Daily Current Affairs: 23 March 2026

Narendra Modi becomes India’s longest-serving head of elected government

Key Updates:

• Narendra Modi became the longest-serving head of an elected government in India by completing 8,931 days in office.
• He surpassed the record of 8,930 days previously held by Pawan Kumar Chamling, the former Chief Minister (CM) of Sikkim.
• His total leadership period includes serving as the CM of Gujarat from 7 October 2001 to May 2014 and as the Prime Minister (PM) of India since 26 May 2014.
• He is the first Indian PM born after Independence and the first non-Congress PM to complete two full terms and return for a third.
• He holds the record for being the longest-serving CM of Gujarat and the PM with the most prior experience as a CM.
• He has secured three consecutive victories in the general elections held in 2014, 2019, and 2024.
• He became the first serving world leader to reach 100 million followers on Instagram and has over 30 million subscribers on YouTube and 106 million followers on X.

Jeff Webb, Founder of Varsity Spirit and Architect of Modern Cheerleading, Dies After Accident.

Key Updates:

• Jeff Webb (19 January 1950 – 19 March 2026) passed away at age 76 following a fall while playing pickleball two weeks earlier that caused a severe head injury.
• Webb founded the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 1974 and later built Varsity Spirit into the largest organisation in cheerleading.
• As president of the International Cheer Union he led efforts that achieved full recognition of cheerleading by the International Olympic Committee in 2021.
• Charlesbank Capital Partners acquired a majority stake in Varsity Brands in 2014 for roughly $1.5 billion, Bain Capital purchased it in 2018 for about $2.5 billion, and KKR acquired a majority stake in 2024 in a deal valued at about $4.75 billion.

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman launches PRARAMBH 2026 and Income Tax Website 2.0.

Key Updates:

• Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, launched PRARAMBH 2026, the Income Tax Department’s nationwide awareness campaign on the Income Tax Act, 2025, in New Delhi on 20 March 2026.
• She unveiled the upgraded Income Tax Website 2.0 to enhance taxpayer services.
• Revenue Secretary Shri Arvind Shrivastava and CBDT Chairman Shri Ravi Agrawal attended the launch event.
• CBDT rolled out an AI-enabled chatbot named Kar Saathi to assist taxpayers on the new Act, Rules and Forms.
• Brochures explaining the new Act were released in 10 regional languages besides English and Hindi.

Bank of Baroda (BoB) launches first UPI-based ₹5,000 overdraft facility for women SHG members.

[Bank of Baroda]

Key Updates:

• Bank of Baroda (BoB) is the first bank in India to offer an Overdraft Facility on Credit Line via UPI for verified women Self-Help Group (SHG) members holding Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts.
• The facility was unveiled at the 25th Central Level Coordination Committee (CLCC) meeting in Hyderabad.
• Eligible members receive ₹5,000 overdraft credit accessible through bob इ Pay or any UPI-enabled app.
• The initiative partners with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
• Users can link OD accounts for merchant QR payments, balance checks, transaction tracking, and digital repayment without branch visits.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) penalises HSBC with ₹31.80 lakh fine

[Reserve Bank of India, HSBC]

Key Updates:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹31.80 lakh on HSBC for non-compliance with regulatory norms.
• The penalty was issued following a statutory inspection for supervisory evaluation of the bank's financial position as on March 31, 2025.
• HSBC failed to host a searchable database of unclaimed deposits on its official website.
• The bank did not generate and assign Unclaimed Deposits Reference Number (UDRN) to certain unclaimed deposits.
• The non-compliance involved unclaimed deposits transferred to the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund.

Tamil Nadu launches Project Sezhumai Karuvoolam for eradication of invasive Prosopis juliflora

[Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

• The Madras High Court (HC) ordered the implementation of project Sezhumai Karuvoolam (fertile repository) to eradicate the invasive species Seemai Karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) from Tamil Nadu.
• A special committee comprising former judges Justice A Selvam and Justice V Bharathidasan has been appointed to supervise the eradication process.
• Private landowners must uproot the species within 30 days, failing which the Block Development Officer (BDO) will remove them and recover costs at ₹5,000 per acre for dense vegetation and ₹2,000 per acre for less dense growth.
• The court mandated that identification and auctioning of the species be completed within four months, with total removal finished within another six months.
• District Collectors (DC) are designated as the central authorities responsible for mechanical removal of the plants and for planting native species on public lands.
• The State Environment Secretary will create a dedicated webpage and dashboard to track removal, auctions, and replanting progress.
• A dedicated mobile phone number will be maintained for the project to allow the public to report sightings of the invasive species via geotagged photographs on social media platforms.
• In sensitive areas such as Vedanthangal, where the species serves as nesting sites for birds, removal will be carried out in a phased manner with simultaneous alternative planting.

Yoga for Air Travel Protocol Launched for In-Flight Wellness

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Ayush launched a 5-minute in-flight wellness protocol titled Yoga for Air Travel during the Yoga Mahotsav 2026.
• Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Ayush, introduced the initiative designed for frequent flyers and air travellers.
• The protocol was developed by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) to be performed while seated without special equipment.
• The routine includes seated yoga postures such as Tadasana (Palm Tree Pose), seated Cat-Cow, spinal twists, and gentle leg movements.
• It incorporates Pranayama techniques including Anulom Vilom, Bhramari, and Sheetali to enhance oxygen flow and calm the nervous system.
• The protocol aims to mitigate travel-related health risks such as muscle stiffness, fatigue, jet lag, and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
• The 5-minute routine is structured into five segments: Centring, Gentle Joint Movements, Seated Yoga Postures, Pranayama, and Meditation.

Pondicherry University launches Blue Voice app for coastal fishers

Key Updates:

• Pondicherry University (PU) launched a mobile application titled Blue Voice to enhance safety and disaster preparedness among coastal fishing communities.
• The application provides real-time, location-specific weather updates in a user-friendly format to address language barriers and complex interfaces.
• The platform enables fishers to share experiential knowledge alongside modern weather alerts to create a participatory digital space for decision-making at sea.

National Dental Commission replaces Dental Council of India to reform dental education

[Dental Council of India]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) constituted the National Dental Commission (NDC) through a notification on 19 March 2026.
• The NDC replaces the dissolved Dental Council of India (DCI) and repeals the Dentists Act.
• Three autonomous boards are established under the NDC: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board, Dental Assessment and Rating Board, and Ethics and Dental Registration Board.
• Dr. Sanjay Tewari is appointed Chairperson of the NDC and Dr. Mousumi Goswami as part-time member.
• Dr. Chandrashekhar Janakiram heads the Education Board and Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Nanda Kishore Sahoo heads the Assessment and Rating Board.
• The NDC will frame regulations, assess and rate dental institutions, promote research, set education and ethics standards, and develop fee regulation guidelines for private dental colleges.

Telangana Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs 3.24 lakh crore with focus on infrastructure and poll promises.

[Telangana]

Key Updates:

• Telangana government presented a budget of Rs 3.24 lakh crore for 2026-27, an increase of nearly Rs 20,000 crore over the previous year.
• Revenue expenditure is pegged at Rs 2,34,406 crore and capital expenditure at Rs 47,267 crore.
• Agriculture sector received Rs 23,179 crore, Energy sector Rs 21,285 crore.
• Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department allocated Rs 17,907 crore.
• Medical and Health Department set aside Rs 13,679 crore.
• Flagship programmes include Musi Riverfront beautification and Hyderabad Metrorail Phase 2 and 3.
• Telangana's GSDP for 2025-26 is Rs 17,82,198 crore with a growth rate of 10.7%.
• Per capita income for 2025-26 stood at Rs 4,18,931, recording a growth of 10.2%.

Indian Navy to commission stealth frigate INS Taragiri on 3 April 2026

Key Updates:

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will preside over the commissioning ceremony of INS Taragiri (F41) on 3 April 2026.
• INS Taragiri is the fourth 6,670-tonne guided-missile frigate of Project 17A built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.
• The warship exceeds 75 per cent indigenous content with components sourced from over 200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• It features a stealth hull design for reduced radar cross-section and uses a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system.
• Its weapons suite includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, and an anti-submarine warfare suite integrated through a Combat Management System.
• The frigate is configured for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
• Project 17A is an upgraded iteration of the Shivalik-class frigates and involves seven ships being built by MDL and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).

India-China border trade via Lipulekh Pass to resume after six-year hiatus

[China]

Key Updates:

• Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district will resume this year after a six-year suspension.
• District Magistrate Ashish Bhatgai stated that preparations have begun for the trade session that typically runs from June to September following Union government directives.
• The Ministry of External Affairs issued a No Objection Certificate for the resumption of trade.
• Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri wrote to Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan requesting restoration of trade through the Himalayan pass.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry have granted clearances for the trade resumption.
• The state government has been asked to ensure resumption of trade for the 2026 session.
• Local officials' contact details will be shared with Chinese counterparts for better coordination.
• Authorities issuing trade passes, designated banks for currency exchange, the Customs Department and the Dharchula administration have been instructed to prepare a detailed action plan.
• The action plan includes arrangements for transit camps, communication, banking services, security and medical facilities for traders.
• Border trade with Tibet via Lipulekh had resumed in 1992 after a long suspension but was halted in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Jeevan Singh Ronkali, president of the Pithoragarh-based Simant Vyapar Sangathan, welcomed the decision and said traders would retrieve goods stored in warehouses in Tibet's Taklakot since 2019.

South Sudan conflict escalates amid renewed fighting in Akobo

[South Sudan]

Key Updates:

• Fresh clashes between government forces and opposition groups intensified in Akobo, South Sudan.
• South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011, making it the youngest country in the world.
• Juba is the capital and largest city of South Sudan.
• The Al Sudd, one of the largest swamp regions globally, is located in the central region of South Sudan.
• The Nile River, the longest river in the world, flows through South Sudan and supports agriculture and livelihoods.
• South Sudan shares borders with six countries: Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, and the Central African Republic to the west.

India and Italy agree for urgent implementation of initiative to counter terror financing

[Italy]

Key Updates:

• India and Italy agreed on expeditious implementation of the India-Italy Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism during the 9th India-Italy Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in New Delhi on March 20.
• The Indian delegation was led by Sibi George, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• The Italian delegation was led by Ambassador Nicoletta Bombardiere, Director General for Globalisation and Global Issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
• Both sides expressed satisfaction on progress of the Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29 in sectors including trade, technology, space, defence, counter-terrorism and renewable energy.
• First Maritime Security Dialogue is being planned to enhance maritime collaboration.

Union Power Minister launches Indian Carbon Market Portal at Prakriti 2026 conference in New Delhi.

Key Updates:

• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) organised Prakriti 2026 under the patronage of the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• The Indian Carbon Market Portal serves as the central platform for implementing and administering the Indian Carbon Market.
• India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) 2023 has nine notified methodologies and over 40 registered entities submitting projects in biogas, hydrogen, and forestry.
• The government has notified Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) targets for nearly 490 obligated entities across seven energy-intensive sectors.

Desert moss Syntrichia caninervis survives Mars-like extremes, offers terraforming hope

Key Updates:

• The desert moss Syntrichia caninervis can lose over 98 per cent of its cellular water and resume full photosynthetic activity within two seconds of rehydration.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) researchers subjected the moss to Mars simulation conditions—95 per cent carbon dioxide atmosphere, very low pressure and high ultraviolet radiation—for seven days, after which it regenerated new green branches.
• The moss endured -196 degrees Celsius in liquid nitrogen and 5,000 Gy of radiation for 30 days, outperforming tardigrades and repairing its own DNA.
• CAS classifies Syntrichia caninervis as ‘extremotolerant’ and proposes it as a pioneer species to create fertile soil on Mars by mixing decayed moss organic matter with Martian regolith for future crop cultivation.

Shaheen falcons spotted nesting in Kochi, Kerala

Key Updates:

• A pair of Shaheen falcons, a subspecies of the Peregrine falcon, was found nesting in a multi-storey residential complex under construction in Kochi, Kerala.
• While Shaheen falcons are found across the Indian subcontinent in rocky or hilly regions, they are considered rare in the state of Kerala.
• The species is known for the stoop, a hunting dive that can exceed speeds of 300 kilometres per hour.
• Physical characteristics of the Shaheen falcon include a greyish-black upper body, a pale lower body, yellow talons, and a dark vertical stripe from the eye to the side of the face.
• The birds in Kochi were observed preying on bats from the nearby Mangalavanam area, as well as pigeons, mynahs, and bulbuls.
• Conservationists indicate that the adaptation of these cliff-dwelling birds to urban landscapes is a sign of environmental degradation and the loss of traditional nesting habitats.

New wild kiwi species Actinidia indica discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

Key Updates:

• A new species of wild kiwi, Actinidia indica, has been discovered in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The species was recorded at an elevation of approximately 1,725 metres along forest edges in the Eastern Himalayan region.
• The plant is a perennial climbing shrub that grows between 2 to 4 metres in height and features densely hairy young branches.
• It is characterised by large ovate leaves, white to creamy flowers, and globose, olive-green fruits with a distinct reticulate lenticel pattern.
• The discovery adds to the global diversity of the Actinidia genus, which includes various kiwi fruit species found across the world.

Supreme Court (SC) clears removal of 45,675 mangroves for Versova-Bhayandar coastal road

Key Updates:

• The Supreme Court (SC) refused to interfere with a Bombay High Court (HC) order allowing the removal of 45,675 mangrove trees for the proposed Versova-Bhayandar coastal road.
• A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant noted that the project is intended to decongest the western highway and provide significant advantages to Mumbai residents.
• The project proponent has identified 31 hectares of land for compensatory afforestation, which received permission on 12 December 2025.
• The SC mandated that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Nagpur, must file annual status and audit reports for the next 10 years on or before 12 January.
• The environmental NGO Vanasakthi contested the project, stating that mangroves absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) five times more than normal forests and serve as critical flood protection for Mumbai.
• The court emphasised the need to maintain a balance between environmental protection norms and developmental requirements in the public interest.

Government establishes Rare Earth Magnet Pilot Plant at ARCI, Hyderabad

Key Updates:

• India has 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) in Hyderabad.
• The facility operates under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and was inaugurated by DST Secretary Abhay Karandikar.
• The plant adopts an end-to-end manufacturing process ranging from strip-cast alloy production to the creation of finished sintered magnets.
• Nd-Fe-B magnets are critical components used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, electronics, and advanced manufacturing.
• ARCI is developing a mineral-to-market ecosystem covering the entire value chain from rare earth extraction to magnet manufacturing.
• The pilot plant is designed to support technology validation, process optimisation, and the scaling of indigenous innovations for commercial production.
• The initiative aims to address global supply chain vulnerabilities and strengthen indigenous capabilities in critical technologies for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Surge in Legionnaires’ Disease Cases Highlights Urban Water Safety Risks

Key Updates:

• Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila.
• Individuals contract the disease by inhaling contaminated water droplets from sources such as cooling towers, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, fountains, and plumbing networks.
• The disease is not contagious and does not spread from person to person.
• Symptoms typically appear within 2 to 14 days and include high fever, cough, breathlessness, muscle pain, and confusion.
• The disease has a mortality rate of approximately 5–10 per cent, particularly affecting elderly individuals, smokers, and those with weakened immunity.
• Legionella bacteria thrive in warm, stagnant water, making summer months and rising global temperatures critical risk periods.
• India has reported sporadic cases of the disease, with hospitals, hotels, and large residential complexes identified as being particularly at risk.

UCLA Stop Methane Project identifies mega methane leaks from oil, gas and waste sites as major global warming driver

Key Updates:

• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers analysed Carbon Mapper satellite data and detected about 4,400 significant methane plumes in 2025, each releasing more than 100 kilograms per hour.
• Major leak hotspots are concentrated in Turkmenistan, the United States, Venezuela and Iran, with nine of the 10 largest US leaks found in Texas.
• One recorded leak released roughly 5.5 tonnes of methane per hour, an emission level comparable to that from about one million vehicles.
• Methane accounts for approximately a quarter of current global warming, and cutting these leaks could deliver fast climate benefits while providing time for longer-term clean energy transitions.

National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) constitutes Expert Committee on Invasive Alien Species

[National Biodiversity Authority]

Key Updates:

• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) constituted an Expert Committee on Invasive Alien Species in pursuance of National Green Tribunal directions.
• The Committee is chaired by Shri Dhananjai Mohan, IFS (Retd.), former PCCF and Head of Forest Force, Uttarakhand, with Prof. (Dr.) A. Biju Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, as Co-Chair.
• The Committee will prepare a consolidated national list of invasive alien species based on State-wise inputs, identify high-risk species, and recommend science-based management strategies and national-level guidelines for prevention, control, and eradication.
• The Committee includes representatives from Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, ICAR research bureaus, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Wildlife Institute of India, Forest Survey of India, and State Forest Departments of Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Assam.
• The Committee will function for a period of two years.

National Productivity Council (NPC) designated as Environment Audit Designated Agency under Environment Audit Rules 2025

[National Productivity Council, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]

Key Updates:

• National Productivity Council (NPC), an autonomous body under Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), signed an agreement with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to function as Environment Audit Designated Agency (EADA).
• Environment Audit Rules 2025 were notified on 29 August 2025.
• NPC will develop eligibility criteria for environmental auditors, conduct examinations and certification, register auditors, monitor performance, build capacity through training, and manage digital systems for audit processes.
• Framework ensures compliance with Environment (Protection) Act 1986, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam 1980, and Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972.
• NPC will certify Certified Environmental Auditors (CEA) and register Registered Environmental Auditors (REA), renew, suspend or cancel certifications, monitor performance, and maintain a publicly accessible online registry.
• Capacity building efforts include training programmes, workshops, seminars, conferences and online courses for auditors.
• NPC operates through 13 offices across India.

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Launches 5G Innovation Hackathon 2026

Key Updates:

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications has launched the second edition of the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2026.
• The initiative is organised under the 100 5G Use Case Labs Initiative to develop scalable solutions using 5G and allied technologies.
• The hackathon is open to students, start-ups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and independent innovators across India.
• Submissions are accepted from 20 March 2026 until 17 April 2026 through designated nodal centres at academic institutions.
• A seed funding pool of ₹50 lakh has been allocated for prototype development, while the total prize pool exceeds ₹10 lakh.
• Prize rewards are structured as ₹5,00,000 for the first prize, ₹3,00,000 for the runner-up, ₹1,50,000 for the second runner-up, and ₹50,000 for the Best Idea Award.
• Up to 25 teams will receive assistance for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) filing to protect and commercialise their solutions.
• Final results will be announced on 1 October 2026, and winners will showcase their innovations at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026.
• Focus areas include 5G Advanced, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).

Mulgao Kelbai Peth festival to be held on March 23

[Goa]

Key Updates:

• The Peth festival of goddess Kelbai from Mulgao village, Bicholim, will be held at midnight on March 23.
• Goddess Kelbai travels once a year on Chaitra Shuddha Panchami to Gaonkarwada Mayem to meet her sister from the Maya Kelbai Panchayatan Devasthan.
• The goddess is carried in a peth, a wooden rectangular box made of cane, decorated with aboli flowers.
• The peth is carried on the head by a man called Mode who remains in a trance until reaching Mayem.
• Hundreds of Dhond devotees and the Chowgule community accompany the goddess during the journey.
• After a three-day stay in Mayem village, the goddess returns to her temple in Mulgao via the forest route.
• The traditional route for Peth runs from the forests of Mulgao to Mayem via Vhalshim, Bordem, Bhailipeth, Sonar Peth, and Pazwada.
• Devotees offer aboli flowers to the goddess on a coconut and seek her blessings in the form of kaul during the journey.

Sarhul festival celebrated in Jharkhand on March 21, 2026

Key Updates:

• The Sarhul festival, a significant nature festival for the tribal community, was celebrated in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on March 21, 2026.
• Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kalpana Soren participated in the traditional rituals at the Tribal College hostel campus.
• The festival is dedicated to the worship of nature, reflecting the tribal community’s faith in the natural order as the source of all life.
• During the celebrations, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) president played the Mandar, which is a traditional drum.
• The festival serves as an occasion to uphold and pass on ancestral traditions related to the preservation and safety of nature.

Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026 released by Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP)

[Pakistan]

Key Updates:

• Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026 published by Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
• Pakistan ranked 1st with score 8.57, recording 1,139 deaths and 1,045 incidents in 2025.
• Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Somalia, and Democratic Republic of the Congo placed among top 10.
• Syria ranked 6th, Cambodia 9th, Israel 10th; Afghanistan 11th, India 13th, Myanmar 14th.
• India scored 6.43, reporting 142+ incidents, 100+ fatalities, and 118 injuries in 2025.
• Iran ranked 18th, United States (US) 28th in GTI 2026.

Bihar Diwas 2026 three-day cultural festival from March 22-24

[Bihar]

Key Updates:

• Bihar Diwas 2026 celebrations will be held from March 22 to March 24 at Gandhi Maidan, Patna.
• Sona Mohapatra will perform on March 22, Shaan on March 23, and Angaraag Mahanta (Papon) on March 24 at Gandhi Maidan.
• Pandit Jagat Narayan Pathak will present Dhrupad singing at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on March 22.
• Raminder Khurana will perform Odissi dance and Prachi Pallavi Sahu will present contemporary dance at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on March 22.
• Kamlesh Kumar Singh will sing folk songs and Bhikhari Thakur’s play 'Gabarghichor' will be staged at Rabindra Bhawan on March 22.
• Sudipa Ghosh will present a dance-drama based on 'Buddhacharita' at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on March 23.
• Surendra Sharma will lead a poetry session and the play 'Vaijayanti' will be staged at Rabindra Bhawan on March 23.
• Additional chief secretary N Vijaya Lakshmi will perform Bharatnatyam at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on March 24.
• Chandan Tiwari will sing folk songs and 'Miracle on Wheels' will be presented by Pasha at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on March 24.
• Alok Raj will host a ghazal and mushaira event at Rabindra Bhawan on March 24.
• Local artists and street theatre groups will perform at the cultural pavilion from 10am to 5pm daily during the festival.
• An education pavilion, book fair, food court, and heritage stalls by tourism and other government departments will be set up at the venue.

Navroz (Parsi New Year) observed on March 21

Key Updates:

• Navroz, the Parsi New Year, is observed on March 21.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended official greetings on Navroz and incorporated the Faravahar symbol, a significant emblem of the Zoroastrian faith.
• India’s Parsi community numbers nearly 60,000 individuals and maintains deep historical roots in Gujarat.
• Amit Shah represents the Gandhinagar constituency in Gujarat.

Chapchar Kut spring festival celebrated in Mizoram on March 13 with theme 'Zo Nun Ze Mawi: Inremna'.

[Mizoram]

Key Updates:

• Chapchar Kut is celebrated in March after the completion of the most arduous stage of the jhum cultivation cycle.
• The festival’s origin is traced by historians to between 1450 and 1700 AD in the village of Suaipui near present-day Myanmar.
• The festival declined after the arrival of Christian missionaries in the late 19th century and was revived on a large scale in 1973 without animistic practices or alcohol.
• The 2026 grand finale was held at the Lammual ground in Aizawl on March 13.
• The week-long festivities began on March 9 across Mizoram.
• Chief Minister Lalduhoma attended as the 'Kut Pa' and urged self-accountability and reconciliation as core Mizo values.
• Governor V K Singh and Art and Culture Minister C Lamsawivunga joined the gathering.

World Sparrow Day observed on March 20

Key Updates:

• World Sparrow Day is observed annually on March 20 to raise awareness and encourage conservation efforts for the house sparrow.
• The initiative was first introduced in 2010 by Nature Forever, a bird conservation organisation in India, and has expanded to 50 countries.
• The house sparrow was designated as the official state bird of Delhi in 2012.
• Environmental conservationist Jagat Kinkhabwala launched the Save The Sparrow campaign, which received support from Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in 2017.
• A 2025 Press Information Bureau (PIB) statement highlighted the efforts of Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Brij Lal, who established 50 nests for sparrows at his home.
• The house sparrow plays a vital role in ecological balance by regulating insect populations and assisting in pollination and seed dispersal.
• The decline in the sparrow population is attributed to habitat loss, excessive pesticide usage, pollution, industrialisation, and modern building designs that lack nesting spaces.