Current Affairs 28 March 2026

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Indian Navy Launches ‘Operation Urja Suraksha’ to Secure Energy Vessels in Strait of Hormuz 
In March 2026, the Indian Navy(IN) launched ‘Operation Urja Suraksha’(Energy Protection) to escort, guide and safeguard India-bound energy shipments through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. 
About Operation Urja Suraksha:
Objective: The purpose of the mission is to protect India’s energy security, with 22 India-bound vessels currently identified for escort, including 20 high-priority ships carrying critical supplies of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and crude oil.
Naval Deployment: The mission involves the deployment of more than 5 frontline warships around the critical maritime chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz.
Escort Success: The operation has already achieved notable success with the Indian LPG carriers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant successfully navigating the Strait of Hormuz under naval escort.

• This follows the successful escorting of other vital ships, such as the LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, as well as the crude oil tanker Jag Laadki.

IAF Launches India’s First Helicopter-Dropped Drone Project ‘Vayu Baan’
In March 2026, the Indian Air Force (IAF) initiated ‘Vayu Baan’, a pioneering project to develop India’s first helicopter-launched Unmanned Aerial System(UAS). 

• With the launch of Vayu Baan, India joins an elite group of countries, including the United States of America(USA) and China, reducing its reliance on foreign air-launched drone technologies.

About Project ‘Vayu Baan’:
Implementing Agency: The project is being led by the IAF’s Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD), which issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in March 2026 to invite domestic vendors for design and development.
Deployment Mechanism: The small, autonomous drone is designed to be dropped from a moving helicopter mid-flight. After release, it unfolds its wings and activates propulsion.
Stand-off Distance: It allows helicopters to engage enemy targets from a safe distance of over 50 kilometers (km), keeping the aircrew outside the range of enemy Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS).

Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Ashwini Vaishnaw Launched ‘PRISM-SG Portal’ for Road-Rail Bridge Projects
In March 2026, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways (MoR); Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB); Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY); jointly launched the PRISM-SG (Portal for Rail-Road Inspection & Stages Management – Steel Girders) in New Delhi (Delhi).

• The portal aims to reduce, digitize and streamline approval and inspection processes for Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and railway infrastructure projects.

Overview of PRISM-SG Portal:
System: End-to-End Digital Workflow (EEDW) integrates Quality Assurance Plan (QAP), Welding Procedure Specification Sheet (WPSS), Fabrication Stage Inspection (FSI), submissions, approvals, inspection scheduling, and report uploads on a single platform.
Monitoring: Real-Time Monitoring System (RTMS) ensures progress tracking, audit trails, accountability, and data-driven insights with Inspection Management System (IMS) support for reports, photos, and test results.
Integration: Multi-Stakeholder Integration (MSI) connects Road Owning Departments, Indian Railways (IR), contractors, fabricators, and inspection agencies for seamless coordination.
Timeline: Approval and Inspection Timeline (AIT) is reduced from around 12 months to 3–4 months, improving efficiency and lowering project costs.

Ministry of Culture Signs MoU with YouTube to Promote Indian Folk and Tribal Music Globally
In March 2026, the Ministry of Culture exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with YouTube in New Delhi, Delhi, to globally promote India’s folk and tribal music.

• The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism(MoT); Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture; and Gunjan Soni, Managing Director (MD)- India, YouTube.

Key Details of MoU:
Aim: The initiative aims to preserve, popularize, and showcase India’s diverse cultural heritage through digital platforms.
Key Role: Led by the Ministry of Culture and executed by a Joint Task Force (JTF), in partnership with YouTube as Knowledge Partner, providing training, analytics insights, monetization guidance, and rights awareness.
Support: Ensure Infrastructure Support through access to facilities at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Delhi, Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), Delhi, National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi, Kalakshetra Foundation (KF), Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) and Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs).
Vision: Align with Prime Minister’s (PM) ‘Vocal for Local, Local for Global’ approach to position indigenous art in international markets and strengthen India as Vishwa Mitra (VM).

DoP Partners with TRIFED to Boost e-Commerce of Tribal Products Across India
In March 2026, the Department of Posts (DoP) under the Ministry of Communications, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), to develop a reliable and cost-effective logistics network for delivering products sold through TRIFED’s electronic(e)-commerce platforms, including the Tribes India marketplace.
Key Details of MoU:
Term: The MoU will be valid for an initial 2 years, with provisions for regular review and extension based on mutual agreement.
Key Role : Under the MoU, the DoP will provide end-to-end logistics for TRIFED’s e-commerce orders, leveraging its extensive nationwide network to ensure seamless delivery of tribal products to customers.

• TRIFED will ensure proper packaging, labelling, and sharing order-related information to enhance logistics operations.

BNPL Account: Also, a Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) account will be created for TRIFED under India’s Post Nation Account Facility, streamlining booking and payment processes for shipments through Speed Post.

Indian Army and IITM Pravartak Sign MoU to Advance Defence Indigenisation
In March 2026, the Indian Army’s (IA) Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) Pravartak Technologies Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN), to accelerate indigenous defence technology development.
About EME–IITM Partnership:
Scope: The collaboration will identify issues in Army equipment, develop prototypes, test them, and support their final deployment.
NIC: As a key outcome of the partnership, a Nodal Indigenisation Centre (NIC) has been set up at Avadi, Chennai, to serve as a strategic hub for defence innovation and manufacturing by leveraging the TN Defence Corridor (TNDC).
Framework: Pravartak will collaborate with the NIC to advance projects in sensing, Cyber-Physical Systems(CPS), and Autonomous Technologies(AT).
The Corps of EME will provide operational requirements and validation support for real-world application.

BANKING & FINANCE

NHB Launches ‘Gruh Sugam Portal’ to Facilitate Home Loans for Defence & Government Personnel
In March 2026, the National Housing Bank (NHB), the apex housing finance regulator under the Government of India(GoI), launched the ‘Gruh Sugam Portal’ to simplify and digitise the process of availing housing loans for defence personnel, paramilitary forces, and government employees across India.
About Gruh Sugam Portal:
Overview: It is a digital housing loan platform that enables users to compare, apply, and track home loans online through a single interface, ensuring seamless, transparent, and faster access to services.
Easy Access: The portal enables defence and government personnel to avail home loans easily from their place of posting.
Digital Process: Eligible beneficiaries can apply digitally through administrative units without visiting banks or financial institutions for approval and processing.
About NHB: Established in 1988 under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987, NHB is a statutory body that regulates Housing Finance Companies(HFCs) and promotes affordable and efficient housing finance in India. It is headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi.

Lakshya AMC Receives SEBI Approval to Launch MF Business
In March 2026, Lakshya Asset Management Company (AMC) received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to commence its Mutual Fund (MF) business in India.
About Lakshya AMC:
Sponsorship: The AMC is sponsored by Wealth First Portfolio Managers, a publicly listed wealth management company on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
Leadership: Lakshya AMC has onboarded key members from Benchmark AMC, including Sanjiv Shah, Rajan Mehta, and Sanjay Gaitonde.
Headquarters: Lakshya AMC will be the first AMC to be headquartered in Ahmedabad(Gujarat), indicating a shift towards developing financial institutions beyond traditional metro cities.
Benchmark AMC: Founded in 2001, it was India’s first mutual fund focused exclusively on passive and quantitative investments and pioneered Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) with products such as Nifty BeES, Gold ETF, Gold BeES, and Liquid BeES.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

OECD Interim Report: India Growth Forecast lowered to 6.1% for FY27
In March 2026, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released its OECD Economic Outlook, Interim Report – March 2026, titled Testing Resilience in which it projected that the Indian economy will grow at 6.1% in Financial Year 2026-27 (FY27).
Key Highlights
Slowdown: The OECD has revised India’s FY27 growth forecast by 10 basis points (bps) from its earlier forecast of 6.2%, citing global uncertainty.
FY26 & FY28: The OECD also projected that India will grow at 7.6% in FY26 and 6.4% in FY28.
Global growth: Global growth outlook remained unchanged for 2026 at 2.9%, but estimates for 2027 have been lowered to 3% from 3.1%

GoI Kept Inflation Target at 4% for 2026-31 Period
In March 2026, the Government of India (GoI) kept the inflation target unchanged i.e. 4% for the next 5 years (from April 01, 2026 to March 31, 2031), ,marking the 2nd consecutive instance of  inflation targets unchanged.

• As per the official notification issued by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance (MoF), the decision was taken by the MoF in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in exercise of powers given by Section 45ZA of RBI Act, 1934 (2 of 1934).

Key Details:
Upper and Lower Limit: The notification has clarified that upper tolerance level of inflation at 6% and lower tolerance level at 2% for the same time period (i.e. from April 2026 to March 2031).
Inflation Target Framework: The inflation target is set under India’s Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) framework, introduced in 2016. This framework mandates the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to maintain inflation at a specified level, with a tolerance band.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

RSP Leader Balendra Shah Sworn-in as Youngest PM of Nepal
On 27 March 2026, Balendra Shah(35), a leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and former rapper, was sworn in as the youngest Prime Minister(PM) of Nepal, after his party secured a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections held on March 5, 2026.

• Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Balendra Shah during a swearing-in ceremony held at the President’s Office in Sheetal Niwas, Kathmandu(Nepal).

Key Details:
Succession: Balendra Shah succeeded Sushila Karki, who served as the Interim PM for six months following the political upheaval of 2025.
Seats Secured: The RSP, under the leadership of Balendra Shah, secured a massive 182 seats out of a total of 275 seats in the House of Representatives (HoR).

• The RSP crossed the simple majority threshold of 138 seats, enabling it to form the first majority government under Nepal’s current federal framework.

Sikkim’s Stuti Pradhan Selected for World Youth Parliament 2026
In March 2026, Stuti Pradhan, a young leader from Sikkim, was selected to represent India at the World Youth Parliament (WYP), highlighting India’s growing youth role in global policy, leadership, and diplomacy on issues like climate change, education, and sustainable development.

• WYP is an international platform that unites young delegates from countries including South Korea, the United Arab Emirates(UAE), Kuwait, Chad, Thailand, Yemen, and others to discuss global challenges and develop youth-led policy solutions.

About Stuti Pradhan:
Background: Stuti Pradhan is recognized for excellence in parliamentary debate, leadership qualities, and debate performance.
Achievement: Secured the state winner title at Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025, demonstrating strong parliamentary and policy skills.
Recognition: Honored as a special guest at Lok Bhawan, Sikkim during Republic Day 2026 for her notable accomplishments.

SPORTS

Olympic & World Badminton Champion Carolina Marín Announces Retirement
In March 2026, Spanish Olympic and World Badminton Champion Carolina María Marín Martín announced her retirement from professional badminton at the age of 32 after failing to fully recover from a third serious knee injury.
Achievements:
Olympics: She won the Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games(Brazil), becoming the first non-Asian woman to claim the singles badminton title.
World Titles: Secured World Championships three times in 2014, 2015, and 2018, becoming the first woman to achieve this feat.
Ranking: Held the World Number One ranking for a record of 66 weeks during her career.

IOC Announces New Policy on Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport
In March 2026, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved a landmark policy titled ‘Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport,’ replacing the 2021 framework without retroactive application and set to take effect from the Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) Olympic Games which is scheduled to be held in July 14-30, 2028 in the United States of America (USA).

• The policy aims to uphold fairness, safety, and integrity by protecting the rights of female athletes and ensuring equal competition based on scientific evidence.

About IOC Female Eligibility Policy:
Criteria: Sex-determining Region Y Gene Screening (SRY) requires athletes to be SRY-negative to compete in female categories, citing biological advantages in strength, power, and endurance.
Ineligibility: SRY-positive athletes, including XY transgender individuals and those with androgen-sensitive Differences/Disorders of Sex Development (DSD), are ineligible for female events but may compete in other categories, with exceptions for Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) and certain DSD cases without testosterone advantage.
Implementation: The policy applies to all IOC events, including the Olympic Games, Youth Olympics, and qualifiers, and is implemented by National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs) under joint oversight.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Theatre Day 2026 – March 27
World Theatre Day is observed annually on 27 March to celebrate the cultural importance of theatre and its role in promoting global unity.

• 27 March 2026 marks the 64th observance of World Theatre Day.

Background:
Initiation: World Theatre Day was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI), the World Organization for the Performing Arts, founded in 1948 by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) and the International Council for Theatre.
First Observance: The first World Theatre Day was observed on 27 March 1962, marking the opening of the “Theatre of Nations” season in Paris.
2026 Celebration: The ITI celebrated the World Theatre Day 2026 from 25 to 27 March 2026 in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

Earth Hour 2026 – March 28
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) organizes Earth Hour, observed globally every year on the last or penultimate Saturday of March, encouraging individuals, communities, and businesses to switch off non-essential electric lights for one hour, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, as a symbol of commitment to the planet.

• Earth Hour 2026 was observed on 28 March 2026, marking the 20th year of the global event.

Background:
Launch: Earth Hour was first launched by WWF (formerly World Wildlife Fund) and its partners in Australia in 2007 as a “lights off” initiative.
First Observance: The inaugural event was held on 31 March 2007 in Sydney, Australia.
Lights-Off Initiative: It is marked by a powerful symbolic act, switching off non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness about environmental challenges.

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