1) 🇮🇳National

• Hindu New Year (Vikram Samvat 2083): The Hindu New Year begins today, marking the Pratipada Tithi of Chaitra Shukla Paksha. It is celebrated as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and Ugadi in South India.
• Chaitra Navratri 2026: The nine-day festival dedicated to Goddess Durga commences today with the ritual of Ghatsthapana. The festival will culminate with Rama Navami on 27 March.
• CBSE Exam Reforms: CBSE has successfully implemented On-Screen Marking (OSM) for the digital evaluation of Class 12 answer scripts to ensure transparency and faster results.
• 6G Technology Standards: India is actively moving forward in setting global standards for 6G technology, aiming to be a frontrunner in the next generation of telecommunications.
• One Nation, One Election: The Lok Sabha has extended the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tasked with examining the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal.

2) 🌍International

• Strait of Hormuz Security: Tensions remain high as approximately 90 ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz today under heavy monitoring; the US has reportedly urged allies to deploy warships to ensure free navigation.
• NASA X-59 Mission: NASA is conducting international briefings today on the X-59 Quesst aircraft, designed to fly at Mach 1.4 while reducing the sonic boom to a quiet "thump."
• India-UAE Maritime Cooperation: The Mundra Port (Gujarat) received a major crude oil shipment from the UAE via an Indian vessel, reaffirming the SAGAR initiative and energy security.
• Sri Lanka Power Project: Sri Lanka has officially approved a joint power project with India to strengthen regional energy integration.

3) 💰Economy

• Labour Code Implementation: The Ministry of Labour has confirmed that the four new Labour Codes (Wages, Social Security, Industrial Relations, and Occupational Safety) are on track to be fully operational from 1 April 2026.
• Direct Tax Collection: India’s net direct tax collections for FY26 have shown a steady growth of 7.2%, reaching approximately ₹22.80 trillion as of mid-March.
• Commercial LPG Allocation: The Government has proposed increasing the commercial LPG allocation from 20% to 30% to meet rising industrial demand.
• VinFast Auto Awards: EV manufacturer VinFast was honoured with the "EV Champion of the Year" at the Jagran Hi-Tech Awards 2026 for its "Make in India" commitment.

4) 🗓️Date’s importance

• Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (19 March): Considered the day Lord Brahma began the creation of the universe; it marks the official start of the Hindu Lunar Calendar.
• Saint Joseph's Day: Celebrated globally as a feast day and observed as Father’s Day in several European countries including Spain and Italy.

5) 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day

• Dr Deepti Dabas Hazarika: Dean at Manav Rachna, recognized today for her influential work on "The Leadership Pivot," focusing on human connection and trust in an AI-driven corporate world.
• Keki Mistry: The HDFC veteran formally begins his three-month tenure as the part-time Chairman of HDFC Bank this month.

6) 🏅Sports

• Orleans Masters 2026: Indian shuttler Aakarshi Kashyap has successfully qualified for the main draw of the tournament after a strong performance in the qualifying rounds.
• Miami Open 2026: World No. 3 Iga Świątek has arrived in Florida for practice, facing intense pressure to regain form after a recent rankings dip and a quarterfinal exit at Indian Wells.
• Champions League: European football giants Real Madrid and PSG have officially secured their spots in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Champions League.

7) 🏆Awards

• BCCI Naman Awards 2026: The ceremony concluded in New Delhi with Shubman Gill winning the Polly Umrigar Award (Best International Cricketer) and Rahul Dravid receiving the Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Jagran Hi-Tech Awards 2026: VinFast secured the "EV Champion of the Year" while the VF 7 was named "Electric SUV of the Year."
• Himanshu Roy Legacy Awards: Nominations are currently open for these awards (until April 30) celebrating courage and excellence in National Security, Medicine, and Classical Music.

8) ⭐️Other important significance

• Manifestation Portal: Astrologers and cultural experts highlight the 18–19 March window as a powerful spiritual portal for "resetting and realigning" goals due to the rare New Moon and Navratri alignment.
• Project Anant: A school-led satellite initiative launched in collaboration with Dhruva Space, encouraging students to build and launch space payloads.

📚Word of the day

• ALACRITY (Noun)
• Meaning: Eagerness or cheerful readiness.
• Usage: "The Indian students accepted the challenge of building a satellite with great alacrity."
• Synonyms: Willingness, Readiness.
• Antonyms: Apathy, Lethargy.