Current Affairs 20 March 2026

Lok Sabha Passes ₹53 Lakh Crore Demands for Grants Using Guillotine (2026–27)

The Lok Sabha approved Demands for Grants worth over ₹53 lakh crore for various Ministries for the financial year 2026–27.

• The approval was done using the ‘guillotine’ procedure, which allows passage of remaining demands without detailed discussion due to time constraints.
• Only Agriculture and Railways Ministries were discussed in detail before applying the guillotine.
• The move ensures timely passage of budgetary allocations and continuation of government expenditure.
• The debate highlighted issues like natural farming, Minimum Support Price, irrigation projects, and fertiliser usage.

UNIGME Report 2025 (Levels and Trends in Child Mortality)

Our Country Shows Steady Progress in Reducing Child Mortality: UN Report 2025

• According to the UNIGME Report 2025 (Levels and Trends in Child Mortality), India has made significant progress in reducing child deaths.
• India’s Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) declined from 127 (1990) to 27 per 1,000 live births (2024).
• The Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) also reduced from 57 (1990) to 17 (2024).
• Globally, 4.9 million children under five died in 2024, with 2.3 million newborn deaths.
• Major causes include preterm birth complications, infections (malaria, pneumonia), and malnutrition.
• Despite progress, global reduction pace has slowed since 2015.

India Bioeconomy Report (IBER) 2026

India’s Bio-economy Grows to $195 Billion, Targets $300 Billion by 2030

• India’s bioeconomy expanded from $10 billion (2014) to $195 billion (2025), showing rapid growth.
• The sector recorded an annual growth rate of 17–18%, emerging as a major global biotech hub.
• It contributes around 4.8–5% to India’s GDP, according to the India Bioeconomy Report (IBER) 2026.
• The government aims to achieve a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030.
• The BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) will promote sustainable biomanufacturing.
• Over 11,800 biotech startups are driving innovation in healthcare, agriculture, and climate solutions.
• A ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund supports research, innovation, and commercialization in biotechnology.

RELIEF Scheme to Support Exporters Amid West Asia Crisis

Government Launches RELIEF Scheme to Support Exporters Amid West Asia Crisis (2026)

• The Union Government approved RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
• The scheme aims to support exporters affected by logistics disruptions in West Asia, especially around the Strait of Hormuz.
• It addresses issues like increased freight costs, insurance premiums, and war-related risks.
• Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd. has been designated as the nodal implementing agency.
• Key benefits include:
  • 100% additional risk coverage for affected shipments (Feb 14 – Mar 15, 2026)
  • Up to 95% coverage for upcoming exports (Mar 16 – Jun 15, 2026)
  • Up to 50% reimbursement (max ₹50 lakh) for MSME exporters without insurance
• The scheme has a financial outlay of ₹497 crore.
• It aims to protect exports, prevent order cancellations, and ensure trade continuity.

NITI Aayog Report on Sports Equipment Sector Export Potential

• NITI Aayog released a report titled “Realising the Export Potential of India’s Sports Equipment Manufacturing Sector.”
• India currently exports $275 million worth of sports equipment, holding only 0.5% share in global exports.
• The global sports equipment market is valued at $140 billion (2024) and is expected to reach $283 billion by 2036.
• India’s manufacturing is MSME-driven (about 90%), with major clusters in Jalandhar and Meerut.
• The report identifies challenges like high costs, weak global branding, and limited technology access.
• It recommends ₹7,500 crore investment (2027–31) to boost competitiveness.
• India’s exports could grow to $8.1 billion by 2036, increasing global share to 11%.
• The sector has the potential to create 54 lakh jobs.

22nd Instalment of PM-KISAN Released

22nd Instalment of PM-KISAN Released: ₹18,640 Crore to 9.32 Crore Farmers

• The Government released the 22nd instalment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on March 13, 2026.
• Around ₹18,640 crore was transferred to 9.32 crore farmers, including 2.15 crore women beneficiaries.
• Each eligible farmer receives ₹6,000 annually in three instalments via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• Since launch (2019), over ₹4.27 lakh crore has been disbursed, making it one of the world’s largest DBT schemes.
• The scheme uses Aadhaar authentication, digitised land records, and e-KYC for transparency.
• Impact studies by NITI Aayog and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) show increased farm income and reduced dependence on informal credit.