Current Affairs Quiz — 24 March 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
The Japanese ODA package of March 2026 (JPY 275.858 billion) covers projects in which three states?
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Correct answer: A — Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab
The four projects are in Maharashtra (Mumbai Metro Line 11, healthcare), Karnataka (Bengaluru Metro Phase 3) and Punjab (horticulture).
Which project received the largest share of the Japanese ODA loans committed to India on 24 March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Bengaluru Metro Rail Project Phase 3 (I)
Bengaluru Metro Phase 3 (I) got JPY 102.480 billion, ahead of Mumbai Metro Line 11 (JPY 92.400 billion), Maharashtra health (JPY 62.294 billion) and Punjab horticulture (JPY 18.684 billion).
Consider the following about the Japanese ODA-funded metro projects (March 2026): 1. Mumbai Metro Line 11 (I) covers about 17.51 km with 14 underground stations. 2. Bengaluru Metro Phase 3 (I) covers about 44.65 km with 31 underground stations. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Bengaluru Phase 3 has 31 elevated (not underground) stations over about 44.65 km; Mumbai Line 11 has 14 underground stations over about 17.51 km.
As per ASUSE 2025, the estimated number of unincorporated non-agricultural establishments in India was about:
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Correct answer: C — 7.92 crore
Establishments rose from 7.34 crore in ASUSE 2023-24 to 7.92 crore in ASUSE 2025, about 7.97% growth.
In ASUSE 2025, which sector recorded the highest growth in Gross Value Added over ASUSE 2023-24?
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Correct answer: A — Trade
GVA growth was led by trade (16.77%), followed by manufacturing (8.52%) and other services (7.36%). Construction is excluded from ASUSE.
Consider the following about ASUSE 2025: 1. The share of establishments using the internet rose to 39.4%. 2. Women-owned proprietary establishments declined compared with ASUSE 2023-24. 3. The survey covers construction along with manufacturing, trade and other services. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Women-owned proprietary establishments rose from 26.2% to 27%, and ASUSE excludes construction; only statement 1 is correct.
In March 2026, which state became the second after Uttarakhand to pass a Uniform Civil Code Bill?
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Correct answer: B — Gujarat
The Gujarat Assembly passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill on 24 March 2026. Uttarakhand was the first, in February 2024.
The Gujarat UCC Bill (2026) was brought after the report of an expert committee headed by:
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Correct answer: D — Justice Ranjana Desai
The committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai submitted its report before the Bill was tabled by CM Bhupendra Patel.
Consider the following about the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill passed in March 2026: 1. It makes registration of live-in relationships mandatory. 2. It applies to all residents of Gujarat, including the Scheduled Tribe population. 3. Bigamy is punishable with imprisonment of up to 7 years. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
The Bill exempts the Scheduled Tribe population, so statement 2 is wrong; it mandates registration of live-in relationships and prescribes up to 7 years' jail for bigamy.
What is the theme of World TB Day 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Yes! We Can End TB!
The 2026 theme is 'Yes! We Can End TB!'. World TB Day is observed every year on 24 March.
According to the Health Ministry (March 2026), by how much did TB incidence in India decline over the past decade?
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Correct answer: C — 21%
TB incidence fell 21% and TB mortality 25% over the past decade, both outpacing global averages.
Consider the following launched or reported on World TB Day 2026: 1. A 100-day TB Mukt Bharat campaign covering 1.58 lakh villages and urban wards. 2. An AI-enabled chatbot named 'Khushi' in the TB Mukt Bharat App. 3. About 10.9 lakh asymptomatic TB patients detected since the intensified Abhiyaan began in December 2024. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct. Of 32.65 lakh patients detected after screening over 20 crore people, about 10.9 lakh had no classical symptoms.
Which two states signed reform-linked MoUs with the Centre under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 on 24 March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
Andhra Pradesh (in the presence of CM N. Chandrababu Naidu) and Odisha (CM Mohan Charan Majhi, virtually) signed the MoUs.
The reform-linked MoUs under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 are signed with the Centre through which department?
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Correct answer: B — Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation
The MoUs were signed at the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, by its Joint Secretary (Water).
India's total exports (merchandise and services) in April–January of FY 2025-26 were about:
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Correct answer: B — USD 714.73 billion
Exports were USD 714.73 billion, up 5.26% from USD 679.02 billion in April–January 2024-25. USD 828.25 billion was the full-year 2024-25 figure.
Which of the following is NOT one of the four pillars of India's Foreign Trade Policy 2023 as cited by the Commerce Ministry?
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Correct answer: C — Import substitution
The four pillars are trade facilitation, export promotion, state-level partnerships and digital integration; import substitution is not one of them.
Why did the Railways sanction a rail-over-rail flyover at Kosamba (Gujarat) in March 2026 instead of a surface crossing?
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Correct answer: D — The Dedicated Freight Corridor alignment makes a surface crossing not feasible
Because of the Dedicated Freight Corridor alignment, the Kosamba–Umrapada gauge-converted line cannot join the Mumbai–Vadodara main line through a surface crossing.
The 13.38 km rail bypass sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways in March 2026 is at which city?
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Correct answer: A — Bhagalpur
The Bhagalpur Bypass (13.38 km) in Bihar, under Eastern Railway, was sanctioned at ₹303.20 crore.
'MuleHunter.AI', mentioned by the Finance Ministry in March 2026, is used to:
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Correct answer: D — Detect mule accounts used in cyber frauds
MuleHunter.AI is RBI's AI/ML-based solution to detect mule accounts used to divert and layer money from cyber frauds; it is live in 26 banks.
Consider the following about the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC): 1. It was incorporated as a Section 8 company under the Companies Act, 2013. 2. Its mandate is real-time detection and prevention of fraud in digital payments. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
IDPIC was incorporated on 16 October 2025 as a Section 8 company, with the mandate to detect, prevent and analyse digital payment fraud in real time using AI, ML and big data.
The 'Clinical Study on Ayurveda as an Adjunct Therapy for Tuberculosis', announced on World TB Day 2026, is a collaboration between the Ministry of Ayush and:
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Correct answer: C — Department of Biotechnology
The study is a collaboration of the Ministry of Ayush and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology.
In the Ayush–DBT TB study announced in March 2026, Ayurveda is being tested as:
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Correct answer: D — An adjunct (add-on) to anti-TB treatment
The study evaluates Ayurveda as an adjunct therapy alongside standard anti-TB treatment, not as a replacement.
The LL.M. in Corporate Law and Management launched in March 2026 is jointly offered by IICA and which institution?
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Correct answer: D — National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam
It is a joint programme of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and NLUJA Assam; year 1 is at NLUJAA and year 2 at IICA, IMT Manesar.
Consider the following about the IICA–NLUJA Assam LL.M. (2026): 1. It is a two-year, fully residential programme of 54 credits. 2. Its second year is conducted at the IICA campus in IMT Manesar. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: 54 credits over four semesters, year 1 at NLUJAA and year 2 at IICA, IMT Manesar; 60 seats per batch.
How many Farmer IDs had been generated under the AgriStack Farmers Registry as of 19 March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — More than 9.20 crore
More than 9.20 crore Farmer IDs had been generated, including 47.63 lakh in Bihar.
As cited by the Agriculture Ministry (March 2026), which state used AgriStack to transfer over ₹14,000 crore to 89 lakh farmers for Kharif 2025 crop losses within 5 days?
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Correct answer: B — Maharashtra
Maharashtra used AgriStack for this disaster-relief transfer; Chhattisgarh used Farmer ID for MSP paddy procurement covering 32 lakh+ farmers.