Current Affairs Quiz - March 2026

Notes:
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and Satcom Industry Association of India released cyber security guidelines for India’s space ecosystem. The guidelines were unveiled at the DefSat Conference & Expo 2026 in New Delhi. The framework follows a “defense in depth, breadth and height” approach and integrates public-private perspectives. CERT-In operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, providing 24×7 incident response services. SIA-India represents India’s satellite sector, including operators, manufacturers, startups, academia, and legal firms, to shape policy and promote global collaboration.

Notes:
RailOne, the SuperApp of Indian Railways, crossed two crore downloads within eight months of its launch. The app surpassed five lakh ticket bookings per day in February 2026. It was developed by Centre for Railway Information Systems. It was launched by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on 1 July. RailOne integrates services like reserved and unreserved ticketing, platform tickets, train enquiries, PNR status, and other passenger utilities. RailTech Policy promotes innovation by engaging startups, innovators, industry, and institutions for Indian Railways modernization.

Notes:
New Delhi Municipal Council organised the 4th edition of Tulip Festival 2026 at Shanti Path, New Delhi. The festival features nearly 5.5 lakh tulips and is held in collaboration with the Netherlands to strengthen bilateral ties. Indigenous tulips developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research bloom during Delhi’s short winter and spring period. The initiative promotes local bulb cultivation, aligns with the “Viksit Bharat @2047” vision, and serves as a soft-power diplomatic tool.

Notes:
Astronomers from Indian Institute of Astrophysics discovered the origin of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) shock for the first time. The CME-driven shock was recorded forming at a distance of about 1,30,000 km above the solar surface. This is the first confirmed detection of the “birth stage” of CME shocks, resolving a long-standing debate about their origin. Instruments used include the Gauribidanur Radio Telescope and Aditya-L1’s Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload. Detecting shocks at onset helps predict solar storms more accurately and protects satellites, GPS systems, and power grids from damage.

Notes:
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed a new geopolitical grouping called the Hexagon Alliance, with India at its centre. The alliance, also called the “Hexagon of Alliances,” would include Israel, India, Mediterranean partners like Greece and Cyprus, and other Arab, African, and Asian states. It is designed to operate across three tracks: economic cooperation, diplomatic alignment, and security collaboration. For India, participation would expand its strategic footprint in the Mediterranean and West Asia, complementing initiatives like the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor.

Notes:
Rare Disease Day is observed globally every year on the last day of February (28 February or 29 February in leap years). It was first held on 29 February 2008 and is now observed in more than 100 countries. The day raises awareness for over 300 million people worldwide living with rare diseases and promotes equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, research, and social care. In India, rare diseases affect a small proportion of the population, often requiring specialised diagnosis and care. More than 6,000 rare diseases have been identified, with nearly 72% being genetic.

Notes:
The Indian Army defended its team championship title at the 6th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, winning a total of nine gold medals, including eight in the Gulmarg leg. Himachal Pradesh finished as runners-up after securing four gold medals on the final day of competition. The closing ceremony of KIWG 2026 was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council and managed by the Sports Authority of India at the Golf Course in Gulmarg. The first leg of the Games was held in Ladakh from January 20–26, 2026.