1 Hindu New Year and Chaitra Navratri: A festival of new creation, worship of Shakti, and cultural consciousness
According to the Hindu calendar , the Hindu New Year begins on the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra . This day also marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri, a special festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Shakti . This year , the Hindu New Year and Chaitra Navratri will begin on March 19th . In Indian culture, this day is considered a symbol of new energy, new creation, and positive beginnings. In Indian tradition, this day is celebrated with different names and traditions in different parts of the country, but at its core, it reflects a wonderful confluence of nature, culture, and spirituality. This date also marks the beginning of the Vikram Samvat, India’s ancient and revered calendar system. This day is celebrated as the New Year in many states. In Maharashtra, it is celebrated as Gudi Padwa , in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh as Ugadi , while in North India, it is celebrated as the Hindu New Year or Nav Samvatsar . Chaitra Navratri also begins with the Hindu New Year. In this festival which lasts for nine days, nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped.
2 Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti takes charge as Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes.
Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti has been given a significant responsibility. She has been appointed by the government to chair the National Commission for OBCs. . Let us tell you that Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti has been a minister in the first two terms of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. She was made the Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries in 2014. When the government was formed for the second time in 2019, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti was given the responsibility of the Ministry of Rural Development (Minister of State). In 2021, she got the opportunity to take charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Minister of State).
3 Sea Dragon 2026: India’s key role in the international naval exercise
India has participated in the US-led multinational naval exercise ‘Sea Dragon 2026’. The exercise is currently being conducted near Guam. It involves the Indian Navy along with forces from countries like Australia, Japan and New Zealand . The aim of this exercise is to enhance coordination and combat capabilities in anti-submarine warfare. This two-week exercise focuses on detecting and tracking submarines in complex sea conditions. Sea Dragon 2026 is a major multinational naval exercise focused on anti-submarine operations.
4 Indian Coast Guard to get new strength, next generation ship construction begins
A major step has been taken towards further strengthening the country’s maritime security . The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard was held on March 17, 2026. The ceremony was held at M/s YMPL in Ratnagiri , where construction of the second and third vessels of the OPV series (Yard 16402 and 16403) formally commenced. These next-generation vessels will be capable of achieving a range of 5,000 nautical miles and a maximum speed of 23 knots . These vessels, approximately 117 meters long, will have a crew capacity of 11 officers and 110 personnel. They will incorporate modern technologies such as AI-based predictive maintenance systems, remotely piloted drones, Integrated Bridge System (IBS), and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). The project is being indigenously designed and developed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) under the ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ category. The contract for construction of six next generation OPVs was concluded on 20 December 2023.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme for the period from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 . The scheme, with a budget of ₹2,584.60 crore , aims to support the establishment of small hydro projects with a total capacity of approximately 1,500 MW . According to the government, the scheme will support the development of small hydro projects with a capacity ranging from 1 MW to 25 MW in various states . Special attention will be given to hilly and northeastern states, where the potential for hydropower remains untapped. Under the scheme, central financial assistance of ₹3.6 crore per MW or 30% of the project cost (whichever is lower) will be provided for projects located in northeastern states and districts bordering international borders. The government said that for projects located in other states, the assistance will be ₹2.4 crore per MW or 20% of the project cost, with a maximum limit of ₹20 crore per project.
6 Cabinet approves Rs 33,660 crore ‘BHAVYA’ scheme
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA) . Under this scheme , 100 plug-and-play industrial parks will be built across the country at a cost of ₹33,660 crore , with the aim of accelerating economic development and increasing employment opportunities. According to an official statement, the scheme aims to create world-class industrial infrastructure, which will enhance the country’s manufacturing capacity and accelerate India’s economic growth. The scheme builds on the success of the Industrial Smart City model developed under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) and will be implemented in partnership with states and the private sector. The “grand” plan places a special emphasis on ease of doing business. It will simplify the approval process, implement a single-window system, and implement investor-friendly reforms. Under this scheme, industrial parks will be developed where industries will have ready-made land, necessary infrastructure, and all the facilities under one roof, enabling companies to start operations quickly. These industrial parks will be developed. The parks will range in size from 100 to 1,000 acres. The government will provide financial assistance of up to ₹1 crore per acre for their development. These will include facilities such as roads, electricity, water, drainage, IT systems, factory sheds, warehouses, and testing labs.
7 Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. (AIC) launches ‘Krishi Sakhi’ initiative to empower women farmers
Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AIC) has launched ‘Krishi Sakhi’ to empower women farmers and work towards achieving inclusive growth in line with the recognition of the year 2026 as the ‘ International Year of Women Farmers ‘ by the Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) of the United Nations. ) of the United Nations. Through these month-wise activities structured at its headquarters and regional offices, AIC aims to continuously create awareness, encourage women’s participation in agriculture and crop insurance and celebrate their contribution in strengthening the agriculture sector in India.
8 Argentina withdraws from the World Health Organization
Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno stated that Argentina has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization . He stated in a social media post that Argentina had communicated this decision through a note sent to the UN Secretary-General on March 17, 2025. According to the Vienna Convention, withdrawal becomes effective one year after this notification. Quirno stated, “Our country will continue to engage in international cooperation in health through bilateral agreements and regional forums. At the same time, it will fully preserve its sovereignty and decision-making capacity regarding health policies.” The Argentine government announced its decision to withdraw from the global health organization in February last year. Previously, on February 5, 2025, the Argentine government announced its withdrawal from the WHO. The spokesperson clarified that Argentina does not receive any financial support from the World Health Organization for health management. Therefore, he argued that this move does not represent a loss of funds for the country nor impact the quality of services, as some had suggested on social media.
The Union Civil Aviation Ministry on Wednesday issued new guidelines to further ease air travel . The ministry stated that at least 60 percent of the seats on any flight must be made available without additional charges. , ensuring equal opportunity for all passengers. The aim is to ensure that airlines are transparent and convenient for passengers. The new guidelines, issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), also mandate that passengers traveling on the same PNR be seated together. Efforts will be made to ensure that they sit in adjacent seats. This will greatly facilitate families or group travelers.
10 US NCTC chief Joe Kent resigns
On March 17 , Donald Trump ‘s top Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) Director Joe Kent resigned from his post in protest of the US-Iran war . Kent resigned during the Iran war. He had urged President Trump to stop the war. After the resignation, Kent said, “There was no threat to America from Iran. America started the war under pressure from Israel.” The White House rejected Kent’s claim, saying that President Trump has strong evidence that Iran was going to attack America first. Kent has been deployed in combat 11 times and lost his Navy officer wife in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019.