19 March 2026

India hosted the 18th G20 Sherpa meeting in New Delhi as part of the South Africa G20 Presidency outreach. Key agenda items included reform of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), the Global Infrastructure Investment Framework, and implementation of the New Delhi Declaration adopted during India's Presidency in 2023. India's current-year contribution to G20 working groups stands at 34 papers.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) mandated same-day (T+0) settlement for the top 500 securities by market capitalisation on BSE and NSE, effective 1 June 2026. T+0 settlement reduces counterparty risk and improves capital efficiency. India had earlier achieved T+1 settlement for all listed securities — making it one of the few markets globally to do so.

The Ministry of Environment notified amendment rules under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, establishing a regulatory framework for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) covering sanctuary and national park zones extending up to 12 nautical miles from the coastline. India currently has 30 MPAs; the rules mandate annual ecological assessments and community fishing rights within buffer zones.

The Ministry of Law and Justice released implementation guidelines for applying the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across Union Territories (excluding Jammu & Kashmir), covering personal law provisions on marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. The guidelines clarify that tribal communities listed under the Fifth and Sixth Schedules are exempt.

NTPC Limited commissioned India's largest floating solar power plant at Ramagundam, Telangana — a 1,000 MW facility on the Srisailam Left Branch Canal reservoir. The plant, which reduces water evaporation by 30%, uses high-efficiency bifacial modules and is expected to generate 2,100 million units annually. It aligns with India's 500 GW non-fossil fuel target.

BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. signed a USD 750 million export contract with Vietnam for the land-attack version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles — the second export deal after the Philippines (2022). BrahMos is a joint venture between DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya; the land-attack variant has a range of 450 km at Mach 2.8.

Karnataka's Water Resources Department began implementation of the revised inter-state water sharing schedule as directed by the Supreme Court of India under the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Final Award. The schedule allocates 419 TMC of Cauvery water among four states: Karnataka (270 TMC), Tamil Nadu (419 TMC), Kerala (30 TMC), and Puducherry (7 TMC).

The PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme surpassed 75 lakh beneficiaries with cumulative loans of ₹9,200 crore disbursed. Beneficiaries who repay Tier-1 (₹10,000) loans on time qualify for Tier-2 (₹20,000) and Tier-3 (₹50,000) loans. The scheme was launched in June 2020 under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

ASI archaeologists at Dholavira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, uncovered a granary complex dated to approximately 2800 BCE — predating the urban peak of the Indus Valley Civilisation by 200 years. The find supports the hypothesis of an early urbanisation phase (Early Harappan Period) at Dholavira distinct from Mohenjo-daro and Harappa.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Dr. Sanjay Murthy, IAS (AGMUT cadre), as Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. The Department of Expenditure oversees the central plan and non-plan expenditure, public financial management, and the Financial Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003.