UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs One-liners — Last 12 months

Thu, 19 Mar 2026

• Telecom subscription data released on 19 March 2026 show India had 1,314 million telephone subscribers and 1,052.72 million broadband subscribers on 31 January 2026, with overall tele-density (including M2M) of 92.22%.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026

• The Union Cabinet on 18 March 2026 approved the Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme for FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 with an outlay of ₹2,584.60 crore for about 1,500 MW of projects of 1–25 MW each.
• The Union Cabinet on 18 March 2026 approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) with an allocation of ₹33,660 crore to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks of 100–1,000 acres across the country.
• The Election Commission said on 18 March 2026 that over 25 lakh officials have been deployed for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, which have over 17.4 crore electors – nearly one official for every 70 electors.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced on 18 March 2026 that the ALMM Order has been expanded with ALMM List-III for solar ingots and wafers, mandatory for all projects from 1 June 2028.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 18 March 2026 approved MSP funding of ₹1,718.56 crore to the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) for the 2023-24 cotton season as direct price support to cotton farmers.
• Former Union Minister of State Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti assumed charge as Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) on 18 March 2026; former Amravati Mayor Kiran Umesh Mahalle joined as Member on 20 March.
• On 18 March 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, condemned attacks on Kuwait's sovereignty and said safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains the foremost priority.
• 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.

Tue, 17 Mar 2026

• The Election Commission of India said on 17 March 2026 that it has deployed 1,111 Central Observers — 557 general, 188 police and 366 expenditure — for Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and bye-elections in six states.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 17 March 2026, conveyed advance Eid greetings and agreed on the importance of safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
• The Agriculture Ministry told the Lok Sabha on 17 March 2026 that all 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations targeted under the central scheme have been registered as on 1 March 2026, including 1,175 FPOs with only women members.
• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj announced on 17 March 2026 that the Centre has released over ₹1,789 crore of Fifteenth Finance Commission untied grants to rural local bodies in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra.
• Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on 17 March 2026 thanked the crews of Indian-flagged LPG carriers MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi, which crossed the Strait of Hormuz with about 92,712 tonnes of LPG and reached Mundra and Kandla on 16 and 17 March.
• The National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 came into effect on 17 March 2026, introducing e-notices for unpaid tolls, a charge of twice the toll if not paid within 72 hours, and VAHAN-linked restrictions after 15 days.
• The keels of Yard 16402 and 16403, the second and third of six Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Indian Coast Guard, were laid at YMPL, Ratnagiri on 17 March 2026.
• The Ministry of Commerce and Industry told Parliament on 17 March 2026 that 1,02,054 of the 2,12,283 startups recognised by DPIIT as on 31 January 2026 have at least one woman director or partner.
• Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on 17 March 2026 launched India Post's 24 Speed Post, 48 Speed Post and 24 Speed Post Parcel services, offering guaranteed next-day or two-day delivery between six metro cities.
• President Droupadi Murmu on 17 March 2026 attended an event at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre to commemorate five billion meals served by the Akshaya Patra Foundation.

Mon, 16 Mar 2026

• India's total exports of goods and services during April–February 2025-26 are estimated at US$ 790.86 billion, 5.79% higher than a year earlier, the Commerce Ministry said on 16 March 2026.
• The Agriculture Ministry on 16 March 2026 released final estimates showing horticulture production of 3,707.38 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 and first advance estimates projecting 3,708.46 lakh tonnes for 2025-26.
• Approval has been granted for quantum teaching laboratories in 23 academic institutions under the National Quantum Mission, with 100 more under consideration, the Science Ministry said on 16 March 2026.
• The Centre on 16 March 2026 approved higher commission rates for Arthiyas and cooperative societies procuring wheat and paddy on its behalf from Rabi Marketing Season 2026-27, raising the Arthiya commission on wheat in Punjab and Haryana to ₹50.75 per quintal.
• The Periodic Labour Force Survey monthly bulletin released on 16 March 2026 shows urban unemployment for persons aged 15+ fell to 6.6% in February 2026 from 7.0% in January, while overall LFPR stayed at 55.9%.
• The Embassy of India in Tehran on 16 March 2026 advised all Indian nationals in Iran not to approach or try to cross any land border of Iran without prior and explicit coordination with the Embassy.
• Annual inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index rose to 2.13% (provisional) in February 2026 from 1.81% in January, the Commerce Ministry said on 16 March 2026.
• The Competition Commission of India held the 11th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law in New Delhi on 16 March 2026, with NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba as keynote speaker.

Sun, 15 Mar 2026

• The Election Commission of India on 15 March 2026 announced Assembly elections in four States and Puducherry, with polling from 9 to 29 April and counting on 4 May 2026.
• India's youth boxers ended the World Boxing Futures Cup 2026 in Bangkok, held from 8 to 15 March, with five medals, led by Chandrika Pujari's gold in the women's 51 kg category.
• Italy's Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in the Indian Wells final on 15 March 2026 to become only the third man, after Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, to win all six ATP Masters 1000 hard-court titles.