NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
NITI Aayog and UNICEF India Sol to Improve Nutrition in Aspirational Regions
NITI Aayog and UNICEF India signed a Statement of Intent to support strategic interventions in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks.
Highlights of NITI Aayog and UNICEF Collaboration
- Objective: To leverage the strengths of both institutions to advance efforts toward improved maternal and child nutrition outcomes in underserved regions.
- It will support the promotion of multi-stakeholder engagement and strengthen implementation systems for nutrition and health interventions at the block level.
- UNICEF India, through the IMPAct4Nutrition (I4N) platform, to channel CSR investments into nutrition-focused initiatives will provide technical expertise and support engagement with
- Businesses
- Public sector enterprises
- Industry associations
- Focus Areas of the Partnership: It will focus on strengthening Anganwadi infrastructure, enhancing nutrition literacy, improving uptake of ICDS services and building the capacity of frontline workers.
Jal Mahotsav 2026
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, will organise “Jal Mahotsav 2026”, a nationwide campaign from 8 March to 22 March 2026. The campaign is aimed at strengthening Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation) and community ownership in rural drinking water service delivery under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
These recognitions aim to institutionalise excellence, encourage sustainable management practices, and highlight grassroots champions as national role models in community-led drinking water governance.
About Jal Mahotsav
Objective: It seeks to promote
- Community-led water governance
- Sustainable management of rural drinking water systems
- Greater public awareness about water conservation
It aims to connect policy dialogue at the national level with grassroots action at the village level.
India’s First River Lighthouses on Brahmaputra
The Government of India has laid the foundation stones for four river lighthouses along the Brahmaputra River, marking the first time lighthouse infrastructure will be established on an inland waterway in India. The project will be developed along National Waterway 2 (NW-2), one of the country’s key inland cargo and passenger transport corridors. These lighthouses will support 24×7 safe navigation on the Brahmaputra waterway.
Locations of the River Lighthouses
The four lighthouses will be constructed at strategic points along the Brahmaputra River:
- Bogibeel – Dibrugarh district
- Pandu – Kamrup (Metro) district
- Silghat – Nagaon district
- Biswanath Ghat – Biswanath district
The project is being implemented through collaboration between:
- Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL)
- Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
DGT, MSDE Signs Flexi-MoU with Bajaj Auto Ltd
The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has signed a Flexible Memorandum of Understanding (Flexi-MoU) with Bajaj Auto Limited under the revised Flexi-MoU Scheme (June 2024). The collaboration aims to strengthen industry-integrated skill development in the automotive manufacturing sector.
Key Features of the Partnership
Under the agreement, Bajaj Auto Ltd. will operate as an Industrial Training Partner (ITP).
- Training programmes will be aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
- Training will be conducted at Bajaj Auto’s manufacturing facilities in Maharashtra and Uttarakhand.
BANKING | ECONOMY CURRENT AFFAIRS
RBI announces ₹1 lakh crore OMO to boost liquidity
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced an Open Market Operation (OMO) to purchase government securities worth ₹1 lakh crore in two tranches of ₹50,000 crore each on March 9 and March 13, 2026. This move aims to inject durable liquidity into the banking system, mitigating expected tight liquidity conditions from mid-March advance tax and GST outflows.
Government securities Purchase:
- RBI will purchase a variety of government securities with maturities ranging from 2030 to 2053. This will help to manage liquidity pressures, support government security (G-Sec) yields, and ensure smooth financial conditions as the fiscal year ends.
What are Open Market Operations (OMOs)?
Open Market Operations (OMOs) are a primary tool used by central banks (like the RBI) to manage liquidity in the banking system by buying or selling government securities.
- Buying securities injects liquidity (cash) to support lending and economic growth
- Selling securities absorbs excess liquidity to control inflation.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES CURRENT AFFAIRS
National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM)
The India–UK Conference on Green Hydrogen Standards and Safety Protocols was convened recently in New Delhi, to strengthen cooperation on the safe deployment of green hydrogen under India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Organisers
It was organized by the National Centre for Hydrogen Safety (NCHS), established under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to support the National Green Hydrogen Mission, in collaboration with the British High Commission in India and WRI India.
What is Green Hydrogen?
Green Hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power, instead of fossil fuels.
It is produced through the electrolysis process, where:
- Water is split into hydrogen and oxygen.
- Electricity generated from renewable sources powers the electrolysis process.
DGFT Extends Export Obligation Period for Export Promotion Scheme
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, extended the export obligation period for certain Export Promotion Schemes. This extension aims to support exporters affected by geopolitical disruptions impacting global shipping routes, logistics corridors, and supply chains.
Key Provision of Extension
- Key Features of the Relaxation
- Automatic extension will be granted.
- Exporters do not need to submit any application.
- No composition fee is required to avail the extension.
- Applicable to Authorisations: The extension applies to:
- Advance Authorisation Scheme
- Advance Authorisation for Annual Requirement
- Special Advance Authorisation
- Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme (EPCG)
- Eligibility Condition: The benefit applies where the EO period is expiring between 1 March 2026 and 31 May 2026.
Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI)
The inaugural edition of the Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI) was held on 5 March 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The initiative was organised as part of the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier conference on geopolitics and international affairs.
About Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative
- Jointly launched by: Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
- Objectives
- To create a global platform to discuss the role of science and technology in international diplomacy and policymaking.
- To strengthen the integration of scientific cooperation, technological governance, and diplomatic engagement in addressing global challenges.
VB-G RAM G Youth Digital Campaign Launched
The Ministry of Rural Development, in collaboration with MY Bharat recently launched a nationwide digital campaign titled “VB-G RAM G Youth Digital Campaign.” The campaign aims to create widespread awareness about the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rural Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Act, 2025, popularly referred to as VB-G RAM G Act, 2025. The initiative aligns with the broader national vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India).
Theme of Campaign: “Viksit Bharat-G Ram G – Youth Power, Progress of Panchayats.”
Guided by the theme, campaign aims to:
- Harness the energy, creativity and ideas of young citizens.
- Encourage youth involvement in community-led development initiatives.
- Strengthen governance and service delivery at the Panchayat level.
About VB-G RAM G Act, 2025
The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rural Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Act, 2025 represents a major transformation in India’s rural employment policy.
SWAYATT: Startups, Women and Youth Advantage through e-Transactions
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) recently celebrated the seven-year journey of its flagship initiative, SWAYATT – Startups, Women and Youth Advantage through e-Transactions. It reaffirms GeM’s commitment to making public procurement more inclusive for startups, women entrepreneurs and youth across India.
About SWAYATT (Startups, Women and Youth Advantage through e-Transactions)
| Component | Details |
| Parent Platform | Flagship initiative of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) |
| Launch Year | 2019 |
| Objective | To make public procurement more inclusive for startups, women entrepreneurs, youth, Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), and last-mile sellers |
| Core Principle | Rooted in GeM’s foundational pillar of social inclusion |
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur participated in the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-70) at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, United States of America. CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The priority theme of CSW-70 focused on “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and addressing structural barriers.”
About Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
- It is the UN’s principal global intergovernmental body dedicated exclusively to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
- Genesis: Established in 1946
- Parent Organisation: Operates under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to document women’s lives, set global standards, and monitor progress on the Beijing Platform for Action.
- Secretariat: Based in New York
ENVIRONMENT CURRENT AFFAIRS
National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), in collaboration with The Gates Foundation and Dalberg Advisors has launched of the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge. It is a national initiative aimed at strengthening climate resilience in rural India.
It seeks to address a key structural gap in India’s climate resilience ecosystem- the absence of an integrated and interoperable climate data architecture capable of producing reliable near-term hazard projections for rural areas.
About National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge
- Objective: To design a National Climate Stack for rural India. This Climate Stack will serve as a comprehensive digital framework integrating multiple climate data streams, enabling:
- Credible 10–15 year hazard projections
- Localised climate risk assessment
- Decision-ready climate intelligence.
Dark Oxygen Discovered In Pacific Ocean’s Deep Seafloor
Scientists discovered that polymetallic nodules on the Pacific Ocean floor (approx. 4,000 m deep) produce “dark oxygen” without sunlight or photosynthesis. These metal-rich rocks, located in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, act as natural, low-voltage batteries that split seawater into oxygen and hydrogen, a process called seawater electrolysis. This finding challenges the assumption that oxygen is only produced by plants and algae. The study was published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
Key Details About Discovery
- Location: The discovery was made in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a vast, deep-sea area in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico.
- Mechanism: Researchers found that polymetallic nodules (rocks containing cobalt, nickel, and manganese) generate electric potentials of up to 95V, which is sufficient to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, similar to a battery.
Green Ammonia and Green Methanol Standards Notified
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently introduced Green Ammonia and Green Methanol Standards to accelerate the adoption of green hydrogen derivatives under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
These standards aim to
- Define emission thresholds and eligibility conditions for ammonia and methanol to be classified as “green”, meaning they are produced using Green Hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources.
- Position India as a global hub for producing and exporting sustainable fuels.
Renewable Energy Definition in Production: For green ammonia and methanol production, renewable energy may include:
- Direct electricity from renewable sources
- Electricity stored in energy storage systems
- Renewable electricity banked with the grid, in accordance with regulations.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
National Health Claims Exchange
National Health Authority (NHA) has successfully conducted the NHCX Hackathon organised under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to promote innovation around the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX).
About National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX)
- It is a unified digital infrastructure designed to standardize, streamline and seamless exchange of insurance claims data among hospitals, insurance companies, and patients.
Developed under:
- The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) by the National Health Authority (NHA)
- It is one of the three gateways under ABDM, built to simplify and standardise health insurance claims processing across the country. Other two are
- Unified Health Interface (UHI):
- Health Information Exchange and Consent Manager (HIE-CM):