March 2026 Week 3 Current Affairs (15–21 Mar)

PM Modi inaugurates ₹47,600 crore worth of projects across Assam — 13–14 March 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a two-day visit to Assam on 13–14 March 2026, inaugurating, dedicating to the nation, and laying foundation stones for development projects worth over ₹47,600 crore across three cities — Kokrajhar, Guwahati, and Silchar. In Kokrajhar (₹4,570 crore), he performed bhoomi poojan for six road infrastructure projects in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area including four flyovers and two bridges, laid the foundation for a Periodic Overhauling Workshop at Bashbari, and flagged off three new train services connecting the Northeast with southern and eastern India.

In Guwahati (₹19,480 crore), major projects included the dedication of the Kopili Hydro-Electric Project (₹2,300 crore, located in Dima Hasao district), completion of the Numaligarh-Siliguri Product Pipeline capacity enhancement enabling the Numaligarh Refinery to expand from 3 MMTPA to 9 MMTPA, inauguration of Phase 1 of the North East Gas Grid connecting Guwahati with Numaligarh, Gohpur, and Itanagar, major rail electrification of the Rangiya-Murkongselek line (558 km, ₹420 crore) and the Chaparmukh–Dibrugarh line (571 km, ₹1,180 crore), and the release of the 22nd installment of PM-KISAN to over 9.3 crore farmers. He also laid the foundation for cruise terminals at Bishwanath Ghat and Neamati Ghat under the waterways sector.

In Silchar (₹23,550 crore), the centrepiece was the bhoomi poojan for the ₹22,864 crore Shillong–Silchar High-Speed Corridor — a 166.8 km, four-lane, access-controlled greenfield expressway along National Highway-6 (NH-6). This is the first access-controlled expressway in the entire Northeast India. It will pass through Meghalaya districts and Assam’s Cachar district, reducing travel time between Guwahati and Silchar from 8.5 hours to approximately 5 hours, while also providing a connectivity link to Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, and eventually Southeast Asia under India’s Act East Policy. A Silchar Town Flyover (₹565 crore) and the Patharkandi Agricultural College (₹122 crore) — the first agriculture college in the Barak Valley — were also included.

Assembly election dates announced for 5 states and 1 UT — 15 March 2026

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for assembly elections on 15 March 2026 for Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. These elections are among the most significant in 2026, covering two of India’s most populous states and two major southern states. Polling was announced for 23 April 2026 (Tamil Nadu) and 23 and 29 April (West Bengal), with Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry scheduled for 9 April 2026. The announcement triggered a nationwide model code of conduct in the concerned states, with political parties accelerating campaign activities.

One Nation One Election: JPC gets extended timeline; PM-KISAN 22nd installment released

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) reviewing the One Nation One Election bills received an extended timeline on 19 March 2026 to complete its review and submit its report to Parliament. The One Nation One Election concept proposes holding Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assembly elections simultaneously to reduce the frequency and cost of elections. The initiative is being examined by the JPC chaired by senior BJP leader P.P. Chaudhary. The extended deadline reflects the complexity of the constitutional amendments required. Simultaneously, PM Modi released the 22nd installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from Guwahati, Assam, transferring ₹2,000 directly to over 9.3 crore farmer families across India.

India’s retail inflation rises to 3.21% in February 2026; NSE moves forward with IPO

India’s retail inflation (CPI — Consumer Price Index) rose to 3.21% in February 2026, up from 2.74% in January 2026, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) during the third week of March 2026. Despite the uptick, inflation remains comfortably within the RBI’s target band of 2–6%, indicating that price pressures remain manageable. The rise was primarily attributed to food price increases, particularly in vegetables and pulses. The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), Asia’s largest stock exchange by number of trades, advanced its long-awaited Initial Public Offering (IPO) by completing the selection of key intermediaries — investment bankers, legal advisors, and registrars — for the proposed listing, marking a significant step toward what is expected to be one of India’s largest IPOs.

World Happiness Report 2026: Finland happiest for 9th consecutive year; India at 118th

The World Happiness Report 2026, released by the Wellbeing Research Centre during the third week of March 2026, ranked Finland as the happiest country in the world for the ninth consecutive year. The report evaluates national happiness based on six key variables: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. The Nordic countries consistently dominate the top positions — a pattern attributed to their strong social safety nets, low inequality, high trust in institutions, and work-life balance culture. India was ranked 118th in the 2026 index, reflecting continued challenges in economic wellbeing, social support metrics, and freedom of choice among lower-income populations.

RELIEF Scheme 2026 launched for emergency export support; BHAVYA Scheme for investors

The Government of India launched the RELIEF Scheme 2026 (Rapid Emergency Liquidity and Incentive For Exports) on 20 March 2026 to provide emergency export support to Indian businesses affected by the ongoing West Asia crisis and disruptions to global shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. The scheme provides targeted financial incentives, credit guarantees, and alternative logistics support to exporters in sectors like petroleum products, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and engineering goods. Separately, the government unveiled the BHAVYA Scheme on 18 March 2026 to benefit retail investors in Indian capital markets — offering tax incentives, simplified onboarding, and financial literacy support to bring new investors, particularly from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, into the formal equity investment ecosystem. The Bank of Baroda also raised a USD 500 million five-year syndicated term loan through its IFSC Banking Unit in GIFT City, Gujarat to support international lending and trade finance activities.

National Quantum Mission approves quantum teaching labs in 23 institutions

The National Quantum Mission (NQM) approved the establishment of quantum teaching laboratories in 23 academic institutions across India during the third week of March 2026, with 100 more institutions under consideration for future phases. The National Quantum Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet in April 2023 with a total outlay of ₹6,003 crore over eight years (2023-2031), making it one of the most significant science investments in India’s history. The mission aims to make India a leading nation in quantum technologies — covering quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing, and quantum materials — by developing indigenous capacity through research, talent development, and industry partnerships.

Gujarat launches its first sounding rocket near Dholera — private space milestone

Gujarat achieved a landmark in the private space technology sector during the third week of March 2026, with the successful launch of its first sounding rocket at Bavaliyari village near Dholera — positioned within the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR). A sounding rocket is a research rocket that carries scientific instruments to altitudes between 50 and 1,500 km to conduct experiments in the upper atmosphere and near-space environment, before falling back to Earth — unlike orbital rockets that place satellites in sustained orbit. This launch marks Gujarat’s entry into India’s rapidly growing private space ecosystem, which has been energised by the liberalisation of India’s space policy and the establishment of IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) in 2020 to enable non-government entities to participate in space activities.

ISRO hot tests CE20 cryogenic engine; SATHEE App launched for competitive exam preparation; Surya Midha becomes youngest billionaire at 22

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted a sea-level hot test of the Cryogenic Engine CE20 at 22-tonne thrust at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The CE20 is the cryogenic upper stage engine of India’s LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) rocket and uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellants. A hot test validates the engine’s complete propulsion system under realistic conditions and is a critical step in qualification for human spaceflight missions under the Gaganyaan programme. Separately, the Ministry of Education launched the SATHEE Application (Self Assessment, Test and Help for Entrance Exams), developed in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, to provide free quality guidance to students preparing for competitive examinations like JEE, NEET, and UPSC. Indian-origin entrepreneur Surya Midha (age 22) made global headlines during this week after matching the youngest self-made billionaire milestone previously associated with Mark Zuckerberg.

World Bank and India launch $299.66 million programme to improve air quality in Uttar Pradesh — 17 March 2026

The World Bank and the Government of India jointly launched a USD 299.66 million (approximately ₹2,500 crore) programme on 17 March 2026 specifically aimed at improving air quality in Uttar Pradesh — India’s most populous state and one of the regions with the most severe air pollution challenges in the world. The programme will support a range of interventions including transitioning industries to cleaner fuels, upgrading waste management infrastructure, reducing stubble burning through mechanised alternatives for farmers, strengthening air quality monitoring networks, and building state-level institutional capacity for pollution control. The initiative is particularly significant given that several cities in UP — including Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Agra — consistently rank among the world’s most polluted cities.

Geological Survey of India declares Kalinjar Fort a Geo-Heritage Site — 20 March 2026

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) declared Kalinjar Fort in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh as a Geo-Heritage Site on 20 March 2026. Kalinjar Fort is one of India’s most ancient and formidable hill forts, built on the Vindhya Range and overlooking the Ken River. It is renowned for its geological significance — the rock formations in and around the fort span hundreds of millions of years of Earth’s history — as well as its historical and cultural importance. The fort witnessed battles involving Mahmud of Ghazni, Prithviraj Chauhan, Sher Shah Suri (who died here in 1545 during a cannon explosion), Humayun, and Akbar. GSI’s Geo-Heritage Sites programme aims to preserve geologically significant locations across India for scientific study and responsible tourism.

Krishi Sakhi Initiative launched for women farmers — 20 March 2026

The Krishi Sakhi Initiative was launched on 20 March 2026 to empower women farmers across India by training them as paraprofessional agricultural extension workers. Krishi Sakhis are trained rural women who serve as the last-mile knowledge link between agricultural research institutions and farming communities, delivering guidance on crop management, soil health, water conservation, pest control, and market access. The initiative builds on the success of the Lakhpati Didi programme and the self-help group (SHG) network established through the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). India has approximately 100 million women involved in agriculture, making such capacity-building initiatives critical for both food security and rural female empowerment.

Asia’s Largest Tulip Garden opens in Srinagar — 16 March 2026

The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir — Asia’s largest tulip garden — was inaugurated for the Kashmir Tulip Festival 2026 by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on 16 March 2026, opening earlier than usual due to warmer spring temperatures. The garden, situated against the backdrop of the Zabarwan mountain range and overlooking the iconic Dal Lake, displayed a record 1.8 million tulip bulbs across more than 70 varieties, arranged in colour-coordinated terraces across 30 hectares (74 acres). The 2026 festival is expected to surpass the previous year’s record of 8.55 lakh visitors, making it a major driver of tourism-led economic activity in Kashmir. The garden was established in 2007 to promote spring tourism in the valley.

NIOT successfully tests India’s first Floating LiDAR Buoy; Reliance signs 15-year green ammonia deal with Samsung C&T

The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) — under the Ministry of Earth Sciences — successfully tested India’s first indigenously developed Floating LiDAR Buoy System off the coast of Muttom, Tamil Nadu. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology uses laser pulses to measure wind speed, direction, and turbulence at various heights above sea level. A floating LiDAR buoy provides this data from an offshore platform, enabling accurate assessment of offshore wind energy potential — a critical step for India’s ambitious offshore wind energy targets. Separately, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) signed a binding long-term Supply and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with South Korea’s Samsung C&T Corporation for the supply of green ammonia over a 15-year period starting from the second half of FY2028-29, underlining India’s growing role in the global green hydrogen and clean fuels supply chain.

Union Cabinet approves ₹2,584 crore Small Hydro Power Scheme

The Union Cabinet approved a ₹2,584 crore Small Hydro Power Scheme on 19 March 2026, aimed at accelerating the development of small hydropower projects (up to 25 MW capacity) across India, particularly in the hilly states of the North East, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. Small hydropower projects are environmentally gentler than large dams, do not require large reservoirs, and can be developed quickly to provide clean electricity to remote communities. The scheme aligns with India’s Renewable Energy capacity expansion targets — aiming for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power generation capacity by 2030 — and specifically targets the untapped small hydro potential in India’s river-rich mountainous regions.

India leads global coconut production with over 30% share; India crosses 2.12 lakh startups

The Government of India announced on 18 March 2026 that India has become the world’s largest producer of coconuts, accounting for over 30% of global coconut output. Coconut cultivation in India spans over 2.15 million hectares, with Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha being the leading producing states. India’s dominance in coconut production is significant for its export potential in coconut oil, desiccated coconut, coconut water, and coir products. On the same day, it was announced that India had crossed 2.12 lakh (212,000) recognised startups, with over 1 lakh led by women directors — a major milestone reflecting the growth of India’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. India is currently the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, behind the USA and China.

Netflix launches Eyeline Studios in Hyderabad; NE–Japan Academic Consortium formed; Bharat Tribes Fest 2026

Netflix launched Eyeline Studios — its global production and innovation studio — in Hyderabad, Telangana during the third week of March 2026, strengthening India’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) ecosystem. Hyderabad was chosen for its strong technical talent base and existing AVGC industry. The Bharat Tribes Fest 2026 began in New Delhi on 18 March 2026, celebrating the art, culture, handicrafts, music, and traditions of India’s tribal communities. Separately, 22 institutions from Northeast India, led by IIT-Guwahati, along with Japan’s Gifu University, signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to establish the North East Region-Japan International Academic and Research Consortium — a collaboration aimed at boosting research and academic exchange between Northeast India and Japan.

India’s metro network becomes world’s 3rd largest — 18 March 2026

India officially confirmed its status as the world’s third-largest metro rail network on 18 March 2026, with over 1,143 km of operational metro lines across 29 cities. China holds the top position globally, followed by the United States, with India now firmly in third place — ahead of Russia, Japan, and most European nations. An additional 936 km of metro lines are currently under construction across India. India’s first modern metro began operations in Delhi in 2002 (built with Japanese assistance). Key milestones include India’s first driverless metro (Delhi’s Magenta Line, December 2020), India’s first underwater metro tunnel (Kolkata, March 2024), and the first Ring Metro (Delhi, March 2026). Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) operates India’s largest individual metro system with 395 km of operational lines.

Indian Post launches 24-hour Speed Post service; FASTag Annual Pass fee revised; FSSAI licences get lifetime validity

The Indian Post launched a pioneering 24-hour Speed Post service — officially named “The 24 Speed Post” — on 17 March 2026, enabling next-day delivery of documents and parcels between major cities. This service targets the competitive premium courier segment and leverages the India Post network’s unmatched reach across 1.55 lakh post offices. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced a revision of the FASTag Annual Pass fee for private non-commercial vehicles effective from April 2026, adjusting rates to better reflect usage patterns and highway toll revenues. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare approved perpetual (lifetime) validity for registrations and licences issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on 14 March 2026, eliminating periodic renewal requirements for food businesses to improve ease of doing business in the food sector.

15 March — World Consumer Rights Day

World Consumer Rights Day is observed globally on 15 March every year to raise awareness about consumer rights and promote fair, ethical, and sustainable market practices. The date was chosen because US President John F. Kennedy addressed the US Congress on consumer rights on 15 March 1962 — the first time a head of state formally recognised consumer rights. The day is championed by Consumers International, a global federation of consumer organisations. The 2026 theme was “Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers” — focusing on ensuring that artificial intelligence systems used in commerce, finance, and services are transparent, fair, non-discriminatory, and accountable to consumers.

16 March — National Vaccination Day; 18 March — Ordnance Factories Day

National Vaccination Day is observed across India on 16 March every year to highlight the critical importance of vaccination in protecting public health and preventing infectious diseases. It was first observed in 1995 when India administered the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for the first time — a milestone in India’s ultimately successful campaign to eradicate polio. The day underscores India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), one of the world’s largest, which provides free vaccines against 12 diseases to children. Ordnance Factories Day is observed on 18 March to commemorate the establishment of the first ordnance factory in India at Cossipore, West Bengal, in 1802. India’s ordnance factories — now reorganised under Defence PSUs following their corporatisation in October 2021 — manufacture ammunition, weapons, military vehicles, and explosives for the armed forces.

20 March — International Day of Happiness + World Sparrow Day; 21 March — World Forest Day + World Poetry Day + World Down Syndrome Day

International Day of Happiness is observed on 20 March, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, based on a proposal from Bhutan — a country known for its Gross National Happiness index. The 2026 theme was “Caring Creates Happiness”. World Sparrow Day is also on 20 March, raising awareness about the alarming decline of the House Sparrow population in urban environments due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and electromagnetic pollution. World Forest Day (International Day of Forests) is observed on 21 March to celebrate forests and raise awareness about sustainable forest management. World Poetry Day on 21 March honours the power of poetry in cultural expression and linguistic diversity, designated by UNESCO in 1999. World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is also observed on 21 March (chosen because Down syndrome involves a third copy of the 21st chromosome — 21/3), to promote inclusion of persons with Down syndrome.