Daily Current Affairs: 26 March 2026

Qatar Airways named world’s best full-service carrier for 2026 by AirlineRatings.com.

Key Updates:

• Qatar Airways secured the top position among full-service carriers in the 2026 global airline rankings released by AirlineRatings.com.
• Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines were ranked second and third respectively in the full-service category.
• Korean Air, Japan Airlines, Emirates and Air New Zealand also featured among the top-ranked full-service carriers.
• Lufthansa, Delta Air Lines and British Airways were listed among leading hybrid carriers for 2026.
• HK Express topped the low-cost segment, followed by Jetstar and AirAsia Group.

Kiran Mani appointed as OpenAI Asia Pacific managing director.

Key Updates:

• Kiran Mani stepped down as CEO of Digital at JioStar and will join OpenAI as managing director for Asia Pacific.
• He is expected to assume the newly created role in June and will report to OpenAI’s chief strategy officer Jason Kwon.
• Mani will relocate from India to Singapore for the position.
• He joined Viacom18 in 2023 as CEO for digital ventures and after the 2024 merger of Viacom18 with Disney-owned Star India he oversaw digital operations at the formed entity JioStar.
• At JioStar he played a role in the development and integration of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar into the single streaming platform JioHotstar launched in February 2025.
• Earlier he served as managing director for Android and Google Play in Asia Pacific at Google and has held roles at Microsoft and IBM.

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr named successor to Ali Larijani as head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

[Iran]

Key Updates:

• Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander, was appointed to succeed Ali Larijani as head of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
• The appointment was announced on Tuesday by President Masoud Pezeshkian’s deputy of communications via X.
• Ali Larijani was killed in a US-Israeli air strike earlier this month.
• Zolghadr served as head of the IRGC’s joint staff for eight years and as deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC for another eight years.
• In 2005, he was named deputy interior minister for security and police under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
• Since 2023, Zolghadr has been secretary of the Expediency Council.

S&P Global Ratings (S&P) raises India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast to 7.1%

Key Updates:

• S&P Global Ratings (S&P) upgraded India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast by 40 basis points to 7.1%.
• The revision follows India’s 7.8% GDP growth in the October–December quarter.
• S&P’s FY26 projection for India remains at 7.6%.
• S&P assumes Brent crude at $80 per barrel in 2026, up from about $65 at end-2025.
• In a stress scenario, S&P sees oil at $130 per barrel; in a severe disruption, up to $200 per barrel.
• A $130 oil price could cut 50–70 basis points from Asia-Pacific growth.
• India’s growth drivers are domestic consumption, public-private investment, and technology services.
• S&P identifies the Strait of Hormuz—handling 15–20% of global oil flows—as a key energy chokepoint.

Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950: Supreme Court defines religion-based eligibility for Scheduled Caste status

Key Updates:

• The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that Scheduled Caste (SC) status is strictly limited to individuals professing Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist religions.
• Under Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, conversion to any religion other than those specified leads to the immediate loss of SC status regardless of birth.
• The SC bench, comprising Justices P K Mishra and Manmohan, upheld an Andhra Pradesh High Court decision denying SC benefits to individuals who convert to Christianity.
• The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, does not include religion-based exclusions, meaning Scheduled Tribe (ST) status depends on tribal identity and community acceptance rather than faith alone.
• For an individual to reclaim SC status through reconversion, they must provide credible evidence of original caste membership and total dissociation from the converted religion.
• The SC stated that the theological foundation of Christianity does not recognise the institution of caste, making it incompatible with SC status claims.
• The ruling establishes that individuals professing religions outside the 1950 Order cannot seek protection under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2015.

PM Internship Scheme eases norms, adds new-age sectors and higher stipend

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has relaxed CSR obligation requirement for companies to join the PM Internship Scheme.
• New-age sectors like semiconductors, renewable energy and global capability centres are now eligible under the scheme.
• The monthly stipend has been raised to ₹9,000 from ₹5,000.
• Minimum age for candidates lowered to 18 years and maximum age raised to 25 years.
• Postgraduates and MBAs are now eligible to apply.
• Internship duration revised to 6 and 9 months instead of one year.
• Third phase targets about 100,000 internships with over 15,500 offers across 19 sectors and 32 states.
• Allocation for current fiscal sharply cut to ₹526 crore in revised estimate from ₹10,831 crore budgeted earlier.

Indian Railways revised ticket cancellation rules effective April 1-15 2026

Key Updates:

• Indian Railways will implement revised ticket cancellation rules between 1 April 2026 and 15 April 2026.
• Maximum refund with flat cancellation charge applies if ticket is cancelled more than 72 hours before train departure.
• 25% of fare will be deducted if ticket is cancelled between 72 hours and 24 hours before departure.
• 50% of fare will be deducted if ticket is cancelled between 24 hours and 8 hours before departure.
• No refund will be given if ticket is cancelled less than 8 hours before train departure.

Gujarat Assembly passes Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill

Key Updates:

• The Gujarat Assembly passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by a majority vote, making Gujarat the second state in India after Uttarakhand to adopt such legislation.
• The Bill seeks to regulate personal civil matters including marriage, divorce, succession, adoption, and live-in relationships for residents of the state.
• The legislation was drafted based on a report submitted by a committee headed by former Supreme Court (SC) judge Ranjana Desai.
• The Ranjana Desai committee studied the civil codes of France, Azerbaijan, Nepal, Germany, and Turkey and received over 20 lakh suggestions before drafting the Bill.
• The Bill excludes members of all tribal communities falling within specific constitutional provisions from its jurisdiction.
• Specific provisions include legal security for daughters in live-in relationships and the application of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for cases involving minors.
• The Bill clarifies that customary traditions, such as cousin marriages, will be considered legal if they are an accepted tradition within a community.
• Penal provisions have been included for individuals who enter into marriages by concealing their identity or through fraud.

Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 limits Scheduled Caste status to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists

Key Updates:

• The Supreme Court bench of Justices PK Mishra and NV Anjaria ruled that conversion to a religion outside Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism ends Scheduled Caste status.
• The court cited Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 which recognises only Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists as eligible for Scheduled Caste benefits.
• The Andhra Pradesh High Court had earlier held that continued practice of Christianity disqualifies a person from claiming Scheduled Caste reservation.
• The Allahabad High Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure Scheduled Caste status is not granted to converts and ordered district magistrates to identify such cases within four months.

Philippines declares national energy emergency amid fuel supply crisis

[Philippines]

Key Updates:

• Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a national energy emergency on 25 Mar 2026 citing the US-Israel war on Iran and imminent danger to the country’s energy supply.
• The emergency declaration empowers the government to procure fuel and petroleum products and, if necessary, pay part of contract amounts in advance for one year.
• A committee has been formed to ensure orderly movement, supply, distribution and availability of fuel, food, medicine, agricultural products and other essential goods.
• Secretary of Energy Sharon Garin stated the country has about 45 days of fuel supply left based on current consumption levels.
• The government is working to procure 1 million barrels of oil from countries within and outside Southeast Asia to build buffer stock.
• Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Manila is seeking US exemptions to purchase oil from countries under US sanctions, with all options including Iranian and Venezuelan oil under discussion.
• Transport unions and senators criticised the government for lacking coordinated action; Piston federation called the emergency declaration a superficial band-aid.
• The government is providing free bus rides for students and workers in some cities and a 5,000 peso ($83) subsidy to motorcycle taxi drivers and other public transport workers nationwide.

India sets up seven inter-ministerial groups to tackle West Asia crisis

[Gujarat, Uttarakhand]

Key Updates:

• The Cabinet Secretariat constituted seven Groups of Secretaries (GoS) covering security, economy, energy, fertiliser, logistics, essential commodities and public outreach.
• Around 60-65 senior officials are involved, with each group including about two officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and one from the Cabinet Secretariat.
• The strategic issues group is headed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and includes Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
• The economic, finance and supply chain group led by Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) Secretary Anuradha Thakur has 11 members including eight secretaries.
• The petroleum, LNG and LPG group headed by Neeraj Mittal comprises 10 members including the Chairmen and Managing Directors of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), GAIL and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
• The fertiliser group led by Rajat Kumar Mishra has 11 members including heads of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative and KRIBHCO.
• The price and essential commodities group chaired by Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare has seven officials.
• The transport and logistics group headed by Shipping Secretary Vijay Kumar has six members.
• The information, communication and public engagement group led by Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Secretary Sanjay Jaju has 10 members.

Panama Canal Authority reports record LNG traffic amid Iran war

[Panama]

Key Updates:

• Panama Canal Authority (PCA) administrator Ricaurte Vasquez stated the canal is operating at top capacity with 36-38 vessels transiting daily.
• The waterway will offer one LNG tanker slot per day, up from four per month, due to increased U.S. LNG demand triggered by the Iran war.
• The Strait of Hormuz, vital for Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain energy exports, has been closed, prompting shippers to seek the Panama route.
• A March-September maintenance programme will not affect traffic, and seasonal low container-ship demand from Asia frees additional slots for energy tankers.

Philippines Declares National Energy Emergency Following Iran Conflict and Global Fuel Price Surge

[Philippines]

Key Updates:

• Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency in response to the war in Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
• The Philippines, which imports 98% of its oil from the Gulf, became the first country to declare an energy emergency after domestic fuel prices doubled since 28 February.
• The government will procure one million barrels of oil to supplement the current national stock, which is estimated to last for 45 days.
• The emergency declaration will remain in place for one year, granting the government legal authority to directly purchase petroleum products and oversee the distribution of fuel, food, and medicines.
• Philippine Ambassador to the United States (US) Jose Manuel Romualdez stated that Manila is coordinating with the US to secure exemptions for importing oil from sanctioned countries.
• Energy Secretary Sharon Garin announced that the country will temporarily increase reliance on coal-fired power plants to address the high costs of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
• The government has implemented fuel-saving measures including a four-day work week for civil servants, reduced ferry services, and subsidies for transport drivers.

Akasha300 high-temperature 3D printer delivered to Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)

Key Updates:

• The Akasha300 is a high-temperature multi-material extrusion 3D printer developed in India.
• It was successfully launched and delivered to the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiyamala.
• The printer uses dual-extrusion technology operating at temperatures up to 350°C, with future upgrades expected to reach 500°C.
• Its heated bed reaches up to 110°C (upgradeable to 150°C) and its enclosed chamber can sustain up to 80°C.
• The development was supported by the Space Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre at IIST and the Kerala Startup Mission.

Hudsonian godwit population declines by 95 percent over four decades

Key Updates:

• The Hudsonian godwit, a migratory shorebird, has experienced a 95 percent population decline over the past 40 years.
• The species is among 42 proposed for international protection at the upcoming meeting of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) in Brazil.
• The bird performs a 30,000-kilometre annual journey from the Arctic to South America and is capable of flying 11,000 kilometres in a single stretch without stopping.
• Environmental pressures include climate change in the Arctic, expanded salmon and oyster farming in Chile, and agricultural changes in the United States.
• A recent report indicates that 49 percent of species listed under the CMS are now experiencing population declines, up from 44 percent two years ago.

Akasha300 high-temperature 3D printer delivered to Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) to boost India’s space manufacturing

Key Updates:

• The Akasha300, a high-temperature multi-material extrusion 3D printer, has been successfully launched and delivered to the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiyamala.
• It uses dual-extrusion technology operating at temperatures up to 350°C, with future upgrades expected to reach 500°C.
• Its heated bed reaches up to 110°C (upgradeable to 150°C) and its enclosed chamber can sustain up to 80°C.
• The development was supported by the Space Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre at IIST and backed by the Kerala Startup Mission.
• Deployment at LPSC is expected to accelerate research in propulsion systems, materials science, and next-generation manufacturing techniques.

India builds home-grown AI tools to predict preterm births early

Key Updates:

• India’s largest pregnancy cohort study under the GARBH-INi initiative has enrolled about 12,000 pregnant women to develop indigenous AI-driven solutions to prevent preterm births.
• The study has created a repository of over 1.6 million well-characterised biospecimens and over one million ultrasound images.
• The initiative has established a national biorepository and the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data-sharing platform for wider research access.
• Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh stated that the programme supports AI-based pregnancy dating models tailored for Indian populations, microbiome-based predictors, rapid diagnostics, and genetic markers for early risk assessment.
• Technology transfer initiatives, including microbiome-based biotherapeutics, were formalised during the event.
• Dr V K Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, emphasised that the next phase should focus on effectively utilising the developed predictive models and platforms.

IIT Kharagpur and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) study Moon's internal structure for Chandrayaan-4

Key Updates:

• Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) and the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) conducted a study on the formation of ancient lunar rocks.
• The research focuses on ilmenite-bearing cumulates (IBC) that formed approximately 4.3 to 4.4 billion years ago during the Moon's global magma ocean stage.
• Laboratory simulations recreated lunar conditions using pressures of 3 gigapascals and temperatures exceeding 1,500 degrees Celsius to produce titanium-rich basalts.
• The study identifies a process called mantle overturn, involving the upward and downward movement of molten material within the Moon's interior.
• Findings will assist the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in selecting landing sites for the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which aims to retrieve lunar samples and return them to Earth.

Pakistan Ranked World's Most Polluted Country in 2025 IQAir Report

[Pakistan]

Key Updates:

• IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring firm, released its annual report identifying Pakistan as the world’s most polluted country in 2025.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) air quality standard for healthy air is an average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) of no more than 5 microgrammes per cubic metre.
• Pakistan recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 67.3 microgrammes per cubic metre, which is over 13 times the WHO recommended level.
• Bangladesh and Tajikistan were ranked as the second and third most polluted countries respectively, while Chad ranked fourth.
• Loni, a city in northern India, was identified as the world’s most polluted city in 2025 with average PM2.5 levels of 112.5 microgrammes per cubic metre.
• Hotan in China’s Xinjiang region was ranked the second most polluted city globally with PM2.5 levels of 109.6 microgrammes per cubic metre.
• The report found that all of the world’s top 25 most polluted cities were located in China, India, and Pakistan.
• Only 13 countries and territories, including Australia, Iceland, Estonia, and Panama, successfully met the WHO air quality guidelines.
• Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 is linked to premature births and neurodegenerative conditions including dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Record levels of biomass burning from wildfires in Europe and Canada released approximately 1,380 megatonnes of carbon in 2025.

India sports economy surpasses $2 billion milestone in 2025

Key Updates:

• India’s sports economy reached Rs 18,864 crore ($2.1 billion) in 2025, reflecting a 13.4% year-on-year growth according to the 13th edition of WPP Media’s Sporting Nation report.
• Cricket accounted for 89% of total industry revenues, generating Rs 16,704 crore and contributing 95% of total media spends.
• The Indian Premier League (IPL) remained the primary growth driver, supported by the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and India’s Champions Trophy victory.
• Media spending was the largest sector at 51% of the total economy, with advertising investments rising to Rs 9,571 crore.
• Digital media spending increased by 24% to Rs 4,449 crore, while television spending grew by 16.4% to Rs 5,117 crore.
• Sports sponsorship spending rose to Rs 7,943 crore, representing 42% of the overall market value.
• Sports celebrity endorsements reached Rs 1,350 crore in 2025, with cricket accounting for 87% of this value at Rs 1,178 crore.
• The industry has nearly doubled in size from Rs 9,530 crore in 2021, recording a compound annual growth rate of 18.6% over four years.

Bhubaneswar hosts India's first National Indoor Athletics Championships

[Odisha]

Key Updates:

• The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar has been named as the venue for the World Indoor Athletics Championships to be held from 3-5 March 2028.
• India is hosting its maiden national indoor athletics championship in Bhubaneswar as a preparatory step towards conducting the 2028 global showpiece.
• The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) worked in coordination with the Odisha government to secure the hosting rights for the 2028 world event.
• The indoor facility at Kalinga Stadium features a 200m synthetic oval track and a 100m straight track, both compliant with World Athletics Category 1 standards.
• The national championship consists of 11 events for both men and women, including 60m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 60m hurdles, high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, and shot put.
• Approximately 300 athletes are participating in the national championships, with Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra sending the largest contingents of around 30 athletes each.
• National record holders Animesh Kujur, Mohammed Afsal, and Praveen Chitravel are among the key competitors in the indoor event.
• The AFI is also bidding to host the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar in 2028, with a decision expected from the Asian Athletics Association in May.
• The indoor facility at Kalinga Stadium has a spectator seating capacity of approximately 1700.

Rajasthan Royals becomes first IPL team sold for over 1 billion USD

Key Updates:

• Rajasthan Royals (RR) became the first Indian Premier League (IPL) team to be sold for over 1 billion USD.
• The acquisition deal is valued at 1.63 billion USD (Rs 13,500 crore), marking the largest ownership transaction in the history of the IPL.
• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) originally sold the franchise to Emerging Media Ventures for 67 million USD before the inaugural 2008 season.
• The acquiring consortium is led by US-based entrepreneur Kal Somani and includes Rob Walton, the owner of the Denver Broncos.
• Kal Somani is the founder of technology firms including IntraEdge and Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms Truyo and Truyo.AI.

RCB sold for $1.78 bn to Aditya Birla, Times of India-led consortium

Key Updates:

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was acquired for $1.78 billion (around ₹16,600 crore) by a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group and The Times of India Group, along with Bolt Ventures and Blackstone.
• The franchise is being acquired from United Spirits Limited (USL), a subsidiary of Diageo plc.
• The transaction is subject to approvals from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council.
• After the 2026 IPL season, Aryaman Vikram Birla will become chairman and Satyan Gajwani of The Times of India Group will serve as vice-chairman of RCB.
• United Spirits had originally bought the Bengaluru franchise in 2008 for $111.6 million (around ₹485 crore).
• RCB won the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in 2024 and its maiden IPL trophy in 2025.

US-Israel Peace Proposal for Iran War on 25 March 2026

[Iran, United States]

Key Updates:

• The United States (US) and Israel initiated a military conflict against Iran on 28 February 2026.
• United States President Donald Trump proposed a 15-point peace plan delivered to Iran via Pakistan, suggesting a one-month ceasefire.
• The plan mandates the dismantling of Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.
• The proposal requires Iran to surrender its enriched uranium stockpile to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping at the start of the conflict, later permitting passage for Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese-flagged vessels.
• Brent crude oil prices rose from a pre-war benchmark of approximately $65 to over $100 per barrel during the hostilities.
• Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of Iran following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 28 February 2026.
• The Bushehr civil nuclear plant, located 750 kilometres south of Tehran, is the only commercial nuclear power facility in Iran.
• The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is the 2015 nuclear agreement from which the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018.
• The 15-point plan includes the removal of sanctions and the ending of the United Nations (UN) mechanism for reimposing them.
• The Iranian health ministry reported 1,500 fatalities and 18,551 injuries in Iran as of 25 March 2026.

International Day of the Unborn Child observed on March 25

Key Updates:

• International Day of the Unborn Child is observed on March 25 every year.
• The observance was first officially established in Argentina in 1998 under President Carlos Menem.
• March 25 was chosen because it coincides with the Feast of the Annunciation in the Christian calendar.
• Guatemala, Chile, and El Salvador later adopted similar commemorations.
• In 2003, the Knights of Columbus and other international organizations began promoting the day globally.
• St. John Paul II expressed support for the initiative.