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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING, FINANCE & BUSINESS

Reserve Bank of India Launches ‘Awareness Program on Digital Payments’ During Digital Payments Awareness Week 2026, Engages with Payment Systems Operators

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is observing the 6th edition of Digital Payments Awareness Week (DPAW) from March 9–13, 2026 to promote safe digital payment usage.
• Governor Sanjay Malhotra launched a pilot initiative titled “Awareness Program on Digital Payments” in Maharashtra in partnership with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited.
• The pilot aims to conduct in-person awareness programmes for about 10 lakh participants in rural and semi-urban areas through Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs).
• RBI also launched a multi-media public awareness campaign called “Thoda Dhyan Se”, encouraging users to be alert and cautious while making online payments.
• The initiative emphasizes trust in digital payments and aims to enhance customer awareness and protection.
• Deputy Governors T Rabi Sankar, Dr Poonam Gupta, and S C Murmu along with other senior RBI officers attended the launch event.
• Governor Malhotra interacted with Managing Directors/CEOs of select Payment Systems Operators (PSOs) to discuss strengthening public confidence in digital payments adoption.

Reserve Bank of India Imposes ₹2.70 Lakh Penalty on Manappuram Finance for Regulatory Non-Compliance

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹2.70 lakh on Manappuram Finance Limited for non-compliance with RBI guidelines.
• The penalty pertains to violation of RBI directions on “Guidelines on Compensation of Key Managerial Personnel – Deferral of Variable Pay.”
• RBI found that Manappuram Finance Ltd paid the entire variable pay upfront to certain Key Managerial Personnel (KMPs) without deferring a portion, which was against regulatory guidelines.
• The statutory inspection of the company was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on 31 March 2025.
• The penalty was imposed under the powers of RBI conferred by Section 58G(1)(b) read with Section 58B(5)(aa) of the RBI Act, 1934.
• RBI issued a show cause notice to the company, considered its reply and oral submissions, and found the charge sustained, warranting monetary penalty.
• The action was based on regulatory compliance deficiencies and does not affect the validity of any transaction with customers.
• The imposition of the penalty is without prejudice to any other action that RBI may take against the company.
• Manappuram Finance Limited is an Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC) headquartered in Valapad, Thrissur, Kerala.

Public Sector Banks Earn Over ₹28,000 Crore in Five Years via Third-Party Financial Product Sales

• Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in India earned over ₹28,600 crore in the last five years by selling third-party financial products such as insurance (life and non-life), mutual funds, credit cards, and demat accounts.
• As per data presented in the Rajya Sabha by the Finance Ministry, State Bank of India (SBI) was the highest earner, generating about ₹17,043.49 crore from third-party product sales.
• Other major earners include Punjab National Bank (₹2,865.54 crore), Canara Bank (₹2,059.54 crore), Bank of Baroda (₹1,904.52 crore), and Union Bank of India (₹1,832.69 crore).
• The sales are permitted under Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, allowing banks to act as agents of third-party product providers to offer financial services like insurance and mutual funds to their customers.
• The RBI has issued draft directions under Commercial Banks - Responsible Business Conduct Amendment Directions, 2026, instructing banks to prevent incentives for mis-selling and ensure employees do not receive direct or indirect incentives for marketing third-party products.

Private Banks Earn Over ₹11,000 Crore in Three Years from Minimum Balance Penalties

• Private sector banks in India collected about ₹11,000 crore between FY2022-23 and FY2024-25 as penalties for non-maintenance of minimum balance in savings accounts.
• Public Sector Banks (PSBs) collected around ₹8,000 crore during the same period, which is lower than private banks.
• Among private banks, HDFC Bank was the highest earner, collecting over ₹3,800 crore, followed by Axis Bank (₹2,700 crore) and ICICI Bank (₹1,200 crore).
• Among PSBs, Punjab National Bank (PNB) collected the highest penalties (~₹1,500 crore), followed by Bank of Baroda (~₹1,200 crore) and Indian Bank (~₹1,100 crore).
• State Bank of India (SBI) waived penalties for non-maintenance of minimum balance in savings accounts since March 2020, followed by other PSBs like Punjab National Bank and Canara Bank.
• Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts (BSBDAs), including PMJDY accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, are exempted from penalties for non-maintenance of minimum balance.
• Private sector banks continue to charge penalties for non-maintenance of minimum balance, while many PSBs have removed such charges for savings accounts but still levy them on current accounts.

Razorpay Unveils World’s First AI-Powered Agent Studio for Payment Management

• Razorpay, India’s omnichannel payments and banking platform, launched the world’s first Agent Studio for payments at FTX 2026, built using the Claude Agent SDK from Anthropic.
• Razorpay also introduced the Agentic Experience Platform, an AI-native system to simplify onboarding, payment integration, and payment management for businesses.
• Agent Studio functions as a B2B marketplace and builder platform, allowing businesses to deploy AI agents to manage payments, recover revenue, and automate financial operations in real time.
• The Agentic Onboarding feature enables businesses to complete payment gateway onboarding in about five minutes, using automated verification via government data such as PAN.
• AI agents address operational challenges such as abandoned cart recovery, failed subscription retries, settlement reconciliation, and payment dispute resolution.
• Razorpay Agent Studio allows businesses to build customised AI agents without coding through plain English task descriptions.
• Initial production-ready agents include:
• Abandoned Cart Conversion Agent – converts abandoned carts into purchases via voice interactions, in partnership with Nugget by Zomato and SuperU.
• Dispute Responder Agent – handles payment disputes with higher success rate.
• Subscription Recovery Agent – recovers failed subscriptions using voice technology from ElevenLabs.
• Cashflow Forecaster Agent – predicts cashflow patterns and identifies potential liquidity gaps.
• The system works by analyzing customer activity in real time and initiating voice or messaging interactions to complete purchases.
• Agent Studio integrates with platforms like Shopify, Shiprocket, WhatsApp, Slack, Tally, Sarvam, and Quickbook for broader business data access.
• The Agentic Experience Platform includes:
• Agentic Onboarding – 5-minute onboarding with automatic identity verification.
• Agentic Dashboard – manage payments using natural language commands.
• Agentic Integration – integrate Razorpay’s payment infrastructure in under 10 minutes using AI coding environments like Claude Code or no-code platforms like Replit and Emergent.

National Stock Exchange of India Selects 20 Merchant Bankers for Managing Its Upcoming Initial Public Offering

• National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has moved forward with its long-awaited Initial Public Offering (IPO) by completing the selection of key intermediaries for the proposed listing.
• NSE appointed 20 merchant bankers through a structured and competitive process approved by the NSE IPO Committee to manage the share sale.
• NSE also appointed eight leading law firms, including Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co, AZB & Partners, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, and Trilegal, to handle legal and regulatory aspects of the IPO.
• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is the largest shareholder in NSE, holding about 10.72% stake, valued at over ₹59,600 crore based on pre-IPO valuation.
• Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL) holds approximately  4.44% stake, SBI Capital Markets owns about 4.33%, and State Bank of India (SBI) has a direct stake of around 3.23% in NSE.

Bank of Baroda Secures $500 Million Five-Year Syndicated Term Loan

• Bank of Baroda raised a USD 500 million five-year syndicated term loan through its IFSC Banking Unit in GIFT City, Gujarat.
• The transaction marks the bank’s return to the global syndicated loan market after a one-year gap.
• The funds raised will be used for general banking operations and corporate purposes.
• MUFG Bank and HSBC acted as mandated lead arrangers, underwriters, and book-runners for the deal.
• The loan saw participation from 13 investors across Asian markets, including Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, aiming to broaden Bank of Baroda’s global investor base.
• The transaction also seeks to diversify funding sources alongside the bank’s domestic investor base involved in local currency issuances.

Recent News :

• In March 2026, Bank of Baroda (BoB) launched a special savings account for women named ‘bob Women Sapphire Savings Account’ to provide banking, healthcare, and lifestyle benefits for women customers in India.

About Bank of Baroda (BoB):

• Founded: 1908
• Headquarters: Vadodara, Gujarat, India
• Managing Director & CEO: Debadatta Chand
• Tagline: "India’s International Bank"

South Indian Bank Launches EPF Payment Facility via SIBerNet Internet Banking

• South Indian Bank (SIB) has launched Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) payment services through its internet banking platform SIBerNet.
• The service is introduced in collaboration with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to facilitate digital remittances.
• Employers and establishments can now remit EPF contributions, dues, and related charges online using the bank’s net banking facility.
• Payments can be made directly via the EPFO portal using SIBerNet, making the process faster and more convenient.
• The service went live on March 12, 2026, and was inaugurated by Uttam Prakash, Regional PF Commissioner for Kochi Region and UT of Lakshadweep, along with
• P R Seshadri, MD & CEO of SIB, and Biji S S, Senior GM & Head of Branch Banking.

Recent News :

• In March 2026, South Indian Bank (SIB) launched a digitally integrated Loan Against Mutual Funds (LAMF) facility to provide secured credit to investors using their mutual fund holdings as collateral.

About South Indian Bank:

• Founded Year: 1929
• Headquarters: Thrissur, Kerala, India
• CEO: P.R. Seshadri
• Slogan: "Experience Next-Gen Banking"

India’s Retail Inflation Jumps to 3.21% in February Driven by Food and Housing Prices

• India’s retail inflation rose to 3.21% in February 2026, compared to 2.74% in January 2026, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• The inflation rise was driven by higher prices of food and beverages, clothing, housing, and utility services.
• Rural inflation increased to 3.37% in February from 2.73% in January, while urban inflation rose to 3.02% from 2.75%, both remaining below the RBI’s medium-term target of 4%.
• The February reading was the second inflation print under the revised CPI series with 2024 as the base year.
• The revised CPI index reflects updated household spending patterns based on the 2023–24 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey.
• Under the new series, the weight of food and beverages declined from 45.86% to 36.75%, while core components like housing and services have higher shares.
• Food alone now accounts for 34.77% of the CPI basket, remaining the largest component despite the weight reduction.
• The revised structure is expected to reduce volatility in headline inflation since food prices fluctuate sharply due to seasonal factors.
• Despite the increase, retail inflation remains within RBI’s 2–6% target range.
• From June 2025, food inflation turned negative, reaching a historic low of –5.02% in October 2025, pushing headline CPI to 0.25%, a record low.
• Global developments, especially disruptions in West Asia affecting oil, gas, and commodity prices, may influence inflation trends in the coming months.

PayU Partners with CoRover.ai to Launch Multilingual Voice-Enabled Payments

• PayU has entered into a strategic partnership with ai, the creator of BharatGPT, to enable AI-driven agentic payments in India.
• Under the collaboration, PayU’s secure payment infrastructure will be integrated with CoRover’s BharatGPT-powered conversational AI platform, enabling voice-first and multilingual payment experiences.
• The system will support over 100 Indian languages and dialects, allowing users to make payments through natural voice conversations with AI agents.
• The partnership is one of the first collaborations between a sovereign large language model (LLM) provider and a payment aggregator for AI-based payment execution.
• The collaboration will explore integrating National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) innovations such as UPI Circle and UPI Reserve Pay for AI-initiated transactions.
• Early use cases include voice-based UPI payments on Afterlife, the first-ever digital succession planning platform, powered by CoRover’s Voice AI.
• The partnership aims to create a trusted AI-led payment experience that is scalable, voice-first, multilingual, and designed for the diverse Indian market.
• Future expansion plans include agentic payment solutions across sectors such as e-commerce, travel, OTT platforms, and BFSI.
• CEO, CoRover.ai : Ankush Sabharwal

Recent News :

• In March 2026, PayU, a leading digital payments and financial services provider in India, partnered with GoKwik, a checkout optimization platform for Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands.

Agriculture & Allied Sector Gross Value Added Surpasses ₹48.7 Lakh Crore in 2023–24 as India’s Foodgrain Output Keeps Growing

• According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the Agriculture & Allied Sector contributes about 18% to India’s Gross Value Added (GVA).

Key Highlights :

• As per National Accounts Statistics, the GVA of Agriculture & Allied Sector increased from ₹20,93,612 crore in 2014–15 to ₹48,77,867 crore in 2023–24, recording a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 83% at current prices.
• The sectoral composition within the Agriculture & Allied Sector includes Crops (54.39%), Livestock (30.87%), and Fishing & Aquaculture (7.55%).
• The GVA of Livestock increased from ₹5,10,411 crore in 2014–15 to ₹15,05,615 crore in 2023–24, showing strong growth in the animal husbandry sector.
• The GVA of Crops rose from ₹12,92,874 crore in 2014–15 to ₹26,52,891 crore in 2023–24, reflecting the major contribution of crop production in agriculture.
• The GVA of Fishing & Aquaculture increased from about ₹1,16,567 crore in 2014–15 to about ₹3,68,124 crore in 2023–24, highlighting the growth of the blue economy sector.
• Foodgrain production in India increased from 42 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) in 2015–16 to 3577.32 LMT in 2024–25, registering an annual growth of around 3.6%.
• According to the First Advance Estimates for 2025–26, Kharif foodgrain production is projected at a record 1733.30 LMT.
• As per the Second Advance Estimates of Annual GDP for 2025–26, the GVA of Agriculture & Allied Sector is estimated at ₹52,08,800 crore, registering a growth rate of 2.4%.
• The average monthly income of agricultural households is estimated through the Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO).
• According to the NSS 77th Round (2019), the average monthly income per agricultural household in rural India is ₹10,218, derived from sources such as crop production, livestock farming, wages, non-farm business, and land leasing.
• The average monthly income increased from ₹6,426 in 2012–13 (NSS 70th Round) to ₹10,218 in 2018–19 (NSS 77th Round), showing improvement in farm household earnings.

About Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare :

• Cabinet Minister : Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Minister of State : Bhagirath Choudhary, Ram Nath Thakur

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL AND STATE NEWS

Supreme Court Allows Withdrawal of Life Support in Harish Rana Passive Euthanasia Case

• The Supreme Court of India permitted the withdrawal of artificial life support in the Harish Rana passive euthanasia case, marking an important development in the legal and ethical debate on end-of-life decisions in India.
• The judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justice J. B. Pardiwala and Justice K. V. Viswanathan.
• The Court directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, to admit Harish Rana and provide the required medical facilities to carry out the process of withdrawing artificial life support following legal and medical guidelines.
• Background: Harish Rana, a 31-year-old man, has been in a permanent vegetative state since 2013, after sustaining severe head injuries from a fall at his paying guest accommodation while studying at Panjab University.
• He suffers from 100 percent disability and quadriplegia, requiring continuous medical support for breathing, feeding, and daily care, with doctors indicating almost no chance of recovery.
• The Court observed that forcing a patient to remain alive through prolonged artificial medical intervention, when there is no realistic hope of recovery, may violate the principle of human dignity.
• The ruling stated that a person has the right to refuse prolonged artificial life support when it contradicts dignity in life and death, and therefore permitted the withdrawal under supervised conditions.
• The decision was based on medical evaluations by a primary and secondary medical board, as required under Supreme Court guidelines issued in 2023 for passive euthanasia cases.
• Medical boards from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, concluded that Harish Rana had negligible chances of recovery, which supported the Court’s decision.
• The case also highlighted the emotional and financial burden faced by families, with Rana’s father Ashok Rana stating that the family had spent ₹24,000 to ₹30,000 per month on treatment and life-support care for more than a decade.
• Passive euthanasia refers to the withdrawal or withholding of medical treatment that artificially prolongs life when recovery is impossible, and in India it is permitted under strict legal safeguards, including medical board approval, family consent, and judicial oversight.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Announces ₹24,000 Crore Development Projects During Assam Visit

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to Assam and inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth more than ₹24,000 crore aimed at strengthening infrastructure, energy, transport, and welfare of local communities.
• Land ownership certificates were distributed to tea garden workers, benefiting around 3.5 lakh families living in 825 tea gardens, giving them legal ownership rights over the land where they reside, addressing a long-standing issue faced by these communities for nearly two centuries.
• Tea tribes and Adivasi communities account for nearly 20 percent of Assam’s population and influence voting in about 35 of the 126 assembly constituencies, making them an important social and political group in the state.
• The Prime Minister also released the 22nd installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, under which ₹2,000 was transferred directly to eligible farmers through the Direct Benefit Transfer system, benefiting more than 9.3 crore farmers across India.
• Major projects announced include the Kopili Hydro Electric Project worth over ₹2,300 crore, capacity enhancement of the Numaligarh–Siliguri product pipeline of Oil India Limited, and Phase 1 of the North East Gas Grid connecting cities such as Guwahati, Numaligarh, Gohpur, Itanagar, and Dimapur, aimed at strengthening the energy infrastructure in the northeast region.
• The Prime Minister also inaugurated railway electrification projects worth about ₹2,250 crore, including the Rangiya–Murkongselek railway line (558 kilometre), Chaparmukh–Dibrugarh railway line (571 kilometre), and electrification of the Badarpur–Silchar and Badarpur–Churaibari railway routes to improve connectivity and reduce travel time.
• To strengthen inland waterways and tourism, foundation stones were laid for cruise terminals at Bishwanath Ghat and Neamati, and a Regional Centre of Excellence at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh was launched for maritime training and research.
• The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Prime Minister Ekta Mall in Guwahati, which will showcase One District One Product items, Geographical Indication tagged products, and traditional handicrafts and handloom products from Assam and other states to promote local artisans and tourism.
• Development projects were also virtually launched in Kokrajhar, and the Prime Minister highlighted the role of the Bodo Peace Accord in bringing peace and stability to the Bodoland region.

RECENT NEWS

• Assam achieved a major milestone in agricultural exports as GI-tagged Karbi Anglong Ginger was exported to London for the first time on 2 March 2026. The export was flagged off by Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora at Krishi Bhawan in Khanapara in Guwahati.

About Assam:

• Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Governor: Lakshman Prasad Acharya
• Capital: Dispur
• National Parks: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park, Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary, Nameri Wildlife Sanctuary

Purple Fest 2026 Celebrated at Rashtrapati Bhavan to Honour Divyangjan

• A special celebration called Purple Fest was organised at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi to recognise the talent, achievements, and aspirations of Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) and promote inclusion, respect, and awareness about their abilities.
• Thousands of participants attended the event, which featured various activities designed to celebrate and empower persons with disabilities.
• More than 8,000 Divyangjan visited Amrit Udyan, which was opened exclusively for them during the day-long celebration.
• Participants took part in interactive games, learning sessions, awareness stalls, exhibitions by organisations working for persons with disabilities, and social interaction and entertainment programmes.
• Several organisations supporting persons with disabilities set up stalls to provide information, guidance, and assistance.
• Droupadi Murmu, President of India, attended the festival at the Open Air Theatre in the President’s Estate and watched cultural performances presented by Divyangjan artists, including music, dance, and creative acts.
• The President encouraged persons with disabilities to move forward with confidence and determination, assuring them of continued support from both the government and society.
• The Purple Fest was organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to increase awareness about different types of disabilities, promote acceptance and respect, encourage equal opportunities, and build an inclusive society.

Bokaro Steel Plant Receives Bureau of Indian Standards Certification for Four New High Strength Low Alloy Steel Grades

• The Bokaro Steel Plant, a unit of the Steel Authority of India Limited, received certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards for four new steel grades – ISC 440 LA, ISC 470 LA, ISC 510 LA, and ISC 550 LA.
• The approval enables the plant to expand production of High Strength Low Alloy cold-rolled steel, strengthening its range of high-value steel products.
• Earlier, certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards covered steel grades only up to ISC 410. With the latest approval, the new grades are included under Indian Standard 513 (Part 2), ensuring compliance with national quality standards.
• The certification will improve product credibility and expand applications across sectors such as infrastructure, engineering, and manufacturing.
• The plant has also produced around 1,100 tonnes of 0.5 millimeter thick Indian Standard 18316 Low Silicon Grade Non-Grain Oriented Electrical Steel for the first time.
• This Non-Grain Oriented electrical steel is used in electric motors, generators, transformers, and hybrid or electric vehicle rotors, supporting the development of energy-efficient technologies.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND HONOURS

All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Indian Space Research Organisation Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Space Medicine Research

• The All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Indian Space Research Organisation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen medical research related to human spaceflight and develop healthcare solutions for astronauts involved in future Indian space missions.
• The agreement was signed by Srinivas, Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and Dinesh Kumar Singh, Director of the Human Space Flight Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
• The collaboration aims to promote research, education, and capacity building in the field of space medicine.
• The partnership will study the physiological and psychological effects of space travel on astronauts, including the impact of microgravity, radiation exposure, and isolation during long-duration space missions.
• The agreement covers microgravity research, astronaut health monitoring, space radiation studies, psychological health assessments, and specialised medical training.
• The initiative is expected to enhance India’s capabilities in space medicine and support the development of medical systems required for human space exploration missions.

About ISRO

• The Indian Space Research Organisation is the national space agency of India, headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It serves as the principal research and development arm of the Department of Space, overseen by the Prime Minister of India, with the Chairman of ISRO also serving as the chief executive of the DoS.
• Founded: 15 August 1969
• Dr. V. Narayanan is the current Chairman

Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India and Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce Sign MoU to Strengthen India–Canada Business Cooperation

• The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the India–Canada Business Roundtable held in New Delhi.
• The MoU aims to enhance trade, investment, and institutional cooperation between the business communities of India and Canada.
• Both chambers will exchange information on trade policies, economic regulations, and investment opportunities, enabling businesses to better understand regulatory frameworks and market prospects in both countries.
• The agreement promotes stronger institutional engagement and encourages joint ventures, production collaboration, and business partnerships to expand industrial and commercial cooperation.
• Both organisations will facilitate trade missions, business delegations, and participation in exhibitions, and will also jointly organise seminars, conferences, and workshops to strengthen business networking and capacity building.

About ASSOCHAM

• President: Sanjay Nayar
• Founder: Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani
• Founded: 1920
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Secretary General: Manish Singhal

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

INS Sudarshini Reaches Valletta, Malta, Strengthening India–Malta Maritime Relations

• The Indian Naval Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini arrived at the port of Valletta, Malta as part of its transoceanic expedition “Lokayan-26.”
• The visit highlights the strong maritime ties between India and Malta and is part of the ship’s 22,000-nautical-mile global voyage.
• Before reaching Malta, INS Sudarshini successfully transited the Suez Canal and made a port call at Alexandria in Egypt.
• On arrival, the Commanding Officer of INS Sudarshini called on Rachita Bhandari, the High Commissioner of India to Malta, emphasizing the Indian Navy’s role in strengthening bilateral relations.
• The ship’s visit supports the MAHASAGAR vision, promoting maritime cooperation and people-to-people connections.
• During the visit, the crew will hold professional interactions and courtesy meetings with the Armed Forces of Malta to enhance mutual trust and operational interoperability.
• Community outreach activities will also be conducted, including an “Open Ship” event for schoolchildren and the Indian diaspora in Malta.
• INS Sudarshini began its Lokayan-26 voyage from Kochi on 20 January 2026 and is currently in the second month of the expedition.
• After Malta, the ship will sail to the French coast to participate in the Escale à Sète Maritime Festival, representing India among the world’s renowned tall ships.

INS Trikand Completes Port Visit to Port Louis, Mauritius

• INS Trikand concluded her port call at Port Louis, Mauritius.
• The ship participated in the 58th Mauritius National Day Parade on 12 Mar 2026 with a marching contingent, naval band, and integral helicopter for the fly-past at Champ de Mars.
• Captain Sachin Kulkarni, Commanding Officer of INS Trikand, called on Mr Rampersad Sooroojebally, Commissioner of Police, and H.E Mr Anurag Srivastava, High Commissioner of India to Mauritius.
• The ship hosted a cultural evening onboard with Dr Mahend Gungapersad, Minister of Education and Human Resources of Mauritius, as the Chief Guest.
• Over 500 visitors attended the open ship event on 12 Mar 2026, including the Indian diaspora and local community.
• Professional interactions, cultural engagements, sports fixtures, and community outreach activities were conducted to strengthen India–Mauritius bilateral relations.
• Training capsules were provided for Mauritius National Coast Guard personnel on harbour and sea watchkeeping, firefighting, and damage control.
• On departure, INS Trikand undertook a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) and joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance with CGS Valiant.
• The port call aligns with India’s MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) and reinforces the maritime partnership between India and Mauritius.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ENVIRONMENT

Roopkund Lake: The Enigma of India’s Himalayan “Skeleton Lake”

• Roopkund Lake is located in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand at an altitude of about 5,020 metres, in the Chamoli district.
• The lake lies between the Himalayan peaks Trishul and Nanda Ghunti, forming part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Roopkund Lake is popularly known as “Skeleton Lake” because hundreds of human skeletons are found around and inside the lake.
• The lake is a small glacial lake measuring less than 40 metres in diameter and remains frozen for most of the year due to the extremely cold Himalayan climate.
• During summer, when the ice melts, bones and skulls become visible in the clear glacial water and along the lake’s edges.
• The skeletons were first widely reported in 1942 by forest ranger Hari Kishan Madhwal while patrolling near Nanda Devi National Park.
• Early investigations initially suspected the remains belonged to Japanese soldiers of World War II, but later research confirmed they were much older.
• Researchers discovered artefacts such as wooden objects, leather slippers, iron spearheads, and rings, preserved due to the cold environment.
• Studies by the Anthropological Survey of India in the 1950s found severe head injuries on many skulls, indicating deaths caused by heavy objects falling from above.
• Radiocarbon dating and DNA analysis revealed that the remains belong to over 300 individuals who died in at least two different historical events.
• Scientific studies indicate that some skeletons date back to around 800 CE, while others belong to later historical periods.
• The region is associated with the Nanda Devi Raj Jat pilgrimage, a sacred journey held once every 12 years in honour of Goddess Nanda.
• The Roopkund trek typically begins at Lohajung and passes through Wan and Bedni Bugyal, making it a popular Himalayan trekking route.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Van Allen Probe A Completes Final Re-Entry After 14 Years in Orbit

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that Van Allen Probe A made its final re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere after nearly 14 years in orbit.
• The satellite was launched in August 2012 along with its twin Van Allen Probe B to study the Van Allen Radiation Belts around Earth.
• Van Allen Probe A weighed about 600 kg (1,323 pounds) and repeatedly flew through the radiation belts to measure high-energy particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field.
• The mission was originally planned for 2 years, but both probes operated for nearly 7 years, providing extensive scientific data on Earth’s radiation belts.
• Van Allen Probe A stopped operations in 2019 after running out of fuel, making it unable to orient solar panels toward the Sun to generate power.
• The satellite re-entered Earth’s atmosphere around March 10–11, 2026, with a timing uncertainty of ±24 hours.
• Most of the satellite burned up during re-entry due to high atmospheric temperatures, with any remaining parts likely landing in the eastern Pacific Ocean, west of the Galapagos Islands.
• The re-entry occurred earlier than initially predicted (2034) due to increased solar activity, which caused atmospheric drag on the spacecraft.
• Van Allen Probe B is still in orbit and is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere before 2030, but is non-operational and has drifted from its original orbit.
• The mission has provided valuable data enhancing the understanding of solar events, satellite operations, and astronaut safety.

About NASA:

• Established: 1958
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

International Cricketers Suspended in Bim10 Corruption Case

• International cricketers Javon Searles, Trevon Griffith, and Chitranjan Rathod have been provisionally suspended in connection with the Bim10 corruption case.
• The suspension was jointly announced by the International Cricket Council and Cricket West Indies.
• The charges relate to alleged violations of anti-corruption regulations during the 2023–24 Bim10 tournament held in Barbados.
• The investigation revealed multiple alleged breaches of anti-corruption codes during the tournament.
• Javon Searles faces four charges under the Cricket West Indies Anti-Corruption Code.
• Chitranjan Rathod has been charged with three offences under the Cricket West Indies Anti-Corruption Code.
• Trevon Griffith faces four charges under the Cricket West Indies Anti-Corruption Code and one additional charge under the International Cricket Council Anti-Corruption Code.
• Key allegations in the case include match manipulation, encouraging corruption, failure to report corruption approaches, non-cooperation with investigation, and obstructing the investigation.
• The International Cricket Council and Cricket West Indies are conducting a wider investigation into alleged corruption linked to the Bim10 tournament.
• The accused players have been given 14 days from March 11, 2026 to respond to the charges, during which they may admit or contest the allegations through the disciplinary process.
• The provisional suspensions will remain in effect until the disciplinary authorities review the case and deliver a final decision.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Consumer Rights Day 2026 – March 15

• World Consumer Rights Day is observed globally on March 15 every year to raise awareness about consumer rights and promote fair and ethical market practices.
• In 2026, World Consumer Rights Day is observed on March 15, highlighting the need to protect consumer interests and address market abuses and social injustices that affect consumers.
• The observance aims to ensure that the rights of consumers are respected and protected across the world.
• The day was inspired by John F. Kennedy, former President of the United States, who sent a special message to the United States Congress on March 15, 1962, formally addressing the issue of consumer rights.
• In his address, John F. Kennedy became the first world leader to recognise consumer rights as an important public issue.
• The global consumer movement first observed World Consumer Rights Day in 1983, and since then it has been used every year to mobilise action on key consumer issues and awareness campaigns.
• The day encourages governments, consumer organisations, and citizens to work together to protect consumer rights and promote responsible business practices.

National Vaccination Day 2026 – March 16

• National Vaccination Day is observed across India on March 16 every year to highlight the importance of vaccination and its role in protecting public health.
• In 2026, National Vaccination Day is observed on March 16, marking the launch of the Pulse Polio immunisation programme in India in 1995.
• The day commemorates the administration of the first dose of the Oral Polio Vaccine in India on March 16, 1995 as part of the Pulse Polio Campaign launched by the Government of India.
• Under the programme, two oral drops of the polio vaccine were administered to children aged 0 to 5 years to protect them from polio infection.
• The Pulse Polio Campaign played a crucial role in eliminating polio from the country, with India being declared polio-free in 2014 by the World Health Organization.
• The observance aims to raise awareness about immunisation, encourage vaccination, and recognise the efforts of healthcare workers involved in national vaccination programmes.

Daily CA One- Liner: March 15 & 16

• The Supreme Court of India permitted the withdrawal of artificial life support in the Harish Rana passive euthanasia case, marking an important development in the legal and ethical debate on end-of-life decisions in India
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to Assam and inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth more than ₹24,000 crore aimed at strengthening infrastructure, energy, transport, and welfare of local communities
• A special celebration called Purple Fest was organised at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi to recognise the talent, achievements, and aspirations of Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) and promote inclusion, respect, and awareness about their abilities
• The Bokaro Steel Plant, a unit of the Steel Authority of India Limited, received certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards for four new steel grades – ISC 440 LA, ISC 470 LA, ISC 510 LA, and ISC 550 LA
• The All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Indian Space Research Organisation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen medical research related to human spaceflight and develop healthcare solutions for astronauts involved in future Indian space missions
• The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the India–Canada Business Roundtable held in New Delhi.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is observing the 6th edition of Digital Payments Awareness Week (DPAW) from March 9–13, 2026 to promote safe digital payment usage.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹2.70 lakh on Manappuram Finance Limited for non-compliance with RBI guidelines.
• Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in India earned over ₹28,600 crore in the last five years by selling third-party financial products such as insurance (life and non-life), mutual funds, credit cards, and demat accounts.
• Private sector banks in India collected about ₹11,000 crore between FY2022-23 and FY2024-25 as penalties for non-maintenance of minimum balance in savings accounts.
• Razorpay, India’s omnichannel payments and banking platform, launched the world’s first Agent Studio for payments at FTX 2026, built using the Claude Agent SDK from Anthropic.
• National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has moved forward with its long-awaited Initial Public Offering (IPO) by completing the selection of key intermediaries for the proposed listing.
• Bank of Baroda raised a USD 500 million five-year syndicated term loan through its IFSC Banking Unit in GIFT City, Gujarat.
• South Indian Bank (SIB) has launched Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) payment services through its internet banking platform SIBerNet.
• India’s retail inflation rose to 21% in February 2026, compared to 2.74% in January 2026, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• PayU has entered into a strategic partnership with ai, the creator of BharatGPT, to enable AI-driven agentic payments in India.
• According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the Agriculture & Allied Sector contributes about 18% to India’s Gross Value Added (GVA).
• The Indian Naval Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini arrived at the port of Valletta, Malta as part of its transoceanic expedition “Lokayan-26.”
• INS Trikand concluded her port call at Port Louis, Mauritius.
• Roopkund Lake is located in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand at an altitude of about 5,020 metres, in the Chamoli district.
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that Van Allen Probe A made its final re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere after nearly 14 years in orbit.
• International cricketers Javon Searles, Trevon Griffith, and Chitranjan Rathod have been provisionally suspended in connection with the Bim10 corruption case
• World Consumer Rights Day is observed globally on March 15 every year to raise awareness about consumer rights and promote fair and ethical market practices.
• National Vaccination Day is observed across India on March 16 every year to highlight the importance of vaccination and its role in protecting public health