Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of March 22nd to 28th March 2026. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBIClerk 2026 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

Weekly Current Affairs March 22nd to 28th PDF Download

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

• World Meteorological Day 2026 was observed globally on 23 March 2026 to highlight the importance of meteorology and weather-related services in protecting lives and supporting sustainable development.
• World Water Day 2026 was observed globally on 22 March 2026 to highlight the importance of freshwater resources and promote their sustainable management.
• World Tuberculosis Day 2026 was observed globally on 24 March 2026 to raise awareness about the global epidemic of Tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease.
• United Nations French Language Day is observed annually on 20 March across the globe.
• The International Day of the Unborn Child is observed annually on 25 March across the world.
• The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed annually on 25 March across the world.
• World Theatre Day was observed globally on 27 March 2026.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING, FINANCE & BUSINESS

• The Government of India has introduced Credit Guarantee Scheme for Microfinance Institutions-2.0 (CGSMFI-2.0) to support lending to small borrowers.
• Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman launched PRARAMBH 2026, the Income Tax Department’s nationwide awareness campaign on the Income Tax Act, 2025, in New Delhi.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹31.80 lakh on The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) for non-compliance with its directions.
• Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited, a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF), launched the ‘Krishi Sakhi Initiative’.
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) released its ‘Global Trade Outlook and Statistics – March 2026’
• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), released the NIRYAT (National Import-Export Record for Yearly Analysis of Trade) data for FY 2024–25.
• The Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs (MCGS-MSME) was launched in January 2025 to improve credit access for MSMEs through National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC).
• Lloyd’s of London is set to establish operations in GIFT City, marking a major step in developing India as a regional reinsurance hub.
• Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched an Overdraft (OD) facility on Credit Line via UPI for verified women Self-Help Group (SHG) members holding Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
• RNFI Services, through its platform Relipay, has launched a nationwide UPI QR-based cash withdrawal service in partnership with Jio Payments Bank.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has amended regulations for Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to improve operational flexibility and investment efficiency.
• As on February, 2026, the total unclaimed amount transferred by Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund of RBI is ₹60,518 crore, while the unclaimed insurance amount with insurers is ₹8,973.89 crore, and the value of unclaimed amounts in mutual funds under SEBI regulations is ₹3,749.34 crore.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has reduced the minimum investment threshold in Social Impact Funds (SIFs) from ₹2 lakh to ₹1,000, making them accessible to retail investors.
• The regulatory and supervisory framework of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) ensures that cooperative banks operate with financial transparency.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting schedule for FY 2026-2027, with the first meeting on April 6-8, 2026, and the final meeting on February 3-5, 2027.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed allowing gift cards / prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) for investing in mutual funds to boost financial inclusion.
• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) conferred the National Award for Outstanding Performance in Self-Help Groups (SHG)-Bank Linkage 2024-25 to Karnataka Grameena Bank (KGB) for its significant contribution to rural economic empowerment and financial inclusion.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved a wide-ranging set of regulatory changes covering market intermediaries, foreign investors, alternative investment funds (AIF), and governance norms at its 213th board meeting held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued instructions in 2017 on limiting customer liability in unauthorised electronic banking transactions.
• Razorpay, an Indian fintech company, partnered with Sarvam AI, an Indian AI startup, to introduce voice-led, multilingual digital commerce solutions in India.
• L&T Finance Limited. (LTF) has become a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), strengthening its sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework.
• Goldman Sachs has lowered India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for 2026 to 5.9%, down from 7% before the US-Iran conflict.
• India’s health insurance sector is witnessing robust growth of around 9%, with total premiums exceeding ₹1.2 lakh crore in 2024–25, driven by rising awareness and increasing demand for financial protection.
• S&P Global has raised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) forecast by 40 basis points (bps) to 7.1% for FY27, reflecting strong economic momentum despite global uncertainties.
• HDFC Securities Limited launched a next-generation trading platform “NxtOption” for retail investors to analyse, build, and execute Futures & Options (F&O) strategies.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has partnered with Google to introduce a ‘verified’ badge for investment apps on the Play Store, aimed at combating rising digital financial frauds and scams.
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan agreements worth ₹16,420 crore with the Government of India (GoI) for 4 major projects.
• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari launched the Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT), sponsored by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
• The Digital India BHASHa Interface for India (BHASHINI) Division (DIBD) under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under Ministry of Finance (MoF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the initiative “BHASHINI for Seva–Sanchalan”.
• The Department of Financial Services (DFS), under the chairmanship of the Secretary (Financial Services), has been conducting video conferences since 2024 with Reserve Bank of India, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, Public & Private Sector Banks, Insurance Companies, Financial Institutions, and 20 randomly selected CPGRAMS complainants.
• Nippon India ETF Gold BeES, the flagship fund of Nippon India Mutual Fund, ranked 6th globally among the top 15 gold ETFs by fund flows, as per the World Gold Council.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Master Direction – Unique Identifiers in Financial Markets, 2026 to consolidate multiple circulars into a single comprehensive framework for improved clarity and compliance.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released Payments Vision 2028, continuing its practice of issuing strategic payment system roadmaps since 2001.
• The Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL) crossed ₹20,000 crore in Gross Premium for FY 2025–26, reflecting strong trust of policyholders, intermediaries, and stakeholders in public sector insurance.
• The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) organised a hybrid outreach programme in New Delhi on the Duty Deferment Scheme for Eligible Manufacturer Importers (EMI) under the Union Budget 2026–27 trade facilitation initiative.
• The Government of India (GoI) has retained the inflation target at 4% for the next 5 years (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031).
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development released its OECD Economic Outlook, Interim Report – March 2026 titled “Testing Resilience”.
• Lakshya Asset Management Company (AMC) has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to commence its Mutual Fund (MF) business in India.
• The Government of India (GoI), in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has finalised the borrowing programme for the first half (H1) of Financial Year (FY) 2026–27.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹3.10 lakh on Pine Labs Limited for non-compliance with regulatory guidelines.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in consultation with the Government of India, has fixed the Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit at ₹2,50,000 crore for the first half of FY 2026–27 (April–September 2026).
• The Government of India aims to ensure the availability of a banking outlet (Bank branch / Business Correspondent (BC) / India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)) within 5 kilometres of all inhabited villages in the country.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹58.50 lakh on Bank of India for regulatory non-compliance.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued directions on Net Open Position in INR (NOP-INR) for Authorised Dealers (ADs) under the Master Direction on Risk Management and Inter-Bank Dealings (July 05, 2016).
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has extended the suspension of trading in derivatives of seven agricultural commodities till 31 March 2027.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) aims to maintain sufficient liquidity in the banking system to ensure that the productive requirements of the economy, including the rural sector, are met and that monetary policy transmission to market rates remains effective.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL AND STATE NEWS

• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, launched India’s first Liquefied Petroleum Gas Automated Teller Machine in Gurugram, Haryana.
• The Lok Sabha extended the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the One Nation One Election proposal until the first day of the last week of the Monsoon Session 2026.
• The Kalinjar Fort Hill in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh has been declared a National Geo-Heritage Site by the Geological Survey of India.
• The Government of India launched the Resilience and Logistic Intervention for Export Promotion (RELIEF) Scheme 2026 on 19 March 2026 under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to support exporters affected by disruptions in West Asia, especially near the Strait of Hormuz.
• The National Productivity Council (NPC) signed an agreement with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to function as the Environment Audit Designated Agency (EADA).
• The Telangana State Budget 2026 was presented by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka in the State Assembly.
• The New Income-tax Rules 2026 will come into effect from 1 April 2026 as part of reforms under the Income-tax Act, 2025.
• Tata Steel Limited inaugurated India’s first scrap-based Electric Arc Furnace facility in Ludhiana, Punjab, marking a major step towards sustainable steel production in India.
• The National District Mineral Foundation Summit 2026 was scheduled to be held on 23–24 March 2026 at SCOPE Convention Centre, New Delhi.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the longest-serving elected head of government in India, completing 8,931 days in office and entering his 25th year in executive leadership.
• Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, India’s first private Artificial Intelligence-augmented multidisciplinary university, launched a Centre of Excellence in Smart Healthcare.
• The Central Electricity Authority under the Ministry of Power released the midterm review of the 20th Electric Power Survey titled “National Generation Adequacy Plan (2026–27 to 2035–36)”.
• The Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Communications launched the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2026, the second edition of its flagship initiative under the 100 5G Use Case Laboratories Programme.
• The National Biodiversity Authority, a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, constituted a multi-disciplinary Expert Committee on Invasive Alien Species under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (amended in 2023).
• The Government of India is set to introduce the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026 to formalise the administrative control and leadership structure in Central Armed Police Forces.
• Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi, presented the Delhi Budget 2026–27 with a total outlay of ₹1,03,700 crore (₹1.03 trillion).
• The Government of Gujarat passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026 in the State Assembly, becoming the second state after Uttarakhand (2024) to pass a Uniform Civil Code law.
• The Government of India constituted seven empowered committees to manage the economic, energy, trade, logistics, inflation, and national security impact arising from the escalating West Asia crisis.
• Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, introduced major reforms in the ticket cancellation and refund policy of Indian Railways.
• The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council in Meghalaya passed an amendment making a Scheduled Tribe certificate mandatory to contest its elections.
• The NITI Aayog sanctioned ₹1.55 crore for the Rural Innovations Incubation Skilling and Entrepreneurship (RISE) Centre located at Guntupalli in NTR District.
• The Government revamped the PM Internship Scheme in March 2026 to improve participation and outcomes.
• The Lok Sabha passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026.
• India’s sports economy crossed the $2 billion mark in 2025, reaching ₹18,864 crore ($2.13 billion).
• The Supreme Court of India ruled in March 2026 that Scheduled Caste (SC) status is limited to persons professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism.
• The Government of Gujarat digitised 20 high-demand citizen services under the Sugam Digital Gujarat Initiative to promote faceless, cashless and paperless governance.
• The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, approved India’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2031–2035.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Phase I of the Noida International Airport on March 28, marking a major milestone in India’s aviation and infrastructure development.
• The Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha after receiving approval from the Union Cabinet.
• The Department of Fertilizers highlighted the successful implementation of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, along with the Government’s continued financial commitment to keeping agricultural inputs affordable for farmers.
• The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting released the TV Ratings Policy 2026, introducing comprehensive guidelines to regulate television audience measurement in India.
• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited operationalised India’s first Port of Refuge (PoR), marking a major step towards strengthening India’s maritime security and emergency response infrastructure.
• The Government of India has extended the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE Scheme) till 31st March 2028, with a financial outlay of ₹10,900 crore, to support the growth of India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem.
• India reported 24,700 maternal deaths in 2023, placing it among the countries with the highest maternal mortality burden globally, according to a global analysis published in The Lancet.
• A panel appointed by the Supreme Court of India has urged the Union Government to withdraw the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, raising serious concerns over its impact on transgender rights.
• The Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, will attend the G7 Summit 2026, scheduled to be held from 15th to 17th June 2026 in France.
• The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad launched the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence marking a major boost to India’s education and technology ecosystem.
• India’s first hydrogen-powered trainset successfully completed oscillation trials, marking a major milestone in sustainable transportation and clean energy adoption by Indian Railways.
• The Rajasthan Government has launched the Industrial Park Promotion Policy 2026 under the leadership of Bhajanlal Sharma to attract investments, generate employment and develop world-class industrial parks.
• A Great Indian Bustard chick was successfully hatched in the wild in Gujarat after nearly a decade, marking a major milestone in wildlife conservation.
• Indian Railways imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation following a food quality complaint on the Patna– Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express.
• The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme has been launched by the Government of India to modernise railway infrastructure and improve passenger amenities across railway stations.
• The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) is a voluntary pension scheme launched in 2019 by the Government of India to provide social security to unorganised sector workers.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Senior ambassadors, diplomats, policymakers, and agribusiness leaders from over ten nations formally launched the Asia Africa Agri Alliance (AAAA) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has raised concerns over the proposed Aghanashini–Vedavathi river-linking project, urging India to strictly follow World Heritage conservation norms under the World Heritage Convention, 1972.
• Agriculture is central to India’s economy, with 80% of rural women engaged in agriculture and allied sectors (33% as labourers, 48% as self-employed farmers).
• The Government of India (GoI) signed a working arrangement with the European Union (EU) in the field of industrial aviation production to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

• Shri T.N. Natarajan assumed charge as Director (Commercial) at Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
• Shri Krishna Kumar Thakur, a 1998 batch officer of the Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS), has assumed charge as Director (Personnel) at NMDC Limited, India’s largest iron ore producer.
• UNIQLO has appointed Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah as its brand ambassador in India, marking a strategic collaboration between sports and lifestyle fashion.
• Jose Joseph Kattoor, appointed as non-executive part-time chairman (Independent Director) of South Indian Bank for three years, following RBI approval.
• A. R. Rahman has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Yamaha Music India Private Limited.
• Chartered Accountant (CA) P.V. Narayana Rao has been appointed as a Co-opted Member of the Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the term 2026-27.
• Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti has assumed charge as Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
• Balendra Shah (35), leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and a former rapper, was sworn in as the youngest Prime Minister of Nepal after a landslide electoral victory.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

• William Dalrymple won the Mark Lynton History Prize 2026 for his book The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World.
• Indian actress Rituparna Sengupta was honoured with the Women Empowerment Award at the House of Commons, United Kingdom (UK) in 2026.
• Kaveh Madani, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, was named the Stockholm Water Prize 2026 Laureate.
• Bhupathiraju Anmish Varma, a native of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, created history by setting a Guinness World Records record for the fastest time to climb the Seven Volcanic Summits (male category).
• Kalpana Soren, Member of Legislative Assembly from Gandey, Jharkhand, was honoured with the Women Empowerment Trailblazer Award 2026.
• Veteran Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Film Festival of Delhi 2026, recognising his 50-year contribution to Indian cinema.
• The Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards 2026 recognised 24 journalists across 19 categories for their outstanding contributions to Indian journalism.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

• India and Indonesia strengthened cultural cooperation through collaboration on the restoration of the Prambanan Temple Compounds.
• India and Bhutan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Postal Cooperation to strengthen bilateral collaboration in the postal sector.
• India and Italy held the 9th round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi to review their bilateral strategic partnership and discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND REPORTS

• As per the Hurun Report 2026, the number of self-made women billionaires worldwide reached 150, with combined wealth rising to $470 billion.
• China became India’s third-largest export destination in February 2026, overtaking Netherlands.
• The Global Terrorism Index 2026 highlighted that terrorism remains a serious global threat despite a significant decline in deaths and incidents in 2025.
• Narendra Modi remains the world’s most popular global leader with an approval rating of 68%, according to a survey by Morning Consult.
• Loni near Ghaziabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh, has overtaken Delhi to become the world’s most polluted city, according to the 2025 World Air Quality Report released by

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

• Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited (KMCC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL), has entered into agreements to divest 30.99% stake in Infina Finance Private Limited.
• Svatantra Microfin Private Limited (SMPL) completed its amalgamation with Chaitanya India Fin Credit Private Limited (CIFCPL) and Svatantra Holding Private Limited (SHPL), forming the 2nd largest Non-Banking Financial Company–Microfinance Institution (NBFC-MFI) in India.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) Bank’s ₹39,618 crore investment in Shriram Finance Ltd, marking the largest FDI in India’s NBFC sector.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the subscription of equity share capital of Aditya Birla Renewables Limited by GIP EM Star Pte. Ltd. (Acquirer).
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved Avenir Investment RSC Limited’s acquisition of a controlling stake in Sammaan Capital Limited (formerly Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited).
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of shareholding in Groww Asset Management Limited by State Street Global Advisors.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

• The Indian Army Southern Command conducted Exercise ‘Amogh Jwala’ at the Babina Field Firing Ranges, Uttar Pradesh from March 6 to 18, 2026.
• The Indian Navy is set to commission its latest stealth Frigate, Taragiri (F41) on 03 April 2026 at Visakhapatnam, with the ceremony presided over by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh.
• The Indian Navy (IN) frigate INS Nilgiri participated in the sea phase of Exercise Kakadu 2026 in Australia as part of its deployment to the Western Pacific.
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh chaired a Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting for the Ministry of Defence on the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in New Delhi, discussing defence, infrastructure development, and strategic initiatives for national security and operational preparedness.
• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed two contracts worth ₹858 crore in New Delhi, aimed at strengthening India’s defence capabilities and maintenance infrastructure.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated Project “Vayu Baan”, India’s first helicopter-launched Unmanned Aerial System (UAS).
• The Indian Navy (IN) launched Operation “Urja Suraksha” (Energy Protection) to escort, guide, and safeguard India-bound energy shipments through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
• The Indian Army’s Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) Pravartak Technologies Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) to boost indigenous defence technology development.
• The Indian Navy (IN) successfully completed the harbour training phase of the IOS SAGAR initiative at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi, marking a major step in regional maritime cooperation.
• In a boost to India’s defence capability, the Indian Army received the first batch of 2,000 ‘Prahar’ Light Machine Guns (LMGs) under the Make in India initiative.
• Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh chaired the first meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) to monitor the evolving situation in West Asia.
• The Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini arrived at the historic port city of Sète as part of the transoceanic expedition Lokayan-26.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPS & PORTALS

• Pondicherry University has launched a mobile application named ‘Blue Voice’ to improve safety and disaster preparedness among coastal fishing communities.
• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) announced the operationalization of a comprehensive Internal Audit Portal to shift audit processes from manual tracking to a real-time, centralized digital ecosystem.
• Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari and Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics & IT Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the PRISM-SG (Portal for Rail-Road Inspection & Stages Management – Steel Girders) Portal in New Delhi to enhance efficiency, transparency, and inter-agency coordination in infrastructure development.
• The National Housing Bank (NHB), the apex housing finance institution in India, has launched the Gruh Sugam Portal to simplify and digitise access to home loans for defence personnel, paramilitary forces, and government employees.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• The Government of India (GoI) established a pilot plant for manufacturing Neodymium-Iron-Boron (Nd-Fe-B) rare earth permanent magnets at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T).
• Elon Musk has launched the “Terafab” project to manufacture in-house AI chips for robotics, artificial intelligence, and space technologies.
• The first edition of Bharat Electricity Summit (BES 2026) was held from March 19–22, 2026 at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi.
• Researchers from IIT-Kharagpur and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, conducted a study on the formation of titanium-rich basalts on the Moon, published in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.
• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), launched three major initiatives in New Delhi, Delhi: National AI Skilling Initiative, MyWAVES, and Advanced Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) with in-built satellite tuners in TV sets to enhance access to Doordarshan (DD) Free Dish
• Agnikul Cosmos successfully conducted a critical booster engine test of its rocket engine Agnite at the Agnikul Launchpad (ALP-01), Chennai, Tamil Nadu in March 2026.
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has scrapped its Lunar Gateway space station plan, which was intended to orbit the Moon, and will instead construct a $20 billion lunar surface base, marking a major strategic shift in the Artemis Program.
• The National Commission for Women (NCW) has collaborated with Truecaller, a global communications platform, to launch a nationwide Women’s Digital Safety Awareness Initiative in India.
• AI, a Government of India-supported Centre of Excellence at IIT Ropar, has launched an initiative to deploy 100 AI-based weather stations across Punjab by 30 March 2026.
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released a new and more detailed map of the ocean floor using data from the SWOT satellite, addressing a long-standing gap in seabed exploration.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : PERSON IN NEWS

• Stuti Pradhan, a young leader from Sikkim, has been selected to represent India at the World Youth Parliament (WYP), highlighting India’s growing youth role in global policy, leadership, and diplomacy.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SUMMITS & CONFERENCE

• India has submitted proposals for the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) focusing on food security and the livelihoods of traditional fishermen.
• The United Nations (UN) will host the first-ever High Seas Summit in January 2027 at its headquarters in New York.
• The 6th BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry Women Empowerment (BRICS CCI WE) Summit was held from 21 to 23 March 2026 in New Delhi, Delhi.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ENVIRONMENT

• Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have identified a new species of wild kiwi named “Actinidia indica” in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Syntrichia caninervis is a resilient desert moss identified as a potential candidate for future Mars colonisation.
• Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new cockroach species named Neoloboptera peninsularis in the Deccan Peninsula, specifically Nathachiwadi, Pune, Maharashtra.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

• India secured the hosting rights for the World Indoor Athletics Championships 2028, marking the first time the country will host this prestigious indoor athletics event.
• The Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 will be held from 25 March to 3 April 2026 in Chhattisgarh.
• LeBron James became the all-time leader in National Basketball Association regular season games played, appearing in his 1,612th game for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Orlando Magic.
• Arundhati Reddy was named the International Cricket Council Women’s Player of the Month for February 2026 for her outstanding performance in the Twenty20 International series against Australia.
• Sahibzada Farhan was named the International Cricket Council Men’s Player of the Month for February 2026 following his outstanding performance in the International Cricket Council Men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2026.
• India won two bronze medals in team events at the Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament Stage 1.
• International Olympic Committee (IOC) to restrict women’s category to biological females from 2028 Olympics (Los Angeles).
• Gurjant Singh, forward of the India men's national field hockey team, announced his retirement from international hockey at the Hockey India Annual Awards ceremony held in New Delhi.
• Sheetal Devi was honoured with the ‘Para Archer of the Year 2025’ award by World Archery.
• West Indies player Sunil Narine became the most capped overseas player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after surpassing Kieron Pollard, who had played 189 matches.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHOR

• Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize 2014 laureate, released his latest book Karuna: The Power of Compassion in March 2026.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

• Datta Meghe, a veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Member of Parliament (MP), passed away at the age of 89 in Maharashtra.
• Lionel Robert Jospin, former Prime Minister of France, passed away at the age of 88 in Paris, France.