1. SUPREME COURT QUASHES NCERT TEXTBOOK BAN; ORDERS SEIZURE OF CONTROVERSIAL COPIES
SUBJECT: POLITY / GOVERNANCE
- The Supreme Court of India has officially banned a specific controversial textbook while ordering the immediate seizure of all existing copies, citing content that could potentially incite communal disharmony.
- The Judiciary emphasized that “educational materials must align with constitutional values,” highlighting the role of the state in regulating curricula to prevent misinformation in schools.
- Southern states have raised significant concerns regarding the upcoming Population-based Delimitation of Lok Sabha seats, arguing it may penalize states with successful population control measures.
- The Sixteenth Finance Commission continues to face scrutiny from legal experts over potential misses in addressing the horizontal equity between developed and developing states.
- The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has moved to a “fast-track” approval system for new medicines, issuing No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) immediately upon application for lab testing.
- Concepts: Article 32 & 226 – Judicial review of administrative actions; Seventh Schedule – Education as a Concurrent List subject; Article 82 – Constitutional basis for delimitation.
2. TAMIL NADU “CONVERSION CONCLAVE 2026” REVEALS 73% MOU EXECUTION RATE
SUBJECT: NATIONAL / TAMIL NADU
- Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the Conversion Conclave 2026 in Chennai, announcing that 73.53% of MoUs signed since mid-2021 have been successfully converted into active industrial projects.
- The Tamil Nadu Class 12 (Plus Two) Public Examinations commenced today, March 2, with over 8.27 lakh students appearing for the language papers across 3,412 centers.
- The state government has deployed a massive force of 44,624 invigilators and special flying squads to ensure a “copy-free” examination environment across all districts.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs set a final deadline of March 31, 2026, for the total eradication of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), noting that Bihar has already been declared Naxal-free.
- The Prime Minister launched a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination drive targeting 14-year-old girls to combat cervical cancer, integrating it into the National Immunization Programme.
- Concepts: Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) – Administrative efficiency in project implementation; Public Health Governance – Preventive healthcare through large-scale vaccination drives.
3. INDIA AND CANADA SIGN LANDMARK URANIUM SUPPLY AGREEMENT
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian PM Mark Carney signed a historic agreement in New Delhi for the long-term supply of Uranium to fuel India’s civil nuclear reactors.
- The two leaders also firmed up terms for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aiming to double bilateral trade by 2030.
- The U.S. and Israel launched “Operation Epic Fury,” a joint offensive targeting Tehran that reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, triggering massive regional instability.
- India has initiated emergency measures to ensure the safety of the Indian Diaspora in the Gulf nations following missile retaliations in West Asia.
- India and Brazil signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Critical Minerals, focusing on securing lithium and rare earth elements for India’s EV and semiconductor sectors.
- Concepts: Strategic Autonomy – Balancing ties between Western powers and West Asian stability; Civil Nuclear Cooperation – Energy security through international uranium partnerships.
4. FEB GST COLLECTIONS SURGE TO ₹1.83 LAKH CRORE; GDP ESTIMATES REVISED
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- India’s GST collections for February 2026 grew by 8.1% year-on-year, crossing the ₹1.83 lakh crore mark, signaling robust domestic consumption despite global headwinds.
- The Ministry of Statistics (MoSPI) released a new GDP series, upgrading the FY26 growth estimate to 7.6%, confirming India’s status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
- Micron Technology inaugurated India’s first major Semiconductor Assembly and Test (ATMP) plant in Sanand, Gujarat, marking a milestone for the “India Semiconductor Mission.”
- The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) introduced a “Deferred Customs Duty Payment” facility for manufacturers to ease working capital pressure.
- Crude oil prices surged by 10% globally following the strikes on Iran, prompting the Indian government to monitor the impact on the Current Account Deficit (CAD).
- Concepts: Fiscal Consolidation – Balancing high tax mop-ups with rising global oil prices; Viksit Bharat 2047 – Manufacturing-led growth via semiconductor indigenization.
5. DRDO SUCCESSFULLY TESTS INDIGENOUS VSHORADS MISSILE SYSTEM
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- The DRDO conducted three successful flight trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at the Integrated Test Range in Odisha, enhancing low-altitude aerial defense.
- VSHORADS is a Man-Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed to neutralize enemy drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft at a range of up to 8 km.
- The Ministry of Defence scrapped several import deals for Coast Guard helicopters and missiles, redirecting the funds to domestic private players under the Positive Indigenisation List.
- INSV Kaundinya is set to be flagged into Mumbai harbour, completing a significant maritime expedition that showcases India’s growing naval soft power.
- New reports highlight the Ethics of AI in Warfare, as the U.S. designated certain AI firms as supply chain risks, prompting India to accelerate its own secure AI-defense framework.
- Concepts: Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence – Transitioning from being a top importer to a self-reliant producer; Technology Transfer (ToT) – The role of DRDO in empowering private defense manufacturing.
