Current Affairs Quiz — 20 March 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Which of the following states was NOT among those that signed reform-linked JJM 2.0 MoUs on 20 March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Rajasthan
The MoUs were signed with Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Goa; Rajasthan was not among them.
On which date did the Union Cabinet approve Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0?
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Correct answer: B — 10 March 2026
The Union Cabinet approved JJM 2.0 on 10 March 2026; state MoUs followed on 20 March and guidelines were released on 22 March.
What is the total outlay of Telangana's budget for 2026-27, presented on 20 March 2026?
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Correct answer: C — ₹3.24 lakh crore
The 2026-27 budget outlay is ₹3,24,234 crore (about ₹3.24 lakh crore); ₹2.34 lakh crore is the revenue expenditure.
Under the Indiramma Family Life Insurance Scheme announced in Telangana's 2026-27 budget, each family gets life cover of:
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Correct answer: D — ₹5 lakh
The scheme will provide ₹5 lakh life insurance to each of 1.15 crore families from 2 June 2026.
Consider the following about Telangana's budget for 2026-27: 1. Capital expenditure is estimated at ₹47,267 crore. 2. The Indiramma Family Life Insurance Scheme will start on 2 June, Telangana's State formation day. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: capital expenditure is ₹47,267 crore, and the insurance scheme begins on 2 June 2026, the State formation day.
By how much did the combined Index of Eight Core Industries grow in February 2026 (provisional)?
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Correct answer: B — 2.3%
The ICI grew 2.3% in February 2026; 4.7% was the final January figure and 2.9% the April–February cumulative growth.
Which of the eight core industries carries the largest weight in the Index of Eight Core Industries?
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Correct answer: D — Petroleum refinery products
Petroleum refinery products have the largest weight, 28.04%.
Consider the following about the core industries data for February 2026: 1. Crude oil and natural gas production declined compared with February 2025. 2. The eight core industries together account for about 40% of the weight of items in the IIP. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: crude oil fell 5.2% and natural gas 5.0%, and the core industries make up 40.27% of the IIP weight.
On 20 March 2026, India crossed which coal production milestone for the second year in a row?
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Correct answer: C — 1 billion tonnes
India reached 1 billion tonnes of coal production on 20 March 2026, for the second consecutive year.
Consider the following about India's coal output milestone of March 2026: 1. It was the first time India produced 1 billion tonnes of coal in a year. 2. The Ministry said it enabled record-high coal stocks at thermal power plants. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
It was the second year in a row, not the first, so statement 1 is wrong; the ministry said it supported record-high coal stocks at thermal plants.
Pakhala, for which Odisha set a Guinness World Record in March 2026, is a traditional dish made of:
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Correct answer: A — Fermented rice
Pakhala is fermented rice; Odisha set the record for the largest serving of fermented rice (Pakhala).
The record Pakhala serving on 20 March 2026 was laid out in a design inspired by:
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Correct answer: B — The wheel of the Konark Sun Temple
The serving was spread over 2,500 sq ft in a design inspired by the wheel of the Konark Sun Temple.
Consider the following about Odisha's Pakhala record of 20 March 2026: 1. About 850 kg of rice was used to prepare the record serving. 2. The record was set at the Konark Sun Temple premises. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
About 850 kg of rice was used; the record was set at Panthanivas in Bhubaneswar, with only the layout inspired by the Konark wheel, so statement 2 is wrong.
Exercise Lamitiye, held in March 2026, is a military exercise between India and:
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Correct answer: C — Seychelles
Lamitiye is an India–Seychelles exercise; the 2026 edition was the first tri-services edition.
Which Indian Navy ship took part in Exercise Lamitiye 2026?
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Correct answer: D — INS Trikand
Stealth frigate INS Trikand took part and departed Port Victoria on 20 March 2026.
Consider the following about Exercise Lamitiye 2026: 1. It was the first edition of the exercise in which the Indian Navy participated. 2. The word 'Lamitiye' means 'friendship' in Creole. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the 2026 tri-services edition marked the Indian Navy's maiden participation, and Lamitiye means 'friendship' in Creole.
The Nd-Fe-B magnets to be made at the new ARCI pilot plant are made of:
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Correct answer: D — Neodymium, iron and boron
Nd-Fe-B stands for neodymium-iron-boron rare earth permanent magnets.
ARCI, Hyderabad, where the Nd-Fe-B magnet pilot plant was set up, is an autonomous institution under:
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Correct answer: A — Department of Science and Technology
ARCI is an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology; DST Secretary Abhay Karandikar inaugurated the plant.
Consider the following about the ARCI Nd-Fe-B pilot plant: 1. It covers only the final magnetisation step, using imported sintered blocks. 2. Nd-Fe-B magnets are used in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
The plant is end-to-end, from strip-cast alloy to finished sintered magnets, so statement 1 is wrong; Nd-Fe-B magnets are essential for EVs and renewable energy systems.
PM Modi spoke with King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on 20 March 2026. He is the King of:
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Correct answer: D — Bahrain
King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa is the King of Bahrain.
In his call with the King of Bahrain on 20 March 2026, PM Modi said attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure hurt global security of:
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Correct answer: A — Food, fuel and fertiliser
Modi underlined the adverse impact of such attacks on global food, fuel and fertiliser security.
After the expansion of 20 March 2026, the Uttarakhand Cabinet reached its full strength of:
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Correct answer: B — 12
Five ministers were inducted, taking the Cabinet to its full strength of 12.
Which of the following was among the ministers inducted into the Uttarakhand Cabinet on 20 March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Madan Kaushik
Madan Kaushik was inducted along with Khajan Dass, Ram Singh Kaira, Pradeep Batra and Bharat Singh Chaudhary.
During which programme did Bihar CM Nitish Kumar visit Gaya and Aurangabad on 20 March 2026 to launch development projects?
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Correct answer: B — Samriddhi Yatra
Nitish Kumar visited Gaya and Aurangabad as part of his Samriddhi Yatra.
What is the MRP of a 45 kg bag of Neem Coated Urea, as stated in the Lok Sabha on 20 March 2026 (excluding neem coating charges and taxes)?
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Correct answer: D — ₹242
A 45 kg bag of Neem Coated Urea costs ₹242; ₹254 is the MRP of a 40 kg bag of Sulphur Coated Urea.
According to the Government, the main purpose of reducing urea bag size from 50 kg to 45 kg was to:
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Correct answer: A — Curb excessive urea use and promote balanced fertilisation
The Government said the smaller bag aims to curb excessive urea consumption and encourage judicious, balanced fertiliser use, with no price increase.