27th March 2026

1. Overview of BRICS CCI WE Summit 2026 Held in New Delhi
2. NCW and Truecaller Partner to Strengthen Women’s Digital Safety
3. QS World University Rankings 2026: IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and IIM Ahmedabad Topped Among Indian Institutes
4. Cochin Chamber signs MoU with Latvian Chamber to strengthen bilateral trade
5. Bengali Writer Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay Selected for Saraswati Samman 2025
6. CCI Approves Japan’s MUFG Bank Proposal to Acquire 20% Stake in SFL for Rs 39,618 crore
7. International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims 2026
8. International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2026
9. E A Rajendran Passed Away at 71: Remembering the Malayalam Cinema and Theatre Veteran
10. World Theatre Day 2026: Celebrating the Power of Stage, Culture and Global Harmony
11. OECD Projects 7.6% Growth for India in FY26, Warns of Slowdown Ahead
12. Birute Galdikas Dies at 79: Legendary Orangutan Researcher Passes Away
13. US Dollar to Feature Donald Trump’s Signature for First Time in 165 Years
14. NHB Launches Gruh Sugam Portal
15. India Wins Two Bronze Medals at Asia Cup Archery Stage 1
16. Operation Urja Suraksha Explained: India’s Naval Mission for Energy Security
17. BBC Appoints Matt Brittin as New Director-General: What You Need to Know

National News

National Commission for Women and Truecaller Launch Digital Safety Initiative

• What: The National Commission for Women (NCW) partnered with Truecaller to launch a nationwide Women’s Digital Safety Awareness Initiative to improve digital safety awareness and strengthen access to institutional support for women across India.
• Tell me more:
  • NCW and Truecaller created a toolkit, shared safety tips, promoted the 24×7 helpline, verified it on Truecaller, and ran awareness campaigns to help women stay safe online.
  • The initiative created a structured framework for awareness of digital risks and access to the NCW 24×7 helpline.
  • NCW and Truecaller launched “TrueCyberSakhi: A Digital Safety Toolkit, Created for Her”.
  • NCW functions as a statutory body under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 for protecting women’s rights.

International News

BRICS CCI WE Summit in New Delhi

• What: The BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry Women Empowerment Vertical (BRICS CCI WE) organised the 6th Annual Women’s Summit 2026 in Hyatt Regency, New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • Theme of the summit: “Women in Innovation, Science Leadership, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (WISE) – Inspiring Change, Shaping Tomorrow”
    • The WISE initiative launched in July 2025 aimed to build global partnerships and support women in leadership roles.
  • The summit unveiled a book titled “WISE Collective: Echoes of Excellence”.
  • The convocation of the 3rd BRICS CCI WE Global Women Leadership Programme took place.
  • Shabana Azmi received the “Trailblazer: Living Legend” recognition. Debjani Ghosh received the lifetime achievement honour and highlighted women’s role in policymaking.
  • Former minister Meenakshi Lekhi unveiled Mission ShakthiSAT to highlight and promote women’s growing role in science, technology, and space exploration.

Trump Signature to Appear on US Currency

• What: The United States Treasury announced that President Donald Trump’s signature, along with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, will appear on new US paper currency to mark the country’s 250th anniversary.
• Tell me more:
  • The first updated $100 notes are expected from June, and other denominations will follow.
  • The change removes the treasurer’s signature for the first time since 1861. This is the first time a President’s signature will appear on US paper currency.
  • A federal panel approved a 24-carat gold commemorative coin with Trump’s image.

Banking and Economy

CCI Approves MUFG Investment in Shriram Finance

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved a $4.4 billion investment by Japan’s MUFG Bank in Shriram Finance, enabling acquisition of a 20% stake and marking a major foreign direct investment in India’s financial services sector.

NHB Launches Gruh Sugam Portal For Home Loans

• The National Housing Bank (NHB) launched the Gruh Sugam Portal to enable defence personnel and government employees to access home loans digitally.
• Government units first register on the portal. Employees then submit a simple loan request. The portal sends this request to lenders. Lenders send loan offers. Employees compare these offers and choose one.

Reports and Indices

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026

• Total institutes: QS rankings covered around 1,900 institutions across 100 countries.
• Top Indian institutes with subjects:

Engineering / Mining

Management & Marketing

Computer Science and Information Systems

Medicine & Life Sciences

Arts & Humanities

Other Subjects

GDP Forecasts

OECD Projects India Growth Amid Global Risks

• What: The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) projected India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 7.6% in the current fiscal.
• Tell me more:

Defence News

Indian Navy Launches Urja Suraksha Operation

• What: The Indian Navy launched Operation Urja Suraksha to escort and protect India-bound energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring secure energy supply amid rising tensions in West Asia.
• Tell me more:
  • The operation ensures safe passage from Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea.
  • The Navy also escorted LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi and crude oil tanker Jag Laadki.

Awards

Hara Parbati Katha Wins Saraswati Samman

• What: The Bengali novel Hara Parbati Katha by Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay received the Saraswati Samman 2025.
• Tell me more:
  • The Saraswati Samman was instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation in 1991 to recognise outstanding literary work written by an Indian citizen.
  • The award considers works published during the last 10 years. The award includes a cash prize of ₹15 lakh, a citation, and a plaque.

Important Days

International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims 2026 – March 24

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade – March 25

• Theme: Justice in Action

World Theatre Day 2026 – March 27

• Theme: Theatre and a Culture of Peace
• World Theatre Day was established in 1962 by the International Theatre Institute.
• Each year, a renowned personality delivers an international message reflecting on theatre’s role in society. In 2026, this honour goes to American actor Willem Dafoe.

Sports

Asia Cup 2026 Archery Stage I Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand

Memorandum of Understanding

India Signs MoU Latvia to Boost Trade Cooperation

• What: The Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation, creating new business and investment opportunities between India and Latvia.
• Tell me more:
  • The Cochin Chamber became the second Chamber in India and first in South India to sign such an MoU with Latvia.
  • Latvia’s membership in the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ensures political stability and regulatory transparency. In 2024, India opened Indian Embassy in Riga, Latvia.
  • India exports rubber, chemicals, and vegetables to Latvia.

Appointments

BBC Appoints Matt Brittin as Director General

• The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) appointed former Google executive Matt Brittin as Director General.

Miscellaneous

Malayalam Actor EA Rajendran Passes Away

• Veteran Malayalam actor and director E A Rajendran passed away at age 71 in Kollam, marking the loss of a versatile artist who contributed significantly to theatre, cinema, and television in Kerala.

Birutė Galdikas, Orangutan Conservation Worker, Dies

• Nationality: German
• Birutė Mary Galdikas was an orangutan conservationist, researcher, and anthropologist, who worked extensively in Indonesia.

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