NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||22ndMARCH2026

 

NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||22^ndMARCH2026

SUNDAY| VOL—V/2026/MARCH

OPINIONATED, FOR FREE CIRCULATION.

“अकर्तव्यं न कर्तव्यं प्राणैः कण्ठगतैरपि ।

कर्तव्यमेव कर्तव्यं प्राणैः कण्ठगतैरपि” ॥

*Meaning* : Whatever is not right to be done, must never be done even on pain of death; and what is right to do, must be done even if one should die for the same.

*भावार्थ* : जो कार्य निषिद्ध है, उसे प्राण कण्ठगत (मृत्यु संकट उपस्थित होने की स्थिति) पर भी नहीं करना चाहिये। जो कर्तव्य है, उसे अपने प्राण की परवाह न करते हुये भी अवश्य करना चाहिये.

*22 March – World Water Day* On 22 March, World Water Day is observed annually to raise awareness about the importance of freshwater and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

 

INDIA: (GOI, SWARAJYA, VISHWAMITRA, HINDU POST, INDIA TODAY).

PM of INDIA spoke to President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings. “We expressed hope that this festive season brings peace, stability and prosperity to West Asia”.

Condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which threaten regional stability and disrupt global supply chains.

Reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring that shipping lanes remain open and secure.

Appreciated Iran’s continued support for the safety and security of Indian nationals in Iran.--@drpezeshkian|4:05 pm|21 Mar 2026.

Embassy of India in Saudi Arabia is providing consular and attestation services to the Indian diaspora in Dammam, Jubail and Hail.

“In a significant decision ahead of the Char Dham Yatra 2026, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has resolved to prohibit the entry of non-Hindus into the sanctum sanctorum (ONLY) of 47 temples under its administration, including the revered shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has constituted 19 Appellate Tribunals in West Bengal to hear appeals related to the inclusion or exclusion of voters in the electoral rolls as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state.

Government has approved another 20 per cent allocation of commercial LPG to States,  thus making the overall allocation to 50 per cent, including a 10 per cent allocation based on ease of doing business reforms for PNG expansion.

India has sent 2.5 tons of emergency medical supplies to Kabul to aid in the treatment of those injured in a Pakistani airstrike this week.

IRAN WAR: 21/03/2026

US and Israeli air strikes continue to pulverize Iran and Lebanon.

Remains of Brig. General Ali Mohammad Naini, will reach city of Kashan for the final rites and burial, via holy city Qom, --The Tehran Times.

US President Donald Trump says he does not “want to do a ceasefire” with Iran. “You know you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side,” Trump tells reporters. NYT.

US President Donald Trump threatens to obliterate Iran’s power plants if it fails to open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

 A US-Israeli air raid re-hit Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility with state media reporting “no leakage of radioactive materials” or danger to residents nearby.-Iran’s Tasnim news agency. I shared image.

Drone strikes ignite a massive fire near a US military complex in Baghdad, Iraq, that has come under repeated attack since the US-Israel war on Iran began.

Iran attacks southern Israel, wounding dozens in the cities of Dimona and Arad, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it a “difficult evening of battle”.

UAE: “Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defenses have engaged 341 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,748 UAVs,” the statement published on X said. “These attacks have resulted in the martyrdom of 2 members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, as well as 6 fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Palestinian nationalities. A total of 160 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor, moderate and severe.”

According to Times of Israel , Katz said that Israel is “determined to continue leading the offensive against the Iranian terror regime, to decapitate its commanders and thwart its strategic capabilities, until every security threat to the State of Israel and to US interests in the region is removed”.

“We will not stop until all war objectives are achieved,” he was quoted as saying.

Diego Garcia base attack ‘changes the calculus’ for US and EU allies.

Muhamad Seloom, lecturer at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, says the Iranian strike aimed at the UK-US military base in the Indian Ocean “changes the calculus” of the war for the United States, (and Europe).

“These missiles to Diego Garcia mean Iran has 4,000km plus ballistic missiles – and that hasn’t been revealed before. All reports before that said Iran had a 2,000km range and not beyond that,” Seloom told Al Jazeera.

“If you reverse the direction of these missiles, then they could reach London. So that changes the calculus not only for the US and its justification for the war, but also for a reluctant London and European Union to join the war.” I THINK THOSE ARE CHINESE MISSILES. Iran never tested even one such Missile in the past!

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: “We have not closed this strait. In our opinion, this strait is open. It is closed only for ships belonging to our enemies, countries that attack us. For other countries, ships can pass through the strait,” he said in an interview with Japan’s Kyodo News on Friday. BUT WHICH COMPANY WILL TAKE INSURANCE LIABILITY FOR ANY SHIP TRIES TO CROSS HORMUZ NOW, WHICH IS A RED-HOT WAR ZONE???

WORLD: (REUTER, AP, AFP, BLOOMBERG, CNN, WP)

The Pentagon has asked the US Congress for $200 billion to sustain operations and rebuild depleted weapons inventories. The request is meant to cover past strikes, expected future missions, and an urgent restocking of precision-guided munitions burned through at an unprecedented pace, according to media reports.

Unease in Japan after Trump cites Pearl Harbor to defend Iran war. US president’s reference to Japan’s 1941 attack on naval base in Hawaii has shaken the Japanese public as PM Takaichi’s silence gets mixed reaction.

Ukraine launches more than 280+ drones at Russia: Moscow State news agency Tass reported that 283 drones in total had been intercepted, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.

Bangladesh rushes to secure $2 billion loan amid energy crisis from various international creditors. Even though it imports 95% Ol & Gas, has not raised electricity and fuel prices despite the global surge.

About 90+ ships crossed HORMUZ  during this time. Most of them are Iranian Vessels. Few’s destination was  India.

South Sudan has once again moved towards instability as fresh clashes between government forces and opposition groups intensify in Akobo. The violence has raised concerns of a relapse into full-scale civil war, threatening fragile peace efforts in the world’s youngest nation.

MISHAPS:

In South Korea, the death toll in a fire at an auto parts plant in central city of Daejeon has risen to 14, with 59 injured. President Lee Jae Myung inspected the site and reviewed relief efforts.

ENVIRONMENT:

Thousands evacuated as Hawaii faces worst flooding in 20 years.

The Telangana Budget has allocated ₹1,500 crore for Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s flagship Musi Riverfront Development project, which aims to revive the river.

 The National Productivity Council (NPC) has recently signed an agreement with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to serve as the Environment Audit Designated Agency (EADA). This move is aimed at strengthening environmental compliance, monitoring, and sustainable industrial practices across India.

FOREST, PLANT & ANIMAL :

The Madras High Court has issued 34 directives for the eradication of Prosopis Juliflora, an invasive alien species, from Tamil Nadu. The move aims to restore native ecosystems, protect groundwater resources, and safeguard biodiversity affected by the aggressive spread of this plant across arid and semi-arid regions.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:

Failure of atomic clock cripples ISRO’s NavIC system. At least four satellites are needed to keep NavIC functional, the government says; with the failure of the IRNSS-1F’s clock, the number is down to three, which further weakens the country’s indigenous ‘GPS’ system. This area needs more—far more attention.

Pondicherry University launched a mobile application named ‘Blue Voice’.  The initiative aims to bridge critical information gaps by delivering real-time, location-specific weather updates in a simplified and accessible format to fishermen operating in near shore zone.

CLIMATE:

Cloud cover will increase across north India, northeast to receive steady rainfall: A combination of northerly cold winds and recent rainfall over Bihar is expected to trigger fog formation in parts of the region on Sunday.

ENTERTAINMENT, CULTURE, AND CULINARY:

 Chapchar Kut 2026 celebrates Mizoram’s rich culture with Cheraw bamboo dance, music, crafts, and cuisine. Learn its history, significance, and traditions rooted in jhum cultivation. Chapchar Kut festival 2026.  It is one of the oldest and most popular dances form of Mizoram.

GAMES & SPORTS: -

  In squash, top seed and defending champion Anahat Singh defeated compatriot Tanvi Khanna 3-1 to reach the final of Indian Open – PSA Squash Tour Copper event in Mumbai today. She will now face second seed Egyptian player Hana Moataz.

Olympic and world champion swimmer Cameron McEvoy has broken the men’s 50-metre freestyle world record, which had stood for 17 years. The 31-year-old Australian posted a time of 20.88 seconds yesterday at the China Open in Shenzhen, taking 0.03 seconds off Brazilian César Cielo’s previous mark.

DAS KAPITAL:

Japanese Firm TDK Corporation to Invest ₹4,000 Crore in Haryana for Battery Energy Storage Unit. 

Indian Share Market: -

Closed yesterday.

BULLIONS:

*GOLD* : ₹ 15,200/ 01gm (24 krt)

*SILVER* : ₹ 245,000/KG

Currency Exchange Rates:

*Euro* : ₹107/-*USD*  ₹ 92/-  *China¥* : ₹ 13/-

CONCERN:

 India is the world's second-largest fertilizer consumer, relying heavily on imports for Urea (20%), DAP (50-60%), and MOP (100% dependency). Russia is currently the top supplier (discounted at 10-25%), followed by Saudi Arabia, China, Morocco, and Oman. Total fertilizer imports for 2024–25 include high urea volumes (56.47 LMT) and a surge in DAP.

China has already announced that it will cut down export.

BEFORE MONSOON, GOI SHALL TAKE A STOCK. We have 2 and a ½ months.

India is already in talks with Russia, Belarus, Morocco to boost fertiliser imports, sources say.

 

THE END.