Current Affairs Quiz - March 2026

Notes:
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI – Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) released PLFS 2025 report. PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey) was started in 2017 by National Statistical Office (NSO – National Statistical Office) to track jobs and unemployment. It provides data as Usual Status (365 days) and Current Weekly Status (7 days). LFPR (Labour Force Participation Rate) remained stable at 59.3% (Male 79.1%, Female 40%). WPR (Worker Population Ratio) was 57.4%, with rural female participation steady. UR (Unemployment Rate) declined to 3.1%, youth unemployment fell to 9.9%.

Notes:
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, a former Union Minister and MP, assumed charge as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) on March 18, 2026. She succeeds the previous chairperson to lead the commission in safeguarding the rights and welfare of backward classes, with Kiran Umesh Mahalle joining as a member. The appointments aim to strengthen the commission’s role in the socio-economic development and protection of rights for OBCs. The NCBC works to advise the government on issues affecting backward classes and addresses complaints regarding rights violations.

Notes:
NASA is set to launch the Artemis II mission, which is part of its broader lunar exploration programme. Artemis II is a key mission under the Artemis programme, aimed at returning humans to the Moon in a sustained and strategic manner. The mission will send four astronauts on a crewed journey around the Moon, marking a major step in human space exploration. It is part of efforts to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon. The mission views the Moon as a platform for deeper space exploration, including future missions to Mars and beyond.

Notes:
The Government of India has established the Nirbhaya Fund to support initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security of women. The fund is demand-driven, providing financial assistance to Ministries, Departments, States, and Union Territories for implementing safety-related projects. It supports key initiatives such as Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112), Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC), and the Safe City Project in major cities like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Mumbai. The fund also finances the establishment of Women Help Desks in police stations and Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs). It supports strengthening of DNA analysis, cyber forensic, and related facilities in State Forensic Science Laboratories.

Notes:
Jannik Sinner defeated Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to win the Miami Open, completing the ‘Sunshine Double’ by winning both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. He became the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to achieve the Sunshine Double and the first player to do so without dropping a set across both events. At 24 years old, Sinner won Indian Wells for the first time, becoming the eighth man to complete the Sunshine Double, joining Jim Courier, Michael Chang, Pete Sampras, Marcelo Rios, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic.

Notes:
The Tri-Service exercise “Dweep Shakti” was conducted jointly by the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force from March 24 to March 28. The exercise aimed to validate integrated capabilities for rapid response in coastal and island defence operations. It involved coordinated amphibious assaults, maritime dominance operations, and complex beach landing drills. Advanced next-generation equipment and drones were used, highlighting improved precision and interoperability among the three services. The exercise helped refine integrated tactics, techniques, and procedures, strengthening multi-domain operational capability.

Notes:
Students from Jayshree Periwal International School, Jaipur, developed the Veer Sahara App, a digital platform to connect defence families with government welfare schemes. The app uses a step-by-step form and AI-assisted voice guidance to help users easily navigate the process. It identifies relevant schemes and awards based on user input and provides direct application links. It aims to support ex-servicemen, widows, dependents, and families of martyrs by reducing complexity, delays, and dependence on intermediaries.

Notes:
National Assessment and Accreditation Council has not granted fresh accreditation to any university or college in the current academic year, raising concerns about the accreditation process. NAAC was established in 1994 as an autonomous institution under the University Grants Commission. Its primary objective is to assess and enhance the quality of higher education institutions (HEIs) through a structured accreditation process. It evaluates institutions such as colleges, universities, and other recognised bodies to determine their overall quality status.

Notes:
The SHe-Box Portal (Sexual Harassment Electronic Box) was launched on 29 August 2024 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to strengthen implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act. As of March 2026, over 1.61 lakh workplaces (public and private) have been onboarded, with details of 68,460 Internal Committees (ICs) and 777 Local Committees (LCs) available on the portal. The portal helps in digital monitoring, complaint handling, and compliance tracking related to workplace sexual harassment cases.

Notes:
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises launched the Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) Initiative under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance Programme. The initiative aims to enhance market access, branding, digital marketing, e-commerce integration, and exports for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). It facilitates onboarding of MSMEs onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce to promote digital trade participation. It supports creation of digital catalogues, better packaging, and branding along with training in e-commerce, logistics, and online payments.