Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Daily Quiz — March 20, 2026
Question 1 of 10
The World Happiness Report 2026 is published by which organisation?
The World Happiness Report is published annually by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), released on International Day of Happiness (March 20). It uses Gallup World Poll data based on the Cantril Life Satisfaction Ladder (0-10 scale), surveying approximately 147 countries. The 2026 report was the 14th edition (first published in 2012).
💡 Concept Note
Finland ranked as the happiest country for the ninth consecutive year in the WHR 2026, with an average score of 7.764. Top 10 in 2026: Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Israel, Luxembourg, Switzerland. India ranked 116th in 2026, up from 118th in 2025. The SDSN was launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2012 to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDSN produces the WHR in partnership with the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University.
Question 2 of 10
India was awarded hosting rights for the 2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships. Which city will host the event?
Bhubaneswar, Odisha will host the 2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium complex — making India the first country to host this championship. The hosting rights were awarded by the World Athletics Council at its meeting in Torun, Poland. A World Athletics inspection team visited the Kalinga Stadium indoor facility in January 2026 before clearing India's bid.
💡 Concept Note
Bhubaneswar previously hosted the Hockey World Cup in 2018 and 2023, and the National Para Athletics Championship in March 2026. India will be only the fourth Asian nation to host the World Indoor Athletics Championships, after Japan (1999), Qatar (2010), and China (2025). World Athletics (formerly IAAF, renamed in 2019) is headquartered in Monaco and is headed by Sebastian Coe. The 2028 Bhubaneswar championships will be the 22nd edition of the event.
Question 3 of 10
Exercise Amogh Jwala was conducted by which Command of the Indian Army?
Exercise Amogh Jwala was conducted by Southern Command of the Indian Army at the Babina Field Firing Ranges near Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh (March 6-18, 2026). The exercise was overseen by Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command. It showcased multi-domain warfare capabilities including the first-ever integration of attack helicopters with mechanised forces, drones, electronic warfare, and network-enabled platforms.
💡 Concept Note
The Indian Army has 7 Commands: Northern (Udhampur), Eastern (Kolkata), Southern (Pune), Western (Chandimandir), Central (Lucknow), South-Western (Jaipur), and Army Training Command ARTRAC (Shimla). Southern Command HQ is in Pune, Maharashtra. Babina is home to elements of the 1 Strike Corps — India's primary offensive mechanised strike formation equipped with T-90 Bhishma and T-72 Ajeya tanks. India is transitioning toward Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) under the Chief of Defence Staff to integrate Army, Navy, and Air Force under unified theatre commanders.
Question 4 of 10
What does RELIEF stand for in the context of the scheme launched for Indian exporters in March 2026?
RELIEF stands for Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation. It was launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (DPIIT) with an allocation of Rs 497 crore to support Indian exporters facing higher freight costs and insurance premiums due to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes forcing rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope. The scheme has three components covering export credit support, risk coverage, and freight reimbursement for MSME exporters.
💡 Concept Note
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden crisis (Houthi militant attacks on commercial shipping since November 2023) diverted vessels from the Suez Canal route to the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10-14 days of transit time and raising freight rates by 90-100% on key trade routes. India launched Operation Sankalp for Indian Navy deployment in the region to protect Indian shipping. The Suez Canal (opened 1869) connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and handles approximately 12-15% of global trade. India's merchandise exports were approximately USD 437 billion in FY 2023-24.
Question 5 of 10
The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) derives its constitutional authority from which provision?
The GHADC is established under the Sixth Schedule, Article 244(2) of the Indian Constitution, which provides for Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in four Northeast states: Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. ADCs under the Sixth Schedule have legislative, executive, and judicial powers over tribal subjects including land management, forests, and customary law.
💡 Concept Note
The Sixth Schedule (Article 244(2)) gives ADCs strong self-governance powers — they can make laws on specified subjects without requiring state or central assent. It is distinct from the Fifth Schedule (Article 244(1)) which covers most mainland tribal states (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana) — Fifth Schedule creates advisory Tribal Advisory Councils with no legislative powers. Article 371(A) provides special protections specifically for Nagaland, not for Meghalaya. Garo society is notably matrilineal — one of the few such societies in India.
Question 6 of 10
The Stockholm Water Prize 2026 was awarded to Kaveh Madani, who serves as director of which institution?
Kaveh Madani is the Director of UNU-INWEH (UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health), based in Hamilton, Canada. He was named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate on March 18, 2026 — the youngest laureate in the prize's 35-year history at age 44, and the first UN official and first former politician to receive the honour. SIWI (Stockholm International Water Institute) administers the prize, which is formally presented by Sweden's King at World Water Week in Stockholm in August.
💡 Concept Note
The Stockholm Water Prize (established 1991) is considered the Nobel Prize of water — awarded annually at Stockholm World Water Week by SIWI. World Water Day falls on March 22 (established by the UN General Assembly in 1993). India ranks 13th globally for water stress per the World Resources Institute Aqueduct Atlas. India's key water challenges: groundwater depletion (India uses the most groundwater of any country globally), transboundary river disputes (Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, water sharing with Bangladesh and Nepal), and urban water scarcity. The National Water Policy (2012) and Jal Shakti Mission address these challenges.
Question 7 of 10
Under which Ministry does the Yoga 365 campaign fall?
Yoga 365 was launched by the Ministry of Ayush (established November 9, 2014 as a separate ministry). AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. The campaign aims to promote yoga as a daily practice (365 days a year) rather than only on International Day of Yoga (June 21).
💡 Concept Note
The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated on June 21, 2015, after PM Modi proposed it at the UN General Assembly in September 2014. The UN General Assembly declared June 21 as International Yoga Day in December 2014 by a record 177 co-sponsoring nations with no vote required. June 21 is the summer solstice — the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The Ministry of Ayush also regulates AYUSH medicine quality standards, promotes exports of traditional medicine products, and runs AYUSH health and wellness centres under Ayushman Bharat.
Question 8 of 10
The World Happiness Report 2026 found that declining happiness among youth in developed countries is most linked to which factor?
The WHR 2026 found that teenagers using social media for 5 or more hours per day reported significantly lower well-being, particularly among girls. The decline in youth happiness in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand correlates with widespread smartphone and social media adoption from approximately 2012. The report recommends digital literacy education, platform design regulation, and age restrictions on social media.
💡 Concept Note
The WHR 2026 findings align with Jonathan Haidt's research in The Anxious Generation (2024), which links the rise of social media (Instagram launched 2010, Snapchat 2011, TikTok 2018) to declining teenage mental health. India with 380 million-plus social media users under 25 faces similar risks. India is considering a Social Media Regulation Bill. The report distinguishes between passive social media consumption (scrolling) which is most harmful, and active use (messaging, creating) which is less harmful. Finland's top ranking is attributed to strong social support systems, trust in institutions, and low inequality.
Question 9 of 10
Babina Field Firing Ranges, the venue for Exercise Amogh Jwala, is associated with which type of Indian Army formation?
Babina, Uttar Pradesh is home to elements of the 1 Strike Corps (Strike Corps 1) — India's primary offensive mechanised strike formation equipped with T-90 Bhishma and T-72 Ajeya tanks. It is a key armoured and mechanised warfare training centre in central India. The 1 Strike Corps is considered the tip of India's offensive armoured punch in the Western theatre.
💡 Concept Note
India is transitioning toward Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) under the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The 1 Strike Corps (Mathura, with operations elements in Bhopal) would likely fall under a proposed Western Theatre Command integrating land, air, and sea assets. India's other Strike Corps: 2 Corps (Ambala), 21 Corps (Bhopal). Theaterisation aims to reduce inter-service coordination delays in joint operations. India's armoured fleet includes approximately 1,650 T-90 Bhishma tanks (Russian-origin, partially built in India), 2,400 T-72 Ajeya tanks, and the domestically developed Arjun MBT.
Question 10 of 10
Which constitutional schedule governs the Autonomous District Councils of Meghalaya, and how many ADCs does the state have?
Meghalaya has 3 Autonomous District Councils under the Sixth Schedule: Garo Hills ADC (GHADC), Khasi Hills ADC (KHADC), and Jaintia Hills ADC (JHADC). The Sixth Schedule (Article 244(2)) applies to Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. ADCs have legislative, judicial, and executive powers over tribal subjects.
💡 Concept Note
The Sixth Schedule gives ADCs strong self-governance powers including making laws on specified subjects (land management, forests, customary practices) with power to establish and administer courts/tribunals for tribal disputes. Garo society is notably matrilineal — inheritance and property pass through the female line. Meghalaya became a state on January 21, 1972, carved out of Assam. CM in 2026 is Conrad Sangma (National People's Party or NPP). The 95% tribal population of Meghalaya lives under ADC governance for most local matters, making the Sixth Schedule central to governance in the state.