1. PARAKRAM DIWAS AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
SUBJECT: POLITY
- Parakram Diwas Celebrations: India observed ‘Parakram Diwas’ today to mark the 129th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The government announced the declassification of a new set of digital files related to the Azad Hind Fauj to encourage historical research.
- Republic Day Full Dress Rehearsal: The full dress rehearsal for the 77th Republic Day parade was held at Kartavya Path, Delhi. For the first time, an all-women maritime contingent from the Indian Navy led the naval block, showcasing gender inclusivity in the armed forces.
- Census 2026 Modalities: The Ministry of Home Affairs released the final list of questionnaire parameters for the upcoming digital census starting April 1. It includes new columns for digital literacy and migration patterns due to climate change.
- Governor’s Address Controversy: A constitutional debate emerged in Karnataka after the Governor truncated his customary address to the State Assembly. Experts are discussing the discretionary powers of the Governor under Article 175 and Article 176.
- Electoral Integrity: The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched a pilot project for “Multi-Constituency Remote Voting” for domestic migrants in select districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala to enhance voter turnout.
Concepts: Article 87 – Special address by the President/Governor; Article 324 – Powers of the Election Commission to ensure fair polls.
2. TAMIL NADU ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ALERTS
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ISSUES
- Resolution on MGNREGA: The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution urging the Union Government to restore the original funding structure of the MGNREGA scheme, opposing the mandatory Aadhaar-based payment bridge system (ABPS) for rural workers.
- Cyclone Ditwah Aftermath: Remnants of Cyclone Ditwah continued to trigger heavy spells in coastal Tamil Nadu. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) deployed SDRF teams in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam to manage localized flooding.
- Himalayan Conservation: Environmentalists raised alarms over the Union Ministry of Environment’s approval to fell over 17,000 trees for a strategic highway project in the sensitive Great Himalayan National Park zone.
- Prime Minister’s Visit to TN: PM Narendra Modi visited Madurantakam, Tamil Nadu, today to inaugurate several infrastructure projects. He emphasized the “Viksit Bharat” vision and the role of Tamil heritage in national integration.
- National Dog Sanctuary: Following the “Animal Protection Campaign” mentioned in recent petitions, Punjab inaugurated the nation’s first state-of-the-art stray dog sanctuary in Ludhiana to address man-animal conflict.
Concepts: Seventh Schedule – Distribution of legislative powers between Union and State; Disaster Management Act, 2005 – Framework for state-level response.
3. GLOBAL PEACE INITIATIVES AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- U.S. ‘Board of Peace’ Initiative: President Donald Trump officially launched the “Board of Peace” today. Russia pledged $1 billion to this initiative, signaling a potential shift in the Eurasian security architecture and the Ukraine conflict.
- India-EU Transport Pact: India and the European Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a “Green Transport Corridor,” focusing on hydrogen-powered shipping and sustainable aviation fuel.
- Diplomatic Strains with Canada: Relations between India and Canada faced further friction as the U.S. excluded Canada from certain discussions within the new ‘Board of Peace’ framework, citing security concerns.
- Gulfood 2026: India was named the “Premier Partner Country” for the Gulfood 2026 exhibition in Dubai. Over 160 Indian agri-exporters are showcasing “Brand India” products to the Middle Eastern markets.
- SCO Connectivity: In a virtual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), India advocated for the inclusion of the Chabahar Port in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
Concepts: Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations – Protection of missions; Strategic Autonomy – India’s balanced approach to global power blocs.
4. BUDGET EXPECTATIONS AND CURRENCY VOLATILITY
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- Interim Budget 2026-27: Pre-budget consultations concluded today with the Finance Ministry hinting at a “Labor-Centric” budget aimed at transitioning agricultural workers into the high-tech manufacturing sector.
- Rupee at Historic Low: The Indian Rupee hit a record low of 85.10 against the US Dollar today, primarily driven by foreign institutional investors (FII) withdrawing capital amid global trade uncertainty.
- MSME Liquidity Boost: The Union Cabinet approved an additional ₹5,000 crore capital infusion into SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) to provide low-interest loans to rural startups.
- Asian Manufacturing Index (AMI): India climbed to the 6th position in the AMI 2026, overtaking Thailand, though it still trails behind China and Vietnam in electronics exports.
- Atal Pension Yojana (APY) Milestone: The Finance Ministry reported that APY subscribers have crossed 8.6 crore, indicating a surge in the formalization of the unorganized sector workforce.
Concepts: Fiscal Policy – The government’s use of spending and taxation; Exchange Rate Dynamics – Factors influencing the depreciation of the Rupee.
5. INDUCTION OF ADVANCED DEFENCE TECH
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- S-400 Triumf Display: The Indian Air Force confirmed that the S-400 missile system, which played a critical role during ‘Operation Sindoor’, will be the highlight of the 2026 Republic Day parade.
- Quantum Computing in Defence: QpiAI introduced the ‘Kaveri’ 64-qubit quantum processor today. The Ministry of Defence announced plans to integrate this into the naval encryption systems to prevent cyber-warfare.
- Indigenization Success: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cancelled a pending import order for 12 utility helicopters, awarding the contract to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
- Border Infrastructure: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) completed a strategic tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh today, ensuring all-weather connectivity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
- Joint Naval Drills: The Indian Navy commenced a three-day maritime exercise with the French Navy in the Indian Ocean to enhance interoperability in anti-submarine warfare.
Concepts: Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 – Guidelines for domestic procurement; Quantum Supremacy – Strategic importance in national security.
