🇮🇳National NCERT's PARAKH Assessment: A nationwide digital survey by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) begins today to assess the basic reading, writing, and mathematical abilities of Class 3 students across 776 districts. SC on Prison Reforms: The Supreme Court has directed all states to submit compliance reports on the living conditions of undertrial prisoners, who constitute nearly 75% of India's prison population. Forest Cover Update: The Forest Survey of India (FSI) reports a net increase of 1,445 square kilometres in India's green cover, though it highlights concerns over declining mangrove density in Odisha and Gujarat. 🌍International Strait of Hormuz Crisis: The waterway remains a critical focus for global energy logistics; however, Indian authorities have successfully diversified crude oil imports, sourcing from 40 different nations to mitigate supply risks. WTO Expansion: The World Trade Organization (WTO) formally admitted Comoros and Timor-Leste as its newest members during recent ministerial discussions. 💰Economy LPG Price Hike: Domestic 14.2 kg LPG cylinder prices have seen a significant monthly increase, reaching ₹913.00 in New Delhi (up by ₹60 from February). Carbon Credit Trading Scheme: India has formally operationalised its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), a major step toward establishing a domestic carbon market under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act. Investment in Beer Market: Global brewer Heineken has announced long-term expansion plans for India, citing it as the world's largest untapped beer market due to rising affluence. 🗓️Date’s importance International Day of Mathematics (Pi Day): Observed globally on 14 March () to celebrate the mathematical constant . International Day of Action for Rivers: A day dedicated to solidarity and awareness for the protection and equitable management of river systems. 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day Rahul Dravid: The former Indian captain and head coach has been named for the prestigious Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for his immense contribution to Indian cricket and his role in the 2024 T20 World Cup victory. 🏅Sports BCCI Naman Awards: Ahead of the official ceremony, Shubman Gill is slated to be named the Men's Cricketer of the Year (2025) for his prolific run-scoring across all formats. NCAA Women's Hockey: The quarterfinal matches for the 2026 NCAA Women's Hockey Tournament commence today, featuring top-seeded teams like the University of Minnesota. 🏆Awards TOISA 2025 Nominees: Nominations for the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) are being finalised; footballer Subhasish Bose is a top contender after being named AIFF Men's Player of the Year. Academy Awards (Oscars) Week: Hollywood is in the final stretch of "Oscars Week" leading up to the 98th Academy Awards, with special honours being presented to filmmakers like Kathleen Kennedy and Chloé Zhao. ⭐️Other important significance JEE Advanced 2026: IIT Roorkee has officially announced that the JEE Advanced exam will be held on 17 May 2026, in a computer-based test (CBT) mode across two shifts. Sovereign AI Models: The rise of India-specific "Sovereign AI" models in early 2026 is challenging existing digital infrastructure standards and cloud terminology. 📚Word of the day ALACRITY (Noun) Meaning: Cheerful readiness, promptness, or eagerness. Synonyms: Willingness, Zeal, Sprightliness. Antonyms: Apathy, Reluctance, Lethargy. Usage: The student accepted the challenging project with alacrity, hoping to prove his skills.  

1) 🇮🇳National   First Heatwave of 2026: India recorded its first widespread heatwave of the year, with severe conditions sweeping across Gujarat's Saurashtra and Kutch regions. Maximum temperatures reached up to 42°C, signaling an early transition from winter to summer. Cabinet Infrastructure Push: The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved major infrastructure projects including granting International Airport status to Madurai Airport (Tamil Nadu) and a ₹4,474 crorerailway multitracking project in West Bengal and Jharkhand. Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0: The Union Cabinet approved the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission until 2028 with an enhanced outlay of ₹8.69 lakh crore, shifting focus from infrastructure creation to sustainable service delivery. Textile Waste Report: Union Minister Giriraj Singh released the "Mapping of Textile Waste Value Chain in India" report to promote circularity and recycling in the textile industry. 2) 🌍International Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Global energy security remains on high alert as the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, halting approximately 20% of global oil supplies. Iran Heritage Damage: Several UNESCO-listed heritage sites in Iran have reportedly suffered damage following recent military strikes in the region, drawing concern from global cultural organizations. India-Tanzania Medical Aid: India has sent essential life-saving medicines to the Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital in Tanzania, reinforcing its role as the "Pharmacy of the World" and strengthening bilateral ties. Nepal Election Shift: Early results from Nepal’s general elections indicate a significant lead for the Rastriya Swatantra Party, with youth leader Balen Shah poised for a major role in the new government. 3) 💰Economy Crude Oil Surge: Brent crude oil prices have crossed the $100 per barrel mark due to supply disruptions in West Asia, leading the IEA to release emergency oil stocks to stabilize the market. Rupee Volatility: The Indian Rupee recovered slightly from record lows, settling at 92.17 against the US Dollaramidst geopolitical tensions and high crude prices. Maharashtra’s Trillion-Dollar Goal: CM Devendra Fadnavis announced that Maharashtra is on track to become India's first trillion-dollar sub-national economy, driven by rapid digital transformation. FDI Rule Relaxation: India has relaxed investment rules for companies from Land Bordering Countries (LBCs) like China in specific sectors such as electronics and solar panels to address supply chain gaps. 4) 🗓️Date’s importance World Sleep Day (13 March 2026): Observed on the Friday before the Spring Vernal Equinox. The 2026 theme is "Sleep Well, Live Better", highlighting the importance of sleep health. 96th Anniversary of Dandi March: Commemorated today to mark the start of Mahatma Gandhi's iconic Salt Satyagraha on 12 March 1930. National Good Samaritan Day (13 March): Celebrated to honor individuals who perform selfless acts of kindness and help those in need. 5) 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day Priyanka Chopra: Named as a presenter for the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026), appearing alongside stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Anne Hathaway. Savitribai Phule: Honored in educational circles today; recognized as India’s first female teacher who, along with Jyotiba Phule, opened the first school for girls in Pune in 1848. 6) 🏅Sports BCCI Annual Awards: Shubman Gill is set to be named Cricketer of the Year at the upcoming BCCI annual awards following a stellar run across formats. Indian Football League (IFL): Rajasthan United FC is set to face Namdhari today in Jaipur, seeking their first win of the season under head coach Vikrant Sharma. T20 World Cup Post-Analysis: Discussions continue regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s pivotal role in India’s recent T20 World Cup campaign, where his yorkers proved to be India's ultimate weapon. 7) 🏆Awards India Credit Risk Awards 2026: The summit is being held today in Mumbai to recognize innovative accomplishments in credit risk technology and fintech leadership. Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA): The jury, including Abhinav Bindra and Mithali Raj, is finalizing winners for the March 21 ceremony, with the Indian Women’s Cricket Team nominated for Team of the Year. 8) ⭐️Other important significance Kurumba Art Threat: The ancient Kurumba tribal art of the Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu), which traces back 3,000 years, is reportedly facing extinction due to a declining number of practitioners. Defence Vision 2047: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the "Defence Forces Vision 2047" roadmap at South Block, outlining the strategy for a future-ready, self-reliant Indian military. 📚Word of the day ALACRITY (Noun) Meaning: Brisk and cheerful readiness; eagerness. Usage: "The Indian humanitarian teams responded with alacrity to provide medical aid to Tanzania."  

🇮🇳National Project Cheetah Update: The Ministry of Environment announced that India's cheetah population has reached 53, following the birth of five cubs to a cheetah named Jwala in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. Project Ganga Launched: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath initiated 'Project Ganga' to provide digital connectivity to 20 lakh rural households, aiming to create 1 lakh jobs in the state. Essential Commodities Act: The Government of India has invoked the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955, specifically to secure and safeguard the supply of LPG across the country. Anavaran Portal News: The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has updated its protocols for the Anavaran Deforestation Alert System, which uses satellite data and Machine Learning to monitor forest cover loss. 🌍International New Supreme Leader in Iran: Following the passing of Ali Khamenei, his son Mojtaba Khamenei has been elected by the Assembly of Experts as the new Supreme Leader of Iran. NATO Arctic Exercise: NATO has commenced its biennial military exercise, 'Cold Response 2026', in the Arctic region with approximately 25,000 troops from 14 countries. BrahMos Export: Indonesia is finalizing the acquisition of the BrahMos Missile System from India for an estimated $200–$350 million to bolster its maritime defence. 💰Economy Fiscal Deficit Revision: The Government of India has revised the fiscal deficit ratios for the financial years 2022-23 to 2024-25 following an update to the GDP Base Year. New Base Year for GDP/IIP: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has officially transitioned to a new base year for calculating the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Index of Industrial Production (IIP). Tata-Ramco Partnership: Tata Advanced Systems has partnered with Ramco Systems to develop a digital maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility for the Indian Air Force’s C-130J aircraft. 🗓️Date’s importance Dandi March Anniversary: On this day in 1930, Mahatma Gandhi began the iconic Salt March (Dandi March) from Sabarmati Ashram, a 240-mile journey that became a turning point in the Indian independence movement. Mauritius Day: Mauritius celebrates its Independence Day (1968) and Republic Day (1992) on 12 March. World Kidney Day 2026: Observed on the second Thursday of March to raise awareness about the importance of kidney health. 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day Amol Palekar: The veteran actor and filmmaker has been selected to receive the META (Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards) Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 for his extraordinary contribution to Indian theatre. 🏅Sports ICC Women’s ODI Rankings: Indian opener Smriti Mandhana has successfully retained her No. 1 spot in the latest ICC Women's ODI batting rankings. World Para Athletics Grand Prix: New Delhi is hosting the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026, featuring over 250 international athletes. Sri Lanka Cricket Coach: Former Indian World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Sri Lanka men's national team. 🏆Awards PPVFRA Protection: The Nagauri Pan Methi from Rajasthan has been granted a patent/protection by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA). BIOFACH 2026: India has been honoured with the 'Country of the Year' title at BIOFACH 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for organic food held in Germany. ⭐️Other important significance Sheshnaag-150: India is developing a long-range swarm attack drone named Sheshnaag-150, capable of carrying 25–40 kg payloads for deep-strike missions. Exercise Lamitiye-2026: A joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Seychelles Defence Forceshas commenced to enhance interoperability in sub-conventional operations. 📚Word of the day Keen (Adjective) Meaning: Having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm; sharp or penetrating. Synonyms: Eager, Ardent, Acute, Sharp. Antonyms: Reluctant, Apathetic, Dull. Example: Candidates must have a keen interest in current affairs to clear competitive exams.