Current Affairs One - Liner : 31st March & 1st April 2026

National:

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has cleared 29 projects worth ₹7,104 crore under the 4th tranche of ECMS – Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme. These projects focus on semiconductors, sensors, passive components, and advanced materials to cut import dependence.

• Government of India extended the PM E‑DRIVE (Electric Driving Incentive for Vehicle Expansion) subsidy till 31 July 2026. The scheme supports Electric Two‑Wheelers (E2W) to promote clean mobility and reduce carbon emissions. Implemented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), aligned with FAME – Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles programme.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase I of the Noida International Airport at Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, on March 28, 2026. The ₹11,200 crore project will begin operations in April 2026, easing congestion at Delhi’s IGI Airport and positioning western UP as a major aviation hub.
• India has emerged as the world’s leading nation in issuing Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) under the Nagoya Protocol, accounting for over 56% of all global certificates. With 3,561 IRCCs issued out of a worldwide total of 6,311, India stands far ahead of other countries.
• On 1 April 2026, the Central Government released grants recommended by the 15th Finance Commission (XV‑FC). Grants include tied (60%) for sanitation, drinking water, and basic services, and untied (40%) for flexible local use. Beneficiary states include Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Tripura.
• On 31 March 2026 (Mahavir Jayanti), PM inaugurated Samrat Samprati Museum (Gandhinagar), launched Kaynes Semicon Plant (Sanand), and dedicated ₹20,000+ crore projects in Gujarat (power, railways, roads, housing, expressway) – boosting culture, technology, and infrastructure.
• Pu P.C. Lalchuangkima from Champhai, Mizoram achieved a remarkable milestone of 100 voluntary blood donations. This achievement highlights the spirit of voluntary blood donation (VBD) and community service. It sets an inspiring example for youth to contribute to National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) and public health.
• The 16th National Population Census officially kicked off its first phase (House Listing) on April 1, 2026. This massive exercise is the world’s first fully digital census, utilizing a mobile app for real-time data collection. The second phase, involving the actual population and caste enumeration, is scheduled for February 2027. With a budget of ₹11,718 crore, it will finally update India's demographic data for the first time since 2011.
• The government confirmed that 99.92% of inhabited villages now have a banking outlet within a 5km radius. Using the GIS-based Jan Dhan Darshak app, they identified and filled gaps via bank branches, ATMs, and Business Correspondents. This milestone relies heavily on the India Post Payments Bank network to reach the most remote areas.

Banking:

• On 1 April 2026, the Ministry of Finance announced that India’s existing inflation target band of 4% ± 2% will remain unchanged for the next five years (till March 2031), ensuring continuity in monetary policy framework.
• In 2025, India’s unincorporated non‑agricultural sector recorded a growth of about 8%, reflecting strong expansion in small businesses, trade, and services outside the corporate framework.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that Jammu & Kashmir Bank has been served a GST (Goods and Services Tax) demand order of about ₹200.20 crore due to non‑compliance with GST provisions, underscoring regulatory scrutiny and compliance challenges in the banking sector.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹31.80 lakh on Airtel Payments Bank Ltd. The action was taken for non‑compliance with regulatory guidelines under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has mandated that all insurers in India must adopt Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) from April 1, 2026, covering life, general, stand-alone health insurers, and reinsurers. This move is aimed at enhancing transparency, consistency, and global comparability in financial reporting.

MoUs:

• On 30 March 2026, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), Vadodara signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi. The partnership aims to train youth in aviation safety, operations, and maintenance, creating a skilled workforce.
• On 30 March 2026 in New Delhi, CCRAS (Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences) signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Anuvadini AI—Prof. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya & Dr. Buddha Chandrasekhar as signatories—to democratize evidence‑based Ayurveda by translating research into 13 Indian languages.
• On 30 March 2026, CSIR–NIScPR signed a five‑year MoU with the Science City of Andhra Pradesh to promote science communication, STEM education, and STI policy research. The non‑financial agreement, signed by Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, M.T. Krishna Babu, and Venkateswarlu Kesineni, aims to boost evidence‑based policymaking and strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s Science City project.
• On Monday, 30 March 2026, the Science City of Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) and CSIR–NIScPR signed a strategic MoU in Amaravati. The MoU aims to strengthen science communication and promote evidence‑based policymaking in India. It includes capacity building, outreach campaigns, and policy support for ministries and state governments.

Science & Technology:

• On 28 March 2026, the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched its first two Celeste satellites from Rocket Lab’s Māhia Launch Complex in New Zealand aboard an Electron rocket. These satellites will test low Earth orbit (LEO) navigation technologies to complement Europe’s Galileo system.

Reports:

• The PLFS Annual Report 2025, released on 27 March 2026, recorded India’s unemployment rate at 3.1%, showing stability compared to previous years. Educated unemployment stood at 6.5%, while graduates faced a much higher rate of 11.2%, highlighting persistent challenges.
• On March 2026, UNESCO released the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2026. It revealed that the global out‑of‑school population has climbed to 273 million, rising for 7 consecutive years. Now 1 in 6 school‑age children worldwide are excluded from education, with only two‑thirds completing secondary school.

Sports:

• On 29 March 2026, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese GP at Suzuka, becoming the youngest-ever Formula One championship leader at 19, with Oscar Piastri (McLaren) second and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) third.

Defence:

• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract worth ₹1,950 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to supply Mountain Radars for the Indian Air Force (IAF). These radars will enhance air surveillance and operational readiness in high‑altitude regions.
• On 30 March 2026, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata, achieved a historic milestone by handing over three frontline naval platforms—stealth frigate Dunagiri, survey vessel Sanshodhak, and anti‑submarine warfare craft Agray—to the Indian Navy in a single day.
• On 28 March 2026, the Indian Army signed its first‑ever capital procurement contract through the Government e‑Marketplace (GeM) with JCB India Ltd for 93 telescopic handlers worth ₹25.90 crore, marking a major milestone in defense acquisition.

Govt.Schemes:

• The Government of India has extended the deadline of the PM KUSUM – Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan project till March 2027. The scheme promotes installation of solar pumps and grid‑connected renewable power plants for farmers. It aims to ensure energy security, reduce diesel dependence, and boost income through solar energy.
• Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s Cabinet approved the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana on March 30, 2026. From April 1, 2026, over 97% of Punjab’s women will get monthly aid of ₹1,000. Scheduled Caste women will receive ₹1,500 per month under the scheme. Registration begins April 13, 2026 (Baishakhi), via DBT into bank accounts.

Important Days:

• On 1 April 2026, India observed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Foundation Day, marking 91 years since its establishment in 1935. The RBI highlighted its historic role in monetary stability and unveiled new digital initiatives to strengthen India’s financial system.
• On 31 March 2026, the world observed International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). It was founded in 2009 by Rachel Crandall‑Crocker to celebrate transgender lives and achievements. The day highlights discrimination faced by transgender communities while promoting inclusivity and equality.
• On 30 March 2026, the UN observed the International Day of Zero Waste with the theme “Food Waste” and tagline “Zero Waste Starts on Your Plate.” The UN highlighted that 1 billion tonnes of food is wasted annually, contributing to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Appointments:

• On 30 March 2026, Congressman Tom Suozzi was appointed Democratic Vice‑Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, announced by Chairman Ro Khanna, to boost U.S.–India ties and diaspora representation.
• Dr. Thomas J. Pucadyil was appointed Director of BRIC–NCCS Pune on 21 March 2026, following approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). The news was publicly reported on 30 March 2026, with the transition process currently underway.
• On 31 March 2026, IndiGo announced the appointment of William Walsh as its new CEO, effective 3 August 2026, succeeding Pieter Elbers. Walsh, a seasoned aviation leader, has previously served as CEO of British Airways and International Airlines Group (IAG), and is currently the Director General of IATA.
• On 31 March 2026, senior IAS officer Vir Vikram Yadav (Odisha cadre, 1996 batch) was appointed as the new Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), replacing Faiz Ahmed Kidwai. His appointment comes at a time when India is facing heightened aviation safety challenges due to rapid traffic growth and recent incidents.

Obituaries:

• Former Suriname President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi passed away on March 30, 2026, aged 67 in Paramaribo. He served as President from 2020–2025 and earlier as Justice Minister, known for probing the 1982 “December killings.”
• Popular Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee tragically died at age 43 on 29 March 2026 after a drowning accident during the shoot of the TV serial Bhole Baba Par Karega at Talsari Beach, Odisha.

Questions:

Q.1 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Foundation Day marks the establishment of RBI in:
a) 1930
b) 1935
c) 1947
d) 1950

Answer: b) RBI was established on April 1, 1935.

Q.2 Vir Vikram Yadav was appointed as Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which operates under:
a) Ministry of Defence (MoD)
b) Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)
c) Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
d) Ministry of Commerce

Answer: b) Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.