MeitY launches AIKosha, a platform that supports India's researchers, entrepreneurs, and startups by providing access to computing power, datasets, tools, and a secure environment to develop advanced AI applications. The platform includes an AI sandbox with an integrated development environment, along with tools and tutorials. New initiatives under MeitY include AIKosha the IndiaAI Datasets Platform, the AI Compute Portal, the AI Competency Framework for Public Sector Officials, iGOT-AI Mission Karmayogi, the IndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration Program with Station F, the IndiaAI Application Development Initiative, and IndiaAI FutureSkills. These efforts aim to enhance AI research, innovation, and skill development.

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The 12th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise Khanjar-XII takes place in Kyrgyzstan from March 10 to March 23, 2025. Since its start in 2011, the exercise has become an annual event, held alternately in India and Kyrgyzstan, reflecting their strong strategic ties. The previous edition was conducted in India in January 2024. The Indian contingent includes troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), while the Kyrgyz Scorpion Brigade represents Kyrgyzstan. The exercise aims to share knowledge and best practices in counter-terrorism and special forces operations, particularly in urban and high-altitude mountainous terrain. It also focuses on advanced skills such as sniping, building intervention, and mountain craft. In addition to training, the exercise features cultural exchanges, including the celebration of the Kyrgyz festival Nowruz, strengthening the friendship between the two nations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UNICEF now jointly oversee a new Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator on Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD). This indicator fills a previous gap in monitoring progress toward ending malnutrition, achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and advancing the broader 2030 Agenda. The United Nations Statistical Commission officially adopts this indicator at its 56th session in New York. The MDD's inclusion is one of several key updates approved as part of the 2025 Comprehensive Review of the SDG indicator framework, the final review within the 2030 Agenda's timeframe.

The India-Bangladesh Naval Exercise Bongosagar 2025 and Coordinated Patrol take place in the Bay of Bengal this week, with the Indian Navy's INS Ranvir and the Bangladesh Navy's BNS Abu Ubaidah participating. The exercise improves cooperation between the two navies, enabling them to respond jointly to maritime security challenges. It includes various operations such as surface firing, tactical maneuvers, underway replenishment, Visit-Board-Search-Seizure (VBSS) cross boarding, communication drills, and quizzes for operational teams and junior officers on professional topics. This exercise helps both navies strengthen coordination, refine tactical planning, and enhance information sharing for smooth maritime operations. It builds mutual confidence and improves their ability to conduct joint missions and respond quickly and effectively to emerging threats at sea.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh says that the Mission Saffron initiative, launched in 2021, is expanding saffron cultivation in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya. Large-scale farming is already happening in Menchukha (Arunachal Pradesh) and Yuksom (Sikkim), with plans to extend it to Nagaland and Manipur. This effort aims to make the Northeast a major saffron-producing region after Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir. The initiative makes use of unused land without affecting existing crops. While laying the foundation stone for the new NECTAR campus in Shillong, the Minister highlights the government’s goal of transforming the Northeast into a key saffron hub. He also points out that the region is seeing fast progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, creating new opportunities in technology and agriculture.

Uttarakhand is the first state in India to introduce the 'Resham Keet Bima' scheme, an insurance plan designed to protect silk farmers from various risks. In the first phase of this project, 200 sericulturists from five blocks in four districts—Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Nainital—receive insurance coverage against issues like climate change, water shortages, and other challenges. The scheme operates under the 'Saral Krishi Beema' program in partnership with the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited. The launch event in Dehradun includes key figures such as Ajeet Singh, Chairperson of the Uttarakhand Cooperative Silk Federation Limited, and Girija Subramanian, CMD of the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited. Sericulture supports about 12,000 families in Uttarakhand, with approximately 6,000 stakeholders producing nearly 300 metric tonnes of silk fibroin each year. This insurance scheme aims to boost silk production in the state and offer financial security to Seri culturists

The Kerala High Court rules that a woman can opt for surrogacy until she reaches 51 years of age. A Division Bench, consisting of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S Manu, overturns a single judge’s decision that denied a woman permission for surrogacy after she turned 50. The court clarifies that the law allows surrogacy throughout the age of 50, meaning a woman remains eligible until she turns 51. It emphasizes that the law aims to uphold ethical and legal standards, and its interpretation should prevent unnecessary restrictions while ensuring ethical surrogacy practices.

The recent expansion of the Kuno Wildlife Division and the designation of Madhav National Park as Madhav Tiger Reserve mark an important step in wildlife conservation in Madhya Pradesh. These changes create a more organized and unified approach to managing wildlife in the Kuno-Madhav region, helping to protect, both animal species and their habitats. According to the latest newsletter from Kuno National Park authorities, the region remained largely undeveloped for conservation due to the lack of a major predator like the tiger or cheetah. However, the introduction of cheetahs in September 2022 and the relocation of tigers to Madhav National Park in March 2023 have drawn new attention to the area. The official report highlights these developments as a key moment in improving wildlife conservation in Madhya Pradesh.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) sign an MoU to develop the Sansad AI solution in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla and Union Minister for MEITY, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw. The Sansad Bhashini initiative aims to provide in-house AI solutions for multilingual support and efficient parliamentary operations. Both the Lok Sabha Secretariat and MEITY collaborate to develop and integrate AI tools using parliamentary data. Sansad provides parliamentary resources for training and refining AI models, while Bhashini contributes translation capabilities and technical expertise. The key AI initiatives under Sansad Bhashini include AI-based translation, an AI-powered chatbot for the Parliament website, speech-to-text conversion with live interpretation, and speech-to-speech conversion with real-time transcription.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore return to Earth after an extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission starting on June 5, 2024, their stay extends to 286 days due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. On March 18, 2025, they safely splash down off the coast of Florida in SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom. This marks the end of their prolonged mission, during which they conduct numerous experiments and participate in spacewalks. Their return journey involves high re-entry temperatures and dramatic deceleration before landing. NASA ensures the capsule lands safely, supported by optimal conditions, and quickly recovers the crew. Their mission highlights the complexities and resilience involved in human spaceflight and underscores the importance of adaptability in the face of unforeseen challenges.

North India's first nuclear power project is being developed in Gorakhpur, a small town in Haryana. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh shares this update while reaffirming the government’s commitment to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, which is a key step toward India's clean energy goals. The government is also allowing private companies to participate in the nuclear energy sector to speed up its growth. Dr. Singh highlights the Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Plant as part of this larger vision. With India aiming for net-zero emissions by 2070, the project plays an important role in achieving clean energy targets and strengthening the country’s leadership in nuclear technology.

The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC), under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, obtains Oeko-Tex certification for eri silk from Germany. Oeko-Tex is a global certification for textiles, including yarns, fabrics, buttons, linens, terry cloth, thread, and other accessories, which tests for harmful substances in raw, semi-finished, and finished textile materials and products. This certification ensures that the final product is safe for human use. Receiving the Oeko-Tex certification is an important step in improving the marketability of eri silk in the global textile industry. It assures international buyers that eri silk meets global safety and quality standards, increasing consumer confidence and acceptance in high-end markets. The certification also confirms that eri silk complies with international textile safety regulations, helping Indian exporters compete in premium markets that focus on eco-friendly and chemical-free products

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), along with the Department of Horticulture, Government of Mizoram, helps send the first shipment of Anthurium flowers from Aizawl, Mizoram, to Singapore. This step aims to boost India’s floriculture exports, especially from the North Eastern Region (NER). Anthurium is a key flower grown in Mizoram, supporting the local economy and benefiting farmers, including women. Its cultivation provides livelihood and empowerment to local communities. Mizoram also holds the annual “Anthurium Festival” to promote tourism and showcase the flower’s beauty. In FY 2023-2024, India’s floriculture exports reach USD 86.62 million. This first shipment from Mizoram to Singapore marks progress in expanding floriculture exports from the region.

Women in Kerala are increasingly entering the security industry as bouncers, challenging traditional gender roles and contributing to safer public spaces. This trend mirrors similar developments across India. In Pune, for instance, the Swamini Lady Bouncers Club was founded in 2016 by Amita Kadam, inspired by her brother-in-law's work as a bouncer. The club began with five members and has since expanded to 50 women working in various pubs across the city. These women are trained in self-defense, frisking female guests, and handling harassers, providing them with income, self-confidence, respect, and dignity. Similarly, in Delhi-NCR, female bouncers navigate societal perceptions and confront challenges to assert their presence in a traditionally male-dominated field.

In a significant advancement in the fight against tuberculosis, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the successful genome sequencing of 10,000 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during a summit held at Vigyan Bhawan on "World TB Day." This milestone reinforces India's commitment to eliminating TB ahead of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2030 targets. The sequencing effort is a key part of the Dare2eraD TB program (Data Driven Research to Eradicate TB), launched on March 24, 2022, which emphasizes research-driven approaches to combat TB. A crucial element of this initiative is the Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance (InTGS) Consortium, led by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in collaboration with leading clinical institutions. The program aims to sequence over 32,000 TB isolates to detect drug resistance mutations and enhance treatment strategies.

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approves an incentive scheme to promote low-value BHIM-UPI transactions (Person to Merchant - P2M) for the financial year 2024-25. This initiative aims to boost digital payments, help small merchants adopt UPI, and support financial inclusion. The scheme has a budget of ₹1,500 crore and runs from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. It focuses on UPI (P2M) transactions up to ₹2,000, encouraging small merchants to use digital payments at the grassroots level.

President Donald Trump signs an executive order to change U.S. election rules. The order requires proof of citizenship to register for federal elections and mandates that all ballots arrive by Election Day. It claims the U.S. has failed to enforce essential election protections and urges states to share voter lists and prosecute election crimes. States that do not comply risk losing federal funding. The order is expected to face legal challenges since states have the authority to set their own election rules. This aligns with Trump’s ongoing criticism of election processes.

The Indian Navy is launching two landmark initiatives—IOS Sagar and AIKEYME—to strengthen its role as the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ and ‘First Responder’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). These initiatives align with the Navy’s efforts to deepen partnerships with maritime agencies across the IOR, in line with the Indian government’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). Recognizing the shared commitment of India and African nations to maritime security, the Indian Navy, in collaboration with the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF), is introducing the first edition of the ‘Africa India Key Maritime Engagement’ (AIKEYME), meaning ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit. This large-scale multilateral maritime exercise enhances interoperability among participating navies and maritime agencies, enabling them to address challenges such as piracy, illicit trafficking, and unregulated fishing through improved information sharing and joint surveillance.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), along with IISc Bengaluru and five IITs—Bombay, Madras, Delhi, Kharagpur, and Guwahati—hosts India’s first Nano Electronics Roadshow at the National Science Seminar Complex, IISc Bengaluru. This event marks a key step toward India’s goal of a self-sufficient semiconductor ecosystem. The roadshow showcases over 100 intellectual properties (IPs), more than 50 pioneering technologies, and innovations from over 35 emerging startups, all supported by six advanced nanoelectronics centers across the country. These Nano Centers, set up by MeitY at IISc and IITs, drive India’s progress in deep-tech by fostering cutting-edge research and strategic advancements. During the event, these academic institutions bridge research with real-world applications, featuring 48 innovative technology demonstrations by students from the Nano Centers.