Current Affairs One-liners — March 2026

Thu, 05 Mar 2026

• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stones of four lighthouses on the Brahmaputra at Lachit Ghat, Guwahati, on 5 March 2026, the first lighthouses on an inland waterway in India.
• Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda virtually addressed a press briefing at WHO headquarters on 5 March 2026, reaffirming India's commitment to eliminating cervical cancer.
• The 8th Central Pay Commission invited memorandums and representations from central government employees, pensioners and their associations on 5 March 2026, with online submissions open until 30 April 2026.
• Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on 5 March 2026 that the first Khelo India Tribal Games will be held from 25 March to 6 April in Raipur, Jagdalpur and Sarguja in Chhattisgarh.
• Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal launched Version 2.0 of the Indian Culture Portal (indianculture.gov.in) on 5 March 2026, a major technical upgrade of the national digital heritage platform.
• NITI Aayog and UNICEF India signed a Statement of Intent on 5 March 2026 to improve maternal and child nutrition and health outcomes in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks.
• Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the logo of the Cycling League of India, described as the world's first franchise-based road cycling league, on 5 March 2026.
• Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav reviewed Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) 2.0 with all district collectors and divisional commissioners of the state on 5 March 2026.

Wed, 04 Mar 2026

• The Indian Navy launched search-and-rescue efforts on 4 March 2026 after the Iranian warship IRIS Dena sent a distress call about 20 nautical miles west of Galle, Sri Lanka, in Sri Lanka's search-and-rescue region.
• Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma launched the second phase of the FOCUS+ scheme at Resubelpara, North Garo Hills, on 4 March 2026 and announced that Green Meghalaya will expand by another 50,000 hectares.
• The HSBC India Services PMI, released by S&P Global on 4 March 2026, eased to 58.1 in February from 58.5 in January, while input costs rose at the fastest pace in about two and a half years.
• National Safety Day was observed across India on 4 March 2026, launching the 55th National Safety Week/Month with the theme 'Engage, Educate & Empower People to Enhance Safety'.
• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the Saraighat Rana Smritisaudh, a war memorial to the 1671 Battle of Saraighat, at Panbazar, Guwahati, on 4 March 2026.
• The Ministry of External Affairs set up a special control room on 4 March 2026 to assist Indian nationals affected by the conflict in West Asia and the Gulf region, with a toll-free number 1800118797.
• New Zealand beat South Africa by nine wickets in the first semi-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on 4 March 2026, with Finn Allen scoring the fastest century in men's T20 World Cup history.
• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the 1.2-km Dinesh Goswami Flyover at Bharalumukh, Guwahati, on 4 March 2026, completed in 15 months against a 24-month target.
• The Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India held free health check-up camps across states on 4 March 2026, the fourth day of Janaushadhi Saptah 2026, ahead of the 8th Janaushadhi Diwas on 7 March.
• Holi, the festival of colours, was celebrated across India on 4 March 2026, as the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh reported over 44 lakh devotees during its Holi festivities.

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

• The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth ₹5,083 crore at South Block, New Delhi, on 3 March 2026 for six ALH Mk-III (Maritime Role) helicopters for the Indian Coast Guard and Vertical Launch-Shtil missiles for the Indian Navy.
• Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurated the Bharat Pavilion and delivered two keynote addresses at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, on 3 March 2026.
• Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a review on 3 March 2026 of the security of Indian-flagged vessels and seafarers in the Persian Gulf, and the ministry set up a Quick Response Team.
• A total lunar eclipse occurred on 3 March 2026 from 15:20 to 18:48 IST; most of India saw only its ending at moonrise, while parts of the Northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands could also see the end of totality.
• NHAI issued Letters of Award on 3 March 2026 for the 111-km six-lane access-controlled Capital Region Ring Road (Bhubaneswar Bypass) in Odisha, from Rameshwar to Tangi, in three packages under the Hybrid Annuity Mode.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the second post-Budget webinar, on 'Sustaining and Strengthening Economic Growth', on 3 March 2026, urging industry to 'build more, produce more, connect more, export more'.
• World Wildlife Day was observed on 3 March 2026 with the theme 'Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods'; the day marks the adoption of CITES.
• Attukal Pongala, the ritual offering by women devotees to the deity of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, was held across Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on 3 March 2026, with the main hearth lit at 9.45 am.
• TRAI released its Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report for October–December 2025 on 3 March 2026, showing internet subscribers rising to 1,028.61 million and broadband to 1,007.35 million.
• Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told the media on 3 March 2026 that India is well stocked with crude oil, petrol, diesel and ATF, and has supplies not routed through the Strait of Hormuz, as a 24×7 control room monitors stocks.
• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the Kaziranga Orchid Park at Kohora in Kaziranga National Park, Golaghat district, on 3 March 2026.
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated a Mudhalvar Padaippagam (Chief Minister's Creative Centre) with a modern library at Ashok Nagar, Chennai, on 3 March 2026 and virtually opened nine more built by CMDA.