Weekly Current Affairs (March 2026 – Week 2) – Exam Revision Notes
1) International Current Affairs
Nepal Elections – Rastriya Swatantra Party Victory
General elections held on 5 March 2026 to elect 275 House of Representatives members. Announced 12 September 2025 after youth protests led to PM K.P. Sharma Oli resignation.
• Rastriya Swatantra Party won landslide victory
• Balen Shah – PM candidate
• First majority in House since 1999
• Sushila Karki – Interim PM (currently serving)
Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Sharp decline in commercial ship traffic due to West Asia tensions (Iran, Israel, U.S.).
• Between Iran, Oman, UAE
• Only 33 km wide at narrowest point
• Connects Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea
• 20% world’s oil/gas shipments
• 40% India’s crude oil imports transit
• Major exporters: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran
• Qatar supplies half of India’s LNG imports (energy & fertilizer)
Mojtaba Khamenei – Iran’s New Supreme Leader
Iran’s Assembly of Experts (88-member clerical body) appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as new Supreme Leader following father Ali Khamenei’s death.
Role: Head of State, Commander-in-Chief Armed Forces, Ultimate authority over military/judiciary/policies.
India Diversifies Natural Gas Imports
Heavy reliance on Qatar (2nd after U.S.) for LNG. Prices increased from $6–8/MMBtu to ~$15/MMBtu, making distant imports viable.
MMBtu (Metric Million British Thermal Units) – measures energy content of fuels like natural gas.
2) National Current Affairs
New Kota Airport Foundation – Rajasthan
Foundation laid 7 March 2026 at Shambhupura near Kota. Greenfield airport. Cost: ~₹1,500 crore.
SHINE App for Women Employees (Indian Railways)
SHINE – Sexual Harassment Incident Notification for Empowerment. Mobile app enabling women employees to report workplace sexual harassment.
Rajasthan Scraps Two-Child Norm for Panchayati Raj
Assembly passed Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026, removing two-child norm for candidates. Removes disqualification for having more than two children.
Musi Riverfront Development Project – Telangana
Rejuvenate heavily polluted Musi River flowing through Hyderabad.
• River Length: ~260 km
• Flows 55 km through Hyderabad
• Originates: Ananthagiri hills, Vikarabad (confluence of Musa & Esi streams)
Fisheries Research Institutes
• Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) Mumbai (AP: Kakinada)
• Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) Kochi (AP: Visakhapatnam)
• Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) Kolkata
• Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) Kochi (AP: Visakhapatnam)
• Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) Bhubaneswar (AP: Vijayawada)
• Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) Chennai
• Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research (CICFR) Bhimtal
• National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) Lucknow
Chandigarh Fully Literate (99.93%)
Chandigarh achieved 99.93% literacy. 95% benchmark for “fully literate”. Under ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All) aligned with NEP 2020.
PM Modi iTV NXT Summit – Viksit Bharat
PM addressed iTV Network NXT Summit marking Dandi March anniversary (12 March 1930).
PM Modi Assam Visit (₹47,600 cr Projects)
Visit 13–14 March 2026. Inaugurated/laid foundation for projects worth ₹47,600+ crore.
• Assam Mala 3.0: ₹3,200 cr, 900 km roads, inter-state connectivity
• Shillong–Silchar Corridor: First access-controlled greenfield 4-lane high-speed in Northeast, 166 km, ₹22,860 cr
PM Modi West Bengal Visit (₹18,680 cr)
14 March 2026, Kolkata. Projects worth ~₹18,680 crore. Foundation for Kharagpur–Moregram Economic Corridor.
Bharat-VISTAAR Platform
Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources. AI-powered multilingual DPI for farmers. Budget 2026–27 allocation: ₹150 crore.
First Export GI-Tagged Joha Rice (Assam)
APEDA facilitated first export of 25 metric tonnes to UK and Italy on 12 March 2026.
Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot
Department of Telecommunications. Samriddhi Kendra in Umri village, Guna, MP (14 March). Minister: Jyotiraditya Scindia. One-stop hub: education, skill, agriculture, telemedicine, e-governance, finance, e-commerce, connectivity, safety.
3) Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs
Campbell Aqueduct (Puligadda) Structural Concerns
Located Krishna district. Structural deterioration after 89 years service. Inaugurated 25 August 1936 (colonial period). Bridge-cum-water carrier transporting canal water across drainage channels.
Milk Adulteration with Ethylene Glycol
Forensic confirmed ethylene glycol caused 10 deaths, 10 hospitalized (3 infants). Rajamahendravaram, East Godavari, February 2026.
• Colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting, highly toxic
• Organic chemical (C₂H₆O₂)
• Type: Organic alcohol (diol)
• Common use: Anti-freezing/coolant automobiles
Retaining Wall Project – Krishna River
Right bank near Seethanagaram, Tadepalli, Guntur. Prevent flooding low-lying areas. Cost: ₹294.20 crore.
Proton Accelerator Facility – Visakhapatnam
Union Government planning high-energy proton accelerator facility in Vizag. Part of long-term nuclear energy programme.
₹100 Crore Amusement Park & Resort – Visakhapatnam
AP Tourism MoU with Modern Masti Private Limited. Signed at IAAPI Expo-2026, Mumbai.
4) Economy Current Affairs
Finance Commission Grants to Urban Local Bodies
Urban centres generate ~67% GDP, ~90% government revenues. However, ULB devolution remains limited.
• 15th FC (2021–26): ₹1.2–1.3 lakh cr over 5 years
• 16th FC (2026–31): ₹3.56 lakh cr (~₹75,000 cr/year)
• Despite increase, share remains ~0.13% GDP (similar to previous FC)
Tied Grants & Conditions:
• Must be spent on: water, sanitation, wastewater
• 20% funds performance-based: fiscal discipline, audited accounts, regular elections, Own Source Revenue (property tax, user charges)
Credit Flow to Agriculture
Government measures to increase institutional credit, especially for small/marginal farmers.
• Collateral-Free Loan: ₹1.60L → ₹2L
• Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Expansion
• Interest Subvention Scheme
• Priority Sector Lending (PSL) Norms
• PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY)
• Support through NABARD
Cabinet Amends Rules on Investments from Land Border Countries
2020: Press Note 3 required prior approval for investments from land-border countries (prevent COVID-era takeovers).
Amendment: Introduces ‘beneficial ownership’. Investments with up to 10% non-controlling stake allowed under automatic route.
FCNR(B) Deposits
Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Banks) – NRIs maintain in foreign currency (USD, GBP, EUR, Yen) with Indian banks.
• In foreign currency (not INR)
• Exchange rate risk: bank bears, not depositor
• Maturity: 1–5 years
• Interest linked to international benchmarks
5) Schemes
Jal Jeevan Mission Extended till December 2028
PM Modi-chaired Cabinet approved extension & restructuring under JJM 2.0.
• Total Outlay: ₹8.69 lakh crore
• Central Assistance: ₹3.59 lakh cr
• Additional central share: ₹1.51 lakh cr
National SC-ST Hub Scheme (NSSH)
Support SC/ST entrepreneurs in Micro/Small Enterprises.
• Public Procurement: Government must buy 25% from MSEs
• Within that: 4% reserved for SC/ST enterprises
• Subsidy: Up to ₹25 lakh for institutional loans (machinery/plant/equipment)
6) Science & Technology
Natural Gas vs LPG
Natural Gas: Primarily methane (CH₄), transported via pipelines.
LPG: Liquefied Petroleum Gas (propane/butane), stored in cylinders.
Nuclear Agricultural Technologies
DAE promoting with SAUs. BARC developed Trombay Crop Varieties using gamma irradiation (Mutation Breeding Programme).
Peptide Therapy
Precision medicine role. Short amino acid chains acting as biological messengers regulating hormone release, metabolism, immune responses, tissue repair.
First Comprehensive Fireflies Checklist
Published in Zootaxa, 10 March 2026. Based on 260 years records (1881–2025). Scientific name: Lampyridae.
Rare Earth Reserves India
Third-largest globally (USGS 2025). Coastal sands: Kerala, TN, Odisha, AP, Maharashtra, Gujarat. Inland: Jharkhand, West Bengal.
Deep Sea Mining India
Deep Ocean Mission. MATSYA-6000 human submersible: 6,000m depth, 3 aquanauts, deep-sea exploration/mining.
7) Polity & Governance
Motion to Remove Lok Sabha Speaker
Constitutional Provision: Article 94(c)
Procedure:
• Written notice to Secretary-General
• 14 days’ notice before discussion
• 50 members support to admit
• Passed by majority of all LS members
• Rules 200–203 LS Rules
Historical: G.V. Mavalankar (1954), Hukum Singh (1966), Balram Jakhar (1987), Om Prakash Birla (2026)
Article 105(1): Freedom of speech in Parliament
Treasury Bench: Front-row seats right of Speaker (PM, Cabinet Ministers, ruling govt)
SC on Creamy Layer Status
Supreme Court: Parental income alone cannot determine “creamy layer” for OBC reservation. Clarified: Status-based, not purely income-based.
8) Defence
Exercise LAMITIYE-2026
11th edition joint military exercise. Indian Armed Forces with Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) in Seychelles.
9) Awards & Honours
Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025
• NTR National Award: Konidela Chiranjeevi
• Paidi Jairaj Award: Kamal Haasan
• C. Narayana Reddy Award: Suddala Ashok Teja
• Lifetime Honours: Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, Jayasudha
• Best Film: Raju Weds Rambai (Dir: Saailu Kaampati)
• Best Actor: Akkineni Naga Chaitanya (Thandel)
• Best Actress: Rashmika Mandanna (The Girlfriend)
• National Integration: Thandel
10) Ranks & Reports
First National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI) 2025–26
NHAI released first Annual Report. Scientific/quantitative assessment of green cover along NHs.
• ~30,000 km NHs analysed
• 24 States covered
• Period: July–December 2024
11) Person in News
Jose Antonio Kast – Chile President
Assumed office as President of Chile. Conservative political leader: economic liberalism, law & order, national security.
12) Important Days
International Women’s Day – 8 March 2026
Celebrate women’s achievements, promote gender equality.
Theme: “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
13) Sports
India Wins ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
India retained title, defeating New Zealand. Final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
• Player of Tournament: Sanju Samson (321 runs)
• Final MoM: Jasprit Bumrah (4/15 in 4 overs)
• Most Runs: Sahibzada Farhan (383 runs)
• Most Wickets: Jasprit Bumrah & Varun Chakravarthy (14 each)
Quick Revision Table
| Topic | Keyword / Fact |
|---|---|
| Nepal Elections | 5 Mar 2026 275 members • Rastriya Swatantra Party landslide • Balen Shah PM candidate • First majority 1999 • Sushila Karki interim PM • Youth protests Sep 2025 KP Sharma Oli resigned |
| Strait Hormuz | Iran Oman UAE • 33 km narrow • Persian Gulf Arabian Sea • 20% world oil/gas • 40% India crude oil • Qatar half LNG India energy fertilizer |
| Iran Supreme Leader | Mojtaba Khamenei • Assembly Experts 88-member • After father Ali death • Head State Commander Armed Forces ultimate authority |
| India LNG Diversify | Qatar reliance US 2nd • $6-8 to $15 per MMBtu • Metric Million British Thermal Units energy content |
| Kota Airport | Foundation 7 Mar 2026 Shambhupura Rajasthan • Greenfield ₹1,500 cr |
| SHINE App Railways | Sexual Harassment Incident Notification Empowerment • Women employees workplace harassment reporting |
| Rajasthan Two-Child | Panchayati Raj Amendment 2026 • Removed norm candidates • No disqualification more than two |
| Musi Riverfront | Telangana Hyderabad • 260 km 55 km Hyderabad • Ananthagiri Vikarabad Musa Esi confluence • Rejuvenate polluted |
| Chandigarh Literate | 99.93% fully literate • 95% benchmark • ULLAS Understanding Lifelong Learning NEP 2020 |
| PM Assam Visit | 13-14 Mar ₹47,600 cr • Assam Mala 3.0 ₹3,200 cr 900 km roads • Shillong-Silchar 166 km ₹22,860 cr first greenfield 4-lane Northeast |
| PM WB Visit | 14 Mar Kolkata ₹18,680 cr • Kharagpur-Moregram Economic Corridor foundation |
| Bharat-VISTAAR | Virtually Integrated System Access Agricultural Resources • AI multilingual DPI farmers • Budget 2026-27 ₹150 cr |
| Joha Rice Export | GI-tagged Assam • APEDA 25 MT UK Italy 12 Mar 2026 first |
| Campbell Aqueduct | Puligadda Krishna district • 89 years deterioration • 25 Aug 1936 colonial • Bridge-cum-water carrier |
| Ethylene Glycol AP | 10 deaths 10 hospitalized 3 infants • Rajamahendravaram Feb 2026 • C₂H₆O₂ organic diol colorless odorless sweet toxic anti-freeze coolant |
| Proton Accelerator Vizag | High-energy facility • Union Govt long-term nuclear energy programme |
| 16th FC ULB Grants | ₹3.56L cr 2026-31 ₹75,000 cr/year • 0.13% GDP tied grants water sanitation • 20% performance-based fiscal discipline audits elections OSR |
| JJM 2.0 Extended | Till Dec 2028 • Total ₹8.69L cr • Central ₹3.59L cr additional ₹1.51L cr |
| SC-ST Hub NSSH | Support SC/ST entrepreneurs MSEs • 25% procurement 4% SC/ST reserved • Subsidy ₹25L institutional loans machinery |
| MATSYA-6000 | Deep Ocean Mission • Human submersible 6,000m depth 3 aquanauts deep-sea exploration mining |
| LS Speaker Removal | Article 94c • 14 days notice 50 members • Majority all LS members • Rules 200-203 • Historical: Mavalankar 1954 Hukum 1966 Jakhar 1987 Birla 2026 |
| NH-GCI First Report | NHAI 2025-26 • 30,000 km NHs 24 states • July-Dec 2024 assessment green cover scientific quantitative |
| India T20 World Cup | Retained title vs NZ Ahmedabad • Sanju Samson 321 runs tournament • Bumrah 4/15 final MoM • Farhan 383 most runs • Bumrah Varun 14 wickets each |
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