India's pharmaceutical sector is set to take a major step towards becoming an innovation-driven global powerhouse, as India Pharma 2026 aims to accelerate the industry's transition from volume-based growth to value and research-led expansion, the government said on Monday. The Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), will organise the 9th edition of India Pharma 2026 on April 13-14 at Federation House in the national capital.

The conference will act as a key platform for discussions on how India's pharma industry can move beyond being a volume-driven market to becoming a value- and innovation-led global leader.

It will bring together policymakers, global industry leaders, researchers and innovators to explore new opportunities and strategies.

Census 2027 will begin from the 1st of next month. This will be the 16th Census in the series and the 8th since Independence. Addressing the media in New Delhi today, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Mritunjay Kumar Narayan informed that the Census will be conducted in two phases. Mr Narayan said that in the first phase, house listing and Self-Enumeration will be carried out. The Commissioner noted that the Self-Enumeration facility will be conducted over a 15-day period between 1st April and 31st August this year, with the schedule varying across States and Union Territories.

He added that, after each State and Union Territory carries out the Self-Enumeration, the house listing operations will be conducted over a 30-day period till 30th September. He also noted that the self-enumeration portal will be available in 16 languages. He further informed that the questions for the first phase have already been notified, and the questions for the second phase will be published in due course. Mr Narayan also highlighted that the caste enumeration will be done in the second phase of the Census.

Jannik Sinner defeated Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to win the Miami Open and complete the ‘Sunshine Double’.

The Italian beat Lehecka in straight sets to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to win both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. Sinner also became the first player to achieve the feat without dropping a set across the two events.

The 24-year-old won Indian Wells for the first time in his career and became the eighth different man to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’. Novak Djokovic and Federer have achieved the feat multiple times.

Eight men who have completed the Sunshine Double at least once are: Jim Courier (1991), Michael Chang (1992), Pete Sampras (1994), Marcelo Rios (1998), Andre Agassi (2001), Roger Federer (2005-06) and Novak Djokovic (2011, 2014-16).

The Central Government has allocated 3,880 crore rupees to Nagaland under the “Pride of Hills: Special Development Assistance for the Hill States” scheme for the financial year 2026-27. The scheme aims to address key challenges faced by hill states, such as difficult terrain, limited connectivity, sparse population, and constrained revenue sources, which often impact their fiscal strength.

The initiative, part of the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), earmarks a total outlay of 25,000 crore rupees for nine hill states. Under the total outlay, Arunachal Pradesh received the highest allocation of 4,900 crore, followed by Himachal Pradesh with 3,920 crore. Nagaland was allocated 3880 crore, while Uttarakhand received 3,460 crore and Tripura 3,450 crore. Manipur was allotted 2,400 crore and Meghalaya 2,070 crore. Further, Sikkim has been allocated 820 crore and Mizoram 100 crore rupees.

The additional funding is expected to boost capital expenditure, support infrastructure development, and accelerate overall economic growth in these regions.

Nestled in the Jampui Hills, Vangmun village, once grappling with acute water scarcity, has transformed itself through collective efforts and now stands as a symbol of resilience. Highlighting the initiative during his recent address in Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of water conservation, especially with the onset of summer across several parts of the country.

Over the past decade, he noted, campaigns such as the Jal Sanchay Abhiyan have led to the creation of nearly 50 lakh artificial water harvesting structures nationwide, significantly boosting awareness on water preservation. He also pointed out that under the Amrit Sarovar Abhiyan, around 70,000 water bodies have been developed, with cleaning and maintenance already underway ahead of the monsoon.

Several Chinese surveillance equipment manufacturers will soon be barred from selling internet-connected CCTV cameras in India starting April 1, 2026. This comes after the implementation of new certification and security compliance rules coming into effect from the said date. The move, according to experts is aimed at tightening digital security and reducing reliance on foreign surveillance technology in sensitive infrastructure.

Chinese video surveillance companies that are likely to be affected by the move are Hikvision, Dahua and TP-Link. According to Economic Times, the government is explicitly refusing to certify products made by these companies and those using Chinese chipsets.

About one-third of all CCTV sales in India till last year were Chinese, but with this move, home grown brands like CP Plus, Qubo, Prama, Matrix, and Sparsh- that have shifted to Taiwanese chipsets - and now cater to 80 per cent of the Indian market, according to market tracker counterpoint will do even better business.

The government on Monday said it is mulling over to bring the unorganised sector under the ambit of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation.

This information emerged in a reply to a supplementary question in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour by Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje. “At present, it is being deliberated in the labour department that that the unorganised workers should get pension in the coming days as the prime minister desires that all those who work should get pension and they should come under the ambit of the EPFO and ESIC,” she told the House.

The MoS also informed that a lot of improvement is happening in the pension scheme, including the launch of the free doorstep service. The Ministry in its deliberations is also considering online industry for pension in the near future, the Minister from Karnata said.

The Indian Air Force is set to equip its fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets with the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, or ASRAAM, in a move that will significantly upgrade the aircraft's combat capabilities.

The Ministry of Defence issued a request for proposals on March 25 for the integration and testing of the ASRAAM on the MiG-29 UPG variant. The contract will cover not only the missile itself but also the necessary launchers, associated equipment and training for aircrew and ground personnel.

ASRAAM, a European-designed short-range air-to-air missile built by the multinational company MBDA, has already been integrated on the indigenous LCA Tejas and Jaguar aircraft. Its stated range exceeds 25 kilometres, more than double that of the Soviet-era R-73 missile it is intended to replace on the MiG-29. The Indian Air Force currently operates more than 55 MiG-29s, including eight twin-seat trainer versions.

The government has invited nominations for the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2026. The award is a prestigious national initiative to recognize outstanding contributions in the fields of Science, Technology, and Innovation. It honours scientists, technologists, and innovators whose work has significantly advanced India’s scientific landscape and contributed to national development. The RVP-2026 awards will be presented in four distinct categories, which include the Vigyan Rata, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar and Vigyan Team.

Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to fostering excellence in science, technology, and innovation. He added that these awards celebrate the spirit of inquiry and dedication of country’s scientists and innovators who are driving India’s transformation into a global knowledge leader. Dr Singh also highlighted that the awards serve as a testament to nation’s commitment to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded the cricket team of Jammu and Kashmir for bagging the Ranji Trophy title for the first time and expressed hope that this winning streak of sports persons there continues in the future.

Addressing his monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat', Modi said March has been a month full of excitement and enthusiasm for cricket fans across the country.

He said when India achieved a historic victory in the T20 World Cup, a wave of joy swept across the country and all citizens are very proud of the team's thumping success.

Late last month, a thrilling match was witnessed in Karnataka's Hubli, where the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team secured the Ranji Trophy, he said.