11th March 2026

1. India and Uzbekistan Launches Pharma-Nutraceutical Corridor for Eurasian Market
2. AIIMS and ISRO Sign MoU to Advance Space Medicine Research in India
3. FATF Adds Kuwait, Papua New Guinea to Increased Monitoring List
4. NATO Commences Biennial Arctic Military Exercise ‘Cold Response’ Across Finland and Norway
5. PhonePe Launches ‘RuPay On-The-Go’ NCMC Card for Seamless Digital Transit Payments
6. IRDAI Grants Final Approval to Allianz Jio Reinsurance and Kiwi General Insurance to Start Operations
7. Nashik Municipal Corporation Lists Maharashtra’s First ULB Green Municipal Bond on NSE
8. Bokaro Steel Plant Receives BIS Certification for Four New Steel Grades
9. AquaAirX Unveils India’s First Amphibious Surveillance Drone ‘AVATAAR’
10. International Day of Women Judges 2026
11. No Smoking Day 2026: Why March 11 Is the Day to Start to Quit Tobacco
12. Hical Firm to Supply Parts for Rafale Fighter Jets
13. Dassault Aviation unveils long-range Falcon 10X business jet
14. New Delhi Hosts World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026
15. India-New Zealand Plan Major Sports Partnership as 100 Years of Sporting Ties Approach
16. Mizoram Assembly Passed Resolution To Inclusion of Mizo Language in 8th Schedule
17. Maharashtra State Assembly Passes Key Revenue Reform Bills
18. International Malaria Conference 2026 Ends With Big Health Goals
19. NCB Dismantles Pan-India Drug Network by ‘Team Kalki’
20. Indian Railways Launches ‘SHINE’ App: A New Digital Shield for Women Employees
21. Inter Regional Transmission Capacity to Reach 143 GW by 2027
22. IIT Bombay & Honeywell Launch Sustainability Skills Hub
23. UP Launches Project GANGA to Bring High Speed Internet to 20 Lakh Rural Homes
24. India’s Cheetah Population Reaches 53 After Jwala’s Five Cubs at Kuno National Park
25. Yes Bank designates Vinay Tonse as MD & CEO

National News

India and Uzbekistan Launch Pharmaceutical–Nutraceutical Trade Corridor

• What: India and Uzbekistan launched a structured pharmaceutical and nutraceutical trade corridor to expand access to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the wider Eurasian healthcare market valued at about $7–10 billion.
• Tell me more:
  • Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health, Nutrify Today and Pharma Eurasia created a trade corridor linking Indian pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies with Eurasian markets, supported by policy reforms, pharma parks and partnerships.
  • Pharma Eurasia 2026 will take place in Tashkent from May 20 to May 22.

International Malaria Conference 2026 Concludes in New Delhi

• What: International Malaria Conference 2026 organised by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)–National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR) concluded in New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • The conference theme was “Discovery, Development and Delivery: Driving Malaria Elimination and Beyond.”
  • The conference discussed malaria causes, spread, drug resistance, diagnostics, surveillance and vaccines. Experts shared solutions for malaria control, encouraged young researchers and strengthened global cooperation to achieve a malaria-free world.

NCB Dismantles ‘Team Kalki’ Darknet Drug Distribution Network

• Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) dismantled a pan-India darknet drug distribution network named ‘Team Kalki’ operating since January 2025.

Railways Launch SHINE Module for Reporting Sexual Harassment

• Ministry of Railways launched the Sexual Harassment Incident Notification for Empowerment (SHINE) module on the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) application to allow female railway employees to report workplace sexual harassment complaints online.

India Plans Expansion of Inter-Regional Power Transmission Capacity

• What: Government of India announced plans to increase inter-regional power transmission capacity from 120 gigawatts to 143 gigawatts by 2027 and 168 gigawatts by 2032 to ensure reliable electricity flow across regions.
• Tell me more:
  • Inter-regional transmission capacity stood at 120 GW in December 2025. National Electricity Plan (NEP) guides grid expansion to meet 388 GW demand by 2032.

Honeywell and IIT Bombay Establish Centre of Excellence for Sustainability Skills

• What: Honeywell signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay to establish the IIT Bombay–Honeywell Centre of Excellence for Future Skills and Innovation to train students in sustainability-related fields.
• Tell me more:
  • Honeywell Hometown Solutions India Foundation will fund a Centre of Excellence at IIT-Bombay to train students in sustainability fields through specialised courses, research projects and industry-supported training programmes.

Cheetah population in India reaches 53 after new cubs born at Kuno

• Female cheetah Jwala gave birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park under Project Cheetah, increasing India’s cheetah population to 53 and marking progress in the country’s wildlife conservation and species restoration programme.

State News

Nashik Municipal Corporation Lists Green Municipal Bonds on NSE

• What: Nashik Municipal Corporation listed Maharashtra’s first Green Municipal Bond issue on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) to raise funds for environmentally friendly urban infrastructure projects.
• Tell me more:
  • Municipal Green Bonds are debt securities issued by municipal corporations to raise funds. 100% of the funds must be used for green projects.
  • Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation issued India’s first green municipal bonds in 2021 and raised ₹150 crore for a sewage treatment plant.
  • Indore Municipal Corporation issued bonds in 2023 to fund a 60 megawatt solar power plant.

Mizoram Assembly Adopts Resolution for Inclusion of Mizo Language in Eighth Schedule

• What: Mizoram Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution seeking inclusion of the Mizo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
• Tell me more:
  • The Chief Minister suggested making the entire state a Scheduled Area under the Sixth Schedule.

Maharashtra Assembly Passes Stamp Act Amendment to Speed Case Disposal

• Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed a bill to amend the Stamp Act to speed up disposal of pending stamp duty cases and improve administrative efficiency in the revenue department.

Uttar Pradesh launches Project GANGA to expand broadband connectivity

• Uttar Pradesh government launched Project GANGA (Government Assisted Network for Growth and Advancement) to provide broadband connectivity to around 20 lakh households over 2–3 years and expand digital infrastructure and employment opportunities in the state.

International News

Financial Action Task Force Adds Kuwait and Papua New Guinea to Increased Monitoring List

• What: Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placed Kuwait and Papua New Guinea under increased monitoring (grey list) after identifying weaknesses in systems to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
• Tell me more:
  • FATF took the decision during the plenary meeting held from February 11 to 13, 2026.
  • Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) remain in the Financial Action Task Force high-risk jurisdictions list, while Myanmar continues under enhanced due diligence after its inclusion in October 2022.
  • Countries on the grey list must follow time-bound action plans to fix weaknesses.
  • Financial Action Task Force (FATF) sets global standards against money laundering and terrorist financing, publishes lists identifying countries with weaknesses, and holds plenary meetings three times each year to review progress and update lists.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Conducts Cold Response Military Exercise in Arctic

• What: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) started the Cold Response military exercise in the European Arctic from March 9 to March 19 to improve defence readiness and cooperation among member countries.
• Tell me more:
  • Cold Response is a biennial North Atlantic Treaty Organization exercise involving 25,000 troops from 14 countries in northern Norway and Finland under Arctic Sentry mission, while Norway declared 2026 “total defence” year.
  • Arctic Sentry is a NATO military mission launched in February 2026 to boost the alliance’s presence and security operations in the Arctic region.
  • NATO’s 14th Secretary General – Mark Rutte (present)

Banking and Economy

PhonePe Launches RuPay On-The-Go Card for Transit Payments

• What: PhonePe launched the RuPay On-The-Go Card based on National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) to enable tap-and-pay digital payments across public transport systems in India under the One Nation One Card vision.
• Tell me more:
  • The prepaid card stores balance on the chip, supports offline tap-and-pay, allows ₹2,000 balance, ₹500 offline transactions, and launched at Hyderabad Metro, in partnership with L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd.

IRDAI Grants Registration to Allianz Jio Reinsurance and Kiwi General Insurance

• What: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) granted Certificates of Registration to Allianz Jio Reinsurance and Kiwi General Insurance, allowing both companies to begin insurance operations in India.
• Tell me more:
  • Allianz Jio Reinsurance operates as a 50:50 joint venture between Allianz Group and Jio Financial Services.
  • Kiwi General Insurance receives backing from WestBridge Capital and Neelesh Garg.
  • Neelesh Garg previously served as chief of Tata AIG General Insurance.

Bokaro Steel Plant Receives BIS Certification Extension for Advanced Steel Grades

• What: Bokaro Steel Plant received an extension of certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), allowing inclusion of four advanced steel grades under the IS 513 (Part 2) framework and strengthening national quality recognition.
• Tell me more:
  • BIS certification ensures the steel meets national quality standards. This certification increases credibility and acceptance of Bokaro Steel Plant’s high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel in important industrial sectors.

Defence News

India Launches ‘Avataar’ Amphibious Drone

• What: AquaAirX Autonomous Systems launched Avataar, India’s first amphibious drone that can operate in air and underwater, helping surveillance, defence monitoring and marine research.
• Tell me more:
  • Avataar is an autonomous aerial and underwater reconnaissance drone that flies and dives without human control.

Hical Technologies Receives Rafale Aircraft Manufacturing Contract

• What: France-based Dassault Aviation awarded a contract to Hical Technologies to manufacture parts for Rafale fighter aircraft control systems, highlighting the role of Indian aerospace manufacturing in global defence technology production.
• Tell me more:
  • Dassault Aviation selected Bengaluru-based Hical Technologies to manufacture Rafale control system components.
  • Dassault Aviation introduced Falcon 10X, a long-range luxury business jet with the largest cabin and 7,500 nautical mile range. The aircraft will improve long-distance private travel and strengthen competition in the global business jet market.

Science and Technology

AIIMS and ISRO Sign Agreement for Space Medicine Research

• What: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Human Space Flight Centre signed an agreement to study how the human body behaves in space to support India’s human spaceflight programme.
• Tell me more:
  • AIIMS Director M. Srinivas and Human Space Flight Centre Director – Dinesh Kumar Singh
  • Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman – V. Narayanan

Important Days

International Day of Women Judges – March 10

• UN Focus – Women judges and the achievement of gender equality

No Smoking Day 2026 – March 11

• Theme: A Smoke-Free Life Starts With A Smoke-Free Day

Sports

India Hosts Second World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi

• What: India is hosting the second edition of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix from March 11 to March 13 with athletes from eight countries participating, strengthening India’s role as a host of international para athletics competitions.
• Tell me more:
  • India is sending the largest team with about 219 athletes.
  • India won 134 medals in the 2025 edition including 45 gold, 40 silver and 49 bronze.

India and New Zealand Discuss Expanded Sports Cooperation

• What: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a meeting with a New Zealand sports delegation in New Delhi to expand bilateral sports cooperation during the centenary of sporting ties between the two countries.
• Tell me more:
  • India and New Zealand are marking 100 years of sporting ties in 2026, which began with the 1926 Indian Army hockey tour to New Zealand.
  • India and New Zealand discussed integrating New Zealand’s coach development framework into the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala and agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to monitor cooperation.

Appointments

YES Bank appoints Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as MD and CEO–designate

• YES Bank board approved the appointment of Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)–designate.

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