Current Affairs One - Liner : 4th & 5th March 2026

National:

• In March 2026, NITI Aayog and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Phase II agreement to strengthen development in India’s aspirational districts. The pact focuses on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through targeted interventions in health, education, agriculture, skill development, and infrastructure.

• On 2 March 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) launched a 30 kW Wide Band Gap (WBG)-based Integrated Drive System (IDS) at IIT Madras. The system uses SiC and GaN semiconductors for higher efficiency, compact design, and better thermal management. It aims to reduce reliance on imported components, “de-risking” India’s EV industry.
• On 1 March 2026, India launched its first AI‑driven Skill Census “Saksham” in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), uses AI and geospatial tools to map the skill sets of India’s workforce. It aims to identify skill gaps, regional strengths, and future training needs across industries.
• On 2 March 2026, the Indian Navy signed a contract with Shoft Shipyard Pvt. Ltd., Thane, for the construction of four 500‑tonne self‑propelled fuel barges. These vessels will replenish fuel for ships and submarines at harbour and anchorage, supporting “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives.
• On March 2, 2026, Telangana’s Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) partnered with TBIS (Technology Business Incubator Society, BITS Pilani Hyderabad), T-Hub, and WE Hub to launch a ₹12.66 crore Challenge Fund. The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Rural Development under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).
• On 3 March 2026, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) announced that it has conducted biometric update activities in over 1,03,000 schools across India. This initiative ensures that children’s Aadhaar records remain accurate and up to date, particularly as they grow and their biometric features change.
• On 3 March 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official YouTube channel crossed the milestone of 30 million subscribers, making him the most-followed world leader on the platform. This achievement comes soon after he became the first serving leader to reach 100 million Instagram followers.

Banking:

• IRDAI has proposed that all insurers adopt Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) from April 1, 2026. This move will cover life, general, health, and reinsurance companies, ensuring transparency and global alignment with IFRS practices. The reform is aimed at improving comparability of financial statements and boosting investor confidence, while policyholder rights remain unaffected.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) have renewed their Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) for up to USD 75 billion, effective February 28, 2026. This marks the third amendment and restatement of the agreement, reinforcing financial cooperation and regional stability.
• On March 2, 2026, India INX Global Access (India INX GA), a subsidiary of India International Exchange, signed a strategic partnership with HSBC International Financial Services Centre Banking Unit (HSBC IBU) at GIFT City, Gandhinagar. This collaboration expands structured overseas investment access for Indian investors through a regulated IFSC framework.
• On February 27–28, 2026, the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) launched the Government Bank Dashboard and the Government Bank Manual to strengthen oversight of government transactions. These reforms aim to bring real-time monitoring, transparency, and standardized procedures to banks handling Union Government funds.

Economy:

• On March 2, 2026, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presented a ₹2.23 lakh crore Budget for FY 2026–27 in the State Assembly at Chandigarh. This outlay is 10.28% higher than the revised estimate of ₹2.02 lakh crore for FY 2025–26.
• On March 2, 2026, Union Minister Dr. Pralhad Joshi announced that India aims to reduce logistics costs to 10% of GDP by 2030. Currently, logistics costs stand at 13–14% of GDP, much higher than the global average of 8–10%. The plan involves investments in multimodal transport, infrastructure, and digitalization under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.

MoUs:

• On 2 March 2026, the Survey of India (SoI) and Digital University Kerala (DUK) signed a five‑year MoU in Thiruvananthapuram. The partnership aims to bridge traditional mapping with modern AI technologies. Key officials present included DUK Vice Chancellor Saji Gopinath and SoI’s Kerala & Lakshadweep wing in‑charge Avinash Mishra.
• On March 3, 2026, the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management-Kundli (NIFTEM-K), under India’s Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Saskatchewan (USask), Canada. The pact strengthens academic, research, and innovation ties in food science and technology.

Science & Technology:

• On 3 March 2026, researchers announced the discovery of two new earthworm species—Moniligaster girishi and Drawida reynoldsi—in Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of the Western Ghats.

Sports:

• The Indian women’s cricket team has been nominated for the 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award after their historic 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup victory. This is the first-ever nomination for a women’s cricket team in this category. The awards ceremony will be held in Madrid, Spain later this year.

Defence:

• On 3 March 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth ₹5,083 crore. The deals include six ALH Mk-III helicopters from HAL for the Coast Guard and VL-Shtil missiles from Russia for the Navy. These acquisitions will boost coastal surveillance, rescue operations, and naval air defence, strengthening India’s maritime security and defence preparedness.

Important Days:

• National Safety Day 2026 was observed on March 4, 2026, marking the 55th National Safety Week in India. The theme was “Engage, Educate & Empower People to Enhance Safety”, highlighting accident prevention, workplace safety, and shared responsibility.
• World Obesity Day 2026 was observed on 4 March under the theme “8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity.” It highlights the global scale of obesity and calls for collective action, stigma‑free healthcare, and healthier environments. Organized by the World Obesity Federation with WHO support.
• World Hearing Day 2026 was observed globally on March 3, 2026, with the theme: “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children.” The campaign emphasized early detection, prevention, and inclusive hearing care to ensure every child can learn and thrive.
• World Seagrass Day 2026 was observed on March 1 with the theme “Seagrasses Enrich Ocean Biodiversity and Fisheries.” It highlights the role of seagrass ecosystems in supporting marine life and sustaining fisheries. The day raises awareness about conserving these underwater meadows threatened by pollution and climate change.
• Civil Accounts Day 2026 was observed on March 1, marking the 50th foundation day of the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS), under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.

Appointments:

• On 3 March 2026, Jio Platforms Limited announced the appointment of telecom veteran Dan Bailey as President to lead its international business initiatives. Based in London, Bailey will report directly to Akash Ambani and join Jio’s Executive Committee, marking a major step in Jio’s global expansion strategy.

Awards & Honours:

• On 25 February 2026, TIME magazine named Safeena Husain, founder of Educate Girls, among its Women of the Year 2026, recognizing 16 global leaders. Her nonprofit has enabled over 2 million girls in rural India to return to school. The award highlights her contribution to gender equity and education.

Obituaries:

• Veteran journalist, diplomat, and former Rajya Sabha member H.K. Dua passed away on March 4, 2026, at the age of 88 after a prolonged illness. He was a Padma Bhushan awardee, former editor of leading newspapers, media advisor to two prime ministers, and India’s Ambassador to Denmark.

Questions:

Q.1 Which Indian social activist was named among TIME’s Women of the Year 2026?
a) Sudha Murty
b) Vandana Shiva
c) Safeena Husain
d) Medha Patkar

Answer: c) Safeena Husain, founder of Educate Girls, was honoured by TIME for empowering over 2 million girls in rural India to return to school.

Q.2 What is the name of India’s first AI-driven Skill Census launched in March 2026?
a) Samarth
b) Saksham
c) KaushalNet
d) Skill Bharat

Answer: b) The Saksham Skill Census was launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.