Current Affairs One - Liner : 3rd March 2026

March 03, 2026
National:
  • On 1 March 2026, Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the ₹60‑crore Central Facility for Recombinant Cells and Sensors at BRIC‑RGCB, Kerala, boosting drug discovery, genomics, agriculture research, and India’s $300‑billion bioeconomy goal.
Current Affairs One - Liner : 3rd March 2026
  • In March 2026, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) announced three festivals to highlight tribal heritage. The Tribes Art Fest (3–13 March, New Delhi) will showcase tribal paintings, the Living Roots Festival (13–15 March, Bikaner House) will celebrate tribal music, and the Bharat Tribes Fest (mid–late March) will focus on tribal culture, commerce, and entrepreneurship. Together, these events aim to preserve traditions and empower tribal communities.
  • Holi 2026 is celebrated on 2 March (Phalguna Purnima). The festival begins with Holika Dahan on the night before, symbolizing victory of good over evil. On the next day, Rangwali Holi is celebrated with colours, songs, and festive foods like gujiya and thandai.
  • On 25 February 2026, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi signed a Framework for Action (FFA) in New Delhi. The partnership aims to advance solar skills across 120+ ISA member countries by training renewable energy engineers, Solar Technology Application Resource-Centre (STAR-C) trainers, and researchers.
  • On 1 March 2026 in New Delhi, Bharti Airtel and Google announced a partnership to launch secure RCS messaging in India. The service integrates Google Messages with Airtel’s AI-powered spam filtering and sender verification. It aims to curb spam, phishing, and malicious links, enhancing user safety.
  • India and Japan have renewed their Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) effective 28 February 2026, keeping the facility size unchanged at USD 75 billion. This two-way currency swap strengthens financial safety nets and deepens cooperation between the Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Japan.
  • Bose Institute (India) & Rutgers University (USA), 2025 — challenged the 50‑year‑old σ‑cycle model of bacterial gene regulation, showing sigma factors can remain bound during transcription.
International:
  • In Feb 2026, India and the European Union agreed under their draft FTA to grant each other Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for five years. This ensures equal, non‑discriminatory trade treatment between the two partners. The move is expected to boost bilateral trade, especially in IT, textiles, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and automobiles.
Banking:
  • RBI has imposed a ₹11.50 lakh penalty on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd. The action was taken on 27 February 2026 after inspection of FY25 operations. Violations included unfair foreclosure charges and lapses in grievance redressal. The penalty was levied under provisions of the RBI Act, 1934.
MoUs:
  • On 26–27 February 2026, HCLTech and IIT Kanpur signed an MoU at IIT Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The partnership aims to drive deep tech innovation for Global Capability Centers (GCCs) by turning academic research into enterprise pilots and scalable solutions. With a focus on AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and next‑generation technologies, the initiative will help GCCs access advanced labs and niche skills.
  • Nagaland Signs MoU with IMD India and the European Union signed an agreement on 27 February 2026 to grant each other Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status. The arrangement will remain valid for five years under the new India–EU Free Trade Agreement. MFN ensures equal trade treatment and prevents discriminatory tariffs or restrictions.to Boost Weather Forecasting
Important Days:
  • Zero Discrimination Day 2026 was observed on 1 March with the theme “People First.” The campaign, led by UNAIDS, focused on ending HIV‑related stigma and discrimination, highlighting that dignity and equal rights must be at the center of all policies and actions.
  • World Civil Defence Day 2026 was observed on 1 March with the theme “Managing Environmental Risks for a Resilient and Sustainable Future.” It emphasizes the role of civil defence in tackling environmental challenges and building disaster‑resilient communities.
Books:
  • Mansukh Mandaviya released the book “Mahatma: A Great Communicator” on 2 March 2026 at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat, New Delhi. It is authored by Dr. Dhiraj Kakadia, Additional DG of Akashvani. The book highlights Mahatma Gandhi’s communication skills in mobilizing masses during the freedom struggle.
Obituaries:
  • On 3 March 2026, veteran Congress leader KP Unnikrishnan, a six‑time MP from Vadakara and former Union Minister in the V.P. Singh Cabinet, passed away at 89 in Kozhikode, marking the end of a political era in Kerala.
  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, was killed on Saturday, 28 February 2026 in joint US–Israeli airstrikes on Tehran. His death was confirmed by Iranian state media on 1 March 2026, triggering a formal succession process and a 40‑day mourning period.

Questions:

Q.1 Who authored the book Mahatma: A Great Communicator?
a) Rajiv Malhotra
b) Dhiraj Kakadia
c) Ramachandra Guha
d) Shashi Tharoor

Answer: b) The book Mahatma: A Great Communicator was written by Dhiraj Kakadia, Additional Director General of Akashvani, and released by Mansukh Mandaviya on 2 March 2026 at Gandhi Darshan.

Q.2 Which institutions challenged the 50-year-old σ-cycle model of bacterial gene regulation?
a) IISc and Harvard University
b) Bose Institute and Rutgers University
c) IIT Delhi and MIT
d) TIFR and Stanford University

Answer: b) Researchers from Bose Institute (India) and Rutgers University (USA) challenged the traditional σ-cycle model.

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