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The March 2026 current affairs capsule collects the 98most exam-relevant news items of the month — polity, economy, international relations, government schemes, science & technology, defence, sports and awards — each summarised with a GK Byte that ties it to static general knowledge. Read it on this page or grab the free March 2026 current affairs PDF above for offline, exam-focused revision.
Introduced in the Rajya Sabha to regulate recruitment, deputation and promotions across the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB, mandating IPS deputation for 50% of IG posts, 67% of ADG posts and all DG posts.
Parliament's Budget Session resumed on 9 March 2026 after the recess, scheduled to conclude on 2 April. During the session the Finance Bill 2026 and two Appropriation Bills were passed, along with several new legislative measures.
The Supreme Court permitted removal of life support for Harish Rana, in a vegetative state since a 2013 fall - a notable application of passive euthanasia following the Common Cause (2018) 'living will' framework.
The Bill seeks to amend 80 central Acts to decriminalise and rationalise minor offences (up from 17 in the 2025 version), with fines rising 10% every three years. The Select Committee, chaired by Tejasvi Surya, reported on 13 March 2026.
Climate activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk was released from jail after the Government quashed National Security Act charges against him, following the Ladakh statehood and Sixth Schedule protests.
In Hamsaanandini Nanduri v. Union of India, the Supreme Court held adoptive mothers are entitled to 12 weeks' paid maternity leave irrespective of the child's age, striking down the under-3-months restriction as violating Articles 14 and 21.
Effective 17 March, the penalty for unpaid user fees was set at twice the toll (only the original fee if paid within 72 hours of an e-notice), with VAHAN-linked vehicle restrictions after 15 days.
The Government constituted the National Dental Commission (NDC), replacing the Dental Council of India, to align dental education and regulation with global standards - mirroring the NMC reform in medical education.
Introduced on 23 March to amend the Companies Act 2013 and LLP Act 2008 and referred to a Joint Committee, it raises small-company thresholds (share capital to Rs 20 crore, turnover to Rs 200 crore) and updates the CSR net-profit trigger to Rs 10 crore.
The Committee on Empowerment of Women (Chair: Dr D. Purandeswari) reported that cybercrimes against women rose 239% (2017-2022, NCRB), recommending 'Cyber Safety Ambassadors' and mandatory KYC across social-media and gaming platforms.
Introduced by Social Justice Minister Dr Virendra Kumar, the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha (24 March) and Rajya Sabha (25 March). It amends the 2019 Act, provides for District Magistrate identity certificates via a medical board, and raises punishment for forcing a transgender identity to 10 years-to-life.
In Chinthada Anand v. State of Andhra Pradesh, the Court affirmed that only those professing Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism qualify as Scheduled Caste under the 1950 Presidential Order; conversion to another religion results in loss of SC status.
Introduced on 25 March to amend FCRA, 2010. On cancellation or surrender of an FCRA certificate, foreign contributions and assets would vest in a government-notified 'Designated Authority'.
PM Modi inaugurated Phase I of the Noida International Airport at Jewar (Gautam Buddha Nagar, UP), built at about Rs 11,200 crore under PPP with an initial capacity of 12 million passengers per year, scalable to 70 million.
The Committee on Communications and IT (Chair: Dr Nishikant Dubey) flagged deepfake and AI-surveillance risks and recommended comprehensive legislation against AI misuse plus AI courses in schools.
India announced the effective end of the Naxalite (Left-Wing Extremism) insurgency after Home Minister Amit Shah reported that most remaining cadres had been killed, arrested or had surrendered following intensified operations.
The Government removed the 50% cap on remission rates (introduced in February 2026) under the RoDTEP scheme, restoring earlier rates to support exporters amid West Asia disruption.
DPIIT released the draft Bill for feedback; it gives electronic trade documents full legal validity equal to paper and provides for cross-border recognition and trust service providers.
The Ministry of Mines released draft rules under the MMDR Act, 1957 providing for registration of electronic Mineral Exchanges (valid 25 years) for minerals other than coal, lignite and atomic minerals, regulated by the Indian Bureau of Mines.
The Ministry of Power proposed mandatory Time-of-Day tariffs for commercial/industrial consumers from 1 April 2027, a net-metering charge (exempt for solar PV up to 5 kW) and automatic review of abnormal bills within 30 days.
The RBI proposed compensating customers for small-value fraudulent electronic transactions - 85% of net loss or Rs 25,000 (whichever lower), once per lifetime - with banks paying within five days and bearing the burden of proof.
The RBI observed Financial Literacy Week 2026 in March with the theme 'KYC - Your first step to safe banking', aimed at strengthening awareness of safe banking and KYC practices.
SEBI approved recommendations bringing its Chairman and Whole-Time Members within the definition of 'insiders', requiring freezing of investments on joining and capping new investment via a single intermediary at 25% of the financial portfolio.
India's real GDP for Q3 FY26 (Oct-Dec 2025) was estimated at Rs 84.54 lakh crore, growing 7.8% year-on-year, with real GVA also up 7.8%; the full-year FY26 estimate stood at 7.6% under the new 2022-23 base series.
The February 2026 CPI data (released in March) showed retail inflation at 3.21% with food inflation at 3.47%, comfortably within the RBI's tolerance band.
The annual WPI-based inflation rate for February 2026 was 2.13% (provisional), with the WPI food index at 1.85%, released in mid-March.
India's eight core infrastructure industries grew 2.3% in February 2026, slowing from an upwardly revised 4.7% in January; cement (+9.3%), steel (+7.2%) and fertilisers grew while crude oil and natural gas declined.
Per RBI data, India's Current Account Deficit for Q3 FY26 (Oct-Dec 2025) widened to US$13.2 billion, about 1.3% of GDP, reflecting a larger merchandise trade gap.
Net GST revenue in March 2026 stood at about Rs 1.78 lakh crore, up 8.2% year-on-year; cumulative net GST collections for FY26 reached about Rs 19.35 lakh crore.
India's foreign exchange reserves declined by roughly US$30.5 billion during March 2026 amid RBI intervention to curb rupee volatility and a ~4% rupee depreciation; end-March reserves stood near US$688 billion.
The RBI's revamped digital-payment security framework was finalised for rollout from 1 April 2026, mandating stronger risk-based authentication and additional verification for high-risk transactions.
In the January-March 2026 quarter, India recorded roughly 710 deals worth about US$20 billion - one of the highest activity levels on record - led by mid-market and outbound transactions.
In its March 2026 disclosures, Reliance Industries announced the amalgamation of IndiaCast Media Distribution with JioStar India, part of continued consolidation in its media business.
Unveiled at BIRAC's 14th Foundation Day, the report said India's bioeconomy reached a record US$195.3 billion in 2025, nearly 5% of GDP, driven by biopharma, bio-industrial and bio-agriculture sectors.
The Index of Industrial Production grew 4.8% year-on-year in January 2026 (released 2 March), with manufacturing also up 4.8% and electricity the fastest-growing sub-index.
DPIIT's Press Note No. 2 of 2026 removed the requirement of a beneficial owner being 'situated in' a land-border country, defining beneficial ownership per the PMLA (over 10% holding of shares, capital or profits).
The Union Cabinet approved the modified UDAN regional connectivity scheme with a Rs 28,840 crore outlay over ten years (FY2026-27 to FY2035-36), including Rs 10,043 crore of Viability Gap Funding and development of 100 airports from unserved airstrips.
The Cabinet approved continuation of the Jal Jeevan Mission until December 2028 with an enhanced outlay of Rs 8.7 lakh crore; each village will get a unique service-area ID and digitally mapped drinking-water systems certified by Gram Panchayats.
The 7th Joint Committee Meeting under the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was held in Tokyo, focusing on balanced trade, expanding exports in textiles, pharma and agriculture, and supply-chain cooperation.
India and Canada formally launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, signing the Terms of Reference in New Delhi with a target to raise bilateral trade to about US$50 billion by 2030.
PM Modi and Canadian PM Mark Carney announced a deal to strengthen economic ties, alongside the CEPA Terms of Reference, marking a reset in India-Canada relations (bilateral trade ~US$8.7 billion in 2024-25).
During President Alexander Stubb's state visit, India and Finland elevated ties to a 'Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability', signing 11 outcomes including a 6G joint task force and an Indo-Finland Startup Corridor.
PM Modi inaugurated the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, themed 'Samskara', with about 2,700 participants from 110 countries. Finnish President Alexander Stubb was the Chief Guest.
PM Modi spoke with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on the West Asia conflict, stressing dialogue, the safety of Indian nationals and unhindered energy and goods transit.
EAM Jaishankar visited Brussels, Belgium for engagements with EU leadership, following up on the January 2026 India-EU Summit and the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
The 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (9-19 March, New York) saw 190 member states adopt the Agreed Conclusions; India's delegation was led by MoS Savitri Thakur.
EAM Dr S. Jaishankar attended the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Partner Countries at Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, France, covering Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, maritime security, UNSC reform and West Asia, with India stressing Global South priorities.
On the sidelines of the G7 meeting, Jaishankar held bilateral talks with counterparts from France, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, the UK, Germany and Ukraine, and also met French President Emmanuel Macron.
India and the US moved close to concluding a Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement (RDPA) to ease defence-industrial sales, with a senior US delegation visiting India during the month.
The MoD signed contracts worth Rs 5,083 crore for ALH Mk-III helicopters from HAL for the Indian Coast Guard, and VL-Shtil surface-to-air missiles for the Indian Navy.
The Defence Acquisition Council approved the indigenous Air Defence Tracked System, a mobile platform to fill the short-range air-defence gap for mechanised formations.
An Indian Air Force Su-30MKI crashed after take-off for a training flight in Karbi Anglong district, Assam, killing both pilots. The Su-30MKI is the IAF's frontline multirole fighter.
A high-intensity tri-service military drill was conducted 24-28 March 2026, focused on coastal and island defence and joint operational readiness for maritime security.
The third live-fire test of the US Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW / 'Dark Eagle') with a Common Hypersonic Glide Body was conducted from Cape Canaveral.
The Ministry of Defence signed two contracts worth a combined Rs 858 crore: one with Russian entities for the Tunguska air-defence system, and one with Boeing for P-8I maritime-reconnaissance-aircraft maintenance.
The Project 17A stealth frigate INS Dunagiri was delivered from GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers), along with the survey vessel INS Sanshodhak, ahead of their later commissioning.
NASA's targeted March 2026 launch window for Artemis II (the first crewed Moon flyby of the Artemis programme) was scrubbed after engineers found a helium-flow problem in the SLS upper stage; the mission launched on 1 April 2026.
Japan's Space One KAIROS (F3) rocket failed on launch from Spaceport Kii, destroying all five payloads - a setback for Japan's private launch sector.
Rocket Lab's Electron deployed Celeste IOD-1 and IOD-2, the first pair of satellites for ESA's next-generation LEO-PNT (positioning-navigation-timing) constellation - the first Electron launch conducted for ESA.
CAS Space launched the maiden flight of the Kinetica 2 rocket from Jiuquan, which also carried the first flight of the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft prototype.
A Falcon 9 flew the Transporter-16 SmallSat rideshare (60+ payloads) to sun-synchronous orbit, including a quantum-key-distribution demonstrator (SPOQC), a Danish climate CubeSat and NASA Ames' TechEdSat-23.
On a Starlink mission, Falcon 9 booster B1067 became the first booster to launch on 34 missions, a new reusability milestone.
MeitY proposed requiring intermediaries to comply with all MeitY advisories and directions, and extending the rules to news and current-affairs content shared by non-publisher users.
Under MeitY, the IndiaAI Mission ran the IndiaAI Innovation Challenge 2026 to develop deployment-ready AI solutions for public service delivery, with selected solutions eligible for a two-year contract of up to Rs 1 crore.
India observed National Immunization Day (National Vaccination Day) on 16 March, alongside Pulse Polio rounds, reinforcing India's polio-free status.
Scientists from Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London reported creating the first lab-grown oesophagus, showing it could replace a full section of the organ and restore swallowing without immunosuppression in an animal model.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda chaired the national World TB Day launch at Greater Noida (theme 'Yes! We Can End TB!'). The intensified 100-day TB Mukt Bharat campaign covers 1.58 lakh villages and urban wards; TB incidence has fallen 21% since 2015.
PM Modi inaugurated the Kaynes Semicon plant at Sanand, Gujarat, advancing the India Semiconductor Mission; as of March 2026, 10 semiconductor units had been approved, including two fabs.
India will aim to cut the emissions intensity of GDP by 47% by 2035 (from 2005 levels) and reach a 60% non-fossil-fuel share in installed power capacity by 2035, plus an additional carbon sink of 3.5-4 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
India submitted its Seventh National Report to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, reporting that all 23 National Biodiversity Targets are on track via a whole-of-society approach.
Observed globally under the theme 'Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods'. The day marks the 1973 signing of CITES.
Observed under the 2026 theme 'Forests and Economies', highlighting how forests support livelihoods, jobs and economic resilience worldwide.
Observed under the theme 'Water and Gender' (slogan 'Where water flows, equality grows'). UNESCO also launched the UN World Water Development Report 2026.
Observed under the 2026 theme 'Observing today, protecting tomorrow', marking the World Meteorological Organization's focus on observation systems.
Held at 8:30 pm local time under the theme 'Give an Hour for Earth', marking the 20th anniversary of Earth Hour, a WWF-led global movement.
Jannik Sinner won both Indian Wells (4-15 March) and the Miami Open (17-29 March), becoming the first man to complete the 'Sunshine Double' without dropping a set; Aryna Sabalenka won both women's titles.
India won hosting rights for the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships, with Bhubaneswar selected as host city - making India the fourth Asian nation to host the event.
At the All England Open (Birmingham), Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei beat India's Lakshya Sen 21-15, 22-20 in the men's singles final; Wang Zhiyi of China won the women's title.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan won the Prague Masters with 6 points, becoming the first two-time champion; India's Aravindh Chithambaram tied for second.
India beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, becoming the first team to defend the T20 World Cup, the first host nation to win it, and the first to lift three titles. Sanju Samson was Player of the Tournament.
Hosted at Hyderabad, India beat Italy 1-0 in the semi-final but lost the final 2-0 to England. India, England and Scotland all qualified for the 2026 Women's World Cup.
The 21st edition ran 20-22 March at Torun, Poland, where Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis won a fourth successive indoor pole-vault title with a championship record 6.25m. India was awarded the 2028 edition.
At Torun, Switzerland's Simon Ehammer scored 6,670 points to break Ashton Eaton's 14-year-old indoor heptathlon world record by 25 points and win gold.
The Chilean architect Smiljan Radic Clarke was named the 2026 Pritzker laureate - architecture's highest honour - becoming the second Chilean to win after Alejandro Aravena (2016).
The Tamil poet-lyricist R. Vairamuthu was named winner of the Jnanpith Award (for 2025), India's highest literary honour, chosen by a committee chaired by Pratibha Ray. He is the third Tamil writer to receive it.
Held at the Dolby Theatre and hosted by Conan O'Brien, 'One Battle After Another' won Best Picture (six awards) and Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director. Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor and Jessie Buckley Best Actress.
The 98th Academy Awards introduced the Best Casting award, the first new Oscar category since Best Animated Feature (2001), won by Cassandra Kulukundis for 'One Battle After Another'.
Germany's Gerd Faltings won the Abel Prize for his work in arithmetic geometry, resolving the Mordell and Lang conjectures. He is the first German Abel laureate; the prize carries 7.5 million Norwegian kroner.
Deepak Gupta took over as Chairman & Managing Director of GAIL (India) Ltd, having previously served as Director (Projects), with tenure until February 2029.
Former Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu was sworn in as Delhi's 23rd Lieutenant Governor, replacing V.K. Saxena, who was moved to LG of Ladakh.
The former Kathmandu mayor and rapper Balendra 'Balen' Shah became Nepal's PM after his Rastriya Swatantra Party won the March 2026 election (held after the 2025 Gen Z protests). At 36 he became among the world's youngest serving national leaders.
Observed globally with the UN theme 'Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls', reaffirming the drive for gender equality.
Observed under the theme 'Safe Products, Confident Consumers', commemorating US President J.F. Kennedy's 1962 address on consumer rights to the US Congress.
The eminent Urdu writer and Padma Shri awardee (2001) Jeelani Bano, known for her social realism depicting Deccan society, died in Hyderabad aged 89.
The industrialist, aviator and former Raymond Group chairman Vijaypat Singhania (Padma Bhushan, 2006) died in Mumbai aged 87. He once held the world record for the highest hot-air-balloon altitude.
Mukesh Ambani was India's richest at US$99.7 billion (21st globally). India produced a record 229 billionaires whose combined wealth crossed US$1 trillion.
India ranked 116th of 147 countries, up two places from 118th. Finland topped for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Iceland and Denmark.
Released by the Institute for Economics and Peace, India ranked 13th (improved from 14th), while Pakistan ranked 1st (most impacted) for the first time.
It covers 98 verified current affairs from March 2026 across 14 sections including polity, economy, international relations, government initiatives, science, defence, sports and awards. Each item includes a short explanation and a GK Byte linking it to static general knowledge.
Yes. The full March 2026 capsule PDF is free to download on MockSutra, with no login required.
It is built for Bank (IBPS/SBI), SSC, Railway (RRB), Punjab Police Constable, RSSB LDC / Junior Assistant and state PSC exams, and is useful for any Indian government exam with a current affairs section.
Read each story's heading and explanation once, note the GK Byte, then use the free PDF for a fast final skim before your exam.
