Current Affairs One - Liner : 12th March 2026

National:

• The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi cleared ₹8.8 lakh crore infra projects across rail, road, and water sectors. Railways: Santragachi–Kharagpur (₹2,905 cr) and Sainthia–Pakur (₹1,569 cr) 4th line projects to ease congestion. Roads: MP 4‑lane corridor (₹3,839 cr) and Jewar Airport–Faridabad elevated road for faster connectivity. Water Infra: Major expansion of Jal Jeevan Mission, ensuring rural drinking water supply.

• Coursera has recently partnered with India's Mission Karmayogi to upskill civil servants and government officials. This collaboration was announced around March 10-11, 2026, and aims to enhance professional competencies through online learning.
• On March 13, 2026, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) approved ₹117.54 crore for renovation of the historic Bascule Bridge in Kolkata, West Bengal, to modernize infrastructure while preserving heritage.
• PM Narendra Modi attended the Golden Jubilee Sammelan of Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha in Kochi on 11 March 2026; announced ₹1,400 crore for Kerala under Matsya Sampada Yojana and emphasized fishermen’s role in building Viksit Bharat.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced on 11 March 2026 that its 32 member countries will release a record 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves to counter supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict, particularly the Iran war. This is the largest collective release in IEA history, more than double the emergency drawdown after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• Gujarat has launched the “Lake and Air Watch” initiative in March 2026 to monitor and improve lake health and air quality across urban areas using satellite technology and real-time AQI systems. It will cover 17 municipal corporations and 152 municipal areas, making it one of India’s largest tech-driven environmental monitoring programs.

Banking:

• Axis Bank and Max Life Insurance have partnered with Saarathi Finance to provide Group Credit Life Insurance for MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises). This initiative is designed to protect entrepreneurs and small business owners by covering outstanding loans in case of unforeseen events, thereby strengthening financial security in the MSME sector.
• PayU has partnered with GoKwik to launch India’s first integrated C2C (Checkout-to-Credit) stack for D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) brands, announced in March 2026. This collaboration aims to streamline payments, boost conversions, and provide embedded credit solutions for online-first businesses.

Economy:

• Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami presented a ₹1.11 lakh crore budget for FY 2026–27 (FY27) on March 9, 2026, at Gairsain. The budget emphasizes the GYAN model—focusing on the welfare of the poor, youth, farmers, and women—with a projected revenue surplus of ₹2,536 crore and fiscal deficit under 3%.
• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced in the Lok Sabha that India’s food grain production has increased by about 44% in the last 10 years, reaching a record level of 357 million tonnes. He highlighted that India has now surpassed China to become the world’s largest producer of rice.

MoUs:

• The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Indo‑Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in March 2026 at New Delhi. The aim was to strengthen India–Canada business collaboration, focusing on trade, investment, MSMEs, startups, and education.
• On 12 March 2026, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Alliance for Technical and International (GATI) Foundation in New Delhi. The aim was to strengthen global skill mobility and create structured overseas employment opportunities for Indian workers.

Science & Technology:

• On 10 March 2026, doctors at the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, performed the world’s first precision glaucoma surgery using the Hydrus Microstent, guided by real-time intraoperative aqueous angiography. This breakthrough marks a major advancement in minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS).

Reports:

• Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh released the report titled “Mapping of Textile Waste Value Chain in India” on 10 March 2026 at Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi. The report highlights that India generates about 70.73 lakh tonnes of textile waste annually, with more than 95% of pre-consumer waste recovered and the spinning sector achieving nearly 100% circular reintegration.

Sports:

• India’s women’s hockey team has officially qualified for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 after topping Pool B in the qualifiers held in Hyderabad (March 2026). They secured their spot with 7 points from three matches, including a dominant 4–1 win over Wales, and will now face Italy in the semifinals.

Defence:

• DRDO and the Indian Navy have successfully conducted four in-flight release trials of the indigenous Air Droppable Container (ADC-150) from the Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft off the coast of Goa between February 21 and March 1, 2026. The ADC-150, designed to carry a 150 kg payload.
• On March 10, 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the ‘Defence Forces Vision 2047’ roadmap prepared by HQ Integrated Defence Staff, aiming to make India’s military future‑ready with focus on jointness, advanced technologies (AI, cyber, space), self‑reliance in defence production, and positioning India as a net security provider by 2047.

Apps & Portals:

• The Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) launched the Swachhata Monitoring & Automated Reporting Tool (SMART) on 11 March 2026 to strengthen sanitation and civic service monitoring. This digital platform enables real-time tracking, automated reporting, and AI-enabled analytics, making sanitation oversight more transparent and efficient.

Important Days:

• World Kidney Day 2026 was observed globally on 12 March 2026 with the theme “Kidney Health for All – Caring for People, Protecting the Planet.” It marked the 20th anniversary of this international campaign, focusing on awareness, prevention, and sustainability in kidney health.

Obituaries:

• Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Biren Singh Engti passed away on March 10, 2026, in Guwahati. He was a prominent figure from Assam’s hill districts, remembered for his long parliamentary career and service as Union Minister of State.

Questions:

Q.1 Which state launched the “Lake and Air Watch” initiative in March 2026?
a) Maharashtra
b) Gujarat
c) Karnataka
d) Tamil Nadu

Answer: b) Gujarat launched the Lake and Air Watch programme using satellite monitoring and real-time AQI systems to track environmental health.

Q.2 The world’s first precision glaucoma surgery using Hydrus Microstent was performed at which hospital?
a) AIIMS Delhi
b) Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi
c) Safdarjung Hospital
d) PGIMER Chandigarh

Answer: b) Doctors at Army Hospital (Research and Referral) performed the world’s first precision glaucoma surgery using Hydrus Microstent guided by real-time angiography.