Current Affairs Quiz — 09 March 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
With the birth of five cubs to Jwala announced on 9 March 2026, what is India's total cheetah population?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 53
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said the total cheetah population in India had reached 53 with the arrival of Jwala's five cubs.
Jwala, the cheetah that gave birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park in March 2026, was originally brought from which country?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Namibia
Jwala is a Namibian cheetah and a third-time mother.
How many Indian-born cheetah cubs were surviving after Jwala's litter, according to the Environment Ministry on 9 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 33
The number of Indian-born thriving cubs rose to 33; the litter was the 10th successful one on Indian soil.
On 28 February 2026, nine cheetahs were released into quarantine enclosures at Kuno National Park. From which country were they received?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Botswana
Bhupender Yadav released nine cheetahs (six females and three males) received from Botswana into quarantine enclosures at Kuno on 28 February 2026.
Consider the following statements about Project Cheetah: 1. It began on 17 September 2022 with the release of eight cheetahs from Namibia at Kuno National Park. 2. The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the Prime Minister released eight Namibian cheetahs (five females, three males) at Kuno on 17 September 2022 under Project Cheetah, the world's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation; the cheetah had been declared extinct in India in 1952.
According to Piyush Goyal at the National IP Awards on 9 March 2026, India's Global Innovation Index ranking has improved from 81 to what?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 38
Goyal said India's GII ranking improved from 81 to 38.
By how much did Piyush Goyal say patent filings in India have grown in a decade?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 215%
He said India registered 215% growth in patent filings in a decade.
How many new innovation labs in schools, announced in the Union Budget, did Piyush Goyal refer to at the National IP Awards 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 50,000
Goyal referred to the government's initiative to establish 50,000 new innovation labs in schools, announced in the Union Budget.
Where did the Election Commission of India review poll preparedness for the West Bengal Assembly elections on 9 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Kolkata
The Commission held the review in Kolkata, meeting political parties and enforcement and district officials.
Which forms did the CEC say could still be filed for inclusion, deletion or correction in the West Bengal electoral rolls after the SIR?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Forms 6, 7 and 8
CEC Gyanesh Kumar said Forms 6/7/8 can still be filed for any inclusions, deletions or changes.
Consider the following statements about Article 324 of the Constitution: 1. It vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections to the offices of President and Vice-President in the Election Commission. 2. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: Article 324(1) covers elections to Parliament, state legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President, and the proviso to Article 324(5) protects the CEC with Supreme Court-judge-like removal.
With which organisation did NHAI prepare the first National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI) report released on 9 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — National Remote Sensing Centre (ISRO)
The report was prepared in coordination with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of ISRO.
The National Highways Green Cover Index is derived from which measurement made by high-resolution satellite sensors?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Chlorophyll content
The assessment is derived from chlorophyll content detected through high-resolution satellite sensors.
Consider the following statements about the first NH-GCI assessment: 1. It covered about 30,000 km of national highways in 24 states. 2. It assessed green cover for the period July–December 2024. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the first cycle covered about 30,000 km of national highways across 24 states for July–December 2024.
Who chairs the committee set up by Rajasthan on 9 March 2026 to draft a law protecting the Khejri tree?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Jogaram Patel
The six-member committee is chaired by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel.
The Khejri, for whose protection Rajasthan is drafting a special law, holds which status in the state?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — State tree
Khejri is the state tree of Rajasthan.
Within what time was Rajasthan's Khejri committee asked to submit its draft law?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — One month
The committee is to submit the proposed draft within one month.
Who is the Chairman of Nepal's Rastriya Swatantra Party, whom PM Modi congratulated by phone on 9 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Rabi Lamichhane
PM Modi spoke to RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and senior leader Balendra Shah.
Nepal's House of Representatives, elected on 5 March 2026, has how many members?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 275
The House of Representatives has 275 members: 165 directly elected and 110 through proportional representation.
The centenary of India–New Zealand sporting ties in 2026 traces back to which event of 1926?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — The Indian Army hockey tour to New Zealand
The ties trace back to the historic 1926 Indian Army hockey tour to New Zealand.
Who led the New Zealand sports delegation that met Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi on 9 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Chris Bishop
The delegation was led by Chris Bishop, Associate Minister for Sport and Recreation; Ross Taylor and Raelene Castle were members, and Patrick John Rata is New Zealand's High Commissioner to India.
Who released the Ministry of Defence's Manual of Security Instructions 2026 on 9 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Rajesh Kumar Singh
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh released the manual at South Block, New Delhi.
What was the result of India's FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers women's Pool B match against Scotland in Hyderabad on 9 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2–2 draw
India drew 2–2 with Scotland, with goals from Navneet Kaur and Sunelita Toppo, and stayed top of Pool B on goal difference.
Which institute organised the International Malaria Conference 2026 held in New Delhi from 7 to 9 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ICMR–National Institute of Malaria Research
IMC 2026 was organised by ICMR–NIMR under the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Where did NITI Aayog hold the Regional Best Practices Seminar (South) under the Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programmes on 9 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Visakhapatnam
The seminar was held in Visakhapatnam, with officials from five southern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
DiaCue, the rapid diagnostic kit supported by the Technology Development Board in March 2026, is meant to distinguish between which conditions?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Bacterial and non-bacterial childhood diarrhoea
DiaCue, by BabyCue Pvt Ltd of Cuttack, differentiates bacterial from non-bacterial diarrhoea in children.
At the post-Budget webinar on health on 9 March 2026, J.P. Nadda said the government targets how many skilled allied healthcare professionals?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — One lakh
Nadda said the government targets one lakh skilled allied healthcare professionals to boost diagnostics and public health.