner notice led to the arrest of Lithuanian national Aleksej Besciokov at Varkala, Kerala, for financial fraud in the US. Besciokov, a co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, is accused of laundering billions through criminal organizations and faces an indictment unsealed by the US justice department.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won all the presidential seats and a mayoral seat in Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Yamunanagar districts of Haryana, except for the Barara Municipal Council. The elections were peaceful, with significant vote margins in favor of BJP candidates in Ambala City, Ambala Sadar, Thanesar, Ismailabad, and Yamunanagar-Jagadhri.

BJP won the Ambala Sadar Municipal Council elections with 25 out of 32 seats, including the council president's seat. Minister Anil Vij praised the result as a reward for development efforts in the region. BJP supporters celebrated enthusiastically. The victory shows BJP's growing influence in Haryana and the decline of opposition parties.

The Karnataka government withdrew the CID probe into police involvement in the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case. A Bengaluru court reserved its bail plea verdict for March 14, with allegations of procedural lapses during her arrest, while the DRI disputed such claims. Gold worth ₹12.56 crore was seized from her.

The BJP secured a sweeping victory in Haryana’s civic polls, winning key cities like Ambala, Faridabad, and Gurugram. CM Nayab Singh Saini called the results a public endorsement of the «triple-engine government» driving rapid development. He reaffirmed PM Modi’s vision of a «Viksit Bharat» by 2047 and pledged to fulfill the BJP’s poll promise, including financial aid for women under the 'Lado Lakshmi Yojana.'

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin criticized the National Education Policy, calling it a «saffron policy» designed to promote Hindi over regional languages, particularly Tamil. «National Education Policy is not education policy; it is saffron policy. The policy is not created to develop India but to develop Hindi. We are opposing the policy as it would destroy the Tamil Nadu education system completely,» Stalin said.

Despite India's recent reduction of tariffs on American bourbon, the Trump administration insists the 100% duty is still unhelpful. The White House highlights that this discrepancy impacts US spirits market expansion, emphasizing the need for fair treatment of American businesses globally.

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.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee criticized BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari for his communal remarks about Muslim MLAs in the assembly. Banerjee accused the BJP of trying to divert attention from economic issues by making such statements. She urged the assembly to pass a resolution condemning Adhikari's remarks and emphasized the responsibility of protecting Hindus lies with everyone.

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.