Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal today said that India has facilitated the export of 25 metric tonnes of Assam’s GI-tagged Joha Rice to the United Kingdom and Italy. In a social media post, sharing this information, he said that the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority enabled the shipment.

He said Joha Rice, known for its rich nutritional value and unique heritage, became a Geographical Indication product in 2017. Mr Goyal added that the export reflects the Modi Government’s continued efforts to significantly expand India’s agricultural exports, unlock new global markets and ensure better income opportunities for farmers.

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered two new species of lichen moths in the eastern Himalayan region.

The newly identified species — Caulocera hollowayi S Singh, N Singh & Bhattacharya, 2026 and Asura buxa Bhattacharya, S Singh & N Singh, 2026 — have been described by an Indian research team and documented in the international taxonomic journal ‘Zootaxa’ on March 2, a ZSI spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Caulocera hollowayi was identified from specimens collected near Golitar in Sikkim, while Asura buxa was discovered from specimens collected in Panijhora in West Bengal.

India has displaced China as the largest supplier of cotton products such as apparel and home textiles to the United States during 2025, according to the USDA’s latest global market analysis.

Factors such as higher tariff and US firms’ reducing dependence on China helped other suppliers including India gain market share in the US.

The US cotton product imports were flat in calendar year 2025 at 3.3 million tonnes, equal to the 15 year average.

Imports from China reduced to about 0.5 million tonnes in 2025, while imports from India were around 0.6 million tonnes during the year.

NATO began its biennial drills in the Arctic on Monday, this ‌time placing more emphasis on the role of civilians in supporting the military, at a time of high tension over ⁠U.S. President Trump’s push to take over Greenland from fellow NATO member Denmark.

The drills, named Cold Response, focus on defending the alliance in the European Arctic, where ‌NATO-members Norway and Finland share a border with Russia, and will run March 9-19 this time. The exercise has now become part ‌of Arctic Sentry, the NATO mission to strengthen its presence in ‌the ⁠polar region that was launched to defuse tensions with Trump ⁠over Greenland.

Trump insists the U.S. needs Greenland to fend off threats from Russian and Chinese interests in the Arctic, and that Denmark cannot ensure its security. The governments of both Denmark and Greenland say the ‌island is not for sale.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched its first structured Bug Bounty Programme to further strengthen the security of the Aadhaar system. The Programme adds another layer of protection by inviting independent experts to help identify any hidden risks. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said that the programme allows cyber security experts to look for possible weaknesses in some of UIDAI’s key digital platforms.

The new initiative reaffirms UIDAI’s continuous efforts to further strengthen and ensure that its platforms remain secure for residents and stakeholders. The Ministry informed that a panel of 20 experienced security researchers and ethical hackers has been selected to take part in the initiative. It added they will examine UIDAI digital assets such as UIDAI official website, myAadhaar portal and the Secure QR Code application.

The Delhi Cantonment Board has launched Swachhata Monitoring and Automated Reporting Tool (SMART) for enhanced effectiveness and transparency in the monitoring of sanitation and civic services across the cantonment area.

Ministry of Defence said that this innovative digital solution addresses the challenges faced by the board due to manual reporting, delayed data collection, and fragmented monitoring. It added that to further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the SMART software, AI-enabled analytical capabilities are being integrated into the system as a pilot initiative. The Ministry added that these capabilities will enable SMART to minimise human intervention, analyse operational data, identify recurring issues and support proactive decision-making.

Veteran Tamil filmmaker and musician Thakkali Srinivasan died at the age of 72 in Bengaluru on March 10, following health complications. Known for his career as a producer, director, actor, musician, and screenplay writer, Srinivasan was a prominent figure in South cinema. His death led to an outpouring of tributes from fans and industry colleagues across social media platforms.

Srinivasan's last rites were held in Bengaluru on March 11. His publicist announced the news, which read, "Deeply regret to inform that Producer/Director/Composer Thakkali Srinivasan passed away due to health complications in Bengaluru. He was a philanthropist who ran an ashram in the later years of his life and was living with his adopted children."

Gujarat Titans announced former India wicketkeeper-batter Vijay Dahiya as their new assistant coach ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season on Wednesday, March 11. A respected figure in Indian cricket, Dahiya represented his national side in 19 ODIs and two Tests and enjoyed a successful domestic career with Delhi before moving into coaching.

He later guided Delhi to the 2007–08 Ranji Trophy title, establishing himself as a capable mentor in domestic cricket. Over the years, he has also built an impressive coaching rsum across domestic tournaments and the IPL. Earlier, Dahiya also served as the assistant coach of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), working within the Andy Flower-led support staff group since the team’s inception in 2022, before parting ways ahead of the IPL 2024 season.

The Bascule bridge, which connects Kidderpore and Garden Reach with the rest of Calcutta, is undergoing a major renovation, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), the custodian of the 60-year-old structure, said on Wednesday.

The ₹117.54 crore project will modernise the 1966-built bridge. Constructed by the Austrian firm, Waagner-Biro Bridge Systems AG, the structure is a double-leaf rolling bridge with its leaves opening to allow cargo ships to pass between Kidderpore Dock I and II. When closed, it provide a road route for vehicles.

SMPK has partnered with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited through an MoU for the work. The work was awarded to M/s H & H Fressinet, Mumbai, in September 2025.

The renovation involves upgrade of the bridge’s 1,640-tonne steel structure and its electromechanical systems.

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the state government that no steps or activities on the ground should be carried out within the Sharavathi Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary and its Eco-Sensitive Zone.

A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha passed the interim order after hearing the public interest litigation challenging the decision taken by the Karnataka State Wildlife Board to approve the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project and the Kalkatte Bridge construction.

The petition was filed by Wildlife Conservationist Akhilesh Chipli from Shivamogga, Human Rights Activist Dr Ravindranath Shanbhogue from Udupi and Environmentalist Manohar Kumar C B from Shivamogga, through advocate B V Vidyulatha.