Current Affairs Quiz - March 2026

Notes:
A pair of rare dusky eagle owls was sighted in the Phato tourism zone of Terai West forest division, near Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand, after 15 years. The dusky eagle owl belongs to the family Strigidae. It is large, greyish-brown with prominent ear tufts, greyish-white underparts with dark streaks, and dark brown wings with whitish streaks. It is found in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and China. It inhabits thick riverside forests and old-growth trees.

Notes:
L&T Finance Ltd has launched a specialised programme called “Spoorthi” for women entrepreneurs to provide targeted financial support. The programme offers extended loan tenors up to 25 years for house property loans or Loan Against Property (LAP) for business expansion and working capital. Industrial LAP tenors of up to 12 years are also available, with enhanced eligibility norms, including higher debt-to-income ratios for greater financial flexibility. L&T Finance aims to leverage women borrowers’ strong repayment discipline to scale businesses and secure personal assets, promoting an inclusive financial ecosystem.

Notes:
Japan has become the first country to approve stem-cell treatments for Parkinson’s disease and severe heart failure. Sumitomo Pharma received approval for Amchepry, a treatment that transplants induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into the brain of Parkinson’s patients. Cuorips, a medical startup, got approval for ReHeart, heart muscle sheets that help form new blood vessels and restore heart function. Both treatments could reach patients as early as summer 2026 under a conditional, time-limited approval system for faster patient access. iPS cells, discovered by Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka, can transform into any cell type without using embryos. The approval marks a global first for commercial medical products using iPS cell technology.

Notes:
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti organised Jal Mahotsav 2026 from 8 March to 22 March, linking International Women’s Day and World Water Day. The campaign supports community participation in rural drinking water management under the Jal Jeevan Mission. It is launched from Navsari in Gujarat with Jal Arpan ceremonies across India, symbolising the handover of water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs). The campaign aims to strengthen Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation) and community ownership of rural piped water systems.

Notes:
Delhi hosted the National Conference of Women Thinkers on the theme ‘Bharati – Nari Se Narayani’. The conference highlighted that national progress is reflected in women’s advancement, education, and empowerment. It emphasized that women are both carriers of tradition and agents of societal change, and their empowerment is a collective societal responsibility. Initiatives have been launched to make women economically, socially, and professionally self-reliant, including schemes like ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’ and ‘Saheli Pink Smart Card’. Women’s power is recognized as an emerging force of national strength.

Notes:
Narcotics Control Bureau busted a pan-India drug network “Team Kalki” operating on darknet platforms and the Session since January 2025. Authorities seized 13 domestic parcels and 2 parcels from the Netherlands containing narcotic drugs. NCB, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, was established under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 to enforce drug laws and coordinate intelligence.

Notes:
Kharg Island is a small coral island in Iran in the northern Persian Gulf, recently discussed in United States strategic debates. It is one of the few Persian Gulf islands with natural freshwater, stored in porous limestone formations. The island has hot, humid summers and its highest point is Mount Didehban. In the early 1960s, discovery of offshore oil fields led to major petroleum and petrochemical infrastructure development. Its strategic importance comes from its location near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route.

Notes:
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), with Gates Foundation and Dalberg Advisors, launched the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge to strengthen India’s rural climate resilience. The initiative aims to build a National Climate Stack, integrating fragmented climate datasets into a unified digital platform. It will develop 10–15 year climate hazard forecasting frameworks for risks like heatwaves, floods, droughts, and cyclones affecting agriculture. The project will also create practical dashboards for agriculture, rural finance, and public planning decisions.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two new Delhi Metro corridors, including India’s first fully operational ‘Ring Metro’, improving public transport in the capital. The first corridor, Majlis Park–Maujpur Babarpur on the Pink Line, is 12.3 km long with eight elevated stations and forms part of the Majlis Park–Shiv Vihar Pink Line, extending it to 71.56 km. The second corridor, Deepali Chowk–Majlis Park on the Magenta Line, is 9.9 km long with seven elevated stations, raising the line length to 49 km; parts reach 28.36 metres height, among the highest in Delhi Metro.

Notes:
The Assam Chief Minister announced a transfer of ₹9,000 to about 40 lakh beneficiary families under the Orunodoi scheme via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Orunodoi (Arunodoi) Scheme, launched in 2020, aims at women empowerment, poverty alleviation, and socio-economic inclusion of financially vulnerable women in Assam. The scheme provides financial support of ₹1,250 per month to women from low-income families through DBT. The monthly amount covers essential expenses: ₹400 for medicines, ₹200 for pulses subsidy, ₹80 for sugar subsidy, ₹150 for fruits & vegetables, ₹150 for other essentials, ₹170 for COVID-19 expenses, and ₹250 for 50 units of electricity.