March 02, 2026
190 articles published on this date
India's Manufacturing PMI Hits Four-Month High of 56.9 in February 2026
India's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 56.9 in February 2026, up from 55.4 in January — the highest reading in four months (since...
Deepfake Impersonation Attack: Real-Time AI Fraud Targets Indian Executives
A high-profile deepfake attack in India demonstrated how AI-generated video and voice impersonation during live video calls nearly defrauded multiple...
Cuddalore's Silver Beach Completes Development Under Blue Flag Certification Programme
The first phase of improvement works and eco-restoration infrastructure at Silver Beach, Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu) has been completed at a cost of...
How Landscape Memory and Hysteresis Shape Urban Flooding in Indian Cities
New research highlights how two interconnected concepts — landscape memory and hydrological hysteresis — fundamentally shape the way Indian cities flood...
Travancore Devaswom Board Moves to Defend Women's Entry Ban at Sabarimala Before 9-Judge Bench
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which administers the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Kerala, passed a formal resolution on March 2, 2026...
MHA Constitutes Additional Panels to Fast-Track CAA Applications in West Bengal
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has constituted two additional State-Level Empowered Committees in West Bengal to accelerate the processing of...
India's New GDP Series: Base Year Shifted to 2022-23, Fiscal Targets to Be Realigned
On February 27, 2026, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released a new series of GDP estimates shifting India's base year from...
GST Rationalisation 2025: Rate Simplification, Price Impact, and Fiscal Trade-offs
India's GST Council undertook a major rationalisation of the GST rate structure in September 2025, collapsing the earlier four-slab system (5%, 12%, 18%...
Iran-US-Israel War: Shock Waves Through India's Financial Markets and Trade Corridors
The Iran-US-Israel conflict — triggered by coordinated airstrikes on Tehran including the reported killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei — sent immediate...
Israel, the US, and the Drive for a Unipolar West Asia: Geopolitical Stakes
Joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, triggered a full-scale conflict that rapidly escalated into a multi-front war spanning Iran...
Natanz Nuclear Site Hit Again: What the IAEA Confirmed and What It Means
Iran's nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz was struck during the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, with Iran's nuclear agency chief...
PF Board Recommends Retaining EPF Interest Rate at 8.25% for 2025-26
EPFO's Central Board of Trustees (CBT) recommended retaining the interest rate on Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) deposits at 8.25% per annum for 2025-26 —...
India Eyes France's Future Combat Air System (FCAS) as Defence Exports Hit Record High
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, at the India-France Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru, formally pitched for India to join the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) —...
Rethinking Tax Searches for the Digital Age: Privacy, Proportionality, and the New Income Tax Act
India's new Income Tax Act (Income-Tax No.2 Bill, 2025), passed by Parliament on August 12, 2025, came into effect from April 1, 2026, replacing the...
Nepal's March 2026 Elections: Youth Uprising Reshapes Political Landscape
Nepal held a general election on March 5, 2026, with over 18.9 million registered voters choosing members of the 275-seat House of Representatives. The...
Israel Strikes Iran's State Broadcaster IRIB, Claims It Was Used for Military Operations
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck and declared it had 'struck and dismantled' the headquarters of Iran's state broadcaster IRIB (Islamic Republic of...
After Khamenei: Iran's Succession Crisis and the Future of the Islamic Republic
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who served as Iran's Supreme Leader for 37 years since 1989, was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes on 28 February 2026 — the first...
GoPro Used in Pahalgam Terror Recce Traced to China: NIA Seeks Beijing's Judicial Help
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has traced a GoPro Hero 12 Black camera (serial number C3501325471706) used by terrorists to conduct reconnaissance...
Modi Speaks to Gulf Leaders, Urges Calm Amid Iran War as First Indian Casualty Reported
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jordan's King Abdullah II, and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa...
China's Strategic Restraint: Why Beijing Is Withholding Direct Arms from Iran
Despite Iran burning through missile stocks following the US-Israel military campaign that killed Supreme Leader Khamenei, China has shown few signs of...
India's Energy Security Pivot: Russian Crude as a Hormuz Disruption Buffer
With Iranian IRGC threats effectively halting tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Indian state refiners and government officials convened emergency...
Lebanon Bans Hezbollah Military Activities; Hezbollah Defies Government Order
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced a formal cabinet decision banning all of Hezbollah's military and security activities outside the framework of...
Iran's Strait of Hormuz Blockade Threat: The World's Most Critical Oil Chokepoint
Following coordinated US-Israel airstrikes on Iran — including the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard...
Rubio Reveals Israel's Strike Plan Triggered US Military Attack on Iran
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly stated that the United States launched military strikes on Iran because it learned that Israel was planning its...
India and US Continue Work on Enhanced Market Access Agreement: USTR
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) confirmed that India and the US are actively progressing toward a comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement...
Centre Forms Four CAA Citizenship Panels in West Bengal to Fast-Track Processing
The MHA issued a gazette notification on March 2, 2026, constituting two more State-Level Empowered Committees in West Bengal, bringing the total to four...
Pakistan-Afghanistan Open War: Rupture Across the Durand Line
On February 26, 2026, Afghanistan launched a retaliatory military operation against Pakistan following cross-border strikes, sparking the most intense...
India Readies Gulf Evacuation as Iran Conflict Escalates; IndiGo Operates Emergency Flights
The Indian government announced readiness to evacuate Indian citizens from Gulf nations as tensions escalated following US-Israel strikes on Iran in late...
Government Reviews West Asia Conflict Impact with Exporters, Assures Trade Support
The Commerce Ministry held inter-ministerial deliberations with exporters and logistics firms on March 2, 2026, to assess the impact of escalating West Asia...
MHA Expands CAA Processing Infrastructure in West Bengal with Two New Empowered Committees
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituted two additional State-Level Empowered Committees in West Bengal on March 2, 2026, to process applications for...
J&K Police Urges Restraint as Valley Protests Erupt Over Khamenei Killing
Following the US-Israel joint air strikes on Iran (February 28, 2026) and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, mass protests broke out...
Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal Completes 5-Day Odisha Field Visit
The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT), led by Chairperson Justice Bela M. Trivedi, completed a 5-day field visit to Odisha in late February–early...
India's Political Divide Over the Iran-US War: Government vs. Opposition
The US-Israel joint air strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, including the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, created a sharp domestic...
India-Canada Strategic Partnership: Uranium, Critical Minerals, and CEPA Push
India and Canada signed a $2.6 billion uranium supply deal through Canadian mining giant Cameco, covering approximately 22 million pounds of uranium...
Nearly 10 Million Indians in the Gulf: How the West Asia Conflict Threatens India's Economy
More than 10 million Indians live and work in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — the UAE (3+ million), Saudi Arabia (2.7+ million), Kuwait (1+...
EPFO Retains 8.25% Interest Rate on Provident Fund for FY2025-26
The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) decided to retain the interest rate on Employees' Provident Fund...
Hormuz Disruption Drives India to Explore US Crude as Alternative Supply Source
Following joint US-Israel military strikes on Iran in late February 2026, tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped by approximately 70%, with...
Indian Exporters Meet Commerce Minister to Assess Trade Impact of West Asia Conflict
Indian exporters met with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on March 2, 2026, to discuss the implications of the escalating West Asia conflict on trade and...
NCERT Class 8 Textbook Withdrawn After Supreme Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance Over 'Corruption in Judiciary' Chapter
A revised Class 8 Social Science textbook published by NCERT titled 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond' (Vol. II) contained a sub-section in Chapter IV...
MHA Advisory to States: Identify Pro-Iran Radical Preachers Amid West Asia Escalation
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a circular to all state governments on February 28, 2026, warning of possible domestic violence and communal...
India-Canada Uranium Deal and FTA Launch: Bilateral Reset in Action
India and Canada signed a landmark uranium supply deal worth CAD 2.6 billion ($1.9 billion USD) during Canadian PM Mark Carney's visit to New Delhi on March...
India-Canada Sign Uranium and Critical Minerals Pacts After Modi-Carney Talks
India and Canada signed two landmark resource security pacts — a uranium supply agreement and a Critical Minerals MoU — following the summit between PM Modi...
Sabarimala: Kerala's Travancore Devasom Board Passes Resolution Opposing Young Women's Entry
The Travancore Devasom Board (TDB) — Kerala's state-run body that administers the Sabarimala temple — passed a resolution formally opposing the entry of...
NGT Holds Ratle Hydro Contractor MEIL Liable for Full Chenab River Restoration Costs
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has held Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), the contractor for the 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Power...
Operation Sindhu: India Prepares to Evacuate Citizens Stranded in Gulf Amid Iran Conflict
The central government announced its preparedness to evacuate Indian nationals stranded in Gulf countries amid the escalating Iran-Israel-US conflict, with...
The Strait of Hormuz: Why the World's Most Critical Oil Chokepoint Cannot Stay Closed
The 2026 Iran-US-Israel war that began February 28 has placed the Strait of Hormuz — the world's most critical maritime oil chokepoint — at the centre of...
Indian Markets Tank Over 1% as Middle East Conflict Drives Crude Surge and Rupee Slide
Indian stock markets fell sharply in early March 2026 as the Iran-US-Israel war (begun February 28) and the looming Strait of Hormuz closure drove a surge...
Delhi High Court: Homemaker's Domestic Labour Has Real Economic Value, Cannot Be Dismissed as Idleness
In the case of Rakesh Ray v. Priti Ray (2026DHC1380), the Delhi High Court delivered a significant ruling reaffirming that a homemaker's domestic...
Farm Sector Larger Than Estimated, Informal Economy Props Up Manufacturing GDP
The new GDP series released by the National Statistics Office (NSO/MoSPI) on February 27, 2026 — using the revised base year of 2022-23 — revealed that...
India's Evacuation Operations: A History of Rescuing Citizens from Conflict Zones
As West Asia experienced renewed conflict in early 2026 — with Israeli-US airstrikes on Iran beginning February 28, 2026 — questions arose about India's...
Indian Exporters Seek Government Support as 45,000 Containers Stranded Amid West Asia Crisis
The Iran-US-Israel war beginning February 28, 2026 and the consequent near-halt of Strait of Hormuz traffic have left approximately 40,000–45,000 Indian...
Indian Navy Warships in Gulf on Standby for Humanitarian and Evacuation Operations
The Indian Navy has positioned warships in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf on standby for humanitarian and evacuation operations as the West Asia conflict...
AEC Formulating Safety Standards for Private Sector Entry into Nuclear Energy
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) is formulating comprehensive safety standards and a regulatory framework before permitting private sector entities to...
Shipping Lines Impose Emergency Surcharges Up to $4,000 per Container on Arabian Peninsula Routes
Major international shipping companies have imposed Emergency Conflict Surcharges (ECS) of up to $4,000 per container on cargo routes to and from the...
India's Industrial Output Grows 4.8% in January 2026, Slowing from December High
India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 4.8% year-on-year in January 2026, slowing from the two-year high of 8% (revised) recorded in December...
India's Manufacturing PMI Hits 4-Month High of 56.9 in February 2026
India's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global (HSBC India Manufacturing PMI), rose to 56.9 in February 2026 — up from 55.4...
Iran-Israel War Disrupts India's Auto Parts Exports to EU as Supply Chains Reroute Around Africa
The Iran-US-Israel war that began February 28, 2026 and the subsequent near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered significant delays in India's auto...
Ras Tanura Refinery Shutdown After Iranian Drone Strike Rattles Global Oil Markets
Saudi Aramco temporarily shut down the Ras Tanura refinery on March 2, 2026, after Iranian drones targeted the facility on Saudi Arabia's eastern Gulf...
Oil and Gas Prices Jump as West Asia Conflict Escalates
Global crude oil and natural gas prices surged sharply as the West Asia conflict, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, escalated...
India-Canada Uranium Supply Deal and CEPA Negotiations Revive Bilateral Ties
India and Canada signed a $2.6 billion uranium supply agreement covering 22 million pounds of uranium to be delivered between 2027 and 2035, executed...
Canada-India CEPA: PM Carney's "Transformational" Trade Deal and the Path to USD 50 Billion
On 2 March 2026, India and Canada formally launched Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, as...
Many Maharatna and Navratna PSUs Fall Short on Board Governance: Survey Report
A corporate governance survey by Excellence Enablers — led by former SEBI chairperson M. Damodaran — covering all 40 Maharatna and Navratna PSUs found...
Tanker Attacks in Persian Gulf Highlight Acute Risks for India's 23,000 Seafarers in the Region
Three ships were attacked in or near the Strait of Hormuz in the first days of the Iran-US-Israel war that began on February 28, 2026, with the number of...
World's Smallest QR Code Sets Guinness Record, Points to Ceramic-Based Long-Term Data Storage
Researchers at TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology), in collaboration with German data storage company Cerabyte, have created the world's smallest QR...
Oil and Gas Prices Spike Sharply as West Asia Conflict Disrupts Global Energy Supply
Oil and natural gas prices surged sharply in the first days of March 2026 as the Iran-US-Israel war escalated and supply disruptions from the Gulf region...
Factory Output Grew 4.8% in January 2026: IIP Data and Sectoral Analysis
India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) recorded 4.8% year-on-year growth in January 2026, released by MoSPI on March 2, 2026 (with the standard...
Consumer Durables and FMCG Firms Face Heightened Cost Pressures Amid West Asia Conflict
India's consumer durables and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors are facing sharply elevated cost pressures as the West Asia conflict drives up crude...
India and Canada Reset Ties with Landmark Nuclear Energy Deal
India and Canada reset their bilateral relationship with a landmark nuclear energy deal on March 2, 2026, marking the most significant diplomatic shift...
QatarEnergy Halts LNG Production After Iranian Drone Strikes, Threatening India's Gas Supply
QatarEnergy, the world's largest LNG producer, suspended all LNG production and associated products on March 2, 2026, after Iranian drones struck critical...
Rupee Crashes 42 Paise to Settle at 91.50 Against the US Dollar
The Indian rupee depreciated sharply by 42 paise on March 2, 2026, settling at ₹91.50 against the US dollar — its weakest level at that point in the West...
Indian Stock Market Crashes 1.25% as US-Iran Strikes Trigger West Asia Crisis
Indian equity markets suffered a sharp sell-off on March 2, 2026, as news of US and Israeli strikes on Iran — including reports of the killing of Supreme...
Oil Prices Surge 9% as US-Israel Strikes on Iran Rattle Global Markets
US and Israel conducted joint military strikes on Iran around February 28-March 1, 2026, targeting government buildings and military installations Brent...
US-Iran War Leaves 70,000 Tonnes of Indian Basmati Bound for Gulf Stranded at Sea
The US-Iran war and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz has stranded an estimated 70,000 tonnes of Indian basmati rice specifically in transit to...
Pentagon vs Anthropic: Military AI Clash Tests Limits of Commercial AI Safety Guardrails
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded that Anthropic (maker of the Claude AI) allow the government to use its AI for 'any lawful use,' including fully...
FSSAI Directive to States: Strengthen Food Safety Workforce and Target High-Risk Food Segments
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) directed all States and Union Territories to strengthen their food safety workforce and sharpen...
West Asia Conflict Threatens India's Tea Exports as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Raises Freight Costs
The escalating West Asia conflict, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran under Operation Epic Fury in late February 2026, has effectively halted shipping...
CAA Implementation: Two New Empowered Committees in West Bengal to Fast-Track Citizenship Applications
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituted two additional Empowered Committees in West Bengal in early March 2026 to accelerate processing of...
Industrial Production Index Growth Slows to Three-Month Low of 4.8%, Manufacturing Drags
India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 4.8% year-on-year in January 2026, marking a three-month low, driven primarily by a deceleration in...
India-Canada Diplomatic Reset: CEPA Launch Amid Nijjar Killing Allegations
On March 2, 2026, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited New Delhi for bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi, aimed at resetting India-Canada relations...
Russia as Crude Buffer, but India's LPG Supply Remains Exposed in Gulf Crisis
As US-Israel military strikes on Iran in late February 2026 disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, India's crude oil supply from the Gulf...
Iranian Drone Strikes RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus; UK Allows Limited Defensive Use of Bases
At approximately 12:03 AM local time on March 2, 2026, a Shahed-type one-way attack (loitering munition) drone struck the runway of RAF Akrotiri, a British...
West Asia Flight Suspensions Strand Indian Export Cargo; Industry Seeks Demurrage Relief
The suspension of commercial flights over Iran, Iraq, and parts of the Gulf region has caused significant disruption to India's air cargo exports, leaving...
India's Edible Oil and Oilmeals Sector Turns Cautious as Iran Crisis Rattles Supply Chains
India's edible oil and oilmeals sector has shifted into a cautious 'wait-and-watch' mode following the US-Israel strikes on Iran and Iran's retaliatory...
West Asia Conflict Triggers Familiar Crisis for India's Cashew Industry
The escalation of the US-Israel-Iran conflict has disrupted India's cashew industry, which depends heavily on West Asian markets for exports and on West...
India-Canada Diplomatic Reset: Modi-Carney Summit and the Path to CEPA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in New Delhi on March 2, 2026, marking a historic...
Gulf Crisis to Hit Indian Shoppers: Pistachios, Figs, and Raisins Set to Get Costlier
The Iran-US-Israel conflict that erupted in late February 2026 is disrupting India's imports of dry fruits and nuts — principally pistachios, figs, raisins...
West Asia Conflict Risks Renewed Energy and Inflation Shocks Globally
The escalating Iran-US-Israel conflict, which began in late February 2026, is threatening to trigger a major global energy shock — sending oil and gas...
Government Convenes Multi-Agency Meeting with Exporters to Assess Trade Disruption
The Indian government convened a multi-ministry meeting with export councils and trade bodies to assess the impact of the West Asia conflict on Indian trade...
India-Canada CAD $2.6 Billion Uranium Deal and Strategic Partnership Reset
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited India (Mumbai and New Delhi) in late February–early March 2026 for his first official bilateral visit — a...
Supreme Court: Environmental Compensation Must Be Assessed from Those Responsible for Pollution
The Supreme Court of India upheld the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) enhanced environmental compensation imposed on two Pune-based real estate developers...
Strait of Hormuz Closure Scenario: India and Floating Crude Storage as Emergency Buffer
Analysts and oil industry sources have flagged that an extended closure of the Strait of Hormuz would push India toward using floating storage of crude oil...
Indian Shipowners Seek Government Support for Safe Passage Through Hormuz Amid Conflict
Indian shipping companies have approached the central government seeking support for ensuring safe passage of their vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, as...
Iran-India Strategic Ties: A History of Parallel Interests Despite Ideological Friction
Despite the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, India-Iran bilateral relations have been characterised...
IIT Madras Study: 1 in 4 Indian Breast Cancer Patients Carry Inherited Genetic Risk Beyond BRCA Genes
Researchers from IIT Madras (in collaboration with Karkinos Healthcare) have found that 1 in 4 (24.6%) Indian breast cancer patients carries an inherited...
SEBI Pushes Banks and Financial Regulators to Tighten Insider Trading Enforcement
SEBI Chairperson Tuhin Kanta Pandey has pressed banks, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and other financial regulators to adopt stricter norms for...
NMC Cracks Down on Fake Patient Practice: Medical Colleges Risk Losing Seat Expansion Requests
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued strict guidelines warning that medical colleges found admitting fake patients during inspections will face...
Commerce Ministry Meets Exporters to Assess West Asia Trade Disruption
India's Commerce Ministry convened a meeting with exporters, industry associations, and logistics players to assess the impact of the West Asia crisis on...
IIT Bombay Study: Tracking Antibiotics in Liver Cell Membranes Can Predict Drug Toxicity Early
Researchers at IIT Bombay, led by Prof. Ashutosh Kumar (Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering), in collaboration with Prof. Vetriselvan Subramaniyan...
Middle East Airspace Crisis: Iran Conflict Shuts Key Airports, Reshapes Global Air Travel
The Iran-US-Israel conflict that erupted in late February 2026 triggered precautionary airspace closures across a vast region — Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel...
India's Crude Imports from Russia Fall to 44-Month Low in January 2026 as Gulf Tensions Rise
India's crude oil imports from Russia fell to a 44-month low in January 2026, with Russian oil accounting for only 21.2% of India's total crude imports —...
India-Canada Agree to Cooperate Against Terrorism and Extremism Including Khalistan Separatism
India and Canada agreed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, extremism, and radicalisation during PM Carney's official visit on March 2, 2026, with...
Iran Strikes Disrupt Global Aviation: Dubai Airport Damaged, Thousands of Flights Cancelled
Iran launched 137 missiles and 209 drones across the UAE on or around February 28, 2026, in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Dubai...
Gulf Conflict Threatens to Push India's Fertiliser Subsidy Bill Higher
The escalating West Asia conflict — following US-Israel strikes on Iran — threatens to significantly increase India's fertiliser subsidy bill by raising...
China's Ceasefire Push in West Asia: Diplomacy Amid the Iran-Israel-US Conflict
China called for an immediate ceasefire and diplomatic resolution after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February 2026...
India's Manufacturing Activity Hits Four-Month High in February as Domestic Demand Powers Growth
India's manufacturing sector expanded at its fastest pace in four months in February 2026, according to the S&P Global/HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing...
CMA CGM Imposes Up to $4,000 Emergency Surcharge Amid US-Iran Conflict
French shipping giant CMA CGM — the world's third-largest container shipping line — imposed an Emergency Conflict Surcharge (ECS) effective March 2, 2026...
EPFO Retains Provident Fund Interest Rate at 8.25% for 2025-26: Second Consecutive Year
The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) approved an interest rate of 8.25% per annum on EPF deposits for...
Indian Mariner Killed as Oil Tanker Attacked in Gulf of Oman
An Indian seafarer was killed when the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker MKD VYOM was struck by a bomb-laden drone boat (Unmanned Surface Vessel)...
Vessel Traffic Through Strait of Hormuz Collapses Amid West Asia Crisis
Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell by approximately 81% in the first days of March 2026 compared to normal levels, following the dramatic...
Airlines Including IndiGo, Akasa, Emirates, and Qatar Airways Suspend Middle East Flights
Multiple airlines — including Indian carriers IndiGo and Akasa Air, and international carriers Emirates, Qatar Airways, as well as Lufthansa and Air France...
War Widens Across West Asia as U.S. and Israel Launch Joint Attack on Iran
In the early hours of February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale, coordinated military campaign against Iran, codenamed...
US-Israel Strikes on Iran: Escalation Dynamics and Regional Security Architecture
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning to Iran following joint US-Israel military strikes, stating 'We fight to win' — signalling US...
Nirmala Sitharaman Meets AIIB President Zou Jiayi, Calls for Expanded Infrastructure Financing
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Zou Jiayi in New Delhi on March 2, 2026, to discuss...
Kerala Government Offices to Shift to Prepaid Smart Meter Billing Under KSEB Rollout
The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) approved a new framework for switching government consumers to prepaid smart meter billing...
India-Canada to Establish Defence Dialogue; Canada Seen as Indo-Pacific Partner
PM Modi announced the establishment of an India-Canada Defence Dialogue following talks with Canadian PM Mark Carney on March 2, 2026, marking the first...
NITI Aayog National Workshop on Natural Farming Under PM PRANAM: Sustainable Agriculture Push
NITI Aayog organized a two-day National Workshop on Natural Farming under its State Support Mission, bringing together farmers, policymakers, scientists...
Putin's Ceasefire Push: Russia's Mediation Role in West Asia Conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin telephoned the leaders of the UAE and Qatar to urge a ceasefire in West Asia as the US-Israel conflict with Iran escalated...
Tehran Hospital Evacuated: IHL Protections for Healthcare in Armed Conflict
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that Gandhi Hospital in northern Tehran was evacuated following nearby explosions as part of the ongoing...
Delhi Doctors Save Vision of Iraq Patient with Rare Ocular Tumour Using Indigenous BARC Technology
Doctors at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, successfully treated a 41-year-old Iraqi patient diagnosed with choroidal melanoma — a rare and...
India's Emerging Role in the Next Major Cancer Treatment Breakthrough
A recent analysis examined India's growing potential to drive the next major global breakthrough in cancer treatment and research, highlighting the...
Supreme Court Examines Feasibility of Nucleic Acid Testing for Blood Transfusion Safety
A bench of the Supreme Court of India, comprising the Chief Justice and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, agreed to examine the feasibility of mandatory Nucleic Acid...
Trump Expresses Disappointment with UK's Starmer Over Initial Refusal to Allow Air Base Use for Iran Strikes
US President Donald Trump publicly expressed that he was 'very disappointed' with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for initially blocking American use of...
Basmati Rice Exporters Consult APEDA as Gulf Conflict Threatens USD 6 Billion Trade
Indian basmati rice exporters have sought an emergency consultation with APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) as...
Cassava Brown Streak Disease: A Spreading Threat to Africa's Food Security
Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD), caused by two related ipomoviruses, is spreading rapidly beyond its historic East African coastal range and now...
How the US-Israel War with Iran Could Reshape India's Oil, Trade and Energy Landscape
A detailed analysis of the US-Israel conflict with Iran outlines three inter-linked channels through which the war could damage India's economy: energy...
India's New GDP Series: Base Year Revised to 2022-23, Experts See Stronger Data Credibility
On February 27, 2026, the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released India's new GDP...
EPFO Retains Provident Fund Interest Rate at 8.25% for 2025-26
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) retained the interest rate on employees' provident fund (EPF) deposits at 8.25% per annum for 2025-26, the...
India's Cumulative Exports Rise 6.15% to $720.76 Billion in April–January 2025-26
India's cumulative merchandise and services exports for April–January 2025-26 reached $720.76 billion, up 6.15% from $679.02 billion in the same period of...
IAEA Emergency Board Meeting: Iran Nuclear Safeguards Under Crisis
On March 2, 2026, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) convened a special emergency session of its Board of Governors in Vienna to assess the...
Iran War's Cascading Impact on India: From Crude Oil to Basmati Rice
The escalating US-Israel military conflict with Iran in late February–early March 2026 has triggered multi-dimensional economic risks for India beyond just...
India's Current Account Deficit Widens to $13.2 Billion in Q3 FY26
India's current account deficit (CAD) widened to $13.2 billion, or 1.3% of GDP, in Q3 FY26 (October-December 2025), up from $11.3 billion (1.1% of GDP) in...
First Indian Casualty in Iran War: Mariner Killed in Oil Tanker Attack Off Oman Coast
On March 2, 2026, a bomb-carrying drone boat struck the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker MKD VYOM approximately 52 nautical miles off the coast of...
Hyderabad Diaspora and Economy Bear Brunt of West Asia Conflict as Transit Routes Shut
Hyderabad, which has one of India's largest Gulf diaspora communities — with over 10 lakh residents from the city and Telangana working in Gulf Cooperation...
Indian Shipments Diverted via Cape of Good Hope as West Asia Tensions Disrupt Trade Routes
Indian cargo ships are being rerouted around Africa's Cape of Good Hope instead of transiting through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, following the escalation...
RBI Confirms 98.44% of Withdrawn Rs 2,000 Banknotes Returned; Rs 5,551 Crore Still in Circulation
The Reserve Bank of India confirmed that 98.44% of Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes have been returned to the banking system as of February 28, 2026 Only Rs...
India AI Impact Summit 2026: New Delhi Declaration and $200 Billion in AI Investment Commitments
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16–21, 2026, bringing together policymakers, researchers, industry...
India-Canada Seal $2.6 Billion Uranium Deal and Economic Partnership Framework
India and Canada sealed a landmark $2.6 billion government-to-government uranium supply agreement on March 2, 2026, during Canadian PM Mark Carney's...
EPFO Retains 8.25% Interest Rate on EPF Deposits for 2025-26 for Third Consecutive Year
The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) approved an interest rate of 8.25% on EPF deposits for the...
Industrial Output Growth Cools to 4.8% in January 2026
India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew at 4.8% year-on-year in January 2026, a three-month low, down sharply from 7.8% in December 2025...
MoSPI Releases IIP Quick Estimate for January 2026: 4.8% Growth with Mixed Sectoral Performance
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Quick Estimate of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for January 2026 on...
India Holds Retail Fuel Prices Stable Despite Global Crude Spike to USD 80 Amid West Asia Crisis
Despite global crude oil prices rising sharply to USD 80 per barrel — approximately a 9% spike — following US and Israeli military strikes on Iran and...
Silver Hits Rs 3 Lakh/kg, Gold Nears Rs 1.73 Lakh/10g as Middle East Conflict Drives Safe-Haven Demand
Precious metal prices surged sharply in early March 2026, with silver hitting Rs 3 lakh per kg and gold nearing Rs 1.73 lakh per 10 grams The surge was...
PM Modi Speaks with Netanyahu, Urges Cessation of Hostilities in Israel-Iran War
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the context of the armed conflict between the United...
India's Current Account Deficit Widens to USD 13.2 Billion in Q3 FY26: RBI Data
India's Current Account Deficit (CAD) widened to USD 13.2 billion (1.3% of GDP) in Q3 FY2025-26 (October–December 2025), as per data released by the Reserve...
India's Current Account Deficit Rises to $13.2 Billion in Q3 FY26: Services Surplus Provides Partial Offset
India's Current Account Deficit (CAD) for Q3 FY2025-26 (October–December 2025) widened to USD 13.2 billion, equivalent to 1.3% of GDP, according to data...
Rupee Falls to 91.49 Against Dollar as Iran Conflict Drives Crude Oil Surge and Risk Aversion
The Indian rupee depreciated sharply by 41 paise to settle at 91.49 against the US dollar, one of its steepest single-day drops in recent months. The...
India Manufacturing PMI Rises to Four-Month High of 56.9 in February 2026
The HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 56.9 in February 2026, up from 55.4 in January — marking a four-month high Factory...
EPFO Retains 8.25% Interest Rate on Provident Fund for FY2025-26
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)'s Central Board of Trustees (CBT) held its 239th meeting on March 1, 2026, chaired by Union Labour...
India Sets Up Inter-Ministerial Group to Monitor West Asia Trade Risks
The Indian government convened a high-level review of trade risks arising from the Iran-Israel war and the broader West Asia conflict following US-Israel...
India's Forex Reserves Rise on Gold and Dollar Valuation Gains Despite Balance of Payments Deficit
India's foreign exchange reserves rose in recent weeks, driven by revaluation gains from rising gold prices and a declining dollar index — even as India was...
Uttar Pradesh Strengthens Food Security Through Technology, Nutrition, and Procurement Reform
Uttar Pradesh is reinforcing its food security architecture through three pillars: technology-enabled delivery, nutrition-focused interventions, and a...
India and Canada Launch CEPA Negotiations: Trade Target $50 Billion by 2030
India and Canada formally launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on March 2, 2026, in New Delhi. The Terms of...
India-Canada Relaunch CEPA Negotiations After 2023 Diplomatic Freeze
India and Canada formally relaunched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on March 2, 2026, with Commerce and Industry...
India Proposes India-Delaware Biomanufacturing Working Group to Advance US-India Biotech Cooperation
Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh proposed the creation of a structured India-Delaware Biomanufacturing Working Group during a...
India's Diplomatic Tightrope: Navigating the Israel-Iran Conflict
India faces a complex diplomatic situation as the US-Israel conflict with Iran escalated in late February-early March 2026 Prime Minister Modi had visited...
Cameco's $1.9 Billion Uranium Supply Agreement with India
Canadian uranium producer Cameco Corporation signed a commercial agreement worth $1.9 billion to supply approximately 22 million pounds (~9.9 million kg) of...
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve Bans Night Traffic: Supreme Court Mandate and Tiger Conservation Law
The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) administration imposed a complete ban on vehicular movement during nighttime hours on major roads passing through core...
India's Industrial Output Grows 4.8% in January 2026, a Three-Month Low
India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) recorded a year-on-year growth of 4.8% in January 2026, as released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme...
Indian Scientists Help Overturn 50-Year-Old Bacterial Transcription Rule
Researchers from the Bose Institute (Kolkata) — an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) — and Rutgers University (USA)...
MHA Alerts States Over Communal Tension Risk; Internet Curbed in Kashmir After Iran Strikes
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a cautionary advisory on February 28, 2026 — the day of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran — to all state governments...
Finance Minister Sitharaman Meets AIIB President, Calls for Scaled-Up Climate Financing for Developing Nations
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Zou Jiayi, the newly appointed President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), in New Delhi to...
Japan, South Korea Flag Hurdles in India's Steel Import Framework
Japan and South Korea formally raised concerns about India's regulatory measures affecting their steel companies during an interactive session hosted by...
India's Manufacturing PMI Rises to 4-Month High of 56.9 in February 2026
India's HSBC Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, rose to 56.9 in February 2026 from 55.4 in January 2026 — the highest...
West Asia Crisis: Indian Exporters Seek Relief as Government Assures Trade Continuity
Indian exporters affected by the West Asia crisis — particularly those dealing in basmati rice, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and engineering goods —...
Supreme Court Declares Citing AI-Generated Fake Judgments Amounts to Judicial Misconduct
A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe took suo motu cognisance on February 27, 2026 of an Andhra Pradesh trial court...
Iran-Israel Conflict: Multi-Sector Cost Impact on India Across Oil, Basmati, and Textiles
The US-Israel military strikes on Iran (late February 2026) and the resulting Hormuz disruption have threatened to raise costs for Indian consumers across...
Study in India Edu-Diplomatic Conclave 2026: India Positions Itself as Global Education Hub
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the Study in India Edu-Diplomatic Conclave 2026 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi, attended by...
Strait of Hormuz Disruption: India's Energy Security Exposed
Escalating military conflict between US-Israel and Iran has raised alarm about potential disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most critical oil...
India's Self-Reliance Drive Expands Global Trade Footprint Across Key Sectors
Official data released by the government highlights India's expanding global trade footprint, driven by the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India)...
India-Canada Summit: PM Modi's Joint Press Statement with PM Carney
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held bilateral talks at Hyderabad House, New Delhi on March 2, 2026, followed by a...
RBI Reports 98.44% of Withdrawn Rs 2,000 Banknotes Returned to Banking System
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported that 98.44% of the Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes withdrawn from circulation have been returned as of February 28...
India's Current Account Deficit Widens to $13.2 Billion in Q3 FY2025-26
India's current account deficit (CAD) widened to $13.2 billion (1.3% of GDP) in Q3 FY2025-26 (October–December 2025), up from $11.3 billion (1.1% of GDP) in...
UAPA Section 51A Implementation: India Updates UNSC 1267/1989/2253 Designation List
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an update regarding India's implementation of Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)...
Iran's Missile and Drone Arsenal: Capabilities, Strategy, and Regional Impact
As the US-Israel military campaign against Iran entered its third week in March 2026, Iran has drawn from one of the world's largest and most diverse...
Indian Diaspora in West Asia Faces War: Evacuation and the Stakes for India
Approximately 10 million Indian nationals live and work across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Iran, directly affected by the ongoing US-Israel...
India's New GDP Series: Base Year Shifted to 2022-23 with Sharper Methodology
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released India's new series of national accounts estimates on February 27, 2026, shifting...
India's Rice Export Dominance Raises Water Sustainability Concerns
Analysts and agricultural economists are calling for a fundamental rethink of India's rice production and export policy, citing unsustainable water...
Iran's Survival Logic: Why the Islamic Republic Will Keep Fighting
Three weeks into the 2026 Iran war, analysts concluded that the Islamic Republic was unlikely to capitulate despite losing Supreme Leader Khamenei, seeing...
Iran Offered Unprecedented Nuclear Concessions: But Trump Chose War Anyway
Analysts and diplomatic sources revealed that Iran had offered, before the 28 February 2026 US-Israeli strikes began, nuclear concessions that went...
Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Why India Is Currently Protected and What Happens Next
Despite active disruption at the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Indian officials and analysts have assessed that India is...
Strait of Hormuz Oil Disruption: India's Energy Vulnerability and Strategic Options
Following the US-Israeli military strikes on Iran (February 28, 2026), Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, with the IRGC Navy transmitting...
From Alliance to War: The History of US-Iran Relations from 1953 to 2026
As the 2026 US-Israel-Iran war entered its third week, analysts and historians documented the century-long arc of US-Iran relations — a relationship that...
Gharial and Three-Striped Roofed Turtle Released at Kuno National Park
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav personally released 53 baby gharials (28 males and 25 females) and 25 three-striped roofed turtles into the Kuno...
Iran-Israel Conflict Widens: Israeli Airstrikes Hit Beirut as War Escalates Regionally
Israel launched airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut as part of the broader 2026 Iran war, marking a significant escalation from targeted southern...
Israel Strikes Beirut After Hezbollah Breaks 2024 Ceasefire with Missile Barrages
Hezbollah launched a barrage of precision missiles and drones at northern Israel on 2 March 2026 — its first large-scale offensive strike since the November...
Government Amends BIS Rules to Streamline Product Certification and Tighten Compliance
The government published the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Amendment Regulations, 2026 in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on...
E3 Powers (France, Germany, UK) Declare Readiness for Defensive Action Against Iran
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (collectively known as the E3) declared on March 1–2, 2026 that they are prepared to take 'necessary and...
India's Gulf Remittances: Resilience Amid West Asia Conflict
Despite the escalating West Asia conflict — including US-Israel strikes on Iran and retaliatory Iranian attacks — analysts assess that India's remittance...
India-EU FTA Draft Clarifies Textile Origin Rules, Boosting Export Prospects
The provisional text of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), concluded on January 27, 2026, was released publicly with 20 chapters covering goods...
RBI Governor Malhotra Says India's Strong Economic Fundamentals Can Sustain Its Goldilocks Phase
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, following the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of February 4–6, 2026, described India as being in a rare 'goldilocks'...