Current Affairs 24 March 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs March 24 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

First Edition of Bharat Electricity Summit Held in New Delhi; Launches Carbon Market Portal
In March 2026, the first edition of Bharat Electricity Summit (BES 2026) was held from March 19-22,2026 at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka in New Delhi, Delhi, bringing together global stakeholders to strengthen India’s energy transition and power sector reforms.
About Bharat Electricity Summit 2026:
Inauguration: The Summit was inaugurated by Union Minister Manohar Lal, Ministry of Power(MoP) at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, Delhi.
Theme: The theme of the four-day Summit was “Electrifying Growth. Empowering Sustainability. Connecting Globally”. 
Organiser: The BES 2026 was organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the MoP, aligning India’s energy sector with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Key Highlights :  During the event, the Indian Carbon Market Portal (www.indiancarbonmarket.gov.in), a central platform for implementing and administering the carbon market, was launched.

• The Summit facilitated several high-level bilateral meetings with countries such as Malawi, Tajikistan, Mauritius, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, along with key industry stakeholders.
•  The next edition of the Bharat Electricity Summit (BES 2028) will be held in 2028 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

GoI Introduces CGSMFI 2.0 to Facilitate Credit Flow to MFI
In March 2026, the Government of India (GoI) introduced the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Microfinance Institutions 2.0 (CGSMFI-2.0), which will facilitate increased credit flow to the Microfinance Institutions (MFI).
Key Highlights
Purpose: The scheme aims to provide guarantee cover to Member Lending Institutions (MLI) against expected losses on the financial assistance extended by them to Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC)-MFIs and MFIs for on lending to small borrowers.
Beneficiary: The scheme is expected to benefit approximately 36 lakh borrowers.
Managed by: The scheme will be managed and operated by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC), wholly owned by the Department of Financial services, Ministry of Finance (MoF).
Effective from: The scheme shall come into force from 20.03.2026.
Tenure: This scheme will be valid till 30.06.2026 or till loan guarantees of Rs 20,000 crores (Cr) are issued, whichever is earlier.

FSI & BISAG-N Sign MoU to Boost Use of Geospatial Tech
In March 2026, the Forest Survey of India (FSI) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhaskarcharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) to enhance the use of geospatial technologies in forestry and environmental management.

• The MoU was during the 90th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL), chaired by Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, MoEFCC, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Key Details of MoU:
Objective: To strengthen the use of geospatial technologies, remote sensing, and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-based tools for enhanced forest management, wildlife conservation, and data-driven decision support systems.
Significance :The collaboration is set to enhance India’s capabilities in forest assessment, biodiversity conservation, and climate change monitoring.
SC-NBWL: It is a statutory body formed under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Its main function is to advise the government on matters relating to conservation and protection of wildlife and forests.

GoI Establishes Rare Earth Magnet Pilot Plant at ARCI Hyderabad, Telangana
In March 2026, the Government of India (GoI) established a pilot plant for manufacturing Neodymium-Iron-Boron (Nd-Fe-B) rare earth permanent  magnets at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology(MoS&T), in Hyderabad, Telangana. 

• Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the DST, along with Dr. R. Vijay, Director of ARCI, formally inaugurated the pilot-plant.

About Rare Earth Magnet Pilot Plant:
Technology : The newly established pilot-plant uses an end-to-end process which includes strip-cast alloy production to finished sintered magnets, enabling the development of a robust and self-reliant manufacturing system.
Technology Validation: It will serve as a critical platform used for technology validation and process optimization, industry collaboration and demonstration, promoting indigenous innovations to commercial manufacturing and supporting deep-tech startups and private sector participation.
Significance: These high-performance magnets are essential for electric vehicles(EV), Renewable Energy(RE) systems, and advanced electronics, and the initiative is expected to reduce import dependence while strengthening India’s position in the global rare earth supply chain.

RRU, SSB Academy Sign MoU to Enhance National Security Training
In March 2026, Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), an Institution of National Importance (INI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Academy in New Delhi (Delhi) to strengthen national security training and capacity building.

• This MoU is designed to bridge the gap between academic research in national security and the practical, on-ground requirements of border guarding forces.

Key Details of MoU:
RRU Role: Under this strategic partnership, RRU will offer academic accreditation for training programs conducted at the SSB Academy.
Key Activities: As per the Terms of Agreement (ToA), both institutions will facilitate the exchange of resources, including faculty expertise, pedagogical tools, and specialized training facilities.
Framework Implementation: RRU will review the existing curriculum at SSB establishments and jointly develop additional course content to meet credit requirements for specific degree and diploma programmes.

• The partnership will also establish a robust assessment and grading framework to ensure compliance with RRU’s academic standards.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Global Terrorism Index 2026: Pakistan Most Affected by Terrorism; India Ranked 13th 
In March 2026, Australian think tank Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) published the latest edition of  Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026, which  indicates a significant shift in the global security landscape. For the first time since the index’s inception, Pakistan has been ranked as the country most impacted by terrorism, with an overall score of 8.574,  recording 1,139 deaths and 1,045 terrorist incidents in 2025, the highest fatality levels since 2013.

• India has been ranked at 13th spot with an overall score of 6.428.

About GTI 2026:
Methodology: The countries are ranked based on their respective composite scores which measures the impact of terrorism. For each country, GTI score ranges from 0 to 10; where 0 represents no impact from terrorism and 10 represents the highest measurable impact of terrorism.
 Global Trends: As per the index, terrorist incidents in 2025 were nearly six times higher than in 2020. However, terrorism-related incidents decreased by 22% to 2,944, which marks the lowest figures since 2007.

• The index highlighted that global terrorism deaths declined by 28% to 5,582 in 2025.

Most Impacted Countries: Other top countries impacted by terrorism, this year, Burkina Faso slipped to 2nd rank in GTI with an overall score of 8.324; followed by Niger (3rd), Nigeria (4th) and Mali (5th).

India and Bhutan Sign MoU to Strengthen Postal Cooperation
In March 2026, India and Bhutan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Thimphu(Bhutan), to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the postal sector, aiming to enhance connectivity, service delivery, and institutional collaboration.

• The MoU was signed during the visit of Vandita Kaul, Secretary (Posts), Ministry of Communications to Bhutan from March 19–22, 2026.

Key Details of MoU:
Framework: The MoU established a structured framework for collaboration between India Post and Bhutan Post across areas such as postal operations, technology development, capacity building, logistics connectivity, e-commerce, financial services, philately, and knowledge exchange.
Implementation: The MoU will be implemented by the Bhutan Postal Corporation Limited on behalf of Bhutan and the Department of Posts (DoP) under the Ministry of communication on behalf of Government of India(GoI).
Cross-Border Digital Remittance: A key initiative under the MoU is the launch of the Universal Postal Union–Unified Payments Interface (UPU–UPI) cross-border remittance system.

Indian Navy Participates in ‘Exercise KAKADU 2026’ in Australia
In March 2026, the Indian Navy (IN) frigate Indian Naval Ship(INS) Nilgiri participated in the sea phase of ‘Exercise Kakadu 2026’ in Australia, as part of its deployment to the Western Pacific, aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
About Exercise Kakadu 2026:
2026 Exercise: The 17th edition of Exercise Kakadu 2026 witnessed participation from over 19 nations and 6,000 personnel, covering a vast area from Jervis Bay to Darwin, Australia.
Fleet Review: A Kakadu Fleet Review was held in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales on 21st March 2026, marking the largest gathering of foreign warships in over a decade and commemorating the 125th anniversary of the RAN.

India’s Participation: INS Nilgiri took part in coordinated naval manoeuvres off northern Australia, alongside warships from Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.

• The crew of INS Nilgiri won the Kakadu Shield Trophy during sporting events held in the harbour phase at Darwin, Australia.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

South Indian Bank Appoints Jose Joseph Kattoor as Part-Time Chairman
On March 23, 2026, South Indian Bank (SIB) appointed Jose Joseph Kattoor, a former Executive Director(ED) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as the Non-Executive Part-Time Chairman (Independent Director) for a three-year term in compliance with the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, following approval from the RBI.

• He succeeds V. J. Kurian, whose tenure concluded on March 22, 2026.

About Jose Joseph Kattoor:
Experience: He brings over three decades of experience in central banking and financial regulation.
Leadership: He served in the RBI from 1991 to 2023 and retired as ED. During his tenure, he led key departments including Enforcement, Corporate Strategy, Currency Management, and Human Resources.
Association with SIB: He has been associated with SIB  as an Independent Director since July 2024, ensuring continuity and strengthening governance at the board level.

City Union Bank Appoints Ravindra Jadeja as Brand Ambassador
In March 2026, City Union Bank Limited (CUB) appointed Indian cricketer Ravindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja as its brand ambassador, valid for a period of two years, as per a regulatory filing made in compliance with disclosure norms.
Key Highlights:
Objective: The initiative aims to strengthen the bank’s visibility and connect with a broader customer base across India.
Partner: The agreement was executed in association with Baseline Ventures India Private Limited, which manages sports personalities and brand partnerships.
Disclosure: The announcement was made under Regulation 30 read with Schedule III of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Kotak Mahindra Bank’s KMCC to Divest 30.99% Stake in Infina Finance for Rs 1,293.91 Crore
In March 2026, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited (KMCC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL), entered into definitive agreements  to divest 30.99% of its shareholding in Infina Finance Private Limited (Infina) for an aggregate value of Rs 1,293.91 crore.

• The definitive agreements for the stake divestment, executed through multiple transactions and subject to customary conditions, are expected to be completed by March 31, 2026.

Key Details of Divestment Deal:
Key Entities Involved: KMCC will transfer 9.90% of Infina’s share capital (2,17,899 equity shares), to Derive Trading and Resorts Private Limited and Bright Star Investments Private Limited for aggregate consideration of Rs 413.35 crore.

• It will transfer 12.10% of stake (2,66,321 equity shares) to the estates of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala through its Trusts, for a total value of Rs 505.20 crore.
• In addition, KMCC will transfer 8.99% of the share capital of Infina, to KF Trust, an existing shareholder of Infina, for a combined consideration of Rs 375.35 crore.

Impact: Following the completion of the transaction, Infina ceases to be an associate company of the bank. Also, the shareholding of KMCC in Infina will reduce from existing 49.99% to 19%.
About Infina: Infina, established in 1996, is a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) which offers products like loan against securities, commercial real estate finance , among others.

OBITUARY

Veteran BJP Leader and former MP ‘Datta Meghe’ Passed Away
In March 2026, veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Member of Parliament (MP) ‘Datta Meghe’ passed away at the age of 89 in Maharashtra. He was born on November 11, 1936, in Pawnar village of Wardha district, Maharashtra.
About Datta Meghe:
Political Tenure: His political career spanned over five decades across multiple legislative bodies.
MLC Role: He was first elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) in 1978 and served three consecutive terms until 1991.
Parliamentary Role: He was a four-time LS MP from Nagpur, Ramtek, and Wardha, and also served as an RS member from 2002 to 2008.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People 2026 – March 20
The World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People is observed annually across the globe on March 20 to advocate for the cultural rights of youth and promote the transformative power of live performance.
Background:
Origin: Established in 2001 by the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People or Association Internationale du Théâtre de l’Enfance et la Jeunesse (ASSITEJ).
1st Observance: First celebrated worldwide on 20 March 2001.
World Performance Week : It is a global performing arts initiative led by the ASSITEJ in collaboration with partner organizations, celebrated annually from 20–27 March.
2026 Campaign: The 2026 campaign is centered on the theme: “Staging the Rights of the Child to Arts and Culture.”

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2026 – March 21
The United Nations (UN) observes the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination annually on 21 March to raise awareness about racism, racial discrimination, and the challenges faced by people of African descent and other affected communities.

• 2026 marked the 61st anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Racial of Discrimination (ICERD).

Background:
Adoption: On 26 October 1966, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/2142 (XXI), titled “Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,” declaring 21 March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
First Observance: The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was first observed on 21 March 1967.

World Down Syndrome Day 2026 – March 21
The United Nations (UN) observes World Down Syndrome Day(WDSD) annually on 21 March to raise awareness and promote the rights, inclusion, and well-being of people with Down syndrome.

• 21 March 2026 marked the 15th observance of WDSD.
• 2026 Theme: “Together Against Loneliness”

Background:
Global Campaign: The global awareness campaign began in 2006 when the Down Syndrome Association Singapore, on behalf of Down Syndrome International (DSi), launched and hosted the WDSD website (2006–2010).
UN Proclamation: On 19 December 2011, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/66/149, declaring 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day.
First Observance: WDSD was first officially observed on 21 March 2012.

STATE NEWS

HP CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Presents Rs 54,928 Crore Budget for FY27
In March 2026, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Chief Minister (CM) of Himachal Pradesh (HP) presented his fourth budget of Rs 54,928 crores (Cr) for the financial year 2026-27 (FY27) in the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) in Shimla, HP. The budget has contracted by Rs 3,586 Cr, compared to the previous fiscal year Rs 58,514 Cr.

• The budget focuses on fiscal consolidation, social welfare, green energy, rural development, and employment generation, aiming to strengthen the state’s economy while maintaining financial discipline.

Highlights of the Budget:
Revenue Gap: As per estimates, Revenue Receipts (RR) are expected to be Rs 40,361 Cr, while Revenue Expenditure (RE) is set at Rs 46,938 Cr, resulting in a Revenue Deficit (RD) of Rs 6,577 Cr.

• The fiscal deficit is projected at Rs 9,698 Cr, or 3.49% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).

Growth: The state economy is expected to grow at 8.3%, with GSDP estimated at Rs 2,54,000 Cr and Per Capita Income (PCI) at Rs 2,83,626.
Sector Wise Allocation: The sectoral allocation includes Rs 9,660 Cr for education, Rs 2,868 Cr for health, Rs 1,544 Cr for women and child development (WCD) and OBC (Other Backward Caste) welfare, Rs 542 Cr for urban development, and Rs 250 Cr for energy.

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