Important Daily Current Affairs for TNPSC Exam – 02-03-2026

National News

GST Collection Rises to ₹1.83 Lakh Crore in February

The Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in February increased by 8.1% to over ₹1.83 lakh crore, driven by higher revenues from imports and domestic sales. The gross domestic revenue rose by 5.3% to about ₹1.36 lakh crore, while gross import revenue increased by 17.2% to ₹47,837 crore. The total refunds amounted to ₹22,595 crore, marking a rise of 10.2%, and the net GST collection stood at over ₹1.61 lakh crore, registering a 7.9% year-on-year growth. The net cess revenue was ₹5,063 crore, compared to ₹13,481 crore in February of the previous year. From September 2025, GST rates on about 375 items were reduced, and the four tax slabs of 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28% were merged into two slabs of 5% and 18%, with a new highest slab of 40% imposed on select ultra-luxury goods and tobacco products. After the implementation of the rate cuts, collections declined to ₹1.7 lakh crore in November, then rose to ₹1.74 lakh crore in December and further to ₹1.93 lakh crore in January. In terms of State-wise performance, Tamil Nadu (-6%), Madhya Pradesh (-8%), and Rajasthan (-1%) reported negative growth, while West Bengal (1%), Haryana (2%), Uttar Pradesh (5%), and Maharashtra (6%) recorded single-digit growth below the national average of 8%.

INSV Kaundinya Returns After Maiden Overseas Voyage to Oman

Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth flagged-in the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Kaundinya at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on March 02, 2026, following its successful maiden overseas voyage to Muscat, Oman. INSV Kaundinya is a 20-metre traditionally constructed stitched sailing vessel of the Indian Navy, inducted in May 2025, and named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya. The vessel is inspired by a 5th century CE depiction from the Ajanta Caves and built using ancient Indian shipbuilding techniques in which wooden planks are stitched with coir rope and sealed with natural resins. The voyage was conducted across the Arabian Sea, marking a revival of India’s traditional maritime heritage. The event was attended by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, and the Consul General of the Sultanate of Oman in Mumbai, Mr Mahboob Issa Alraisi.

Nationwide ASMITA League to Mark International Women’s Day 2026

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shrimati Raksha Nikhil Khadse, announced the conduct of a nationwide ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action) League on March 8, 2026, to mark International Women’s Day, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The events will be organised at 250 locations across the country, focusing on athletics events such as 100m, 200m and 400m races for the age categories of Under-13, 13–18 years and 18+. ASMITA, launched in 2021, is part of the Khelo India programme and is supported by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in collaboration with National Sports Federations to conduct women’s leagues at zonal and national levels. So far, more than 2,600 leagues have been conducted across 34 sports disciplines in over 550 districts and 700 cities, with participation of more than 3,00,000 women. The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with MY Bharat, Khelo India Centres (KICs), the SAI ecosystem and National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), State and District Sports Associations, and District Youth Officers (DYOs). It is expected that around 2,50,000 women will participate in the events on a single day.

Nationwide ASMITA League on March 8 to Mark International Women’s Day

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shrimati Raksha Nikhil Khadse, announced that a nationwide ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action) League will be conducted on March 8 to mark International Women’s Day, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The events will be held at 250 locations across India, focusing on athletics events including 100m, 200m and 400m races for the age categories of Under-13, 13–18 years and 18+. ASMITA, launched in 2021, is part of the Khelo India programme and is supported by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in collaboration with National Sports Federations to conduct women’s leagues at zonal and national levels. So far, more than 2,600 leagues have been conducted across 34 sports disciplines in over 550 districts and 700 cities, with participation of more than 3,00,000 women, including in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with MY Bharat, Khelo India Centres (KICs), the SAI ecosystem and National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), State and District Sports Associations, and District Youth Officers (DYOs), and around 2,50,000 women are expected to participate on a single day.

Tamil Nadu News

IIT-Madras to Monetise Stake in Indo MIM Ltd through IPO

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) is set to monetise around half of its total holding worth about ₹140 crore through the forthcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Indo MIM Ltd., a company engaged in manufacturing precision engineering components using Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) technology for automotive, aerospace, defence and consumer sectors. The company’s promoter Krishna Chivukula, an alumnus of IIT-Madras, had earlier gifted 1% stake of his company to the institution. IIT-Madras currently holds 46,15,385 equity shares and has proposed to sell up to 23,07,700 equity shares of face value ₹1 each, representing about 1% of the total equity capital of Indo MIM Ltd. In September 2024, Dr. Krishna Chivukula donated ₹228 crore to IIT-Madras for fellowships to B.Tech students, sportspersons, foreign students and faculty involved in high-risk research. In a related development, the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-Bombay) through its Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) is set to sell 4,08,000 equity shares worth around ₹55 crore in the IPO of Sedemac Mechatronics Ltd., scheduled to open on 4 March 2026. Sedemac was founded in 2007 at IIT-Bombay and its promoters had given 7% equity to SINE in 2008.

Naagam App

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department launched the Naagam mobile application in July 2025 to streamline snake rescue operations and strengthen scientific data collection across the State. A total of 100 snake rescuers from various districts of Tamil Nadu have been selected for onboarding onto the app. The Forest Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT) to manage the application and conduct structured training programmes. Workshops have been conducted in Chennai, Madurai, Erode, and Coimbatore, and the selected rescuers include volunteers and Forest Department staff. The app is currently accessible only to trained rescuers, and additional 50 to 100 rescuers, particularly from Tier-I and Tier-II cities, are expected to be onboarded. The selected rescuers must complete a formal application process through their respective District Forest Officers (DFOs) before official onboarding. The application has been modelled after SARPA, Kerala’s snake rescue platform. The app is expected to become fully operational within four months, before the onset of the monsoon season, when snake rescue calls increase.

International News

Iran–Israel–U.S. Conflict After Killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Iran launched missile strikes against Israel and U.S.-linked targets, leading to a widening conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The escalation began after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian leadership and military establishments, resulting in the death of more than 200 people in Iran, according to Iranian authorities. In response, Iran fired missiles at targets in Israel and certain Gulf Arab states. In Israel, missile impacts and interceptions were reported in Tel Aviv, while a strike on a synagogue in Beit Shemesh led to the death of nine people and injuries to 28 others, raising Israel’s total death toll to 11. The U.S. military confirmed that three service members were killed and five seriously wounded during the Iran operation. Explosions were also reported in Tehran, particularly in areas containing government buildings, with Iranian state television confirming damage assessment by technical teams. The developments mark a major escalation in West Asian geopolitics involving key global powers and regional actors.

Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Killed in US-Israel Strike

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (86), the Supreme Leader of Iran, was killed on March 1 in a joint airstrike carried out by the United States and Israel, targeting more than 100 locations in Iran, including bases of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), air defence systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military bases. The attack also targeted Khamenei’s office complex in Tehran, and the Iranian government later confirmed his death. In the same operation, Army Chief Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Revolutionary Guard Commander Mohammad Pakpour, and senior security adviser Ali Shamkhani were reported killed during a strike on a Security Council meeting. Following his death, Ayatollah Arafi (67) was appointed as the interim Supreme Religious Leader, and an interim council comprising Ayatollah Arafi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei was formed to administer the country until a new Supreme Leader is selected. After the incident, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. military bases in Gulf countries. A 7-day public holiday and 40-day state mourning were declared in Iran, and a black flag was hoisted at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad.

Sports News

India Reaches T20 World Cup Semifinals for Sixth Time

The Indian men’s cricket team has qualified for the T20 World Cup semifinals for a record-equalling sixth time. India had earlier reached the semifinal stage in the years 2007, 2014, 2016, 2022, and 2024. In the ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup, India also recorded its highest successful run chase in the history of the tournament, which stands as the third-best overall successful chase in the competition.

Rovman Powell Reaches 150 Sixes in T20 Internationals

Rovman Powell became the first West Indies cricketer to hit 150 sixes in T20 Internationals (T20Is). He achieved this milestone in his 103rd innings, surpassing Nicholas Pooran, who had scored 149 sixes in 97 innings. Powell scored an unbeaten 34 runs in the match in which he reached the landmark. With 2,261 runs in T20Is, Powell is the second-highest run-scorer for West Indies in the format, behind Nicholas Pooran, who has scored 2,275 runs.

Federico Cina Wins Maha Open ATP Challenger 75 Title

Federico Cina, the sixth seed, won the Maha Open ATP Challenger 75 tennis championship held in Pune on Sunday. In the final, he defeated Felix Gill of Britain with a score of 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(1). Federico Cina saved five match points during the match to secure the title.

Flavio Cobolli Wins Mexico Open Title

Flavio Cobolli of Italy won the Mexico Open men’s tennis tournament held in Mexico City on March 1. In the men’s singles final, the 5th seed defeated Frances Tiafoe of the United States, who was the 8th seed, with a score of 7-6 (7/4), 6-4. At the age of 23, Cobolli became the youngest champion of the tournament in the last 10 years. He won his first title on hard courts and secured his third ATP Tour title overall. Following this victory, he moved up to the 15th position in the world rankings for the first time. In the doubles final, the pair of Marcelo Melo of Brazil and Alexander Zverev of Germany defeated Robert Galloway of the United States and Alexander Erler of Austria with a score of 6-3, 6-4 to win the title.