Current Affairs One - Liner : 14th 15th & 16th March 2026

National:

• On 10 March 2026, Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil inaugurated the new office of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) at R.K. Puram, New Delhi. During the event, he launched NETRA, an AI‑enabled platform developed with the Indian Navy’s WESEE, along with the Rashtriya Bandh Suraksha Darpan visualization tool and a redesigned NDSA website.

• Effective 2 March 2026, GoI (through BIS) expanded mandatory gold hallmarking to 7 new districts—Rupnagar (Punjab), Banda (Uttar Pradesh), Beed (Maharashtra), Gomati (Tripura), Katihar (Bihar), Beawar (Rajasthan), and Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh)—taking the total to 380 districts under the 6th phase.
• India Post, in collaboration with the Annapurna Devi Foundation, released a special postal cover on 12 March 2026 at the Kolkata GPO to commemorate the birth centenary of Annapurna Devi (1927–2018), the legendary Surbahar maestro and daughter of Ustad Allauddin Khan.
• On 9–10 March 2026, IIT Guwahati hosted the Japan–North East Region Academia‑Industry Cooperation Symposium, where 22 institutions from Northeast India and Japan’s Gifu University signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to form an academic and research consortium. This collaboration aims to boost student exchange, joint research, and innovation in critical global areas.
• On March 12, 2026, the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) partnered with TraceXero Technologies to develop advanced Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies for the cement sector in India. The collaboration aims to reduce CO₂ emissions from cement manufacturing while creating new industrial value chains.
• On March 11–12, 2026, Hyderabad’s T-Hub partnered with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) to strengthen India–Japan collaboration in deep‑tech startups. The partnership builds a structured platform for cross‑border innovation, market access, and investor connections. It focuses on sectors like pharma, aerospace, defence, smart infrastructure, AI, and Industry 4.0.
• On March 11, 2026, the WHO Foundation and Novo Nordisk launched the Shine India initiative in New Delhi to fight childhood obesity. The program emphasizes school‑based health interventions. It aligns with India’s Ayushman Bharat School Health and Wellness Programme. It also supports WHO’s Health Promoting Schools framework to strengthen prevention and readiness.
• On 13 March 2026, the Lok Sabha approved the Second Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants (FY 2025–26). It authorised ₹2.81 lakh crore gross expenditure with a net cash outgo of ₹2.01 lakh crore. A total of 61 grants were passed, covering fertiliser subsidy, food subsidy, defence services, and other ministries.
• Project Great Indian Bustard (GIB) entered the fourth year of its captive breeding programme in March 2026, marking a major milestone with the hatching of two new chicks at the Conservation Breeding Centre in Rajasthan, raising the captive population to 70 individuals.
• India is preparing to launch a massive new semiconductor support fund worth over ₹1 lakh crore (~$11 billion) to boost domestic chipmaking, design, and supply chains. The initiative, expected to roll out within the next few months, builds on earlier semiconductor incentive programs and aims to make India a global hub for chip manufacturing by 2032.
• On 16 March 2026, a 58‑foot bronze statue of Potti Sriramulu was unveiled in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. It commemorates his historic fast‑unto‑death in 1952, which led to the creation of Andhra State. The statue is among the largest bronze monuments in India, symbolizing Telugu pride and linguistic reorganization.
• Shape of Momo (Nepali language, directed by Tribeny Rai) gained recognition at European film festivals in Russia, Italy, and the Netherlands in 2026. Screened at Spirit of Fire Festival (Russia) and C‑Movie Festival (Italy); Dutch premiere set for April 2026.
• On 14 March 2026, the Gujarat Government announced that it will develop 500 villages into dedicated Natural Farming Clusters, promoting chemical‑free agriculture and sustainable practices under a cluster‑based approach.

MoUs:

• On March 12, 2026, Oil India Limited (OIL) signed an MoU with the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) to upgrade healthcare in tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh. The initiative aims to improve access to medical services for underserved communities.
• On March 13, 2026, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed an MoU with the GATI Foundation in New Delhi. The partnership aims to strengthen global skill mobility by opening international job pathways for Indian youth. It focuses on aligning skill training and certifications with global standards.

Sports:

• On 14 March 2026, 16-year-old Mayank Chakraborty from Guwahati, Assam, became India’s 94th Chess Grandmaster. He secured his final GM norm at the Stockholm Chess Talents Tournament in Sweden, defeating IM Philip Lindgren in Round 8. This achievement made him the first-ever Grandmaster from North-East India, a historic milestone for the region.
• Andrea Kimi Antonelli, just 19 years old, stunned the Formula 1 world by winning the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on 15 March. He became the second-youngest F1 race winner in history and the first Italian to win in 20 years, delivering Mercedes a dominant 1–2 finish.

Military Exercises:

• Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR 2026 is the 16th edition of the India–US joint Special Forces drill, held from 23 February to 15 March 2026 at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. It focuses on enhancing interoperability, counter-terror capabilities, and advanced operational skills between the Indian Army’s Special Forces and the US Army’s Green Berets.

Important Days:

• International Day to Combat Islamophobia observed on 15 March 2026, established by UNGA in 2022 after Christchurch attack — promotes tolerance, interfaith dialogue, and global action against anti-Muslim prejudice.
• Pi Day 2026 was celebrated on Saturday, 14 March, coinciding with the International Day of Mathematics (IDM) recognized by UNESCO. The theme was “Mathematics and Hope”, highlighting how math and data help tackle global challenges like climate modeling and health systems, beyond the usual fun of circles and pies.
• National Vaccination Day 2026 was observed across India on Monday, 16 March 2026, marking the anniversary of the first Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) dose administered in 1995 under the Pulse Polio Programme. The theme for 2026 was “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible”, shifting the focus from infant care to universal access.

Appointments:

• José Antonio Kast was sworn in as the President of Chile on 11 March 2026 in Valparaíso, marking the country’s sharpest political shift to the right since the return to democracy in 1990. He succeeded Gabriel Boric after winning the December 2025 runoff election.
• On March 11, 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Kompella Venkata (KV) Ramana Murty as a Whole-Time Member (WTM) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• Arun Mammen (Vice Chairman & MD, MRF Ltd) was re-elected as Chairman of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) on 16 March 2026 — ATMA represents over 80% of India’s tyre production.
• Uniqlo named Jasprit Bumrah as its Brand Endorser for India on 16 March 2026 — campaign launched with LifeWear philosophy, featuring Bumrah in off-field moments wearing AIRism Oversized T-shirt.

Awards & Honours:

• The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) won the Governance Now 12th PSU National Award (Excellence in Innovation) for its “Dhwani Spandana” initiative, which helps visually impaired passengers identify and navigate buses independently. The system has been implemented in 200 Mysuru City Transport buses with support from GIZ Germany.

Obituaries:

• Former AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das passed away on 13 March 2026 at the age of 66. He served the All India Football Federation from 2010 to 2022 and was instrumental in bringing landmark events like the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 and the launch of the Indian Women’s League.
• Veteran Bollywood actress Madhu Malhotra passed away in Mumbai on 13 March 2026 at the age of 71. She was best known for her roles in films like Hero (1983) and Satte Pe Satta (1982), and remembered for her iconic appearance in the song “Lambi Judai.”
• Phil Campbell, legendary guitarist of Motörhead, died on 13 March 2026 at the age of 64 after complications from a major operation. His passing marks the end of an era for heavy metal, as he was the band’s longest-serving guitarist and a key figure in its sound.

Questions:

Q.1 Who became India’s 94th Chess Grandmaster (GM) and the first from North-East India in March 2026?
a) Mayank Chakraborty
b) R Praggnanandhaa
c) Nihal Sarin
d) Arjun Erigaisi

Answer: a) 16-year-old Mayank Chakraborty from Guwahati, Assam, became India’s 94th Chess Grandmaster.

Who was appointed as Whole-Time Member (WTM) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in March 2026?
a) Ajay Tyagi
b) Tuhin Kanta Pandey
c) K. V. Ramana Murty
d) Madhabi Puri Buch

Answer: c) Appointment approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) K. V. Ramana Murty as a Whole-Time Member (WTM) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).