12th March 2026

1. PM Modi Launches ₹5,600 Crore Development Projects in Tiruchirappalli
2. Amol Palekar to Receive META Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 for Theatre Excellence
3. Tata Advanced Systems Partners with Ramco for IAF C-130J MRO Facility
4. ICC Women’s ODI Rankings: Smriti Mandhana Retains No.1 Spot, Jemimah Rodrigues Slips to 12th
5. Renowned Indologist Padma Shree Award Winner Hermann Kulke Passes Away
6. Nagauri Pan Methi Receives PPVFRA Patent for Farmers
7. Prasar Bharti SHABD Platform Gets Free Access Extension Till 2027
8. Deloitte Opens ConnectSafe Cyber Security Facility in Bengaluru
9. Trump Announces $300 Billion Refinery Partnership with Reliance Industries
10. Defunct NASA Satellite Van Allen Probe A Set to Re-Enter Earth’s Atmosphere
11. Cabinet Approves Greenfield Connectivity Project to Jewar International Airport
12. Indian Cabinet Approves International Status for Madurai Airport
13. Union Minister Rajnath Singh Releases ‘Defence Forces Vision 2047’ Roadmap for Future-Ready Indian Military
14. Coursera Collaborates with Mission Karmayogi to Upskill Civil Servants
15. MoPSW Approves Rs 117.54 Crore Renovation of Historic Bascule Bridge in Kolkata, WB
16. USA Announces First New Oil Refinery in 50 Years with Investment from Reliance Industries
17. Bank of Baroda Launches ‘Sapphire’ Savings Account for Women
18. Axis Max Life Insurance Partners with Saarathi Finance to Support MSMEs with Group Credit Life Insurance
19. PayU Partners with GoKwik to Launch India’s First Integrated C2C Stack for D2C Brands
20. ASSOCHAM and ICCC Sign MoU to Strengthen India-Canada Business Collaboration
21. DRDO and Indian Navy Conducted Trials of Indigenous Air Droppable Container ‘ADC-150’
22. Veteran Congress Leader and Former Union Minister Biren Singh Engti Passed Away
23. WhatsApp launches new parent- managed account with privacy controls for kids below 13
24. Cred gets RBI approval to operate as payment aggregator

National News

Prasar Bharati Extends Free Access to PB-SHABD Platform Till March 2027

• What: Prasar Bharati announced that free access to Prasar Bharati-Shared Audio-Visuals for Broadcast and Dissemination (PB-SHABD), a shared news feed platform providing logo-free multimedia news content to media organisations, will remain free until March 2027.
• Tell me more:
  • Prasar Bharati launched PB-SHABD in March 2024 as a shared feed service for media organisations.

State News

Development Projects Worth ₹5,650 Crore Launched in Tamil Nadu

• What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated, and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth about ₹5,650 crore in Tamil Nadu to improve infrastructure, energy supply, transportation connectivity, and industrial production.
• Tell me more:
  • PM inaugurated 89 rural roads with a total length of 370 kilometres under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
  • PM also flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express trains — Nagercoil–Charlapalli and Podanur (Coimbatore)–Dhanbad — and laid the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) City Gas Distribution Network in Nilgiris and Erode districts.

Deloitte India Launches ‘ConnectSafe’ Cybersecurity Facility in Bengaluru

• What: Deloitte India launched ‘ConnectSafe’ in Bengaluru as a cybersecurity facility.
• Tell me more:
  • The ConnectSafe facility helps organisations test cyber threats, identify security weaknesses, and strengthen protection of connected systems such as factories, vehicles, power systems, and medical devices without affecting normal operations.

Cabinet Approves ₹3,630.77 Crore Road Connectivity Project to Jewar International Airport

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved ₹3,630.77 crore to build a 31.42 km road corridor connecting South Delhi, Faridabad, and Gurugram to Jewar International Airport through the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway.

Cabinet Approves ₹4,474 Crore Railway Projects and Grants International Status to Madurai Airport

• What: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved ₹4,474 crore railway multi-tracking projects in West Bengal and Jharkhand to increase rail capacity and connectivity, and granted international airport status to Madurai Airport.
• Tell me more:
  • Granting international airport status to Madurai Airport will improve regional connectivity and promote tourism and trade in southern Tamil Nadu by enabling international flights and attracting international pilgrims and businesses.

Government Approves ₹117.54 Crore Renovation of Bascule Bridge at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port

• What: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways approved a ₹117.54 crore project to renovate the historic Bascule Bridge at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata to improve safety, cargo movement and logistics efficiency.
• Tell me more:
  • Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) will implement the renovation project. Mumbai-based company M/s H & H Fressinet will execute the project work.
  • The project will receive about ₹41 crore financial assistance under the Sagarmala Programme.

International News

Van Allen Probe Spacecraft to Re-enter Earth’s Atmosphere

• What: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that Van Allen Probe A spacecraft will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere about 14 years after launch, marking the conclusion of a mission that studied Earth’s radiation belts.
• Tell me more:
  • The spacecraft launched in 2012 to study Earth’s radiation belts.
  • Van Allen Probe A operated with Van Allen Probe B as twin spacecraft. Van Allen Probe B is expected to remain in orbit until at least 2030.
  • The spacecraft is returning because the mission ended after the probes ran out of fuel and could not orient toward the Sun, causing the satellite to slowly lose orbit and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.

Banking and Economy

Reliance Industries to Invest in $300 Billion Oil Refinery Project in Texas

• What: United States President Donald Trump announced a $300 billion oil refinery project at the Port of Brownsville in Texas with investment from Reliance Industries, marking the first new oil refinery in the United States in 50 years.
• Tell me more:
  • The refinery will increase United States energy production, supply fuel to markets, strengthen energy security, and create jobs.
  • Global energy markets are facing supply disruptions due to conflict in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz carries nearly 20% of global oil supply through shipping routes.

Coursera Partners with Mission Karmayogi for Upskilling Civil Servants

• Coursera collaborated with Mission Karmayogi to provide skill development courses for civil servants and government officials through the Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) platform to improve public administration capabilities.

Bank of Baroda Launches ‘bob Women Sapphire Savings Account’

• What: Bank of Baroda launched the bob Women Sapphire Savings Account, a premium savings account for women offering banking, health, wellness and lifestyle benefits including cancer care coverage, doctor consultations and lifestyle privileges.
• Tell me more:
  • The account provides a bob Bhoomi RuPay Select Debit Card and offers a 50% first-year fee waiver on BOBCARD Tiara Credit Card through reward points, which provides women’s health package and personal accident coverage.

Axis Max Life Insurance Partners with Saarathi Finance to Support MSMEs

• What: Axis Max Life Insurance partnered with Saarathi Finance to offer Group Credit Life Secure insurance with MSME loans, protecting borrowers’ families and businesses.
• Tell me more:
  • Group Credit Life Secure insurance is a type of insurance linked to a loan. If the borrower dies during the loan period, the insurance company pays the remaining loan amount to the lender.
  • This ensures that the borrower’s family or business does not have to repay the outstanding loan.

PayU and GoKwik Launch Integrated Conversion-to-Completion Stack for D2C Brands

• What: PayU partnered with GoKwik to launch India’s first Integrated Conversion-to-Completion stack.
• Tell me more:
  • This system helps online brands complete customer purchases smoothly by improving checkout process and payment success.
  • The system reduces payment failures and customers from leaving the checkout page before finishing the purchase.

WhatsApp Introduces Parent-Managed Accounts for Under-13 Users

• What: WhatsApp introduced parent-managed accounts for users below 13 years to allow parents or guardians to control contacts, group participation, and privacy settings, improving online safety for children on the platform.
• Tell me more:
  • WhatsApp introduced parent-managed accounts for users below 13 years, allowing parents to control contacts, groups and privacy settings, restrict usage to messaging and calling, and improve online safety for children.

RBI Grants Payment Aggregator Licence to Cred

• • What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted a final payment aggregator licence to fintech company Cred.
  • Tell me more:
    • India has more than 50 licensed payment aggregators according to RBI data.
    • A payment aggregator licence allows a company to onboard merchants, collect digital payments from customers through different payment methods, and handle settlements and refunds directly on behalf of merchants.
    • Cred holds a corporate agency licence from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
    • Cred holds a registered investment advisory licence from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
    • Cred holds a third-party application provider (TPAP) licence from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Defence News

Tata Advanced Systems Selects Ramco Systems Software for Defence Aircraft MRO Facility

• What: Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) selected Ramco Systems’ aviation software to run the digital system of its new defence Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for servicing Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
• Tell me more:
  • TASL is establishing a defence MRO facility to maintain Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force.
  • The platform will help TASL manage aircraft maintenance digitally, access real-time operational data, improve work efficiency, reduce repair time, and use manpower, materials, and tools more effectively.

India Releases ‘Defence Forces Vision 2047’ Roadmap for Future-Ready Military

• What: India released “Defence Forces Vision 2047: A Roadmap for a Future-Ready Indian Military,” to transform the armed forces into a modern and integrated force by the centenary of Independence.
• Tell me more:
  • The vision aims to transform the Indian armed forces into a modern, integrated and technologically advanced military by 2047 to address new security challenges and support India’s goal of becoming a developed nation.
  • The roadmap introduces strategic reforms, organisational changes, joint operations among the three services, adoption of advanced technologies such as AI, cyber defence systems, and development of indigenous defence technologies.

DRDO and Indian Navy Successfully Test Air Droppable Container ADC-150

• What: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy conducted successful in-flight release trials of the indigenous Air Droppable Container ADC-150 from P8I aircraft to strengthen naval logistics support at sea.
• Tell me more:
  • The trials took place off the coast of Goa.
  • DRDO and the Indian Navy conducted four in-flight release trials of ADC-150.
  • The Air Droppable Container ADC-150 helps deliver critical supplies, equipment and medical assistance to naval ships at sea, especially to vessels far from the coast or in distress, improving naval logistics and emergency response.

Agriculture and Rural Development

Nagauri Paan Methi Registered as Community Farmers’ Variety

• What: The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA) registered “Nagauri Paan Methi” as a Community Farmers’ Variety, giving legal rights and ownership to the farming community of Nagaur district, Rajasthan.
• Tell me more:
  • The registration recognised Nagauri Paan Methi (Trigonella corniculata L.) as a unique plant variety.
  • The registration granted legal protection under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001. This means others cannot use or sell it without proper permission.
  • The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is observing 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers.
  • The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) is a government body established in 2005 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to protect plant varieties and farmers’ and breeders’ rights under the PPV&FR Act, 2001.

Awards

21st Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards to be Held in New Delhi

• What: The 21st Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META), instituted by Mahindra Group and produced by Teamwork Arts, will take place in New Delhi from 19–25 March 2026, showcasing leading theatre productions from across India.
• Tell me more:
  • META will honour actor, director, and theatre practitioner Amol Palekar with the META Lifetime Achievement Award.
  • META 2026 will present awards in 14 categories including the Lifetime Achievement Award.
  • Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) recognises outstanding theatre productions, artists, and technical work in 14 categories in India.

Sports

Smriti Mandhana Retains Top Position in International Cricket Council Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

• What: Smriti Mandhana holds the 1st position in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s One Day International (ODI) Batting Rankings.
• Tell me more:
  • Harmanpreet Kaur (India’s captain) retained the eighth position in this Rankings.

Memorandum of Understanding

ASSOCHAM and ICCC Sign MoU to Strengthen India–Canada Business Cooperation

• ASSOCHAM signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce to strengthen India–Canada trade and investment by promoting business cooperation, information exchange, joint ventures, trade missions and industry engagements.
• President of ICCC – Prashant Srivastava
• Chairman of ASSOCHAM National Council on Education – Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra

Miscellaneous

Padma Shri Awardee Historian Hermann Kulke Passes Away

• What: Eminent German historian and Indologist Hermann Kulke died at the age of 87, marking the loss of a globally recognised scholar who researched Odisha’s culture, history, and Jagannath tradition.
• Tell me more:
  • Hermann Kulke studied Gajapati kingship and the Jagannath cult in Odisha in his Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) research.
  • The Government of India awarded the Padma Shri to Hermann Kulke in 2010.

Former Union Minister Biren Singh Engti Passes Away

• Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Biren Singh Engti died at the age of 81 in Guwahati, marking the loss of a senior political leader who represented Diphu constituency (Assam) in Lok Sabha multiple times.

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