Daily Current Affairs: 17 March 2026

Shantanu Narayen to step down as CEO of Adobe after successor appointed.

[Adobe Inc.]

Key Updates:

• Shantanu Narayen has served as CEO of Adobe since 1 December 2007 and will remain chair of the board after stepping down.
• Adobe announced on 12 March 2026 that Narayen will continue as CEO until a successor is named by the board.
• The board has formed a special committee chaired by lead independent director Frank Calderoni to conduct the CEO search.
• Narayen joined Adobe in 1998, became president and COO in 2005, and led the company’s shift from software licences to Creative Cloud subscriptions.
• Adobe shares fell about 6% in extended trading after the leadership transition announcement despite Q1 FY2026 earnings of $6.06 per share and revenue of $6.40 billion.
• Narayen was born in Hyderabad, India on 27 May 1963 and holds a master’s in computer science from Bowling Green State University and an MBA from UC Berkeley.
• His total compensation for fiscal 2025 was about $51 million and he also serves as lead independent director at Pfizer.

Dr Partha Sarathi Mahanta wins Best Director at New York Short Animation Festival (NYSAF) 2026.

[United States]

Key Updates:

• Dr Partha Sarathi Mahanta, IGP of Assam Police and Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, directed the animated short film 'CHYIMI'.
• 'CHYIMI' received the Best Director Award at the New York Short Animation Festival (NYSAF) 2026.
• NYSAF 2026 is partnered with Cine Universitario UACJ in Mexico for additional screenings of selected films.
• The festival recognises outstanding animated storytelling and provides a global platform for filmmakers.

Deben Mondal passes away at Jalpaiguri Medical College and Hospital

[Jalpaiguri Medical College and Hospital]

Key Updates:

• Deben Mondal, a 48-year-old inmate of the Jalpaiguri Central Correctional Home (JCCH), passed away on March 6, 2026, at the Jalpaiguri Medical College and Hospital.
• Asim Halder serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal.
• Biswarup Biswas holds the position of Superintendent at the JCCH.
• Dr. Subarna Goswami is a public health expert and epidemiologist who provided analysis on the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) outbreak.

Forbes lists 22-year-old Surya Midha as youngest self-made billionaire ever.

[United States]

Key Updates:

• Surya Midha, 22, became the youngest self-made billionaire to debut in Forbes’ World’s Billionaires list, breaking Mark Zuckerberg’s 18-year-old record set at age 23.
• Midha co-founded AI recruiting startup Mercor, valued at $10 billion by private investors last fall.
• Midha’s net worth is $2.2 billion.
• Midha was born in San Jose, California to Indian immigrant parents from Delhi.
• Forbes recorded a record 35 billionaires under 30 in 2026, with 8 being US citizens.

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) increases FASTag Annual Pass fee to ₹3,075

Key Updates:

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a revision in the FASTag Annual Pass fee for the financial year 2026–27.
• The annual pass fee will increase from ₹3,000 to ₹3,075, effective from April 1, 2026.
• The revision is implemented under the provisions of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
• The pass is valid for one year or 200 toll crossings, whichever is earlier, across approximately 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and Expressways.
• The scheme is applicable to eligible non-commercial vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans possessing a valid FASTag.
• The FASTag Annual Pass was launched on August 15, 2025, and currently has over 56 lakh subscribers.
• Vehicle owners can activate the pass through the Rajmarg Yatra mobile application or the official website of the NHAI.

World Bank (WB) signs $300 million loan for Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Management Program.

[World Bank, Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• The World Bank (WB) signed a $300 million loan agreement with Uttar Pradesh for the UP Clean Air Management Program.
• The program targets transport, agriculture, and industry to adopt cleaner technologies.
• Around 200 new air quality monitors will be deployed under the initiative.
• The project anticipates leveraging an additional $150 million in private investment.
• Over 700 brick kilns will shift to eco-friendly technology.
• 3.9 million households will gain access to clean cooking solutions.
• Juhi Mukherjee from the Ministry of Finance, B Chandrakala from Uttar Pradesh Government, and Paul Procee from the World Bank attended the signing.

Supreme Court clarifies DGP appointment rules: Follow state law or Prakash Singh guidelines

Key Updates:

• The Supreme Court of India (SC) clarified that states with a specific law for appointing Directors General of Police (DGPs) must follow that legislation.
• States without such a law must adhere to the guidelines laid down in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case on police reforms.
• A bench headed by Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, closed contempt proceedings against Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana after noting the states had sent proposals to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for DGP appointments.
• Under the Prakash Singh judgment (2006), states send a list of eligible senior IPS officers to the UPSC, which evaluates their service records and prepares a panel of three suitable candidates, from whom the state government appoints one as DGP.
• The court directed that the selected DGP should normally be given a minimum fixed tenure of two years.
• Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have enacted their own laws governing the appointment of DGPs.
• Jharkhand’s law provides that the selection of the police chief is carried out by a committee headed by a retired High Court judge.
• The court sought responses from the governments of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand within two weeks regarding the status of their DGP appointments.

Ministry of Education Launches SATHEE App for Free Competitive Exam Preparation

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Education (MoE) introduced the Self Assessment Test and Help for Entrance Exams (SATHEE) app as a digital learning platform for competitive examinations.
• The application was developed as an initiative by the MoE in association with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur.
• The platform offers free preparation resources for various exams, specifically Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), and Common University Entrance Test (CUET).
• Academic content provided includes video lectures and notes from experts at the IIT and other educational institutions.
• The app features study materials, including previous year question papers, available in multiple Indian languages including Hindi and English.
• The platform is designed with a simple interface to facilitate access for students in rural areas and those unable to afford private coaching academies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Launches Development Projects Worth ₹47,800 Crore in Assam

[Assam]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and launched multiple development projects worth ₹47,800 crore in Assam.
• Under the Assam Mala 3.0 Road Infrastructure Initiative, approximately 900 km of roads will be constructed at a cost of over ₹3,200 crore.
• Six infrastructure projects, including four flyovers and two bridges, will be implemented in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) at a cost of over ₹1,100 crore.
• A Railway Periodic Overhaul (POH) workshop will be established at Basbari in Kokrajhar district to strengthen maintenance capacity.
• Three new train services were introduced: Kamakhya–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, Guwahati–New Jalpaiguri Express, and Narengi–Agartala Express.
• The 22nd installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) was released, with 18.59 lakh farmers in Assam receiving ₹371 crore.
• The Kopili Hydroelectric Project, valued at over ₹2,300 crore, will be implemented in Dima Hasao and West Karbi Anglong districts.
• The capacity of the Numaligarh Refinery (NRL) will be expanded from 3 MMTPA to 9 MMTPA through the Numaligarh–Siliguri Product Pipeline Expansion.
• The North-East Gas Grid – Phase I will connect Guwahati, Numaligarh, Gohpur, and Itanagar, with a branch extending to Dimapur.
• A rail-connected Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (POL) terminal will be established at Panchgram in Hailakandi district.
• Railway electrification projects covering Rangia–Murkongselek, Chaparmukh–Dibrugarh, Badarpur–Silchar, and Badarpur–Churaibari sections were completed at a cost of over ₹2,250 crore.
• The Furkating–Tinsukia railway line will be doubled over a distance of 194 km at a cost of over ₹3,600 crore.
• Inland waterway projects include cruise terminals at Biswanath Ghat and Nemati, and a Regional Centre of Excellence for Maritime Training at Bogibeel.
• A ropeway project will be constructed between Kamakhya Railway Station and Kamakhya Temple to transport approximately 17,000 passengers daily.
• A PM Ekta Mall will be established in Guwahati to showcase handicrafts, handloom products, and One District One Product (ODOP) items.
• The Shillong–Silchar High-Speed Corridor, spanning 166 km, will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹22,860 crore.
• A new Agriculture College will be established at Patharkandi in Karimganj district.

Musi River Rejuvenation Plan: 55-km corridor restoration and heritage tourism integration.

Key Updates:

• The Musi rejuvenation plan targets restoration and development of around 55 km of the river corridor.
• The plan focuses on river cleaning, ecological restoration, riverfront development and public access.
• Key historic structures mapped include Golconda fort, Qutb Shahi tombs, Taramati Baradari, Shri Veerabhadra Swami Devalayam, Purana Pul, Government City College, Macca Masjid, Charminar, the Telangana High Court building, Osmania General Hospital and the British Residency at Koti.
• E.V. Narasimha Reddy, MD of the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation (MRDCL), unveiled the heritage concept map.
• Authorities aim to integrate these historic structures into a heritage tourism network while preserving Hyderabad’s historic character.

Iran fires Sejjil missile for first time in West Asia conflict

[Iran]

Key Updates:

• Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) launched the domestically developed Sejjil missile on 15 March 2026 against Israeli and American targets as part of the ‘True Promise 4’ operation.
• The Sejjil is a two-stage, solid-propellant medium-range ballistic missile with a range of approximately 2,000 kilometres and a payload capacity of around 700 kilograms.
• First test launch of Sejjil took place in 2008; improved variants include Sejjil-2 and the speculated Sejjil-3 under development.
• The missile measures about 18 metres in length, 1.25 metres in diameter and has a launch weight of roughly 23,600 kilograms according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
• Nicknamed the ‘dancing missile’, Sejjil can manoeuvre at high altitudes to evade missile defence systems such as Israel’s Iron Dome.

Archaeologists recover 3.8-metre limestone fragment completing 7-metre Ramesses II statue buried 96 years at El Ashmunein

[Egypt]

Key Updates:

• The 3.8-metre limestone fragment was uncovered at El Ashmunein, Minya Governorate, about 150 miles south of Cairo.
• The fragment matches the lower half of a colossal seated statue of Ramesses II found in 1930 by German archaeologist Günther Roeder.
• The joint 2024 mission was conducted by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the University of Colorado Boulder.
• When reassembled the statue will stand roughly 7 metres tall and show Ramesses II wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt topped by a royal cobra.
• The find lies within Hermopolis Magna, ancient Khemnu, a major religious centre devoted to the god Thoth.

OmSpace Rocket and Exploration (OSRE) Test-Fires Sounding Rocket in Gujarat

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

• OmSpace Rocket and Exploration (OSRE) successfully launched a 4.2-metre sounding rocket from Bavaliyari near Dholera, becoming the first entity to launch a rocket from Gujarat.
• The single-stage sub-orbital rocket reached a target altitude of 3 kilometres before executing a safe landing using a dual-parachute recovery system.
• The mission validated several indigenous technologies, including a 3D-printed torch igniter, a sugar-based solid propellant motor, and a carbon fibre and advanced composites-based airframe.
• The rocket components were entirely researched, developed, and manufactured in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• The launch was conducted with permissions from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Airport Authority of India (AAI).
• The data from this flight will be used to develop Infinity One, an orbital-class reusable launch vehicle currently under development by OSRE.
• The event was attended by the Gujarat State Science and Technology Minister, Arjun Modhwadia.

Botanical Survey of India (BSI) rediscovers Henckelia monophylla in Arunachal Pradesh after 189 years

[Arunachal Pradesh, Botanical Survey of India]

Key Updates:

• Botanical Survey of India (BSI) scientists rediscovered Henckelia monophylla during a field survey in Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Henckelia monophylla, a Gesneriaceae family perennial herb, had not been documented since the early 19th century.
• Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu congratulated the BSI team and highlighted the state's extraordinary biodiversity.

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) records nine new species in Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

[Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Zoological Survey of India]

Key Updates:

• Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) scientists discovered nine new species during faunal surveys at Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in the southern Western Ghats.
• The surveys conducted between 2018 and 2022 documented 977 species across 21 faunal groups.
• New species include the jumping spider Stenaelurillus megamalai, two mayflies Edmundsula meghamalaiensis, and the damselfly Protosticta sholai endemic to the Megamalai–Periyar landscape.
• The sanctuary forms part of the 1,016 sq km Srivilliputhur–Megamalai Tiger Reserve notified in 2021.

New earthworm species Drawida vazhania discovered in Kerala’s Western Ghats

[Kerala]

Key Updates:

• Researchers identified the new earthworm species Drawida vazhania from the Vazhani dam area of the Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary in Thrissur district, Kerala.
• Drawida vazhania belongs to the genus Drawida and the family Moniligastridae, and the discovery has been published in the journal Zootaxa.
• The species is a member of the Barwelli species group, raising the group’s total to seven species.
• India hosts about 71% endemic genera and 89% endemic species of earthworms, with the Western Ghats and west coast plains accounting for 58.4% of all known Indian earthworm species.
• With Drawida vazhania, India now has 83 reported Drawida species, of which 55 occur in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
• Kerala holds the highest number of Drawida species among Western Ghats states, recording 31 species including 16 endemic to the state.

Kimi Antonelli wins maiden Formula One Chinese Grand Prix

[China]

Key Updates:

• Kimi Antonelli claimed his first Formula One victory in the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit.
• Mercedes secured a one-two finish with George Russell second, 5.515 seconds behind Antonelli.
• Lewis Hamilton finished third, marking his first podium for Ferrari.
• Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One history before converting it into victory.
• Both McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri failed to start the race due to car problems.
• Max Verstappen retired on lap 46, continuing Red Bull’s poor start to the season.
• Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, followed by Oliver Bearman fifth for Haas.

National Vaccination Day observed on 16 March with theme 'Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible'

Key Updates:

• National Vaccination Day is observed every year on 16 March in India.
• The theme for 2026 is 'Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible'.
• The day commemorates 16 March 1995 when the first dose of oral polio vaccine was given under the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme.
• India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) is one of the world’s largest public health initiatives providing free vaccines to children and pregnant women.

96th Academy Awards (2026 Oscars) held at Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles

[United States]

Key Updates:

• Best Picture winner: 'One Battle After Another'.
• Best Director winner: Paul Thomas Anderson for 'One Battle After Another'.
• Best Actor winner: Michael B. Jordan for 'Sinners'.
• Best Actress winner: Jessie Buckley for 'Hamnet'.
• Best Casting winner: Cassandra Kulukundis for 'One Battle After Another'; this is the first new category at the Academy Awards in 25 years.
• Best Cinematography winner: Autumn Durald Arkapaw for 'Sinners', becoming the first woman to win this award.
• Best International Feature winner: 'Sentimental Value' (Norway) directed by Joaquin Trier.
• Best Documentary Short winner: 'All the Empty Rooms' based on CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman’s project.
• Host: Conan O'Brien for the second consecutive year.
• Announcer: Matt Berry.

Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025 announced on 16 March

Key Updates:

• Sahitya Akademi announced its 2025 awards on 16 March 2026 for 24 Indian languages.
• The award ceremony will be held in New Delhi on 31 March 2026.
• Each awardee receives an engraved copper plaque, a shawl and ₹1,00,000.
• Navtej Sarna won the English award for his novel ‘Crimson Spring’ set around the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• Mamta Kalia won the Hindi award for her memoir ‘Jeete Jee Allahabad’.
• Nandini Sidha Reddy won the Telugu award for poetry collection ‘Animesha’.

98th Academy Awards (Oscars) held on March 16, 2026

Key Updates:

• The 98th Academy Awards (Oscars) recorded a tie in the Best Live-Action Short Film category for the first time in 14 years.
• The Oscar for Best Live-Action Short Film was shared by Two People Exchanging Saliva and The Singers.
• Two People Exchanging Saliva was co-directed by Franco-Indian artist Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata.
• Alexandre Singh was born in Bordeaux, France, to Indian and French parents and has works represented in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
• The Singers, directed by Sam Davis, is a film adaptation of a 19th-century short story written by Ivan Turgenev.

Gajapati Dynasty Inscriptions Discovery: 14 March 2026

Key Updates:

• A 15th-century Telugu medieval inscription belonging to the Gajapati rulers of Odisha was discovered at the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
• The inscription identifies Kumaraguru Mahapatra as a steward officer serving under the Gajapati King Purushottama Deva.
• The stone pillars containing the inscriptions were originally situated at the Kondaveedu Fort before being moved to Guntur.
• The text provides instructions for ritual milk offerings and mentions pastoral communities, potentially the Koyas, for the custody of ritual cows.
• Epigraphist Bishnu Mohan Adhikari stated that the findings reflect the Hari-Hara mode of worship, which integrated Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.
• A related Odia inscription at Kondaveedu records officer Srichandana Mahapatra donating Panapasa village for the Amruta Manohi Seva ritual.