A political storm erupted after West Bengal's last-minute venue change for the International Santhal Conclave, drawing public displeasure from President Murmu. She questioned the reasoning and highlighted the community's struggle for recognition, sparking a fierce exchange between the TMC and BJP over alleged politicization of tribal issues and disrespect to the President's office.

The PMO is pushing for independent third-party audits in road and rail projects to boost quality and speed up execution. Ministries are tasked with studying past successful construction practices, like those from the Golden Quadrilateral era, and international models from Indonesia and Malaysia.

The government is set to recruit 1,000 young professionals to boost India's export potential. These individuals will work with businesses nationwide, encouraging greater use of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) benefits and aiding in product and market diversification. This initiative aims to invigorate manufacturing by promoting goods moving overseas through preferential duties, especially for FTAs with lower utilization rates.

Nepal's elections saw a landslide victory for Balendra Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Nepal on its peaceful polls, highlighting the vibrant exercise of democratic rights. Shah, a rapper-turned-politician, projects a 'Nepal First' hyper-nationalism, emphasizing neutrality in foreign policy.

Uttar Pradesh's voter count is approaching 13 crore. A voter roll revision exercise is nearing completion. Notices were issued and hearings held for millions of voters. Many names were removed due to migration or other reasons. Thousands of applications for corrections and updates were also processed. The final electoral roll will be published soon.

Two women, Lt Col Randhawa (retd) and Major Jhingan (retd), shattered military barriers. Randhawa became India's first war widow officer after her husband's sacrifice, while Jhingan was Lady Cadet 001, paving the way for women in the armed forces. Their journeys inspire countless others to serve the nation.

India's Chips to Startups programme is training engineers in semiconductor design. Students from 315 institutions are gaining hands-on experience. The government plans to expand this initiative to 500 institutions. This aims to build a strong talent pipeline for the growing global semiconductor industry. The programme is part of India's larger semiconductor mission.

Congress criticizes the Modi government, calling Prime Minister Modi's actions «cowardly» after the US Treasury Secretary praised India for agreeing to halt Russian oil imports. The party also attacked the government over rising LPG prices, highlighting a contradiction with the Petroleum Minister's earlier statement on affordable fuel.

Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the 2002 murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, overturning a life sentence. Ram Rahim remains jailed for rape convictions, and his family plans to challenge the acquittal in the Supreme Court.

India's decision to withdraw its updated seismic zonation map and earthquake design code has alarmed experts, who fear it weakens national preparedness for major seismic events. The revised framework, which placed the entire Himalayan arc in the highest risk zone, was seen as a crucial step in enhancing disaster resilience and ensuring safer construction practices against devastating earthquakes.

Legal experts question the effectiveness of state-level bans on social media for children, citing central government jurisdiction over IT and telecommunications. While appreciating the intent to protect young minds, they advocate for education on constructive usage and pan-India legislation rather than fragmented state laws.

In Bandipora, Kashmir, Irfan Ahmad Lone, a visually impaired youth, has achieved a remarkable feat by clearing the UPSC civil services exams with a rank of 957. Despite facing severe vision loss in childhood due to accidents, Irfan pursued his education with unwavering determination, graduating from JNU and working before his civil services success.

A Jammu NIA court denied bail to Tanvir Ahmed Wani, accused in a terror funding case. Wani allegedly conspired with Pakistani traders, importing goods beyond limits via under-invoicing to generate profits for terror outfits like Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Incriminating materials were found at his residence.

Authorities at Bhaderwah Jail in Doda district intercepted two mobile phones hidden within a parcel intended for an inmate held under the Public Safety Act. The parcel, addressed to Irshad Ahmad Wani, a resident of Bandipora, was reportedly booked by Mohammed Younis Wani from Pulwama.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday recalled the Uttarakhand statehood movement, saying that the youth of Uttarakhand had to take to the streets to protect their identity, culture, and rights. During this struggle, they also had to face incidents of violence such as the Rampur Tiraha firing incident.

The exhibition aims to spread awareness and highlight the effective implementation of the new criminal laws introduced by the Government of India, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).

The seventh Amazon Think Big Science Carnival in Navi Mumbai showcased student innovations addressing real-world challenges. Over 12,000 students participated, with 20 teams presenting working prototypes on themes like «STEM for Sustainability» and «Tech for Good.» The event fostered analytical thinking and teamwork through interactive exhibits and competitions.

Rahul said the entry of large and mechanised American agricultural corporations into the Indian market would put small farmers under severe pressure and could lead to «devastation» in the agricultural sector. He further alleged that the country’s energy sector had been compromised and claimed that US President Donald Trump had obtained Indian data through the agreement.

The President said she was very sad about the last minute change in the venue and also pointed out how chief minister Mamata Banerjee chose not to meet her, which is against the set norm. Murmu on Saturday said the contributions of the Santals to the country's freedom struggle have not received due recognition, and asserted that the names of several legends belonging to the community were «not deliberately included in history».

Uttarakhand has secured the first position in the national implementation of the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) 2.0, according to data up to January 2026.

Opposition parties have sharply criticised the BJP-led government following a Rs 60 increase in domestic LPG cylinder prices and Rs 115 for commercial cylinders. Leaders from Congress and TMC accused Prime Minister Modi of burdening households with rising costs, while the government assured sufficient fuel supplies amidst West Asia tensions.

Trinamool Congress MPs will now back the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, a shift from their earlier stance, following party chief Mamata Banerjee's directive. This move intensifies the political battle as the Lok Sabha prepares to vote on March 9. Opposition parties accuse Birla of partisan conduct, jeopardizing the House's proper functioning and the rights of members.

The upcoming patent expiry for Ozempic in India is set to dramatically lower the cost of semaglutide, making this once-premium diabetes and weight-loss drug accessible to more patients. This shift could reshape the market, prompting earlier prescriptions and potentially altering societal views on weight management and body acceptance.

Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, is set to join the JDU on March 8, marking his political debut. Nitish Kumar has affirmed his decision to move to the Rajya Sabha is final and irreversible, assuring party members he will remain involved in Bihar's development. Nishant's entry sparks speculation about his future role within the party or government.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that left-wing extremism will be completely wiped out by March 31, ending the ambition of a «red corridor» from Tirupati to Pashupati. Speaking at CISF's raising day, he lauded security forces for curbing Naxal activities and launched housing projects for the paramilitary force.

Congress has accused Prime Minister Modi of being «blackmailed» by the US, citing American «permission» for Indian refiners to buy Russian oil. Party leaders claim India's strategic autonomy and sovereignty are threatened, with Rahul Gandhi asserting foreign policy should stem from India's ethos, not a «compromised individual's» actions.

The BJP highlighted a substantial decrease in India's crude oil imports from Iran during the UPA era, which secured the nation an exemption from US sanctions. This revelation came as a response to Congress's criticism of the current government's oil dealings with Russia. Communications from former US Secretaries of State John Kerry and Hillary Clinton confirmed these significant reductions.

Days before the sinking of IRIS Dena, India granted permission for the Iranian ship IRIS Lavan to dock at Kochi port due to technical issues. This decision, made on March 1, allowed IRIS Lavan and its 183 crew members to safely shelter, avoiding the fate of IRIS Dena which was sunk by a US submarine.