Daily Current Affairs

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved the extension of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) up to 2028 with an enhanced total outlay of Rs 8.69 lakh crore. The Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) will restructure the mission to shift focus from infrastructure creation to sustainable service delivery and drinking water governance.

• Enhanced Central Assistance: Total central assistance under JJM 2.0 stands at Rs 3.59 lakh crore, including an additional Rs 1.51 lakh crore above the Rs 2.08 lakh crore approved in 2019–20.
• Goal: Ensure every rural household receives Functional Household Tap Water Connections (FHTC) and strengthen Gram Panchayat-level water management.
• Background: JJM was launched in August 2019 under the Ministry of Jal Shakti with the original target of providing tap water to all rural households by 2024.

The Union Cabinet approved significant amendments to India’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) framework governing investments from Land Border Countries (LBCs). These changes update Press Note 3 (originally issued on 17 April 2020) to streamline the approval process while maintaining national security safeguards.

• Applicable Countries: China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.
• Beneficial Ownership (BO) Framework: Investments where the beneficial owner from LBCs holds a non-controlling stake of up to 10% will now be eligible for the automatic route, subject to sectoral caps.
• Expedited Timeline: A 60-day decision deadline is introduced for investment proposals from LBCs requiring government scrutiny.
• Significance: Balances India’s need for foreign capital — particularly in tech and infrastructure — with national security requirements, especially vis-à-vis China.

The Union Cabinet and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a series of major infrastructure projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP).

• Madurai Airport: Declared an International Airport — will boost tourism (Meenakshi Amman Temple), trade, and investment in southern Tamil Nadu.
• Railway Multitracking (Rs 4,474 crore): Two multitracking projects spanning approximately 192 km across five districts of West Bengal and Jharkhand.
• Greenfield Road to Jewar Airport (Rs 3,631 crore): Revised cost for road connectivity to Noida International Airport (Jewar), Uttar Pradesh.
• NH-752D Four-Laning, Madhya Pradesh (Rs 3,839 crore): Four-laning of the Badnawar–Petlawad–Thandla–Timarwani section in MP.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the vision document titled ‘Defence Forces Vision 2047: A Roadmap for a Future-Ready Indian Military’ at South Block, New Delhi. The document was prepared by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).

• Objective: Transform Indian Armed Forces into a modern, integrated, technologically advanced, multi-domain military capable of deterring adversaries across the full spectrum of conflicts by 2047.
• Key Themes: Jointness among Army, Navy, and IAF; adoption of AI and cyber defence systems; Theatre Commands; and Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
• Timeline: Aligns with India’s centenary of independence in 2047 — the Viksit Bharat vision.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh (Ministry of Textiles) released the report ‘Mapping of Textile Waste Value Chain in India’ at Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi. The report assesses textile waste generation, recycling practices, and recovery pathways to promote circularity and sustainability.

• Total Waste Generated: India generates approximately 70.73 lakh tonnes (LT) of textile waste annually — 42% from pre-consumer textile waste (PCTW) and 58% from post-consumer textile waste (PoCTW).
• Spinning Sector: Operates a near-closed-loop system, reintegrating almost 100% of soft waste into production.
• Panipat Hub: Haryana’s Panipat has emerged as a major hub for mechanical textile recycling.
• Market Projection: India’s textile recycling market projected to reach USD 3.5 billion by 2030, with potential for around 1 lakh green jobs.

Global edtech platform Coursera partnered with the Government of India’s Mission Karmayogi to upskill civil servants through the Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) platform via the iGOT Marketplace gateway.

• Announced by: Chhavi Bhardwaj, CEO of Karmayogi Bharat.
• Focus Areas: Emerging Technologies (AI), Infrastructure & Sustainability, Leadership & Governance, and Public Welfare delivery.
• Mission Karmayogi: Also known as NPCSCB (National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building), launched in September 2020. Aims to shift public administration from ‘rule-based’ to ‘role-based’ competency models.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways) approved a Rs 117.54 crore project for the renovation of the historic Bascule Bridge at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata, West Bengal, to improve safety at the Kolkata Dock System (KDS).

• Bridge Origin: Originally constructed by Wagner-Biro Bridge Systems AG; will receive structural strengthening and electro-mechanical upgrades.
• Implementing Agency: Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL); construction awarded to M/s H & H Fressinet, Mumbai.
• Sagarmala Funding: Around Rs 41 crore assistance under Sagarmala Programme (launched 2015 to promote port-led development).

On 11 March 2026, the Supreme Court of India granted a landmark order permitting passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, 32, a resident of Ghaziabad who has been in a permanent vegetative state (PVS) for over 13 years following a fall in 2013. This marks the first practical application of India’s passive euthanasia guidelines.

• Bench: Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan.
• Order: Directed withdrawal of clinically administered nutrition (feeding tube) and life-sustaining treatment under medical supervision at AIIMS New Delhi’s palliative care unit.
• Legal Framework: Based on the 2018 ‘Common Cause v. Union of India’ judgment recognising that Article 21 (Right to Life) includes the ‘Right to Die with Dignity.’ Updated under 2023 revised passive euthanasia guidelines.
• Key Ruling: PEG feeding tubes constitute ‘medical treatment,’ not basic care — they can be legally withdrawn.
• Parliamentary Call: Court urged Parliament to enact specific legislation to prevent end-of-life decisions being shaped purely by financial distress.

US President Donald Trump announced that the USA will build its first new oil refinery in nearly 50 years, with investment from Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) led by Mukesh Ambani. The last major US refinery was built by Marathon Petroleum Corporation at Garyville, Louisiana, in 1977.

• Location: Port of Brownsville (PoB), Texas, USA.
• Developer: America First Refining (AFR), backed by RIL investment.
• Scale: Estimated USD 300 billion investment; will process 1.2 billion barrels of US shale oil (USD 125 billion) to produce approximately 50 billion gallons of refined petroleum products (USD 175 billion).
• Significance: Strengthens US energy security and marks a major Indian corporate investment milestone in American critical infrastructure.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the ‘RBI (Commercial Banks — Prudential Norms on Declaration of Dividend and Remittance of Profits) Directions, 2026,’ replacing the earlier 2025 dividend framework. The revised norms take effect from FY 2026–27.

• Maximum Dividend Payout: Capped at 75% of Profit After Tax (PAT) for banks incorporated in India.
• New Benchmark: Dividend eligibility now linked to the bank’s Common Equity Tier 1 (CET-1) ratio instead of the overall CRAR and net NPA ratio.
• Restriction: Banks with CET-1 ratio at or below 8% are barred from declaring any dividend.

Bank of Baroda (BoB) launched the ‘bob Women Sapphire Savings Account,’ a special savings account for women offering healthcare coverage, lifestyle privileges, and banking benefits to strengthen financial inclusion and wellness support for women customers.

• Balance Requirement: Monthly Average Balance (MAB) of Rs 1 lakh.
• Health Benefit: Rs 10 lakh cancer care insurance coverage for women aged 18–60 years, plus complimentary online doctor consultations.

George Russell (Mercedes) won the 2026 Formula 1 season-opening Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne on 8 March 2026, leading a dominant Mercedes 1-2 finish. The race was the first under F1’s sweeping new 2026 technical regulations, featuring a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power.

Indian opener Smriti Mandhana retained her No. 1 position in the ICC Women’s ODI batting rankings in the latest update, continuing her dominance at the top of women’s cricket globally with 790 rating points.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a cash reward of Rs 131 crore for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026-winning squad and support staff — the highest amount ever awarded to a victorious Indian team. The reward is Rs 6 crore more than the prize given after the 2024 T20 World Cup win. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the reward covers all players, support staff, and selectors.

• BCCI Naman Awards: To be held on 15 March 2026 in New Delhi, honouring five ICC trophy-winning Indian teams from the past year alongside top performers in international and domestic cricket.

No Smoking Day is observed every year on the second Wednesday of March — falling on 11 March 2026. The global awareness event encourages smokers to quit and highlights the severe health risks associated with tobacco use, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory illnesses.

• Purpose: Encourage smoking cessation, raise awareness about health hazards of tobacco, and support public health campaigns worldwide.
• Background: First observed in the UK in 1984 on Ash Wednesday; now marked globally.