Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 26 March 2026, Daily Roundup
Current Affairs- 26 March 2026
On 26 March 2026, the geopolitical landscape saw a rare moment of tactical de-escalation in West Asia as the “Hormuz Deadline” was extended. In India, the day was marked by legislative milestones and a significant shift in regional connectivity and energy policy.
National
- Finance Bill 2026 Passed: The Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill 2026 by voice vote, incorporating 33 government amendments.
- Transgender Rights Amendment: The Rajya Sabha passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill. The bill sparked debate regarding gender self-identification rights.
- Retail Inflation Target: The Centre officially asked the RBI to maintain the retail inflation target at 4% (with a margin of +/- 2%) for the next five-year cycle ending in 2031.
- International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD): The 2026 edition of the IFFD kicked off at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with a special focus on “Identity in the AI Era.”
- PM Internship Scheme Revamp: Stipends have been increased from ₹5,000 to ₹9,000, and the age limit has been widened (18–25 years) to boost youth employability
- World Air Quality Report 2025: India ranked as the 6th most polluted country globally. New Delhi remains the most polluted capital city, while Loni (UP) was identified as the world’s most polluted city
International Affairs
- India-Iran LPG Trade: For the first time in years, India received its first cargo of Iranian Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) following a temporary ease in U.S. sanctions aimed at stabilising regional energy prices.
- UN Global Compact: L&T Finance officially joined the United Nations Global Compact, committing to ten universal principles on human rights, labor, and environment.
- Bangladesh Independence Day: Bangladesh celebrated its 55th Independence Day.
Global Geopolitical Crisis
- Hormuz Deadline Extended: U.S. President Donald Trump extended the deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz to April 6, 2026.
- Iran’s Tactical Gesture: As a show of “seriousness” in negotiations, Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. However, Tehran officially described the U.S. 15-point peace proposal as “one-sided.”
Defence
- Agniveer Reservations: The Centre has formally written to all State Governments seeking a 20% job reservation for retired Agniveers in state police forces and other government roles.
- INS Taragiri Update: Preparation intensified for the commissioning of the stealth frigate INS Taragiri (Project 17A), scheduled for early April at Visakhapatnam, aimed at bolstering Indian Ocean security.
- Border Infrastructure: Data released showed a 400% increase in the pace of road construction along the LAC since the 2020 Galwan clash.
- Operation Urja Suraksha: The Indian Navy launched this mission to safeguard energy supply routes in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions in West Asia.
Science and Technology
- CALM-Brain Launch: India launched CALM-Brain, the country’s first digital repository mapping brain structures to assist in neuroscientific research and mental health diagnostics.
- SEBI-Google Partnership: SEBI partnered with Google to implement AI-driven monitoring to curb the influence of “unregistered finfluencers”
- CERN’s Antiproton Test: Scientists at CERN successfully transported antiprotons in a portable trap for the first time, a major leap in studying antimatter outside specialised laboratory environments.
- Agnite Engine Test: Private space firm Agnikul Cosmos successfully test-fired the world’s first fully 3D-printed booster engine in Chennai.
Sports
- RCB Ownership Change: In a massive IPL shift, the Aditya Birla Group acquired full ownership of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a reported $1.78 billion.
- Miami Open: Tennis star Jannik Sinner continued his dominant run, securing a straight-sets victory to advance to the quarterfinals.
- Salah’s Departure: Football legend Mohamed Salah officially announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the 2026 season, ending a historic nine-year tenure.
- The National Indoor Athletics Championships began at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.
Global Observance
- Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness: Observed globally to increase public awareness and eliminate myths surrounding epilepsy.
- National Science Appreciation Day: A day celebrated (primarily in the US but adopted globally) to honour the impact of scientific discovery on human life.
Miscellaneous One-Liners Current Affairs
- Gujarat: Became the second state in India (after Uttarakhand) to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill.
- Bihar: IT Minister Shreyasi Singh announced a new Incubation Hub at IIT Patna to promote tech startups among Bihari youth.
- Energy Policy: The Government mandated a switch to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) for select urban consumers, warning that LPG subsidies would be discontinued for those refusing the switch.
- Railways: New “Reform Express” rules now prohibit any refund for tickets cancelled less than 8 hours before departure to curb “dummy” bookings.
- Delhi: Security was tightened at the Delhi Assembly following a second bomb threat received within 48 hours.
