Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday launched projects worth ₹2,612 crore on World Water Day, inaugurating 124 projects valued at around ₹320 crore and laying the foundation for 17 projects worth ₹2,292 crore.

Speaking at the state-level event at Lok Seva Bhavan, Majhi stressed the importance of water conservation. “Each drop of water is precious. Several countries are facing water crises. We must prioritise conservation and rainwater harvesting to prevent shortages,” he said.

The chief minister said the “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” has made water conservation a national priority. He added that ensuring water security is key to Odisha’s development vision for 2036, when the state marks its centenary.

Bihar is celebrating its 114th Foundation Day today. On this day in 1912, Bihar was carved out of Bengal and granted the status of a separate state. A three-day state-level ceremony is being organized at Gandhi Maidan in Patna to mark Bihar Divas.

The theme of this day is “Unnat Bihar, Ujjwal Bihar” (Progressive Bihar, Bright Bihar). On this occasion, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the state-level function at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Governor Lieutenant General (Rtd) Syed Ata Hasnain will address the closing ceremony on March 24. Several renowned artists from across the country will perform during the celebrations.

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have extended greetings to the people of Bihar living in the country and abroad on the occasion of Bihar Foundation Day.

The Gujarat government has approved the supplementary power purchase agreement with Tata Power for its 4 GW Mundra Power plant, paving the way for it to restart the plant, which has been lying idle for around nine months due to high imported coal costs.

“The Gujarat cabinet has approved the Supplementary PPA, and a Government order has been issued. After regulatory clearances, the Company and Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) will sign the agreement,” the company said in a statement.

The updated PPA allows cost pass-through for coal, which was a concern after the power ministry withdrew emergency compensation for high fuel costs.

Border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district is set to resume this June after a six-year pause since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and border skirmishes with the northern neighbour, as per a PTI report.

This comes after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for trade through the Himalayan Pass this year, according to the report.

Pithoragarh District Magistrate Ashish Bhatgai told the agency that following the Centre's nod, preparations have begun for the trade session which usually lasts from June to September.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became the longest-serving head of an elected government in India, surpassing former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling in cumulative tenure.

PM Modi completed 8,931 days in office as head of government, combining his terms as Gujarat Chief Minister and Prime Minister, thereby entering his 25th year in executive office.

Modi assumed office as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001, and remained in the post until May 21, 2014, serving for over 13 years. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 26, 2014. Since then, he has led the National Democratic Alliance government through three consecutive Lok Sabha mandates in 2014, 2019, and 2024.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday launched ‘PRARAMBH 2026’, a nationwide awareness campaign by the Income Tax Department to educate citizens about the provisions of the new Income Tax Act, 2025, which will come into effect from April 1, 2026.

The campaign, spanning print, television, radio, digital and social media platforms, aims to build awareness about the new tax regime through simplified communication, guidance material and public engagement initiatives.

On the occasion, the Finance Minister also unveiled the upgraded Income Tax Website 2.0, designed to offer improved usability, simpler navigation and efficient service delivery as part of the government’s digital transformation efforts.

The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Taragiri (F41), the latest stealth frigate of the Project 17A class, at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command. The ship will be formally inducted into service on April 3, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Taragiri is the fourth of seven Project 17A frigates being built for the Indian Navy. The class also includes INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri, which have already been commissioned, while Dunagiri, Vindhyagiri and Mahendragiri are expected to join the fleet in the future.

Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, Taragiri has been developed as a modern multi-role warship with enhanced stealth features and reduced radar cross-section.

Union Power Minister Manohar Lal said that India has demonstrated that climate responsibility and economic development can go hand in hand. Inaugurating the International Conference on Carbon Markets named Prakriti 2026 and an Indian Carbon Market Portal at Bharat Electricity Summit in New Delhi today, Mr Lal said that India’s leadership in advancing climate commitments under the visionary guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said, India is building a transparent and credible carbon market framework that will serve as a long-term national asset. He further noted that India has already established a transparent Carbon Credit Trading Scheme with nine notified methodologies and over 40 registered entities submitting projects in biogas, hydrogen, and forestry.

The Telangana government will roll out the Indiramma Family Life Insurance Scheme from June 2, offering Rs 5 lakh insurance cover to 1.15 crore families in the state.

The government said it aims to ensure that living in Telangana is a support, not a burden, noting that the loss of a sole earning member can push families into severe financial distress alongside emotional trauma. In this context, the state has allocated Rs 13,679 crore to the Medical and Health department, an increase of Rs 1,286 crore from Rs 12,393 crore in the previous fiscal.

The 2026-27 Budget introduces a cashless treatment initiative under the Employees Health Scheme (EHS), to be implemented through the Rajiv Aarogyasri Trust, covering government employees, pensioners and their dependent family members, and enabling access to treatment for 1,998 diseases across government hospitals and 421 empanelled private hospitals, with around 23.51 lakh beneficiaries expected to be covered.

Sikkim has been selected as the host venue for the 49th Yonex Sunrise Junior National Badminton Championship (Individual & Team – U-19) 2026. The tournament is scheduled to be held from 14th to 21st November.

Jacob Khaling, President of the Badminton Association of Sikkim, expressed pride over the state being chosen to host the prestigious national-level event for the first time. The championship, organised under the aegis of the Badminton Association of India, will see top junior players from across the country competing at the highest level.

Khaling extended his gratitude to Himanta Biswa Sharma, who also serves as President of the Badminton Association of India, along with Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary, and the entire executive committee for placing their trust in Sikkim.

The championship is expected to be a landmark event for Sikkim’s sporting landscape, offering local athletes a rare opportunity to witness and compete alongside some of the finest young badminton talents in the country.