Current Affairs Quiz — 15 March 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
In how many phases will the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election be held, as announced by the ECI on 15 March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Two
West Bengal votes in two phases, on 23 April and 29 April 2026; Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry vote in a single phase.
On which date will votes be counted for the 2026 Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry?
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Correct answer: D — 4 May 2026
Counting for all five Assemblies is scheduled for 4 May 2026.
Which of the following Assemblies going to polls in 2026 has the largest number of seats?
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Correct answer: D — West Bengal
West Bengal has 294 seats, against 234 in Tamil Nadu, 140 in Kerala, 126 in Assam and 30 in Puducherry.
For the 2026 Assembly elections, the Election Commission fixed the maximum number of electors per polling station at:
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Correct answer: B — 1,200
The ECI press note of 15 March 2026 says there shall be a maximum of 1,200 electors in a polling station.
Consider the following about the 2026 Assembly elections announced on 15 March 2026: 1. The ECI conducts them in exercise of powers under Article 324 read with Article 172(1) of the Constitution and Section 15 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. 2. The Model Code of Conduct comes into force only after the formal notification of each phase. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct as per the ECI press note. Statement 2 is wrong: the Model Code of Conduct came into effect immediately from the announcement of the schedule.
Along with the 2026 Assembly elections, the ECI announced bye-elections to how many Assembly constituencies in Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Tripura?
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Correct answer: B — Eight
Bye-elections were announced for 8 Assembly constituencies spread across these six States.
The DA arrears that West Bengal announced on 15 March 2026 it would pay from March 2026 relate to which pay rules?
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Correct answer: C — ROPA 2009
The arrears are under the West Bengal Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA) Rules, 2009.
To what amount did West Bengal raise the monthly honorarium of purohits and muezzins on 15 March 2026?
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Correct answer: D — ₹2,000
The honorarium was raised by ₹500, from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 per month.
Assam's Guru Dakshina portal, launched on 15 March 2026, provides:
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Correct answer: D — A one-time financial settlement to teachers whose services were not provincialised
The portal gives a one-time financial settlement to eligible teachers of venture institutions whose institutions were provincialised but whose own services were not.
Consider the following about Assam's Guru Dakshina scheme: 1. It covers teachers left out under the Assam Venture Educational Institutions (Provincialisation of Services) Act, 2011 and a related 2017 Act. 2. Both teaching and non-teaching staff of venture institutions can apply. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: only teaching staff can apply, though retired teachers are eligible.
Which Indian boxer won gold in the women's 51 kg category at the World Boxing Futures Cup 2026 in Bangkok?
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Correct answer: A — Chandrika Pujari
Chandrika Pujari beat Uzbekistan's Mardonova Nazokat by unanimous decision in the women's 51 kg final; it was India's only gold.
What was India's medal tally at the World Boxing Futures Cup 2026 in Bangkok?
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Correct answer: A — 1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze
India won five medals: one gold (Chandrika Pujari), three silver (Gunjan, Joyshree Devi, L. Ambekar Meetei) and one bronze (Radhamani Longjam).
Which postal circle was praised on 15 March 2026 for ranking second in the country in overall revenue?
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Correct answer: A — Tamil Nadu
At the GDS Sammelan in Chennai, MoS Pemmasani lauded the Tamil Nadu postal circle for ranking second in overall revenue.
Consider the following about India Post, as recalled at the GDS Sammelan in Chennai on 15 March 2026: 1. India Post in its present form was established on 1 October 1854. 2. The General Post Office in Calcutta was set up in 1774. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the GPO in Calcutta was set up in 1774, and India Post in its present form was established on 1 October 1854.
According to the MoS Communications on 15 March 2026, India Post works through more than how many post offices?
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Correct answer: C — 1.6 lakh
India Post works through more than 1.6 lakh post offices, with about four lakh regular employees and over 2.5 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks.
Whom did Jannik Sinner defeat in the Indian Wells 2026 men's singles final on 15 March 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Daniil Medvedev
Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in the final.
With the Indian Wells 2026 title, Jannik Sinner joined which two players as the only men to win all six ATP Masters 1000 hard-court titles?
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Correct answer: D — Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer
Sinner became the third man, after Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, to complete the set of six Masters 1000 hard-court titles.
What will be the FASTag Annual Pass fee for 2026-27, effective 1 April 2026?
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Correct answer: B — ₹3,075
NHAI revised the fee from ₹3,000 to ₹3,075 for 2026-27.
Consider the following about the FASTag Annual Pass: 1. The fee revision for 2026-27 was carried out under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. 2. The pass is valid for one year or 200 toll plaza crossings and is available to commercial as well as non-commercial vehicles. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the pass is valid for one year or 200 crossings, but only for non-commercial vehicles with a valid FASTag.
The FASTag Annual Pass, whose fee is being revised for 2026-27, was launched on:
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Correct answer: C — 15 August 2025
The FASTag Annual Pass was launched on 15 August 2025 and has over 56 lakh users.
The Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital, inaugurated by Amit Shah on 15 March 2026, is located in:
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Correct answer: D — Guwahati
Amit Shah inaugurated the Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital, built at about ₹675 crore, in Guwahati.
According to Amit Shah's address in Guwahati on 15 March 2026, the number of MBBS seats in Assam has risen from 726 to:
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Correct answer: C — 1,825
Shah said Assam now has 1,825 MBBS seats across 14 medical colleges, against 726 seats earlier.
Cancer centres at which two places in Assam were inaugurated by Amit Shah on 15 March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Golaghat and Tinsukia
The Golaghat and Tinsukia cancer centres, built at ₹135 crore each, were inaugurated along with the Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital.
Nepanagar, where CM Mohan Yadav launched 127 development works worth ₹363.82 crore on 15 March 2026, is in which district of Madhya Pradesh?
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Correct answer: A — Burhanpur
Nepanagar is a tribal-majority Assembly constituency in Burhanpur district.
The tribal conference at Nepanagar on 15 March 2026, where CM Mohan Yadav launched 127 works, was organised under which campaign?
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Correct answer: B — Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
A tribal conference and workshop was held under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan at Nehru Stadium, Nepanagar.
What is the last date for submitting nominations for the Padma Awards 2027?
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Correct answer: C — 31 July 2026
Nominations opened on 15 March 2026 and close on 31 July 2026, online only on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal.
Consider the following about the Padma Awards: 1. They were instituted in 1954 and are announced on Republic Day every year. 2. Government servants working with PSUs are eligible, but doctors and scientists in government service are not. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 reverses the rule: government servants, including PSU staff, are not eligible, except doctors and scientists.
On which portal are nominations for the Padma Awards 2027 accepted?
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Correct answer: D — Rashtriya Puraskar Portal (awards.gov.in)
Nominations are received only online on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal, awards.gov.in.
At the Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup final on 15 March 2026, Rajnath Singh said which sport can be designated a 'Heritage Sport' of India?
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Correct answer: B — Polo
Rajnath Singh said polo, rooted in India's sporting traditions, can rightfully be designated a 'Heritage Sport' of India.