Daily Current Affairs: 27 March 2026

Matt Brittin appointed BBC director general.

[BBC]

Key Updates:

• Matt Brittin will assume office as BBC director general on 18 May.
• He succeeds Tim Davie, who announced resignation in November.
• Brittin served as president of Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa before leaving in 2025 after 18 years.
• His annual salary is set at £565,000, identical to his predecessor.
• He will face a multi-billion dollar defamation lawsuit filed by US President Donald Trump over Panorama's editing of a 2021 speech.

Sunil Mittal to retire as Chair of Airtel Africa in July 2026; Gopal Vittal appointed Non-Executive Chair

[Airtel Africa]

Key Updates:

• Sunil Bharti Mittal will retire as Chair of Airtel Africa Board at the conclusion of the July 2026 AGM after serving since the company’s 2019 listing.
• Gopal Vittal will become Non-Executive Chair of Airtel Africa from the same date, nominated by the controlling shareholder under the 17 June 2019 relationship agreement.
• Shravin Bharti Mittal will assume the role of Deputy Chair of Airtel Africa from July 2026 and will liaise with the Airtel Money Board and the Dubai headquarters.
• Annika Poutiainen will also retire as a Non-Executive Director at the July 2026 AGM, having served over seven years.
• Gopal Vittal is currently Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel and Board Chair of the GSMA, and was appointed a non-executive director of Airtel Africa in October 2024.

Stuti Pradhan selected to represent India at World Youth Parliament.

[World Youth Parliament]

Key Updates:

• Stuti Pradhan from Sikkim has been chosen to represent India at the World Youth Parliament.
• She is a state-level winner of the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025.
• She was invited as a special guest to Lok Bhawan Sikkim on Republic Day 2026.
• The World Youth Parliament includes delegates from South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Chad, Thailand, Yemen and several other countries.

Miguel Díaz-Canel meets U.S. representatives to explore solutions amid oil crisis.

[Cuba]

Key Updates:

• Miguel Díaz-Canel is the President of Cuba.
• On March 13, he stated that Cuban officials had been meeting with U.S. representatives to explore solutions to national differences.
• He announced that Cuba was operating on about 40% of the fuel it needs.
• On March 16, Cuba’s national electrical grid collapsed, triggering nationwide protests.

Nandamuri Balakrishna Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at International Film Festival of Delhi (IFFD) 2026

[International Film Festival of Delhi]

Key Updates:

• Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Film Festival of Delhi (IFFD) 2026 for his five-decade contribution to the film industry.
• The award ceremony was held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
• Delhi Honorary Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presented the award to the veteran actor in the presence of dignitaries from the film and cultural sectors.
• The film Bhagavanth Kesari, starring Balakrishna and directed by Anil Ravipudi, was specially screened at the festival.
• Bhagavanth Kesari previously won the award for the Best Film in Telugu at the 71st National Film Awards.
• The Government of India (GoI) awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in the country, to Balakrishna in 2025 for his contribution to arts and cinema.
• Film director Anil Ravipudi and producer Sahu Garapati participated in the special screening event alongside the actor.

E.A. Rajendran passes away at 71.

Key Updates:

• E.A. Rajendran, veteran Malayalam actor-director, died at age 71 at his residence in Pattathanam, Kollam.
• He was a graduate of the National School of Drama and appeared in around sixty Malayalam films.
• Rajendran served as Chairman of the State Horticulture Corporation.
• His funeral rites will be held at his residence in Thrithallur, Thrissur district.

Indian Railways imposes ₹60 lakh penalty and cancels contract after worms found in Amul curd on Vande Bharat Express.

[IRCTC]

Key Updates:

• Indian Railways fined Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) ₹10 lakh after worms were found in curd served on train number 21896.
• The onboard service provider was penalised ₹50 lakh and its contract was terminated.
• The incident occurred on 15 March 2026 onboard the Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express.

Government extends Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 4% retail inflation target framework till March 2031

[Reserve Bank of India]

Key Updates:

• Government extended the mandate for Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to maintain retail inflation at 4% with a tolerance band of 2 percentage points on either side for another five years ending March 31, 2031.
• The flexible inflation-targeting framework was first introduced in 2016 and retained earlier in March 2021.
• The inflation target remains at 4% with an upper tolerance level of 6% and a lower tolerance level of 2%.
• Retail inflation rose to 3.21% in February from 2.74% in the previous month according to latest official data.
• India formally adopted the inflation-targeting regime in 2016 when the six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) headed by the RBI governor was tasked with keeping annual retail inflation aligned to the 4% target until March 31, 2021.
• Average inflation in India has moderated to around 4.9% since adoption of flexible inflation targeting compared with 6.8% in the pre-framework period under the current data series.

Union Cabinet approves India’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) with 60% clean energy share and 47% emissions intensity cut

Key Updates:

• The Union Cabinet approved India’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• The NDC targets raising the share of non-fossil fuel sources to 60% of total electricity generation capacity by 2035.
• It aims to reduce the emissions intensity of India’s economy by 47% from 2005 levels by 2035.
• It seeks to increase India’s nature-based carbon sink to 3.5–4.0 billion tons by 2035.
• The Cabinet considered the first Global Stocktake (GST), the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC), and equity while finalising the targets.
• Non-fossil fuels already account for 52% of India’s electricity generation capacity and emissions intensity is 36% below 2005 levels.
• The NDC lists eight goals including climate-resilient infrastructure, clean economic development, Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), green finance, and capacity building & innovation.
• The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and Carbon Brief reported India’s CO₂ emissions grew only 0.7% in 2025, the lowest in two decades.
• Clean energy subsidies have driven a fivefold rise in renewable energy capacity since 2014.
• The Central Electricity Authority has set a domestic target of 70% non-fossil fuel capacity by 2035.

Rajasthan Industrial Park Promotion Policy-2026 aims to boost investment and employment.

[Rajasthan]

Key Updates:

• Rajasthan government introduced the Industrial Park Promotion Policy-2026 under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
• The policy seeks to develop world-class industrial parks and position Rajasthan as a reliable and future-ready industrial destination.
• It aligns with national initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat and promotes balanced regional development.
• Industrial parks will be developed through four models: fully private development, hybrid land-sharing arrangements, and public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
• Private parks must have a minimum area of 50 acres and at least 10 industrial units.
• The policy provides 50 per cent reimbursement of expenditure on Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP), subject to a cap, and capital subsidies for infrastructure development.
• The government will ensure availability of water, electricity, and road connectivity to industrial parks with cost-sharing between the state and developers.
• Incentives include exemption in electricity duty for renewable energy use, concessions in stamp duty and conversion charges, and a single-window clearance system through the Raj Nivesh Portal.

Telangana Village Relocation from Amrabad Tiger Reserve Allocates ₹62.55 Crore

[Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• The Telangana government is relocating 417 families from four villages—Sarlapally, Kudichintalabailu, Tatigundala Penta, and Kollampenta—inside Amrabad Tiger Reserve at a cost of ₹62.55 crore.
• 160 families opting for cash compensation receive ₹15 lakh each, totalling ₹24 crore.
• 257 families will receive a house in Bacharam colony plus five acres of agricultural land per family, with ₹38.55 crore earmarked for house construction.
• Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka handed over ₹15 lakh cheques to 14 families on Wednesday in Hyderabad.
• Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Dr C. Suvarna stated the relocation will restore about 1,500 hectares of forest.

PRISM-SG Portal launched to cut ROB steel-girder approval time from 12 months to 3-4 months

Key Updates:

• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) launched the Portal for Rail-Road Inspection & Stages Management – Steel Girders (PRISM-SG) on Wednesday.
• PRISM-SG digitises approvals and inspections for Road Over Bridges (ROBs) including Quality Assurance Plan (QAP), Welding Procedure Specification Sheet (WPSS) and fabrication stage inspection of steel girders.
• The portal reduces the approval and inspection timeline from approximately 12 months to about three-to-four months.
• It integrates stakeholders such as Road Owning Departments, Indian Railways, contractors, fabricators and inspection agencies on a single digital platform.
• End-to-end online submission, scrutiny, query resolution, approvals, inspection scheduling and report uploading are enabled with complete audit trail and real-time monitoring.

Cabinet Extends IVFRT 3.0 Scheme with ₹1,800 Crore Outlay

Key Updates:

• The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) scheme for a period of five years starting from 1 April 2026.
• The project has been allocated a total budget outlay of ₹1,800 crore to modernise immigration processes and strengthen border management.
• The extension follows the enactment of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, to create a technologically advanced immigration ecosystem.
• The IVFRT 3.0 phase will focus on three primary areas: emerging technology innovations, transformation of core infrastructure, and optimisation of technology-enabled service delivery.
• The modernisation drive includes the implementation of mobile-based services, self-service kiosks, and automated e-gates under the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme.
• The digital platform currently spans 117 immigration posts, 15 Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRRO), and 854 district-level registration authorities across India.
• The system has enabled a 100% contactless visa process and reduced average passenger clearance time at checkpoints to approximately 2.5-3 minutes.
• Over 91% of e-visa applications have been processed within 72 hours under the existing framework, which now provides more than 30 immigration-related services.

Indian Navy launches Operation Urja Suraksha on 26 March 2026 to secure vessels in Strait of Hormuz

Key Updates:

• The Indian Navy (IN) launched Operation Urja Suraksha to ensure the safe passage of India-bound cargo vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia conflict.
• More than five frontline warships, including destroyers and frigates, have been deployed to escort merchant vessels carrying crude oil, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
• The operation provides real-time navigation guidance and layered security for vessels moving from the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea via the Gulf of Oman.
• Merchant vessels are advised to display their Indian status through the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to avoid being targeted in the high-tension zone.
• The IN is coordinating with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Directorate of Naval Operations to monitor maritime traffic and conduct ground assessments.
• LPG carriers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, carrying a combined 92,000 tonnes of cargo, successfully navigated the strait under this operation.
• Other vessels that previously crossed the chokepoint under naval presence include the LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, and the crude oil tanker Jag Laadki.
• The Iranian government has permitted the transit of non-hostile ships from friendly nations, specifically naming India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, and Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend G7 summit in France from 15-17 June

[France, Group of Seven]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed his participation in the G7 summit scheduled in France from 15 to 17 June.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot welcomed Modi’s confirmation during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting at Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay.
• France highlighted India’s contribution to G7 work on macroeconomic imbalances and international partnerships, noting India’s current BRICS presidency.
• Jaishankar and Barrot agreed to continue close coordination to ensure safety of the Strait of Hormuz amid West Asia conflict-related energy disruptions.
• French President Emmanuel Macron and PM Modi, during Macron’s 17-19 February India visit, elevated bilateral ties to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' and jointly inaugurated the 2026 India-France Year of Innovation in Mumbai.

Israel announces plan to occupy southern Lebanon up to Litani River as security buffer against Hezbollah

[Israel, Lebanon]

Key Updates:

• Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz stated Israel will occupy territory up to the Litani River in Lebanon to create a security buffer against Hezbollah attacks.
• Israel ordered all residents south of Lebanon’s Litani River to leave the area on March 4.
• The Litani River lies about 30 kilometres north of Israel’s border and covers around eight per cent of Lebanese territory.
• Israel has destroyed five bridges on the Litani that were used by Hezbollah to move terrorists and weapons.
• Israeli ground troops have set up new fortifications south of the Litani and destroyed homes in emptied villages.
• Hezbollah called any Israeli occupation south of the Litani an existential threat to the Lebanese state.
• UN Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Lebanon war, required Hezbollah to disarm and withdraw north of the Litani and Israel to exit Lebanon.
• Israel retained troops on five hilltops in southern Lebanon after the 2024 ceasefire and attacks continued sporadically.
• Former Indian Ambassador to Lebanon Sanjiv Arora urged India to send humanitarian aid and for the UN to hold an urgent session on Lebanon.

IQAir World Air Quality Report 2025 ranks India 6th most polluted globally

Key Updates:

• India is the sixth most polluted country for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) according to the World Air Quality Report 2025 published by IQAir.
• Uttar Pradesh’s Loni is the world’s most polluted city with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 112.5 µg/m³, a 23% rise from 2024.
• Delhi is the fourth most polluted city globally; other Indian cities in the global top-10 are Byrnihat, Ghaziabad and Ula.
• Only 14% of global cities met the World Health Organization (WHO) annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³, down from 17% the previous year.
• Wildfires intensified by climate change contributed about 1,380 megatons of carbon, degrading air quality in Europe, Canada and the United States.
• The end of the US State Department’s global air quality monitoring programme in March 2025 weakened monitoring in 44 countries and left six without any monitoring.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Schedules Artemis 2 Lunar Mission for April Launch

[NASA]

Key Updates:

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is planning to launch the Artemis 2 mission in April to send four astronauts around the moon.
• The mission will be launched from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• The 322-foot Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will carry the Orion crew capsule for a 10-day journey.
• The crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
• Artemis 2 will be the first mission to fly the SLS rocket and Orion capsule with humans aboard.
• The mission aims to travel up to 6,000 miles beyond the far side of the moon, the farthest humans have ever ventured in space.
• Potential two-hour launch windows have been identified for 1 April, 2 April, 3 April, 4 April, 5 April, 6 April, and 30 April.
• The Artemis programme aims to establish a permanent lunar base near the south pole of the moon to facilitate future human expeditions to Mars.
• NASA plans for a moon landing to occur as early as 2028 during the Artemis 4 mission, following the Artemis 3 mission in 2027.

Global Helium Shortage Impacts Indian Healthcare, Semiconductor, and Aerospace Sectors

Key Updates:

• Supply disruptions from Qatar, one of the largest global producers, have caused helium spot prices to double since the start of the West Asia crisis.
• Liquid helium is critical for healthcare diagnostic chains as it cools superconducting magnets in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners to temperatures below 4.15 Kelvin (-269°C).
• In semiconductor manufacturing, helium is used for cooling lithography, etching, and deposition equipment and maintaining stable thermal and vacuum conditions in advanced fabrication facilities.
• The aerospace sector utilises helium to pressurise fuel tanks, ensure consistent fuel flow to rocket engines, and maintain internal tank pressure as fuel and oxidisers are consumed.
• Impacted Indian entities include Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Vedanta, Dixon Technologies, and diagnostic firms such as Dr. Lal PathLabs and Thyrocare Technologies.

Researchers Document Sperm Whale Headbutting Behaviour Using Drone Technology

Key Updates:

• Researchers from the University of St Andrews documented sperm whales headbutting each other using drone technology, also known as Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
• The study, published in the journal Marine Mammal Science, revealed that sub-adult whales engage in headbutting behaviour rather than only large adult males.
• The observations were recorded during fieldwork conducted in the Azores and Balearic Islands between 2020 and 2022.
• The research was led by Dr Alec Burslem in collaboration with the University of the Azores and Asociación Tursiops.
• The findings support historical reports of sperm whales ramming vessels, such as the sinking of the whaleship Essex in 1820 which inspired the novel Moby-Dick.

National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) launches short-term internship programme to expand Biodiversity Samrakshan Internship Programme (BSIP)

[National Biodiversity Authority]

Key Updates:

• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) launched a short-term internship programme of up to 3 months for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• The programme offers project-based, experiential learning by engaging students with NBA’s ongoing biodiversity governance, conservation strategies, and policy support initiatives.
• The Biodiversity Samrakshan Internship Programme (BSIP) is in its sixth cycle with 24 interns selected through an all-India competitive process.
• BSIP interns are deployed across State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) for one year.
• Top-performing BSIP candidates can extend their internship for up to two additional years.
• BSIP is implemented collaboratively by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• The programme was first launched on 22 May 2020, the International Day for Biological Diversity.
• NBA invests approximately ₹1 crore annually in these internship programmes.

Indian archers claim two bronze and reach two finals in Asia Cup Stage-1

[Asia Cup Archery]

Key Updates:

• Indian archers won two bronze medals and advanced to the finals of the men’s recurve and women’s compound team events at the Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament Stage 1 in Bangkok.
• The women’s compound team of Chikitha Taniparthi, Raj Kaur and Tejal Salve defeated Thailand 229-226 in the semifinal and will face Kazakhstan in the final.
• The men’s compound team of Rajat Chauhan, Rishabh Yadav and Uday Kamboj lost 233-234 to Vietnam in the semifinal but beat Bhutan 234-232 to secure bronze.
• The men’s recurve team of Devaang Gupta, Sukhchain Singh and Juyel Sarkar beat Malaysia 5-1 to enter the final where they will face Kazakhstan.
• The women’s recurve team of Ruma Biswas, Kirti and Ridhi Phor defeated Malaysia 5-1 to win bronze.

QS Subject Rankings 2026 released on 26 March 2026

[QS World University Rankings]

Key Updates:

• QS Subject Rankings 2026 were released on 26 March 2026.
• India secured 599 entries across 99 institutions, the highest ever.
• India has 27 subjects in the global top 50, up from 12 in 2024.
• IIT Delhi has five core engineering subjects in the global top 50.
• IIT Bombay shows strong presence across engineering and sciences.
• IIT Kharagpur’s Petroleum Engineering entered the top 30.
• IIM Ahmedabad’s Marketing subject is ranked 21 globally.
• O P Jindal Global University (JGU) is ranked 35 in Law and in the top 100 in Politics & International Relations.
• BITS Pilani is expanding its global footprint across STEM and management disciplines.
• Computer Science entries from India doubled from 23 in 2021 to 44 in 2026.
• Engineering entries from India increased by 65% over the past five years.
• India recorded the highest improvement rate globally at 44%.
• India continues to lag in Arts & Humanities and medical sciences with limited top-tier representation.

Ram Navami 2026 to be observed on 26 and 27 March

Key Updates:

• Ram Navami, also known as Shri Ram Janmotsav, marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ram, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
• The festival coincides with the final day of the nine-day Chaitra Navratri fast.
• In 2026, the Ram Navami tithi begins at 11:48 AM on 26 March and concludes at 10:06 AM on 27 March.
• The festival will be observed by most devotees on 26 March 2026, while Vaishnava Ram Navami will be celebrated on 27 March 2026.
• Key rituals include the recitation of the Ramcharitmanas and the performance of kanya pujan, where young girls are worshipped as forms of Goddess Durga.
• Grand celebrations featuring devotional singing and the ceremonial bathing of idols with Panchamrit are held in temples, particularly in Ayodhya.