Daily Current Affairs: 25 March 2026

Jharkhand Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kalpana Soren Receives Women Empowerment Trailblazer Award

[Jharkhand]

Key Updates:

• Kalpana Soren was honoured by the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI) at the WE Annual Women Summit and Felicitation 2026.
• The award ceremony was held in New Delhi and hosted by the women empowerment vertical of the BRICS CCI.
• The recognition was conferred for her contributions towards advancing women-led initiatives and community development.
• The summit was attended by several dignitaries, policymakers, and international representatives.

CA P. V. Narayana Rao appointed as Co-opted Member of ICAI's Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB) for 2026-27.

[Institute of Chartered Accountants of India]

Key Updates:

• CA P. V. Narayana Rao has been appointed as a Co-opted Member of the Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the term 2026-27.
• He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1987 and secured a Gold Medal as University Topper in Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) from Kakatiya University.
• He served as Chairman of the ICAI Warangal Branch in 2015 and as Co-opted Member of the Public Relations Committee of ICAI (Central Council) in 2016.
• He is currently the Vice President of the Telangana & Andhra Pradesh Tax Bar Association.
• The Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB) was established by ICAI in February 2020 to develop sustainability reporting standards aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

Lionel Jospin, former French Prime Minister, dies at 88.

[France]

Key Updates:

• Lionel Jospin served as Prime Minister of France from 1997 to 2002.
• He introduced the 35-hour work week and extended free healthcare through universal health coverage.
• Jospin was born on 12 July 1937 in Meudon and studied at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris and École Nationale d'Administration.
• He led a left-wing coalition called the 'gauche plurielle' during cohabitation with President Jacques Chirac.
• Jospin was eliminated in the first round of the 2002 presidential election after far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen advanced.
• He announced his retirement from politics on election night in 2002.
• Jospin later served on France's Constitutional Council from 2015 to 2019.

Goldman Sachs (GS) cuts India’s 2026 GDP growth forecast to 5.9%

[Goldman Sachs]

Key Updates:

• Goldman Sachs lowered India’s 2026 growth forecast to 5.9% from its pre-Gulf conflict estimate of 7%.
• The revision follows the Gulf conflict and higher Brent crude price projections of $105 per barrel in March and $115 in April.
• India’s inflation is forecast to rise to 4.6% in 2026, prompting Goldman Sachs to expect a 50-basis point hike in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy rate.
• Goldman Sachs projects India’s current account deficit to widen to 2% of GDP in 2026 from 1.3% in October-December 2025.
• Among major economies, India faces the largest growth forecast cut, compared with China (4.7% from 4.8%), South Korea (1.9% from 2%), and Hong Kong (1.8% from 2.6%).

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approves AIF, FPI, InvIT, REIT and governance reforms in 213th board meeting.

[Securities and Exchange Board of India]

Key Updates:

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) held its 213th board meeting in Mumbai on 23 March 2026.
• SEBI amended AIF Regulations 2012 to allow Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) with no active fund management to retain residual assets for up to 3 years subject to 75% investor approval.
• SEBI introduced net settlement for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in the cash market to cut funding and forex conversion costs.
• SEBI expanded retail access to Social Impact Funds (SIFs) by lowering minimum investment and easing disclosure norms.
• SEBI allowed Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to invest in greenfield projects, hold multiple SPVs, borrow for capex and refinancing, and undertake maintenance expenses.
• SEBI revised fit-and-proper criteria to bar persons with pending FIRs for economic offences or securities law violations and reduced disqualification period to six months in specified cases.
• SEBI mandated SEBI staff to liquidate or freeze personal securities holdings, file initial, annual and event-based conflict disclosures, and recuse from decisions when conflicts arise.
• SEBI approved creation of an Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC), a digital monitoring system and a whistle-blower framework for stronger conflict-of-interest oversight.

L & T Finance Ltd. (LTF) joins United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)

[United Nations, L&T Finance]

Key Updates:

• L & T Finance Ltd. (LTF), a leading Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) headquartered in Mumbai, has become a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).
• The UNGC is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, with over 20,000 participants across more than 160 countries.
• By joining the UNGC, LTF commits to aligning its operations with the Ten Principles concerning human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption.
• LTF will report annually on its progress in implementing the Ten Principles of the Global Compact through its annual reporting.
• The company is also a signatory to the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) to measure and manage financed emissions.
• S&P Global Ratings upgraded LTF's long-term Issuer Credit Rating to BBB/Stable and short-term rating to A-2 in August 2025.
• Fitch Ratings assigned LTF Long-Term Foreign and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings of BBB- with a Stable outlook.
• LTF is currently implementing its Lakshya 2026 strategic plan to transition into a digitally enabled retail finance company focused on Fintech@Scale.
• The company's flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, Digital Sakhi, focuses on women's empowerment and digital and financial inclusion.

Goldman Sachs Cuts India 2026 Growth Forecast to 5.9%

[Goldman Sachs]

Key Updates:

• Goldman Sachs has lowered India’s 2026 growth forecast to 5.9% from its pre-Iran war estimate of 7%.
• The bank predicts a 50 basis points increase in policy rates by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) due to currency depreciation pressures.
• India’s inflation is projected to rise to 4.6% in 2026 from an earlier forecast of 3.9%, while remaining within the RBI target range of 2-6%.
• The Current Account Deficit (CAD) of India is projected to widen to 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2026 from 1.3% in the October-December 2025 period.
• Retail inflation in India rose to 3.21% year-on-year in February from 2.74% in January.
• The RBI kept the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25% during its February meeting.
• Brent crude prices are projected to average $105 per barrel in March and $115 in April before declining to $80 per barrel in the fourth quarter of the year.
• Growth forecasts for other economies were revised to 4.7% for China, 1.9% for South Korea, and 1.8% for Hong Kong.
• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI is scheduled to meet earlier next week.

Union Ministry of Rural Development confers National Award on Karnataka Grameena Bank for Self-help Group (SHG)-Bank Linkage

[Karnataka]

Key Updates:

• The Union Ministry of Rural Development selected Karnataka Grameena Bank for the National Award for Outstanding Performance in SHG-Bank Linkage for the year 2024-25.
• Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented the award to the bank’s General Manager, V.M. Rukmini Devi.
• The award was presented at the National Conference on Financial Literacy and Capacity Building and the 25th Central Level Coordination Committee (CLCC) Meeting held in Hyderabad.

Svatantra Microfin completes amalgamation with Chaitnya India Fin Credit, creating Rs 22,000 crore AUM entity.

[Chaitanya India Fin Credit Private Limited]

Key Updates:

• Svatantra Microfin completed amalgamation with Chaitanya India Fin Credit and Svatantra-Holding after approvals from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
• The amalgamation is effective from the NCLT-Mumbai bench order dated 12 March 2026.
• Post-merger, the combined entity holds assets under management (AUM) of about Rs 22,000 crore including its housing-finance business.
• Svatantra Micro Housing Finance Corporation has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Svatantra Microfin.
• The merged entity operates through about 2,200 branches across 20 states and employs around 25,000 people.
• Since inception the company has disbursed approximately Rs 70,000 crore and serves around 5 million customers.

Delhi Green Budget 2026-27: Rs 260 cr for Free LPG Cylinders on Holi & Diwali

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presented the Delhi Budget 2026-27 with a total outlay of Rs 1,03,700 crore.
• Government earmarked Rs 260 crore to provide one free LPG cylinder per household on Holi and on Diwali.
• 21% of the entire budget is allocated as a 'green budget' for environment protection.
• Revenue expenditure accounts for 70.3% and capital expenditure for 29.7% of the budget.
• Delhi's revenue surplus is projected at Rs 9,092 crore for 2026-27.
• Rs 7,887 crore is allocated to the Urban Development Department and Rs 5,921 crore to the Public Works Department (PWD).
• Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will receive Rs 1,000 crore for road improvements and Rs 1,352 crore for dust-free roads.
• Rs 350 crore is allocated for the MLA Local Area Development Scheme.
• Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been allocated Rs 9,000 crore and Rs 200 crore is provided for underground shifting of overhead electricity wires.
• Rs 12,645 crore is allocated to the health sector and Rs 19,148 crore to the education sector.
• Rs 90 crore is allocated to provide free cycles to 1.30 lakh Class-IX girl students in Delhi government schools.
• Rs 5,110 crore is allocated for paying Rs 2,500 per month to eligible women beneficiaries.
• Rs 300 crore is earmarked for the development of the trans-Yamuna area.

Musi River Rejuvenation Project faces BJP and expert criticism over cost and approach

Key Updates:

• The Telangana government’s Musi River Rejuvenation Project is estimated to cost Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
• BJP state president N. Ramchander-Rao questioned the funding feasibility given the state’s unpaid pension dues.
• The Gandhi Sarovar Project, a part of the Musi initiative, saw its cost rise from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 7,000 crore within days.
• Rao emphasised the project’s impact across South Telangana and called for a holistic approach from catchment to Krishna River confluence.
• Vedire Sriram, water adviser to the Maharashtra government, described the works as superficial beautification rather than true revival and noted rejuvenation takes at least 20 years.
• Sriram stated the Central Water Commission (CWC) has not been consulted, which jeopardises prospects of international funding.
• He offered a revised DPR free of cost, claiming the Rs 160-crore DPR is riddled with loopholes and suggests sourcing water from Singur and Manjeera for Rs 100 crore instead of Rs 1,000 crore from Mallanna Sagar.
• Sriram underlined the need for stakeholder participation, catchment-area percolation structures, massive afforestation and sewage treatment to reduce water pollution to below 3 PPM.

Sugam Digital Gujarat initiative digitises 20 high-demand citizen services

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

• Gujigarh Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched Sugam Digital Gujarat initiative on 24 March 2026 at Mahatma Mandir.
• The initiative digitises 20 high-transaction services across five major departments based on the fifth report of Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC).
• Services including income and caste certificates, ration cards, and affidavits become faceless, cashless, and paperless.
• Citizens can access these services from home and need not submit the same documents for different services due to digital data systems.
• A digital locker system is being introduced to support the digital transformation.

Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026 to retain IPS dominance in CAPF leadership

Key Updates:

• The Union Cabinet cleared the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026 on 11 March 2026 to retain IPS officers on deputation in five CAPFs: BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB.
• The Bill mandates 50% of Inspector General posts to be filled by IPS deputation, minimum 67% of Additional Director General posts by IPS deputation, and Special DG and DG posts exclusively by IPS deputation.
• It empowers the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to override any court judgment and frame recruitment, promotion and deputation rules for CAPF Group A officers.
• The Supreme Court on 23 May 2025 had ordered progressive reduction of IPS deputations in DIG and IG ranks within two years, citing stagnation and morale loss among CAPF officers.
• Retired CAPF officers oppose the Bill, alleging career stagnation, non-implementation of non-functional upgradation since 2006, and exclusion of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) oversight.

MoRD Launches Real-Time Internal Audit Portal to Boost Transparency and Accountability in Rural Governance

[Ministry of Rural Development]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) operationalised an Internal Audit Portal developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
• The portal (ruralaudit.dord.gov.in) enables Secretary-level access for direct real-time monitoring of audit performance across departments.
• It provides a real-time dashboard to monitor audit status, Action Taken Reports (ATRs), and pending cases from field units to headquarters.
• An automated escalation mechanism generates system alerts for delays in compliance, ensuring accountability across administrative levels.
• Role-based secure access safeguards data integrity while enabling coordination among officials.
• The platform centralises audit tracking by allowing seamless flow of audit observations from field offices to central authorities.
• The Ministry expects the portal to reduce the compliance gap and accelerate closure of audit observations through continuous 365-day monitoring.
• The initiative aligns with the Digital India mission to strengthen governance, transparency, and fiscal discipline in rural development expenditure.

NITI Aayog sanctions Rs 1.55 crore for RISE centre in NTR district

[NITI Aayog]

Key Updates:

• NITI Aayog has sanctioned Rs 1.55 crore for the Rural Innovations Incubation, Skelling and Entrepreneurship (RISE) centre at Ibrahimpatnam in NTR district.
• The RISE centre is located at Guntupalli in Ibrahimpatnam mandal, one of the two aspirational blocks in NTR district.
• The centre aims to empower women and transform rural women into entrepreneurs in line with the Swarnandhra Vision @2047 and One Family - One Entrepreneur initiative.
• Funds will be utilised for AI-based skill surveys, skill development, training programmes, and infrastructure creation in Ibrahimpam block.
• A detailed report on the RISE centre plan was sent to NITI Aayog and approved by a special committee.

United Nations Observes International Day for the Right to the Truth on 24 March 2026

Key Updates:

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 24 March as the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims on 21 December 2010.
• The observance commemorates Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero, a human rights defender in El Salvador who was murdered on 24 March 1980.
• The year 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état in Argentina, which initiated a military junta dictatorship lasting from 1976 to 1983.
• The Joinet/Orentlicher Principles, formally known as the Updated Set of Principles for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights through Action to Combat Impunity, define the right to truth as an inalienable right.
• Historical truth-seeking bodies include the National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons (CONADEP) established in Argentina in 1984 and the Commission for the Clarification of Truth in Colombia in 2017.
• The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence is Bernard Duhaime.
• The UN Special Rapporteur is preparing a report on negationism, revisionism, and politicization for the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
• A report regarding emerging technologies in the context of transitional justice will be submitted for the 81st session of the UNGA.

India Prime Minister addresses Lok Sabha on West Asia crisis and national security

[Middle East]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha (LS) regarding the West Asia conflict, highlighting its impact on India’s energy security and the safety of nearly 1 crore Indian citizens in the region.
• The Government of India has facilitated the return of approximately 1,000 Indians from Iran and established 24/7 helplines through Indian missions for on-ground support.
• India has diversified its energy imports from 27 to 41 countries over the last 11 years and currently imports Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from 41 nations.
• The country maintains Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) of 5.3 million metric tonnes (MMT), with plans to add an additional 6.5 MMT to strengthen fuel security.
• Ethanol blending initiatives have resulted in a reduction of 4.5 crore barrels of oil imports annually.
• India’s renewable energy capacity has reached approximately 250 GW, including 140 GW of solar power and 40 lakh rooftop solar installations.
• Domestic coal production has exceeded 100 crore tonnes, while the agriculture sector has been supported by the deployment of over 22 lakh solar pumps.
• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled examinations in the Middle East due to the ongoing crisis.

Iran marks Nowruz under US-Israeli strikes amid internet blackout

Key Updates:

• Iran celebrated Nowruz on 20 March 2026 as US and Israeli warplanes conducted overnight and periodic bombardment.
• Spring equinox in Iran occurred at 18:15:59 local time (14:45:59 GMT) on 20 March 2026.
• Tehran’s air-defence batteries fired intermittently after the new-year moment in an apparent celebratory move.
• Iranian government allows citizens 30 litres of petrol daily via personal fuel cards and claims no fuel shortage despite depot bombings.
• State maintains near-total internet shutdown for 21st consecutive day, reducing connectivity to under 1 percent of previous levels.
• Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) documented over 7,000 deaths during January protests; UN special rapporteur Mai Sato estimates more than 20,000 civilian deaths.
• Iranian authorities executed three men, including 19-year-old national wrestling team member, and a Swedish dual national for alleged protest-related crimes and spying for Israel.

World Day for Glaciers marked at Zangser Kangri Glacier on 21 March 2026

Key Updates:

• March 21 is designated as the World Day for Glaciers.
• The Zangser Kangri Glacier is located within the Changtang National Nature Reserve in the Xizang Autonomous Region of China.
• The Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China serves as a habitat for herds of wild yaks.
• Wild yaks were observed and photographed near the Zangser Kangri Glacier in March 2026.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports 65-year peak in Earth energy imbalance

[World Meteorological Organization]

Key Updates:

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the State of the Climate 2025 report, revealing that Earth’s energy imbalance has reached its highest level in at least 65 years.
• Approximately 91 per cent of excess energy is absorbed by the oceans, while 5 per cent warms the land, 3 per cent melts ice, and 1 per cent heats the atmosphere.
• Carbon dioxide levels in 2024 reached a 2-million-year high, while methane and nitrous oxide concentrations are at their highest in 800,000 years.
• Global sea levels by the end of 2025 were 11 centimetres higher than in 1993, with the rate of rise increasing from 2.65 mm per year (1993-2011) to 4.75 mm per year (2012-2025).
• The global mean temperature in 2025 was approximately 1.43°C above the pre-industrial baseline of 1850-1900, while 2024 remains the warmest on record at 1.55°C above the baseline.
• Ocean surface pH levels have declined to their lowest in at least 26,000 years, with significant acidification observed in the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
• Around 1.2 billion people, representing more than one-third of the global workforce, are exposed to extreme heat annually, particularly in the agriculture and construction sectors.
• The report indicates that rising emissions threaten United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 11, SDG 14, and SDG 15.

World TB Day 2026 spotlights science-driven push to eliminate tuberculosis

Key Updates:

• World Health Organization (WHO) reported an estimated 10.6 million people developed TB in 2022, including 1.3 million children.
• WHO recorded 1.3 million TB deaths among HIV-negative individuals and an additional 300,000 deaths among people living with HIV in 2022.
• Approximately 410,000 people developed multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) in 2022.
• Sustainable Development Goal 3 calls for ending the TB epidemic by 2030.
• WHO’s End TB Strategy targets a 90% reduction in TB deaths and an 80% reduction in TB incidence by 2030 compared with 2015 levels.

Ashwini Vaishnaw launches National AI Skilling, MyWAV & DD Free Dish EPG initiatives

Key Updates:

• Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ashwwa Vaishnaw unveiled three inter-linked measures to boost India’s media and creative economy.
• National AI Skilling initiative, implemented by Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) with Google and YouTube, will train 15,000 youths at zero fee.
• Phase-I of the AI programme runs 23 March-30 June 2026, covering Google Career Certificates and Cloud Generative AI paths; completion is mandatory for Phase-II.
• Phase-II (July-December 2026) offers advanced, project-based specialisation for the creative industry using Gemini 3, Nano Banana, Veo and Vertex AI tools.
• MyWAVES, a citizen-creator platform on WAVES OTT, enables users to create, upload and share content and is positioned to strengthen the digital ecosystem.
• Advanced Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) and in-built satellite tuners in TV sets expand DD Free Dish access without set-top boxes, improving reach in remote areas.
• All three initiatives aim to build capabilities, widen opportunities and ensure access to content, supporting the ‘Orange Economy’ as highlighted in the Union Budget.
• Gunjan Soni, Managing Director, YouTube India, stated the partnership seeks to make India a global hub for digital content and innovation.

Razorpay and Sarvam AI partner to launch voice-led conversational commerce in India

[Razorpay, Sarvam AI]

Key Updates:

• Razorpay has partnered with the Artificial Intelligence (AI) startup Sarvam AI to introduce voice-led conversational commerce for India's multilingual population.
• The technology allows users to search for products, place orders, and complete transactions using natural language and Indian languages.
• The initiative will first go live on the food delivery platform Swiggy via the Indus App.
• The partnership integrates Sarvam AI's models and agentic stack with Razorpay's agentic payments infrastructure.
• Razorpay is also developing AI-powered agents for payments using Anthropic's Claude chatbot to manage tasks like recovering abandoned purchases and resolving disputes.
• Sarvam AI has partnered with EkStep Foundation and AI4Bharat to roll out multilingual voice AI agents under the Listen at Scale initiative.
• A pilot of the voice assistant has been introduced on The Derma Co's website, allowing users to buy products using voice commands.