1.India was the world's second largest importer of arms and military hardware from 2021 to 2025 and the largest chunk of the imports came from Russia, Swedish think tank SIPRI said in a new report Monday.

2.In a first, Opposition parties are set to bring a notice to move a motion seeking removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, sources said Monday.

3.The Indian rupee weakened further as global crude oil prices surged to nearly $120 a barrel, driven by the geopolitical shock stemming from the escalating Middle East crisis.

4.Fifty-four communal riots and seven mob lynching incidents were reported in the state between June 2024 and February 2026, as per a written statement by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the Assembly Monday.

5.The infant mortality rate (IMR) in Odisha stands at 30 per 1,000 live births, higher than the national average of 25, Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) Minister Mukesh Mahaling informed the Assembly Monday.

6.The state government has directed officials to expedite pending disciplinary inquiries against offi cers of the Odisha Administrative Service (Junior Branch) and the Odisha Revenue Service. The Revenue and Disaster Management department has asked authorities to submit all pending investigation reports by March 31.

7.Namibian cheetah Jwala Monday gave birth to fi ve cubs at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park, taking the country’s total cheetah population to 53, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has announced.

8.The government has increased the minimum waiting period for booking a domestic LPG cylinder refill from 21 days to 25 days to prevent hoarding, as there were signs of panic buying taking place in the market amid the uncertainties due to the Iran war.

9.Talks to advance President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war have been on hold since last week when the U.S. and Israel jointly attacked Iran, sparking a broader Middle East war, three sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations said.

10.The Mizoram Assembly Monday unanimously adopted a fresh resolution seeking the inclusion of the Mizo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, more than three decades after the fi rst legislative move was taken in this regard.

11.The Delhi Pollution Control Committee's (DPCC) latest data on the water quality of the Yamuna River raises concerns about high faecal coliform levels, indicating significant untreated sewage entering the river.

12.Over 14 lakh metric tonnes (MT) e-waste was generated in the country during 2025-26 out of which over 9.79 lakh metric tonnes has been recycled, the Lok Sabha was informed Monday.

13.The Enforcement Directorate has approached the Delhi High Court to expunge observations made by a trial court on its money laundering investigation against former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and others linked to the CBI's excise policy case.

14.Japan is preparing to deploy its fi rst batch of domestically developed long-range missiles, with their launchers arriving at an army camp Monday as the country accelerates its offensive capability in response to rising challenges in the region.

15.Indian women play out a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Scotland and continue to lead Pool B of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.