Current Affairs Quiz - March 2026

Notes:
The Central Government has expanded the mandate of Forest Rights Act (FRA) Cells to strengthen implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 at State and Union Territory levels. FRA Cells were sanctioned under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan (DAJGUA). The objective is to provide technical and administrative support without interfering in statutory decision-making. They help in recognition of Individual Forest Rights (IFR) and Community Forest Rights (CFR). They assist Gram Sabhas and claimants in preparing claim documents and collecting evidence. They support digitisation of land records and tracking of claims.

Notes:
Astronomers imaged the central Milky Way and revealed a complex network of cosmic gas filaments using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). ALMA is located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile and studies celestial objects at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths. It has been fully operational since 2013. It was designed and built by National Radio Astronomy Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, and European Southern Observatory.

Notes:
In March 2026, Union Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced a special nationwide Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action League to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. The league started in 2021 and has conducted over 2,600 events in 34 sports across 550 districts and 700 cities, involving more than 3 lakh women athletes. It is part of the Khelo India Mission to promote gender equality and identify grassroots talent. It is supported by Sports Authority of India, State and District Sports Associations, Khelo India Centres, My Bharat, and National Centres of Excellence.

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Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances with Government of Jammu and Kashmir organised the National Governance Conference on 3 March 2026 in Jammu. The conference was held in Jammu city of Jammu and Kashmir. The theme was “Holistic Development of Districts: Transforming Governance for Viksit Bharat”. It focused on improving district level governance and strengthening administration at grassroots level. The event highlighted innovative governance models and best practices from different districts across India.

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Tamil Nadu leads India in deceased organ donation under Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu. The state recorded 57 deceased organ donors in the first two months of 2026, almost one per day. Tamil Nadu began a structured deceased organ donation system as early as 2008, ahead of many states. Though slowed during Covid years, the programme was later strengthened through coordination of policymakers, bureaucracy, technocrats, media and civil society. The model is now considered sustainable, based on scientific approach and strong ethical values.

Notes:
The United Nations observes International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness on March 5 to promote understanding of disarmament, especially among young people. Multilateral disarmament and arms limitation have been central to UN efforts to maintain international peace and security. Weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, remain a primary concern due to their destructive power and threat to humanity. Excessive conventional weapons accumulation and illicit trade in small arms endanger peace, security, and development.

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In March 2026, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) deployed an in-house Artificial Intelligence (AI) system named “Sudarshan” to strengthen the digital monitoring of financial content across online platforms. The primary objective of the Sudarshan AI system is to detect misleading financial information and curb illegal advisory activities carried out by unregistered financial influencers (finfluencers) on digital platforms. Using this AI-based surveillance system, SEBI has facilitated the removal of more than 1.20 lakh misleading social media posts that were shared by unregistered individuals or entities providing financial advice.

Notes:
A major leak of hazardous oleum gas occurred at a chemical unit in Palghar district, Maharashtra, which forced authorities to evacuate more than 2,600 residents from nearby areas as a precautionary measure. The incident highlighted the potential dangers associated with handling highly corrosive industrial chemicals. Oleum, also known as fuming sulfuric acid, is a highly corrosive chemical solution formed by dissolving sulfur trioxide (SO₃) in sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). It is widely used in industrial chemical processes.

Notes:
The High Court of Karnataka issued a notice to the Centre and State government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging approvals for Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (PSHP). Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (PSHP) is proposed on Sharavathi River in Shivamogga district, Karnataka. The project aims to generate 2,000 Megawatts (MW), making it the largest PSHP in India. It is developed by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL).

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The United States conducted a test launch of the Minuteman III missile. Minuteman III is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by United States. It is part of the US nuclear triad. It is a land-based nuclear missile under the US Air Force Global Strike Command. The missile uses three solid-propellant rocket motors and can reach speeds of about Mach 23 at burnout. It has a range of over 6,000 miles (5,218 nautical miles), enabling long-distance nuclear strike capability.