Current Affairs Quiz - March 2026

Notes:
The Government has approved a 2-year extension of the Samarth Scheme for 2024–25 and 2025–26; it is valid until 31.03.2026. Samarth (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector) by the Ministry of Textiles provides demand-driven, placement-oriented skilling programmes across the textile value chain, excluding Spinning and Weaving, nationwide. A total of 3,90,512 beneficiaries were trained during 2020–21 to 2024–25, and 2,04,668 beneficiaries have been trained in 2025–26 (till 10.03.2026). There are 4,430 active training centres under Samarth as of 10.03.2026.

Notes:
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake recently struck off the east coast of Japan’s largest island, Honshu. Honshu, historically called Akitsushima, is the largest of Japan’s four main islands. It lies between the Pacific Ocean in the east and the Sea of Japan in the west. The island stretches about 1,287 km in a northeast–southwest arc and has varying widths. Honshu covers an area of 227,898 sq.km, making it the world’s seventh-largest island. It has a population of around 104 million, over 80% of Japan’s total population. It is the second-most populous island in the world after Java, Indonesia.

Notes:
Kerala has launched ‘MLATrack.com’, India’s first platform to track the legislative interventions of MLAs. MLATrack.com is a public digital database that collects and presents data on the performance and legislative activities of Kerala Legislative Assembly members (2021–2026). The platform aims to increase transparency and accountability in legislative functioning. It allows citizens, researchers, and media to track MLA performance objectively.

Notes:
Narendra Modi will attend the G7 Summit 2026, scheduled from June 15–17, 2026 in France, following confirmation after discussions with S. Jaishankar. The G7 comprises major economies such as the US, UK, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada, focusing on global economic stability, security, climate change, and trade. Although India is not a G7 member, its participation reflects its growing global influence. India plays an important role in bridging developed and developing countries and contributes to discussions on inclusive and balanced global governance.

Notes:
Japan has launched the world’s first dedicated high-speed freight bullet train, marking a major innovation in logistics and transportation. The initiative has been undertaken by the East Japan Railway Company, which has converted a passenger bullet train into a cargo-only Shinkansen. The project is based on the E3 Series Shinkansen, whose interiors have been redesigned by removing seats and creating open cargo space with reinforced flooring and securing systems.

Notes:
Indian Navy hosted IMEX TTX 2026 (IONS Maritime Exercise Tabletop Exercise 2026) at Maritime Warfare Centre, Southern Naval Command, Kochi. It involved members of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium and international officers to discuss maritime security. Countries like Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Timor-Leste participated. India assumes IONS Chairmanship (2026–2028) after 16 years.

Notes:
Disruption in oil supply highlights India’s need to boost ethanol blending for energy security and lower imports. The crisis can help India reform energy policy like Brazil did after the 1970s oil shocks. Brazil launched Proálcool Programme (1975) after the 1973 oil crisis to promote ethanol fuel. The government provided subsidies, price support, and mandatory 30% ethanol blending. It introduced FFVs (Flex-Fuel Vehicles) that run on petrol, ethanol, or both. A strong system was built linking sugarcane production, ethanol supply chain, and fuel distribution. This reduced oil dependence and strengthened energy sustainability and self-reliance.

Notes:
The government is considering adding a battery energy storage component under the revamped PM-KUSUM 2.0 scheme, making it relevant in recent developments. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan, launched in 2019, aims to promote solar energy use in agriculture and is set to expire in March 2026, after which it may be upgraded to PM-KUSUM 2.0. The scheme aims to reduce farmers’ dependence on diesel and grid electricity, thereby lowering costs and improving energy access. It also supports India’s renewable energy transition by promoting clean energy usage in the agriculture sector. The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

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:
Amogh Sirnoorkar, a scientist from Kalaburagi, Karnataka, has been selected for the Post-Doctoral Top Mentor Award 2026, instituted by Purdue University. The award is being presented for the first time and includes a cash prize of 1,500 US dollars, along with a citation and a memento. The scientist is the first (maiden) recipient of this award. The selection was made by a panel of 14 post-doctoral peer judges, evaluating nominees from seven colleges of the university. The award will be formally presented on April 22, 2026, at a ceremony at Purdue University.