LEGAL NEWS
Supreme Court on Hindu Succession Act and Scheduled Tribes (Nawang v. Bahadur, 2025)
• In Nawang v. Bahadur, the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 was reaffirmed as not applicable to Scheduled Tribes, as provided under Section 2(2) of the Act.
• Earlier in Sastri Yagnapurushadji v. Muldas Brudardas Vaishya, the Supreme Court described Hinduism as a “way of life”, influencing later debates on tribal individuals adopting Hindu customs.
• Tribal inheritance traditionally follows customary laws focused on lineage preservation, often limiting independent property rights for women.
• Some courts earlier delivered conflicting judgments, such as Ram Charan v. Sukhram, where inheritance rights were granted based on “Hinduisation.”
• Hinduisation refers to the adoption of Hindu customs and social practices by tribal communities, which sometimes influenced legal interpretation of succession rights.
• The Supreme Court clarified that only Parliament has the authority (under Article 245) to extend the Act to Scheduled Tribes.
• The ruling emphasised judicial restraint and separation of powers, preventing courts from altering legislative policy.
• The judgment balanced constitutional equality (Article 14) with protections for tribal customs and identity under Articles 29 and 244.
NATIONAL NEWS
India – World’s Largest Milk Producer
• India remains the world’s largest milk producer, contributing about 25% of global milk production.
• The dairy sector has grown at around 6% annually over the last decade.
• Milk production is expected to rise from 146 million tonnes in 2014–15 to over 247 million tonnes in 2024–25.
• This represents a growth of more than 69% in a decade.
• Per capita milk availability reached 485 grams per day in 2024–25.
• This figure is much higher than the global average of 328 grams per day.
• Allied sectors such as livestock, dairy, poultry, and fisheries have significantly supported agricultural growth.
• These sectors contribute to agriculture’s gross value added and generate large-scale rural employment.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India–Japan Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) Renewal
• India and Japan have renewed their Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) to strengthen financial cooperation between the two countries.
• The renewed agreement will come into effect from 28 February 2026, as announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• The total swap facility remains at US$75 billion, providing a significant financial safety buffer.
• The arrangement enables both countries to exchange their local currencies when required.
• If necessary, the currencies can also be converted into US dollars to manage liquidity needs.
• It functions as a two-way agreement between the financial authorities of India and Japan.
• The mechanism is designed to strengthen the financial safety net and enhance bilateral financial cooperation.
• The arrangement is also expected to promote regional as well as global financial stability.
STATE NEWS
Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Cabinet Meeting
• The Madhya Pradesh government will hold its first Agriculture Cabinet meeting in the tribal district of Barwani.
• The initiative is part of the Farmer Welfare Year 2026 programme.
• The meeting will focus on strengthening support for farmers from cultivation to market linkages.
• Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will chair the cabinet session.
• Around 17 departments will participate in the meeting.
• Key departments include Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Cooperative, and Industry.
• The Chief Minister described the initiative as a “Holi gift” for farmers.
• The government aims to promote reforms and innovations to make farmers more self-reliant.
PM Modi’s Visit to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (March 2026)
• PM Narendra Modi visited Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on 1 March, launching projects worth over ₹7,100 crore.
• In Puducherry, projects worth ₹2,700+ crore focused on infrastructure, urban services, industry, education, and healthcare.
• Electric buses were launched under the PM e-Bus Seva scheme along with projects under Smart City Mission and CITIIS.
• Facilities were inaugurated at NIT Karaikal, JIPMER, and Pondicherry University, and a 750-acre industrial estate at Karasur–Sedarapet was dedicated.
• Rural road projects were initiated under PM Gram Sadak Yojana.
• In Madurai, projects worth ₹4,400+ crore were launched and foundation stones laid.
• Road projects include four-laning of NH-332A (Marakkanam–Puducherry) and NH-87 (Paramakudi–Ramanathapuram).
• Eight railway stations in Tamil Nadu will be redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana
• The Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana was launched on 2 March by President Droupadi Murmu at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
• The scheme aims to strengthen financial security and support education of girls from economically weaker families in Delhi.
• It is an expanded version of the Ladli Scheme, redesigned to meet rising educational costs and socio-economic needs.
• Under the scheme, ₹56,000 will be deposited in stages in the name of the girl child.
• With accumulated interest, the maturity amount is expected to exceed ₹1 lakh at the age of 21.
• The final amount will be directly transferred to the girl’s Aadhaar-linked bank account after fulfilling education conditions.
• The funds will be managed by SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd. under the SBI Life Dhanrashi Sadhan plan.
• Eligibility: Families with annual income up to ₹1.20 lakh, residing in Delhi for at least 3 years, and benefits limited to two girl children per family.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
Janaushadhi Saptah 2026 – Nationwide Awareness Campaign on Affordable Medicines
• Janaushadhi Saptah 2026 started on 1 March to spread awareness about affordable and quality generic medicines among citizens.
• The programme is being organised by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
• A series of health check-up camps are being conducted across the country as part of the outreach initiative.
• The week-long campaign will conclude on 7 March with the celebration of the 8th Janaushadhi Diwas.
• Around 250+ locations were selected for organising camps between 1–5 March to ensure wide public participation.
• The awareness drive follows the theme “जन औषधि सस्ती भी, भरोसेमंद भी, सेहत की बात, बचत के साथ.”
• Free medical consultations, medicines, blood tests, BP checks, thyroid screening, and specialist consultations were provided, with special focus on women and senior citizens.
• Currently 18,000+ Jan Aushadhi Kendras are operational in India, with a target to expand the network to 25,000 centres by March 2027.
AWARDS
Uttar Pradesh Sets Guinness World Record for Tree Plantation
• Uttar Pradesh set a new Guinness World Record by planting 2.51 lakh trees in one hour in Varanasi.
• A total of 251,446 saplings were planted during the massive plantation drive.
• The previous record was held by China (2018), where 153,981 trees were planted in one hour.
• The entire plantation process was monitored using drone cameras and a digital counting system for verification.
• The Urban Forest area was divided into 60 sectors, each named after famous ghats of Kashi.
• Sectors were named after ghats such as Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, and Kedar Ghat.
• More than 4,000 trees were planted in each sector during the drive.
• A total of 27 native plant species, including woody, fruit, and medicinal plants, were planted.
SPORTS
Jammu & Kashmir Wins First Ranji Trophy Title (2025–26)
• Jammu & Kashmir won their first-ever Ranji Trophy title (2025–26) by defeating Karnataka in the final.
• The victory marked a historic achievement for the team after 67 years of participation in the tournament.
• J&K secured only their 47th win in 346 Ranji matches since their debut in 1960.
• In the first innings, Jammu & Kashmir scored 584 runs, with Shubham Pundir scoring 121.
• In the second innings, the team declared at 342/4, with Qamran Iqbal unbeaten on 160 and Sahil Lotra scoring 101.
• Auqib Nabi’s outstanding bowling played a key role in the team’s success.
• Shubham Pundir was named Player of the Match for his century in the final.
• Aaqib Nabi won the Player of the Series award for taking 60 wickets in 10 matches.
ECONOMY NEWS
India’s GST Collections – February 2026
• India’s gross GST collection reached ₹1.83 lakh crore in February 2026, showing an 8.1% increase year-on-year.
• The total GST revenue for FY26 stood at ₹20.27 lakh crore as of 28 February, reflecting 8.3% annual growth.
• Refunds worth ₹22,595 crore were issued in February, which is 10.2% higher than last year.
• After refunds, net GST revenue stood at ₹1.61 lakh crore, while domestic GST revenue was ₹1.36 lakh crore.
• GST from imports contributed ₹47,837 crore, recording 17.2% year-on-year growth.
• Net cess revenue declined to ₹5,063 crore, compared to ₹13,481 crore in February last year.
• Maharashtra recorded the highest pre-settlement GST collection (₹10,286 crore), followed by Karnataka and Gujarat.
• Some states like Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Uttarakhand recorded positive SGST growth, while West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha reported negative growth.
MISCELLANEOUS
Pakyong Airport Renamed After Trilochan Pokhrel
• Pakyong Airport in Sikkim will be renamed after freedom fighter Trilochan Pokhrel, announced by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.
• The announcement was made during the 31st Foundation Day celebration of the Akhil Sikkim Khas Chettri Bahun Kalyan Sangh at Rangpo.
• Trilochan Pokhrel is regarded as Sikkim’s first independence activist.
• He participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Pakyong Airport is Sikkim’s only airport and was inaugurated in September 2018 by PM Narendra Modi.
• The event also recognised the contribution of the Khas, Chettri and Bahun community to Sikkim’s society.
• The Chief Minister highlighted the state’s tradition of harmony and unity among diverse communities.
• Kipu Tshering Lepcha received the Sikkim Gaurav Samman for his contributions to social service.
