UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Wed, 01 Apr 2026
Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth becomes Vice Chief; new chiefs for Western, Eastern and Southern Commands
On 1 April 2026 Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth took over as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, while Lt Gens Pushpendra Pal Singh, VMB Krishnan and Sandeep Jain took command of the Western, Eastern and Southern Commands.
Defence Ministry fully utilises ₹1.86 lakh crore capital budget for FY 2025-26
The Ministry of Defence fully utilised its capital outlay of ₹1.86 lakh crore for the Defence Services in FY 2025-26 at Revised Estimates, it said on 1 April 2026.
Chanchal Kumar takes charge as Secretary, Information and Broadcasting
Chanchal Kumar, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, assumed charge as Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on 1 April 2026, succeeding Sanjay Jaju.
RoSCTL scheme for apparel and made-ups exports extended to 30 September 2026
The Ministry of Textiles on 1 April 2026 notified the extension of the RoSCTL scheme for apparel and made-ups exports up to 30 September 2026, with RoDTEP also continued for other textile products.
Tue, 31 Mar 2026
CBDT signs record 219 Advance Pricing Agreements in FY 2025-26; total crosses 1,000
The CBDT signed a record 219 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in FY 2025-26, taking the total since the programme began to 1,034.
FIFA World Cup 2026 line-up complete: Iraq take 48th and final spot; Italy miss out
On 31 March 2026 Iraq beat Bolivia 2-1 in Monterrey to become the 48th and final team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, Sweden, Türkiye and DR Congo also qualified, while Italy missed out.
CBIC removes ₹10 lakh cap on courier export consignments from 1 April 2026
Following a Union Budget 2026-27 announcement, CBIC removed the ₹10 lakh per-consignment cap on courier exports with effect from 1 April 2026.
Defence Ministry signs ₹1,950 crore contract with BEL for two Mountain Radars for IAF
On 31 March 2026 the Ministry of Defence signed a contract of about ₹1,950 crore with BEL for two DRDO-designed Mountain Radars for the Indian Air Force.
India tops the world in Nagoya Protocol compliance certificates with over 56% share
As of March 2026, India had issued 3,561 of the world's 6,311 Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) under the Nagoya Protocol – over 56%.
Mon, 30 Mar 2026
Census 2027: first digital census with self-enumeration; Phase I begins 1 April 2026
The Registrar General announced on 30 March 2026 that Census 2027 – India's first digital census with a self-enumeration option – would begin its first phase (House Listing) from 1 April 2026.
WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) concludes in Yaoundé, Cameroon
The 14th Ministerial Conference of the WTO concluded in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 30 March 2026; India, led by Piyush Goyal, did not agree to incorporating the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement.
Industrial output (IIP) grows 5.2% in February 2026; manufacturing up 6.0%
According to the Quick Estimate released on 30 March 2026, India's Index of Industrial Production grew 5.2% year-on-year in February 2026, led by 6.0% growth in manufacturing.
Former Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi dies at 67
Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of Suriname from 2020 to 2025 and a leader of Indian origin who took his oath in Sanskrit, died suddenly on 30 March 2026 aged 67.
Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2026 notified for faster operationalisation of mines
The Ministry of Mines on 30 March 2026 notified the Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2026, allowing exclusion of non-feasible portions of blocks and introducing a unified mining portal.
Mineral Concession (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 allow contiguous area and associated minerals in leases
The Ministry of Mines on 30 March 2026 notified the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026, allowing one-time addition of contiguous area to deep-seated mineral leases and inclusion of associated minerals.
MeitY approves 29 more ECMS proposals worth ₹7,104 crore, incl. India's first rare earth magnet plant
On 30 March 2026 MeitY approved 29 more proposals under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme with projected investment of ₹7,104 crore and 14,246 direct jobs.
Green ammonia purchase and supply agreements exchanged for fertiliser sector under Green Hydrogen Mission
On 30 March 2026 SECI, industry and fertiliser companies exchanged 10-year Green Ammonia Purchase and Supply Agreements under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, covering about 7.24 lakh tonnes per annum.
CSIR transfers indigenous bio-bitumen technology that turns crop residue into road binder
On 30 March 2026 Dr Jitendra Singh said bio-bitumen from crop residue, using technology by CSIR-CRRI and CSIR-IIP, could save India about ₹40,000 crore of imports a year.
Record 30 mineral blocks operationalised in FY 2025-26
The Ministry of Mines said on 30 March 2026 that a record 30 mineral blocks were operationalised in FY 2025-26, the highest ever in a single year.
Sun, 29 Mar 2026
Mann Ki Baat 132nd episode: Gyan Bharatam manuscript survey, water conservation, sports achievers
In the 132nd episode of Mann Ki Baat on 29 March 2026, PM Modi urged people to join the Gyan Bharatam Survey of manuscripts and highlighted water conservation, sports achievers and community seed banks.
Jannik Sinner wins Miami Open 2026, completes 'Sunshine Double' without dropping a set
On 29 March 2026 Jannik Sinner beat Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to win the Miami Open and become the first man to complete the Indian Wells–Miami 'Sunshine Double' without dropping a set.
Piyush Goyal meets EU, UK, Canada and New Zealand trade ministers at WTO MC14
On 29 March 2026, on the sidelines of WTO MC14 in Yaoundé, Piyush Goyal met trade ministers of the EU, UK, Canada and New Zealand to review India's FTAs and trade talks.
Emmanuel Grégoire elected Mayor of Paris, succeeding Anne Hidalgo
On 29 March 2026 the Paris city council elected Emmanuel Grégoire as Mayor of Paris with 103 votes, succeeding Anne Hidalgo.
Vice President addresses National Consultation 2026 on Tele-Law under DISHA scheme
On 29 March 2026 Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan addressed the National Consultation 2026 on the Tele-Law initiative of the DISHA scheme, organised by the Ministry of Law and Justice in New Delhi.
Sat, 28 Mar 2026
Aryna Sabalenka beats Coco Gauff to win Miami Open 2026 and complete 'Sunshine Double'
On 28 March 2026 world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to retain the Miami Open and become only the fifth woman to complete the Indian Wells–Miami 'Sunshine Double'.
Nominations open for Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2026 in four categories
On 28 March 2026 the government opened nominations for the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2026 on the awards.gov.in portal till 11 May 2026, in four categories including Vigyan Ratna.
Rajnath Singh chairs first meeting of Informal Group of Ministers on West Asia situation
On 28 March 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the first meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers set up to monitor the West Asia situation and its impact on India.
Fri, 27 Mar 2026
Balendra Shah sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal
On 27 March 2026 Rastriya Swatantra Party leader and former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah was sworn in as Nepal's 43rd Prime Minister by President Ramchandra Paudel; PM Modi congratulated him.
Centre cuts excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 a litre; pump prices unchanged
On 27 March 2026 the Centre cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre to offset oil companies' losses as crude rose from about $70 to $122 a barrel; retail prices were kept unchanged.
DAC clears proposals worth ₹2.38 lakh crore, including S-400 and Medium Transport Aircraft
On 27 March 2026 the Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Rajnath Singh granted Acceptance of Necessity for proposals worth about ₹2.38 lakh crore for the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard.