National Affairs

Indian Navy Launches 'Operation Urja Suraksha' to Secure Energy Vessels in Strait of Hormuz

In March 2026, the Indian Navy (IN) launched 'Operation Urja Suraksha' (Energy Protection) to escort, guide, and safeguard India-bound energy shipments through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

• Objective: To protect India's energy security, with 22 India-bound vessels currently identified for escort, including 20 high-priority ships carrying critical supplies of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), and crude oil.
• Naval Deployment: The mission involves the deployment of more than 5 frontline warships around the critical maritime chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz.
• Escort Success: The operation has already achieved notable success with Indian LPG carriers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant successfully navigating the Strait under naval escort. This follows the successful escorting of other vital ships — LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, as well as the crude oil tanker Jag Laadki.

IAF Launches India's First Helicopter-Dropped Drone Project 'Vayu Baan'

The Indian Air Force (IAF) initiated 'Vayu Baan', a pioneering project to develop India's first helicopter-launched Unmanned Aerial System (UAS).

With the launch of Vayu Baan, India joins an elite group of countries, including the USA and China, reducing its reliance on foreign air-launched drone technologies.

• Implementing Agency: The project is being led by the IAF's Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD), which issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in March 2026 to invite domestic vendors for design and development.
• Deployment Mechanism: The small, autonomous drone is designed to be dropped from a moving helicopter mid-flight. After release, it unfolds its wings and activates propulsion.
• Stand-off Distance: It allows helicopters to engage enemy targets from a safe distance of over 50 kilometres (km), keeping the aircrew outside the range of enemy Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS).

Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Ashwini Vaishnaw Launch 'PRISM-SG Portal' for Road-Rail Bridge Projects

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways (MoR), jointly launched the PRISM-SG (Portal for Rail-Road Inspection & Stages Management – Steel Girders) in New Delhi.

The portal aims to reduce, digitize, and streamline approval and inspection processes for Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and railway infrastructure projects.

Ministry of Culture Signs MoU with YouTube to Promote Indian Folk and Tribal Music Globally

The Ministry of Culture exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with YouTube in New Delhi, to globally promote India's folk and tribal music.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism); Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture; and Gunjan Soni, Managing Director (MD) – India, YouTube.

• Aim: To preserve, popularize, and showcase India's diverse cultural heritage through digital platforms.
• Key Role: Led by the Ministry of Culture and executed by a Joint Task Force (JTF), in partnership with YouTube as Knowledge Partner, providing training, analytics insights, monetization guidance, and rights awareness.
• Infrastructure Support: Access to facilities at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Delhi; Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), Delhi; National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi; Kalakshetra Foundation (KF), Chennai, TN; and Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs).
• Vision: Aligned with PM's 'Vocal for Local, Local for Global' approach to position indigenous art in international markets and strengthen India as Vishwa Mitra.

DoP Partners with TRIFED to Boost e-Commerce of Tribal Products Across India

The Department of Posts (DoP) under the Ministry of Communications signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), to develop a reliable and cost-effective logistics network for delivering products sold through TRIFED's e-commerce platforms, including the Tribes India marketplace.

• Term: Valid for an initial 2 years, with provisions for regular review and extension based on mutual agreement.
• Key Role: DoP will provide end-to-end logistics for TRIFED's e-commerce orders, leveraging its extensive nationwide network. TRIFED will ensure proper packaging, labelling, and sharing order-related information.
• BNPL Account: A Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) account will be created for TRIFED under India's Post Nation Account Facility, streamlining booking and payment processes for shipments through Speed Post.

Indian Army and IITM Pravartak Sign MoU to Advance Defence Indigenisation

The Indian Army's (IA) Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) Pravartak Technologies Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to accelerate indigenous defence technology development.

• Scope: The collaboration will identify issues in Army equipment, develop prototypes, test them, and support their final deployment.
• NIC: A Nodal Indigenisation Centre (NIC) has been set up at Avadi, Chennai, to serve as a strategic hub for defence innovation and manufacturing by leveraging the TN Defence Corridor (TNDC).
• Framework: Pravartak will collaborate with the NIC to advance projects in sensing, Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), and Autonomous Technologies (AT). The Corps of EME will provide operational requirements and validation support for real-world application.

Banking & Finance

NHB Launches 'Gruh Sugam Portal' to Facilitate Home Loans for Defence & Government Personnel

The National Housing Bank (NHB), the apex housing finance regulator under the Government of India, launched the 'Gruh Sugam Portal' to simplify and digitise the process of availing housing loans for defence personnel, paramilitary forces, and government employees across India.

• Overview: A digital housing loan platform that enables users to compare, apply, and track home loans online through a single interface, ensuring seamless, transparent, and faster access to services.
• Easy Access: Enables defence and government personnel to avail home loans easily from their place of posting.
• Digital Process: Eligible beneficiaries can apply digitally through administrative units without visiting banks or financial institutions for approval and processing.
• About NHB: Established in 1988 under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987, NHB is a statutory body that regulates Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) and promotes affordable housing finance. Headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi.

Lakshya AMC Receives SEBI Approval to Launch MF Business

Lakshya Asset Management Company (AMC) received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to commence its Mutual Fund (MF) business in India.

• Sponsorship: Sponsored by Wealth First Portfolio Managers, a publicly listed wealth management company on NSE and BSE.
• Leadership: Onboarded key members from Benchmark AMC, including Sanjiv Shah, Rajan Mehta, and Sanjay Gaitonde.
• Headquarters: Lakshya AMC will be the first AMC to be headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, indicating a shift towards developing financial institutions beyond traditional metro cities.
• About Benchmark AMC: Founded in 2001, it was India's first mutual fund focused exclusively on passive and quantitative investments and pioneered Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) with products such as Nifty BeES, Gold ETF, Gold BeES, and Liquid BeES.

Economy & Business

OECD Interim Report: India Growth Forecast Lowered to 6.1% for FY27

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released its OECD Economic Outlook, Interim Report – March 2026, titled "Testing Resilience", projecting that the Indian economy will grow at 6.1% in FY27.

GoI Keeps Inflation Target at 4% for 2026-31 Period

The Government of India (GoI) kept the inflation target unchanged at 4% for the next 5 years (from April 01, 2026 to March 31, 2031), marking the 2nd consecutive instance of inflation targets remaining unchanged.

The decision was taken by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in exercise of powers given by Section 45ZA of RBI Act, 1934.

Appointments & Resignations

RSP Leader Balendra Shah Sworn-in as Youngest PM of Nepal

On 27 March 2026, Balendra Shah (35), a leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and former rapper, was sworn in as the youngest Prime Minister (PM) of Nepal, after his party secured a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections held on March 5, 2026.

Nepal's President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy at the President's Office in Sheetal Niwas, Kathmandu.

• Succession: Succeeded Sushila Karki, who served as Interim PM for six months following the political upheaval of 2025.
• Seats Secured: The RSP secured a massive 182 seats out of a total of 275 seats in the House of Representatives (HoR), crossing the simple majority threshold of 138 seats, enabling it to form the first majority government under Nepal's current federal framework.

Sikkim's Stuti Pradhan Selected for World Youth Parliament 2026

Stuti Pradhan, a young leader from Sikkim, was selected to represent India at the World Youth Parliament (WYP), highlighting India's growing youth role in global policy, leadership, and diplomacy on issues like climate change, education, and sustainable development.

WYP is an international platform uniting young delegates from countries including South Korea, UAE, Kuwait, Chad, Thailand, Yemen, and others.

• Background: Recognized for excellence in parliamentary debate, leadership qualities, and debate performance.
• Achievement: Secured the state winner title at Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025.
• Recognition: Honored as a special guest at Lok Bhawan, Sikkim during Republic Day 2026.

Sports

Olympic & World Badminton Champion Carolina Marin Announces Retirement

Spanish Olympic and World Badminton Champion Carolina Maria Marin Martin announced her retirement from professional badminton at the age of 32 after failing to fully recover from a third serious knee injury.

Achievements:

IOC Announces New Policy on Protection of the Female (Women's) Category in Olympic Sport

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved a landmark policy titled 'Protection of the Female (Women's) Category in Olympic Sport', replacing the 2021 framework without retroactive application and set to take effect from the Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) Olympic Games (scheduled July 14–30, 2028, USA).

The policy aims to uphold fairness, safety, and integrity by protecting the rights of female athletes and ensuring equal competition based on scientific evidence.

• Criteria: Sex-determining Region Y Gene Screening (SRY) requires athletes to be SRY-negative to compete in female categories, citing biological advantages in strength, power, and endurance.
• Ineligibility: SRY-positive athletes, including XY transgender individuals and those with androgen-sensitive Differences/Disorders of Sex Development (DSD), are ineligible for female events but may compete in other categories, with exceptions for Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) and certain DSD cases without testosterone advantage.
• Implementation: Applies to all IOC events, including the Olympic Games, Youth Olympics, and qualifiers, implemented by National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs) under joint oversight.

Important Days at a Glance