Daily Current Affairs

India Post (Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications) launched the ’24 Speed Post’ premium express service providing next-day (D+1) guaranteed delivery across six metro cities, effective from 17 March 2026.

• Phase 1 Cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad
• ’24 Speed Post’ (D+1): Next-day document delivery
• ’48 Speed Post’ (D+2): Two-day document delivery
• ’24 Speed Post Parcel’ (D+1): Parcels up to 5 kg
• Key Features: OTP-based secure delivery, end-to-end tracking with SMS alerts, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), API integration, free bulk pickup, money-back guarantee, priority air transmission

The Department of Commerce (DoC), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), reported India’s cumulative exports (merchandise + services) for April–February 2025–26 at USD 790.86 billion, a growth of 5.79% year-on-year.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) approved key regulatory reforms for food safety, effective from 1 April 2026, aimed at improving Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) while strengthening India’s food safety framework.

• Perpetual Validity: FSSAI registrations and licences will now have lifetime validity — eliminating periodic renewals and reducing compliance burden for Food Business Operators (FBOs)
• Turnover Threshold Revised:
  • Basic registration: raised from Rs 12 lakh → Rs 1.5 crore
  • State licensing: up to Rs 50 crore
  • Central licensing: above Rs 50 crore
• Street Vendors: Over 10 lakh street food vendors registered under the Street Vendors Act 2014 will be deemed registered under FSSAI — removing dual registration requirements

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in partnership with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), submitted India’s First National Report (NR1) on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat on 27 February 2026. The report covers 1 November 2017 to 31 December 2025.

• Nagoya Protocol: Full name — Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS); under the CBD
• India’s Global Leadership: 3,556 IRCCs (Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance) published — over 60% of global total
• ABS Approvals: 12,830 total; Rs 216.31 crore funds released via NBA; Rs 51.96 crore via State-level approvals
• Legal basis: Article 29 of the Nagoya Protocol (Monitoring and Reporting)

The Government of India granted approval to the Puducherry Government for setting up a dedicated IT Special Economic Zone (SEZ) spanning 21.30 acres near Thattanchavady, at a cost of Rs 1,250 crore.

• Infrastructure split: ~70% ‘Plug-and-Play’ offices; ~30% social infrastructure (housing, shopping, medical, bank, fire station)
• Employment: 30,000 jobs expected
• Export target: Rs 10,000 crore service exports over 10 years
• Design: Eco-friendly — green buildings, smart waste management, modern utilities

Senior ambassadors, diplomats, policymakers, and agribusiness leaders from over 10 nations launched the Asia Africa Agri Alliance (AAAA) in New Delhi to strengthen trade, agricultural cooperation, investment, and technology exchange between Asia and Africa. Registered as a Section 8 Not-for-Profit Organisation (NPO) under the Companies Act, 2013.

• Trade and Market Access
• Technology and Innovation Transfer
• Investment and Finance
• Policy, Standards and Agriculture Diplomacy
• Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange

The Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters, Ministry of Culture) announced the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025, recognising literary excellence across 24 Indian languages. Prize: engraved copper plaque (designed by Satyajit Ray) + shawl + Rs 1 lakh cash.

• Award composition: 8 Poetry, 6 Short Stories, 4 Novels, 2 Essays, 2 Memoirs, 1 Autobiography, 1 Literary Criticism

The Indian Navy (IN) participated in the US-led multinational Exercise Sea Dragon 2026 — an annual Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise held at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, hosted by the US Navy’s 7th Fleet.

• Participating nations: India, Japan (JMSDF), Australia (RAAF), New Zealand (RNZAF), and the United States (USN)
• Focus areas: ASW training, tabletop planning, strategy alignment, technology integration, mission tactics coordination
• Significance: Enhances India’s submarine detection capabilities; strengthens Indo-Pacific security cooperation

The World Bank signed an agreement to provide approximately USD 300 million loan to Uttar Pradesh to support the state’s Clean Air Plan. The loan has a maturity of 10 years (including a 2-year grace period), supported by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).

• Indian signatories: Juhi Mukherjee (Joint Secretary, DEA, MoF) and B Chandrakala (CEO, Clean Air Management Authority)
• World Bank signatory: Paul Procee (Acting Country Director, India)
• Program context: Part of World Bank’s Regional Air Quality Management Program for the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills (IGP-HF) — a global air pollution hotspot

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) signed a binding long-term Supply and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Samsung C&T Corporation, South Korea, for the supply of green ammonia over 15 years starting from the second half of FY 2028-29. Valued at over USD 3 billion — one of the world’s largest green fuel off-take agreements.

• Green Ammonia: Produced using green hydrogen (renewable energy-powered electrolysis) + nitrogen; a zero-carbon fuel for shipping, power, and fertilisers
• Policy alignment: India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM); RIL aims for net-zero emissions by 2035
• Significance: First in a series of global offtake agreements supporting RIL’s clean energy platform

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) announced the discovery of two new species of lichen moths from the Eastern Himalayas, published in Zootaxa (international taxonomic journal). Scientists: Navneet Singh (ZSI Kolkata), Santosh Singh (ZSI Jabalpur), and Srishti Bhattacharya (UGC Senior Research Fellow).

• Caulocera hollowayi: Discovered from Golitar, Sikkim
• Asura buxa: Discovered from Panijhora, West Bengal
• Ecological role: Lichen moths are vital pollution indicators — their caterpillars feed on lichens, which are highly sensitive to atmospheric quality

World Water Day is observed globally on 22 March every year since 1993. The 2026 theme is ‘Water and Gender’ — emphasising safe drinking water and sanitation as fundamental human rights and critical enablers of gender equality.

• SDG linkage: Contributes to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation for All by 2030)
• Organised by: UN-Water — UN’s coordination mechanism on water and sanitation
• Key statistic: 2.1 billion people live without safely managed drinking water; women and girls bear a disproportionate burden of water collection
• UN WWDR 2026: ‘Water for all people: Equal rights and opportunities’ — the flagship UN World Water Development Report
• Origin: UNGA resolution A/RES/47/193 (December 1992); first observed 22 March 1993; proposed in Agenda 21 at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit