Daily Current Affairs: 31 March 2026

Rahul Arunoday Banerjee Passed Away Bengali Actor

Key Updates:

• Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee passed away at the age of 43 due to accidental drowning at Talsari Beach in Digha.
• The incident occurred on Sunday, 29 March, near the Odisha-West Bengal border during the filming of a television serial titled Bhole Baba Par Karega.
• He was pronounced dead at 6:10 pm at the Digha Sub-divisional Hospital located approximately 10 to 12 kilometres from the site of the incident.
• Banerjee rose to prominence in the Bengali entertainment industry with his role in the 2008 romantic drama film Chirodini Tumi Je Amar.
• His film career included performances in notable titles such as Zulfiqar, Byomkesh Gotro, and Biday Byomkesh.
• He was a well-known face on television, appearing in shows such as Hargouri Pice Hotel and Mohonna.
• He hosted a podcast show titled Sohoj Katha, which featured discussions on theatre and cinema with various personalities.

Nitish Kumar resigns from Bihar Legislative Council

[Bihar]

Key Updates:

• Nitish Kumar submitted his resignation letter as Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) which was accepted by Council Chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh.
• He was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 and filed nomination papers in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
• Nitish Kumar has been a member of the Bihar Legislative Council since 2006 and was elected for a fourth consecutive term in May 2024.
• Under constitutional provisions, he can remain Chief Minister of Bihar for up to six months without being a member of either House of the state legislature.
• He has served as Chief Minister of Bihar almost continuously since 2005 and has held the post on no fewer than 10 occasions.
• The National Democratic Alliance, led by Nitish Kumar, won 202 seats in the November 2025 Bihar elections.

Chelluru Narayana Rao 'Somanna' surrendered to Andhra Pradesh Police.

[Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Chelluru Narayana Rao, alias Somanna, was a senior Maoist leader and member of the AOB State Committee.
• He served on the State Military Commission and was Commander of the 3rd Company of the Central Regional Committee (CRC).
• He assumed leadership after the deaths of top Maoists Gazarla Ravi and Aruna in Alluri and Sitarama Raju districts.
• Narayana Rao is a native of Bathupuram village in Vajrapu Kothur mandal, Srikakulam district.
• He surrendered to Andhra Pradesh Police in Vijayawada along with several other Maoists from AOB Special Zonal, Area, and Divisional Committees.
• Weapons were reportedly handed over during the surrender.

Nisha Mehta appointed Nepal health minister

[Nepal]

Key Updates:

• Nisha Mehta, an AIIMS Delhi College of Nursing alumna (2006–2010), has been appointed Nepal’s health minister.
• She trained as a nurse at AIIMS Delhi before entering Nepalese politics.
• Dr Latha Venkatesan, principal of AIIMS College of Nursing, recalled Mehta as an organised, dependable student with early leadership traits.
• Former principal Dr Manju Vatsa described her as a disciplined, highly intelligent and reserved student.
• Her appointment is viewed as a milestone for AIIMS Delhi and the nursing profession.

DPIIT and KRAFTON India sign MoU to support gaming and digital entertainment startups.

[Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade]

Key Updates:

• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed an MoU with KRAFTON India Pvt Ltd on 26 March 2026 in New Delhi.
• The collaboration will organise innovation challenges under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge and targeted hackathons, workshops, and masterclasses in game design, animation, immersive technologies, esports management, and AI applications.
• Selected startups may gain pilot collaboration opportunities and further engagement based on outcomes.
• Startups will receive mentorship, industry insights, knowledge exchange platforms, and curated engagement opportunities.
• The partnership will facilitate Proof-of-Concept development, market access, and integration into industry ecosystems.
• The MoU was signed by Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, T L K Singh and Head of Government Relations, KRAFTON India Pvt Ltd, Vibhor Kukreti.

Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Appointed Chairperson of National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)

[National Commission for Backward Classes]

Key Updates:

• Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti assumed charge as the chairperson of the NCBC in New Delhi on 19 March 2026.
• The NCBC is a constitutional body established to safeguard the rights, welfare, and development of socially and educationally backward classes.
• Jyoti belongs to the Nishad community, which is categorised under the Other Backward Classes (OBC).
• The 59-year-old leader served as a Union Minister in the Government of India for ten years from 2014 to 2024.
• She was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Fatehpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
• Her previous political experience includes serving as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Hamirpur Sadar seat in 2012.
• She has also held the position of National Joint Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
• Pankaj Chaudhary, the MP from Maharajganj, was appointed as the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) caps banks' net open position at $100 million

[Reserve Bank of India]

Key Updates:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has capped banks' net open position in rupee at $100 million effective April 10, 2026.
• This is the first time in nearly 15 years that RBI has imposed such curbs on currency market bets.
• Previously, bank boards fixed the net open position limit.
• Post-2013, banks set their own Net Overnight Open Position Limits (NOOPL) up to 25% of Tier I/II capital.
• In December 2011, RBI had curbed net open position limits by 75% for some banks and 50% for top banks after the domestic currency weakened by 20%.

National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) and UltraTech Cement Limited sign MoU to boost capacity building in construction sector.

[UltraTech Cement]

Key Updates:

• The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UltraTech Cement Limited to strengthen skill development and capacity building in the construction sector.
• The partnership will enhance skills of civil engineers, ready-mix concrete professionals, contractors, construction workers, and masons through structured training and certification programs across the country.
• Training areas include material quality testing, concrete mix proportioning, durability, and sustainable construction practices.
• The initiative aims to develop a skilled workforce for the country’s growing infrastructure and housing sectors.
• Dr. L. P. Singh, Director General of NCB, and Er. Rahul Goel, Head Technical Services of UltraTech Cement Limited, attended the signing at NCB, Ballabgarh.
• Dr. Singh expects a large number of professionals and workers to be trained over the next three to five years under this initiative.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposes ₹2.20 crore penalties on Union Bank, Central Bank, Bank of India, Pine Labs

[Reserve Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Bank of India, Pine Labs]

Key Updates:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed penalties of ₹95.40 lakh on Union Bank of India, ₹63.60 lakh on Central Bank of India, ₹58.50 lakh on Bank of India, and ₹3.10 lakh on Pine Labs for regulatory non-compliance.
• Union Bank of India failed to credit amounts related to unauthorised electronic transactions within 10 working days of notification as of 31 March 2025.
• Bank of India violated Priority Sector Lending directions by levying ad hoc charges on loans up to ₹25,000 and not paying interest on some matured Term Deposit Receipts until repayment.
• Central Bank of India breached KYC and Financial Inclusion norms concerning Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts.
• Pine Labs issued full-KYC Prepaid Payment Instruments without completing proper KYC verification during July 2024–May 2025.

Government mulling bringing unorganised sector workers under EPFO and ESIC

[Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation]

Key Updates:

• The government is deliberating bringing unorganised, gig and platform workers under the ambit of Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).
• Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, stated this in Lok Sabha during Question Hour on 30 March 2026.
• The Ministry is examining domestic and international models to design a suitable social security scheme for these workers.
• The proposed model involves worker’s voluntary contribution plus government subsidy due to funding constraints.
• The ESIC expansion aims to cover at least 32 crore unorganised, gig and platform workers as per ongoing deliberations.

Telangana Employees Accountability and Monitoring of Parental Support Bill, 2026 passed to ensure financial security for senior citizens

[Telangana]

Key Updates:

• The Telangana Assembly passed the Telangana Employees Accountability and Monitoring of Parental Support Bill, 2026, to ensure financial security for senior citizens.
• The legislation mandates that public representatives, government employees, and private employees must provide care for their elderly parents.
• Failure to comply with the Bill will result in a deduction of 15 per cent of the salary or ₹10,000, whichever is lower, payable to the parents.
• Chief Minister (CM) A Revanth Reddy stated that the Bill aims to go beyond the existing national law, the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
• The Bill was supported by various political entities including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Delhi–Prasar Bharati MoU to build integrated media hub

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• The Delhi government signed a memorandum of understanding with Prasar Bharati to develop Delhi as a major media and entertainment industry hub.
• The agreement was signed between Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) and Prasar Bharati at Bharat Mandapam on the sidelines of the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD).
• The project envisions a state-of-the-art integrated film, television, and media hub combining film production, television, and animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics (AVGC) on a single platform.
• Modern studios, post-production facilities, and AVGC hubs will be developed with emphasis on skill development, training, and innovation.
• A joint coordination committee comprising representatives from both sides will oversee planning, financing, and implementation.
• Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra stated that a forthcoming film policy will offer subsidies for shoots in the city and focus on new technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Adani Defence delivers first batch of 2,000 ‘Prahar’ light machine guns to Indian Army

[Adani Defense]

Key Updates:

• Adani Defence & Aerospace delivered the first batch of 2,000 indigenously manufactured 7.62 mm ‘Prahar’ light machine guns to the Indian Army.
• The 7.62 mm-calibre weapons have been produced at the company’s Small Arms Complex near Gwalior.
• The delivery was completed in seven months, ahead of the contracted schedule, with the first production model realised in six months against an 18-month development timeline.
• The Gwalior facility has an annual production capacity of up to 100,000 weapons and domestic sourcing of over 90 per cent.
• A Anbarasu, DG Acquisition & Addl Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India, attended the event along with senior officials of the Indian Armed Forces.
• The company’s ammunition complex in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, commissioned in 2024, has an annual capacity of about 300 million rounds of small calibre ammunition.

World Trade Organization (WTO) Members Negotiate Extension of E-commerce Tariff Moratorium in Cameroon

[World Trade Organization]

Key Updates:

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) is holding a ministerial meeting in Yaounde, Cameroon, to discuss the extension of the global moratorium on e-commerce tariffs.
• The moratorium, which prohibits customs duties on electronic transmissions such as digital downloads and streaming, is due to expire this month.
• India signalled a potential shift in its position by suggesting a two-year prolongation of the e-commerce moratorium.
• The United States (US) Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that Washington seeks a permanent extension of the ban rather than a temporary one.
• The e-commerce moratorium has been maintained through temporary extensions for nearly 30 years to provide regulatory predictability for global businesses.
• India reiterated its opposition to incorporating plurilateral agreements into the WTO rulebook, citing concerns over the erosion of the organisation's foundational principles.
• A group of 66 WTO members agreed to implement a separate baseline on digital trade rules among consenting participants, bypassing traditional adoption hurdles.
• The European Union (EU) Commissioner for Trade and US officials highlighted that bilateral and plurilateral deals are essential for reforming the WTO system.

China resumes direct flights to North Korea after six-year suspension

[China, North Korea]

Key Updates:

• Air China resumed direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on Monday, 30 March 2026.
• The flight was welcomed by Chinese ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun and other diplomats.
• Passenger train service from China to North Korea had resumed on 12 March 2026.
• Flights and passenger trains to North Korea were suspended since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
• North Korean carrier Air Koryo resumed flights between the capitals in 2023.
• North Korea banned all foreign tourists during the pandemic and began easing restrictions with a Russian tour group entering in 2024.
• Chinese tour groups accounted for 90% of all visitors to North Korea prior to the ban.
• China is Pyongyang’s biggest trading partner and major ally.
• North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a Chinese military parade in Beijing in September, the first such attendance in decades.

India and European Union (EU) sign working arrangement for industrial aviation production

[European Union]

Key Updates:

• India and the European Union (EU) signed a working arrangement in the field of industrial aviation production on 23 March 2026.
• The agreement between the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) aims to align manufacturing with global safety standards.
• The arrangement facilitates the assembly of Airbus Helicopters H125/AS350 helicopters in Karnataka under the Make in India initiative.
• Civil aviation safety was identified as a priority area under the Strategic Joint Agenda during the EU-India Summit in January 2026.
• A regional workshop was conducted in New Delhi from 24 to 26 March 2026 under the EU-South Asia Aviation Partnership Programme.
• The workshop was organised by EASA in partnership with DGCA and supported by the European aircraft manufacturer ATR.

United Nations establishes Task Force on Strait of Hormuz disruptions

[United Nations]

Key Updates:

• United Nations (UN) Secretary-General created a Task Force led by Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
• The Task Force includes representatives from United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), International Maritime Organization (IMO), and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
• The mechanism aims to facilitate fertilizer trade and related raw materials movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
• The initiative draws on previous UN mechanisms: UN Verification, Inspection and Monitoring Mechanism for Yemen (UNVIM), Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), and UN2720 Mechanism for Gaza.

First Great Indian Bustard chick born in Gujarat in decade via 770-km halt-free egg transfer from Rajasthan

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

• The first Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chick in a decade hatched in Gujarat on 26 March after a 770-km road transfer of a 15-day-old fertile egg from Sam, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan to Naliya, Kutch, Gujarat.
• Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the birth as India’s first under the “jumpstart” method, where a captive-bred fertile egg replaced an infertile egg laid by a radio-tagged female GIB in Kutch.
• The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and state forest departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat coordinated the 19-hour journey using a handheld shock-proof portable incubator carried without halts.
• Gujarat now has only three surviving GIBs, all female; the national wild population is estimated at ~150, mostly in Rajasthan.
• WII and Rajasthan forest department run two captive-breeding centres at Sam and Ramdevra, Jaisalmer, holding 73 birds; eggs here are incubated artificially and chicks bred for founder stock.
• A Supreme Court-appointed expert committee last July recommended the jumpstart egg-swapping technique; the Supreme Court accepted the recommendation in December.
• Scientists will monitor the chick intensively for the first four weeks against predators such as desert fox.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) begins excavation at Balirajgarh in Bihar

[Bihar]

Key Updates:

• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has commenced a large-scale scientific excavation at the Balirajgarh site in the Madhubani district of Bihar.
• The site is believed to have served as a major administrative hub of the ancient Videha Kingdom and the legendary capital of King Bali.
• The ASI Patna Circle aims to reach the virgin soil to determine the exact beginning of human settlement and verify if the site predates the Mauryan era.
• The excavation will investigate the cultural continuity across five distinct phases: Mauryan (NBPW), Sunga, Kushan, Gupta, and Pala periods.
• The site features a massive brick fortification spanning approximately 176 acres and was declared a protected site by the ASI in 1938.
• Modern tools, including satellite imagery and systematic mapping, are being utilised to identify high-interest areas and navigate technical hurdles like high water tables.
• Previous explorations at the site have yielded historical artefacts such as punch-marked coins, terracotta figurines, copper objects, and bone tools.

Scientific Reports Study Estimates India's Jungle Cat Population at Over 3 Lakh

Key Updates:

• A study published in Scientific Reports estimates the countrywide population of jungle cats (Felis chaus) in India to be between 1.57 lakh and 4.59 lakh individuals.
• The jungle cat is protected under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, which prohibits hunting or trading of the species.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List currently categorises the species as being of least concern.
• Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha are the states estimated to support the largest populations of jungle cats across 21 states with suitable habitats.
• The research indicates that jungle cats prefer agro-pastoral and open habitats over dense forests and provide ecological services by controlling rodent populations in farms.
• Identified threats to the species include habitat fragmentation, speeding vehicles on highways, poaching, and stray dogs that act as sources of disease and kleptoparasitism.
• The study was co-authored by researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS).

Scientists Identify Extracellular RNA (exRNA) Persistence in Disinfected Drinking Water

Key Updates:

• A study published in the journal Clean Water on 28 March 2026 reported that extracellular RNA (exRNA) from bacteria can persist in disinfected drinking water.
• Researchers found that analysing exRNA allows for the identification of bacterial survival strategies used just before the organisms are damaged or killed.
• Extracellular RNA (exRNA) is defined as RNA that exists outside cells in body fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid.
• Cells intentionally export RNA within molecular containers to prevent enzymes from breaking it down before it reaches its destination.
• The exRNA functions as a long-distance communication system that coordinates immune system responses, tissue repair, and biological development.
• Cancer cells utilize exRNA to promote tumour growth, while doctors use specific RNA patterns in body fluids to identify cancer and heart disease.

CSIR transfers bio-bitumen technology to 10 firms; industry seeks buyback assurance

[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research]

Key Updates:

• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) signed technology transfer agreements with 10 companies on Monday for producing bio-bitumen from crop straw.
• In January 2026 CSIR had already transferred the same technology to 14 companies, and one plant in Puducherry has started production.
• Bio-bitumen uses paddy, wheat, maize or cashew straw and yields about 165 litres of bitumen per tonne of straw, with cashew straw giving the highest output.
• The thermochemical conversion process also generates straw gas and crop nutrients in equal proportion to the bitumen produced.
• India uses around 8 million tonnes of bitumen annually, importing 50 per cent directly and producing the rest from crude oil.
• The country generates an estimated 600 million tonnes of crop residue per year, enough to replace all bitumen imports and allow exports.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has approved the technology for road construction, and performance is reported equivalent to conventional bitumen.
• Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated the adoption supports Net Zero targets, Atmanirbhar Bharat, National Bio-Energy Mission and circular economy goals.
• CSIR Director General N Kalaiselvi said the initiative is part of CSIR’s target to announce 1-2 innovations every month.
• Science & Technology Minister Jitendra Singh highlighted the technology’s role in self-reliance, clean energy transition and Waste-to-Wealth.

NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite captures Mount St. Helens radar image through clouds

Key Updates:

• NASA and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) joint mission NISAR obtained a radar image of Mount St. Helens on 10 November 2025.
• NISAR's radar penetrates clouds, enabling year-round monitoring of Earth's surface changes.
• Colour-coded radar maps highlight roads and buildings in magenta, landforms or moisture in yellow, forests and wetlands in yellow-green, water or bare mountaintops in dark blue, and human impact areas like deforestation in purple.

Zimbabwe to install 500 MW floating solar plant on Kariba Dam to boost power supply

[Zimbabwe]

Key Updates:

• Green Hybrid Power and the Intensive Energy User Group are designing a 500 MW floating solar plant at Kariba Dam.
• The Kariba transmission system was designed for 1,200 MW but has carried less than 400 MW for nearly two decades.
• The project includes aquaculture beneath the panels to revive Kariba’s fishing industry and create local jobs.
• Afreximbank is funding a US $4.4 million preparation facility for feasibility and bankability studies of the 250 MW first phase.
• The 1 GW hybrid floating PV project on Lake Kariba will pair solar-by-day with hydro-by-night using existing transmission lines.
• Zimbabwe currently has no operational floating solar plant and feasibility studies for the Kariba project have just begun.

Government of India bans non-certified Chinese CCTV cameras from 1 April

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will enforce a total ban on the sale of non-certified internet-connected CCTV cameras from Chinese manufacturers starting 1 April.
• The Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) regime is refusing to certify hardware that utilises Chinese-origin chipsets or firmware to prevent unauthorised remote access.
• Global surveillance leaders Hikvision and Dahua, which collectively held one-third of the Indian market until 2024, are the primary targets of the new certification rules.
• Smartphone brands including Xiaomi and Realme have exited the smart home camera segment after failing to meet the STQC requirements.
• Domestic vendors have surged to control 80% of the market share as of February 2026 following the regulatory intervention.
• The shift to non-Chinese components from Taiwan and the United States (US) has resulted in a 15-20% increase in the Bill of Materials (BoM) for manufacturers.

Tech Mahindra and Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay) sign MoU for 3D Digital Twin project

[Tech Mahindra, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay]

Key Updates:

• Tech Mahindra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay) to develop a 3D Digital Twin of the institute's Gymkhana building.
• The collaboration leverages advanced 3D modelling and rendering technologies, Digital Twin frameworks, Building Information Modelling (BIM) integration, spatial data integration, and a cloud-based visualisation platform.
• The project aims to create an immersive, web-based interface for the Gymkhana building to enable enhanced visualisation, real-time tracking, and predictive maintenance of infrastructure assets.
• The solution developed by Tech Mahindra and IIT Bombay will integrate Internet of Things (IoT) devices and advanced analytics for operational optimisation and automated resource allocation.
• The initiative serves as a practical deployment of Digital Twin technology to create a benchmark reference model replicable across other smart campuses and public infrastructure projects.

Sheetal Devi named Para Archer of the Year 2025 by World Archery

[World Archery]

Key Updates:

• Sheetal Devi, a 19-year-old athlete from Jammu & Kashmir, was named Para Archer of the Year 2025 by World Archery.
• She is the first and only female armless archer to win a gold medal at the World Para Archery Championships, achieving the feat in the women’s compound individual event in Gwangju, South Korea.
• The Arjuna awardee completed a full set of medals at the World Championships, including a silver in the women’s team event and a bronze in the mixed team event.
• Her international honours include a bronze medal in the mixed team event at the Paris Paralympics and individual silver medals from the 2022 Asian Para Games and the 2023 Asian Championships in Bangkok.
• In other categories of the 2025 World Archery Awards, Emircan Haney of Turkey was named Archer of the Year and Baptiste Addis of France was named Young Archer of the Year.
• The Best Team of the Year title was awarded to the recurve men’s team from Korea.
• The World Archery Awards were launched in 2011 to recognise excellence and outstanding contributions to the international archery season.

Sunil Narine overtakes Kieron Pollard as IPL's most-capped overseas player

Key Updates:

• Sunil Narine made his 190th IPL appearance for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against Mumbai Indians, breaking Kieron Pollard's record of 189 matches as the most-capped overseas player.
• Narine has played all 190 matches for KKR since his debut in 2012, mirroring Pollard's single-franchise loyalty with Mumbai Indians.
• KKR has won three IPL titles with Narine (2012, 2014, 2024).
• Mumbai Indians became the first franchise to play 300 T20 matches on the same night.

Hardik Singh and Navneet Kaur win Hockey India Player of the Year 2025 awards

[Hockey India]

Key Updates:

• The 8th annual Hockey India (HI) awards were held in New Delhi to recognise standout performances during the 2025 season.
• Hardik Singh and Navneet Kaur were conferred with the Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year in the men’s and women’s categories respectively, receiving ₹20 lakh each.
• Zafar Iqbal, a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold-winning team, received the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award along with a prize of ₹25 lakh.
• Bichu Devi Kharibam won the Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year, and Sanjay received the Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year.
• Sumit was awarded the Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year, while Sukhjeet Singh received the Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year.
• Sakshi Rana and Prince Deep Singh were named the Upcoming Players of the Year (Under 21) in the women's and men's categories respectively, each receiving ₹10 lakh.
• Forward Gurjant Singh, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, announced his retirement from international hockey during the ceremony.
• The Indian men's team was felicitated for their Asia Cup victory in Rajgir, with players receiving ₹3 lakh each and coaching staff receiving ₹1.5 lakh each.
• The junior men's team was honoured for winning bronze at the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Men’s Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu, with players receiving ₹5 lakh each.

PM Modi pays tribute to Shyamji Krishna Varma on his death anniversary

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma on his death anniversary today.
• Shyamji Krishna Varma awakened a new consciousness in the freedom movement with his revolutionary ideas.
• The Prime Minister noted that the life and ideals of Shyamji will continue to inspire every generation of the country towards national service.

Trump's $400 million White House ballroom project faces design criticism

Key Updates:

• The New York Times published a critique of President Donald Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom on Sunday.
• The 90,000-square-foot ballroom is set to be more than three times the size of the White House.
• Design flaws highlighted include fake windows on the north side, columns blocking interior views, stairs leading nowhere, and an oversized rooftop.
• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, criticised the article and its authors on platform X.
• Leavitt stated the ballroom will be privately funded and claimed President Trump and his lead architect have built world-class buildings globally.
• Trump demolished the historic East Wing in October 2025 despite earlier promises to leave it untouched.
• The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on the ballroom project on April 2.
• About 98 percent of 32,000 public comments received by the Commission oppose the ballroom construction.
• James McCrery II was removed as chief architect in December after raising concerns over the ballroom's size.