Current Affairs Quiz — 23 March 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
According to the NSO CAPEX survey released in March 2026, aggregate provisional private corporate capex for 2025-26 is estimated at about:
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Correct answer: D — ₹11.44 lakh crore
Provisional capex for 2025-26 is ₹11,43,879 crore; ₹9,55,281 crore is the investment intention for 2026-27.
As per the NSO CAPEX survey, the largest source of financing for private corporate capex in 2025-26 is:
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Correct answer: B — Internal accruals
About 65.35% of 2025-26 capex is sourced from internal accruals, while 23.25% comes from domestic debt.
In the NSO CAPEX survey, the 'realisation ratio' for 2024-25 was 96.3%. This means:
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Correct answer: D — Actual capex per enterprise was 96.3% of what was planned
Estimated capex per enterprise for 2024-25 was ₹180.2 crore and actual capex ₹173.5 crore – a realisation ratio of 96.3%.
The RoDTEP scheme, whose rates were restored in March 2026, relates to:
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Correct answer: D — Remission of duties and taxes on exported products
RoDTEP stands for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products; its rates and value caps were restored from 23 March 2026.
By the decision of 23 March 2026, RoDTEP rates were restored to the levels in force on:
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Correct answer: C — 22 February 2026
The restored rates are those in force on 22 February 2026, withdrawing the 50% restriction imposed on 23 February 2026.
Consider the following about the RoDTEP restoration of March 2026: 1. It withdrew a 50% restriction on RoDTEP rates imposed in February 2026. 2. It applies only to exports bound for West Asian countries. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
The restoration covers all eligible export products, not only West Asia-bound exports; it withdrew the 50% restriction of Notification No. 60/2025-26.
In March 2026, which state's Assembly passed a Bill to use ballot papers instead of EVMs in panchayat elections?
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Correct answer: B — Karnataka
The Karnataka Assembly passed the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on 23 March 2026.
The 'Eva Nammava' Bill passed by the Karnataka Assembly on 23 March 2026 deals with:
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Correct answer: D — Honour crimes linked to marriage
The Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour and Tradition Bill, 2026 ('Eva Nammava') aims to curb honour crimes.
Consider the following about the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026: 1. It provides for ballot papers in gram, taluk and zilla panchayat elections. 2. It also applies to elections to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
The Bill amends the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act and covers only gram, taluk and zilla panchayat elections, not Assembly elections.
The Navayug Palika Yojana approved by the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet in March 2026 covers urban local bodies at how many district headquarters?
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Correct answer: B — 58
The ₹2,916-crore, fully state-funded scheme covers urban bodies at 58 district headquarters.
Consider the following about Uttar Pradesh's wheat procurement for rabi marketing season 2026-27: 1. The procurement target was raised to 5 million metric tonnes from an earlier 3 million. 2. Procurement runs from 1 April to 30 June 2026. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: procurement runs from 30 March to 15 June 2026.
Under Telangana's Parents Support Bill approved by the Cabinet in March 2026, how much is deducted from the salary of an employee who neglects aged parents?
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Correct answer: C — 15% of salary or ₹10,000, whichever is lower
15% of salary or ₹10,000, whichever is lower, will be deducted and paid directly to the parents.
The Telangana Cabinet meeting of 23 March 2026, which cleared a hate speech Bill, was chaired by:
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Correct answer: A — A. Revanth Reddy
The Cabinet met under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
Consider the following about the Telangana Cabinet decisions of 23 March 2026: 1. The gig workers Bill is expected to benefit about 4.2 lakh gig and platform workers. 2. Under the Parents Support Bill, the deducted salary is paid into a state welfare fund rather than to the parents. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
The deducted amount is paid directly to the parents, so statement 2 is wrong; the gig workers Bill covers about 4.2 lakh workers.
How many blocks are on offer in the seventh tranche of critical and strategic mineral auctions launched on 23 March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 19
The 7th tranche offers 19 blocks across 10 States; 46 is the number auctioned in the earlier six tranches and 24 the number of notified critical and strategic minerals.
Consider the following about auctions of critical and strategic minerals: 1. The MMDR Act was amended on 17 August 2023 to notify 24 minerals as critical and strategic and let the Centre auction them. 2. The Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2026 allow an Insurance Surety Bond as an alternative to a bank guarantee. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the Ministry of Mines releases of 22 and 23 March 2026.
Shaheed Diwas on 23 March marks the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev in which year?
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Correct answer: C — 1931
They laid down their lives on 23 March 1931, as recalled by the Rajya Sabha Chairman on 23 March 2026.
Whose birth anniversary, besides Shaheed Diwas, did the Prime Minister mark on 23 March 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia
The PM paid tribute to socialist leader Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia on his birth anniversary on 23 March.
Under which provision does the Election Commission allot free broadcast and telecast time on Doordarshan and AIR to recognised parties?
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Correct answer: B — Section 39A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
The ECI issued the directions under Section 39A of the RP Act, 1951, for the 2026 Assembly elections.
For the 2026 Assembly elections, what base broadcast time has the ECI allotted to each recognised party on both Doordarshan and All India Radio?
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Correct answer: C — 45 minutes
Each party gets a base time of 45 minutes on both Doordarshan and AIR, plus extra time based on its previous Assembly poll performance.
Through which portal does MoSPI's Model Context Protocol (MCP) server give AI tools access to official statistics?
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Correct answer: B — eSankhyiki
The MCP server allows AI applications to access verified Government data through the National Statistical Portal, eSankhyiki.
Consider the following about MoSPI's MCP server (March 2026): 1. Its beta version covered 7 statistical products, including PLFS and CPI. 2. It has now been extended to 21 products on eSankhyiki. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the beta's 7 products (PLFS, CPI, ASI, IIP, National Accounts, etc.) have been extended to 21 products.
The cold storage collapse of 23 March 2026, in which four workers died, took place in which city?
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Correct answer: D — Prayagraj
Part of Adarsh Cold Storage in Phaphamau, Prayagraj (UP) collapsed after an explosion in its ammonia gas chamber.
After the Prayagraj cold storage collapse (March 2026), the Prime Minister announced ex gratia from PMNRF of:
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Correct answer: A — ₹2 lakh per deceased and ₹50,000 per injured
The PM announced ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for each deceased's next of kin and ₹50,000 for the injured.
The GARBH-INi programme, highlighted in March 2026, focuses on developing AI tools to predict:
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Correct answer: A — Preterm births
GARBH-INi aims at indigenous, AI-driven solutions for preterm births, a leading cause of neonatal mortality.
Consider the following about GARBH-INi: 1. It is an initiative of the Department of Biotechnology. 2. It has enrolled around 12,000 pregnant women. 3. It is run by the Indian Council of Medical Research under the Ministry of Health. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
GARBH-INi is a Department of Biotechnology initiative, not an ICMR programme; it has enrolled about 12,000 pregnant women.
The 'orphan and widow cess' on petrol and diesel, approved by a state Assembly in March 2026, belongs to which state?
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Correct answer: B — Himachal Pradesh
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed the HP VAT (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on 23 March 2026.
What is the maximum 'orphan and widow cess' per litre on petrol and high-speed diesel permitted by Himachal Pradesh's VAT amendment of March 2026?
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Correct answer: C — ₹5
The Bill allows a cess of up to ₹5 per litre; CM Sukhu said the actual rate could be much lower.
The National DMF Summit 2026 focused on effective use of District Mineral Foundation funds in which areas?
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Correct answer: A — Aspirational District and Aspirational Block Programme areas
The theme was 'Effective Utilisation of DMF Funds for Aspirational District Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Block Programme (ABP) Areas'.