Founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation, Nita Ambani, was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology University (KIITU) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in recognition of her steadfast dedication to nation building through education, sports, healthcare, rural transformation, art and culture, and her unwavering commitment to empowering communities.

At the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) campus in Bhubaneswar, she was conferred the KISS Humanitarian Award 2025.

The award was presented by Nobel laureate from Sri Lanka Prof Mohan Munasinghe in the presence of KIIT & KISS founder Achyuta Samanta here on Monday, a KIIT statement said.

The Ministry of Ayush has launched “Yoga 365”, a nationwide campaign aimed at transforming yoga from a once-a-year celebration into a daily practice embedded in everyday life.

The initiative was unveiled during the launch of Yoga Mahotsav–2026 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, marking the 100-day countdown to the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, said the campaign seeks to build on the global success of the International Day of Yoga by encouraging consistent daily engagement with yoga.

The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, has launched a nationwide 'VB-G Ram G Youth Digital Campaign' in collaboration with the 'MY Bharat' portal, aiming to encourage participation of rural youth in development activities.

The initiative seeks to channel the energy and creativity of young people towards rural development, employment generation, and local livelihood initiatives.

The campaign is designed to make youth active partners in nation-building by providing them with a digital platform to showcase progress and innovation in their villages. Through this initiative, participants can present stories of development work, grassroots-level changes, and local innovations through videos and creative designs.

In a pathbreaking initiative to bring India’s rich tribal heritage to the forefront of global fashion and lifestyle, the Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram launched a dedicated premium signature brand, “RISA: Timeless Tribal,” on 18th March 2026 at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi in the august presence of Smt. Savitri Thakur, Hon’ble MoS Women and Child Development, Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary of Tribal Affairs, Shri Anant Prakash Pandey, Joint Secretary of Tribal Affairs, Shri M. Rajamurugan, MD TRIFED, and renowned designer Shri Manish Tripathi.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Jual Oram, Hon’ble Minister of Tribal Affairs remarked that “tribal crafts are timeless yet undervalued, and platforms like Bharat Tribes Fest and RISA are bridging this gap through market access and fair profit-sharing.”

In a significant step towards deepening structural reforms in rural drinking water governance, a Reform‑Linked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 was signed today with the State of Uttar Pradesh, marking the State’s formal entry into the reform‑linked implementation framework of the Mission. Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Paatil, and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, who joined the event through video conferencing. Shri V Somanna, Minister of State, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Shri Swatantra Dev Singh, Minister of Jal Shakti, Uttar Pradesh was present in person for the MoU signing.

The Union Cabinet approved Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks with an allocation of 33 thousand 660 crore rupees. Briefing media in New Delhi after the cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Scheme aims to develop world-class industrial infrastructure, unlocking manufacturing potential and driving the country’s growth story. He said that Industrial parks of 100 to 1000 acres will be developed with support of up to one crore rupees per acre.

In a significant step towards strengthening farmer welfare and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the Cabinet approved MSP funding of over 1,718 crore rupees to the Cotton Corporation of India for the cotton season 2023-24. The Minister said that this funding aims to provide direct price support to cotton farmers across the country. Mr Vaishnaw said the MSP operations are undertaken to safeguard the interests of cotton farmers, particularly during periods when market prices fall below the MSP.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) took a decisive step toward bolstering maritime security with the keel laying ceremony for Yard 16402 and 16403, the second and third ships of six Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), held at YMPL, Ratnagiri on March 17, 2026.

These advanced vessels boast a range of 5,000 nautical miles and a maximum speed of 23 knots. Measuring 117 meters in length with a crew strength of 11 officers and 110 men, they incorporate state-of-the-art machinery and cutting-edge systems, including AI-based predictive maintenance systems, Remote Piloted Drones, Integrated Bridge System (IBS), and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).

The central government, on March 19, announced the launch of a new initiative, Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) with an outlay of Rs 497 crore to cushion exporters from rising freight and insurance costs amid the crisis in West Asia.

The relief package will fall under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) and will be implemented through the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India.

The expenditure for the new scheme will be met from the existing allocation under the Export Promotion Mission.

Pondicherry University has launched a mobile application titled ‘Blue Voice’ aimed at enhancing safety and disaster preparedness among coastal fishing communities.

The app provides real-time, location-specific weather updates in a user-friendly format. It will address challenges such as language barriers and complex interfaces faced by fishers while using conventional weather platforms. The application also enables fishers to share their experiential knowledge alongside modern weather alerts, creating a participatory digital space for improved decision-making at sea.

The Ministry of Ayush has introduced a specially designed five-minute in-flight yoga routine aimed at helping air travellers stay fit, relaxed and energised during flights. The initiative, launched during Yoga Mahotsav 2026, seeks to address common health issues associated with long-duration air travel.

Unveiling the protocol, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav said yoga is a powerful tool for preventive healthcare and overall well-being. He noted that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to making yoga accessible in all settings, including during air travel.

Developed by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), the routine is tailored for passengers and can be performed easily while seated, without any special equipment.