LEGAL NEWS

Assembly Elections 2026

• The schedule has been announced by the Election Commission of India for elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.

• Gyanesh Kumar announced the schedule in New Delhi.

• Single-phase polling will be held in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu, while West Bengal will vote in two phases.

• Polling dates: 9 April (Assam, Kerala, Puducherry) and 23 April (Tamil Nadu).

• In West Bengal, voting will be held in two phases: 23 April (152 seats) and 29 April (142 seats).

• Counting of votes for all regions will take place on 4 May.

• The Model Code of Conduct has come into force immediately in all poll-bound areas.

• Around 17 crore voters, 824 constituencies, 2 lakh+ polling stations, and 25 lakh officials will be involved, with facilities and 100% webcasting ensured for transparency.

By-Elections for 8 Assembly Seats

• The Election Commission of India announced by-elections for 8 assembly seats across 6 states.

• Seats include Ponda and Umreth.

• In Karnataka, by-polls will be held in Bagalkot and Davanagere South constituencies.

• In Maharashtra, elections are scheduled for Rahuri and Baramati seats.

• Other constituencies include Koridang and Dharmanagar.

• Notifications (16 March) for Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, Tripura; voting on 9 April.

• Notifications (30 March) for Gujarat and Maharashtra; voting on 23 April.

• Counting of votes for all seats will be conducted on 4 May 2026.

NATIONAL NEWS

Potti Sriramulu Statue Unveiled in Amaravati

• A 58-foot bronze statue of Potti Sriramulu has been unveiled in Amaravati.

• The statue was inaugurated by N. Chandrababu Naidu on his 125th birth anniversary.

• It has been installed at Shakhamuru Park as part of a memorial project by the Potti Sriramulu Memorial Trust.

• The first phase of the project has been completed over 6.80 acres at a cost of around ₹150 crore.

• The statue was built using 26 tonnes of bronze and 42 tonnes of iron within about six months.

• The memorial honours Sriramulu’s 58-day fast demanding a separate state for Telugu-speaking people.

• His sacrifice played a key role in the formation of Andhra State and recognition of regional identity.

• The second phase will include a museum, auditorium, photo gallery, and skill centre to preserve his legacy.

STATE NEWS

Gujarat Natural Farming Clusters Initiative

• The Gujarat Government plans to develop 500 villages as Natural Farming Clusters.

• The initiative focuses on gradual shift to chemical-free agriculture in a phased manner.

• It aims to promote sustainable farming and environmental conservation.

• Jitu Vaghani stated that farmers will receive training, technical guidance, and field support.

• Farmers will be connected to market systems to ensure better prices for natural produce.

• The programme seeks to improve soil health and reduce dependency on chemical inputs.

• It will enhance the availability of safe and nutritious food for consumers.

• Farmers will be equipped with modern knowledge and best practices for effective adoption of natural farming.

AWARDS

BCCI Naman Awards 2026

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India is hosting the ‘Naman Awards 2026’ in New Delhi to honour achievements in Indian cricket.

• The Colonel C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award (highest BCCI honour) will be given to Roger Binny and Rahul Dravid.

• Mithali Raj will receive the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award (Women).

• Shubman Gill will be honoured with the Polly Umrigar Award for the second time.

• Smriti Mandhana will get the Best International Cricketer (Women) award for the fifth time.

• Ira Jadhav, Shafali Verma, Ayush Mhatre, and Harsh Dubey will receive awards across domestic categories.

• The Mumbai Cricket Association will be recognised for outstanding domestic performance (2024–25 season).

• India’s men’s and women’s teams will be honoured for major victories, including ICC Champions Trophy 2025, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, and ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

“Shape of Momo” – Global Recognition for Sikkimese Cinema

• The Sikkimese film Shape of Momo, directed by Tribeny Rai, has gained recognition at European film festivals.

• It earlier received attention at the Glasgow Film Festival.

• The film recently opened the C-Movie Festival in Italy, highlighting its international appeal.

• It will compete at the 35th African, Asian and Latin American Film Festival (Italy) in the “Windows on the World” category.

• The team is also attending the Spirit of Fire International Debut Film Festival in Russia.

• The film is scheduled for its Dutch premiere at the Cinema Asia Film Festival in Amsterdam.

• Preparations are underway for an all-India release, including a premiere in Gangtok.

• The film has been widely praised for its storytelling and direction, marking a milestone for Sikkimese cinema globally.

SPORTS

Mayank Chakraborty Becomes India’s 94th Grandmaster

• Mayank Chakraborty has become India’s 94th Chess Grandmaster (GM).

• He is the first Grandmaster from Northeast India and the first from Assam.

• Before this achievement, he held the title of International Master (IM).

• The 16-year-old prodigy secured his final GM norm in Sweden.

• The norm was achieved at the 8th GM Tournament in Stockholm.

• He finished first in the tournament with 7/9 points.

• He remained undefeated in the final round, showcasing consistent performance.

• He also crossed the required FIDE rating of 2500, completing all criteria for the GM title.

ECONOMY NEWS

India’s Services Sector Growth & Policy Push

• India recorded service exports exceeding US$ 348 billion during April–January of the current financial year.

• The services sector contributed around 10% to GDP in the first half of FY 2026, showing its rising importance.

• The government has proposed key measures in Union Budget 2026–27 to boost the sector further.

• Tax exemptions will be provided to foreign companies offering cloud services using Indian infrastructure until 2047.

• Safe Harbour rules for IT services have been reformed to simplify tax compliance.

• Enhancements in the Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) framework aim to streamline tax procedures.

• Software services dominate exports with over 40% share, while business & consulting services are also major contributors.

• The government targets achieving 10% share in global services trade by 2047.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

11th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law

• The 11th National Conference was organised by the Competition Commission of India in New Delhi on 16 March 2026.

• The conference has been held annually since 2016, bringing together experts in competition law and economics.

• Rajiv Gauba delivered the Keynote Address, highlighting competition as a driver of progress.

• Ravneet Kaur gave the Special Address, focusing on economic analysis in curbing anti-competitive practices.

• Emphasis was laid on fair market access and support for small businesses through strong competition laws.

• Discussions covered emerging challenges like digital economy and AI, requiring regulatory adaptation.

• CCI highlighted implementation of 2023 amendments and updated guidelines on cost of production for predatory pricing.

• The Commission addressed antitrust cases across sectors like defence, liquor, and waste management with penalties and corrective actions.