March 15, 2026
77 articles published on this date
Rajasthan's Disturbed Areas Property Bill: Provisions, Precedents and Concerns
The Rajasthan Assembly passed the Rajasthan Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from...
Intercepted Iranian Missile Debris Strikes US Consul's Residence in Jerusalem
A fragment from an Iranian missile, intercepted by Israeli air defences, struck the building housing the US Consul General's residence in Jerusalem on March...
IEA Emergency Oil Stockpile Release: Asia Stocks Flow Immediately, Europe by End of March
The IEA confirmed that emergency oil stockpile releases from Asia-Oceania member countries would flow immediately to markets disrupted by the Iran conflict...
Tamil Nadu Welfare Schemes and the Fiscal Responsibility Debate: Finance Minister Thennarasu Responds
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu pushed back against characterisations of the state's welfare schemes as fiscally irresponsible, arguing that...
ISRO Study Identifies Ice-Patch Collapse: Not Cloudburst — as Cause of Uttarkashi Flash Flood
Researchers from ISRO have published a peer-reviewed study in the journal npj Natural Hazards establishing that the August 2025 flash flood at Dharali...
Gyan Bharatam Survey: India's First Nationwide Mapping of Manuscript Heritage
On 16 March 2026, the Ministry of Culture launched the Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey — India's first systematic nationwide effort to geo-tag and...
The Evolving Legal Framework for the Right to Die with Dignity in India
The Supreme Court sanctioned India's first judicially ordered passive euthanasia in the case of Harish Rana v. Union of India (March 11, 2026), a...
Jaishankar Confirms Two LPG Tankers Crossed Hormuz; Calls Diplomacy with Iran Productive
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed that two Indian LPG tankers have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz following direct diplomatic...
Water-Centred Climate Resilience: India's Role in Shaping the Belém Adaptation Framework
With COP30 having adopted the Belém Package — including 59 Belém Adaptation Indicators — analysts and policymakers are urging India to anchor its climate...
Iran Seeks Gulf Arab Ties Review, Denies Role in Saudi Oil Infrastructure Attacks
Iranian officials stated they wanted a 'serious review' of relations with Arab Gulf states, seeking to separate Iran's bilateral relationships with GCC...
Pentagon Estimates Iran War Would Last Four to Six Weeks, Trump Administration Signals Confidence
A senior White House aide, Kevin Hassett (Director of the National Economic Council), revealed on March 15, 2026 that the Pentagon's internal estimate for...
DNT Leaders Move Supreme Court for Separate Enumeration in 2027 Census
Leaders of Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) approached the Supreme Court of India, seeking a court direction to ensure a distinct and...
PLA Resumes Large-Scale Military Flights Near Taiwan After 16-Day Pause
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported the detection of 26 People's Liberation Army (PLA) military aircraft operating around the island on March...
Israel Denies Reports of Direct Lebanon Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar flatly denied media reports claiming that Israel and Lebanon were poised to hold direct diplomatic talks 'in the...
LPG Panic Booking Eases as Indian Crude Tanker Navigates West Asia Conflict Zone
LPG cylinder refill bookings have declined to approximately 77 lakh from a peak of 88.8 lakh, indicating an easing of panic-buying behaviour triggered by...
US Launches Twin Section 301 Investigations Against India Over Trade Practices
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) launched two separate Section 301 investigations targeting India and 15 other trading partners in March 2026....
UK Authorises US Use of Its Military Bases Citing Protection of Indian and Gulf Diaspora Interests
The United Kingdom's Deputy High Commissioner to India stated that the UK's decision to give the US permission to use its military bases — including RAF...
SEZ Industry Seeks Concessional Import Duty on 200 Products Including Solar Cells and Naphtha
Industry associations representing Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units and developers submitted a proposal to allow concessional-duty imports on approximately...
Election Commission Announces Assembly Poll Schedule for Five States and Union Territories
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for assembly elections in four states (Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal) and one union...
RBI's Liquidity Push: OMO Purchases and Forex Swaps to Anchor Short-Term Rates
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced plans to inject substantial durable liquidity into the banking system to prevent short-term interest rates from...
Prime Minister Writes to Lok Sabha Speaker After No-Confidence Motion Rejected, Lauds Parliamentary Balance
Following the Lok Sabha's rejection of a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla on March 15, 2026, the Prime Minister wrote a letter to the Speaker...
Rajya Sabha Elections Marked by MLA Relocation and Cross-Voting Fears in Bihar, Odisha, and Haryana
On the eve of Rajya Sabha elections (polling held on March 16, 2026), parties in Bihar, Odisha, and Haryana undertook strategic relocation of their MLAs to...
Bihar Makes Transit Passes Mandatory for Minor Minerals Entering from Other States
The Bihar government made it mandatory from March 11, 2026, for all vehicles entering Bihar from other states carrying minor minerals (sand, stone, stone...
Shariat Act 1937: Supreme Court Weighs Inheritance Law as Civil Statute vs Religious Instrument
The Supreme Court is hearing a petition challenging the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, specifically Section 2, which applies Muslim...
How Iran's Response Upended US-Israeli Calculations and Reshaped Gulf Security
Despite suffering severe losses — including the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on 28 February 2026 — Iran launched an unprecedented retaliatory...
China's Ethnic Unity Law: Formalizing Assimilation of Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Other Minorities
China's National People's Congress (NPC) passed the 'Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress' at the closing session of its annual parliamentary meeting...
India's West Asia Dilemma: Strategic Vulnerabilities Exposed by Iran-US Conflict
Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid stated that the Indian government has been unable to communicate to its strategic allies — primarily the US...
The Strait of Hormuz: Geography, Energy, and Strategic Chokepoints
The ongoing US-Israel military conflict with Iran has effectively disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since late February 2026, triggering a...
Prolonged West Asia Crisis Deals Multiple Blows to Indian Exporters
Industry estimates indicate that nearly 70% of outbound shipments from India have been affected by the prolonged West Asia conflict, which has effectively...
Ukraine's Strategic Pivot: Zelenskyy Navigates US-Iran War and Russian Sanctions Rollback
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly stated that Ukraine does not want to lose US backing due to its alignment on the Iran war — a calculated...
Indian Tanker Jag Laadki Exits Fujairah Safely as Drone Strikes Oil Terminal
The Indian-flagged Suezmax crude tanker Jag Laadki safely departed Fujairah (UAE) on March 15, 2026, carrying approximately 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude...
Parliamentary Panel Recommends Expert Litigation Committee for Income Tax Department
A parliamentary panel recommended that the Income Tax (I-T) department set up an 'Expert Litigation Committee' to vet appeals before they are filed in...
Iran Warns Against Wider War as Trump Pushes Allies to Escort Ships Through Hormuz
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned countries against expanding involvement in the US-Israel-Iran conflict, stating Tehran has 'ample evidence'...
Jaishankar's Brussels Visit: India-EU Strategic Partnership After Landmark FTA
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar began a two-day visit to Brussels (March 15–16, 2026) at the invitation of EU High Representative and Vice-President...
Airbus Projects Demand for 1,000 Civil Helicopters in India Over Two Decades
Airbus has projected demand for approximately 1,000 civil helicopters in India over the next two decades, citing rapid growth in sectors such as emergency...
Three Years On: Justice Still Elusive for Kuki-Zo Women in Manipur Violence Cases
Nearly three years after the Manipur ethnic violence began in May 2023, the two Kuki-Zo women who were stripped, paraded naked, and gang-raped on May 4...
ICAR to Build National Gender Platform Linking 900 Institutions to Advance Women's Role in Farming
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) announced plans to build a National Gender Platform linking 900 agricultural research and extension...
Supreme Court Asks Government to Explore Alternatives as Pulses Farmers Suffer from Depressed Prices
A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, on March 13, 2026, asked the government to explore a better...
Pakistan Strikes Afghanistan: TTP Conflict and the Af-Pak Security Crisis
Pakistan conducted fresh airstrikes on military facilities in southern Afghanistan, targeting what it described as 'technical support infrastructure' and...
CBI Arrests Recruiter Linked to Overseas Cyber Scam Centres Exploiting Indian Nationals
The CBI arrested a recruiter accused of collecting approximately $300–400 per head from Indian job-seekers and facilitating their travel to Cambodia, where...
Supreme Court Empowers UPSC to Flag State Delays in DGP Appointments
The Supreme Court ruled that the UPSC must approach the Supreme Court for approval before condoning any inordinate delay by states in submitting proposals...
SAF Association Advocates Used Cooking Oil as Feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Association (SAFA) has called for scaling up the use of Used Cooking Oil (UCO) as a primary feedstock for producing...
Supreme Court Directs Centre to Revisit Import Policy and Incentivise Pulse Cultivation
The Supreme Court urged the Union government to convene a meeting of stakeholders — including representatives from farming communities and policymakers — to...
India Introduces New Quality Control Order for Aluminium Amid Rising Imports
India has notified the Cookware, Utensils and Cans for Foods and Beverages (Quality Control) Order, 2026, issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry...
Assam Signs Final Peace Settlement with Hmar and Kuki Armed Groups
The Assam government signed memoranda of settlement with four armed groups on March 15, 2026 — three Kuki groups (United Kukigam Defence Army, Kuki...
NavIC Falls Below Operational Threshold After IRNSS-1F Atomic Clock Failure
The final atomic clock aboard IRNSS-1F, one of India's NavIC navigation satellites, stopped functioning on March 13, 2026 — three days after the satellite...
11 Maoists Including Senior Cadre Surrender with Arms Before Odisha Police in Kalahandi
Eleven Maoists, including a Divisional Committee Member (DCM) carrying a bounty of Rs 22 lakh, surrendered before the Odisha Police at a special function in...
Indian Exporters Pivot to Early Shipments and Alternate Routes Amid West Asia Crisis
Indian exporters across sectors are responding to the West Asia shipping disruption by planning shipments weeks in advance, renegotiating delivery timelines...
Maharashtra Village Receives Rs 68 Lakh Through Biodiversity Benefit-Sharing Mechanism
Dapur village in Maharashtra received Rs 67,69,359 (approximately Rs 68 lakh) in November 2025 — a benefit-sharing payment triggered by the commercial use...
Opposition Files Notice to Remove Chief Election Commissioner: Constitutional Procedure and Stakes
193 opposition MPs — 130 from the Lok Sabha and 63 from the Rajya Sabha — signed and submitted notices in both Houses seeking a motion for the removal of...
Iran, Israel, and the Fault Lines of the Global Nuclear Order
The ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran has reignited global debate about the inherent double standards within the international nuclear...
New Labour Codes to Drive Fixed-Term Employment and Workforce Formalisation
India's four new Labour Codes — enacted between 2019 and 2020 and brought into force on November 21, 2025 — are expected to significantly expand the...
Indian Tanker Jag Laadki Departs UAE's Fujairah Safely After Terminal Attack
The Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Jag Laadki safely departed UAE's Fujairah port on 15 March 2026 at 1030 hrs IST, carrying approximately 80,800 metric...
IPS Officer Central Deputation Row: West Bengal Transfers Siliguri CP After MHA Request
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a communication to the West Bengal government seeking the central deputation of Siliguri Police Commissioner...
CBI Arrests Kanpur Recruiter Who Sent Indians to Cyber-Slavery Compounds in Cambodia
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Krishna Kumar Lakhwani, a Kanpur resident, for allegedly operating as a recruitment agent supplying...
UNEP Report Prioritises Waste Prevention in Safe Disposal of Unused Medicines
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a new report warning that improper disposal of unused medicines poses serious risks to...
How India Became Critically Dependent on LPG Imports
India currently imports approximately 60% of its total LPG requirement, making it the world's second-largest LPG importer — a dependence that has grown...
Why India's LPG Sector Faces Maximum Stress from the West Asia Crisis
The escalating conflict in West Asia — involving the US, Israel, and Iran — has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping for the first...
Iran-Israel War: Day 15 Escalation, Kharg Island Strikes, and Regional Fallout
On 14–15 March 2026 (Day 15 of the conflict), the United States conducted strikes on military targets at Kharg Island, Iran's principal oil export hub in...
Climate-Resilient Farming Must Become a Priority for India's Marginal Farmers
A policy analysis argues that climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) must be prioritised for India's small and marginal farmers, who are most vulnerable to...
Iran Allows Indian Vessels Through Hormuz: India-Iran Relations and Maritime Diplomacy
Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, confirmed that Iran had allowed some Indian-flagged vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as an...
US Offers "Reliable" Energy Supply to Asia-Pacific Amid Hormuz Crisis
The US declared it can provide a 'reliable' energy supply to Asia-Pacific nations as the conflict in West Asia has virtually halted traffic through the...
Trump's Call for a Naval Coalition to Secure the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump publicly urged key allies — China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK — to send warships to escort oil tankers through the...
West Asia Conflict Extinguishes Clean Cooking Fuel, Pushing Families Back to Firewood
The ongoing conflict in West Asia — involving disruption of LPG supply chains through the Strait of Hormuz — has forced families and eateries in...
Trump Urges Allied Warships to Strait of Hormuz as Iran Threatens UAE Ports
The US President called on allied nations to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe passage for commercial shipping, as the US-Israel war on...
Airfare Surge to US and Europe as West Asia Crisis Disrupts Aviation Capacity
The escalating conflict in West Asia has triggered a sharp surge in airfares on routes connecting India to the US and Europe, driven by two simultaneous...
Fact Check: Are 40 in 100 Children Malnourished in Gujarat? The Data and the Tribal Burden
A fact-check exercise verified the claim that approximately 40 out of 100 children in Gujarat are malnourished — the data confirms this is broadly accurate....
US Strikes on Kharg Island: Targeting Iran's Oil Export Lifeline
The US President stated that US strikes had 'totally demolished' most of Kharg Island, Iran's primary oil export terminal located in the Persian Gulf. The...
Finance Ministry Restructures Minimum Public Shareholding Norms for Listed Companies
The Ministry of Finance amended the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules, 1957 through the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026...
North Korea Tests Nuclear-Capable 600mm Rocket Launchers Amid US-South Korea Drills
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the testing of twelve 600mm-calibre ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) involving two artillery...
Venezuela's Selective Amnesty: Opposition Criticism After Maduro's Capture
Venezuela's opposition leader denounced the recently passed amnesty law as 'selective' and designed to 'buy time' rather than genuinely free political...
US Section 301 Forced Labour Probe: India's Supply Chain Exposure
On March 12, 2026, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) launched Section 301 investigations against 60 economies — including India and China —...
Japan's Constitutional Constraints and the Strait of Hormuz: Article 9 in the Spotlight
President Trump publicly urged Japan, along with China, France, South Korea, and the UK, to send warships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open following...
Chabahar Port's Budget Freeze: India's Central Asian Connectivity at Risk
India's Union Budget 2026–27 carried zero allocation for the Chabahar port project in Iran, prompting political debate about the country's Central Asian...
India Launches Nationwide HPV Vaccination Drive to Combat Cervical Cancer
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India's nationwide HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccination Programme on February 28, 2026, from Ajmer, Rajasthan, as...
Government Bars PNG Households from Holding LPG Connections Amid Supply Crisis
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a gazette notification amending the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order...
Vibrant Village Programme II: 47 UP Border Villages with Nepal to Get All-Weather Roads and Connectivity
47 villages in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, sharing a border with Nepal, are to be developed as the first batch of border villages under the...