Art & Culture Current Affairs — Last 12 months · Page 5 of 10 | Daily News + MCQs

Akashvani to broadcast full six-stanza 'Vande Mataram' from 26 March

The I&B Ministry said on 25 March 2026 that all Akashvani stations will broadcast the full six-stanza version of the National Song 'Vande Mataram' (3 minutes 10 seconds) from 26 March 2026, replacing the two-stanza version.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 Odisha Important

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.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 India

Ministry of Tribal Affairs launches 'RISA: Timeless Tribal', a premium brand for tribal weaves and crafts

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram launched 'RISA: Timeless Tribal', a premium signature brand centred on tribal weaves, embroidery and crafts, on 18 March 2026 at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi.

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🎭 GI Tags 📍 Assam Important

First export of GI-tagged Joha rice from Assam to the UK and Italy

The first consignment of 25 tonnes of GI-tagged Joha rice from Assam was dispatched to the United Kingdom and Italy on 12 March 2026, facilitated by APEDA.

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🚄 Railways, Roads & Aviation 📍 Tamil Nadu Important

NHAI awards 7-km Gangaikonda Cholapuram bypass on NH-81 to protect 1,000-year-old temple

The National Highways Authority of India issued the letter of award on 12 March 2026 for a 7-km greenfield bypass around Gangaikonda Cholapuram on NH-81 in Tamil Nadu, whose foundation stone the Prime Minister laid on 11 March.

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📅 Important Days & Themes 📍 India

Dandi March anniversary: PM Modi pays homage, links 1930 march to Viksit Bharat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage on 12 March 2026 to those who took part in the Dandi March, which began on 12 March 1930, and invoked it at the NXT Summit the same evening.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 West Bengal Important

President Murmu addresses 9th International Santal Conference at Darjeeling

President Droupadi Murmu attended the 9th International Santal Conference at Darjeeling, West Bengal, on 7 March 2026, recalling the Santal Hul of 1855 and the inclusion of Santali in the Eighth Schedule in 2003.

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🎭 Heritage & UNESCO 📍 India

Ministry of Culture launches Version 2.0 of the Indian Culture Portal

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.

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🎭 Heritage & UNESCO 📍 Assam Important

Assam CM inaugurates Saraighat Rana Smritisaudh, a memorial to 132 warriors of the 1671 Battle of Saraighat

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.

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🎭 Festivals & Events 📍 Uttar Pradesh

Holi celebrated on 4 March 2026; Braj festivities draw over 44 lakh devotees to Mathura-Vrindavan

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.

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🎭 Festivals & Events 📍 Kerala Important

Attukal Pongala draws lakhs of women devotees to Thiruvananthapuram on 3 March 2026

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.

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🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 Maharashtra Important

INSV Kaundinya returns to Mumbai after maiden overseas voyage to Oman

Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth flagged in INSV Kaundinya, the Navy's traditionally built stitched sailing vessel, at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, on 2 March 2026 after her maiden overseas voyage to Muscat, Oman.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 Delhi

Tribes Art Fest 2026 opens at Travancore Palace, New Delhi

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram inaugurated Tribes Art Fest 2026 at Travancore Palace, New Delhi, on 2 March 2026, showcasing over 1,000 artworks from more than 30 tribal art forms.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 Maharashtra Important

Navi Mumbai hosts Shaheedi Samagam for 350th martyrdom year of Guru Tegh Bahadur

The Maharashtra government held the Shaheedi Samagam for the 350th martyrdom year of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur in Navi Mumbai on 1 March 2026, addressed by Home Minister Amit Shah in person and PM Narendra Modi by video.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 Jharkhand

President Murmu attends bhoomi pujan of Sri Jagannath Temple in Jamshedpur

President Droupadi Murmu took part in the bhoomi pujan ceremony of the Sri Jagannath Temple at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, on 26 February 2026.

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🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 Delhi Important

Army Chief flags in Bharat RanBhoomi Darshan expedition at National War Memorial

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi flagged in the 3,400-km Bharat RanBhoomi Darshan SUV expedition at the National War Memorial, New Delhi, on 25 February 2026.

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🎭 Heritage & UNESCO 📍 Delhi Important

President Droupadi Murmu unveils C. Rajagopalachari's bust at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing Lutyens' bust

President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a bust of C. Rajagopalachari, the first and only Indian Governor-General of independent India, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23 February 2026, replacing the bust of architect Edwin Lutyens.

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🏆 International Awards 📍 Manipur Important

Manipuri film 'Boong' wins BAFTA for Best Children's & Family Film

'Boong', a Manipuri-language film directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, won the Children's & Family Film award at the 79th BAFTA Film Awards at the Royal Festival Hall, London, on 22 February 2026 — the first Indian film to win in this category.

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🎓 Social Justice & Welfare 📍 Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand Governor Gurmit Singh inaugurates 30th Divya Kala Mela in Dehradun

Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Gurmit Singh inaugurated the 30th Divya Kala Mela, a fair of products by Divyang artisans and entrepreneurs, at Rangers Ground, Dehradun, on 22 February 2026.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 Delhi

Vice President releases Shashi Tharoor's book on Sree Narayana Guru

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released Shashi Tharoor's book 'The Sage who Reimagined Hinduism: The Life, Lessons and Legacy of Sree Narayana Guru' at the India International Centre, New Delhi, on 19 February 2026.

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📅 Important Days & Themes 📍 Maharashtra

PM pays tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his Jayanti

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his Jayanti on 19 February 2026, calling him a visionary leader, exceptional administrator, strategic thinker and champion of Swarajya.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 West Bengal

Amit Shah addresses 152nd birth anniversary celebrations of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur in Nadia

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the 152nd birth anniversary celebrations of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur as chief guest in Nadia, West Bengal, on 18 February 2026.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 Delhi Important

President Murmu inaugurates centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script in New Delhi

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Centenary Celebration of the Ol Chiki script, organised by the Ministry of Culture, in New Delhi on 16 February 2026.

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🌟 Persons in News 📍 India Important

Sant Sevalal Maharaj's 287th birth anniversary observed; PM pays tribute, Telangana announces Banjara shrine in Nallamala

Sant Sevalal Maharaj, the revered spiritual leader of the Banjara community, was remembered on his 287th birth anniversary on 15 February 2026, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying tribute to him as a great social reformer.

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🎭 Festivals & Events 📍 Gujarat

Amit Shah joins Mahashivratri Maha Aarti of the Shiv Parivar at Sursagar Lake, Vadodara

Union Home Minister Amit Shah took part in the Maha Aarti of the Shiv Parivar on Mahashivratri in Vadodara, Gujarat, on 15 February 2026, before the idol of Sarveshwar Mahadev in Sursagar Lake.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 Delhi Important

Department of Posts releases a set of 8 commemorative stamps on 'Puppets of India'

The Department of Posts released a set of eight commemorative postage stamps on 'Puppets of India' at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on 13 February 2026.

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🌟 Persons in News 📍 India Important

PM Modi pays homage to Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati on his birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati on his birth anniversary on 12 February 2026, recalling his contributions to education, Indian culture and social reform.

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🎭 Heritage & UNESCO 📍 Gujarat Important

Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha return to India after week-long exposition in Colombo

The Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha returned to India from Colombo on 11 February 2026 after their first-ever international exposition, which drew over one million devotees.

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🎭 Festivals & Events 📍 Chhattisgarh Important

Bastar Pandum 2026 concludes in Jagdalpur with 55,000 tribal participants across 12 categories

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the closing ceremony of Bastar Pandum 2026, a festival of Bastar's tribal culture, in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, on 9 February 2026.

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🎭 Festivals & Events 📍 Chhattisgarh

President Murmu inaugurates Bastar Pandum 2026 in Jagdalpur

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Bastar Pandum 2026, a festival of Bastar's tribal culture, at Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, on 7 February 2026.

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