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Current Affairs March 2026
53 important events from March 2026, grouped by topic, each with a one-line exam point.
Top stories
- India win third T20 World Cup
- Poll dates for five assemblies announced
- SC allows passive euthanasia, Harish Rana case
- Noida International Airport Phase I opens
- Balen Shah becomes Nepal's youngest PM
- Gujarat passes Uniform Civil Code
Obituaries
Urdu writer Jeelani Bano dies at 89
1 March 2026Hyderabad-based Urdu writer Jeelani Bano died at 89. She was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2001.
- Padma Shri 2001
- Wrote mainly in Urdu
Exam point: Jeelani Bano was a Padma Shri Urdu writer
Veteran journalist H.K. Dua dies at 88
4 March 2026H.K. Dua, former editor of the Hindustan Times, Indian Express and The Tribune, died at 88. He also served as India's Ambassador to Denmark and as a nominated Rajya Sabha member.
- Padma Bhushan (1998)
- Ambassador to Denmark 2001-2003
- Nominated to Rajya Sabha 2009-2015
Exam point: H.K. Dua was a Padma Bhushan journalist and former envoy to Denmark
Computer scientist Sir Tony Hoare dies at 92
5 March 2026British computer scientist Sir Tony Hoare, inventor of the Quicksort algorithm and Hoare logic, died at 92. He won the Turing Award in 1980.
- Invented Quicksort (1959-60)
- Turing Award 1980
- Called the null reference his billion-dollar mistake
Exam point: Tony Hoare invented Quicksort and won the 1980 Turing Award
Historian K.N. Panikkar dies at 89
9 March 2026Noted historian K.N. Panikkar, known for his work on colonial-era culture and peasant uprisings in Malabar, died at 89.
- Author of Against Lord and State
- Wrote on communalism and colonial intellectual history
Exam point: K.N. Panikkar wrote Against Lord and State on Malabar revolts
Iran's security chief Ali Larijani killed
17 March 2026Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and former Speaker of Parliament (2008-2020), was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran at 67.
- Speaker of Iran's Parliament 2008-2020
- SNSC Secretary since August 2025
Exam point: Ali Larijani headed Iran's Supreme National Security Council
Former MP Datta Meghe dies at 89
22 March 2026Datta Meghe, four-time Lok Sabha member from Maharashtra and former Rajya Sabha MP, died at 89. He founded several educational institutions in Vidarbha.
- Elected to Lok Sabha four times
- Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra (2002-2008)
Exam point: Datta Meghe was a four-time Lok Sabha MP from Maharashtra
Vijaypat Singhania, former Raymond chairman, dies at 87
28 March 2026Industrialist and aviator Vijaypat Singhania, who led the Raymond Group from 1980 to 2000, died at 87. In 2005, at 67, he set a world record for the highest hot-air balloon flight.
- Awarded Padma Bhushan (2006)
- Flew a microlight from London to India in 1988
- Honorary Air Commodore of the IAF
Exam point: Vijaypat Singhania held a hot-air balloon altitude world record
International Affairs
India and Canada agree to fast-track trade pact
2 March 2026PM Modi and Canadian PM Mark Carney held talks at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, and agreed to speed up the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The MEA called the visit an inflection point after strained ties.
- Carney's visit began in Mumbai on 28 February
- Trade deal: CEPA; energy named a key pillar of ties
- Talks also covered clean energy and fintech
Exam point: India-Canada agreed to expedite CEPA negotiations
US submarine sinks Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka
4 March 2026During the 2026 Iran war, the US submarine USS Charlotte torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena about 19 nautical miles off Galle, Sri Lanka. The ship was returning home after the MILAN exercise and International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam.
- Ship had 136 people on board; 32 were rescued
- It had attended MILAN 2026 and IFR 2026 at Visakhapatnam in February
- India later allowed another Iranian vessel, IRIS Lavan, to dock at Kochi on humanitarian grounds (7 March)
Exam point: IRIS Dena sunk near Galle after attending MILAN 2026 at Visakhapatnam
RSP sweeps Nepal general election
5 March 2026Nepal's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by Balen Shah, won 182 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives. This was the first election after the youth-led protests of September 2025 that ended the Oli government.
- Polling held on 5 March 2026
- RSP won 182/275 seats, close to a two-thirds majority
- Sushila Karki led the interim government before the vote
Exam point: RSP won 182 of 275 seats in Nepal's House of Representatives
11th Raisina Dialogue opens; Finland's President gives keynote
5 March 2026The 11th Raisina Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 5-7 March, organised by the Observer Research Foundation with the MEA. Finland's President Alexander Stubb, on a state visit, gave the keynote address.
- Theme: Samskara: Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement
- Organisers: ORF and Ministry of External Affairs
- Stubb also held talks with PM Modi and addressed a business forum in Mumbai
Exam point: Finland President Alexander Stubb was keynote speaker at Raisina Dialogue 2026
Strait of Hormuz shipping collapses as West Asia war widens
11 March 2026In the second week of the West Asia war, tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell by more than 80%, with about 150 ships waiting offshore. The disruption hit oil and gas supplies to importers such as India.
- War began on 28 February 2026 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran
- Israel struck Iran's South Pars gas field on 18 March
- Iran's main oil export terminal is Kharg Island
Exam point: Tanker traffic through Hormuz fell over 80 percent
Italian voters reject constitutional reform in referendum
23 March 2026In a referendum held on 22-23 March, Italian voters rejected a constitutional reform backed by the Italian government.
- Vote held on 22-23 March 2026
- Reform was backed by the government; voters rejected it
Exam point: Italy's March 2026 constitutional referendum failed
Banking & Finance
EPFO board keeps EPF interest at 8.25% for 2025-26
2 March 2026The 239th meeting of the EPFO Central Board of Trustees, chaired by Labour Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, recommended 8.25% interest on EPF deposits for 2025-26, the same as the previous year.
- EPF rate FY 2025-26: 8.25%
- 239th CBT meeting, New Delhi
- One-time amnesty scheme approved for exempted trusts
Exam point: EPF interest for 2025-26 retained at 8.25 percent
RBI releases Payments Vision 2028
27 March 2026The Reserve Bank of India released Payments Vision 2028: Shaping India's Payment Frontier, its roadmap for digital payments up to December 2028. It focuses on user empowerment, fraud prevention, cross-border payments and ease of business.
- Proposes a switch on/off control for each digital payment mode
- TReDS interoperability framework for receivables financing
- Shared responsibility of issuing and beneficiary banks for fraud losses
Exam point: RBI Payments Vision 2028 theme is Shaping India's Payment Frontier
Defence & Security
MoD signs Rs 5,083 crore deals for ALH helicopters and VL-Shtil missiles
3 March 2026The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth Rs 5,083 crore at South Block. They cover six ALH Mk-III helicopters in maritime role for the Indian Coast Guard and VL-Shtil vertical-launch surface-to-air missiles for the Indian Navy.
- Total value: Rs 5,083 crore
- Six ALH Mk-III (MR) helicopters for the Coast Guard
- VL-Shtil surface-to-air missiles for the Navy
Exam point: Rs 5,083 crore deals cover ALH Mk-III helicopters and VL-Shtil missiles
Indian Navy hosts IONS exercise IMEX TTX 2026 in Kochi
27 March 2026The Indian Navy hosted the IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) TTX 2026, a tabletop exercise at the Maritime Warfare Centre, Kochi, with 12 member navies. India is taking over the IONS chairmanship for 2026-2028, returning to the post after 16 years.
- Venue: Maritime Warfare Centre, Southern Naval Command, Kochi
- India's IONS chair term: 2026-2028
- Focus on non-traditional maritime security threats
Exam point: India takes IONS chairmanship for 2026-28 after 16 years
Important Days
World Wildlife Day
3 March 2026World Wildlife Day 2026 was observed with the theme Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods. The day is led by CITES and marks the date of its adoption.
- Theme: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods
- Led by CITES (adopted on 3 March 1973)
- About 9% of medicinal and aromatic plant species face extinction threat
Exam point: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods
International Women's Day
8 March 2026International Women's Day 2026 was observed with the UN theme Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls. The UN noted that women have only about 64% of the legal rights men have worldwide.
- Theme: Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls
- Women hold about 64% of men's legal rights
- Closing the legal gap at current pace would take about 286 years
Exam point: Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls
International Day of Happiness
20 March 2026The International Day of Happiness is observed on 20 March under UNGA resolution 66/281 of 2012, an initiative led by Bhutan. The 2026 World Happiness Report, focused on social media and well-being, was launched to mark the day.
- Proclaimed by the UNGA in 2012 (resolution 66/281)
- Initiative led by Bhutan (Gross National Happiness)
- WHR 2026 focus: well-being in the digital age
Exam point: Bhutan-led UN day promoting happiness as a universal goal
International Day of Forests
21 March 2026The International Day of Forests 2026 was observed with the theme Forests and Economies, chosen by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and promoted by FAO.
- Theme: Forests and Economies
- Observed every year on 21 March
- Lead agency: FAO
Exam point: Forests and Economies
World Water Day
22 March 2026World Water Day 2026 focused on water and gender equality, under the line Where water flows, equality grows. UN-Water released the World Water Development Report 2026 on equal rights in water.
- Focus: water, women and gender
- Slogan: Where water flows, equality grows
- Coordinated by UN-Water
Exam point: Where water flows, equality grows
World Tuberculosis Day
24 March 2026World TB Day 2026 was observed with the WHO theme Yes! We can End TB!, with the tagline Led by countries, Powered by people. The day marks Robert Koch's 1882 discovery of the TB bacterium.
- Theme: Yes! We can End TB!
- Tagline: Led by countries. Powered by people.
- Marks Robert Koch's 1882 announcement
Exam point: Yes! We can End TB!
Economy
US lets India buy Russian oil until April 4
4 March 2026Amid the oil shock from the Iran war, the United States granted India permission to buy Russian oil up to 4 April 2026, easing supply worries for Indian refiners.
- Waiver valid till 4 April 2026
- Came as Hormuz traffic was disrupted by the Iran war
Exam point: US permitted Indian purchases of Russian oil until 4 April
WPI inflation rises to 2.13% in February
16 March 2026Wholesale price inflation rose to 2.13% in February 2026 from 1.81% in January, according to the Commerce Ministry. Month-on-month, prices rose 0.25%.
- WPI inflation Feb 2026: 2.13%
- January 2026: 1.81%
- Released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Exam point: February 2026 WPI inflation was 2.13 percent
Retail inflation at 3.21% in February
March 2026CPI-based retail inflation for February 2026 stood at 3.21%, well within the RBI's 2-6% band. It rose to 3.4% in March, data released in April showed.
- CPI inflation Feb 2026: 3.21%
- Inflation target: 4% with a band of 2-6%
- Data released by NSO (MoSPI)
Exam point: Feb 2026 CPI inflation stood at 3.21 percent
National Affairs
Census 2027 mascots Pragati and Vikas unveiled
5 March 2026Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the mascots Pragati and Vikas and soft-launched four digital tools for Census 2027, which will be India's first digital census.
- Mascots: Pragati (female) and Vikas (male)
- Tools include a self-enumeration portal and house-listing apps
- Census 2027 will be the first digital census
Exam point: Census 2027 mascots are Pragati and Vikas
Cabinet extends Jal Jeevan Mission till December 2028
10 March 2026The Union Cabinet extended the Jal Jeevan Mission up to December 2028 as JJM 2.0, with a total outlay of Rs 8.69 lakh crore. The focus moves from building pipelines to reliable, community-run water service.
- Central assistance raised to Rs 3.59 lakh crore
- New components: Sujalam Bharat (village water ID), Jal Arpan, Har Ghar Jal certification, Jal Utsav
- About 15.80 crore rural homes (81.61%) have tap connections, up from 3.23 crore in 2019
Exam point: JJM 2.0 runs to December 2028 with Rs 8.69 lakh crore outlay
Cabinet grants international status to Madurai Airport
10 March 2026The Union Cabinet approved declaring Madurai Airport in Tamil Nadu an international airport. It is one of the state's oldest airports and serves southern Tamil Nadu.
- Decision taken at the Cabinet meeting of 10 March 2026
- Same meeting extended the Jal Jeevan Mission
Exam point: Madurai Airport upgraded to international airport status
Supreme Court allows passive euthanasia for Harish Rana
11 March 2026In Harish Rana v. Union of India, the Supreme Court allowed life-sustaining treatment to be withdrawn for a man who had been in a permanent vegetative state for over 13 years. It is the first time the Common Cause (2018) guidelines on the right to die with dignity were applied to an actual patient.
- Bench: Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan
- Court held that clinically assisted nutrition (feeding tube) is medical treatment and can be withdrawn
- Withdrawal to happen under palliative care at AIIMS New Delhi
- Right to die with dignity flows from Article 21
Exam point: First court-sanctioned passive euthanasia under the 2018 Common Cause guidelines
ECI announces assembly poll schedule for four states and Puducherry
15 March 2026Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced the schedule for assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry. Polling runs from 9 to 29 April, with all votes to be counted on 4 May 2026.
- Assam, Kerala and Puducherry vote in a single phase on 9 April
- Tamil Nadu (234 seats) votes on 23 April; West Bengal (294 seats) votes in two phases on 23 and 29 April
- Kerala has 140 seats, Assam 126 and Puducherry 30
- Counting for all five on 4 May 2026
Exam point: Counting for all five assembly polls fixed for 4 May 2026
National Dental Commission replaces Dental Council of India
19 March 2026The Centre constituted the National Dental Commission (NDC) under the National Dental Commission Act, replacing the Dental Council of India. The Dentists Act, 1948 stands repealed.
- Chairperson: Dr. Sanjay Tewari
- Three autonomous boards: UG-PG Dental Education; Dental Assessment and Rating; Ethics and Dental Registration
- Dental Council of India had been set up under the Dentists Act, 1948
Exam point: NDC replaces the Dental Council of India set up under 1948 Act
Parliament passes Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill
25 March 2026Parliament cleared the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 after the Rajya Sabha approved it on 25 March; the Lok Sabha had passed it earlier by voice vote. The Bill redefines who is a transgender person and removes the self-perceived gender identity provision of the 2019 Act.
- Piloted by Social Justice Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar
- Amends the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019
- Drops self-determination of gender identity
Exam point: Amendment Bill drops self-perceived gender identity from the 2019 Act
PM announces seven empowered groups on West Asia conflict
25 March 2026Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi announced seven empowered groups to handle the long-term effects of the West Asia war on India. They cover fuel, gas, fertilisers, supply chains and inflation, and he asked states to work as Team India.
- Number of groups: seven
- Announced in Parliament on 25 March 2026
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired an all-party meeting on the crisis on 25-26 March
Exam point: Seven empowered groups set up to manage West Asia war impact
PM inaugurates Phase I of Noida International Airport, Jewar
28 March 2026PM Narendra Modi opened Phase I of the Noida International Airport at Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar (Uttar Pradesh). Built for about Rs 11,200 crore under the PPP model, it is the second major airport for the National Capital Region.
- Initial capacity 12 million passengers a year; 70 million at full build-out
- Foundation laid for a 40-acre MRO facility
- Built in public-private partnership mode
Exam point: Noida International Airport at Jewar opened with 12 million passenger capacity
Government declares Naxalite insurgency effectively over
30 March 2026Ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah's 31 March 2026 deadline, the government declared the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency effectively ended. Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma said nearly all cadres had been killed or had surrendered, with two commanders still at large.
- Deadline of 31 March 2026 was set by Amit Shah
- In April 2025 only six districts were listed as most affected
- Affected districts once numbered close to 180 in the late 2000s
Exam point: Govt deadline to end Left Wing Extremism was 31 March 2026
Appointments
Mojtaba Khamenei named Iran's third Supreme Leader
8 March 2026Iran's Assembly of Experts chose Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's third Supreme Leader. His father Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike on 28 February at the start of the Iran war.
- Chosen by the Assembly of Experts
- Iran's third Supreme Leader after Khomeini and Ali Khamenei
Exam point: Mojtaba Khamenei became Iran's third Supreme Leader
Balen Shah sworn in as Nepal's Prime Minister
27 March 2026Balen Shah, former Mayor of Kathmandu and leader of the RSP, was appointed Prime Minister of Nepal by President Ram Chandra Paudel. At 35, he is the youngest PM of federal democratic Nepal.
- Age 35; youngest PM of the federal republic
- Former Mayor of Kathmandu (2022-2026)
- First Prime Minister from the Madhesh region
Exam point: Balen Shah, 35, became Nepal's youngest Prime Minister
Sports
India win T20 World Cup 2026, first to defend title
8 March 2026India beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, to win their third Men's T20 World Cup. They became the first team to defend the title and the first to win it three times.
- Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
- Player of the Match: Jasprit Bumrah (4/15)
- Player of the Tournament: Sanju Samson (89 in final)
- India scored 255/5; NZ all out for 159
Exam point: India won a record third T20 World Cup, beating New Zealand by 96 runs
All England Open 2026 results
8 March 2026The All England Open Badminton Championships were held in Birmingham from 3 to 8 March. Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun-yi won the men's singles and China's Wang Zhiyi the women's singles.
- Men's singles: Lin Chun-yi
- Women's singles: Wang Zhiyi
- India's Satwik-Chirag lost in the first round
Exam point: Lin Chun-yi and Wang Zhiyi won All England singles titles
Sinner and Sabalenka win Indian Wells titles
15 March 2026Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev and Aryna Sabalenka beat Elena Rybakina to win the singles titles at the Indian Wells Masters (BNP Paribas Open) in California.
- Men: Jannik Sinner bt Medvedev 7-6, 7-6
- Women: Aryna Sabalenka bt Rybakina
- Sinner's sixth Masters 1000 title
Exam point: Sinner and Sabalenka won Indian Wells 2026
Carolina Marin retires from badminton
26 March 2026Spain's Carolina Marin, the 2016 Rio Olympic champion who beat P.V. Sindhu in the final, retired at 32. She was the first non-Asian woman to win Olympic badminton gold.
- Olympic gold: Rio 2016
- World champion in 2014, 2015 and 2018
- Beat P.V. Sindhu in the Rio final and the 2018 World final
Exam point: Carolina Marin, Rio 2016 champion, retired at 32
Antonelli wins Japanese Grand Prix
29 March 2026Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka and became the youngest driver ever to lead the Formula One World Championship, at 19.
- Winner: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Podium: Piastri 2nd, Leclerc 3rd
- Youngest F1 championship leader at 19
Exam point: Antonelli became the youngest F1 championship leader
Awards & Honours
98th Oscars: One Battle After Another wins Best Picture
15 March 2026At the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, One Battle After Another won Best Picture and five other awards. A new Best Casting category was presented for the first time.
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners); Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
- Best International Feature: Sentimental Value (Norway)
- Host: Conan O'Brien
Exam point: One Battle After Another won Best Picture at the 98th Oscars
Gerd Faltings wins Abel Prize 2026
19 March 2026German mathematician Gerd Faltings of the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics won the Abel Prize 2026 for tools in arithmetic geometry and for solving the Mordell and Lang conjectures.
- Winner: Gerd Faltings (Germany)
- Abel Prize is given by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
- Faltings had won the Fields Medal in 1986
Exam point: Abel Prize 2026 awarded to Gerd Faltings
Chile's Smiljan Radic wins Pritzker Architecture Prize
March 2026Chilean architect Smiljan Radic Clarke was named the 2026 laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, often called the Nobel of architecture.
- Winner: Smiljan Radic Clarke (Chile)
- Known for the Serpentine Pavilion in London (2014)
Exam point: Pritzker Prize 2026 went to Chile's Smiljan Radic
Environment & Heritage
Bharat Electricity Summit ends; Indian Carbon Market portal launched
22 March 2026The first Bharat Electricity Summit concluded in New Delhi with the launch of the Indian Carbon Market Portal announced. India restated its target of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.
- Non-fossil target: 500 GW by 2030
- Next edition: 2028 in Gandhinagar
- Power Minister Manohar Lal gave the closing address
Exam point: Indian Carbon Market Portal launched at Bharat Electricity Summit
Earth Hour 2026 observed
28 March 2026Earth Hour 2026 was observed on 28 March, with lights switched off for an hour to highlight climate action. In Delhi, the DDA and WWF-India held the Sanjay Van Earth Hour Mahotsav.
- Organised globally by WWF
- Delhi event at Sanjay Van by DDA and WWF-India
- Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007
Exam point: Earth Hour is a WWF lights-off campaign begun in Sydney in 2007
Science, Tech & Space
OpenAI to shut down Sora video app and API
24 March 2026OpenAI announced it would discontinue its Sora AI video-generation app and API services.
- Company: OpenAI
- Product: Sora text-to-video model
Exam point: OpenAI announced the shutdown of Sora
Agnikul test-fires 3D-printed Agnite booster engine
March 2026Chennai-based space start-up Agnikul Cosmos successfully test-fired Agnite, a one-metre-long booster engine made as a single 3D-printed piece.
- Company: Agnikul Cosmos, Chennai (IIT Madras incubated)
- Engine: Agnite, single-piece 3D-printed
- In February 2026 it fired a cluster of three semi-cryogenic engines together
Exam point: Agnite is a single-piece 3D-printed rocket booster engine
States in News
Gujarat becomes second state to pass Uniform Civil Code
25 March 2026The Gujarat Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code, 2026 by voice vote after a seven-hour debate. It sets common rules on marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships for all religions, making Gujarat the second state after Uttarakhand.
- Bill tabled by CM Bhupendra Patel
- Scheduled Tribes are kept outside the code
- Live-in relationships must be registered; bigamy banned
- Uttarakhand passed its UCC in February 2024
Exam point: Gujarat is the second state after Uttarakhand to pass a UCC
Reports & Indices
Global Terrorism Index 2026: India ranked 13th
March 2026In the Global Terrorism Index 2026, India was placed 13th with a score of 6.428, two places better than the previous year. Pakistan topped the list as the most terrorism-affected country.
- India: 13th, score 6.428
- Most affected: Pakistan (8.574)
- Published by the Institute for Economics and Peace
Exam point: India ranked 13th in Global Terrorism Index 2026
World Happiness Report 2026: Finland top for ninth year
March 2026The World Happiness Report 2026, launched around the International Day of Happiness, again ranked Finland the happiest country, its ninth year in a row. The report's theme was the link between social media and wellbeing of young people.
- Finland No. 1 for nine straight years
- Theme: happiness and social media
- Report is timed with the International Day of Happiness (20 March)
Exam point: Finland happiest country for the ninth consecutive year