Daily Current Affairs: 5 March 2026

National Safety Day 2026 observed on March 4 under theme 'Engage, Educate & Empower People to Enhance Safety'.

Key Updates:

• National Safety Day 2026 is observed on 4 March 2026 to commemorate the founding of the National Safety Council (NSC).
• The 2026 theme is 'Engage, Educate & Empower People to Enhance Safety'.
• The year 2026 marks the 55th National Safety Week and nearly six decades of NSC efforts in workplace safety, occupational health, and environmental conservation.
• Celebrations have been extended to the entire month, now recognised as National Safety Day (NSD) / National Safety Month (NSM).
• National Safety Council of India (NSC) was founded on 4 March 1966.
• National Safety Day was first officially observed in 1972.

Saint Tirumangai Alvar Idol Returned to India by Ashmolean Museum

Key Updates:

• The University of Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology (Ashmolean Museum) returned a stolen 16th-century bronze idol of Saint Tirumangai Alvar to the Indian High Commission in London.
• The idol was originally stolen in 1952 from the Soundararaja Perumal Koil temple located in a village in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.
• The India Pride Project identified the bronze by matching it with 1957 temple photographs preserved at the Institut Français de Pondichéry (IFP).
• The Ashmolean Museum acquired the idol in 1967 from the collection of private collector Dr J R Belmont, who had purchased it from Sotheby’s.
• The repatriation process involved coordination between the museum, the Indian High Commission, and the Tamil Nadu Idol Wing Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
• The article identifies other stolen items from the same temple that are yet to be repatriated, including a Vishnu icon from the Kimbell Museum, a Kaliya Krishna from the Asian Art Museum, and a Devi idol.
• This handover follows a decision by the US-based Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art to restitute bronzes stolen from the Alathur and Veeracholapuram temples in Tamil Nadu.

Hari Krishan Dua passed away at 88.

Key Updates:

• Hari Krishan Dua died at a private hospital in New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon at the age of 88.
• He had served as editor of The Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, The Tribune, and briefly as Editorial Advisor at The Times of India.
• He was a Padma Bhushan awardee and a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.
• Dua served as Media Adviser to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and as India’s Ambassador to Denmark.
• He was part of the National Security Council under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.
• His cremation will take place at Lodhi Road crematorium on Thursday.

Mojtaba Khamenei speculated as successor after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death.

[Iran]

Key Updates:

• Mojtaba Khamenei is the second-eldest son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
• He was born on September 8, 1969 in Mashhad, Iran.
• He studied at the Qom Seminary and maintains strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia.
• He has never held an official government position but is considered an influential behind-the-scenes political figure.
• Reports speculate Mojtaba as a potential successor, though no formal appointment is confirmed in the article.

PM Narendra Modi to visit Tamil Nadu on March 1; visit to Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple scheduled

[Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

• PM Narendra Modi will arrive in Chennai on the night of 28 February and stay overnight at the Governor's residence.
• On 1 March, he will travel to Puducherry to participate in a public programme and address a large gathering.
• After Puducherry, he will proceed to Madurai and offer prayers at the Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple, one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan.
• Following the temple visit, he will address a grand public meeting in Madurai expected to draw supporters from southern districts.
• The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to polls in the first half of 2026.

Safeena Husain named among TIME Women of the Year 2026

Key Updates:

• Safeena Husain, founder of the non-profit Educate Girls, has been selected as one of the TIME Women of the Year 2026.
• TIME magazine announced the annual list recognising women leaders driving global change.
• Husain’s organisation works to enrol out-of-school girls and improve learning outcomes in rural India.
• The TIME Women of the Year list for 2026 highlights 12 women across fields including activism, science and business.

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released 16 Publications Division books on Tamil civilization.

Key Updates:

• Vice-President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released 16 books on Tamil civilization at Uparashtrapati Bhavan.
• The books were published by the Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• The volumes cover themes including Rameswaram, Sri Ramanuja, Nadukal tradition, Arikamedu, Bhakti literature, natural farming, ancient Tamil instruments, folk deities, Meenakshi Amman Temple, Brihadeesvara Temple, Manimekalai, and Mahavidwan Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai.
• A trilingual book on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was also released in Tamil, English, and Hindi.
• The Vice-President highlighted Tamil freedom fighters Pulithevar, Velu Nachiyar, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Ondiveeran, Thiruppur Kumaran, Theeran Chinnamalai, Kuyili, Sundaralinganar, and the Marudhu Brothers.

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya releases book "Mahatma: A Great Communicator"

Key Updates:

• Union Minister of Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, released the book "Mahatma: A Great Communicator" at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat, New Delhi.
• The book was authored by Additional Director General Akashvani, Dr Dhiraj Kakadia.
• The book is published in Hindi, English, and Gujarati languages.
• The book focuses on Mahatma Gandhi's life and the impact of his communication skills during the freedom movement.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Bank of Japan (BoJ) Renew $75 Billion Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA)

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Bank of Japan (BoJ)]

Key Updates:

• The RBI and the BoJ renewed the BSA with effect from 28 February 2026.
• The size of the facility remains unchanged at up to $75 billion.
• The BoJ acted as the agent for Japan’s Ministry of Finance to sign the third amendment and restatement agreement of the BSA.
• The arrangement is a two-way currency swap framework allowing both authorities to exchange local currencies for the US dollar.
• The pact aims to strengthen financial safety nets and contribute to regional and global financial stability.

India INX Global Access (India INX GA) partners HSBC International Financial Services Centre Banking Unit (HSBC IBU) to expand overseas investment access.

[HSBC]

Key Updates:

• India INX Global Access IFSC (India INX GA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of India International Exchange (India INX), has entered a strategic partnership with HSBC International Financial Services Centre Banking Unit (HSBC IBU).
• The partnership aims to broaden structured access to global investment products for Indian investors through Gift City.
• India INX GA is a Global Access Provider (GAP) registered with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
• The arrangement is designed to enable informed cross-border participation and more efficient capital allocation beyond domestic asset classes.
• The development follows NSE IX launching its own global access platform last week, highlighting growing momentum within the IFSC ecosystem.

Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) MoU signed for Ladakh wildlife conservation

[Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP)]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Army's Fire and Fury Corps and the Ladakh administration signed an MoU under the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) programme.
• The MoU was signed on World Wildlife Day in the presence of Lt General Hitesh Bhalla, GOC Fire and Fury Corps, and Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra.
• The agreement aims to conserve flagship species including the snow leopard, Himalayan wolf, ibex, marmot, black-necked crane and bharal (blue sheep).
• A joint Snow Leopard Conservation Cell will be established to monitor conservation efforts in the region.

Defence Ministry signs Rs 5,083 crore contracts for ALH Mk-III helicopters and Shtil missiles

[Ministry of Defence (India)]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts worth Rs 5,083 crore for six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles.
• The ALH Mk-III contract valued at Rs 2,901 crore was signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• The helicopters include operational role equipment, an engineering support package, and performance-based logistics support for the Indian Coast Guard.
• The Shtil missile contract valued at Rs 2,182 crore was signed with JSC Rosoboronexport of the Russian Federation.
• The acquisition aims to enhance the Indian Navy's layered air defence and the Indian Coast Guard's maritime security capabilities.

New Seed Act and Revised Pesticide Act to Increase Agricultural Production and Farmer Income

[Uttarakhand]

Key Updates:

• Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the implementation of a new Seed Act and a revised Pesticide Act.
• The announcement was made during a press conference in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, to improve agricultural production and farmers' income.
• The Central Government is updating a digital platform under the Ek Bharat initiative to provide a single-point information source for farmers.
• An Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system has been developed to facilitate access to essential agricultural information.

NITI Aayog–JICA Phase II pact for SDG push in Aspirational Districts and Blocks

[Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)]

Key Updates:

• NITI Aayog and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Record of Discussions for Phase II of the Japan–India Cooperative Actions towards Sustainable Development Goals.
• The agreement was signed in the presence of Rohit Kumar, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme at NITI Aayog, and Takeuchi Takuro, Chief Representative, JICA India.
• Phase II focuses on institutional capacity-building and improving governance systems at district and block levels under the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP).
• The initiative covers six themes: global partnership, health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic infrastructure.
• Key activities include capacity-building exchanges, Japan–India knowledge forums, identification and dissemination of best practices, and targeted support to selected Aspirational Districts and Blocks.

Saksham Skill Census Launched to Create Livelihood Intelligence Framework

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

• The Saksham Skill Census, India’s first AI-powered skill census, was launched at RD National College, Bandra West, Mumbai Suburban’s H-West Ward.
• The initiative employs AI technology and GIS mapping to divide areas into hyperlocal regions for data collection.
• Enumerators will conduct door-to-door surveys using an AI tool named Arc, while residents can also participate through virtual self-surveys.
• Hon. Minister of IT, Shri Ashish Shelar, and Mumbai Suburban District Collector, Shri Saurabh Katiyar IAS, attended the launch event.
• Ashwin Srivastava, Founder of Sapio Analytics, highlighted the importance of equipping youth with essential skills and opportunities.

Finland President Alexander Stubb arrives in New Delhi; to be Chief Guest at Raisina Dialogue 2026

[Finland]

Key Updates:

• President Alexander Stubb of Finland arrived in New Delhi on 4 March 2026 on a State Visit to India and received a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour.
• Minister of State for External Affairs V. K. Singh received President Stubb at the airport.
• President Stubb will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 11th edition of Raisina Dialogue 2026 scheduled from 5-7 March in New Delhi.
• During the visit, President Stubb will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend a luncheon hosted by him.
• President Stubb will also meet President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
• After Delhi, President Stubb will travel to Mumbai and meet Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
• This is President Stubb's first visit to India in his current role as President.

World Obesity Day 2026 highlights 8 billion reasons to change the obesity story

Key Updates:

• World Obesity Day is observed annually on 4 March and led by the World Obesity Federation.
• The 2026 theme is '8 Billion Reasons to Change the Story'.
• World Obesity Day was first launched in 2015 and has been observed globally on 4 March since 2020.
• According to the World Obesity Atlas 2026, around 180 million children aged 5–19 were living with obesity in 2025 and the number could rise to about 227 million by 2040.
• National survey data show that 24 per cent of women and 22.9 per cent of men in India are overweight or obese.
• The World Obesity Atlas 2026 reports that nearly 14.9 million Indian children aged 5–9 years and more than 26.4 million aged 10–19 years were living with overweight or obesity in 2025.

India ranks second globally in childhood obesity, projected to have 20 million obese children by 2040: World Obesity Atlas 2026

Key Updates:

• India ranks second globally in childhood obesity after China, overtaking the United States, according to the World Obesity Atlas 2026.
• In 2025, India had 14.9 million children aged 5–9 and over 26 million aged 10–19 who were overweight or obese.
• By 2040, India is projected to have 20 million children living with obesity and 56 million either overweight or obese.
• The World Obesity Atlas 2026 predicts BMI-attributed hypertension in Indian children will rise from 2.99 million to 4.21 million between 2025 and 2040.
• Hyperglycaemia cases are projected to increase from 1.39 million to 1.91 million, and high triglycerides from 4.39 million to 6.07 million in the same period.
• India leads the WHO South-East Asia Region with over 45 million young people aged 0–19 overweight or obese.
• The World Obesity Federation (WOF) warns India is among the fastest-rising countries, with nearly 5% annual increase in childhood overweight and obesity.
• Only 35.5% of Indian school-age children receive school meals, and 74% of adolescents aged 11–17 fail to meet recommended physical activity levels.
• The Atlas urges stronger prevention policies, including healthier school food environments, protection from marketing of unhealthy foods, and taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages.

China's Zhurong Rover Discovers Ancient Shoreline Deposits on Mars

[China]

Key Updates:

• China's Zhurong Mars rover, a component of the Tianwen-1 mission, has identified subsurface structures resembling sandy beach deposits on the planet.
• The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), are based on ground-penetrating radar data from the Utopia Planitia region.
• The Zhurong rover landed in Utopia Planitia in 2021, an area believed to have once contained the Deuteronilus Ocean.
• The radar penetrated up to 80 metres below the surface, detecting layered sedimentary structures that slope upward, similar to coastal deposits on Earth.
• The study suggests these formations were created by wave action during the Late Hesperian period, approximately 3.5 to 4 billion years ago.
• The presence of these shoreline deposits indicates that Mars once possessed a thicker atmosphere and a warmer climate to maintain a stable liquid ocean.
• India link not mentioned in the article.

Scientists recover 200,000-year-old horse DNA from Schöningen site in Germany

[Germany]

Key Updates:

• Researchers extracted approximately 200,000-year-old DNA from the fossilised remains of horses at the Schöningen archaeological site in Lower Saxony, Germany.
• The genetic material belongs to an extinct horse species known as Equus mosbachensis, which existed during the Middle Pleistocene epoch.
• Genomic comparisons indicate that Equus mosbachensis diverged from other equine lineages approximately 800,000 to 900,000 years ago.
• The study was published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution by a research team from the University of Tübingen and collaborating institutions.
• The DNA survived in a temperate, non-permafrost environment due to anaerobic and carbonate-rich sediments that slowed microbial decay.
• The Schöningen site is also famous for the Schöningen spears, which are wooden hunting weapons dating back roughly 300,000 years.
• India link not mentioned in the article.

World's largest acidic geyser erupts in Yellowstone after six-year dormancy

Key Updates:

• Echinus Geyser in Yellowstone National Park's Norris Geyser Basin erupted on 7 February after last erupting in 2020.
• The United States Geological Survey (USGS) noted the geyser's eruptions have resumed to 2017-era rates, lasting up to three minutes and reaching water heights of up to 30ft.
• Echinus is the world's largest acidic geyser, named for surrounding rocks resembling sea urchins (echinoderms).
• Acidic geysers are rare because acidic water can break down rock; Echinus survives as its acidity is low, similar to orange juice or vinegar.

Discovery of Dark Oxygen 4,000 Metres Below the Pacific Ocean

[Pacific Ocean]

Key Updates:

• Researchers have detected dark oxygen in the deep sea at depths of approximately 4,000 metres, where sunlight does not penetrate.
• The discovery was made in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean during research published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
• The oxygen is produced near polymetallic nodules, which are mineral-rich deposits containing metals such as nickel, manganese, and cobalt.
• Scientists used specialised benthic chambers to isolate sections of the seafloor and monitor chemical changes, observing unexpected increases in oxygen levels.
• The study suggests that these nodules may function like batteries, facilitating electrochemical reactions that break down seawater into hydrogen and oxygen.
• According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these polymetallic nodules are typically found in the abyssal plains of the Pacific Ocean.
• This finding challenges the conventional scientific belief that Earth's oxygen is primarily produced through sunlight-dependent photosynthesis.
• India link not mentioned in the article.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) marks 25th Foundation Day with new logo, mobile app and RCO portal launch

[Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)]

Key Updates:

• Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) celebrated its 25th Foundation Day at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 1 March 2026.
• Shri Manohar Lal, Cabinet Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, attended as Chief Guest and unveiled the BEE@25 logo.
• India has reduced the emissions intensity of its GDP by 36% from 2005 levels and achieved 52% non-fossil fuel installed capacity ahead of the 2030 target.
• The Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) Portal (http://www.rco.beeindia.gov.in) was launched to strengthen monitoring and compliance under energy efficiency programmes.
• The BEE Star Label Mobile Application, developed with CLASP, allows consumers to scan QR codes on star-labelled appliances to access energy performance and compliance details.
• Key BEE initiatives include the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme, Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE), ADEETIE scheme for MSMEs, Standards & Labelling (S&L) Programme, and Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC).

Survey of India (SoI) inks five-year MoU with Digital University of Kerala (DUK) for geospatial and AI research

Key Updates:

• Survey of India (SoI), the national nodal agency for geospatial data under the Department of Science and Technology, signed a five-year MoU with Digital University of Kerala (DUK).
• The MoU focuses on academic and research collaboration in geo-informatics, AI, machine learning for automated feature extraction, geodesy, astronomy and related engineering disciplines.
• SoI officials can pursue postgraduate and doctoral programmes at DUK with joint supervision of research.
• The partnership includes customised training programmes, expert lectures, collaborative research projects, co-authored publications and joint participation in national and international initiatives.
• DUK students will gain internships, capstone projects and dissertation opportunities at SoI under joint mentorship.
• Both institutions will share research infrastructure, geospatial datasets, laboratories and library resources.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launches indigenous 30 kW Wide Band Gap-based integrated drive system for electric vehicles

[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched an indigenously developed 30 kW Wide Band Gap (WBG)-based integrated drive system aimed at strengthening India’s electric vehicle powertrain ecosystem and reducing dependence on imported components.
• The system was developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Thiruvananthapuram, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Lucas TVS.
• It was unveiled by S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, at the IIT Madras campus in Chennai.
• The 30 kW power class system targets India’s growing electric passenger vehicle segment, particularly compact electric cars and fleet mobility platforms.
• The technology integrates the electric motor and inverter into a single compact, high power-density unit, replacing conventional separate motor and drive electronics systems.
• The project was executed under the National Mission on Power Electronics Technology, a programme aimed at advancing indigenous capabilities in power semiconductor devices, converters and motor drives.

UN proclaims 1 March as World Seagrass Day to spotlight conservation

[United Nations (UN)]

Key Updates:

• The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/76/265 in May 2022 proclaiming 1 March as World Seagrass Day.
• Seagrasses cover only 0.1% of the ocean floor yet store up to 18% of the world’s oceanic carbon.
• Seagrass meadows exist in 159 countries across six continents and cover over 300,000 km².
• Almost 30% of global seagrass area has been lost since the late nineteenth century.
• At least 22 of the world’s 72 seagrass species are in decline.
• Conserving and restoring seagrass meadows can help countries achieve 26 targets and indicators linked to ten Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Only about a quarter of all seagrass meadows fall within marine protected areas.

Indian women's cricket team nominated for 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award after maiden World Cup triumph.

[Laureus World Sports Awards]

Key Updates:

• Indian women's cricket team nominated for 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award after winning their first ICC Women's World Cup title.
• Laureus Sport confirmed the nomination on Tuesday.
• Team recorded highest successful run chase in women's ODI history during semi-final win against Australia.
• BCCI announced Rs 51 crore cash prize for the squad after the victory.
• Award winners to be announced at Cibeles Palace in Madrid on April 20, 2026.
• Other nominees include England Women's Football Team, European Ryder Cup Team, McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Holi celebrated across India under different regional names

Key Updates:

• Lathmar Holi is celebrated in Barsana and Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh.
• Phoolon Ki Holi is celebrated in Vrindavan by showering flowers instead of coloured powder.
• Dol Jatra is celebrated in West Bengal and Odisha with idols of Krishna and Radha placed on decorated swings.
• Hola Mohalla is a Sikh festival celebrated in Punjab emphasising martial traditions and community discipline.
• Shigmo is celebrated in Goa marking the arrival of spring and the harvest season.
• Yaoshang is a multi-day celebration in Manipur blending Holi traditions with local cultural practices.