National Events in March 2000
Mar. 1:
The Chief Minister, Mrs. Rabri Devi and the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar stake their claim to form the next government in Bihar.
The United Front leader, Mr. W. Nipamacha Singh takes office as new Chief Minister of Manipur.
The landmark India-Sri Lanka free trade agreement takes effect, paving the way for large-scale liberalisation of bilateral trade.
Mar. 2:
The Indian National Lok Dal supremo, Mr. Om Prakash Chautala sworn in 18th Chief Minister of Haryana.
Mar. 3:
The Samata Party leader, Mr. Nitish Kumar sworn in Bihar Chief Minister and the Governor, Mr. V.C. Pande's decision evokes widespread criticism.
Mar. 4:
The nation will not succumb to any pressure on signing the CTBT and will keep intact its sovereignty and rights, says the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee.
Mar. 5:
Mr. Naveen Patnaik assumes office as the Orissa Chief Minister.
Mar. 6:
India and China begin the first ever bilateral security dialogue in Beijing on global and regional issues of mutual interest.
The Meghalaya Chief Minister, Mr. B.B. Lyngdoh resigns, making way for the Speaker, Mr. E.K. Mawlong to hold the reins.
Mar. 7:
The Andhra Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister,Mr. A. Madhava Reddy dies in a landmine blast at Ghatkesar village in Ranga Reddy district.
Mar. 8:
The Gujarat Government withdraws its January 3 notification, thus reimposing the ban on its employees from participating in RSS activities.
The Supreme Court rules that women daily wage earners are entitled to maternity benefits in a decision that will benefit lakhs of people in the unorganised sector.
The former Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker and AIADMK leader, Mr. Sedapatti R. Muthiah gets 25 months RI and Rs.5,000 fine in the ``disproportionate wealth case.''
Mar. 9:
The Centre grants industry status for the construction sector and notifies ``construction'' as another approved activity for IDBI financing.
Mar. 10:
The Bihar Chief Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar submits resignation without putting his motion seeking a trust vote to test in the Assembly. The RJD leader, Mrs. Rabri Devi, meets the Governor and stakes claim to form the Government.
Mr. K.S. Sudharshan, takes over as the new RSS Sarsanghchalak (chief).
Distinguished Hindi writer, Mr. Nirmal Verma and eminent Punjabi novelist, Mr. Gurchal Singh selected jointly for the 35th Jnanpith Award for 1999.
Mar. 11:
Rabri Devi takes office as Bihar Chief Minister.
The CBI arrests the `inventor' of `herbal fuel', Ramar Pillai in Chennai.
Mar. 13:
The Congress(I) decides to join the RJD Government in Bihar, arguing that it could ``try to provide better governance'' by doing so.
Parliament approves TRAI Bill seeking to bifurcate it into a Tribunal and a Regulator, with the Rajya Sabha passing the measure by a voice vote.
Mar. 16:
The Bihar Chief Minister, Mrs. Rabri Devi wins trust vote.
Mar. 17:
The Bihar Governor, Mr. V.C. Pande accords sanction to the CBI to prosecute the RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, in a disproportionate assets case.
Mar. 19:
The U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton arrives to a warm welcome, the first presidential visit in two decades.
Mar. 20:
Mr. Bill Clinton pays a day's visit to Bangladesh - the first by a U.S. President in the country's 29-year-old history.
Unidentified militants gun down 35 Sikhs in the south Kashmir village of Chatti Singhpora in one of the worst incidents of violence in the State.
Mar. 21:
Respect for LoC must for dialogue to ease Indo-Pak tensions over Kashmir, says Mr. Bill Clinton.
U.S. eases economic sanctions further to restart a $ 25 million programme to modernise Indian financial markets.
The £ 10,000 bond scheme for short-term visitors to the U.K. will not be applied to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, says the British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Keith Vaz.
Mar. 22:
India's first third generation satellite, Insat-3B put in orbit by Europe's latest Ariane-5 rocket from Kourou in French Guyana.
Mr. P. Shanmugham, sworn in Chief Minister of Pondicherry.
The Government announces hike in the administered prices of LPG, kerosene and aviation turbine fuel.
Mar. 24:
Cabinet panel clears new power sharing system, a highlight of which is that the paying capacity of the SEBs will be the main criteria while deciding on how the power should be shared.
Mar. 25:
The U.S. will not mediate on Kashmir, says the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton in a message on State-run Pakistan television after two-hour long talks with the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad.
Mrs. Rabri Devi, Bihar Chief Minister, accommodates 82 in jumbo Cabinet, including all the 20 Congress MLAs.
Mar. 27:
After more than two-and-a-half-years, a Delhi court resumes trial in the St. Kitts forgery case following a Delhi High Court order upholding the lower court's verdict on framing of charges.
Mar. 28:
Delhi police arrest Shoaib Ilyasi, producer of the crime serial ``India's most wanted'' for the death of his wife Anju on January 10.
Mar. 29:
The Centre announces a steep upward revision of the Central issue price of wheat and rice distributed through the PDS effective from April 1.
Mar. 30:
A special court remands to police custody the suspended sessions judge, Mr. J.W. Singh, facing charges of extortion and nexus with the underworld.
Mar. 31:
The Government announces creation of two special economic zones on the Chinese model in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu and lifts quantitative restrictions on 714 items to allow free imports.