Current Affairs Quiz — 21 March 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Through which entity does CGSMFI-2.0, introduced in March 2026, provide credit guarantee cover?
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Correct answer: B — National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company
CGSMFI-2.0 provides guarantee cover to banks and FIs through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC).
Under CGSMFI-2.0, what is the guarantee coverage for loans to small NBFC-MFIs/MFIs?
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Correct answer: D — 80% of the amount in default
Coverage is 80% for small, 75% for medium and 70% for large NBFC-MFIs/MFIs.
Consider the following about CGSMFI-2.0: 1. It is valid till 30 June 2026 or until loans of ₹20,000 crore are guaranteed, whichever is earlier. 2. MFIs must on-lend to small borrowers at 1% below their average lending rate of the past six months. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the scheme runs till 30 June 2026 or ₹20,000 crore of guaranteed loans, and on-lending is capped at 1% below the six-month average rate.
Prakriti 2026, at which the Indian Carbon Market Portal was launched, was organised by:
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Correct answer: D — Bureau of Energy Efficiency
Prakriti 2026, the International Conference on Carbon Markets, was organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
According to the Power Minister on 21 March 2026, GEI targets have been notified for about how many obligated entities under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme?
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Correct answer: B — About 490
GEI targets have been notified for nearly 490 obligated entities across seven energy-intensive sectors.
Consider the following about the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme as described on 21 March 2026: 1. It has nine notified methodologies on the offset side. 2. Compliance targets cover obligated entities across twelve energy-intensive sectors. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
There are nine notified methodologies; compliance targets cover about 490 entities across seven, not twelve, energy-intensive sectors.
Which body constituted the Expert Committee on Invasive Alien Species in March 2026?
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Correct answer: D — National Biodiversity Authority
The National Biodiversity Authority constituted the committee following NGT directions.
Who chairs the NBA's Expert Committee on Invasive Alien Species?
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Correct answer: A — Dhananjai Mohan
Dhananjai Mohan, former PCCF and Head of Forest Force, Uttarakhand, chairs it; Prof. A. Biju Kumar is Co-Chair.
Consider the following about the NBA's Expert Committee on Invasive Alien Species: 1. It was constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 2. It followed a suo motu proceeding of the National Green Tribunal. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
The committee was constituted under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (as amended in 2023), so statement 1 is wrong; it followed NGT's suo motu case O.A. No. 162/2023.
Where was the 90th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife held on 21 March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Dehradun
The meeting was chaired by Bhupender Yadav in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
At the 90th SC-NBWL meeting, the Forest Survey of India signed an MoU on geospatial and AI tools for forest fire management with:
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Correct answer: D — BISAG-N
FSI signed the MoU with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N).
Under the modified MCGS-MSME of March 2026, what guarantee coverage is offered to eligible exporters?
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Correct answer: C — 75% of the amount in default
Exporters get 75% coverage on a ₹20 crore guaranteed loan, compared with the base 60% cover of the scheme.
Consider the following about the modifications to MCGS-MSME in March 2026: 1. Service-sector MSMEs have been included in the scheme. 2. The minimum share of equipment/machinery in project cost has been raised from 60% to 75%. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Service-sector MSMEs were added; the minimum equipment/machinery share was reduced to 60% from 75%, not raised, so statement 2 is wrong.
The food and water analysis laboratory inaugurated at Tirumala on 21 March 2026 was set up by TTD with the support of:
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Correct answer: A — FSSAI
TTD set up the ₹25 crore laboratory with support from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
How many samples a month can the TTD food analysis laboratory at Tirumala analyse?
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Correct answer: C — 1,000–1,500
The laboratory is equipped to analyse 1,000 to 1,500 samples every month.
Prime Minister Modi spoke with which Iranian President on 21 March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Masoud Pezeshkian
PM Modi spoke with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings.
During his call with the Iranian President on 21 March 2026, PM Modi conveyed greetings for which two occasions?
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Correct answer: B — Eid and Nowruz
Modi conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings and hoped the festive season would bring peace to West Asia.
What is the size of Himachal Pradesh's budget for 2026-27, presented on 21 March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — ₹54,928 crore
The 2026-27 budget is ₹54,928 crore, down from ₹58,514 crore in 2025-26.
Himachal's CM attributed the smaller 2026-27 budget mainly to the discontinuation of:
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Correct answer: B — Revenue Deficit Grant
He said the end of the Revenue Deficit Grant, after the Centre accepted the 16th Finance Commission's recommendations, costs the state about ₹8,105 crore a year on average.
Consider the following about the salary deferment announced in Himachal's 2026-27 budget: 1. 50% of the Chief Minister's salary will be deferred for six months. 2. MLAs' salaries will be deferred by 30%. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
The CM's salary is deferred by 50%; MLAs' by 20% (30% applies to the Deputy CM and ministers), so statement 2 is wrong.
In the first stage of EVM randomisation, EVMs are randomly allocated:
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Correct answer: C — From district warehouses to Assembly Constituencies
In the first stage EVMs move from district warehouses to ACs; in the second stage from AC level to polling stations.
Through which software system was the first randomisation of EVM-VVPATs carried out in March 2026?
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Correct answer: D — EVM Management System (EMS)
District Election Officers carried out the first randomisation through the EVM Management System (EMS).
Consider the following about the first randomisation of EVM-VVPATs in March 2026: 1. Only machines that passed First Level Checking were included. 2. It was carried out in the presence of representatives of recognised political parties. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: only FLC-passed EVM-VVPATs were randomised, in the presence of representatives of National and State recognised parties.
In March 2026, Punjab announced a ₹563 crore medical college with 100 MBBS seats in which town?
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Correct answer: C — Malerkotla
CM Bhagwant Mann announced the medical college in Malerkotla on Eid, 21 March 2026.
Under Punjab's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, mentioned by the CM in Malerkotla, families can get cashless treatment of up to:
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Correct answer: D — ₹10 lakh
The CM urged families to enrol for cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana.