Daily Current Affairs: 7 March 2026

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

India AI Impact Summit 2026: Outcomes

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 was held from 16–21 February 2026, marking a significant milestone in global discussions on responsible, inclusive, and development-oriented Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Summit witnessed massive participation:

• 6 lakh attendees in person
• 9 lakh+ cumulative views through live virtual streaming
• Delegations from 100+ countries and 20 international organisations

Guinness World Record Achievement

During the Summit, India achieved a Guinness World Record for the: “Most pledges received for an AI responsibility campaign in 24 hours.”

• Over 2.5 lakh validated pledges were recorded.
• The campaign reaffirmed public commitment to responsible AI adoption.

Expansion of India’s AI Infrastructure

A major announcement at the summit was the expansion of India’s sovereign AI compute capacity under the IndiaAI Mission.

Key Highlights

• 38,000+ GPUs already provisioned
• Additional 20,000 GPUs to be added soon

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BANKING | ECONOMY CURRENT AFFAIRS

IRDAI Proposes Adoption of Ind AS for Insurers from 1 April 2026

India’s insurance regulator, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), has proposed a major overhaul of the financial reporting framework for insurance companies.

Through an exposure draft proposing amendments to the IRDAI (Actuarial, Finance and Investment Functions of Insurers) Regulations, 2026, the regulator plans to introduce Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) for insurers starting 1 April 2026.

• Objective: The reform aims to improve policyholder protection, transparency, and comparability of financial statements, while aligning India’s insurance accounting with global standards.

Why did IRDAI Proposed the Reform?

Currently, insurers prepare financial statements under multiple Existing Legal Frameworks: 

• Insurance Act 1938- Governs insurance operations
• Companies Act 2013- Corporate financial reporting
• IRDAI Regulations- Sector-specific reporting rules

However, this framework differs from global accounting standards in areas such as:

• Liability measurement
• Profit recognition
• Financial asset impairment
• Disclosure practices

The new system will align India’s insurance reporting with global accounting practices.

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GOVERNMENT SCHEMES CURRENT AFFAIRS

President Launches Four Women-Centric Welfare Schemes in Delhi

Droupadi Murmu, the 15th President of India (since 2022) and the first tribal woman to hold the office, launched four major women-centric welfare initiatives of the Delhi Government on 2 March 2026 in New Delhi.

The initiatives were introduced under the programme “Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi”, aimed at strengthening women’s mobility, financial security, social empowerment, and welfare delivery.

Schemes:

Saheli Pink Smart Card / Pink National Common Mobility Card

• Free and seamless public transport access for women

Free LPG Cylinders Scheme

• Provide clean cooking fuel support to eligible families

Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana

• Financial empowerment of girl children

Meri Punji Mera Adhikaar

• Ensuring citizens receive pending government financial benefits

These initiatives reflect the government’s focus on gender-inclusive governance and women-led development.

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ENVIRONMENT CURRENT AFFAIRS

West Bengal’s Masterplan for Ichhamati & Jalangi Basin Restoration

The Government of West Bengal has signed a tripartite MoU with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the State Mission for Clean Ganga (SMCG) to prepare a comprehensive masterplan for restoring the Ichhamati and Jalangi river basins.

Both rivers are located in the upper Ganga delta region of West Bengal and are facing serious ecological degradation due to pollution, siltation, declining water flow and erosion.

‘Nodi Bandhan’ Project

• The West Bengal government announced the ‘Nodi Bandhan’ river restoration project in the 2025–26 state budget.

Key Objectives

• Prepare basin-level masterplans for rivers in the state
• Engage international expert agencies for technical assistance
• Restore ecological health of rivers and improve water management.
• The Ichhamati and Jalangi basins are the pilot projects under this initiative.

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STATES CURRENT AFFAIRS

Karnataka Bans Social Media Use for Children Under 16

The Government of Karnataka announced a ban on social media usage for children under the age of 16, aiming to protect minors from the negative effects of excessive mobile and internet use. Once implemented, Karnataka will become the first Indian state to impose such a restriction, joining global discussions on regulating minors’ digital engagement.

The state is home to Bengaluru, often called India’s Silicon Valley due to its concentration of global technology companies.

• Policy: Social media ban for children under 16
• Implementing Authority: Government of Karnataka
• Status Announced (implementation date yet to be specified)
• First such state-level ban in India

Objective

• Protect children from excessive social media exposure
• Reduce screen addiction and mental health risks
• Prevent exposure to harmful online content
• Promote healthier digital habits among minors.

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REPORTS AND INDICES CURRENT AFFAIRS

World Obesity Atlas 2026

On World Obesity Day (4 March), the World Obesity Federation released the second edition of the World Obesity Atlas 2026. The report highlights a worrying rise in childhood obesity worldwide, with India ranking second globally after China in the number of children who are overweight or living with obesity.

• Researchers compiling data till 2025 estimate that India could have around 41 million children with high Body Mass Index (BMI) and 14 million children living with obesity.

Key Findings of World Obesity Atlas 2026

Global Obesity Situation

• Countries with highest number of obese children: China, India, United States
• Children with overweight/obesity globally (5–19 yrs): 20.7% of global children
• Share in 2010: 14.6%
• Projected global cases by 2040: 507 million children
• Children showing early cardiovascular disease signs by 2040: 57 million
• More than 200 million school-age children (5–19 years) living with overweight or obesity are concentrated in just 10 countries worldwide.

Top Countries

1. China: 62 million Children with High BMI; 33 million Children with Obesity
2. India: 41 million Children with High BMI; 14 million Children with Obesity
3. United States: 27 million Children with High BMI; 13 million Children with Obesity

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AWARDS & EVENTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Zero Discrimination Day 2026: 1 March

Zero Discrimination Day is observed every year on 1 March to promote equality, dignity and inclusion for all people regardless of gender, race, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or health status.

The day is led globally by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and supported by the United Nations and its member states.

Zero Discrimination Day 2026

• The 2026 observance highlighted persistent discrimination faced by people living with HIV and emphasized the need to “put people first.”

Focus

• Eliminating HIV-related stigma
• Ensuring equal access to healthcare services
• Protecting human rights and dignity
• Supporting the global goal of ending AIDS by 2030

Discrimination remains one of the largest barriers to effective HIV prevention, treatment and care.

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World Civil Defence Day 2026: 1 March

World Civil Defence Day is observed every year on 1 March to raise awareness about the importance of civil defence, disaster preparedness and emergency response systems. The day highlights the critical role played by civil defence organizations and volunteers in protecting lives, property and the environment during disasters and emergencies.

• The observance is coordinated globally by the International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO).
• Theme of World Civil Defence Day 2026: “Managing Environmental Risks for a Resilient and Sustainable Future”
• The theme emphasizes the growing need to address environmental hazards and climate-related disasters through better preparedness and risk management.

Key Focus Areas

• Managing risks from climate change
• Strengthening disaster resilience
• Protecting communities and infrastructure
• Promoting sustainable emergency management strategies

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World Seagrass Day: 1 March

World Seagrass Day is observed every year on 1 March to raise awareness about the importance of seagrass ecosystems for marine biodiversity, climate regulation and coastal protection. 

• The day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution A/RES/76/265 in May 2022, following a proposal by Sri Lanka.
• The observance highlights the urgent need to conserve and restore seagrass ecosystems, which play a crucial role in maintaining healthy oceans and achieving global sustainability goals.
• The initiative is supported by organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

What are Seagrasses?

• Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that grow in shallow coastal waters across the world, from tropical regions to the Arctic Circle.
• These plants form extensive underwater meadows, creating one of the most productive marine ecosystems.

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World Hearing Day 2026: 3 March

World Hearing Day is observed every year on 3 March to raise global awareness about hearing loss prevention and ear care. The campaign is led by the World Health Organization, particularly through its Office of Prevention of Blindness and Deafness, with activities conducted worldwide and a global event hosted annually at WHO headquarters in Geneva.

• Objective: The day aims to promote hearing health, encourage early diagnosis and expand access to hearing care services.

Theme of World Hearing Day 2026

• “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children.”
• The 2026 campaign focuses on improving hearing health among children.

Two Major Priorities

• Preventing avoidable childhood hearing loss 
• Early detection and treatment of hearing problems in children

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National Safety Day 2026: 4 March

National Safety Day is observed in India every year on 4 March to promote safety awareness, accident prevention and a culture of workplace safety across industries and society. The campaign is organized by the National Safety Council of India, with support from the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

• The observance encourages organizations, institutions and individuals to adopt safe practices in workplaces, communities and daily life.

National Safety Day 2026

• India is celebrating the 55th National Safety Week in 2026.
• Theme 2026: “Engage, Educate & Empower People to Enhance Safety.”

Theme Focus

• Active participation in safety practices
• Continuous safety education and training
• Empowering individuals to prevent accidents

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International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness 2026: 5 March

The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness is observed annually on 5 March to promote awareness about disarmament issues and the dangers posed by weapons, particularly weapons of mass destruction.

• Objective: The observance aims to educate the public, especially young people- about how disarmament contributes to global peace, security and sustainable development.
• The initiative is supported by the United Nations, which has long promoted multilateral disarmament and arms control as essential tools for maintaining international peace.
• The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs is the main UN body responsible for disarmament initiatives.

Major Global Concerns

• Nuclear weapons- Massive destruction and long-term environmental damage
• Conventional weapons accumulation-  Escalation of conflicts
• Illicit trade in small arms- Fueling violence and instability
• Explosive weapons in populated areas- High civilian casualties
• Emerging weapon technologies- New security risks

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PLACES IN NEWS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Varanasi Sets Guinness Record for Mega Plantation Campaign

The city of Varanasi created history by entering the Guinness World Records for planting 2,51,446 saplings within one hour during a mega plantation campaign. The drive took place at Sujabad Domari area and surpassed China’s previous record of 1,53,981 saplings planted in 2018.

The achievement was officially verified by a Guinness World Records adjudicator, using drone surveillance and digital counting systems.

The plantation was conducted through coordinated efforts by:

• Varanasi Municipal Corporation
• Government departments
• Social organisations
• Educational institutions.

Sector-Based Plantation Model

• The forest area has been divided into 60 sectors, each named after famous ghats of Kashi.
• Each sector recorded more than 4,000 saplings planted.

Miyawaki Plantation Technique

• The plantation drive used the Akira Miyawaki Miyawaki Method, a technique for creating dense forests in small urban spaces
• The use of native species helps maintain ecological balance and biodiversity.

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