National News

1. Amit Shah inaugurated Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Dergaon, Assam

As per Shah, the academy would become India's top police training institution within five years.
He paid tribute to Lachit Barphukan. Lachit Barphukan is known for leadership in Assam’s victory over the Mughals.
Lachit Barphukan’s biography has been translated into 23 languages.
The first phase of construction of academy was completed at a cost of ₹167 crore. ₹1,050 crore has been allocated for all three phases.
The academy aims to become the finest police academy in India.
Shah highlighted Assam’s rapid development under PM Modi.
Several major peace agreements have been signed in the past decade.
The Assam-Bodoland Agreement was signed in 2020. The Karbi Anglong Agreement was signed in 2021.
The Tribal Peace Agreement was signed in 2022. In 2023, agreements were signed with ULFA, Assam-Meghalaya, and Assam-Arunachal.
A ₹27,000 crore semiconductor manufacturing project is being set up in Assam.
The Advantage Assam 2.0 summit secured investment agreements worth ₹5.18 lakh crore.
During the previous government’s tenure, Assam received ₹1.27 lakh crore in grants.
Under Modi’s leadership, this amount has increased fourfold to ₹4.49 lakh crore.
Several major infrastructure projects are underway.
The Bharatmala highway expansion covers over 200 km. It is being built at a cost of ₹10,000 crore.
The Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge is under construction. It has an investment of ₹3,000 crore.
The Silchar-Churaibari corridor is being made four-lane.
A ₹1,000 crore project is developing new roads on Majuli Island.
The National Highway 715-K project will connect Majuli and Jorhat.
The Gopinath Ji airport is being expanded. An AIIMS medical institution is being set up in Assam.
The conviction rate in Assam has increased. It has risen from 5% to 25%.

2. Mumbai Indians have clinched their second Women's Premier League title

Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals by 8 runs at the Brabourne cricket Stadium in the final of the Women's Premier League.
For Delhi Capitals, it was their third consecutive loss in the final of the tournament.
The Women's Premier League (WPL) is an annual Women's Twenty20 cricket tournament in India.
It is organized by the WPL Governing Council, under the aegis of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The Women's Premier League (WPL) was started in 2023 and five teams participate in the event.
Full list of award winners:

Winner	Mumbai Indians
Runner-up	Delhi Capitals
MVP award	Nat Sciver-Brunt
Orange Cap	Nat Sciver-Brunt
Purple Cap	Amelia Kerr
Emerging player of the season award	Amanjot Kaur
Fairplay award	Gujarat Giants
Highest strike rate	Chinelle Henry
Most sixes	Ashleigh Gardner
Best catch	Annabel Sutherland

3. PM Modi Hands Over Overseas Citizen Card To Mauritius Counterpart

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to Mauritius’ Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and his wife, Veena Ramgoolam, during a special event.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi also handed OCI cards to Mauritius’ President Dharambeer Gokhool and First Lady Vrinda Gokhool. This gesture highlights India’s strong ties with Mauritius and its commitment to the Indian-origin community there.
Mauritius has a significant Indian presence, with 22,188 Indian nationals and 13,198 OCI card holders.
The OCI card allows holders to live, work, and study in India without a visa, making it easier for them to stay connected with their Indian roots.

4. R. Patil inaugurates Water Sustainability Conference 2025

The Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) under the National Water Mission (NWM), Ministry of Jal Shakti, in association with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), organized a one-day conference titled “Water Sustainability Conference 2025”, with a focus on Industrial Water Use Efficiency.
The conference was held at the NDMC Convention Centre, Palika Kendra, Sansad Marg, New Delhi.
The event was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti, C R Patil, who highlighted the Government’s commitment towards promoting industrial water use efficiency through innovative technologies and strategic frameworks.
The workshop brought together various Ministries, Organisations, Policymakers, Industry Leaders, Experts, and Stakeholders to deliberate on strategies and technological advancements to enhance water use efficiency in the industrial sector.

International News

5. ‘UN80 Initiative’ has been announced to improve eciencies in the UN works

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced a new initiative, the ‘UN80 Initiative,’ to improve efficiencies in the United Nations' work.
Under the ‘UN80 Initiative,’ proposals will be made to rapidly identify efficiencies and improvements in the way the UN works.
It will also review the implementation of all mandates given to the UN by member states.
The UN General Assembly approved a $3.72 billion budget for the United Nations for 2025. The US is the single largest financial contributor to the UN.
For the fiscal year 1 July 2024 - 30 June 2025, approved budget for UN Peacekeeping operations is $5.6 billion.
India paid USD 37.64 million to the United Nations Regular Budget for 2025.

6. UNESCO's World Heritage Centre added six properties to India’s tentative list

These properties were added to list on 7 March.
The newly added properties are given below.

Kanger Valley National Park (Chhattisgarh)
Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs (Telangana)
Ashokan Edict Sites (multiple states)
Chausath Yogini Temples (MP, Odisha)
Gupta Temples (multiple States)
Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas (MP, UP)

Addition of a property to tentative list of World Heritage Centre is mandatory for inscription to the World Heritage List in future. India now has total 62 sites on the tentative list. The tentative list includes properties that a country intends to consider for UNESCO nomination.
As of now, total 43 Indian properties are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
These include 35 in the cultural category, seven in natural category and one in mixed category. A World Heritage Committee meeting was for the first time hosted by India in 2024.

7. India Participates in 353rd Governing Body Meeting of International Labour Organisation in Geneva

The 353rd Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) was held in Geneva, Switzerland.
The meeting brings together the tripartite constituents of ILO i.e. representatives from governments, workers, and employers, to discuss crucial matters relating to the world of work and the governance of ILO.
India extended its support to ILO on the organization of the UN led Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar later this year, as it aims at reinforcing the social dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Social Development. India’s inspiring progress in promoting social justice and development was highlighted, as India has doubled its social protection coverage to 48.8 percent, increasing the average global social protection coverage by over 5 percent.

Global intelligence chiefs converge in Delhi meet

Global challenges and intelligence sharing mechanisms, as well as immigration and extradition, were among a host of issues discussed at the fourth conference of global intelligence and security chiefs hosted by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Sunday.
The meeting had over 28 attendees, according to official sources. The conference is usually held a day before the annual three-day Raisina Dialogue, which is scheduled this year from March 17 to 19.
This year’s conference and the Dialogue are being held amid the global uncertainties caused by the U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies and the resultant ripple effects in major issues across the globe.
“The top points on the agenda were counterterrorism, Indo-Pacific cooperation, global challenges, global security and intel-sharing mechanisms, immigration and extradition, and transnational crimes, narcotics and terror funding,” an official source in the know said.
Intelligence sharing on transnational crimes and counterterrorism were the key issues for India, another official said.
Around 20 countries were represented at the conference, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Russia, it was learnt. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard attended the meeting and reportedly also held talks with Mr. Doval. She was also scheduled to speak at the Raisina Dialogue.
“I am Wheels Up on a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific, a region I know very well having grown up as a child of the Pacific. I’ll be going to Japan, Thailand, and India, with a brief stop in France en route back to DC.
Building strong relationships, understanding, and open lines of communication are vital to achieving President Trump’s objectives of peace, freedom and prosperity...,” Ms. Gabbard posted on X on March 11 before beginning her trip. The chiefs of the Five Eyes countries, comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S., were all present, though it was not clear if a separate meeting of the Five Eyes chiefs with Mr. Doval was in the offing.
The visit of Canadian spy chief Daniel Rogers has come as India looks to reset its relationship with Ottawa after a deep freeze in bilateral relationship over the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case.
The conference is organised by the country’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) that reports to Mr. Doval. The meet was held for the first time in April 2022 a day before the start of the Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy, organised by the Ministry of External affairs in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation.

Defence News

8. INS Ranvir participates in Exercise Bongosagar 2025

The India-Bangladesh Naval Exercise Bongosagar 2025 and Coordinated Patrol was conducted in Bay of Bengal.
The exercise saw participation of INS Ranvir from Indian Navy and BNS Abu Ubaidah from Bangladesh Navy.
The exercise enhanced interoperability between the two navies, facilitating collaborative responses to shared maritime security challenges. Recent Exercise
12th edition of Exercise KHANJAR-XII between India and Kyrgyzstan – Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan
7th edition of Security Belt-2025 between Russia, China and Iran – Iranian port of Chabahar near Indian Ocean
Exercise Desert Hunt 2025 between Indian Navy, Indian Army and India Air Force – Indian Air Force at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
6th edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian between Indian Army and Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) – Mount Fuji, Japan.

Business News

9. India and New Zealand launched negotiations on FTA

India and New Zealand launched negotiations for a “comprehensive and mutually beneficial” free trade agreement.
This will be a significant milestone to deepen trade ties and expand economic opportunities.
This announcement has been made on the occasion of the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon.
India exported merchandise worth $538 million to New Zealand in 2023-24, and imported goods of $335 million from from New Zealand.
India’s goods export to New Zealand in 2024-25 (up to December 31) saw an annualized growth of 21.49% to $496 million.
India primarily imports wool, iron and steel, fruit and nuts and aluminium from New Zealand.
India exports pharmaceuticals, mechanical machinery, made-up textile articles, pearls, precious stones and metals to New Zealand.
India and New Zealand share a longstanding partnership based on democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and economic complementarities.
als and better access for its IT and services sector.

Schemes and Committees News

10. On 17 March, a dedicated app for the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS) launched by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

The aim of this app launch is to increase participation by facilitating easy registration for the second round of the scheme, which accepts applications till March 31.
This app seeks to address the challenge of limited computer access by taking advantage of the widespread use of mobile phones, providing a user-friendly alternative for many applicants.
Along with the launch of the app, a facilitation centre dedicated to PMIS will be set up in Kolkata.
The centre is a joint effort between the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
PMIS cells will be integrated by the CII, which operates 47 model career centres, to mobilize candidates and provide necessary guidance.
Additionally, MCA is set to set up independent PMIS cells, in which the Ministry will provide the necessary space to involve more young individuals.
In the first round of PMIS announced during Budget 2024-25, 28,141 candidates accepted internship offers.
The second round, launched in January, aims to provide over 100,000 internship opportunities across over 300 companies to meet the ambitious target of 1.25 lakh internships for FY 2025.
PMIS provides a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 and a one-time grant of Rs 6,000 to meet contingency expenses.

Banking and Financial News

11. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has granted a Certificate of Registration to Valueattics Reinsurance Ltd

Valueattics Reinsurance Ltd. is the first company to be registered exclusively for reinsurance operations.
This registration has come within the newly revised regulatory environment.
IRDAI sees this as a major step in increasing competition in the reinsurance market.
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), New India Assurance Company, and General Insurance Corporation of India have been identified as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs) for FY 2024-25.
These designations were made by the IRDAI. During the 129th Authority meeting held on March 12, several key initiatives were discussed.
These included Bima Sugam, Indian Risk-Based Capital, Ind AS, and the Risk-Based Supervisory Framework. 12. Valueattics Reinsurance set to become India’s first private reinsurer
IRDAI has approved the first reinsurance licence to a private player, Valueattics Reinsurance, backed by Prem Watsa and Kamesh Goyal.
They are also the promoters of Go Digit General Insurance and Go Digit Life Insurance.
Valueattics Reinsurance is owned by Oben Ventures LLP, promoted by Goyal, and FAL Corporation, backed by Watsa with Fairfax Financial Holdings.

13. to become world’s third-largest economy by 2028: Morgan Stanley

India will be the world’s third-largest economy by 2028 as it becomes the world’s most sought-after consumer market and gains share in global output, driven by macro stability influenced policy and better infrastructure, Morgan Stanley said.
In 2028, India will overtake Germany as its economy will expand to $5.7 trillion. From a $3.5 trillion economy in 2023, the Indian economy is projected to expand to $4.7 trillion in 2026, which will make it the fourth largest in the world behind the US, China and Germany.
According to Morgan Stanley, India was the 12th largest economy in the world in 1990, slipped to 13th position in 2000 before rising to 9th rank in 2020 and 5th in 2023.

Important day News

14.India observes National Vaccination Day every year on March 16

The day highlights the vital role of immunization in public health.
It marks the launch of the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme in 1995.
On this day, the first oral polio vaccine dose was administered.
The programme aimed to eliminate polio through mass vaccination.
In 2014, the World Health Organisation declared India polio-free.
National Vaccination Day represents India’s commitment to disease prevention.
The theme of National Vaccination Day 2024 was "Vaccines Work for Everyone".

15. 15 March – World Consumer Rights Day

World Consumer Rights Day is observed annually on March 15 to raise awareness about consumer rights and advocate for fair trade practices, ethical business conduct, and consumer protection.
The day serves as a global platform for highlighting issues consumers face and encouraging governments and businesses to prioritize consumer welfare.

Awards News

16. RBI awarded Digital Transformation Award 2025 for digital initiatives

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been selected for the Digital Transformation Award 2025 by Central Banking at London in UK.
The central bank was awarded for its digital initiatives named Pravaah and Sarthi, which were developed by its in-house developer team.
The awards committee noted how these digital initiatives have reduced the use of paper-based submissions, thus transforming RBI’s internal and external processes.
Sarthi, launched in January 2023, digitised RBI’s internal workflows, enabling its employees to store and share documents securely, improving record management, and increasing the options for data analysis through reports and dashboards.
Launched in May 2024 as Pravaah, a digitised means was created for external users to submit regulatory applications to the RBI.
Pravaah has so far allowed more than 70 different regulatory applications to be digitised, supporting the work of nine RBI departments.

Recent Award

The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (Maurisis)- PM Narendra Modi.
EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2024 – Nithin Kamath (Founder and CEO of Zerodha)
Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados – PM Narendra Modi.
Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality and Education Through Technology Award – Suborno Bose (Chairman of International Institute of Hotel Management)
Pritzker Architecture Prize 2025 – Chinese architect and educator, Liu Jiakun

Science and Technology News

17. Google brings Gemma 3 open model to compete with Meta’s Llama, DeepSeek V3

Google has expanded its open model’s line-up by announcing the next-generation Gemma AI model, the Gemma 3.
Gemma 3 is “built from the same research and technology that powers” the Gemini 2.0 models. It’s available in 1B, 4B, 12B, and 27B sizes.
The company has claimed to outperform Llama-405B, DeepSeek-V3 and o3-mini models on the benchmarking platform LMArena.

Sports News

18. 33 medals secured by India at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025

A remarkable campaign at the Special Olympics World Winter Games was concluded by Indian athletes with 33 medals, including 8 gold, 18 silver, and 7 bronze, in Turin, Italy.
In the final medal distribution, India won 10 medals each in snowshoeing and alpine skiing, six in snowboarding, four in short track speed skating, two in cross-country skiing, and one in floorball.
After a long wait of 8 years, the 12th edition of the Special Olympics Winter Games took place from 8 to 15 March.
This was the first time Italy hosted the Special Olympics World Games.
The first World Winter Games since 2017 saw 1,500 athletes from more than 100 countries compete in eight sports in Italy's Piedmont region.
Santiago, Chile will host the 2027 Special Olympics World Games.
The first Special Olympics International Games were held in 1968.

19. Fit India Carnival inaugurated by Minister for Youth Aairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi on 16 March 2025

Fit India Carnival is a three day fitness and wellness festival.
It aims to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle.
The highlights of Fit India Carnival include sports activities like rope skipping, stationary cycling, arm wrestling, cricket bowling, squat and push-up challenges.
During the event, a booklet about the benefits of Fit India Cycle initiative was also released. ● Actor Ayushman Khurana, Wrestler Sangram Singh and Several other sports Personalities were present during the event.
Ayushmann Khurrana was honoured as a Fit India Icon at the event
The event began with performances of Kalaripayattu, Gatka and Mallakhamb and showcased India’s rich martial arts heritage.

20. Jharkhand crowned 15th Hockey India Senior Women National Champion

Hockey Jharkhand defeated the defending champion Hockey Haryana in the final to win the 15th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2025.
The final match was played at the Tau Devi Lal Complex in Panchkula, Haryana.
Hockey Mizoram defeated Hockey Maharashtra to take the third spot with Hockey Maharashtra at the fourth position.
Hockey India organised the 15th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2025 at Tau Devi Lal Complex in Panchkula, Haryana.
The teams were divided into four groups, with the top team from each group qualified for the quarter finals. About Hockey India
Hockey India was established in 2009 as the governing body for the sport of hockey in India. It replaced the Indian Hockey Federation.
Headquarters – New Delhi
President – Dileep Tirkey
Theme 2025 – A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyless

Indian Polity News

21. 10 th edition of Raisina Dialogue inaugurated by PM Modi in New Delhi

Inaugural session of Raisina Dialogue 2025 was joined by PM of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, as the chief guest.
The three-day Raisina Dialogue is being held from 17th March till 19th March.
This year’s theme for Raisina Dialogue is “Kālachakra – People, Peace and Planet”.
Representatives from about 125 countries are taking part in the 10th Raisina Dialogue.
More than 3500 participants are joining the Dialogue in-person.
During Raisina Dialogue 2025, conversations will be held across six pillars.
Raisina Dialogue:

It is being held annually since 2016. It is a multilateral conference organized to discuss international issues.
It is a flagship conference of India on geopolitics and geoeconomics.
It is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation.

Obituary News

22. Former Indian All-Rounder Syed Abid Ali Passes Away

Former Indian all-rounder Syed Abid Ali passed away at the age of 83.
He played pivotal roles in India’s first Test series victories in the West Indies and England in 1971, notably delivering the winning boundary against England at The Oval.
Abid Ali played 29 Test matches for India between 1967 and 1974, known for his all-round skills as a dependable batsman and medium-pace bowler.

24. New Bill proposes jail term up to 7 years for using forged passport

● Anyone found using a forged passport or visa for entering, exiting or staying in India will be punished with a jail term of up to seven years and a fine to the extent of ₹10 lakh if the new immigration Bill is approved by Parliament.

● The Bill also provides for mandatory reporting of information about foreigners by hotels, universities, other educational institutions, hospitals and nursing homes to enable tracking of overstaying foreigners. International airlines and ships must submit passenger and crew manifests at Indian ports.

● The Bill states that using forged documents for entering, exiting or staying in India can lead to imprisonment of two years to seven years and a penalty of ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh. Foreigners entering without valid documents may face up to five years in jail and fines up to ₹5 lakh.

● The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, is comprehensive legislation to regulate all matters relating to foreigners and immigration. Matters relating to foreigners and immigration are presently administered through four Acts – the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000. All these laws are now proposed to be repealed.

● This legislation is in line with the government’s policy of simplification of laws, ease of doing business and minimising compliance burden. It seeks to balance the requirements of national security and related issues of immigration of foreigners with the need to promote economic growth and tourism.

● According to existing laws, all foreigners on long term – more than 180 days – student, medical, research, employment, missionary and project visas are required to register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or the Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) concerned, having jurisdiction over the place, within 14 days of arrival.

25. Centre has approved Chandrayaan-5 mission: ISRO

The Centre has recently accorded approval for the ambitious Chandrayaan-5 mission to study the moon, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said on Sunday.
At an event to felicitate him for taking over as the Chairman of the Bengaluru-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation, Mr. Narayanan said that unlike the Chandrayaan-3 mission which carried the 25-kilogram rover ‘Prayagyaan’, the Chandrayaan-5 mission would carry a 250-kg rover to study the moon’s surface.
The Chandrayaan-4 Mission, expected to be launched in 2027, aims to bring samples collected from the moon.

26. India, New Zealand resume trade deal talks after decade

After a gap of about 10 years, India and New Zealand on Sunday announced resumption of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) to boost economic ties.
India and New Zealand began negotiating the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in April 2010 to boost trade in goods, services, and investment.
However, after 10 rounds of discussions, the talks stalled in February 2015. “The two nations are pleased to announce the launch of negotiations for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations,” the Commerce Ministry said.
The announcement was made after a meeting of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment. Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon is here on a four-day visit from Sunday. “The India-New Zealand FTA negotiations aim to achieve balanced outcomes that enhance supply chain integration and improve market access,” it said.
“With bilateral trade continuing to grow steadily, surpassing USD 1 billion during April-January 2025, the FTA negotiations aim to unlock new avenues for businesses and consumers, fostering mutual growth and prosperity of our nations,” Mr. Goyal said in a post
According to the think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), a major challenge in the renewed talks will be the disparity in tariff structures. Common ground New Zealand’s average import tariff is only 2.3%, with over half of its tariff lines already duty-free, meaning Indian goods already have substantial access to its market.
In contrast, India’s average tariff stands at 17.8%, meaning it would have to make significant reductions, making a traditional FTA less attractive for India. “As talks resume, both countries will need to find common ground on these issues to move forward successfully,” GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava said.
He said earlier New Zealand was demanding greater access to India’s dairy market, which India resisted to protect its domestic dairy industry that supports millions of farmers. Currently, India’s dairy imports from New Zealand are minimal (around $0.57 million), and while India may consider limited imports of value-added dairy products, it remains against allowing raw dairy imports, he said. India was also reluctant to lower tariffs on New Zealand’s dairy, meat, and wine exports, while New Zealand pushed for more favourable trade terms.
“Pressure from the U.S. to open India’s dairy and agriculture sectors may also influence negotiations,” Mr. Srivastava said, adding that another key issue was India’s demand for easier movement of its skilled profession

27. Immunising the elderly is crucial for disease prevention, say experts

Vaccination is a crucial yet often overlooked health measure for the elderly in India. Despite the absence of a dedicated national immunisation schedule for the elderly in the country, doctors stress the need for proactive administration of vaccines to protect older adults from preventable diseases.
Elder care also extends beyond vaccination to include physical activity, nutrition, mental health support, and chronic disease management, doctors said at the webinar “Prevention of illness: immunising the elderly” organised by Naruvi Hospitals, Vellore, in collaboration with The Hindu, on Sunday, as part of the “Healthy India, Happy India” webinar series.
This is the sixth in a series of 15 webinars aimed at promoting health awareness and disease prevention. It featured four subject experts. Importance of vaccines Kurien Thomas, senior consultant physician and clinical epidemiologist, Naruvi Hospitals, Vellore, introduced the importance of immunising the elderly.
Dr. Thomas emphasised the importance of the pneumococcal, Hib, and hepatitis vaccines in elder care, and pointed out that 50% of severe pneumonia cases occur in the elderly, making vaccination a lifesaving measure.
Pneumonia remains a major health burden, with 156 million cases globally and 8,00,000 deaths annually in India. Dilip Mathai, senior consultant in infectious diseases, Naruvi Hospitals, presented an overview of different vaccines and guidelines for immunisation of the elderly.
Dr. Mathai also addressed vaccine hesitancy, citing a survey that found 60% of adults believed there were better ways to protect their health than vaccination, while 43% felt they were not at risk of falling ill. Proper storage Soumendra Nath Haldar, Assistant Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases and Advanced Microbiology, School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata, spoke on vaccines for food and waterborne diseases.
He stressed the need for vaccine clinics to provide immunisation for these diseases. He also explained the importance of proper storage, and cost-effective administration of vaccines. Vasant C. Nagvekar, infectious diseases consultant, H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre and the Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, explained the need for more vital vaccines in healthcare for the elderly.
He emphasised the necessity of annual influenza vaccines, shingles (herpes zoster), varicella zoster (chickenpox), coronavirus, and H5N1 (avian flu) vaccines for ageing adults.
The experts also addressed cost barriers and called for better health insurance coverage to prioritise immunisation in the elderly. The webinar is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjuhtZUyB9k

28. Odia poet Ramakanta Rath dies at 90; President, Prime Minister express condolences

Renowned Odia poet and former bureaucrat Ramakanta Rath died at his residence in the Kharvel Nagar area here on Sunday, family sources said. He was 90. Rath, a Padma Bhushan awardee, is survived by three daughters and a son.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of Rath. Ms. Murmu, in a post on X, said Rath was a prominent figure in the Indian literary world.
“He was honoured with many awards including Padma Bhushan. He has enriched the pan-Indian literature with his unforgettable contribution to Odia literature,” she wrote. “Shri Ramakanta Rath Ji distinguished himself as an effective administrator and scholar. His works, especially poetry, are widely popular among all sections of society. Pained by his passing away.
My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti: PM @narendramodi,” the Prime Minister’s Office wrote on X. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said Rath will always be remembered for his contribution to the Indian Administrative Service and to the world of literature.
He announced that Rath’s last rites will be performed with full state honours. Rath was born on December 13, 1934 in Cuttack. After completing his MA in English literature from Ravenshaw College (now university), he joined the IAS in 1957.
He retired as Chief Secretary of Odisha in 1992. Some of the major poetry collections of Rath include Kete Dinara (1962), Aneka Kothari (1967), Sandigdha Mrugaya (1971), Saptama Rutu (1977), Sachitra Andhara (1982), Sri Radha (1985), and Sreshtha Kavita (1992). Some of his poetry has been translated into English and other languages.
Rath was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977, the Sarala Award in 1984, the Bishuva Samman in 1990, and the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2009.

Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 17th March 2025