29 March 2026

India's merchandise exports for 2025-26 reached $442 billion, growing 8.4% over the previous year, according to provisional data released by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS). Engineering goods, electronics, and pharmaceuticals were the top export categories. Imports stood at $698 billion, widening the trade deficit to $256 billion. The government's target for merchandise exports is $500 billion by 2027.

The President of India gave assent to the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act 2025, which amends the Disaster Management Act 2005. Key amendments include the addition of urban flooding, heatwaves, and pandemics as notified disaster categories; mandatory District Disaster Management Plans within 6 months; and strengthened powers to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for pre-positioning relief material.

DRDO's Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Leh, successfully developed an Ultra-High Altitude Lightweight Shelter (UHAS) capable of housing 10 soldiers at altitudes above 6,000 m in temperatures as low as −50°C. The shelter uses aerogel insulation panels and a compact solar-thermal heating system. It weighs 180 kg compared to 450 kg for conventional shelters, enabling helicopter-based deployment.

India and the Republic of Korea elevated their bilateral relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" during the visit of South Korean President to New Delhi. Both sides signed agreements on semiconductor supply chain cooperation, defence co-production (K9 Vajra howitzers), and a Digital Trade Framework. Bilateral trade stood at $27 billion in 2025, with a target of $50 billion by 2030.

The Status of Tigers in India 2025 report, released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), recorded 3,682 wild tigers — a 6% increase over 2022 (3,167). Madhya Pradesh leads with 785 tigers, followed by Karnataka (563) and Uttarakhand (442). India is home to 75% of the world's wild tigers. Project Tiger was launched on April 1, 1973.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) announced the discovery of lithium deposits in the Korba district of Chhattisgarh with estimated reserves of 1.2 million tonnes — making it India's second significant lithium find after Reasi, Jammu (5.9 million tonnes, 2023). Lithium is classified as a Critical Mineral under India's Critical Minerals List (2023). India's lithium demand is projected to grow 25x by 2030 driven by EV battery manufacturing.

The AYUSH Ministry launched the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) E-Marketplace, a B2B digital platform connecting medicinal plant cultivators directly with pharmaceutical buyers, aiming to eliminate middlemen and ensure fair price discovery. The platform lists over 1,200 medicinal species. NMPB was established in 2000 under the Ministry of AYUSH and supports cultivation across 14 lakh hectares.

Researchers at IIT Bombay, supported by the Department of Biotechnology, developed a portable CRISPR-based diagnostic device that detects tuberculosis (TB) from a sputum sample in under 45 minutes with 94% sensitivity and 97% specificity. The device costs ₹2,500 per unit — a fraction of Gene Xpert machines (₹8 lakh). India accounts for 27% of global TB burden; the National TB Elimination Programme targets zero TB by 2025.

The Union Cabinet approved renaming of 21 uninhabited islands in the Andaman & Nicobar archipelago after Param Vir Chakra awardees including Major Somnath Sharma, Subedar Joginder Singh, and others. The renaming follows the pattern of naming larger islands after freedom fighters and builds on the 2018 decision to rename Ross, Neil, and Havelock Islands. The A&N Islands are a Union Territory administered by a Lieutenant Governor.

The Government of India appointed Shri Rajiv Gauba, retired IAS officer and former Cabinet Secretary, as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York. He will represent India in the UN Security Council where India serves as an elected non-permanent member for 2025-26. India has applied for permanent membership under the G4 bloc alongside Germany, Japan, and Brazil.