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."