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📝 Revision Notes
Key takeaways from today’s quiz to strengthen your preparation
Infrastructure
NH-332A: Marakkanam–Puducherry Corridor
PM Modi launched Rs 7,100 crore worth of projects in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on March 1, 2026. The NH-332A four-laning project costing over Rs 2,100 crore will reduce travel time by 50% and boost connectivity to Mamallapuram, Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station, and Auroville along the East Coast Road corridor.
Agriculture & Policy
New Seed Act 2026 & Revised Pesticide Act
Announced by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the New Seed Act 2026 raises maximum fines for seed companies to Rs 30 lakh (with imprisonment for deliberate offences) and mandates QR codes on all seed packets for traceability. The Revised Pesticide Act 2026 will replace the outdated Insecticides Act, 1968.
International Relations
NITI Aayog–JICA Phase II Agreement on SDGs
JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) is Japan’s official bilateral development cooperation body. The Phase II Record of Discussion (RoD) with NITI Aayog focuses on SDG achievement in India’s Aspirational Districts and Blocks through evidence-based planning and governance strengthening.
Energy & Environment
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) — 25th Foundation Day
BEE was established in March 2002 under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 to promote energy efficiency programmes. On its 25th Foundation Day (March 1, 2026), the RCO Portal and the BEE Star Label Mobile App (for QR code scanning of star-rated appliances) were launched.
Technology
WBG-based Integrated Drive System for EVs
WBG (Wide Band Gap) semiconductors — including Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) — outperform conventional silicon in high-power, high-temperature applications. MeitY launched a 30 kW WBG-based Integrated Drive System (IDS) for EVs developed by C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram with IIT Madras and Lucas TVS under the NaMPET scheme.
Geopolitics
Raisina Dialogue 2026 — Finland’s President as Chief Guest
The 11th Raisina Dialogue (March 5–7, 2026) featured Finland President Alexander Stubb as Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker. Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship annual conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, co-organised by Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Culture & Heritage
Ashmolean Museum Returns Bronze Idol of Thirumankai Alvar
Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum returned a 16th-century bronze idol of Thirumankai Alvar — one of the 12 Alvars (Tamil Vaishnava poet-saints) who composed the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. The idol, acquired at Sotheby’s in 1967, was handed over at India House, London, and will be restored to the Shri Soundararaja Perumal Temple in Thadikombu, Tamil Nadu.
Arts & Cinema
BAFTA 2026 — First Manipuri Film Wins International Award
Boong, directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, won the Best Children’s & Family Film at the 79th BAFTA Film Awards 2026 — the first Manipuri film to win a BAFTA. The biggest winner of the ceremony was ‘One Battle After Another’ (Paul Thomas Anderson) with six awards including Best Film.
Political History
K.P. Unnikrishnan — Veteran Politician & Gulf War Evacuee
K.P. Unnikrishnan (d. March 3, 2026) was a six-time Lok Sabha MP from Vadakara, Kerala, and served as Union Minister for Telecommunications, Shipping, and Surface Transport in the V.P. Singh Cabinet (1989–90). He played a pivotal role in the evacuation of Indians from Kuwait during the Gulf War crisis in 1990.
Safety & Governance
National Safety Day — NSC & Workplace Safety
National Safety Day is observed on March 4 — the founding date of the National Safety Council (NSC) in 1966 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment. NSC promotes workplace safety, occupational health, and accident prevention. The 2026 theme is ‘Engage, Educate & Empower People to Enhance Safety’, marking the campaign’s 55th year.
🎴 Revision Flashcards
Click each card to flip and test your recall
Tap to Reveal
Which city does the NH-332A project connect to Marakkanam?
Puducherry
East Coast Road corridor; project cost over Rs 2,100 crore
Tap to Reveal
What is the maximum fine under the New Seed Act 2026?
Rs 30 lakh
Announced by Shivraj Singh Chouhan; QR codes on seed packets also mandated
Tap to Reveal
Under which Act was the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) established?
Energy Conservation Act, 2001
BEE formally set up in March 2002; celebrated 25th Foundation Day in 2026
Tap to Reveal
WBG in semiconductor technology stands for?
Wide Band Gap
Includes SiC and GaN; used in MeitY’s 30 kW EV drive system at IIT Madras
Tap to Reveal
Who was the Chief Guest at the 11th Raisina Dialogue 2026?
Alexander Stubb (President of Finland)
Held March 5–7, 2026; co-organised by ORF and Ministry of External Affairs
Tap to Reveal
Which Manipuri film won Best Children’s & Family Film at BAFTA 2026?
Boong
Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi; first-ever Manipuri film to win a BAFTA
Tap to Reveal
Whose Cabinet did K.P. Unnikrishnan serve as Telecom Minister in?
V.P. Singh Cabinet (1989–90)
Six-time MP from Vadakara; coordinated Kuwait evacuation during Gulf War 1990
Tap to Reveal
Which Ministry established the National Safety Council (NSC)?
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Founded March 4, 1966; 2026 theme: ‘Engage, Educate & Empower People to Enhance Safety’
Think & Discuss
India’s Semiconductor Push: Is the WBG Drive System a Signal of Self-Reliance or Symbolic Progress?
Context from today’s quiz: MeitY launched a 30 kW Wide Band Gap (WBG)-based Integrated Drive System for electric vehicles, developed by C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram in collaboration with IIT Madras and Lucas TVS under the NaMPET scheme. This comes amid India’s broader ambition to reduce dependence on imported semiconductors and build domestic chip design and manufacturing capacity.
🤔 Your Perspective Matters
India has long relied on imported semiconductor components for its electronics, EV, and defence sectors. Initiatives like NaMPET and the India Semiconductor Mission aim to change this. But bridging the gap between laboratory prototypes and commercial-scale deployment remains a formidable challenge.
Can India realistically build a globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem within this decade, or are structural barriers — capital intensity, talent gaps, and geopolitical supply chain pressures — too large to overcome quickly?
Can India realistically build a globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem within this decade, or are structural barriers — capital intensity, talent gaps, and geopolitical supply chain pressures — too large to overcome quickly?
- The WBG-based IDS was developed through a government-academia-industry collaboration (C-DAC, IIT Madras, Lucas TVS). What does this model suggest about the optimal structure for deep-tech innovation in India — should the government lead, or merely facilitate?
- China dominates rare earth materials used in semiconductors like GaN, while Taiwan leads in fabrication. How should India navigate this geopolitical reality while pursuing chip self-reliance?
- India’s EV sector is growing rapidly. If domestic WBG drive systems can be scaled, what would be the downstream impact on India’s trade balance, EV pricing, and energy security?
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your perspective in the comments.
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