Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 5 March 2026,Daily Roundup
5 March 2026
On March 5, 2026, the world remained on high alert as the West Asian conflict intensified, while India balanced delicate diplomacy with massive sporting success.
Current Affairs
National
- Digital Census 2027: Home Minister Amit Shah soft-launched four digital tools and unveiled the mascots for India’s first fully digital census, scheduled to begin on April 1.
- Economic Outlook: The RBI reported that India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) widened to 1.3% of GDP in Q3 FY26, driven primarily by a rising merchandise trade deficit amidst global supply chain disruptions.
- Judicial Security: The Bombay High Court ruled that security overrides religious rights, refusing permission for namaz near Mumbai airport, citing the sensitive nature of the area.
- EPFO Interest Rate: The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) officially retained the 8.25% interest rate for 2025–26, benefiting over 7 crore subscribers.
- Hydrogen-Powered Truck Trials. Context: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi flagged off India’s first fleet of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck trials in New Delhi.
International Relations & Security
- Condolences for Khamenei: In a significant diplomatic move, India formally condoled the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Iranian Embassy in Delhi to sign the condolence book.
- India-Finland Strategic Ties: President of Finland, Dr. Alexander Stubb, began a state visit to India. He co-inaugurated the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue alongside PM Modi, focusing on AI, clean energy, and the “Indo-Nordic Water Forum.”
- Nepal General Elections: Nepal held its General Election 2026 today. India monitored the process closely as a key partner in regional stability.
- Bhutan Judicial Ties: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant met the King of Bhutan in Thimphu to offer technical assistance for the digitization of Bhutan’s judicial processes.
Global Geopolitical Crisis
- Trump’s Interference: U.S. President Donald Trump sparked international debate by insisting the U.S. should have a “say” in picking Iran’s next Supreme Leader, dismissing potential successor Mojtaba Khamenei as a “lightweight.”
- Iranian Retaliation: Iran launched a wave of missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. and Israeli interests in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar in response to the “decapitation strikes.”
- Hormuz Blockade: Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted to near zero, with only five vessel crossings recorded in 24 hours, causing a massive energy shock in European and Asian markets.
Sports
- T20 World Cup 2026: In a heart-stopping thriller at Wankhede Stadium, India defeated England by 7 runs to enter the final.
- Sanju Samson followed his previous heroics with a blistering 89 off 42 balls, helping India set a target of 254.
- Despite a valiant century by England’s Jacob Bethell, Hardik Pandya’s crucial wickets secured the win.
- The Final: India will face New Zealand this Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
- Badminton: Lakshya Sen stunned World No. 1 Shi Yuqi in the opening round of the All England Open, marking one of the biggest upsets of the year.
- Commonwealth Kho Kho: India announced it will host the first-ever Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship from March 9–14, 2026.
Defence
- Maritime Strike: The U.S. Navy confirmed that a submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka. The incident sparked political debate in India, with opposition leaders questioning the security of India’s “backyard.”
- Indigenous Tech: India successfully tested “YAMA,” an autonomous swarm interceptor designed to neutralise incoming drone swarms, developed by a private Bengaluru-based firm.
Global Observance
- International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness: The UN Secretary-General urged world powers to halt the “escalating military spending” currently seen in the Middle East.
Miscellaneous One-Liners Current Affairs –
- Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar and BJP’s Nitin Nabin filed nominations for the Rajya Sabha polls.
- Assam: Researchers discovered a new genus of blind, red, aquifer-dwelling fish named Gitchak nakan in a village well.
- Kerala: Two new species of earthworms, Moniligaster girishi and Drawida reynoldsi, were discovered in Silent Valley National Park.
- Odisha: The state government announced a strict ban on gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine for public health safety.
- Maharashtra: The state launched “Saksham,” India’s first AI-driven skill census to map the employability of its youth
- Karnataka: A major security breach was reported on the state’s official education portal, compromising data from 58 schools.
