Current Affairs Quiz — 25 March 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
The first Khelo India Tribal Games (March-April 2026) are being held in which state?
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Correct answer: A — Chhattisgarh
The inaugural KITG are being held across Raipur, Jagdalpur and Sarguja in Chhattisgarh, which will be the permanent host.
What is the name of the mascot of the first Khelo India Tribal Games, 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Mor Veer
The mascot 'Mor Veer' symbolises the courage, pride and valour of India's more than 700 tribal communities.
Consider the following about the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026: 1. The Games feature 9 sports disciplines, of which 7 are medal sports. 2. 106 gold medals are at stake. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
KITG 2026 has 9 disciplines (7 medal, 2 demonstration) and 106 gold medals, with about 3,800 participants.
What is the total outlay of the Modified UDAN scheme approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — ₹28,840 crore
Modified UDAN has a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore for FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36. ₹12,159 crore is the airport-development component.
Consider the following about the Modified UDAN scheme (2026): 1. It proposes to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips. 2. It proposes 200 modern helipads focused on priority and aspirational districts. 3. It will run for five years from FY 2026-27. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
The scheme runs for ten years (FY 2026-27 to 2035-36), so statement 3 is wrong; 100 airports and 200 helipads are both components.
Under Modified UDAN, aircraft are to be procured from HAL for which two operators?
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Correct answer: A — Pawan Hans and Alliance Air
Two HAL Dhruv helicopters will go to Pawan Hans and two HAL Dornier aircraft to Alliance Air, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat component.
Under its NDC for 2031-2035 approved in March 2026, India aims to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 2035, from the 2005 level, by:
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Correct answer: C — 47%
The new NDC targets a 47% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP by 2035 over 2005. 33-35% was the 2015 NDC target for 2030.
Consider the following about India's NDC for 2031-2035: 1. It targets 60% of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035. 2. It targets an additional carbon sink of 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through forest and tree cover by 2035 from the 2005 level. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are targets of the NDC 2031-35, alongside the 47% emissions-intensity target.
According to the government (March 2026), what share of India's installed electric power capacity was from non-fossil sources in February 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 52.57%
Non-fossil capacity reached 52.57% in February 2026, meeting the updated NDC target five years ahead of the timeline; the new target is 60% by 2035.
How many entries did India record in the global top 50 of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 27
India recorded a record 27 top-50 entries in 2026, more than double the 12 in both 2024 and 2025.
In the QS Subject Rankings 2026, India's highest-ranked subject (21st globally) was Mineral & Mining Engineering at:
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Correct answer: A — ISM Dhanbad
ISM Dhanbad's Mineral & Mining Engineering was ranked 21st – India's highest-ranked subject. IIM Ahmedabad was also 21st in Business & Management Studies and Marketing.
Consider the following about India in the QS Subject Rankings 2026: 1. 99 Indian institutions featured, with 599 subject entries. 2. IIT Delhi was the leading Indian institution with six top-50 entries. 3. The rankings covered 55 subjects. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct as per the Ministry of Education release on the rankings released on 25 March 2026.
Of the XV Finance Commission untied grants released to rural local bodies of four states (March 2026), which state received the largest amount?
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Correct answer: A — Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh received ₹631.91 crore, ahead of Jharkhand (₹269.03 crore), Punjab (₹222 crore) and Mizoram (₹14.80 crore).
In Mizoram, the XV Finance Commission rural grants released in March 2026 went to which type of local body?
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Correct answer: B — Village Councils
Mizoram's ₹14.80 crore went to all 816 eligible Village Councils – Mizoram's rural local bodies.
Under the 'Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya' action plan (March 2026), the area within what radius of schools is to be declared a drug-free zone?
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Correct answer: C — 500 metres
The three-year action plan provides for declaring the area within a 500-metre radius of schools as drug-free zones.
The 'Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya' action plan followed directions from the 9th Apex meeting of which body, chaired by the Union Home Minister?
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Correct answer: B — Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD)
The 9th Apex meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD), chaired by Amit Shah, asked all departments to prepare a roadmap up to 2029.
Which ICAR institution was the only Indian university in the top 100 for Veterinary Science in the QS Subject Rankings 2026?
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Correct answer: D — ICAR-IVRI, Bareilly
ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, entered the 51-100 band – the only Indian university in the Veterinary Science top 100.
Consider the following about the Agriculture & Forestry subject in the QS Rankings 2026: 1. ICAR-IARI, New Delhi debuted in the 151-200 band. 2. 10 Indian universities featured among 475 ranked globally. 3. CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar was placed in the 51-100 band. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
CCS HAU Hisar made its maiden entry in the 301-350 band, not 51-100; statements 1 and 2 are correct.
The IVFRT scheme, extended by the Union Cabinet in March 2026, relates to:
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Correct answer: D — Immigration, visa and foreigners' registration
IVFRT stands for Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking; it was extended to 31 March 2031 with ₹1,800 crore.
Consider the following about the IVFRT scheme: 1. Its continuation for 2026-2031 carries an outlay of ₹1,800 crore. 2. It was first approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in 2010. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
The 2026-31 continuation is ₹1,800 crore; the CCEA first approved the project on 13 May 2010.
About how much green hydrogen production capacity had India commissioned till February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 8,000 tonnes per annum
Around 8,000 TPA had been commissioned till February 2026; 5 million tonnes per annum is the likely capacity by 2030.
Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the price discovered through competitive bidding for green hydrogen supply to Indian Oil's refinery was:
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Correct answer: B — ₹397 per kg
₹397/kg (including 18% GST) for IOCL's refinery; ₹387/kg for BPCL and HPCL refineries. ₹235/kg is the estimated renewable-power share of cost.
In March 2026, Odisha directed urban local bodies to waive permission fees for laying underground pipelines for:
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Correct answer: A — City gas distribution (PNG)
Odisha's Housing & Urban Development Department waived permission fees for city gas distribution pipelines to accelerate PNG connections.
Till when do Odisha's March 2026 relaxations for city gas distribution projects remain in force (unless further orders)?
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Correct answer: B — 30 June 2026
The fee waiver and simplified approvals remain in force till 30 June 2026 or until further orders.
The 'Veer Udyami Yojana 2026', approved in March 2026 for ex-servicemen and former Agniveers, is a scheme of which state?
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Correct answer: D — Uttarakhand
The Uttarakhand Cabinet chaired by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami approved the Uttarakhand Veer Udyami Yojana 2026 on 25 March 2026.
Consider the following about Uttarakhand's Veer Udyami Yojana 2026: 1. It is a supplementary scheme to the Mukhyamantri Swarojgar Yojana. 2. 10% of its target is reserved for ex-servicemen and former Agniveers. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct: the scheme supplements the Mukhyamantri Swarojgar Yojana and reserves 10% of its target.
From 26 March 2026, Akashvani stations broadcast the full version of 'Vande Mataram' containing how many stanzas?
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Correct answer: D — Six
The full six-stanza version (3 min 10 sec) replaced the two-stanza version (65 sec), following an MHA guideline of 28 January 2026.
The first version of the full 'Vande Mataram' broadcast by Akashvani from March 2026 is sung in which raga?
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Correct answer: A — Raag Des
It is sung by Pt. Chandrashekhar Vaze in Raag Des.
Through which two countries were Indian nationals in Iran being assisted to travel to India, as stated on 25 March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Armenia and Azerbaijan
MEA said Indians in Iran were being assisted to travel to India via Armenia and Azerbaijan; 1,043 had crossed out with the Mission's help.
According to the inter-ministerial briefing of 25 March 2026, about how many passengers had returned to India from West Asia since 28 February?
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Correct answer: C — 4,26,000
Around 4,26,000 passengers had returned from the region to India since 28 February.
Consider the following statements about Operation Sindhu: 1. It was launched in June 2025 to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran and Israel. 2. More Indians were evacuated from Israel than from Iran under the operation. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. Operation Sindhu, launched on 18 June 2025, evacuated 4,415 Indians — 3,597 from Iran and 818 from Israel.