1) 🇮🇳National

• CEC Assumption of Office: Gyanesh Kumar has formally taken charge as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. He succeeds Rajiv Kumar during a pivotal year for state electoral reforms.
• Keralalam Renaming: The Union Cabinet has officially cleared the proposal to rename the state of Kerala to 'Keralam'. The change follows a unanimous resolution passed by the state assembly to align with its native Malayalam nomenclature.
• Vande Mataram Protocol: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued the first-ever formal protocol for the National Song. It mandates a duration of 3 minutes and 10 seconds for the full six stanzas and requires the audience to stand at attention.
• Urban Challenge Fund: The Government has operationalised the ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund, designed to transform cities into "Growth Hubs". The Centre will provide 25% of project costs for proposals focusing on creative redevelopment.

2) 🌍International

• Board of Peace Activation: The first formal meeting of the 'Board of Peace' was held in Washington to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza. India attended as an "observer", maintaining a strategic balance in its Middle East diplomacy.
• Afghanistan-Pakistan Border War: Tensions escalated as Afghanistan launched attacks against Pakistani military positions in response to air strikes. Both nations have reported significant military engagements along their shared border.
• India-France Year of Innovation: President Emmanuel Macron and PM Modi have designated 2026 as the 'India-France Year of Innovation', focusing on sovereign AI stacks and deep-tech cooperation.
• Pax Silica Entry: India has officially signed the Pax Silica declaration, joining a US-led strategic initiative aimed at securing technology supply chains and countering global dominance in critical minerals.

3) 💰Economy

• GDP Base Year Reset: India has officially transitioned to 2022-23 as the new base year for GDP calculation. Under this new series, the real GDP growth for FY26 is projected at a robust 7.6%.
• Q3 GDP Growth: India's real GDP grew by 7.8% in the October-December quarter of FY26, beating most market estimates and highlighting resilient domestic consumption.
• Manufacturing Resilience: Following the base year revision, the manufacturing sector has emerged as a primary growth driver, clocking double-digit growth in select months of the current fiscal.
• Orange Economy Boost: The Union Budget 2026 has introduced the 'Content Creator Labs' initiative to boost the "Orange Economy" (creative industries), with companies like Adobe providing free AI tool access to students.

4) 🗓️Date’s importance

• Zero Discrimination Day: Observed annually on 1 March to promote equality before the law and in practice. The 2026 theme focuses on "Dignity and Inclusion for All."
• World Civil Defence Day: Celebrated today to honour the personnel responsible for disaster management and to raise awareness about self-protection during emergencies.
• Holashtak Commencement: In India, the eight-day inauspicious period of Holashtak begins, leading up to the festival of Holi.

5) 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day

• Sir C.V. Raman: On the heels of National Science Day, we celebrate the legacy of the physicist who discovered the Raman Effect.
• Gyanesh Kumar: Highlighted as the new head of the Election Commission of India, he is tasked with implementing the 'One Nation, One Election' feasibility roadmap.

6) 🏅Sports

• Formula 1 India Return: Reports suggest the Indian Grand Prix may return to the Buddh International Circuit as the government works to reclassify F1 as a "sport" rather than "entertainment" to reduce tax barriers.
• Ranji Trophy Final: The historic domestic final is set to take place between Jammu & Kashmir and Karnataka, marking a dream run for the J&K squad.
• Indian Wells Open: 15-year-old Indian-American sensation Izyan 'Zizou' Ahmad, famous for his childhood "pinky promise" with Roger Federer, has earned a qualifying wildcard for the 2026 tournament.

7) 🏆Awards

• Apollo CV Awards 2026: The 17th edition held in Mumbai named Tata Signa 5532.S as the 'CV of the Year'. Girish Wagh (MD, Tata Motors) was honoured as 'CV Person of the Year'.
• SAG Life Achievement Award: The Screen Actors Guild (The Actor Awards) is honouring Harrison Fordtoday with the Life Achievement Award for his contribution to global cinema.
• Vainu Bappu Research Prize: Awarded to Dr. Chandrakant for his pioneering work in astronomical instrumentation and deep-space imaging.

8) ⭐️Other important significance

• MANAV AI Vision: PM Modi unveiled the 'MANAV' vision (Moral, Accountable, National, Accountable, and Values-based), an ethical framework for India's indigenous AI development.
• Planet Parade: A rare celestial alignment of six planets (Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter) remains visible in the Indian night sky this weekend.

📚Word of the day

• Equanimity (Noun)
• Meaning: Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.
• Usage: "A candidate must maintain equanimity while navigating the high-pressure environment of competitive exams."