Current Affairs Quiz - March 2026

Notes:
Entomologists discovered two new species of fruit flies named Acidoxantha paratotoflava and Hemilea suneriae in the Himalayan foothills of Solan district in Himachal Pradesh. Acidoxantha paratotoflava is a medium-sized greenish-yellow fly with four black stripes on its thorax and large black spots on its abdomen. The species also has distinct hook-like structures in the male anatomy, which help in identification. Hemilea suneriae is a reddish-brown fruit fly with prominent black dots on its body. It has a unique wing pattern with a single clear “window” (hyaline indentation) in a dark wing area, unlike related species that usually have two. The discovery adds to India’s insect biodiversity and improves scientific knowledge of fruit fly taxonomy.

Notes:
The Nirbhaya Nisha initiative has been launched by the Kerala Police to ensure women’s safety at night. The initiative provides rapid police assistance between 9 PM and 5 AM via 112 emergency helpline, Pol-App SOS, and strengthened night patrols. Various organisations across the state conducted seminars, competitions, rallies, and awareness events to celebrate women and promote safety.

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:
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:
SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) reported on March 9, 2026, that global arms transfers increased to the highest level since 2011–2015. Ukraine was the largest arms importer, receiving 9.7% of global transfers, followed by India at 8.2%, highlighting India’s continued dependence on foreign arms. Saudi Arabia (6.8%), Qatar (6.4%), and Pakistan (4.2%) completed the top five importers list. India’s arms imports decreased by 4% compared to 2016–2020, with delays in domestic production persisting, though India is increasingly producing its own equipment. India shifted towards Western suppliers: Russia’s share dropped to 40%, France supplied 29%, and Israel 15%; India was France’s largest global client.

Notes:
Mizoram Home Minister informed the Assembly that drugs worth approximately ₹317.30 crore have been seized under Operation Jericho since 1 September 2025. The large-scale anti-drug operation has targeted narcotic substances across the state. Several major smuggling routes have been blocked, significantly reducing trafficking activities in many areas. Operation Jericho is scheduled to conclude on 31 March 2026, and no discussions on its extension have been made yet.

Notes:
The Indian Orchid Festival 2026, themed ‘Orchids for Beauty & Prosperity’, was organised by ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids (ICAR-NRCO) in Pakyong district, Sikkim. Renowned nurseries, tissue culture companies, and marketing firms interacted with growers to share knowledge on cultivation, marketing, and collaboration in the orchid industry. The four-day festival included technical sessions where experts shared practical knowledge to benefit growers. The festival’s theme, ‘Orchids for Beauty & Prosperity’, is intended to inspire growers and stakeholders for future development.

Notes:
India celebrates the Raising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on 10 March to recognise its role in protecting key national infrastructure. Central Industrial Security Force is a Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs It provides security to about 70 airports and 361 critical national installations such as industries and strategic assets. The headquarter is located in New Delhi and motto is “Protection and Security”.

Notes:
A three-day Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) was held from 12–14 March 2026 at ICAR Convention Centre, New Delhi. It was organised by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority. The Theme is “Driving Progress, Attaining New Heights.” It was organised during the 2026 International Year for Women Farmers.

Notes:
The United Nations adopted a new global framework called Agreed Conclusions to improve access to justice for women and girls worldwide. The framework was adopted by broad consensus during the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held in New York, United States. The Agreed Conclusions framework is not legally binding, serving as a guideline for member states to strengthen justice systems for women and girls. A key recommendation is to repeal discriminatory laws that negatively affect women and girls in any sphere of life. The framework emphasizes the need to strengthen protection against violence, both online and offline, and ensure faster access to justice for survivors.