March 2026 Current Affairs for BPSC: Complete Monthly Notes (273 Points)

These March 2026 current affairs notes for BPSC cover the month in 273 short, exam-style points across 13 sections: international, national, polity and governance, schemes and initiatives, economy, environment and geography, science and tech, defense and security, awards, indexes, person in news, obituaries, sports. Each point is written the way a BPSC prelims question is framed, with the place, the person, the number and the date, so you can revise the month in one sitting and then test yourself on our current-affairs quizzes. The notes are part of our monthly series; see also the February 2026 current affairs and the April 2026 current affairs.

How to use this page: read one section a day, mark the points that connect to the static syllabus (a place on the map, an article of the Constitution, a scheme’s ministry), and attempt the BPSC current affairs mock test at the end of the week.

International

• India–Finland Relations: Upgraded to Strategic Partnership during Raisina Dialogue 2026 with President of Finland Alexander Stubb; Double bilateral trade by 2030
• India–Canada Ties: Canadian PM Mark Carney visited India, first bilateral trip since 2018; Outcomes: • Energy & Resources: ✓ $2.6B uranium supply deal for 10 years (Cameco–India DAE). ✓ MOU on lithium & cobalt supply chains for EVs & clean energy. ✓ Canada to supply LNG & heavy crude; aims 50 MT LNG/year by 2030. ✓ Canada joins International Solar Alliance (ISA) & Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA). • Trade & Economy: ✓ CEPA talks resumed; bilateral trade target: CAD 70B by 2030. ✓ New Finance Dialogue launched; $100B Canadian investments in India. ✓ India–Canada CEO Forum reconstituted to advise on trade & investment. ✓ Pulse Protein Centre of Excellence proposed at NIFTEM Kundli, Haryana.
• Raisina Dialogue 2026: Inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi; with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb delivering the keynote address; Theme: “Saṁskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement”. • Raisina Dialogue- India’s premier geopolitics & geo-economics forum; organised by Observer Research Foundation with Ministry of External Affairs; launched in 2016.
• Chile: First in the Americas (and second globally) to eliminate Leprosy. (Jordan 2024)
• Section 301 Investigation (USA): Office of the US Trade Representative launched probe into 16 countries including India & China, under Trade Act 1974 to check unfair trade practices.
• Nutraceutical Trade Corridor: Launched by India & Uzbekistan; connect Indian manufacturers with CIS and Eurasian markets, targeting $7–10 billion opportunity.
• Three Seas Initiative (3SI): Discussed during Raisina Dialogue 2026; aims regional cooperation among Central & Eastern European countries; Launched in 2015; a forum of 13 EU countries between Baltic–Adriatic–Black Seas.
• Nepal Elections 2026: Rastriya Swatantra Party won ~122/165 seats; Balendra Shah set to become PM.
• Scotland: First UK country to legalise water cremations via alkaline hydrolysis; Eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation or burial.
• Iran Heritage Sites Damaged in Strikes: Several UNESCO-listed sites, including Golestan Palace and Chehel Sotoun, suffered damage due to US–Israel airstrike shockwaves.
• Mobile World Congress 2026: Held from 2–5 March at Barcelona, Spain; theme “The IQ Era”; world’s largest mobile-tech event; Union Minister for Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia represented India.
• EAM Jaishankar Visits Brussels, Belgium (15–16 March 2026): to meet EU Foreign Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council, invited by EU VP Kaja Kallas.
• 3-day film festival begins in Colombo as part of India Week 2026, premiering 3 Indian films (Diplomat , Dhurandhar & Parashakthi) to celebrate India–Sri Lanka cultural ties.
• Peru declares 60-day state of emergency, to tackle risks from heavy rainfall and ensure disaster response and rehabilitation.
• Hereditary Peers Bill: Passed by Britain’s Parliament, ending birthright seats in the House of Lords.
• China Passes Ethnic Unity Law: New law promotes Mandarin and a unified national identity, approved by the National People’s Congress.
• US–Venezuela Ties Restored: agree to resume diplomatic relations after 2019 break.
• Somalia Constitution Amendment: Parliament extends President’s and lawmakers’ terms, delaying elections by one year; Ongoing instability since 1991 fall of Mohamed Siad Barre’s regime.
• Ashmolean Museum Returns Idol: 16th-century bronze idol of Saint Thirumankai Alvar returned to Thadikombu temple, Tamil Nadu; Acquired by Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum in 1967.
• UK Proposes Social Media Ban for Under‑16: Government invites public feedback on restricting social media use for under-16s.
• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, was killed in joint US‑Israeli airstrikes on 28 February 2026; Mojtaba Khamenei appointed as new Supreme Leader.
• India–Chile: Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh attended Chile President’s inauguration (10–12 Mar 2026), focusing on cooperation in trade, mining, and technology.
• US–Reliance $300 Billion Refinery Deal: President Donald Trump announces $300 billion partnership with Reliance to build first major US refinery in 50 years.
• India–Sri Lanka: Indian Army launches Major Bridge Project under Operation Sagar Bandhu, linking Colombo with Puttalam.
• India–Tanzania: India sends life-saving medicines to Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital, Dar es Salaam, via INS Trikand as humanitarian aid.
• India–Mozambique: 500 MT of rice and relief supplies sent to flood-hit areas.
• India- Malawi: India dispatches 1,000 MT of rice to Malawi for drought relief following El Niño– linked food shortages.
• India–Bangladesh: 5,000 MT of diesel supplied via Bangladesh‑India Friendship Pipeline.
• First BRICS Youth Coordination Meeting: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, organized the first BRICS Youth Coordination Meeting on March 25, 2026, in virtual format, formally commencing the youth engagement program under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026; theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
• BIMSTEC Youth Programme: MEA, in partnership with the Govt of Maharashtra, organized the 1st BIMSTEC Young Professionals Exchange Programme from in Mumbai and Pune.
• G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: S. Jaishankar attended in Abbaye des-Vaux-de-Cernay, France.
• GlobE Network: India hosted the 12th Steering Committee Meeting in New Delhi. ➢ GlobE Network was established under the Riyadh Initiative during Saudi Arabia’s G20 Presidency. It operates under the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). ➢ India’s member authorities in GlobE are the CBI and ED; the nodal ministry is the MHA.
• Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared national energy emergency due to global supply risks from West Asia conflict; First country to do so.
• Slovenia: becomes first EU country to introduce government-mandated fuel rationing amid Middle East conflict.
• Spain: Closed its airspace for US military aircraft involved in Iran-related operations. Spain also denied US use of jointly operated bases at Rota and Morón de la Frontera in Spain.
• Japan Rare Earth Discovery: Japan found a large rare earth deposit at 6,000 m depth near Minamitorishima Island in the Pacific Ocean; third-largest reserve globally. ➢ Rare earths: yttrium, dysprosium, terbium (used in EV motors, wind turbines, defence systems). ➢ Strategic aim: reduce dependence on China, which controls >90% of global rare earth processing.
• Denmark becomes the first EU nation certified by the WHO for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. Cuba was the world’s first country.
• Black Rain: Tehran, Iran (Aqdasieh oil depot, Shahran oil facility, Karaj, and Tehran refinery) witnessed black rain after oil facility fires caused by strikes; Rain mixed with soot, ash, oil particles, and toxic chemicals.
• US Dollar Notes: US to issue future dollar notes with President Donald Trump’s signature alongside the Treasury Secretary’s for the first time in honour of the 250th anniversary (Semiquincentennial) of the United States (July 4, 2026). Traditionally, only the Treasury Secretary and Treasurer sign US currency.
• Ukraine: Signed a defence cooperation pact with Qatar during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Doha. Ukraine signed with Saudi & UAE too.
• Indonesia: Became first Southeast Asian country to ban social media access for children under 16 Modelled after Australia’s world-first under-16 social media ban.
• India–China trade via Lipulekh Pass (Pithoragarh Uttarakhand) will resume in June ending a 6–7 year suspension since the COVID-19 pandemic and border tensions. MEA issued NOC; both MHA and Commerce Ministry cleared it. Lipulekh was the first Indian border post opened for trade with China (1992).
• India and Indonesia will jointly restore the Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta, Java. ➢ Prambanan: 9th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site, dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva); also known as Roro Jonggrang; built by Sanjaya dynasty
• India and Vietnam strengthened cooperation in tribal development through a high-level meeting in New Delhi. 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of India–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• India and Nepal signed an MoU for transboundary cooperation in forests, wildlife, biodiversity, and climate change.
• India and Japan held the 7th CEPA Joint Committee Meeting in Tokyo to review trade issues under the 2011 agreement covering 94% tariff elimination. India–Japan CEPA was signed in 2011.
• India–Japan Currency Swap: India renewed Bilateral Swap Arrangement with Japan to ensure financial stability and liquidity support. It is a two-way arrangement where both countries can swap local currencies for the US Dollar.
• Hexagon of Alliances: Proposed by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to counter Iran-led Axis of Resistance and radical Sunni blocs. ➢ Proposed just ahead of PM Modi’s visit to Israel (25 February 2026). ➢ Named members: Israel, India, Greece, Cyprus + unnamed Arab, African, and Asian nations. ➢ Greece and Cyprus are ICC members (ICC has an arrest warrant against Netanyahu). ➢ Pakistan Senate passed a resolution condemning the Hexagon proposal.
• Humanitarian Aid to Madagascar: India sent 30 tonnes of relief to Madagascar via an Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft, which landed in Antananarivo after cyclones Fytia & Gezani. ➢ Framework: India’s HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) & SAGAR doctrine (Security and Growth for All in the Region). ➢ Madagascar is the largest island in the Indian Ocean

National

• NXT Summit: Addressed by PM Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi; highlighted Viksit Bharat vision & symbolic link with Dandi March; organised by ITV Network & Sunday Guardian Foundation; forum for leaders & experts to discuss governance, economy, technology & global challenges. • Dandi March: Led by Mahatma Gandhi, began on 12 March 1930, protest against British salt monopoly; started from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 volunteers. (Girivardhari Chaudhari ‘Karo Babu’ or Maithil Gandhi- only one from Bihar; Darbhanga)
• Indian Orchid Festival 2026: Held at ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids (Sikkim); theme “Orchids for Beauty & Prosperity”; featured exhibition, competition, workshops & promotion of orchid cultivation and marketing.
• Araku Kouni: Launched by CM N. Chandrababu Naidu; first tribal millet-based menu of Andhra Pradesh; promotes traditional diet & tribal cuisine of Alluri Sitharama Raju district.
• Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems 2026: Inaugurated by Droupadi Murmu at ICAR Centre; theme—“Driving Progress, Attaining New Heights”; aims gender-inclusive policies & innovation in agriculture.
• India’s first Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) desalination plant: in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, developed by NIOT; Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion to generate power & desalinate seawater.
• Jal Mahotsav 2026: Launched by Ministry of Jal Shakti (8–22 March); promotes water conservation & community participation under Jal Jeevan Mission.
• National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge: Launched by NABARD with Gates Foundation & Dalberg Advisors; aims to build a National Climate Stack for rural climate resilience.
• Bharat Steel 2026 Summit: India’s Ministry of Steel to host an international conference in New Delhi on 16–17 April 2026.
• ANVESH-2026: International conference at NIFTEM-Kundli, Haryana, promoting innovation in sustainable and healthy foods.
• Ladakh to Host Buddha Relics Exposition: Month-long display of Lord Buddha’s holy relics in Leh, starting 1 May; theme “Peace in times of Conflict.”; Second such exposition in Ladakh; first held in 1950
• ‘Stand with Her’ Campaign: Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy launches campaign to make the state safest for women.
• ‘Saksham Skill Survey’: Launched by Mumbai; Initiative to assess skills of youth (18–40 years) & enhance employability.
• Gujarat SemiConnect Conference 2026: Begins in Gandhinagar; focus on AI, semiconductors, and electronics driving India’s growth.
• Sikkimese film ‘Shape of Momo’ by Tribeny Rai won the Silver Taiga Award and Soul of Russia prize at Russia’s Spirit of Fire Film Festival.
• SC Allows Passive Euthanasia: Supreme Court permits withdrawal of life support for Harish Rana (Ghaziabad), in coma since 2013, in a landmark ruling.
• AAHAR 2026 Food Fair: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurates 40th AAHAR International Food & Hospitality Fair in New Delhi.
• Chandigarh: Achieved 99.93% literacy; 6th State/UT and 2nd UT after Ladakh to become fully literate.
• Samriddhi Kendra in Guna, MP: inaugurated by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia under DoT’s rural digital services pilot.
• National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries: Department of Fisheries organised the conference at SKICC, Srinagar, J&K.
• “Mahatma: A Great Communicator”: Book by Dhiraj Kakadia released by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on 2 March 2026 at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat, New Delhi.
• Tribes Art Fest 2026: Hosted in New Delhi; Organised by Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with FICCI and National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA); Rajesh Chaitya Vangad from Maharashtra was honored with the Best Artist in Tribal Art award; Warli Painting (Maharashtra), Rabha & Tamang Masks (Assam, Bengal, Himalayas), Gond & Bhil Painting (MP)
• Bharat Tribe Fest: Hosted in Delhi; Organized by Ministry of Tribal Affairs & TRIFED.
• Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh propose social media restrictions for minors; Karnataka- under 16s, Andhra Pradesh- under 13. Australia first country. Indonesia too.
• Kusunpur village, Odisha will become the state’s first smart village under a CSIR-led initiative under Ministry of Science & Technology.
• Bharat Electricity Summit 2026: being held at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi. Theme: “Electrifying Growth. Empowering Sustainability. Connecting Globally.”
• Karuna: The Power of Compassion: Book released by Kailash Satyarthi. Introduces CQ (Compassion Quotient) as a measurable social tool. ➢ Kailash Satyarthi: Won Nobel Peace Prize 2014 (jointly with Malala Yousafzai); founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan (1980) to eliminate child labour and trafficking.
• Chapchar Kut: Mizoram’s major spring festival, celebrated by the Mizo community. Marks the completion of jhum (shifting) cultivation. Cheraw dance (bamboo dance, the most famous Mizo dance). Mizoram capital: Aizawl. CM: Lalduhoma (ZPM)
• Sarhul festival: celebrated in Jharkhand, marks nature worship and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle. Particularly by the Oraon (Kurukh), Munda, and Ho tribes. Sal tree (Shorea robusta) is central to the festival which is worshipped as the abode of the village deity (Sarna Dharma)

Polity and Governance

• Reshuffling of Governors & Lieutenant Governors: • West Bengal: R. N. Ravi (formerly Tamil Nadu) • Delhi (LG): Taranjit Singh Sandhu (replacing Vinai Kumar Saxena) • Ladakh (LG): Vinai Kumar Saxena (replacing Kavinder Gupta) • Himachal Pradesh: Kavinder Gupta • Tamil Nadu: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (additional charge; Currently Kerala Governor) • Bihar: Syed Ata Hasnain; 43rd Governor; Retd. Lieutenant General; 14 March oath by Patna HC CJ Sangam Kumar Sahoo • Telangana: Shiv Pratap Shukla (formerly Himachal Pradesh) • Maharashtra: Jishnu Dev Varma (formerly Telangana) • Nagaland: Nand Kishore Yadav
• Essential Commodities Act 1955 Invoked: Centre acts amid oil crisis to regulate supply, boost LPG production, and control production, supply, and distribution of essential commodities.
• Team Kalki: Dismantled by NCB; used darknet, encrypted platforms & cryptocurrency for drug trafficking across India.
• National Governance Conference: Held in Jammu on 3 March 2026 on “Holistic Development of Districts,” focusing on citizen-centric, technology-driven governance; organised by DARPG with J&K government.
• Rajasthan Local Body Elections: State Cabinet scraps the two-child norm (introduced in 1995), allowing candidates with more than two children to contest Panchayati Raj and municipal elections.
• Maharashtra Renames Divyang Welfare Dept as Divyang Empowerment Department to focus on empowerment.
• Devbhoomi Family Bill-2026: introduces by Uttarakhand govt; create a unified family database for welfare delivery, with the eldest woman (18+) as family head.
• Maharashtra Approves Anti-Conversion Bill: to prevent religious conversions.
• Chhattisgarh Approves Freedom of Religion Bill 2026: to curb religious conversions.
• Goa Plans Advocate Protection Bill 2026: State to introduce bill to curb violence and harassment against advocates.
• First CAA Citizenship Certificate, Assam: Dipali Das (Cachar) becomes first recipient under CAA, receiving citizenship on March 6
• Home Voting Facility: ECI extends postal ballot & home voting to 85+ seniors and PwDs under Section 60(c) of the RPA, 1951. Also extended to: essential services workers (fire, health, electricity, transport, aviation) and media personnel on poll duty.
• MLATrack.com: India’s first platform to track legislative activities of MLAs in Kerala.
• UCC (Article 44): Gujarat became 2nd state after Uttarakhand to pass Uniform Civil Code on 24 March 2026. Committee headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (retd. SC judge), the same person who headed Uttarakhand’s UCC drafting committee. Goa has Portuguese Civil Code (1867) retained since 1961.
• Maternity Leave for Adoptive Mothers: Old rule: Maternity leave only if adopted child was below 3 months is now struck down because violative of Article 14 & 21. New SC ruling (Hamsaanandini Nanduri v. Union of India): Adoptive mothers entitled to 12 weeks leave irrespective of child’s age.
• Amaravati: Declared the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh after President Droupadi Murmu gave assent. Ends a 3-capital proposal (Visakhapatnam as executive, Kurnool as judicial, Amaravati as legislative) proposed by YSRCP govt. The act applies retrospectively from June 2, 2024.
• Telangana Parental Support Bill 2026: First to mandate employees to financially support elderly parents through salary deduction. 15% of salary or ₹10,000, whichever is lower. Still awaiting Telangana Legislative Council approval to become law

Schemes and Initiatives

• Global Engagement Scheme: Launched 2025 by Ministry of Culture India; promotes India’s cultural heritage globally; implemented via Indian missions; aims at cultural ties, exchanges & tourism promotion.
• Bug Bounty Programme: Launched by UIDAI to strengthen security of the Aadhaar ecosystem.
• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Extended till 2028; flagship scheme by Ministry of Jal Shakti to provide “Har Ghar Jal” with 55 Litre Per Capita Per Day safe drinking water to every rural household (launched 15 Aug 2019).
• Nirbhaya Nisha: Launched by Kerala Police on International Women’s Day to enhance safety of women travelling at night.
• herSTART Programme: 5th edition Launched by Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council; aims to empower women entrepreneurs through training, mentoring, and financial support.
• Women-centric Welfare Schemes: Launched by President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi on 2 March 2026 under the “Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi” event. • Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Scheme – ₹56,000 support for daughters’ education; total over ₹1 lakh by age 18/graduation. • Saheli Pink Smart Card – Free travel on DTC buses for women via NCMC. • Meri Poonji Mera Adhikar – ₹100.25 crore transferred to 40,642 Delhi Ladli beneficiaries directly to Aadhaar-linked accounts. • Free LPG Cylinder Scheme – Free cooking gas cylinders for eligible ration card families during Holi and Diwali.
• MeHEALTH App: Launched by Kerala to access nearby government health facilities, services, and test details within 10 km.
• Ambedkar Yatra Scheme: First batch of beneficiaries flagged off from Puducherry to visit sites linked to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar under the yatra scheme.
• 22nd PM-KISAN Installment: PM Narendra Modi released ₹18,640 crore to 9.32 crore farmers via DBT from Guwahati.
• Women Entrepreneur Empowerment Scheme: launched by Tamil Nadu to promote women-led enterprises
• RELIEF Scheme: India launched The Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) to support exporters amid global supply disruptions; Under Export Promotion Mission (EPM); Nodal agency: ECGC (Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India).
• Small Hydro Power Scheme: approved by Union Cabinet to develop 1500 MW capacity, boosting renewable energy and employment in hill & NE regions. For FY 2026-27 to 2030-31. Project size: 1 MW to 25 MW (run-of-river; no large dams).
• BHAVYA Scheme: Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA) approved by Cabinet to develop 100 readyto-use purely commercial, industrial infrastructure projects across India. Nodal ministry- DPIIT (Ministry of Commerce & Industry). Implementing agency- NICDC (National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation)
• Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya Initiative: launched by MoE & MHA at the 9th Apex Meeting of Narco Coordination Centre, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to create drug-free school environments under a 3-year mission-mode plan across India.
• Krishi Sakhi Initiative: Launched by Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited to empower women farmers (not a new scheme). Ministry of Agriculture. ➢ PM Krishi Sakhi initiative also exists under MoRD for SHG women as Agri-paraprofessionals
• Nivesh Mitra 3.0: AI-based single-window investment portal launched by UP govt to boost industrial growth.
• CGSMFI 2.0: (Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro Finance Institutions). Government of India launched ₹20,000 crore scheme to provide guarantee support to MFIs for lending to small/micro borrowers (primarily women in rural areas).
• Modified UDAN Scheme: Union Cabinet approved ₹28,840 crore plan (FY2027–36) to develop 100 airports & 200 helipads to improve air connectivity in Tier-2 & Tier-3 cities.
• Indiramma Family Life Insurance Scheme: Launched by Telangana to provide financial security to families.
• PM E-DRIVE Scheme: Government extended EV subsidies till 2026–2028. Ministry of Heavy Industries. Replaced FAME II.
• Dirghavadhi Krishak Punji Sahakar Yojana: Launched by National Cooperative Development Corporation to boost long-term credit for agriculture cooperatives. Ministry of Cooperation.
• Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0: Meghalaya signed MoU, becoming 12th state to adopt outcome-based rural drinking water framework. Ministry of Jal Shakti. ➢ JJM 2.0 (launched 2024) shifts from output-based (tap connections) to outcome-based (water quality, functionality, sustainability) ➢ JJM original launch: 15 August 2019. Target: Functional Household Tap Connections to all rural households by 2024

Economy

• India’s New GDP Series: MoSPI released the new GDP series with 2022–23 as the base year, replacing 2011–12. • New data sources in GDP- Household sector, GST data, e-Vahan & PFMS. • Implications: ✓ Nominal GDP: Down 3.3–3.8% to ₹345.47 lakh crore (FY 2025–26); real growth at 7.6%; Nominal 8.6% ✓ Fiscal Deficit: Rises from 4.36% to 4.51% of GDP. ✓ Debt-to-GDP: Increases to 57.5% (FY 2026–27).
• Census 2027: Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled mascots Pragati (female enumerator) & Vikas (male enumerator) – represent equal participation of women and men. • First fully digital census with self-enumeration and caste enumeration. • Phase 1 – Houselisting & Housing Census: April 1 – Sept 30, 2026; optional 15-day selfenumeration before survey. • Phase 2 – Population Enumeration: February 2027 (September 2026 for Ladakh & snowbound areas). • Digital Platforms (by C-DAC): ✓ Houselisting Block Creator (HLBC) – Create houselisting blocks digitally using satellite imagery. ✓ HLO mobile app – Offline tool for enumerators to collect/upload data. ✓ Self-Enumeration (SE) portal – Households submit info online and get SelfEnumeration ID. ✓ Census Management & Monitoring System (CMMS) – Real-time monitoring of census operations.
• Sudarshan AI Tool: Deployed by SEBI to track digital violations and strengthen market surveillance.
• V. O. Chidambaranar Port Authority: Tamil Nadu; First Indian major port to implement Digital Twin,a real-time virtual replica of physical systems, enabling monitoring, simulation, and datadriven decision-making, applied to port management for operational efficiency
• Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding & Systems Centre: World’s first to be set up at Juvvaladinne (Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, Andhra Pradesh); developed by Sagar Defence Engineering with state support.
• Kavach 4.0: Deployed on 1,452 km (Delhi–Mumbai & Delhi–Howrah corridors); indigenous ATP system of Indian Railways to prevent collisions; upgraded version (2024) supports high-density routes & speeds up to 160 kmph.
• Nashik Municipal Corporation becomes Maharashtra’s first ULB to list a Green Municipal Bond on NSE.
• ₹117.54 Cr Renovation of Bascule Bridge: approved by Centre at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata.
• Jewar Airport: Noida International Airport at Jewar receives DGCA licence; set to become Asia’s largest aviation hub.
• Haldia Bulk Terminal: PM Narendra Modi inaugurated a fully automated bulk terminal at Haldia Dock Complex, Kolkata, developed by Adani Ports.
• India’s First Ring Metro: PM Modi Inaugurates India’s First Ring Metro in Delhi India Becomes Top Cotton Supplier to US: China was the largest supplier of cotton products to the US in 2025.
• Assam’s GI-Tagged Joha Rice: Exported to UK & Italy.
• Sulphuric Acid Plant: Inaugurated by Amit Shah at IFFCO Paradeep, Odisha.
• OECD Report: projects India as fastest-growing major economy (7.6% in 2025–26; 6.1% in 2026–27; 6.4% in 2027–28). China: 5.0% (2025), 4.4% (2026), 4.3% (2027). Global GDP: 2.9% (2026), 3.0% (2027).
• Payments Vision 2028: launched by RBI, a 3 year roadmap titled “Shaping India’s Payment Frontier.” to strengthen India’s digital payment ecosystem and reduce frauds.
• PRARAMBH 2026: Nationwide awareness campaign by Income Tax Department on Income Tax Act, 2025 to promote a simple, taxpayer-friendly regime and voluntary compliance.
• RBI wins “Initiative of the Year” at the 13th Annual Central Banking Awards 2026 in London for launching the secure ‘.bank.in’ domain. India the first country globally to mandate a secure, exclusive internet domain for its banking system.
• Sujal Gaon ID: Launched by Ministry of Jal Shakti under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.O as a unique digital ID for mapping and monitoring rural piped water supply schemes.
• LPG ATM: India’s first 24×7 LPG ATM launched in Gurugram by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.
• Banana Cluster Initiative: Approved in Jalgaon (Banana City of India), Maharashtra. Under Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) in collaboration with APEDA.
• Digital Food Currency Pilot: India’s first Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) tokenized food subsidy delivery system under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in Puducherry.
• World Bank approved a $300 million loan to support air quality improvement in Uttar Pradesh.
• India Metro Network: India has 1,143 km operational metro across 29 cities becoming 3rd largest metro network globally after surpassing Japan. (1st China, 2nd USA). ➢ India’s first metro: Kolkata (1984); first Delhi Metro corridor (2002) linking Shahdara to Tis Hazari along the Red Line, inaugurated by AB Vajpayee, Spearheaded by “Metroman” E. Sreedharan; first underwater metro- Kolkata (March 2024)

Environment and Geography

• India’s 7th National Report to CBD: Submitted under Convention on Biological Diversity; reviews progress towards 2030 targets of Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Key Findings – • Limited progress: Only 2 of 23 targets (NBT1 & NBT2) on track for 2030 • Forest cover: 827,357 sq km (25.17%), ↑ by 1,445.81 sq km (2021–23) • Restoration: 24.1 million ha restored (target 26 million ha by 2030 under Bonn Challenge) • Flagship species recovery: Bengal Tiger (3,167), Asiatic Lion (increasing), Indian Rhinoceros (stable/rising); first national estimate of Snow Leopard.
• Project HANUMAN (Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring): Launched by Andhra Pradesh on World Wildlife Day 2026 to mitigate human–wildlife conflict.
• Indian Bison Fest 2026: Second edition of the two-day festival celebrating the Indian bison (gaur) at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, on 8 March 2026; organised by Hirakud Wildlife Division.
• Brahmaputra Inland Waterway Projects: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated 3 major projects on NW-2 in Dibrugarh, Assam: • Customs and Immigration Complex, Bogibeel- Tourist-cargo terminal for IndoBangladesh trade. • Customs and Immigration Complex, Dhubri – Trade gateway with Bangladesh & Bhutan. • Renovated Heritage Building of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)- Restored for administration and riverine tourism.
• First Riverine Lighthouses: Foundation laid along Brahmaputra River at Bogibeel, Pandu, Silghat, and Biswanath Ghat- Assam; India’s first inland waterway lighthouses with ₹84 crore investment; Sarbananda Sonowal laid foundation.
• Lake and Air Watch: Launched by Gujarat government under Gujarat Urban Development Mission; creates a digital platform for real-time monitoring of lakes & air quality in cities.
• Varanasi Guinness Record: Planted 2,51,446 saplings in one hour on 1 March 2026 at Domari village, beating China’s 2018 record of 1,53,981 trees, with 20,000 participants.
• Forest Owlet: Endangered species recorded for the first time in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh; global population around 250 adults.
• Cheetah Population in India Crosses 50: Namibian cheetah Jwala gave birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park, raising India’s total cheetah count to 53.
• Botanists from Gauhati University discovered a new plant species in Manas National Park, Assam, and named it after singer Zubeen Garg.
• Ningol (Women) Van Initiative: Launched by Manipur on International Day of Forests (21 March) to promote forest conservation and curb deforestation in all 16 districts.
• Updated NDC 3.O (2031–2035): Union Cabinet of India approved new climate targets- 47% emissions intensity reduction, 60% non-fossil power capacity, and 3.5–4 billion tonnes carbon sink by 2035 (netzero by 2070). This is India’s 3rd NDC (after 2015 and 2022 update). 2030 target met 5 years early. ➢ Aligns with: Net-Zero by 2070, Viksit Bharat 2047, LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)
• Towards Zero Waste Initiative: Varkala, Kerala selected among”20 Cities Towards Zero Waste” led by UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste, with support from UN-Habitat and UNEP. ➢ International Day of Zero Waste: 30 March, 2026 Theme “Food Waste”.
• Kalinjar Hill, Banda, UP: has been declared a National Geo-Heritage Site by the Geological Survey of India. Located in Vindhya mountain range. Houses Neelkanth Mahadev Temple; linked to Samudra Manthan mythology. ➢ Historical significance: Gupta period; Chandela dynasty (9th-13th century); Sher Shah Suri died here in 1545 during a siege; repelled Mahmud of Ghazni in 1023.
• Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden: Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar opened for tourists near Dal Lake on the foothills of Zabarwan mountain.
• Dark Oxygen: Discovery of oxygen production at 4,000 m depth in Pacific Ocean without sunlight or photosynthesis, attributed to polymetallic nodules via seawater electrolysis.
• Nagoya Protocol Report: India submitted its first national report on implementation of the Nagoya Protocol under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). ➢ Nagoya Protocol: Supplementary agreement to CBD on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) of genetic resources; adopted in Nagoya, Japan in 2010; entered into force 12 October 2014 ➢ Nodal body: National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), headquartered in Chennai
• UN World Water Development Report 2026: Published by UN-Water on World Water Day (22 March 2026); 2026 theme: “Glacier Conservation”; 50% of world’s glaciers projected to disappear by 2100; 10% of global freshwater stored in glaciers (excluding polar ice)

Science and Tech

• World’s Smallest QR Code: Researchers at TU Wien, Austria, set a Guinness World Record by creating the smallest QR code using ceramics.
• Artemis Lunar Programme: NASA delays Artemis III; will first test lunar lander in low-Earth orbit before aiming for Moon landing by 2028 due to SLS and Orion issues; Artemis Lunar Programme: NASA’s flagship mission to return astronauts to the Moon and establish a sustainable long-term presence.
• ESA’s Proba-3 Mission Faces Setback: Mission loses contact with coronagraph spacecraft studying the Sun’s outer atmosphere.
• Sounding Rocket: Gujarat achieved a milestone in space research with its first sounding rocket launched at Dholera.
• G-SPIDER: an AI-powered robotic system, introduced by Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, for canal cleaning under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0.
• CE20 Cryo Engine: ISRO conducts successful sea-level hot test of CE20 engine at 22-tonne thrust.
• ISRO–AIIMS MoU on Space Medicine: Partnership to advance astronaut health, medical protocols for Gaganyaan, future Indian Space Station, and lunar missions.
• SMART (Swachhata Monitoring & Automated Reporting Tool): Launched by Delhi Cantonment Board; automates sanitation data collection & reporting; improves monitoring and reduces delays/manual errors.
• Designer Proteins: Scientists from ETH Zurich (Switzerland) and Technical University of Munich (Germany) engineered E. coli ABC transporter to insert artificial amino acids, creating custom proteins; E. Coli- Gram negative, rod-shaped bacterium in human/animal intestinecritical for gut health and indicated fecal contamination in water.
• iPS Stem-Cell Treatments: Japan approved first iPS-based therapies for Parkinson’s disease & Heart Failure; could reach patients soon.
• White Phosphorus: Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of use of white phosphorus in Lebanon amid escalating Israel–Hezbollah tensions; A chemical that ignites on contact with oxygen, used in military operations for smoke screens, illumination, and target marking.
• India’s first semiconductor ATMP facility inaugurated by PM Modi at Sanand, Gujarat marking the start of commercial production of India’s first made-in-India semiconductor memory modules.
• India’s first quantum computer: to be launched by Andhra Pradesh to launch in Amaravati.
• NdFeB (Neodymium-Iron-Boron) Magnet Plant: India set up an NdFeB magnet pilot plant at ARCI, Hyderabad to boost rare earth manufacturing capability. Most powerful permanent magnets; critical for EV motors, wind turbines, defence systems
• Agnite: Agnikul Cosmos (IIT Madras-based startup) successfully test-fired Agnite, the world’s largest single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine, made of Inconel (nickel superalloy).
• GARBH-INi Initiative: a DBT project under Atal Jai Anusandhan Mission, uses AI to predict and prevent preterm births by studying 12,000 pregnant women. Under: Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Part of: Atal Jai Anusandhan Mission. Led by: Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad PRISM-SG Portal: Launched to improve real-time monitoring of rail-road steel girder infrastructure projects in India. Under Ministry of Steel in collaboration with Ministry of Railways / NITI Aayog
• Blue Voice’ app: launched by Pondicherry University to enhance safety and disaster preparedness for coastal fishers.
• Akasha300 3D Printer: Indigenous 3D printer developed by Spacetime 4D (Indian startup). Delivered to ISRO for manufacturing rocket components.
• Floating LiDAR Buoy System: LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) measures atmospheric and oceanic parameters First indigenous floating LiDAR system for India. It supports offshore wind energy assessment and oceanographic research. Under Ministry of Earth Sciences. Developed and tested by NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology), Chennai. Tested at Muttom, Tamil Nadu (southernmost tip of Indian mainland)
• Moonshot Project: IISc & Pratiksha Trust launched brain co-processors to decode brain signals using AI for neurofeedback systems.
• India-Sweden SITAC Partnership: IndiaAI Mission and Business Sweden to establish SITAC (SwedenIndia Tech-AI Collaboration) for AI collaboration, trade, and digital innovation.
• Project Terafab: Proposed AI chip manufacturing facility announced by Elon Musk to produce advanced chips for AI, robotics, and data centers.
• world’s first freight-only Shinkansen bullet train: launched by East Japan Railway Company.
• Xi-cc-plus: new particle discovered by Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN; consists of two charm quarks and one down quark, makes its mass four times heavier than proton. Led by: University of Manchester (UK)

Defense and Security

• Weapons in the US–Israel–Iran Conflict: • Iran: ▪ Shahed-136 & Shahed-131 Drones: Kamikaze drones using swarm tactics to overwhelm defenses. ▪ Shahab-3 Missile: Medium-range ballistic missile (~2,000 km) ▪ Fattah Missile: Hypersonic, Mach 15, 1,400 km range, maneuverable. ▪ Khorramshahr Missile: Destructive ballistic missile for military targets. ▪ Bavar-373: Long-range air defense against aircraft/missiles. ▪ Sevom-e-Khordad & Tor-M1: Mobile short-range defense against drones & missiles. ▪ Majid & Azarakhsh: Counter-drone systems. ▪ Paveh Cruise Missile: Land-attack, 1,650 km, mid-flight course correction. ▪ Sejjil & Emad: Fast medium-range ballistic missiles. • US: ▪ B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber: Penetrates defended airspace; delivers GBU-57 MOP bunker-buster. ▪ Tomahawk Cruise Missiles: Low-altitude precision. ▪ LUCAS Drone: Low-cost, one-way attack drone against Shahed swarms. ▪ PrSM: Short-range precision missile via HIMARS (up to 400 km). ▪ THAAD: High-altitude ballistic missile defense; hit-to-kill tech. ▪ Patriot & IFPC: Intercept lower-altitude missiles, drones; conserve interceptors. ▪ APKWS & Coyote: Cost-effective drone-killing systems. ▪ MQ-9 Reaper & P-8I: UAV surveillance and maritime patrol. ▪ SM-3 & SM-6: Sea-based missile interceptors. • Israel: ▪ Blue Sparrow Missile: Air-launched quasi-ballistic missile (~2,000 km). ▪ Jericho-2 & Jericho-3: MRBM/IRBM strategic missiles (1,500–6,500 km). ▪ Arrow-2 & Arrow-3: Long-range missile defense (exo- and endo-atmospheric). ▪ David’s Sling: Medium- to long-range interceptor. ▪ Iron Dome & Iron Beam: Short-range defense & laser drone killer; C-Dome naval variant. ▪ F-35I “Adir”: Stealth fighter for deep strikes in Iran.
• LGM-30 Minuteman III: Test-fired by United States Air Force from Vandenberg Space Force Base; a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
• LAMITIYE 2026: Joint exercise between Indian Armed Forces & Seychelles Defence Forces at Seychelles Defence Academy (9–20 March 2026).
• INS Anjadip: Indian Navy commissioned INS Anjadip at Chennai, an indigenously built AntiSubmarine Warfare vessel.
• INS Trikand: completes port call at Port Louis; participated in Mauritius National Day Parade.
• NATO launched its biennial Arctic exercise “Cold Response” under the Arctic Sentry mission, emphasizing civilian support in military operations amid Greenland tensions.
• Freedom Shield: joint military exercise by US and South Korea amid ongoing Middle East tensions.
• Sagar Kavach: Mock drill held along Mahe and Kerala coasts to strengthen coastal security and prevent unlawful activities.
• Indigenous Air Droppable Container (ADC-150): Successfully tested by DRDO & Indian Navy from P-8I Aircraft
• Sheshnaag-150 Swarm Drone: India develops long-range swarming attack drone ‘Sheshnaag- 150’ to enhance unmanned warfare.
• Vayu Baan: India’s first helicopter-launched drone program, initiated by the Indian Air Force (IAF). India joins US & China league.
• Operation Urja Suraksha: launched by the Indian Navy to protect energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising West Asia tensions.
• 6th Generation Fighter Programme: IAF is exploring membership in either the GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme) or FCAS (Future Combat Air System), the two major European 6th-generation fighter programmes.
• 2K22 Tunguska Air Defence System: India approved purchase from Russia to enhance protection against drones and low-altitude threats.
• INS Taragiri (Project 17A stealth frigate): Commissioned in the Indian Navy on April 3, 2026.
• INS Dunagiri: Fifth stealth frigate of Project 17A delivered to Indian Navy.
• Exercise AMOGH JWALA 2026: Indian Army exercise testing multi-domain, tech-driven mechanised warfare readiness at Babina, UP.
• Exercise Dweep Shakti 2026: High-intensity tri-service drill by Andaman and Nicobar Command. ANC is India’s only tri-service theatre command (Army + Navy + Air Force + Coast Guard). HQ Port Blair (A&N).
• Exercise Sea Dragon 2026: Indian Navy (P-8I Neptune Aircraft) participated in a US-led anti-submarine warfare drill at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
• IONS IMEX TTX 2026: Hosted by Indian Navy in Kochi to strengthen regional maritime cooperation and security coordination
• Minuteman III Missile: US Air Force test-fired an unarmed nuclear-capable ICBM from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
• Sejjil Missile: Iran’s indigenous two-stage solid-fuel Medium Range Ballistic Missile. Nicknamed the “dancing missile”

Awards

• Governance Now 12th PSU National Award: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation won “Excellence in Innovation” for “Dhwani Spandana” initiative aiding visually impaired passengers.
• MP Birla Memorial Award: Conferred on Yashwant Gupta, for his contributions to radio astronomy and astrophysics.
• Esmond B. Martin 2026 Prize: Dr Krithi Karanth became first Indian & Asian awardee (shared with Alexandre Antonelli) for contributions to ecosystem research & biodiversity conservation.
• META Lifetime Achievement Award 2026: Amol Palekar honoured at Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards for lifetime contribution to theatre.
• 60th Jnanpith Award: R. Vairamuthu Renowned Tamil poet and lyricist
• Sahitya Akademi Award 2025: Established 1954, First award 1955, Autonomous under Ministry of Culture, 24 languages (22 from 8th Schedule + English + Rajasthani), JL Nehru was the first President of Sahitya Akademi. (Memoir)
• Oscars 2026: Held in Los Angeles, USA. • Best Picture: One Battle After Another (most awarded film) • Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another • Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan for Sinners • Best Actress: Jessie Buckley for Hamnet • India’s Entry: Homebound by Neeraj Ghaywan (no final nomination) • Indian-American filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir first woman to receive 2 documentary nominations (The Perfect Neighbor, The Devil Is Busy)
• Sangita Kalanidhi Award: Jayanthi Kumaresh; Considered the “Nobel Prize” of Carnatic music
• Nritya Kalanidhi Award: G. Narendra (Bharatanatyam)
• Pritzker Architecture Prize 2026: Smiljan Radić Clarke (Chilean Architect).
• Rituparna Sengupta (Bengali Actress) received the Women Empowerment Award for Art and Culture at the UK Parliament.
• Women Empowerment Trailblazer Award: Kalpana Soren honoured at BRICS CCI WE (Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Women Empowerment wing) Annual Women Summit 2026.
• 35th Saraswati Samman 2025: Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay for his Bengali novel “Hara Parbati Katha”(Published in 2020). Instituted by K.K. Birla Foundation (1991) for any of the 22 languages in 8th Schedule.
• National Book Critics Circle Award: Arundhati Roy – “Mother Mary Comes to Me” in autobiography category; Han Kang – Novel “We Do Not Part” describing Jeju Island Massacre (S. Korea, 1948), Translated by Yaewon & Morris. Kang won 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature too.
• CHYIMI, the animated short film, directed by Partha Sarathi Mahanta (Assam), won Best Director at New York South Asian Film Festival 2026.
• William Dalrymple won the Mark Lynton History Prize 2026 for his book The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World. Kaveh Madani (Iranian-British water scientist) won the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize for contributions to water research. Considered the “Nobel Prize of Water

Indexes

• Fiscal Health Index 2026: Released by NITI Aayog (2nd edition) • Achievers: Odisha (1st), Goa, Jharkhand • Front Runners: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, UP, Karnataka • Performers: MP, Haryana, Bihar (improved Aspirational → Performer), Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan • Aspirational: West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab • Top states = low debt, high revenue • Bottom states = high debt (35–45% GSDP), high deficits • NE / Himalayan States ✓ Achievers: Arunachal Pradesh (1st), Uttarakhand ✓ Performers: Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura ✓ Aspirational: Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland.
• Hurun Global Rich List 2026: India remains the 3rd-largest billionaire hub, with 308 billionaires, after the US and China. • Richest Indian/Asian: Mukesh Ambani ($109B); Shah Rukh Khan re-enters with $1.3B net worth. • Global Richest: Elon Musk retains top spot (5th time in 6 years).
• SIPRI Report 2026: India is the 2nd-largest arms importer after Ukraine; Top Supplier: Russia (share fell from 72% to 36%), 2nd- France.
• India Ranks 4th in Global Land Investment: 4th most preferred destination for cross-border land investments, as per Colliers Global Capital Flows Report
• Sheshnaag-150 Swarm Drone: India develops long-range swarming attack drone ‘Sheshnaag- 150’ to enhance unmanned warfare.
• Governance Now 12th PSU National Award: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation won “Excellence in Innovation” for “Dhwani Spandana” initiative aiding visually impaired passengers.
• MP Birla Memorial Award: Conferred on Yashwant Gupta, for his contributions to radio astronomy and astrophysics.
• Esmond B. Martin 2026 Prize: Dr Krithi Karanth became first Indian & Asian awardee (shared with Alexandre Antonelli) for contributions to ecosystem research & biodiversity conservation.
• META Lifetime Achievement Award 2026: Amol Palekar honoured at Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards for lifetime contribution to theatre.
• 60th Jnanpith Award: R. Vairamuthu Renowned Tamil poet and lyricist
• Global Terrorism Index 2026: Released by Institute for Economics and Peace (Sydney); Pakistan ranked 1st replacing Burkina Faso, India- 13th (improved 2 places, Score 6.4)
• World Air Quality Report 2025: By IQAir (Swish Company); Most polluted country- Pakistan> Bangladesh>Tajikistan; India- 6th; New Delhi most polluted capital (8th consecutive year); Most Polluted Cities: Loni (UP)> Hotan (China)> Byrnihat (Meghalaya); 66 of world’s 100 most polluted cities are in India; all top 25 in India, Pakistan or China; Only 14% of global cities met WHO PM2.5 guideline.
• World Happiness Report 2026: Finland ranked happiest (9th consecutive year), Afghanistan unhappiest (2nd consecutive); India ranked 116th. Released on 20 March 2026 (International Day of Happiness) by UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. India ranks behind Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh in South Asia.
• USCIRF (US Commission on International Religious Freedom) Report 2026: recommended India be designated as “Country of Particular Concern” since 2020 (highest category of religious freedom violators); India rejected as biased & politically motivated. USCIRF only recommends while the final designation is made by US Secretary of State (India has never been officially designated CPC by the State Dept).
• UNIGME (UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation) Report 2025: India’s steady decline in child mortality; MoHFW (Nodal) reports sharp fall in NMR (57 to 17) and U5MR (127 to 27) from 1990 to 2024. India recorded largest absolute reduction in child deaths globally. India has outperformed global average.

Person in News

• Arpita Patra: Became the second Indian woman to summit Nevado Ojos del Salado (world’s highest volcanic peak, 6,893 m) Chile; professor at IISc Bengaluru.
• Saba Shawl: Appointed as Kashmir’s first woman Jail Superintendent at Central Jail Srinagar.
• Nidhi Chhibber: Took additional charge as CEO of NITI Aayog after B. V. R. Subrahmanyam completed his term.
• Smriti Mandhana: First cricketer to be made into a Barbie doll under Mattel’s “Dream Team” initiative.
• B.P. Singh: Assumed charge as Director General of Naval Armament (DGoNA) in New Delhi, succeeding Shri Diwakar Jayant.
• RM Nachammai: becomes first woman Nuclear Plant Chief; Appointed Chief Superintendent of Kaiga Units 3 & 4
• PM Narendra Modi: Became India’s longest-serving head of government 0n 22 March 2026, completing over 8,931 days combining Gujarat CM and Prime Minister tenure. He broke the record of Pawan Kumar Chamling (Sikkim) ➢ Other records: First PM born after Independence; 3 consecutive Lok Sabha wins (2014, 2019, 2024); Surpassed Indira Gandhi’s 4,077 consecutive PM days in July 2025 (Nehru still holds record for longest uninterrupted PM tenure)
• Bhumika Shrestha became Nepal’s first transgender woman Member of Parliament; Rastriya Swatantra Party of PM Balen Shah; 2nd LGBTQ+ after Sunil Babu.
• Kompella Venkata Ramana Murty: Appointed whole-time member of SEBI for 3 years; ➢ SEBI: Market regulator; HQ Mumbai; Established in 1988; Statutory body in 1992; ChairpersonTuhin Kanta Pandey
• Sudarsan Pattnaik: appointed as Brand Ambassador of Census 2027 by MHA; sand artist from Puri, Odisha; Padma Shri 2014; Guinness World Record for largest sandcastle in Puri. ➢ Census 2011: India’s 16th National Census and first fully digital census; total outlay- ₹11,718.24 crore; Mascots Pragat (female) + Vikas (male); Phase 1 House listing (April–Sept 2026), Phase 2 Population enumeration (Feb 2027); Reference date is 1 March 2027; The population census is a Union List subject under Article 246 (Entry 69 of the Seventh Schedule); Registrar General & Census Commissioner: Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan (UP Cadre IAS)
• Bhupatiraju Anmis Varma (AP): Set a Guinness World Record by climbing 7 volcanic peaks in 92 days, starting from Mt. Elbrus (Russia) to Mt. Sidley (Antarctica).
• Periasamy Kumaran: India’s next High Commissioner to the UK.
• Vikram Doraiswami: India’s Ambassador to China.
• Stuti Pradhan: Selected to represent Sikkim at the World Youth Parliament

Obituaries

• K.P. Unnikrishnan: Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader, elected to Lok Sabha six times (1971–1991) from Vadakara, Kerala passed away on 3 March 2026; served in V.P. Singh’s Cabinet (1989–1990).
• Catherine O’Hara: Posthumously awarded Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series at the 32nd Actor Awards for The Studio, a month after her passing on 30 January 2026.
• Malayalam Actor Hari Murali passes away at 27.
• Veteran Filmmaker Thakkali Srinivasan passes away.
• K.G. George: Vir Chakra awardee and 1965 war hero dies at 95 in Kerala.

Sports

• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium; win a record 3rd title • History created: first to defend title, first to win at home, and first to win 3 titles • Player of Final Match: Jasprit Bumrah • Tournament: 7 Feb – 8 Mar 2026; Hosts – India & Sri Lanka • Player of Tournament: Sanju Samson
• Asia Cup Archery 2027: India to host 2nd leg in Delhi; first major archery event in 22 years; last hosted Asian Archery Championships 2005.
• ICC Women’s ODI Rankings: Smriti Mandhana remains No.1; Harmanpreet Kaur at 8th; Jemimah Rodrigues slips to 12th
• Khelo India Tribal Games 2026: First edition scheduled from 25 March to 6 April in Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Sarguja, Chhattisgarh. Mascot: Morveer, represents tribal courage and identity.
• Laureus World Team of the Year 2026: Indian women’s cricket team nominated after winning ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025; first women’s cricket team to earn this recognition.
• Cycling League of India: World’s first franchise-based cycling league; logo unveiled by Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
• Ranji Trophy 2025–26: J&K won their first-ever Ranji Trophy, defeating Karnataka in the final at Hubli’s KSCA Cricket Ground.
• Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026: India leads medal tally with 208 medals (75 gold, 69 silver, 64 bronze) at New Delhi event; 2nd- Russia.
• Assam’s Mayank Chakraborty: becomes India’s 94th and Northeast’s first Chess Grandmaster.
• ASMITA Athletics League: Sports Ministry launches nationwide women’s athletics league on International Women’s Day to promote grassroots participation.
• D. Gukesh defeats David Anton Guijarro in the final round at Prague International Chess Festival.
• All England Open 2026: Lakshya Sen finishes runner-up after losing to Lin Chun-yi in men’s singles final.
• Indian roller skater Shrishti Sharma: Sets 50m Limbo Skating world record
• 22nd World Indoor Athletics Championships 2028: India to host global indoor athletics event for the first time at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, Odisha . India’s first time hosting this event and 4th Asina after Japan, Qatar & China. Organising body: World Athletics; Biennial event (2026- Poland, 2030 – Kazakhstan); Inauguration in Paris in 1985; India also bidding for 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships and 2028 World U20 Athletics Championships.
• National Indoor Athletics Championships: Inaugural edition begins at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Organised by Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
• Virat Kohli: became first IPL player to score 4000+ runs in chases.
• Para Archer of the Year 2025: Sheetal Devi (J&K) honoured by World Archery; called the “armless archer”. Won 2 gold medals at Asian Para Games 2023 (Hangzhou, China).
• World Boxing Futures Cup 2026: India finished with 5 medals (1 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze) in Bangkok youth boxing event (Thailand); Gold- Chandrika Pujari (women’s 51kg).
• 1st World Yogasana Sports Championship 2026: India to host in Ahmedabad (04–08 June 2026); Ministry of AYUSH.
• Miami Open 2026 (USA): Men’s Singles- Jannik Sinner (Italy) by defeating Jiri Lehecka (Czech Republic); Women’s Singles- Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) defeated Coco Gauff (USA)

Test yourself on this month

• BPSC Current Affairs Mock Test 1: 100 Questions and Answers
• Global Indices and Reports Quiz for BPSC 2026
• Awards and Honours Quiz 2026
• Sports Current Affairs Quiz 2026
• Science and Technology Current Affairs Quiz
• Bihar-specific round-ups: April 2026 and May 2026

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