Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Daily Quiz — March 19, 2026
Question 1 of 10
What is the full form of BHAVYA, the scheme approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026?
BHAVYA stands for Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna. The Union Cabinet approved it on March 18, 2026, with an outlay of Rs 33,660 crore to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across India spanning approximately 34,000 acres near 100 cities, with 50 parks targeted in the first phase. The scheme is implemented by NICDC under DPIIT and is expected to create 15 lakh direct jobs.
💡 Concept Note
BHAVYA is implemented by NICDC (National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Ltd) under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. NICDC was originally established in 2013 as DMICDC (Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation) and renamed in 2022. The plug-and-play model provides pre-cleared land, built infrastructure, single-window clearances, and utility connections so industries can begin operations without delays. BHAVYA targets sectors like semiconductors, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and defence manufacturing. India aims to raise manufacturing's share of GDP from 17% to 25% under the Make in India 2.0 initiative.
Question 2 of 10
Which agency implements the BHAVYA industrial parks scheme?
NICDC (National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Ltd) under DPIIT implements the BHAVYA scheme. NICDC was originally established in 2013 as DMICDC (Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation) and renamed NICDC in 2022 to reflect its expanded mandate across all industrial corridors.
💡 Concept Note
NICDC implements all of India's industrial corridor projects: DMIC (Delhi-Mumbai), CBIC (Chennai-Bengaluru), AKIC (Amritsar-Kolkata), VCIC (Vizag-Chennai), HNIC (Hyderabad-Nagpur), and HWIC (Hyderabad-Warangal). NICDC ownership: 51% Government of India and 49% JBIC (Japan Bank for International Cooperation) — reflecting the Japan partnership in DMIC. Industrial corridors combine transport infrastructure (highways, rail, ports) with industrial zones, logistics hubs, and smart cities along the corridor route.
Question 3 of 10
The Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme approved in March 2026 targets approximately how much capacity by 2031?
The Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme (FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31) targets installation of approximately 1,500 MW of small hydro capacity with a total outlay of Rs 2,584.60 crore. The scheme supports projects of 1-25 MW capacity in different states, with special emphasis on hilly and North Eastern states.
💡 Concept Note
Financial assistance under the scheme: North Eastern states and border districts receive Rs 3.6 crore per MW or 30% of project cost (max Rs 30 crore per project); other states receive Rs 2.4 crore per MW or 20% of project cost (max Rs 20 crore per project). Administered by MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy). India's installed small hydro capacity is approximately 5,000 MW. Small hydro (below 25 MW) is classified as renewable energy and does not require environmental impact assessment clearance in most cases. Northeast India and Himalayan states have the highest small hydro potential — estimated at over 21,000 MW.
Question 4 of 10
IOS SAGAR stands for Indian Ocean Ship — Security and Growth for All in the Region. When was the SAGAR doctrine first articulated by PM Modi?
PM Modi articulated the SAGAR doctrine during his visit to Mauritius on March 12, 2015, in a speech to the Mauritian Parliament. SAGAR stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region. The doctrine outlines India's vision for cooperative maritime security and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In 2025, India upgraded it to MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions).
💡 Concept Note
SAGAR has five pillars: Security, Growth, Rule-based order, Blue economy, and Connectivity. The MAHASAGAR upgrade extends the vision beyond the Indian Ocean to all oceans. IOS SAGAR (Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR) is the naval operational programme implementing this doctrine — an Indian Naval Ship trains with IONS nation navies simultaneously. India is the net security provider of the Indian Ocean Region, operating as the first responder in HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) for island nations. Key Indian Ocean choke points: Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb.
Question 5 of 10
Which forum did India assume the chairmanship of in February 2026, in the context of the IOS SAGAR initiative?
India assumed the chairmanship of IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium) in February 2026, taking over from the Royal Thai Navy — India's return to the helm after 16 years, having held the inaugural IONS chairmanship from 2008 to 2010. IONS was founded in 2008 at India's initiative and has 25+ member navies from Indian Ocean littoral states. The IOS SAGAR 2.0 initiative (launched March 16, 2026) involves training with 16 IONS member navies simultaneously.
💡 Concept Note
IONS focuses on maritime security coordination, HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief), search and rescue, and information sharing. IONS differs from QUAD: IONS is broader (25+ members including non-Western navies), while QUAD (India, USA, Japan, Australia) is a strategic security grouping. India also chairs IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) on rotation — IORA focuses on economic cooperation and sustainable development. India's maritime multilateralism in 2026 also included hosting MILAN (multinational naval exercise) in Visakhapatnam.
Question 6 of 10
The Barabanki-Bahraich NH-927 highway project was approved under which financing model?
The Barabanki-Bahraich NH-927 (101.5 km; Rs 6,969 crore) was approved under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). Under HAM, the government pays 40% of the project cost upfront (during construction) and the remaining 60% as annuity payments to the private developer over 15 years after completion. The government retains traffic and revenue risk.
💡 Concept Note
HAM combines features of EPC and BOT: the private developer handles construction (like EPC) but receives annuity payments (like BOT Annuity). Key infrastructure financing models in India: EPC (government bears all risk and cost), BOT Toll (private bears traffic risk, collects toll), BOT Annuity (government pays fixed annuity), HAM (40-60 split, government retains revenue risk), TOT (government monetises completed roads by leasing to private for toll collection). HAM is preferred for highways in areas with uncertain or low traffic projections where private parties hesitate to take revenue risk.
Question 7 of 10
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), which procures cotton under MSP operations, functions under which Ministry?
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Textiles. It procures cotton at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) when market prices fall below the support price, protecting farmers from distress sales. CCI was established in 1970.
💡 Concept Note
India is the world's largest cotton producer with approximately 6 million cotton farmers and 6.5 million hectares under cultivation. Major cotton-growing states: Maharashtra (Vidarbha), Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab. The Price Support Scheme (PSS) enables central government agencies like CCI (cotton), NAFED (oilseeds and pulses), and FCI (food grains) to procure at MSP. MSP is announced by the Union Cabinet on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) under the Ministry of Agriculture. MSP for cotton is set for both Medium Staple and Long Staple varieties.
Question 8 of 10
The Collegium system for judicial appointments in India evolved primarily through which landmark cases?
The Collegium system evolved through three landmark cases: First Judges Case (S.P. Gupta v. Union of India, 1981) — executive primacy in appointments; Second Judges Case (SCAORA v. Union of India, 1993) — established Collegium with CJI primacy; Third Judges Case (Presidential Reference, 1998) — expanded to a 5-judge Collegium for Supreme Court appointments. These progressively shifted appointment authority from the executive to the judiciary.
💡 Concept Note
The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) was created by the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014, but was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015 (4th Judges Case or NJAC Case) as violating the basic structure doctrine (independence of judiciary). The Collegium system currently consists of the 5 senior-most judges of the Supreme Court including the CJI for SC appointments, and CJI plus 2 senior-most SC judges for High Court appointments. Article 124 covers Supreme Court appointments and Article 217 covers High Court appointments. The Collegium system is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution — it is a judicial creation through interpretation.
Question 9 of 10
Yashobhoomi, where the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 is being held, is India's flagship venue for which purpose?
Yashobhoomi (officially India International Convention and Expo Centre — IICC) in Dwarka Sector 25, New Delhi, is India's largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) infrastructure, inaugurated in September 2023 by PM Modi. It has over 1.1 lakh sq m of exhibition space spread across 11 exhibit halls. The Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 (March 19-22) is organised by CII in partnership with the Ministry of Power.
💡 Concept Note
Yashobhoomi competes with Pragati Maidan (now Bharat Mandapam and ITPO Exhibition Complex) as India's premier exhibition venue. Bharat Mandapam hosted the G20 Summit in September 2023. India is positioning itself as a global MICE destination — the meetings and exhibitions industry contributes significantly to tourism GDP. Dwarka, where Yashobhoomi is located, also has connectivity to IGI Airport via the Airport Metro Express line. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry promotes India as a MICE destination under the National Tourism Policy.
Question 10 of 10
India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was commissioned in which year?
INS Vikrant (IAC-1), India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, was commissioned on September 2, 2022, by PM Modi at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, Kerala. It makes India one of only 6 countries capable of designing and building an aircraft carrier domestically. The ship is named after the original INS Vikrant that served in the 1971 war.
💡 Concept Note
INS Vikrant (IAC-1) displaces approximately 45,000 tonnes, is 262 metres long, and can carry up to 30 aircraft including MiG-29K fighters and Ka-31 helicopters. India also operates INS Vikramaditya (ex-Russian Admiral Gorshkov, purchased and refitted; commissioned 2013). A third carrier IAC-2 (INS Vishal, possibly nuclear-powered) is under consideration. Having two operational aircraft carriers makes India one of very few navies with such capability. Aircraft carriers are key to projecting power and maintaining sea-lane dominance in the Indian Ocean Region.