1 President Murmu attended the 9th International Santhal Conference.
Indian President Draupadi Murmu attended the 9th International Santhal Conference in Darjeeling, West Bengal on Saturday . Speaking on the occasion, the President said that it is a matter of pride for the Santhal community that their ancestor, Tilka Manjhi, raised the banner of revolt against exploitation nearly 240 years ago. Nearly 60 years after his revolt, the brave Sido-Kanhu and Chand-Bhairav , along with the brave Phool-Jhano , led the Santhal Hul in 1855. The President said that the year 2003 will always be remembered in the history of the Santhal community. That year, the Santhal language was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Last year, on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee , the Constitution of India, written in the Ol Chiki script in the Santhal language, was released. The President noted that Pandit Raghunath Murmu created the Ol Chiki script in 1925 . Recently, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of this invention.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that air connectivity in the region leads to rapid and widespread development. In a video message at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the new Kota-Bundi Greenfield Airport, the Prime Minister stated that before 2014, India had approximately 70 airports, but now this number has increased to over 160. He noted that several airports have been developed around Delhi. Mr. Modi stated that the construction of airports encourages entrepreneurship and tourism in small towns and boosts economic activity in the region. He stated that the Kota airport will open new doors of progress for the region and will directly benefit youth, businesses, and the local economy . Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu stated that the airport project will be completed within two years , and flights will commence soon after. He added that over ₹1,500 crore will be spent on the construction of this airport . Before the event, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu laid the foundation stone of the Kota-Bundi Greenfield Airport.
3 UPSC Result 2025: Topper Anuj Agnihotri says ‘consistent effort’ is the key to success
The results of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination 2025 were announced on Friday, March 6. Anuj Agnihotri topped the exam, securing an All India Rank of 1. A resident of Rawatbhata, Rajasthan , Anuj Agnihotri topped the exam, followed by Rajeshwari Suve M. and Akansh Dhull. . The results were announced based on the written examination held in August 2025 and the personality test (interview) conducted between December 2025 and February 2026. According to the merit list released by the Commission, a total of 958 candidates have been recommended for appointment to various All India and Central Services. Raghav Jhunjhunwala secured the fourth position in the UPSC Civil Services, followed by Ishaan Bhatnagar in fifth, and Jinia Arora in sixth. AR Raja Mohideen secured the seventh position, Pakshal Secretary in eighth, Aastha Jain in ninth, and Ujjwal Priyank in tenth.
4 IBM launches first Infrastructure Innovation Centre in India
Global technology company IBM has launched its first Infrastructure Innovation Center in Bengaluru . This will strengthen India’s role in developing advanced artificial intelligence and enterprise infrastructure systems. The center , established under IBM’s India Systems Development Lab (ISDL) , aims to accelerate the development of secure, scalable, and responsible enterprise AI solutions by bringing together engineering teams . This initiative reflects India’s growing importance in IBM’s global technology and infrastructure innovation strategy. The new IBM Infrastructure Innovation Center is designed as a collaborative hub where experts from various technology fields will work together.
5 Spoorthi Programme: L&T Finance’s new financial initiative for women
L&T Finance has launched a new initiative called the ” Spoorthi Program ” to support women entrepreneurs in India . The scheme will provide flexible loans with an extended repayment period of up to 25 years to purchase property or avail loan against property (LAP) for business expansion and working capital needs . Through this program, the non-banking financial company aims to improve access to credit for women-led businesses and strengthen financial inclusion. L&T Finance’s Spoorthi program will be launched in major metros including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.
Indian generative AI startup Sarvam AI has launched the Sarvam Startup Program . The program will support early-stage companies developing AI-based products in India . The announcement was made on March 5, 2026, as part of the company’s efforts to strengthen the AI startup ecosystem in India. Under the program, startups will be provided API credits, advanced AI tools, and direct engineering support. Sarvam AI said the initiative aims to help developers focus on product innovation, while the company will provide the underlying AI infrastructure and language models.
7 Major achievement of Indian Railways, 99% of broad gauge railways electrified
The Railways has undertaken large-scale electrification of its railway lines over the past decade. This has reduced the need for diesel imported from other countries for rail operations . More than 99 percent of the broad-gauge railways are now electrified . The Railway Ministry stated that this will increase the Railways’ reliance on domestically produced electricity, improve energy security, and reduce oil imports from other countries. The Ministry stated that the ongoing tensions in West Asia could impact crude oil supplies. In such a scenario, electrification of railways is a significant achievement. The Railways will save 1.78 billion liters of diesel in 2024-25 compared to 2016-17, representing a 62 percent reduction in diesel consumption. The Ministry stated that currently, most of the railways in India have been electrified.
8 Government suspends TRP of news channels for four weeks
The government has directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to suspend television rating points (TRPs) of news channels for four weeks, effective immediately . The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued the directive, citing concerns that some news channels are displaying unnecessarily sensational and speculative content amid the Israel-Iran conflict . The ministry stated that such coverage could spread panic among the public. The suspension will remain in effect for four weeks or until further orders.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched the ” Stand with Her ” campaign. Its aim is to make Telangana the safest state for women . On this occasion, the Chief Minister urged young people to become brand ambassadors for women’s safety. He emphasized that true security comes not just from enacting laws but from social responsibility. Mr. Reddy called for a collective fight against gender discrimination. In Telangana, the state government launched its ambitious 99-day action plan, “Praja Palana-Pragati Prathika,” which is the third time the state government is organizing this initiative aimed at solving public problems. The campaign will run until June 12th.
10 Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh defeated David Anton Guijarro of Spain in the Prague International Chess Tournament
Grandmaster D. Gukesh of India defeated David Anton Guijarro of Spain in the ninth and final round of the Masters category of the Prague International Chess Tournament held in the Czech Republic . Arvind Chidambaram of India defeated David Navara of the Czech Republic in the final round to finish tied second with 5 points . Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan finished first with 6 points . In the Challengers category , Divya Deshmukh of India defeated Herbek Stepan of the Czech Republic to finish third with 5 points . Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly finished fifth with 4 points.
11 International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8th . Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th because in 1917, Russian women held a historic strike demanding ” Bread and Peace,” forcing the government to grant women the right to vote . This date (February 23rd in the Russian calendar) equates to March 8th in the Gregorian calendar, which was later officially recognized by the United Nations (UN) . This year’s theme is “Rights, Justice, and Action for Women and Girls .” It reflects the spirit of strengthening women’s rights, ensuring access to justice, and accelerating gender equality. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is organizing a Shakti Walk with women from different walks of life participating in the “Shakti Walk” on the path of duty.