Current Affairs Quiz — 03 March 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
For which force are the six ALH Mk-III (Maritime Role) helicopters contracted on 3 March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Indian Coast Guard
The six ALH Mk-III (MR) helicopters, worth ₹2,901 crore, are for the Indian Coast Guard.
With which company did the Defence Ministry sign the contract for Vertical Launch-Shtil missiles on 3 March 2026?
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Correct answer: D — JSC Rosoboronexport
The ₹2,182 crore VL-Shtil contract was signed with JSC Rosoboronexport of the Russian Federation.
What was the combined value of the ALH Mk-III and VL-Shtil contracts signed on 3 March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — ₹5,083 crore
The two contracts totalled ₹5,083 crore: ₹2,901 crore for ALH Mk-III and ₹2,182 crore for VL-Shtil.
Consider the following statements about the ALH Mk-III (MR) contract of 3 March 2026: 1. It was placed with HAL under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. 2. The helicopters are single-engine platforms meant only for shore-based operations. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. The Ministry describes the ALH Mk-III as twin-engine helicopters able to operate from shore-based airfields and from ships at sea.
Mobile World Congress 2026, where India's Bharat Pavilion was inaugurated on 3 March 2026, was held in which city?
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Correct answer: D — Barcelona
MWC 2026 was held from 2 to 5 March at Fira Barcelona Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain.
What was the theme of the GSMA Ministerial session at MWC 2026 where Jyotiraditya Scindia delivered the closing keynote?
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Correct answer: B — Breaking the Cost Barrier
Scindia gave the closing keynote of 'Breaking the Cost Barrier', on the affordability gap that excludes 3.1 billion people.
According to the curtain raiser unveiled at MWC 2026, when will India Mobile Congress 2026 be held?
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Correct answer: C — 7–10 October 2026
IMC 2026 will be held in New Delhi from 7 to 10 October 2026.
Who chaired the 3 March 2026 review of the security of Indian vessels and seafarers in the Persian Gulf?
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Correct answer: D — Sarbananda Sonowal
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal chaired the review.
Through which body did the Shipping Ministry activate enhanced monitoring of Indian-flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf in March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Directorate General of Shipping
The Directorate General of Shipping started real-time tracking and 24×7 monitoring through the MMDAC DGComm Centre.
What type of eclipse occurred on 3 March 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Total lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred on 3 March 2026, with totality from 16:34 to 17:33 IST.
During the total lunar eclipse of 3 March 2026, the end of totality was visible from which parts of India?
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Correct answer: A — Parts of North-East India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Most of India saw only the ending at moonrise; some places in North-East India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands could also see the end of totality.
Consider the following statements about the lunar eclipse of 3 March 2026: 1. The totality phase lasted from 16:34 to 17:33 IST. 2. Most places in India saw the entire totality phase because the Moon had already risen. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. The Moon had not risen over most of India during totality, so most places saw only the ending of the eclipse at moonrise.
The Capital Region Ring Road project, for which NHAI issued Letters of Award in March 2026, is being built around which city?
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Correct answer: B — Bhubaneswar
The 111-km Capital Region Ring Road is also called the Bhubaneswar Bypass, in Odisha.
Under which model will the Bhubaneswar Capital Region Ring Road be built?
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Correct answer: C — Hybrid Annuity Mode
The 111-km road will be built in three packages under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
Consider the following statements about the Capital Region Ring Road (Bhubaneswar Bypass): 1. It runs for 111 km from Rameshwar to Tangi. 2. It is a four-lane brownfield upgrade of an existing highway. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. The project is a six-lane access-controlled greenfield road with a design speed of 100 kmph.
What was the theme of the post-Budget webinar addressed by PM Modi on 3 March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Sustaining and Strengthening Economic Growth
The second webinar of the post-Budget series was on 'Sustaining and Strengthening Economic Growth'.
According to J.P. Nadda at the 3 March 2026 webinar, how much has been allocated over five years for the BioPharma mission?
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Correct answer: B — ₹10,000 crore
₹10,000 crore over five years is for the BioPharma mission, within a total ₹13,000 crore provision for BioPharma SHAKTI and three chemical parks.
What was the theme of World Wildlife Day 2026, observed on 3 March?
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Correct answer: B — Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods
The 2026 theme was 'Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods'.
World Wildlife Day on 3 March marks the adoption of which international convention?
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Correct answer: C — CITES
The day marks the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Consider the following statements based on the PIB backgrounder for World Wildlife Day 2026: 1. India is one of 17 mega-biodiverse countries. 2. Of India's roughly 15,000 medicinal plant species, about 8,000 are used in Indian medicine. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct according to the PIB backgrounder on World Wildlife Day 2026.
Attukal Pongala, held on 3 March 2026, takes place in which city?
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Correct answer: D — Thiruvananthapuram
Attukal Pongala is offered by women devotees to the deity of the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Why was the sanctum of the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple closed from 3.10 pm to 7 pm on 3 March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — A lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse fell on the same day, so the sanctum closed after the Pongala rituals and reopened at 7 pm.
According to TRAI's report released on 3 March 2026, how many internet subscribers did India have at the end of December 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 1,028.61 million
Internet subscribers rose to 1,028.61 million, of which 1,007.35 million were broadband.
Consider the following statements based on TRAI's report for October–December 2025: 1. Broadband subscribers crossed 1,000 million. 2. Narrowband internet subscribers increased during the quarter. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct: broadband reached 1,007.35 million. Narrowband subscribers fell 4.18% to 21.25 million.
Which minister briefed the media on 3 March 2026 on India's energy preparedness amid hostilities in the Middle East?
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Correct answer: D — Hardeep Singh Puri
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri gave the briefing.
According to the Petroleum Ministry in March 2026, what is India's global rank as a refiner?
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Correct answer: B — Fourth
India is the fourth-largest refiner, third-largest importer and fifth-largest exporter of petroleum products globally.
Consider the following statements from the Petroleum Ministry's briefing of 3 March 2026: 1. Indian energy companies have access to some supplies that are not routed through the Strait of Hormuz. 2. A 24×7 control room has been set up to monitor supply and stock positions. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct: the ministry cited supplies that avoid the Strait of Hormuz and set up a 24×7 control room to monitor stocks nationwide.
The Kaziranga Orchid Park, inaugurated on 3 March 2026, is located at which place in Assam?
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Correct answer: B — Kohora
The park is at Kohora in Kaziranga National Park, Golaghat district.
What is the 'Mudhalvar Padaippagam' inaugurated by Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin in Chennai on 3 March 2026?
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Correct answer: C — A Chief Minister's Creative Centre with a modern library
Mudhalvar Padaippagam means Chief Minister's Creative Centre; the Ashok Nagar centre has a modern library and was built by CMDA.
UIDAI's school drive for mandatory biometric updates in Aadhaar was enabled by integration with which application?
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Correct answer: D — UDISE+
UIDAI integrated with UDISE+ of the Department of School Education and Literacy, which shows children's MBU status.