National Events in March 2002

Mar 1 The Supreme Court stays implementation of the NCERTs revised curriculum approved by the Centre. Full Story
Mar 2 Gujarat violence a black mark on the nations forehead and the senseless massacre has lowered Indias prestige in the world, says the Prime Minister, A. B. Vajpayee. Full Story
Eighty-six people die in fresh incidents of violence in the State. Full Story
The AIADMK General Secretary, Jayalalithaa, is sworn in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. A 28-member Cabinet also takes oath. Full Story
The veteran Congress leader, Narain Dutt Tiwari, is sworn in Chief Minister of the first elected Government of Uttaranchal. Full Story
Mar 3 The Lok Sabha Speaker, G.M.C. Balayogi (51), dies after the private helicopter in which he was travelling crashes while trying to make an emergency landing at Kovvadalanka village in Kolluru area of Krishna district, in Andhra Pradesh. Full Story
The prime suspect in the Godhra train carnage, Mohammad Hussain Kolota is arrested. Full Story
The Reliance Industries Limited and Reliance Petroleum Limited merge, in the largest ever merger in the history of corporate India. Full Story
Mar 5 The Kanchi Sankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswati persuades the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and the VHP to give a commitment that they will abide by a final verdict in the Ayodhya case, after a meeting in New Delhi. Full Story
The Union Cabinet approves 100 per cent FDI in films and advertising through the automatic approval route. Full Story
Mar 6 No party has a working majority in Assembly, says the Uttar Pradesh Governor, Vishnu Kant Sastri, and recommends Presidents rule. Full Story
K.G. Shah, a retired Gujarat High Court Judge, is named to probe the Godhra carnage and the subsequent outbreak of violence. Full Story
The Supreme Court jails the Booker Prize Winner, Arundhati Roy for contempt of court. Full Story
Mar 7 The Congress leader, Ibobi Singh, is sworn in Manipur Chief Minister. Full Story
The Union Cabinet gives its nod for Presidents rule in U.P. Full Story
Mar 8 The Nationalist Congress Party leader, P.A. Sangma, quits the statute panel protesting its refusal to take up the issue of citizens of foreign origin. Full Story
The Presidents rule is imposed in U.P. and the Assembly kept in suspended animation. Full Story
Medical scientist, Indira Nath, bags the UNESCO/ L' Oreal award for her work in developing medication and vaccines for leprosy treatment. Full Story
The Domestic Violence Bill is introduced in the Lok Sabha. Full Story
Mar 9 Renowned Hindustani vocalist, Pandit Jasraj and acclaimed sitar player, Sudhir Phadke are selected for the Saraswati Award.
Mar 10 The All India Muslim Personal Law Board rejects the Ayodhya formula worked out by the Kanchi Acharya for resolving the Ram Janmabhoomi tangle. Full Story
Mar 13 The Supreme Court says no to the Centres plea to permit bhoomi puja at the undisputed site in Ayodhya and orders status quo. Full Story
Mar 15 The much-publicised shila daan ends peacefully at the Digambar Akhara, more than a km away from the acquired undisputed land in Ayodhya. Full Story
The Delhi High Court acquits the former Prime Minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao and the then Home Minister, Buta Singh in the multi-crore Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MPs bribery case. Full Story
The Government clears the decks for introduction of Internet telephony. Full Story
Vijayendra N. Kaul, former Petroleum Secretary, takes over as the Comptroller and Auditor-General. Full Story
Mar 16 Around 500 activists of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal storm the Orissa Assembly and indulge in massive vandalism causing extensive damage. Full Story
India signs three loan agreements with the World Bank for $490 millions. Full Story
Mar 17 The anti-terrorist squad of the Gujarat police nab Haji Bilal, prime accused in the Godhra carnage. Full Story
Food scientist, M. S. Swaminathan is elected to lead the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs for the next five years. Full Story
Mar 18 The Lok Sabha passes the Prevention of Terrorism Bill, 2002 described by the Opposition as draconian, which walks out calling it a dark day in history. Full Story
Mar 21 The Rajya Sabha strikes down the POTO Bill. Full Story
Mar 23 The Centre makes it mandatory for states to clear their long-pending electricity dues of Rs. 36,000 crores to the Central power companies or issue bonds as one-time settlement. Full Story
The President presents Padma Vibhushan awards to the Andhra Pradesh Governor, C. Rangarajan, Attorney-General, Soli Jehangir Sorabjee. K. J. Yesudas and N. Rangabhasyam among Padma Bhushan awardees. Full Story
Mar 26 The POTO gets approval in a historic joint sitting of Parliament after a day-long debate. Full Story
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee clears the release of Bt Cotton for commercial use. Full Story
Mar 28 Direct air link is established between India and China with the arrival of the first passenger from China, at IGIA, New Delhi. Full Story
Events 2002