- On 21 March 2026, NITI Aayog sanctioned ₹1.55 crore to the RISE Centre (Rural Innovations, Incubation, Skilling, and Entrepreneurship) in Guntupalli, Andhra Pradesh. The announcement was made by NTR District Collector Dr. G. Lakshmisha, marking a major step toward the state’s vision of “One Family, One Entrepreneur.”
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- On 23 March 2026, L&T Finance Ltd. (formerly L&T Finance Holdings) became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. This marks a major step in integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into its core business strategy.
- On 24 March 2026, the Ministry of Railways (MoR) approved two major rail infrastructure projects worth ₹647.58 crore in Gujarat and Bihar to boost connectivity and ease congestion. The projects include a Rail‑over‑Rail flyover at Kosamba (Gujarat) and a new rail bypass at Bhagalpur (Bihar).
- Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy stated in the Rajya Sabha on 23 March 2026 that India possesses the world’s fifth‑largest coal reserves, sufficient to meet the country’s energy needs for the next 60–70 years, with coal currently accounting for about 74% of India’s electricity generation.
- On 24 March 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of seven empowered groups to address the long-term impacts of the ongoing West Asia conflict, focusing on energy security, supply chains, fertilisers, and inflation. These groups will coordinate strategies across ministries and states to mitigate disruptions caused by the war.
- On 23 March 2026, India and Iceland held their 4th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Reykjavík, led by Sibi George (India) and Martin Eyjólfsson (Iceland). The discussions reviewed bilateral ties, focusing on trade, India‑EFTA TEPA (effective 1 Oct 2025), renewable energy (especially geothermal), fisheries, and cultural exchanges.
- Entrepreneur Shova Rai from Sikkim was felicitated by the National Commission for Women (NCW) on 25 March 2026 during an awareness session in New Delhi. She was honored for her contributions to women empowerment, particularly in skill development and entrepreneurship.
- On 25 March 2026, Stuti Pradhan, a young leader from Sikkim, was selected to represent India at the World Youth Parliament. Her selection highlights India’s growing presence in global youth leadership forums. The World Youth Parliament brings together young voices worldwide to discuss peace, sustainability, and inclusive development.
- On 24 March 2026, the Supreme Court of India ruled that only individuals professing Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism can claim Scheduled Caste (SC) status. Those converting to other religions, such as Christianity or Islam, lose SC eligibility immediately.
- The Gujarat Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026 on 24 March 2026, making Gujarat the second state after Uttarakhand to adopt such a law. The bill establishes uniform rules for marriage, divorce, succession, and live‑in relationships, while explicitly banning polygamy. Scheduled Tribes have been exempted from its provisions, reflecting cultural sensitivities.
- India has officially approved its revised climate plan (Nationally Determined Contribution, NDC) for 2031–2035, committing to cut emissions intensity of GDP by 47% from 2005 levels, achieve 60% installed power capacity from non‑fossil sources, and create a carbon sink of 3.5–4.0 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent through forest and tree cover by 2035.
- On 23 March 2026, Vietnam and Russia signed an intergovernmental agreement to construct Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant, the Ninh Thuan 1 project, with a planned capacity of 2,400 MW. The deal was finalized during Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Moscow, in the presence of Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin.
- On 26 March 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injected ₹25,101 crore into the banking system through a variable rate repo auction. This move was aimed at easing liquidity pressures faced by banks and ensuring smooth credit flow. The auction was conducted under RBI’s Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) framework.
- On 23 March 2026, Svatantra Microfin, founded by Ananya Birla, completed its merger with Chaitanya India Fin Credit, creating India’s second-largest NBFC-MFI with ₹22,000 crore in assets under management. The consolidation marks a major shift in India’s microfinance sector, expanding reach and customer base.
- On 24 March 2026, Razorpay announced a partnership with Bengaluru-based AI startup Sarvam AI to launch voice-led, multilingual conversational commerce in India. This innovation allows users to search, order, and pay for products simply by speaking in natural language across multiple Indian languages, with the first rollout happening on Swiggy via the Indus App.
- On 24 March 2026, HDFC Securities launched NxtOption, a next‑generation platform designed to simplify advanced Futures & Options (F&O) trading for retail investors in India. The platform integrates analytics, strategy‑building, and execution into a single interface, making derivatives trading more accessible and efficient.
- Goldman Sachs on 24 March 2026 lowered India’s CY2026 GDP growth forecast to 5.9%, down from its earlier 7%. The downgrade was attributed to rising crude oil prices, Gulf conflict supply disruptions, and rupee depreciation. Inflation outlook was revised upward to 4.6%, with expectations of an RBI 50 bps rate hike.
- S&P Global bumped up its India FY27 GDP growth forecast to 7.1% on March 25, 2026, from 6.7% earlier. That's a 40 basis point hike, driven by solid private consumption, rising investments, and steady exports after Q3's 7.8% surge.
- On 24 March 2026, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presented a ₹1.03 lakh crore “Green Budget” for FY27, with major allocations for education, health, women’s welfare, and infrastructure. The budget marks a 3.7% increase over last year and emphasizes climate resilience, connectivity, and welfare schemes.
- On 25 March 2026 in New Delhi, the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare signed an MoU with BHASHINI to enable multilingual pension services. The initiative aims to make pension portals accessible in multiple Indian languages using AI translation tools. Pensioners will be able to access information, lodge grievances, and track services in their preferred language.
- The DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) signed an MoU with Blue Star Ltd. on 25 March 2026. The signing took place in New Delhi. Aim: To support product‑based startups in India’s manufacturing and innovation ecosystem. Blue Star will provide mentorship, incubation, and market access to emerging enterprises.
- On 25 March 2026, Chennai‑based startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully test‑fired the world’s first fully 3D‑printed booster engine “Agnite” at Sriharikota, Tamil Nadu. The engine is a single‑piece design with no joints, reducing weak points and improving reliability. This breakthrough allows manufacturing in under 72 hours, making rocket production faster and more cost‑effective.
- India won two bronze medals at the Asia Cup Archery Stage 1 (World Ranking Tournament) in Bangkok, Thailand on 25 March 2026. The Women’s Recurve Team (Ruma Biswas, Kirti, Ridhi) beat Malaysia 5–1 for bronze after topping qualifications but losing to China in the semis. The Men’s Compound Team (Rajat Chauhan, Uday Kamboj, Rishabh Yadav) edged Bhutan 234–232 for bronze after a narrow semifinal loss to Vietnam.
- On 23 March 2026, the Government of Uttar Pradesh launched the ‘Nivesh Mitra 3.0’ digital platform to enhance the investor experience in the state. It is a single-window clearance system designed to simplify approvals, permissions, and compliance for businesses.
- On 24 March 2026, the Ministry of Railways launched the PRISM-SG Portal to digitise and accelerate approval processes for road over bridges (ROBs) across India. The portal provides a single-window digital platform for submission, tracking, and clearance of proposals related to ROB construction.
- The Ministry of Rural Development’s new platform is officially called the Internal Audit Portal, launched on 23 March 2026 by MoRD and developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). It is designed to provide real‑time, centralized audit tracking across all rural development programmes.
- International Nowruz Day 2026 was celebrated worldwide on 21 March, marking the Persian New Year and the arrival of spring. Recognized by the United Nations since 2010, Nowruz is observed by over 300 million people across Central Asia, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and parts of South Asia.
- World Poetry Day 2026 was celebrated on 21 March, highlighting the power of poetry to inspire creativity, cultural dialogue, and peace. Recognized by UNESCO since 1999, the day honors poets and promotes reading, writing, and teaching of poetry worldwide.
- World Glacier Day 2026 was observed on 21 March with the theme “Beyond the Melt”, drawing urgent attention to the global cryosphere crisis. This year’s commemoration coincided with the release of alarming “tipping point” studies on the Hindu Kush Himalayas and the Andes.
- International Day of Forests 2026 was observed on 21 March with the theme “Forests and Innovation”, highlighting the role of technology and sustainable practices in protecting global forests. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2012, the day is coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to raise awareness about the importance of forests for biodiversity, climate, and livelihoods.
- Kompella Venkata Ramana Murty (K.V. Ramana Murty), a retired 1991‑batch Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) officer, has been appointed as a Whole‑Time Member of SEBI for a three‑year term starting March 25, 2026.
- OpenAI officially announced Kiran Mani’s appointment as its Asia-Pacific (APAC) Managing Director on 25 March 2026, with his role beginning in June 2026. He will be based in Singapore and report to Jason Kwon, OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer, with India positioned as a central hub for growth.
- Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder of Bharti Enterprises, will retire as Chair of Airtel Africa in July 2026 at the company’s Annual General Meeting. He will be succeeded by Gopal Vittal as Non‑Executive Chair, while Shravin Bharti Mittal will take over as Deputy Chair, ensuring continuity in leadership.
- Matt Brittin, former Google EMEA President, has been appointed as the BBC’s 18th Director‑General on 25 March 2026. He will formally assume office on 18 May 2026, succeeding Tim Davie, with Rhodri Talfan Davies serving as interim DG from 2 April until Brittin takes charge.
- On 23 March 2026, Chartered Accountant P.V. Narayana Rao was appointed as a Co‑opted Member of the Small & Medium Practices (SMP) and Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) Representation & Support Board (SRSB) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the year 2026–27.
- On March 26, 2026, veteran Malayalam actor and director E.A. Rajendran passed away at the age of 71. He died at his residence in Pattathanam, Kollam, after a prolonged illness related to age and diabetes.
- French former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, remembered as the architect of France’s 35‑hour work week, passed away on 22 March 2026 in Paris at the age of 88. He served as PM from 1997 to 2002 under President Jacques Chirac during a period of “cohabitation” and left a lasting mark on French politics.
Questions:
Q.1 S&P Global raised India’s FY27 GDP forecast to:a) 7.1%
b) 7.0%
c) 8.2%
d) 7.5%
Answer: a) S&P Global bumped up its India FY27 GDP growth forecast to 7.1% on March 25, 2026, from 6.7% earlier.
Q.2 India ranks which globally in coal reserves as stated in March 2026?
a) 2nd
b) 3rd
c) 5th
d) 7th
Answer: c) India has the 5th largest coal reserves, meeting energy needs for 60–70 years.
