Daily Current Affairs: 14 March 2026

Krishnan Raghavan posthumously conferred Padma Shri.

Key Updates:

• Krishnan Raghavan, pen-name 'Kitna', was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for 2023.
• He belonged to the Alu Kurumba tribal community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.
• The award recognised his role in reviving and popularising the 3,000-year-old Kurumba painting tradition.
• Fewer than 10 indigenous Kurumba painters remain, with only three knowing the natural colour extraction techniques.

Arpita Patra summits world’s highest volcanic peak Ojos Del Salado

[Chile]

Key Updates:

• Arpita Patra, a faculty member of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, became the first Bengali woman to scale Ojos Del Salado.
• Ojos Del Salado is the highest volcanic peak in the world, standing at an altitude of 22,615 feet on the Chile-Argentina border.
• The climber reached the summit on 7 March 2026, after starting the final ascent from the base camp in the Atacama Desert.
• As part of the acclimatisation process, she completed climbs of Laguna Verde (over 14,000 feet) and Nevado San Francisco (over 19,700 feet).
• Patra has previously scaled four other volcanic peaks prior to this successful expedition.
• The final stretch of the climb involved a steep 50-metre slope at an altitude of nearly 7,000 metres amid cold and strong winds.

Canara Bank raises MCLR-linked lending rates by 10 basis points for 2-3 year tenors.

[Canara Bank]

Key Updates:

• Canara Bank increased the 2-year MCLR to 8.95% from 8.85% effective Thursday.
• The 3-year MCLR was raised to 9% from 8.90%.
• Roughly half of Canara Bank’s loan book is linked to MCLR.
• The bank’s loan portfolio stood at Rs 11.92 lakh crore as of December end.
• Bank of Baroda and Uco Bank kept their MCLR rates unchanged on Tuesday.
• Uco Bank reduced treasury bill-linked benchmark rates by 5 basis points for 3-month and 6-month tenors while leaving the 1-year rate unchanged.

South Indian Bank partners with Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to launch EPF payment services

[Employees' Provident Fund Organisation]

Key Updates:

• South Indian Bank has integrated EPFO payment services into its internet banking platform SIBerNet.
• Employers and establishments can now remit EPF contributions, dues, remittances and related charges directly through the EPFO portal using South Indian Bank's net banking facility.
• The integration was completed between the Thrissur-based bank and EPFO.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reports CPI inflation at 3.2% for February 2026

[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation]

Key Updates:

• India’s retail inflation quickened to 3.2% in February 2026, a 10-month high, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on 12 March 2026.
• CPI inflation was last higher in April 2025 at 3.3%.
• Food and beverages inflation rose to 3.35% in February 2026 from 2.1% in January 2026.
• Inflation in ‘paan, tobacco and intoxicants’ increased to 3.5% in February 2026 from 2.9% in January 2026.
• Core inflation, excluding food & beverages and electricity, gas & other fuels, remained unchanged at 3.4% between January and February 2026.
• Inflation in ‘personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods & services’ stood at 19.6% in February 2026, up from 19.02% in January 2026, driven by higher prices of precious metals.

V O Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) launches India’s first Digital Twin platform for major ports

[V O Chidambaranar Port Authority]

Key Updates:

• V O Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, became the first major port in India to implement a comprehensive Digital Twin platform for port management.
• Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the platform on 23 February 2026 as part of infrastructure projects worth over ₹1,500 crore at the port.
• The Digital Twin platform creates a real-time virtual replica of the port’s infrastructure, operational assets and maritime ecosystem using IoT sensors, GPS tracking, LiDAR mapping, drone imaging and CCTV networks.
• The system enables real-time monitoring of berth occupancy, vessel movements, crane utilisation and yard capacity, and supports predictive maintenance of cargo handling equipment through AI-based asset monitoring.
• The platform facilitates berth and traffic optimisation, reduces congestion and waiting time, and provides energy and emissions tracking for sustainability management.
• From April 2025 to January 2026, VOCPA handled 35.97 million tonnes of cargo, up six per cent year-on-year, including a record four million tonnes in January 2026.
• Container volumes rose 9.4 per cent to more than 716,000 TEUs during the same period.
• VOCPA has also installed an advanced anti-drone system to strengthen security of critical infrastructure.

Razorpay launches AI-powered Agent Studio for payment automation

[Razorpay]

Key Updates:

• Razorpay has launched Agent Studio, described as the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) platform for payments built on Anthropic’s Claude Agent Software Development Kit (SDK).
• The platform was unveiled at the FTX 2026 event to automate business tasks including dispute resolution, cart recovery, and cash-flow forecasting.
• Razorpay introduced an Agentic Experience Platform that enables businesses to manage payment operations through natural-language commands instead of traditional dashboards.
• The AI agents can automatically intervene during abandoned purchases and integrate with third-party platforms such as Shopify, Shiprocket, and WhatsApp.
• The company is integrating these capabilities into in-app commerce with partners including Zomato, Swiggy, and PVR Inox.
• The initiative builds on previous developments with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and technology firms Anthropic and OpenAI.
• The platform allows businesses to complete onboarding by submitting basic details such as Permanent Account Number (PAN) and website information.

Government of India (GoI) plans ₹1 lakh crore fund for domestic semiconductor manufacturing

Key Updates:

• The Government of India (GoI) plans to unveil a fund exceeding ₹1 lakh crore ($10.8 billion) to bolster domestic chipmaking and advance its manufacturing hub ambitions.
• The proposed fund will provide subsidies for semiconductor chip design projects, manufacturing equipment, and supply chain development.
• The initiative is expected to be launched within two to three months and builds upon the $10 billion incentive programme introduced in 2021.
• Under the 2021 programme, the GoI offered to bear 50% of the cost for setting up semiconductor projects in the country.
• Micron Technology Inc. is currently establishing an assembly facility in Gujarat, while Tata Group is constructing a semiconductor fabrication plant and a separate packaging unit in the same state.
• Foxconn Technology Group has announced a test and assembly facility as part of the existing government incentive programme.
• The GoI aims to develop chipmaking capabilities comparable to global leaders such as Taiwan, South Korea, and the United States (US) by 2032.

GCWAS-2026: President Highlights SHE Marts and 6 Crore Lakhpati Didi Target

Key Updates:

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the three-day Global Conference on the Role of Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) in New Delhi on 12 March 2026.
• The United Nations (UN) has declared 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers to promote leadership roles for women across the agri-food value chain.
• The Union Budget 2025-26 introduced SHE Marts (Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts), which are community-owned retail outlets to be established in every district for Self-Help Group (SHG) products.
• The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) has set a target of creating 6 crore Lakhpati Didis earning over ₹1 lakh annually, with over 3 crore women already achieving this status.
• Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana—National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), over 10 crore rural households and 90 lakh SHGs have been mobilised.
• The Jan Dhan Yojana has reached 570 million bank accounts, of which 56% are held by women, while women constitute 68% of all Mudra loan beneficiaries.
• The Namo Drone Didi scheme provides drones to women SHGs to facilitate precision agriculture and reduce drudgery in the farm sector.
• The President highlighted 'Sarlaben', an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered initiative inspired by the government livestock care vision, as a tool for women farmers.
• The government has conferred Padma Shri awards on women farmers from the states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Bihar.
• Key attendees included Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General M L Jat, and Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority (PPVFRA) chairperson Trilochana Mohapatra.

PM-KISAN 22nd instalment releases Rs 18,640 crore to 9.32 crore farmer families

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 22nd instalment of PM-KISAN at 5:00 PM on 13 March 2026 from Guwahati, Assam.
• Over 9.32 crore farmer families received more than Rs 18,640 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• The cumulative amount disbursed under PM-KISAN since February 2019 will reach Rs 4.27 lakh crore after this instalment.
• Each eligible farmer receives Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000.
• Over 2.15 crore women farmer beneficiaries are covered in the 22nd instalment.
• e-KYC is mandatory for all registered beneficiaries; a face-authentication mobile app allows completion from home without OTP or biometric device.
• Farmers who acquired land ownership after 1 February 2019 and cases with multiple family members receiving benefits are temporarily excluded pending physical verification.
• Beneficiary status can be checked on the official portal pmkisan.gov.in by selecting state, district, block and village under the ‘Beneficiary List’ option in Farmers Corner.

KSRTC Dhwani Spandana: Award for innovation aiding visually impaired

Key Updates:

• Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) received the Governance Now 12th PSU National Award in the 'Excellence in Innovation' category for its Dhwani Spandana initiative.
• KSRTC implemented the Dhwani Spandana — Onboard Bus Identification and Navigation System on 200 Mysuru city transport buses with support from the German company GIZ.
• KSRTC Director Personnel and Vigilance Gayithri KM received the award in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Andhra Pradesh CM launches ‘Araku Kouni’ tribal millet menu to mainstream indigenous cuisine

[Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched ‘Araku Kouni’, the state’s first tribal millet-based food menu, during the Collectors’ Conference at the Secretariat.
• The menu features traditional recipes sourced from indigenous communities in Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district.
• Dishes include Korra Payasam, Ragi Chapati, Samala Pulihora, Kantla Ambali, Corn Vada and Toor Dal Curry.
• The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) will introduce the menu in all Haritha restaurants across ASR district and later extend it to other tourism outlets in the state.
• The ASR district administration led the initiative with support from tribal anganwadi workers, the Indian Culinary Institute, Tirupati, and the Department of Tourism.
• Ingredients are cultivated without chemical fertilisers or pesticides.
• The district tourism team and the Indian Culinary Institute documented recipes along with nutritional values, calorific indices and health benefits.

Goa Advocate Protection Bill 2026 to introduce imprisonment up to seven years and fine up to Rs 1 lakh for assaulting advocates.

[Goa]

Key Updates:

• The Goa government will introduce the Goa Advocate Protection Bill 2026 in the Assembly to protect advocates from violence, intimidation, harassment, and false implication.
• The bill prescribes imprisonment up to seven years and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh for those assaulting advocates.
• Assaulting or using criminal force against an advocate carries imprisonment of up to two years and a fine up to Rs 55,000.
• Causing grievous hurt to an advocate is punishable with seven years’ imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 1 lakh.
• Intimidating or harassing an advocate invites up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 25,000; if the threat involves death, grievous hurt, or property destruction, imprisonment may extend to seven years.

International Rail Coach Expo (IRCE) 2026 inaugurated at Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai

[Integral Coach Factory]

Key Updates:

• Integral Coach Factory (ICF) general manager U. Subba Rao inaugurated the International Rail Coach Expo (IRCE) 2026 at ICF ground in Chennai on Thursday.
• IRCE 2026 is organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with ICF and is scheduled from March 12 to 14.
• The expo, previously held in 2018, serves as a global platform for national and international companies focusing on sustainability, safety, and indigenous development with a quality-first approach.

China National People's Congress approves Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress law mandating Mandarin education

[China]

Key Updates:

• The National People's Congress (NPC) of China approved the Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress law during its annual parliamentary session in Beijing.
• The legislation mandates that all children must be taught Mandarin from before kindergarten until the completion of high school.
• The law aims to promote integration among the 56 officially recognised ethnic groups, dominated by the Han Chinese who constitute over 90% of the 1.4 billion population.
• The new law provides a legal basis to prosecute parents or guardians who instil views described as detrimental to ethnic harmony in children.
• The policy is part of a broader sinicisation effort to create a unified national identity by assimilating minority groups into the dominant Han culture.
• The United Nations (UN) has previously accused the Chinese government of grave human rights violations in the Xinjiang region involving the detention of Uyghur Muslims.
• The law calls for mutually embedded community environments, which analysts suggest could lead to the restructuring of minority-heavy neighbourhoods.

India hosts 12th Asian and Pacific Regional Conference in New Delhi

Key Updates:

• Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal participated in the 12th Asian and Pacific Regional Conference organised by the All India Prosecutors’ Association (AIPA) in New Delhi.
• Discussions at the conference focused on judicial system reforms and strengthening the prosecution mechanism.
• The Minister stated that the government is promoting innovation in the judicial sector through technology and institutional reforms to enhance transparency, accessibility, and effectiveness of the justice system.
• Efforts are ongoing to ensure swift and accessible justice delivery to all citizens.

US and Israel strikes on 12 March 2026 damage UNESCO World Heritage sites in Iran

[United States, Israel, Iran]

Key Updates:

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) verified damage to at least four cultural and historical sites in Iran following strikes by the United States (US) and Israel.
• The affected landmarks include the Qajar-era Golestan Palace in Tehran, the 17th-century Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan, and the Masjed-e Jame, which is the oldest Friday mosque in Iran.
• Damage was reported near the Khorramabad Valley, a site containing five prehistoric caves and a rock shelter with evidence of human occupation dating back to 63,000 B.C.
• Iran and Lebanon have submitted a formal request to UNESCO to include additional locations on the agency’s enhanced protection list.
• UNESCO confirmed that heritage sites in other regions have also been impacted by the conflict, including Tyre in Lebanon and the White City in Israel.
• The US government announced its intention to withdraw from UNESCO by December, following a previous announcement made in July.

Perplexity AI launches Personal Computer, an always-on AI system running on a dedicated Mac mini.

[Perplexity AI]

Key Updates:

• Perplexity AI introduced Personal Computer, a cloud-based system that runs continuously on a dedicated Mac mini.
• The system merges locally with Perplexity Computer to work 24/7 across user files, apps and sessions.
• It connects to the user’s local apps and Perplexity’s secure servers, allowing task continuation even when the user is offline.
• Sensitive actions require user approval and each session creates an audit trail recording AI actions.
• The system includes a kill switch for immediate shutdown by the user.
• Personal Computer will initially be available to a limited group via a waitlist.
• Perplexity AI also launched Computer for Enterprise linking to Snowflake, Salesforce and HubSpot for internal data queries.
• Comet Enterprise, an AI-powered workplace browser, automates tasks across tabs and includes CrowdStrike-developed security features.
• Four developer APIs—Search, Agent, Embeddings and Sandbox—were released based on Perplexity Computer technology.

India hosts first National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries in Srinagar

Key Updates:

• Department of Fisheries, Government of India, organised the National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre, Srinagar on 14 March 2026.
• Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh guided the conference.
• Participants included Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying SP Singh Baghel, George Kurian, and Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Production Minister Javid Ahmad Dar.
• Cold-water fisheries in India cover over 5.33 lakh sq km across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
• Government has sanctioned Rs 2,299.56 crore under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for cold-water states to strengthen hatcheries, seed and feed systems, raceway facilities, cold chain and transport networks.
• Union Minister released model guidelines for cold-water fisheries development and distributed scheme benefits to fishers, cooperatives and Kisan Credit Card beneficiaries.
• National Vision for Cold Water Fisheries 2030 aims to double trout and mahseer production and generate livelihoods in hilly regions.
• Under PMMSY, 5,600 raceways, 54 hatcheries, 5,600 trout rearing units, 293 cold storages, 8,044 transport vehicles and 260 feed mills have been approved.

New plant species Osbeckia zubeengargiana discovered in Assam named after Zubeen Garg

[Assam]

Key Updates:

• The new plant species Osbeckia zubeengargiana was discovered in Assam.
• Researchers Barnali Das and Prof. Namita Nath from the Botany Department of Gauhati University described the species.
• The species has been named after Assamese singer Zubeen Garg.

Yashwant Gupta conferred with MP Birla Memorial Award

Key Updates:

• The MP Birla Planetarium (MPBP) conferred the MP Birla Memorial Award on Yashwant Gupta, the director of the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
• The biennial award was instituted in 1993 and was last presented to Prof Thanu Padmanabhan in 2019.
• The award ceremony resumed after a six-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and renovation work at the planetarium.
• Notable past recipients of the award include Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, Govind Swarup, K Kasturirangan, and APJ Abdul Kalam.
• The award was not presented in 2015 and 2017 as the MPBP was undergoing renovation during those years.

NASA targets early April for Artemis II crewed lunar fly-by mission

Key Updates:

• NASA plans to launch Artemis II in early April, with the earliest possible launch date of 1 April.
• The mission was delayed from March after a helium leak forced the rocket’s return to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• The four-member crew comprises NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
• During the 10-day mission the crew will fly around the far side of the Moon and return to Earth aboard the Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
• NASA will not conduct another wet dress rehearsal; the next time the rocket is fuelled will be for launch.
• Artemis II has already been delayed by two years following heat-shield issues uncovered after the uncrewed Artemis I mission.

NASA rules out 2024 YR4 asteroid impact on Moon in 2032 after James Webb Space Telescope data

Key Updates:

• NASA confirmed asteroid 2024 YR4 will miss the Moon on 22 December 2032, reducing collision risk from 4.3% to zero percent.
• James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) near-infrared camera provided refined trajectory showing a flyby distance of 13,200 miles.
• Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) discovered 2024 YR4 in Chile during late 2024.
• Asteroid 2024 YR4 measures roughly 200 feet in diameter, comparable to a 15-story building.
• A lunar impact would have excavated a 1.2-mile-wide crater on the Moon's surface.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) recognised at Mobile World Congress 2026 for indigenous AI-driven fraud detection solution.

Key Updates:

• The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) received global recognition at the Mobile World Congress 2026 held in Barcelona, Spain.
• C-DOT’s indigenous AI-driven fraud detection solution, Fraud Pro, made it a top finalist at the Global Mobile Awards in the category of Best Network Security and Fraud Prevention.
• The Ministry of Communications stated that the recognition marks India’s growing role in shaping next-generation telecom technologies.
• The Ministry added that the global acknowledgement highlights India’s capability to develop advanced cybersecurity and fraud prevention solutions for large-scale digital networks.

ICC and CWI suspend Javon Searles, Chitranjan Rathod, and Trevon Griffith for anti-corruption breaches

Key Updates:

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have provisionally suspended Javon Searles, Chitranjan Rathod, and Trevon Griffith from all forms of cricket.
• The charges involve alleged breaches of anti-corruption codes during the 2023-24 Bim10 tournament held in Barbados.
• Chitranjan Rathod, owner of the Titans team, faces three charges, while player Javon Searles and official Trevon Griffith face four charges each under the CWI code.
• Trevon Griffith faces an additional allegation under the ICC code relating to international fixtures.
• Javon Searles previously represented the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2018 and played in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) from 2014 to 2019.
• The ICC confirmed these charges are part of a wider investigation that previously led to USA batter Aaron Jones being charged with five breaches.
• The individuals have been given 14 days from 11 March 2026 to respond to the allegations.

India defeats Italy to qualify for Hockey World Cup 2026

Key Updates:

• India women's national field hockey team qualified for the Hockey World Cup 2026 by reaching the final of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey World Cup Qualifiers.
• The Indian team defeated Italy 1-0 in the semi-final match held at the GMC Balayogi Hockey Stadium in Hyderabad on 13 March 2026.
• Manisha Chauhan scored the winning goal for India in the 40th minute through a penalty corner drag-flick.
• India is set to face the England women's national field hockey team in the final of the tournament on 14 March 2026.
• Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam and Italian goalkeeper Lucia Ines Caruso recorded key saves during the match.
• Indian players Navneet Kaur and Salima Tete were involved in significant penalty corner attempts during the first half.

Yoga Mahotsav 2026 launched on 13 March 2026; 100-day countdown to 12th International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2026

Key Updates:

• Yoga Mahotsav 2026 was launched by the Ministry of Ayush in New Delhi on 13 March 2026, marking the 100-day countdown to the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on 21 June 2026.
• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, inaugurated the event and unveiled '10 Yoga Protocols for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Target Groups'.
• The International Day of Yoga was adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2014 following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal.
• Over 26 crore people participated in International Day of Yoga 2025.
• The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) signed an MoU with Habuild under the Yoga 365 campaign to offer free daily online Yoga sessions, with registrations via toll-free number 1800-315-7008.
• An AI-based tool under the Ayush Grid helps practitioners correct Yogasana postures, and Advanced Y-Break courses are available on the Karmayogi Bharat platform with over 10 lakh enrolled participants.
• The Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) demonstration at 7:00 AM at MDNIY was attended by over 1,000 Yoga enthusiasts, and the one-day event saw around 1,500 total participants.