11 March 2026

The Union Cabinet approved Phase II of PM Vishwakarma, a flagship scheme for traditional artisans and craftspeople, doubling the collateral-free credit limit to ₹3 lakh and expanding coverage to 30 additional trades. The scheme provides skill training, toolkits, and market linkage under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Phase I covered 18 trades and 30 lakh beneficiaries.

The India Meteorological Department established 10 new Agro-Meteorological Field Units (AMFUs) under the Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro-meteorology and Land-based observations (FASAL) programme, expanding coverage to underserved agroclimatic zones in Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, and North-East India. AMFUs provide block-level weather advisories to 5 crore farmers via the Kisan app.

The Reserve Bank of India released balance of payments data showing India's Current Account Deficit (CAD) narrowed to 0.8% of GDP in Q3 FY2025-26, the lowest in 12 quarters. The narrowing was driven by a record services trade surplus of USD 46 billion and strong remittance inflows of USD 29 billion. Foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 671 billion.

India and Australia concluded negotiations for upgrading the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) into a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). The upgraded pact covers goods, services, investment, government procurement, and digital trade. Bilateral trade reached AUD 45 billion in 2025, with the CECA expected to double this by 2030.

The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) released the Glacial Inventory 2026, mapping 9,575 glaciers across the Indian Himalayas using satellite data from Cartosat-3. The inventory recorded an average 12% glacial area loss since 1990. The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region is identified as a climate hotspot under the 2024 Kunming-Montreal GBF targets.

The Boilers (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was passed by both Houses, replacing the Boilers Act, 1923 with updated safety standards aligned with global norms. The new law decriminalises minor procedural violations, allows self-certification for low-risk boilers, and creates a Central Boiler Board with enhanced technical authority. It covers industrial boilers used in power plants, refineries, and textile mills.

DRDO and the Indian Navy conducted the first shipborne test of the Akash Prime surface-to-air missile from destroyer INS Visakhapatnam in the Arabian Sea. Akash Prime is the naval variant of the Akash missile system with an improved seeker for maritime environments and range extended to 40 km. The test validates India's indigenous naval air defence capability.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) tabled its Performance Audit Report on Union Government finances for 2025, highlighting ₹1.2 lakh crore in unspent funds under capital expenditure across ministries, and reporting significant underutilisation in the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The CAG, appointed under Article 148, submits reports to the President who tables them in Parliament.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs organised the Aadi Mahotsav national tribal festival in New Delhi, featuring over 200 Geographical Indication-tagged tribal products from 30 states and 5 lakh tribal artisans. The Tribes India platform (operated by TRIFED) recorded ₹120 crore in sales during the festival. Products included Dokra craft, Toda embroidery, and Bamboo handicrafts.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, established the National Centre for Rare Diseases (NCRD) with a ₹200 crore corpus under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021. The centre will provide diagnosis, treatment coordination, and a national registry for 450+ rare diseases. Enzyme replacement therapies and gene therapies will be covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme for eligible patients.