28th-30th March 2026

1. IAF Launches India’s First Helicopter-Dropped Drone Project ‘Vayu Baan’
2. Ministry of Culture Signs MoU with YouTube to Promote Indian Folk and Tribal Music Globally
3. Indian Army and IITM Pravartak Sign MoU to Advance Defence Indigenisation
4. Lakshya AMC Receives SEBI Approval to Launch MF Business
5. RSP Leader Balendra Shah Sworn-in as Youngest PM of Nepal
6. Olympic & World Badminton Champion Carolina Marín Announces Retirement
7. IOC Announces New Policy on Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport
8. Earth Hour 2026
9. India’s First Hydrogen Train Completes Successful Oscillation Trials
10. MoD Signs Contracts Worth Rs. 858 Crore to Strengthen Defence Capabilities of IA and IN
11. India, EU Sign Aviation Pact to Boost Manufacturing, Safety Standards
12. APSEZ Operationalises India’s First Port of Refuge to Enhance Maritime Safety
13. NCB and UltraTech Cement Sign MoU for Skill Development in Construction Sector
14. Delhi Govt Signs MoU with Prasar Bharati to Develop Capital as Media Hub
15. UN Launches Task Force to Safeguard Strait of Hormuz Trade
16. RBI Imposes Over Rs 2 Crore Penalties on UBI, Central Bank, BoI, Pine Labs for Regulatory Violations
17. Tech Mahindra and IIT Bombay Sign MoU to Develop 3D Digital Twin for Smart Campus
18. Hockey India Annual Awards 2025: Navneet Kaur & Hardik Singh Named Players of the Year; Zafar Iqbal Receives Lifetime Achievement
19. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Assumes Charge as Chairperson of NCBC
20. Indian Men’s Hockey Olympic Medallist Gurjant Singh Retires from International Hockey
21. World Piano Day 2026
22. Bengali Actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee Dies Aged 43 in On-Set Drowning Accident
23. Nitish Kumar Resigns as Legislative Council Position: Bihar To Get New CM
24. Sunil Narine Sets New Record with Most Matches as Overseas Player
25. Indian Army Gets First Batch of Prahar LMGs: First Batch Delivers By Adani Defense
26. Who Was Vijaypat Singhania? Raymond’s Former Chairman Dies at 87
27. Gurjant Singh Bids Farewell to International Hockey
28. UK Sets Strict Screen Time Rules for Kids: Global Push to Protect Children from Digital Harm
29. New COVID Variant BA.3.2: Symptoms, Risk & What We Know So Far
30. UV Index Explained: The Hidden Health Risk Rising in India
31. PM Modi to Attend G7 Summit 2026 in France: Key Global Issues on Agenda
32. Jewar Airport Inaugurated: PM Modi Launches India’s Mega Aviation Hub to Decongest Delhi-NCR
33. Japan’s 275 kmph Cargo Bullet Train: World’s First High-Speed Freight Shinkansen Explained
34. India’s First Hydrogen Train Completes Trial: Green Rail Revolution Begins
35. Ramnath Goenka Awards 2026 Winners List: Top Journalists Honoured Across India
36. IIM Ahmedabad Launches Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI with ₹100 Crore Endowment
37. Nokia India Leadership Change 2026: Focus on AI, Cloud and 5G Expansion
38. Nandamuri Balakrishna Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at IFFD 2026 in Delhi
39. Olympics Transgender Ban 2028: IOC Rules, SRY Gene Test Explained
40. India GDP Growth FY27: Assocham Forecast, Exports, Risks Explained

National News

India’s First Hydrogen Train Completes Successful Oscillation Trials

• What: Indian Railways completed oscillation trial run of India’s first hydrogen trainset through Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO).
• Tell me more:
  • Integral Coach Factory developed the hydrogen trainset.
  • Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) conducted oscillation trial as part of evaluation.
  • Train will operate between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, and a hydrogen production plant has been set up at Jind using electrolysis process to supply fuel for the train.

IIMA Inaugurates Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI

• What: Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad inaugurated Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence, funded by ₹100 crore endowment, to develop practical AI solutions and support decision-making, productivity, and societal challenges.
• Tell me more:
  • School is funded by Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Ranjan Tandon.

State News

Nitish Kumar Resigns from Bihar Legislative Council

• What: Nitish Kumar resigned from Bihar Legislative Council after securing Rajya Sabha seat and opens path for Bharatiya Janata Party to appoint new Chief Minister in Bihar.
• Tell me more:
  • Nitish Kumar served as Bihar Chief Minister for record tenth term after November oath.
  • Six Indian states currently have both a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council (bicameral legislative system) — Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.

PM Modi Inaugurates Noida International Airport Phase I

• What: Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase I of Noida International Airport at Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, which will improve connectivity, reduce congestion in Delhi NCR, and support India’s goal of becoming global aviation hub.
• Tell me more:
  • Airport will act as second international gateway for Delhi NCR alongside Indira Gandhi International Airport.
  • Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a 100% subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, developed this airport under Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model at cost of ₹11,200 crore.

International News

UN Launches Task Force to Safeguard Strait of Hormuz Trade

• What: United Nations created a task force led by Jorge Moreira da Silva to address maritime disruptions in Strait of Hormuz, which affect global supplies and agriculture.
• Tell more:
  • The task force will design technical mechanisms to ensure movement of humanitarian supplies and fertiliser trade, which are affected due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The task force will include UNCTAD, IMO, and ICC, will consult member states, and will design mechanisms based on UNVIM, Black Sea Grain Initiative, and UN2720 mechanism models.
    • UNCTAD – United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
    • IMO – International Maritime Organization
    • ICC – International Chamber of Commerce
    • UNOPS – United Nations Office for Project Services
    • UNVIM – United Nations Verification, Inspection and Monitoring Mechanism for Yemen
    • Black Sea Grain Initiative – A UN-brokered agreement signed in 2022, in Istanbul by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the UN to ensure safe export of Ukrainian grain and foodstuffs through Black Sea ports amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict
    • UN2720 Mechanism – United Nations Security Council Resolution 2720 Mechanism for Gaza
  • United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Jean Arnault of France as his Personal Envoy to lead United Nations efforts on the conflict in the Middle East and its consequences.
  • Jorge Moreira da Silva is a Portuguese engineer who serves as the Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
  • The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait (Gate of Tears or Gate of Grief) is a strategic chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, between Yemen (east), Djibouti, and Eritrea (west).

UK Sets Strict Screen Time Rules for Kids

• What: The United Kingdom issued guidance asking parents to limit children’s screen time, recommended no screen use for under two and one hour daily for ages two to five, and is exploring stricter rules, including a possible social media ban for children under 16.
• Tell me more:
  • Australia and France have already banned social media access for children below specified ages.
  • Austria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Spain, Germany, and Turkey are planning or proposing restrictions or bans on social media access for children.

BA.3.2 COVID Variant Spreads in US

• BA.3.2 COVID-19 variant, first identified in Africa, is spreading rapidly in the United States and multiple countries, and may infect more people globally because current vaccines are less effective, though it does not cause more severe disease than earlier variants.

G7 Summit 2026 in Évian-les-Bains, France from June 15-17, 2026

• What: Reducing global imbalances is the priority (focus) of France’s G7 Presidency.
• Tell me more:
  • External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will visit Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay in France on 26–27 March 2026 to participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with partner countries.
    • Host of this foreign ministers’ meeting is Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Mr Jean-Noël Barrot.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the upcoming G7 summit in France.
  • The G7 comprises seven advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Japan Launches World’s First High-Speed Freight Shinkansen

• What: East Japan Railway Company launched world’s first freight-only Shinkansen by converting passenger train into cargo carrier, which will improve high-speed logistics and support faster, reliable delivery systems.
• Tell me more:
  • Shinkansen is a type of high-speed train system

Banking and Economy

Lakshya AMC Receives SEBI Approval to Launch MF Business

• What: Lakshya Asset Management Company received approval from Securities and Exchange Board of India to start mutual fund business.
• Tell me more:
  • Wealth First Portfolio Managers is the sponsor of Lakshya AMC.

Adani Ports Operationalises India’s First Port of Refuge

• What: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) operationalised India’s first Port of Refuge (PoR) to create a system where ships in danger get safety, repairs, and emergency help, to protect lives, cargo, and environment.
• Tell me more:
  • International Maritime Organisation (IMO) defines Port of Refuge as a place where ships seek shelter during distress.
  • APSEZ will develop Port of Refuge sites at Dighi Port in Maharashtra and Gopalpur Port in Odisha, supporting Arabian Sea–Persian Gulf routes on west coast and Bay of Bengal–Malacca Strait routes on east coast.
  • APSEZ CEO – Ashwani Gupta

RBI Imposes Penalty on Pine Labs for Regulatory Violations

• Reserve Bank of India imposed a monetary penalty of ₹3.1 lakh on Pine Labs because Pine Labs issued full-Know Your Customer (KYC) prepaid payment instruments without completing required KYC formalities, which violated RBI’s PPI directions.
• The penalty has been imposed under Section 30(1) read with Section 26(6) of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

Reports and Indices

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Releases the UV Index

• What: In India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) releases/monitors the UV Index. It follows global standards of World Health Organization (WHO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
• Tell me more:
  • UV Index measures ultraviolet radiation that can cause sunburn and skin damage.
  • The UV Index follows a universal scale from 0 to 11+, which indicates risk:
    • 0–2: Low
    • 3–5: Moderate
    • 6–7: High
    • 8–10: Very high
    • 11+: Extreme
  • Recent observations suggest that UV exposure across Indian cities is already in the high to extreme range in March, even before peak summer.
    • Bengaluru: Around 13 (extreme)
    • Chennai: 9–10 (very high)
    • Mumbai: Around 8–9 (high)
    • Delhi: Around 8 (high)
    • Hyderabad: 9–10 (high)
    • Multiple cities in Kerala: 8–10 (very high to extreme)

GDP Forecasts

ASSOCHAM Projects Strong India Growth Outlook

• What: ASSOCHAM projected India’s GDP growth above 7% in 2026-27 supported by domestic consumption and investment, despite global growth expected below 3% due to West Asia conflict and energy disruptions.
• Tell me more:
  • India GDP is expected to grow 7.6% in FY26.
  • India has maintained growth above 7% for past three years.

Defence News

IAF Launches Helicopter-Dropped Drone Project ‘Vayu Baan’

• What: Indian Air Force launched ‘Vayu Baan’, a helicopter-dropped drone project, to enable stand-off attacks and reduce risk to aircrew, marking India’s entry into advanced air-launched unmanned systems.
• Tell me more:
  • The project allows helicopters to engage targets from a safe distance, reduces risk to aircrew, improves surveillance and precision strike capability, and places India among advanced countries developing air-launched unmanned systems.

MoD Signs Defence Contracts Worth ₹858 Crore

• What: Ministry of Defence is buying new defence systems and maintaining aircraft for ₹858 crore to make India’s military stronger and more prepared against threats like drones, aircraft, and missiles.
• Tell me more:
  • Russia’s Rosoboronexport will supply Tunguska system, which is a machine that can detect and destroy flying threats like aircraft, drones, and missiles to protect the country’s airspace.
  • Boeing India Defense Private Limited will maintain P-8I aircraft of the Indian Navy under a ₹413 crore contract.

Adani Defence Delivers Prahar LMGs to Army

• What: Adani Defence and Aerospace delivered first batch of 2,000 ‘Prahar’ light machine guns to Indian Army under Make in India.
• Tell me more:
  • Prahar is a 7.62 mm calibre light machine gun manufactured at Small Arms Complex near Gwalior.

Awards

Hockey India 8th Annual Awards 2025

Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards 2026

• Instituted by the Ramnath Goenka Foundation, the awards recognise the best of journalism, showcasing 25 contributions from print, digital and broadcast platforms from across 18 categories.
• 24 journalists for their outstanding work across print, digital and broadcast platforms.

Nandamuri Balakrishna Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

• What: Nandamuri Balakrishna (Telugu film actor) received Lifetime Achievement Award at International Film Festival of Delhi 2026, which recognises his 50-year contribution and impact on Indian cinema.
• Tell me more:
  • Award ceremony was held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
  • Balakrishna contributed to the film “Bhagavanth Kesari”. It won Best Film in Telugu at 71st National Film Awards.
  • Government of India awarded him Padma Bhushan in 2025 for contribution to arts and cinema.

Important Days

Earth Hour 2026 – March 28

• Earth Hour is a global environmental awareness event organized by World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It occurs from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM local time worldwide.

World Piano Day 2026 – March 29

Sports

Carolina Marin Retires from Badminton

• Spanish badminton player Carolina Marín, Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion, announced retirement.

IOC Announces New Policy on Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport

• What: International Olympic Committee announced a new rule that only biological females can compete in women’s Olympics, excluding transgender and intersex athletes, and this rule will start from 2028 Olympics.
• Tell me more:
  • The policy aims to change rules by replacing testosterone-based criteria with biological sex-based criteria, and removes gender identity and hormone levels as main factors for women’s category participation.
  • There is no separate category for transgenders now. An open category for transgender athletes has been suggested, but this idea may face difficulties because the number of elite-level transgender athletes is very small.

Gurjant Singh Retires from International Hockey

• What: Gurjant Singh, aged 31, retired from international hockey after losing place due to back injury.
• Tell me more:
  • Gurjant Singh played 130 matches and scored 33 goals after debut in 2017.
  • Gurjant Singh won Olympic bronze medals at Tokyo and Paris, gold at 2023 Asian Games, 2016 Junior World Cup, 2017 Asia Cup, multiple Asian Champions Trophy titles, and Arjuna Award 2021.
  • Gurjant Singh received Arjuna Award in 2021.

Sunil Narine Sets New Record with Most Matches as Overseas Player

• Sunil Narine made a record by playing 190 matches in Indian Premier League (IPL), which is the highest number of matches played by any overseas (foreign) player in the tournament.
• Sunil Narine played for Kolkata Knight Riders. He is a Trinidadian cricketer.

Memorandum of Understanding

Ministry of Culture and YouTube Sign MoU

• Ministry of Culture and YouTube signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to equip Indian folk artists with digital skills, which will help promote India’s cultural heritage globally and strengthen the creative economy.

Indian Army Partners IITM Pravartak for Defence Technology

• What: Indian Army partnered with IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation to develop indigenous defence technologies and reduce dependence on external sources.
• Tell me more:
  • Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), the technical arm of the Indian Army, will support maintenance and technical aspects of military equipment.
  • IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation is a Technology Innovation Hub, set up as a Section 8 company, under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems.
  • A Nodal Indigenisation Centre (NIC) has been set up as part of this partnership initiative at Avadi near Chennai to support innovation, development, and deployment.

India and EU Sign Aviation Working Arrangement

• What: India and European Union signed a working arrangement between European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Directorate General of Civil Aviation to strengthen aviation manufacturing cooperation and align with global safety standards.
• Tell me more:
  • Airbus Helicopters H125/AS350 assembly will take place in Karnataka.
  • Agreement follows EU-India Summit January 2026 where aviation safety was prioritised, and a workshop was held in New Delhi from March 24 to 26 under EU-South Asia Aviation Partnership Programme for aviation safety collaboration.

NCB and UltraTech Sign MoU for Skill Development

• National Council for Cement and Building Materials signed MoU with UltraTech Cement Limited to build skills and capacity in the construction sector by training engineers, workers, and professionals, so they can meet the needs of India’s growing infrastructure and housing sectors.

Delhi Govt Signs MoU with Prasar Bharati to Develop Capital as Media Hub

• What: Delhi Government signed Memorandum of Understanding with Prasar Bharati through Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation to develop Delhi as global media and entertainment hub.
• Tell me more:
  • The agreement aims to create integrated ecosystem combining film, television, animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics on one platform.
  • The initiative will attract investors, producers, and professionals, strengthen creative economy, and position Delhi as global media hub using local talent and technical expertise under Make in India vision.

Tech Mahindra and IIT Bombay Sign MoU for Digital Twin

• What: Tech Mahindra signed an MoU Indian Institute of Technology Bombay to create a digital copy of the Gymkhana building to track, analyse, and manage infrastructure better using data and technology.
• Tell me more:
  • A digital twin is a virtual copy of a real building or object, which helps people see, monitor, and manage it on a computer using real-time data.
  • The Gymkhana building is located inside IIT-Bombay campus.

Appointments

RSP Leader Balendra Shah Sworn-in as Youngest PM of Nepal

• Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Leader Balendra Shah became Nepal’s youngest Prime Minister at 35, and President Ramchandra Paudel administered oath.

Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Assumes Charge as Chairperson of NCBC

• Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti assumed charge as Chairperson of National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), and Kiran Umesh Mahalle assumed charge as Member.

Nokia Appoints New India Leadership

• Nokia appointed Samar Mittal as India business head and Vibha Mehra as country manager.

Miscellaneous

Bengali Actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee Dies Aged 43 in On-Set Drowning Accident

Raymond’s Former Chairman Vijaypat Singhania Dies at 87

• Vijaypat Singhania, former Chairman of Raymond Group, died in Mumbai at age 87. He received Padma Bhushan for contributions to Indian industry.

Start Quiz of 28th-30th March 2026 on Mobile

Start Quiz of 28th-30th March 2026 on Desktop