Current Affairs — March 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Sat, 21 Mar 2026
90th meeting of NBWL Standing Committee held in Dehradun; FSI and BISAG-N sign MoU
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired the 90th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife in Dehradun on 21 March 2026, where the Forest Survey of India and BISAG-N signed an MoU on geospatial and AI tools for forest fire management and wildlife conservation.
Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs modified: service sector added, special terms for exporters
On 21 March 2026 the Government modified the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs, adding service-sector MSMEs, making the 5% upfront contribution refundable and creating special provisions for exporters with 75% guarantee coverage.
Andhra CM inaugurates ₹25 crore TTD food and water analysis laboratory at Tirumala
On 21 March 2026 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated a ₹25 crore Food and Water Analysis Laboratory set up by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams with FSSAI support, to test prasadam ingredients and water for pilgrims.
PM Modi speaks with Iranian President Pezeshkian, stresses freedom of navigation
On 21 March 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings, condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the region and stressed keeping shipping lanes open and secure.
Himachal presents reduced ₹54,928 crore budget for 2026-27; CM and ministers defer part of salaries
On 21 March 2026 Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presented a ₹54,928 crore budget for 2026-27, smaller than 2025-26's ₹58,514 crore after the Revenue Deficit Grant was discontinued, and announced six-month deferment of part of the salaries of the CM, ministers and MLAs.
First randomisation of EVM-VVPATs completed in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry
The Election Commission said on 21 March 2026 that the first randomisation of EVM-VVPATs has been completed for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry and for bye-elections in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura, with lists shared with political parties.
Punjab CM announces ₹563 crore medical college with 100 MBBS seats for Malerkotla
On Eid, 21 March 2026, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a ₹563 crore medical college with 100 MBBS seats in Malerkotla on about 25 acres of transferred defence land, along with a 150-bed ESI hospital under construction.
Fri, 20 Mar 2026
Reform-linked JJM 2.0 MoUs signed with Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Goa
On 20 March 2026 the Centre signed reform-linked MoUs under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 with Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Goa, following Union Cabinet approval of JJM 2.0 on 10 March 2026.
Telangana presents ₹3.24 lakh crore budget for 2026-27; Indiramma Family Life Insurance from 2 June
On 20 March 2026 Telangana Deputy CM and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka presented a ₹3,24,234 crore budget for 2026-27 and announced the Indiramma Family Life Insurance Scheme, offering ₹5 lakh cover to 1.15 crore families from 2 June.
Eight core industries grow 2.3% in February 2026
The combined Index of Eight Core Industries rose 2.3% (provisional) in February 2026 over February 2025, with cement, steel, fertilisers, coal and electricity growing, data released on 20 March 2026 showed.
India crosses 1 billion tonne coal production for the second year in a row
India achieved 1 billion tonnes of coal production in 2025-26 on 20 March 2026, the second consecutive year it has crossed the mark, the Ministry of Coal said.
Odisha sets Guinness World Record for the largest serving of Pakhala
On Pakhala Dibasa, 20 March 2026, Odisha Tourism set a Guinness World Record for the largest serving of fermented rice (Pakhala), with 1,174 kg prepared in a single vessel from 850 kg of rice at Panthanivas, Bhubaneswar.
INS Trikand ends Seychelles port call after maiden tri-services edition of Exercise Lamitiye 2026
Stealth frigate INS Trikand departed Port Victoria, Seychelles, on 20 March 2026 after taking part in the first tri-services edition of the India–Seychelles Exercise Lamitiye, marking the Indian Navy's maiden participation in the exercise.
Pilot plant for Nd-Fe-B rare earth permanent magnets set up at ARCI, Hyderabad
A pilot plant for manufacturing Nd-Fe-B (neodymium-iron-boron) rare earth permanent magnets, covering the full process from strip-cast alloy to sintered magnets, has been set up at ARCI, Hyderabad, an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology.
PM Modi speaks with King of Bahrain; condemns attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure
On 20 March 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, conveyed Eid al-Fitr greetings and condemned attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure in West Asia for their impact on global food, fuel and fertiliser security.
Uttarakhand Cabinet expanded with five ministers, reaching full strength of 12
On 20 March 2026 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expanded his Cabinet by inducting five ministers, taking it to its full strength of 12 for the first time in five years.
Nitish Kumar's Samriddhi Yatra reaches Gaya and Aurangabad with a raft of projects
On 20 March 2026 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited Gaya and Aurangabad districts during his Samriddhi Yatra, inaugurating completed schemes and laying foundation stones for new projects, including 140 projects in Gaya.
No increase in urea price; smaller bags meant to promote balanced fertiliser use, says Government
The Government told the Lok Sabha on 20 March 2026 that there is no proposal to raise urea prices and that urea bags were cut from 50 kg to 45 kg (40 kg in some cases) to curb excessive use and improve soil health.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026
National Dental Commission constituted with three boards; Dental Council of India dissolved
The Government constituted the National Dental Commission (NDC) and three autonomous boards by notifications of 19 March 2026, replacing the Dental Council of India; Dr Sanjay Tewari is the Chairperson and the Dentists Act, 1948 stands repealed.
Government approves RELIEF, a ₹497-crore export support under the Export Promotion Mission, with ECGC as nodal agency
On 19 March 2026 the Government approved RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) under the Export Promotion Mission to support exporters hit by West Asia shipping disruption, with an outlay of ₹497 crore and ECGC Ltd as the nodal agency.
NITI Aayog report: India's sports equipment exports could rise from $275 million to $8.1 billion by 2036
NITI Aayog's report 'Realising the Export Potential of India's Sports Equipment Manufacturing Sector', released on 19 March 2026, notes India's share of global sports equipment exports is about 0.5% and projects exports of about $8.1 billion by 2036.
India auctions a record 200 mineral blocks in FY 2025-26; Gujarat leads with 32
The Ministry of Mines said on 19 March 2026 that 200 mineral blocks were auctioned in FY 2025-26, the highest ever in a single year, with Gujarat (32), Rajasthan (30) and Tamil Nadu (22) the top contributors.
ECI sets out postal ballot facility for 85+ voters, PwDs, essential services staff and service voters in 2026 Assembly polls
The Election Commission said on 19 March 2026 that electors above 85 and flagged Persons with Disabilities can vote by postal ballot in the Assembly elections of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal by submitting Form 12D within 5 days of notification.
PM Modi speaks to leaders of France, Malaysia, Oman, Jordan and Qatar on West Asia
On 19 March 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi held phone conversations with France's President Macron, Malaysia's PM Anwar Ibrahim, Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim, calling for de-escalation in West Asia.
India Bioeconomy Report 2026: bioeconomy at USD 195.3 billion, about 4.8% of GDP
The India Bioeconomy Report (IBER) 2026, released on 19 March 2026 at BIRAC's 14th Foundation Day, puts India's bioeconomy at USD 195.3 billion in 2025, about 4.8% of GDP, with over 11,800 biotech startups.
Madhya Pradesh launches third phase of Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan from Indore; ₹2,500 crore of works planned
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav launched the third phase of the Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan from Indore on Gudi Padwa, 19 March 2026; the water conservation campaign runs till 30 June across all 55 districts with works worth about ₹2,500 crore.
NICDC to anchor BHAVYA scheme for 100 plug-and-play industrial parks
The Commerce Ministry said on 19 March 2026 that the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) will anchor the BHAVYA scheme to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.
Extra gas lifts urea output by about 23%; fertiliser stocks higher ahead of Kharif 2026
The Department of Fertilizers said on 19 March 2026 that an extra 7.31 MMSCMD of spot gas secured through EPMC bidding raises gas supply to urea plants by 23% to 39.31 MMSCMD, lifting projected urea output from 54,500 to 67,000 tonnes a day.
₹200-crore Banana Cluster approved for Jalgaon, Maharashtra
On Gudi Padwa, 19 March 2026, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the long-pending Banana Cluster project in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, has been approved at a cost of ₹200 crore, with subsidies under MIDH and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
Rajasthan launches Mukhyamantri Viksit Gram-Ward Abhiyan on Rajasthan Diwas, 19 March 2026
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma launched the Mukhyamantri Viksit Gram-Ward Abhiyan on Rajasthan Diwas, observed on 19 March 2026 (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada), to prepare development roadmaps for every Gram Panchayat and urban ward; the campaign runs till 15 May.