Current Affairs — 18 March 2026

🚄 Energy & Power 📍 India Must know

Cabinet ne 2026-27 se 2030-31 ke liye ₹2,584.60 crore ki Small Hydro Power Development Scheme manzoor ki

Union Cabinet ne 18 March 2026 ko SHP Development Scheme (FY 2026-27 se 2030-31) ko ₹2,584.60 crore ke saath approve kiya; ~1,500 MW, projects 1–25 MW.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 3 MCQs

🚄 Infrastructure & Energy 📍 India Must know

Cabinet ne 100 plug-and-play industrial parks ke liye ₹33,660 crore ki BHAVYA manzoor ki

Union Cabinet ne 18 March 2026 ko Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) ko ₹33,660 crore ke saath manzoori di; 100 parks, har ek 100–1,000 acre.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 4 MCQs

🏛️ Elections 📍 India Important

ECI ne 2026 Assembly polls ke liye 25 lakh se zyada officials tainaat kiye – har 70 voters par ek

Election Commission ne 18 March 2026 ko bataya ki Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu aur West Bengal ke polls ke liye 25 lakh+ officials tainaat hain; 17.4 crore+ voters.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🚄 Energy & Power 📍 Bihar Important

Bihar regulator ne 2026-27 ke liye bijli tariff nahi badhaya, 35 paise hike reject, domestic tariff uniform

BERC ne 18 March 2026 ko 2026-27 ke liye koi tariff hike nahi kiya, DISCOMs ka 35 paise/unit proposal reject kiya aur urban-rural domestic tariff ek kiya.

For: State PSC · State Police · State Staff Selection +2 2 MCQs

🚄 Energy & Power 📍 India Important

ALMM ab List-III ke zariye solar ingots aur wafers tak, 1 June 2028 se lagu

MNRE ne 18 March 2026 ko bataya ki ALMM Order mein ingots aur wafers ke liye List-III judi hai, jo 1 June 2028 se sabhi projects par lagu hogi.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🌾 Agriculture & Rural 📍 India Important

CCEA ne cotton season 2023-24 ke liye CCI ko ₹1,718.56 crore MSP funding manzoor ki

CCEA ne 18 March 2026 ko Cotton Corporation of India ko 2023-24 season ke liye ₹1,718.56 crore MSP funding di.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🎓 Social Justice & Welfare 📍 Andhra Pradesh Important

Andhra Pradesh ne Divyang Shakti shuru ki: divyangjan ke liye APSRTC buses mein free travel

AP CM N. Chandrababu Naidu ne 18 March 2026 ko Divyang Shakti launch ki; paanch tarah ki APSRTC buses mein free travel, ~12.76 lakh beneficiaries, ₹207 crore saalana.

For: State PSC · State Police · State Staff Selection +2 2 MCQs

🚄 Energy & Power 📍 Maharashtra Important

Maharashtra ne RE & Energy Storage Policy 2025-26 se 2035-36 notify ki, 2035-36 tak 65% RE target

Maharashtra ne 18 March 2026 ke GR se RE & Energy Storage Policy notify ki; target FY 2035-36 tak 65% demand RE se aur storage demand ka 10%.

For: State PSC · State Police · State Staff Selection +2 2 MCQs

🚄 Railways, Roads & Aviation 📍 Uttar Pradesh Important

CCEA ne UP mein Barabanki se Bahraich tak ₹6,969 crore ke 4-lane NH-927 ko manzoori di

CCEA ne 18 March 2026 ko Barabanki–Bahraich 101.515 km 4-lane access-controlled NH-927 ko Hybrid Annuity Mode par ₹6,969.04 crore mein approve kiya.

For: State PSC · State Police · State Staff Selection +2 2 MCQs

👤 Appointments & Resignations 📍 India Important

Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti ne NCBC Chairperson ka pad sambhala

Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti ne 18 March 2026 ko National Commission for Backward Classes ki Chairperson ka charge liya; Kiran Umesh Mahalle 20 March ko Member.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 3 MCQs

🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 India

PM Modi ne Kuwait ke Crown Prince se baat ki; Kuwait ki sovereignty par hamlon ki ninda

18 March 2026 ko PM Narendra Modi ne Kuwait ke Crown Prince se baat ki aur kaha ki Strait of Hormuz mein safe aur free navigation sabse badi priority hai.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Defence +1 1 MCQs

🎭 Art & Culture 📍 India

Ministry of Tribal Affairs ne tribal weaves aur crafts ke liye premium brand 'RISA: Timeless Tribal' launch kiya

Union Minister Jual Oram ne 18 March 2026 ko Sunder Nursery, New Delhi mein tribal weaves, embroidery aur crafts ka premium brand 'RISA: Timeless Tribal' launch kiya.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Judiciary 1 MCQs

📋 Central Schemes 📍 Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh ne Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 ke tahat reform-linked MoU sign kiya

Uttar Pradesh ne 18 March 2026 ko JJM 2.0 ka reform-linked MoU sign kiya; C. R. Paatil aur CM Yogi Adityanath maujood.

For: State PSC · Teaching · Judiciary 1 MCQs