Current Affairs 13 March 2026
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PM Modi Addresses iTV Network’s NXT Summit on “Viksit Bharat”
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the iTV Network NXT Summit, marking the historic anniversary of the Dandi March. (12 March 1930)
PM Modi visit to Assam
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam on 13–14 March 2026 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth over ₹47,600 crore across Kokrajhar, Guwahati, and Silchar.
Key Highlights
- Assam Mala 3.0
- Investment: ₹3,200 crore
- Construction of 900 km of roads to improve inter-state connectivity and link national highways with rural roads.
- Shillong–Silchar Corridor
- First access-controlled Greenfield four-lane high-speed corridor in Northeast India.
- Length: 166 km
- Cost: ₹22,860 crore
PM Modi Visit to West Bengal
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on 14 March 2026 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth around ₹18,680 crore in Kolkata.
Key Highlights
Foundation stone for Kharagpur–Moregram Economic Corridor
- Length: 231 km
- Will reduce travel distance by about 120 km and save 7–8 hours of travel time.
- Connects districts such as Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad.
Motion to remove the Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla delivered a statement in the House after the discussion on a motion to remove the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in March 2026. The House held more than 12 hours of discussion on the resolution, marking the third no-confidence motion against a Lok Sabha Speaker in India’s parliamentary history. In his address, Om Birla emphasized that the Speaker’s chair represents the dignity of India’s democratic institutions and must function with impartiality, discipline, and adherence to parliamentary rules.
Freedom of speech in Parliament under Article 105(1) of the Constitution is subject to the rules and procedures of the House, and Members of Parliament must follow the prescribed parliamentary norms while speaking. Maintaining order, decorum, and democratic traditions in Parliament is the collective responsibility of both the Treasury Benches and the Opposition.
📌 Treasury Bench in Indian Parliament?
Nuclear Agricultural Technologies
Nuclear techniques are used in agriculture to improve crop productivity, soil management, pest control, and food safety. Major nuclear agricultural technologies include:
| Nuclear Technology | Purpose / Application |
|---|---|
| Mutation Breeding (Gamma Irradiation) | Develops improved crop varieties with higher yield, disease resistance, and climate tolerance. |
| Isotope Tracer Techniques | Studies nutrient uptake, soil–water–plant interactions, and fertilizer efficiency. |
| Food Irradiation | Uses radiation to eliminate microbes, pests, and parasites in food, increasing shelf life and safety. |
| Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) | Controls harmful insect populations by releasing radiation-sterilized insects. |
| Radiometric Soil Analysis | Helps analyze soil moisture and nutrient dynamics for better soil management. |
| Radiation Processing of Seeds | Improves seed traits such as drought tolerance and disease resistance. |
| Nuclear Imaging in Plant Research | Tracks movement of nutrients and water inside plants. |
Context
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is promoting the adoption of nuclear agricultural technologies in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and research institutions to enhance farmers’ income and national food security. Recently, The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) developed Trombay Crop Varieties using gamma irradiation. This process is called Mutation Breeding Programme.
Rare Earth Reserves in India
India possesses the third-largest rare earth resources in the world, according to the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries (2025). The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, under the Department of Atomic Energy, has identified about 7.23 million tonnes of Rare Earth Oxide (REO) equivalent contained in 13.15 million tonnes of monazite deposits.
These deposits are mainly found in coastal sands of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, as well as inland deposits in Jharkhand and West Bengal.
A Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Plant is also being planned in Visakhapatnam to support atomic energy and defence sectors.
Deep Sea Mining in India
India is advancing deep-sea exploration and mining technologies under the Deep Ocean Mission, launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. One of the major milestones is the development of the MATSYA‑6000, a human submersible designed to reach 6,000 metres depth with three aquanauts for deep-sea exploration and mining.
This submersible is being developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai.
Under the mission, India has conducted deep-sea biodiversity surveys, discovering 1,845 deep-sea microbes and documenting 195 species from 25 seamounts in the Lakshadweep and Andaman–Nicobar regions. Researchers have also identified two active and two inactive hydrothermal vents on the Indian Ocean seabed.
Additionally, the SAHAV Portal was launched in 2025 to provide real-time ocean data for climate forecasting, marine resource monitoring, and disaster early warning.
National SC-ST Hub Scheme (NSSH)
The National SC-ST Hub Scheme (NSSH) is a Government of India initiative designed to support entrepreneurs belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) so that they can start or expand Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs).
Under the Public Procurement Policy for MSEs, government ministries, departments, and public sector undertakings must purchase at least 25% of their total goods and services from MSEs. Within this, 4% of the procurement is specifically reserved for enterprises owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs. The NSSH scheme helps SC/ST entrepreneurs become capable suppliers to the government.
To support them financially, the scheme provides a Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy.
- SC/ST entrepreneurs who take institutional loans (from banks or financial institutions) to buy machinery, plant, or equipment can receive a subsidy of up to ₹25 lakh.
- This subsidy reduces the financial burden of purchasing modern machinery, helping businesses improve productivity and competitiveness.
The National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC), a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, implementing this scheme.
AAHAR 2026
The AAHAR 2026, the 40th edition of Asia’s leading food and hospitality trade exhibition, was held from 10–14 March 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event brought together nearly 1,800 exhibitors from India and abroad, showcasing products such as processed foods, beverages, dairy products, bakery items, and agri-produce.
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