23 March 2026

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a circular mandating T+0 (same-day) settlement for all stocks listed on NSE and BSE by April 30, 2026, extending the pilot launched in March 2024. T+0 settlement reduces counterparty risk and frees up capital for investors. SEBI, established under the SEBI Act 1992, is a statutory body regulating securities markets under the Ministry of Finance.

India observed Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day) on March 23, commemorating the 95th anniversary of the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Hari Rajguru in Lahore Central Jail in 1931. Bhagat Singh (1907–1931), a revolutionary socialist, threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly in April 1929 (with Batukeshwar Dutt) to protest the Public Safety Bill and was charged under Section 121 of the IPC for the Saunders killing.

The Union Cabinet approved India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for submission to the UNFCCC ahead of COP31. The updated NDC enhances India's 2030 targets: reduce GDP emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels (up from 33-35%), achieve 50% of cumulative electric power from non-fossil sources (up from 40%), and create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent through forests. India ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016.

ISRO's GSAT-24 communication satellite, launched aboard ESA's Ariane-6 rocket from French Guiana, was successfully placed in Geostationary Orbit. GSAT-24 carries 24 Ku-band transponders and will be leased entirely to Tata Play for Direct-to-Home television services. ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) operates GSAT-24 under a demand-driven model, marking a shift from government-supply to commercial-demand satellite manufacturing.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook Update placed India as the world's 4th largest economy by nominal GDP at $4.27 trillion in 2025, surpassing Japan ($4.11 trillion). The USA ($29.2 trillion), China ($18.7 trillion), and Germany ($4.6 trillion) remain ahead. India is already the 3rd largest by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). IMF projects India to become the 3rd largest nominal economy by 2027.

The Indian Coast Guard commissioned ICGS Saksham, the fourth of seven Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPVs) built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) under the Make in India initiative. Each AOPV displaces 2,140 tonnes and is equipped with a 76 mm gun, close-in weapon system, and a deck for operating ALH-Dhruv helicopters. The Coast Guard is a statutory body under the Ministry of Defence and the Coast Guard Act 1978.

The PM Vishwakarma Yojana, launched on September 17, 2023, crossed 30 lakh registered artisans from 18 traditional trades (blacksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, weavers, carpenters, etc.) in its first 18 months. The scheme provides skill training (5–15 days), a PM Vishwakarma certificate, credit at concessional 5% per annum (up to ₹3 lakh), and market linkage through GeM portal. Budget outlay is ₹13,000 crore for 2023-2028.

The census conducted by the Assam Forest Department and WWF-India recorded 3,102 Indian one-horned rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis) across Kaziranga National Park and its adjoining landscape — the highest recorded count. Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Tiger Reserve, hosts over 70% of the world's one-horned rhino population. The species is classified as Vulnerable by IUCN and is under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

The Union Cabinet approved the National Policy on Women 2026 — the first comprehensive revision since 2001. The policy adopts a "leave no woman behind" framework addressing 8 priority areas: economic empowerment, education, health, ending violence against women, digital inclusion, political participation, environment, and gender data. It mandates Gender Budget Statements across all ministries and sets a 50% female participation target in PRIs.

The President of India appointed Smt. Soma Roy Burman as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India — the first woman to hold the office. The CAG is appointed under Article 148 of the Constitution and can only be removed through the same process as a Supreme Court judge (Article 124). The CAG audits the accounts of the Union and state governments and reports through the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.