March 2026 was dominated by two intertwined crises: the escalating West Asia conflict — which pushed India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve to 64% capacity, triggered the Essential Commodities Act for natural gas, and prompted a Goldman Sachs GDP downgrade to 5.9% — and domestic constitutional milestones, including the 16th Finance Commission report, the CEC removal motion, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, and Gujarat becoming the second state to pass a UCC. On the environment front, India updated its NDC to 60% non-fossil power by 2035 and Project Cheetah received its largest batch of nine animals from Botswana. UPSC aspirants should prioritise: India’s energy security architecture (SPR, Hormuz, ECA invocation), WTO MC14 outcomes, NDC 3.0 commitments, the Finance Commission vertical devolution formula, and the UCC/Transgender Bill constitutional debates.

This compilation covers 101 articles across 21 days in March 2026.

Section 1: Flash Revision

All 101 articles this month — 21 days covered

Top 10 Stories of March 2026

1. West Asia Crisis and India’s Energy Security — The US-led conflict with Iran escalated through March, pushing crude oil prices sharply higher, triggering India’s Natural Gas Supply Regulation Order 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act, and raising SPR utilisation to 64%. India’s import bill surged by $1 billion, Goldman Sachs cut India’s GDP forecast to 5.9%, and the RELIEF scheme (₹497 crore) was launched to support affected exporters. GS3 (Economy/Energy Security), GS2 (IR)

2. India’s NDC 3.0 — Climate Target Upgrade — India submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution targeting a 47% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 (from 2005 baseline) and 60% of power from non-fossil sources by 2035 — ahead of the earlier 50% by 2030 target. Carbon sink targets were also raised. This represents a significant climate ambition upgrade amid the Paris Agreement’s stocktake process. GS3 (Environment), GS2 (IR)

3. 16th Finance Commission Report (2026–31) — The 16th Finance Commission submitted its report recommending 42% vertical devolution to states — unchanged from the 15th FC — but with revised horizontal distribution formulas favoring poorer states and new grants for disaster risk management and urban local bodies. The report shapes Centre-State fiscal relations for five years. GS2 (Federalism, Finance Commission)

4. Gujarat UCC Bill — Second State After Uttarakhand — Gujarat passed a Uniform Civil Code Bill, becoming the second state (after Uttarakhand) to adopt a UCC. The bill standardises marriage registration, divorce procedures, and inheritance rules across religious communities — raising questions about Article 25 (religious freedom) vs. Article 44 (DPSP for UCC). The Supreme Court is examining UCC-related petitions. GS2 (Polity, Personal Law)

5. Motion to Remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar — The opposition filed a motion to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, triggering debate about the constitutional process for CEC removal (requiring an address of both Houses of Parliament — same as a Supreme Court judge). The case highlighted the tension between electoral integrity and judicial-legislative oversight. GS2 (Electoral system, Constitutional offices)

6. Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025 — The government introduced a bill to merge UGC, AICTE, and NCTE into a single Higher Education Commission of India — a major structural reform. The bill eliminates overlapping regulatory jurisdictions and introduces a unified accreditation framework. Critics argue it centralises control over higher education. GS2 (Governance, Education regulation)

7. Project Cheetah — Botswana Batch of Nine — India received its largest single batch of cheetahs (nine) from Botswana, taking the total population at Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary past 25. India is now breeding cheetahs in captivity for the first time since independence. NTCA protocols for wild-release have been approved. GS3 (Environment, Species reintroduction)

8. WTO MC14 at Yaoundé, Cameroon — The 14th WTO Ministerial Conference concluded without breakthrough on e-commerce (permanent moratorium on digital transmission duties failed to renew), fisheries subsidies (partial deal), or Investment Facilitation for Development. India blocked the IFD multilateral agreement on national interest grounds. GS2 (IR, International trade)

9. Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026 — Parliament debated an amendment to the 2019 Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act to allow self-identification of gender without a medical certification requirement — bringing India in line with the Supreme Court’s NALSA judgment (2014) and international human rights norms. The bill remains contentious between rights groups and religious conservatives. GS2 (Social Justice, Constitutional rights)

10. India’s GDP Base Year Revision (2011-12 → 2022-23) — The government revised GDP base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23, updating the basket of goods/services in national accounts. The revision is expected to initially lower GDP growth estimates (base effect) before better capturing India’s current economic structure, including digital services, gig economy, and new sectors. GS3 (Economy, National accounts)

Article pool:

  • Bulldozer Justice: Constitutional Limits on State Power
  • Missile Defence Systems: Layers, Logic, and India’s Own Shield
  • Project Cheetah Gets Its Biggest Batch: Nine from Botswana, and What Comes Next
  • The Fortified Rice Pause: Hidden Hunger, Storage Science, and Policy Complexity
  • West Asia Crisis: The Strait of Hormuz and India’s Energy Tightrope
  • 16th Finance Commission Submits Report for 2026-31
  • India Revises GDP Base Year to 2022-23
  • NITI Aayog and JICA Sign Phase II SDG Partnership
  • PSB Reforms EASE 9.0 Launched — GCC Strategy for Public Sector Banks
  • Farm Loan Waivers in India: History, Fiscal Cost, and the Case for Structural Alternatives
  • No-Fault Compensation for Covid-19 Vaccine Adverse Effects: Supreme Court’s Constitutional Mandate
  • OBC Creamy Layer: Supreme Court Rules Status Trumps Income in Eligibility Test
  • Alternative Heating Technologies Amid Global Gas Supply Risks
  • Shortage of Cybersecurity Talent in India: A Digital Economy Risk
  • Denial of Public Spaces to Scheduled Castes: Equality Before Law and the Persistence of Untouchability
  • Fiscal Health Index 2026: Assessing State Finances
  • Kisan Credit Card Scheme: How India’s Core Farm Credit Instrument Is Being Reworked
  • US Launches Section 301 Probe into India: What It Means for Trade and Manufacturing
  • V.O. Chidambaranar Port: India’s First Digital Twin Port
  • Motion to Remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar: Constitutional Process, Electoral Integrity, and What It Means
  • Gold Hallmarking Phase 6: 380 Districts Now Covered as Mandatory Hallmarking Expands
  • Project Great Indian Bustard: Captive Population Hits 70 as Programme Enters Fourth Year
  • Natural Gas Supply Regulation Order 2026: India Invokes Essential Commodities Act Amid West Asia Crisis
  • Passive Euthanasia — Harish Rana Case: Supreme Court Turns Constitutional Right into Practice
  • Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025: Replacing UGC, AICTE and NCTE with a Single Higher Education Regulator
  • Deepor Beel Under Threat — Illegal Earth Cutting at Kalshila Wetland
  • ISRO’s CE20 Cryogenic Engine — 22-Tonne Hot Test and LVM3 Upgrades
  • NavIC’s IRNSS-1F Atomic Clock Failure — India’s Indigenous Navigation System Under Strain
  • Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025 — Literary Excellence Across 24 Indian Languages
  • World Bank’s $300 Million UP Clean Air Program — Tackling India’s Worst Pollution Crisis
  • Göbekli Tepe: The Monument That Rewrote the Origins of Civilisation
  • ITDC Tribal Homestay Capacity Building Programme 2026
  • Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill 2025 Withdrawn from Lok Sabha
  • IIT Guwahati MXene Catalyst: Hydrogen Fuel and Solar Desalination
  • BHAVYA Scheme — India’s ₹33,660 Crore Plug-and-Play Industrial Parks and the Manufacturing Transformation Vision
  • IOS SAGAR Second Edition — India’s Naval Diplomacy and the Indian Ocean Security Architecture
  • Exercise Amogh Jwala — Indian Army’s Multi-Domain Warfare Showcase
  • GHADC Term Extended — Sixth Schedule, Autonomous District Councils, and Tribal Governance
  • India to Host 2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships at Bhubaneswar
  • RELIEF Scheme — India’s ₹497 Crore Support for Exporters Hit by West Asia Disruptions
  • Kaveh Madani Wins 2026 Stockholm Water Prize — Water Governance in Focus
  • World Happiness Report 2026 — Finland Tops Again, Social Media Alarm for Youth
  • Chapchar Kut — Mizoram’s Spring Festival and Its Cultural Significance
  • Legionnaires’ Disease — Outbreaks in London and New York Raise Urban Water Safety Alarm
  • Global Methane Super-Emitters — Satellite Study Exposes 4,400 Plumes from Oil and Gas Sites
  • National Dental Commission Replaces Dental Council of India — A New Era for Dental Regulation
  • India’s Bioeconomy Crosses $195 Billion — 18% Growth, 4.8% of GDP
  • India-China Border Trade via Lipulekh Pass Set to Resume After Six Years
  • National Dental Commission Replaces DCI — Landmark Healthcare Reform
  • India’s First NdFeB Rare Earth Magnet Pilot Plant — Breaking China’s Monopoly
  • Madras HC Orders Eradication of Prosopis Juliflora — Tamil Nadu’s Invasive Species Battle
  • South Sudan Conflict Escalation — UN Warns of War Crimes, 280,000 Displaced
  • World Water Day 2026 — Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows
  • Bura Chapori Sanctuary Expansion — Assam Strengthens Conservation Corridor
  • Monarch Butterfly Population Surges 64% — Largest Recovery Since 2018
  • National DMF Summit 2026 — Reforming Mining-Area Development
  • New Mangrove Crab Species Chhapgarus ngankeeae Discovered in Goa
  • Photocatalytic Smog-Eating Coatings — Delhi and IIT Madras Partner to Fight Air Pollution
  • Sahiwal Cattle IVF Breakthrough — ICAR-IVRI Advances Indigenous Breed Conservation
  • Corporate Laws Amendment Bill 2026 — Decriminalisation, CSR Changes, and JPC Scrutiny
  • Hudsonian Godwit and CMS — 42 Migratory Species Proposed for Global Protection
  • India’s West Asia Dilemma — SPR at 64% Amid Gulf Crisis
  • International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 — India’s GCWAS Conference
  • Women’s Reservation Act — Early Delimitation Proposal to Fast-Track 33% Quota
  • World Tuberculosis Day — India’s TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and 100-Day Campaign
  • Biopharma SHAKTI — India’s Rs 10,000 Crore Push to Become Global Biologics Hub
  • Goldman Sachs Cuts India GDP to 5.9% — Oil Shock Macroeconomics
  • Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 — First National Sports Platform for Tribal Athletes
  • Philippines Energy Emergency and Hormuz GNSS Disruption — Global Energy Security Under Stress
  • Reform Express — Indian Railways Adds Five New Reforms for Cargo, Construction and Passengers
  • Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026 — Self-ID vs Medical Certification Debate
  • DRDO Tests ADC-150 Air-Droppable Container; INS Taragiri Commissioning Announced
  • GARBH-INi — India’s Largest Pregnancy Cohort Uses AI to Tackle Preterm Births
  • Gujarat Passes Uniform Civil Code Bill — Second State After Uttarakhand
  • Helium Supply Crisis — Qatar Attack Threatens India’s Semiconductor Ambitions
  • Iran Rejects Trump Peace Plan — India Faces $1 Billion Oil Import Surge
  • Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026 — Self-Identification vs Medical Certification
  • India at G7 — Jaishankar Attends Foreign Ministers Meeting in France
  • Kavach 4.0 Expansion — Rs 1,236 Crore for Railway Safety and Fibre Network
  • Modified UDAN Scheme — Rs 28,840 Crore for 100 Airports and 200 Helipads
  • India’s NDC 3.0 — 47% Emissions Intensity Cut and 60% Non-Fossil Power by 2035
  • Shaurya Drone Squadrons — Army Integrates Drone Warfare with Armoured Corps
  • India’s GDP Base Year Revision — From 2011-12 to 2022-23 and the Data Credibility Debate
  • Noida International Airport — India’s Largest Greenfield Airport Takes Off
  • Tele-Law and Access to Justice — Bridging India’s Legal Aid Gap Through Technology
  • Earth’s Hidden Ocean — The Ringwoodite Discovery That Rewrites Water’s Origin Story
  • India-Japan $75 Billion Currency Swap — Strengthening Financial Stability
  • MoD Signs Rs 858 Crore Contracts — Tunguska Air Defence and P8I Aircraft Maintenance
  • WTO MC14 Concludes in Cameroon — What India Achieved and What Remains Unresolved
  • India and Global Maternal Mortality — 2023 Data, SDG Gaps, and the Public Health Imperative
  • IONS Maritime Exercise 2026 — India’s Chairmanship and the Indo-Pacific Security Architecture
  • Jan Vishwas Bill 2026 — Export Decriminalisation and India’s Ease of Doing Business Push
  • RBI Payments Vision 2028 — Bank Account Portability and the Future of Digital Finance
  • Telangana Elderly Support Bill 2026 — Legal Teeth for Parental Care and the Intergenerational Social Contract
  • Andhra Pradesh Declared Naxal-Free — India’s LWE Elimination Deadline Achieved
  • Great Indian Bustard — First Successful Inter-State Egg Transfer Hatching in Nearly a Decade
  • GRSE Delivers INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak & INS Agray — Three Naval Platforms in One Day
  • India’s Updated NDC 2035 — 60% Non-Fossil Power and New Carbon Sink Target
  • Supreme Court Allows CANH Withdrawal — Right to Die with Dignity Expanded
  • Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 — Four-Way Segregation and Circular Economy Shift
  • WTO MC14 Yaoundé — E-Commerce Moratorium Fails, India Blocks Investment Facilitation Deal

100 Prelims 1-Liners

Polity & Governance

  1. Bulldozer Justice: SC ruled that state demolitions of property without prior notice violate Articles 14, 21, and 300A; established 15-day notice, personal hearing, and written order requirements
  2. 16th Finance Commission: Submitted report for 2026–31; recommended 42% vertical devolution to states (unchanged from 15th FC); chaired by Arvind Panagariya
  3. CEC removal: Requires address of both Houses of Parliament (same as SC judge); no judicial review of Parliament’s decision; Art. 324 governs ECI
  4. OBC Creamy Layer: SC ruled that a person’s OBC status is determined by their parent’s occupational category, not just income — “status trumps income”
  5. Passive Euthanasia (Harish Rana): SC directed hospitals to comply with advance directives; created standard protocol for CANH withdrawal in PVS patients
  6. CANH withdrawal: Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration; SC expanded right to die with dignity (Art. 21) to include PVS patients with no hope of recovery
  7. Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill: Merges UGC + AICTE + NCTE into a single Higher Education Commission; ends overlapping regulatory jurisdictions
  8. Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill 2025: Withdrawn from Lok Sabha; had proposed decriminalising minor export violations; reintroduced as Jan Vishwas Bill 2026 with revised scope
  9. GHADC extension: Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (Meghalaya) term extended under Sixth Schedule; ADCs in Schedule VI states have legislative and judicial powers over tribal areas
  10. Sixth Schedule: Applies to tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram; creates Autonomous District Councils with legislative powers; different from Fifth Schedule (no ADC)
  11. Transgender Amendment Bill 2026: Proposes self-identification without medical certification; builds on NALSA judgment (2014) which recognised transgender persons as third gender
  12. Gujarat UCC: Second state after Uttarakhand; covers marriage registration, divorce, inheritance across religions; Goa has Portuguese Civil Code (de facto UCC since 1870)
  13. Women’s Reservation Act: 106th Constitutional Amendment (2023); 33% reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies; operative only after next delimitation; push to fast-track
  14. Tele-Law scheme: Free legal services via video conferencing at CSCs; expanded to cover pre-litigation advice; under Ministry of Law and Justice; 5 million+ services provided
  15. Telangana Elderly Bill 2026: Makes adult children legally liable to provide maintenance to parents; includes enforcement mechanism; builds on Maintenance and Welfare of Parents Act 2007
  16. Andhra Pradesh Naxal-free: AP declared LWE-free in March 2026; Andhra was once epicentre of Naxalism (PWG founded here); followed by national declaration in April 2026
  17. Solid Waste Management Rules 2026: Replaced SWM Rules 2016; mandates 4-way segregation (wet/dry/hazardous/sanitary); extended producer responsibility for plastics
  18. National Dental Commission: Replaced Dental Council of India (1948); under National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions framework; more transparent regulation
  19. Corporate Laws Amendment Bill 2026: Decriminalises 19 procedural violations under Companies Act; changes to CSR framework; referred to Joint Parliamentary Committee

Economy & Development 20. GDP Base Year revision: Changed from 2011-12 to 2022-23; captures digital economy, gig workers, new sectors more accurately; NSO published revised estimates 21. PSB EASE 9.0: Enhanced Access and Service Excellence framework for public sector banks; 9th edition; focus on GCC (Global Capability Centre) strategy for PSBs 22. 16th Finance Commission: Vertical devolution: 42%; horizontal formula gives higher weight to Forest Cover and Demographic Performance (lower fertility rewarded) 23. Farm Loan Waivers: Estimated cumulative cost Rs 4+ lakh crore (2008–2022); no evidence of lasting productivity improvement; RBI and CAG have criticised as fiscally irresponsible 24. Fiscal Health Index 2026: Published by Ministry of Finance; ranks states on 5 parameters: Revenue Mobilisation, Expenditure Quality, Fiscal Prudence, Debt Sustainability, Debt Management 25. Kisan Credit Card: Provides short-term crop loans at 7% (4% with interest subvention); limit extended to Rs 3 lakh for fisheries and animal husbandry too; ~7.5 crore active KCCs 26. Section 301 probe: US Trade Representative probe into India’s IP, digital, and trade practices; can result in retaliatory tariffs; India has faced multiple Section 301 investigations since 1990s 27. V.O. Chidambaranar Port: India’s first Digital Twin Port (Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu); digital replica for real-time monitoring and simulation; named after freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaranar 28. Gold Hallmarking Phase 6: Now covers 380 districts; HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) number on each jewellery piece; BIS mandatory from June 2021; combats adulteration 29. Natural Gas Regulation Order 2026: Invoked Essential Commodities Act to ensure equitable gas distribution amid West Asia crisis; gave Centre powers to allocate gas to priority sectors 30. BHAVYA Scheme: Rs 33,660 crore for plug-and-play industrial parks; 4 categories of parks (NIDHI, SAMPADA, PRAGATI, UTKARSH); under DPIIT 31. RELIEF Scheme: Rs 497 crore export support scheme for sectors disrupted by West Asia conflict; covers logistics cost differential, insurance premium support 32. India Bioeconomy: Crossed $195 billion in FY26; 18% annual growth; 4.8% of GDP; covers biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, bio-agri; target $300 billion by 2030 33. NdFeB Magnet pilot plant: First Indian neodymium-iron-boron rare earth magnet pilot plant; critical for EV motors and wind turbines; reduces dependence on Chinese magnets 34. National DMF Summit 2026: District Mineral Foundation funds (collected from mining companies); Rs 1 lakh crore+ collected since 2015; used for tribal welfare in mining districts 35. Goldman Sachs GDP downgrade: Cut India FY26-27 GDP from 6.7% to 5.9%; reason: oil shock from West Asia conflict raising import costs and inflation 36. West Asia SPR: India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve was at 64% capacity during the crisis; located at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, Padur; covers ~10 days of consumption 37. Helium supply crisis: Qatar produces ~30% of world’s helium; post-Qatar attack disruption threatened India’s semiconductor fab ambitions (helium used in chip manufacturing) 38. India-China Lipulekh trade: Border trade via Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) to resume after 6-year suspension; part of India-China border normalisation post-2020 Galwan standoff 39. India-Japan Currency Swap: $75 billion bilateral currency swap agreement; allows RBI to draw yen if needed to stabilise rupee; renewed at PM Modi-PM Ishiba summit 40. RBI Payments Vision 2028: Proposes bank account portability (change bank keeping same account number); expands UPI to feature phones; targets 3x transaction volume growth 41. Jan Vishwas Bill 2026: Decriminalises violations under 183 provisions of 42 Acts; converts imprisonment to fines; aimed at Ease of Doing Business 42. Biopharma SHAKTI: Rs 10,000 crore scheme for biologics (vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, biosimilars) manufacturing; aims to make India global biologics hub by 2030 43. WTO MC14 e-commerce moratorium: Failed to renew permanently; moratorium on import duties on digital transmissions first agreed 1998 at Geneva; developing countries led by India want to end it to tax digital imports 44. Noida International Airport (Jewar): India’s largest greenfield airport under construction; 70 million passenger capacity by final phase; Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority project

Environment & Ecology 45. Project Cheetah Botswana batch: Nine cheetahs from Botswana; total population in India now 25+; Kuno National Park (MP) and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary (MP) are home sites 46. Great Indian Bustard captive population: 70 captive birds at Desert National Park (Rajasthan) and SAC Jaisalmer; first inter-state egg transfer hatching (from Rajasthan to Gujarat SAC) in nearly a decade 47. Deepor Beel: Ramsar wetland in Assam (Guwahati); illegal earth cutting at Kalshila Hill threatening hydrology; only Ramsar site in Assam; habitat for migratory birds 48. Methane super-emitters: Satellite study (TROPOMI instrument) identified 4,400 methane plumes from oil and gas sites globally; oil and gas sector = 30% of human-caused methane 49. Prosopis juliflora: Invasive species (originally from Mexico/South America); Madras HC ordered its eradication from Tamil Nadu; spreads rapidly, destroys native biodiversity 50. Monarch butterfly: Population surged 64% — largest recovery since 2018; migrates between Mexico and Canada; listed as Endangered (IUCN); milkweed habitat restoration key factor 51. CMS (Convention on Migratory Species): 42 new species proposed for protection including Hudsonian Godwit; India is a party; Hudsonian Godwit migrates 30,000 km annually 52. Bura Chapori WLS expansion: Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam (Brahmaputra floodplain); expansion creates connectivity corridor for tigers, elephants, rhinos between protected areas 53. Mangrove crab discovery: Chhapgarus ngankeeae — new species discovered in Goa mangroves; highlights biodiversity value of Indian mangrove ecosystems 54. India NDC 3.0: 47% emissions intensity reduction by 2030 (from 2005 base); 60% non-fossil power by 2035; enhanced carbon sink targets (3 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent by 2030) 55. Solid Waste (4-way segregation): Wet waste (kitchen) + Dry waste (recyclables) + Hazardous (batteries, medicines) + Sanitary (diapers, sanitary pads); SWM Rules 2026 56. Photocatalytic coating: TiO2-based coating on road surfaces that uses sunlight to break down NOx and VOCs; Delhi-IIT Madras pilot; first large-scale urban application in India 57. World Water Day 2026 theme: “Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows”; women bear 70%+ of water-fetching burden in India; Jal Jeevan Mission a key intervention 58. Stockholm Water Prize 2026: Won by Dr Kaveh Madani (Iranian-British water governance expert); awarded by SIWI (Stockholm International Water Institute)

Science & Technology 59. ISRO CE20 cryogenic engine: 22-tonne thrust hot test completed; powers LVM3 (GSLV Mk III) upper stage; cryogenic technology (liquid hydrogen + liquid oxygen) indigenised after decades 60. NavIC IRNSS-1F: Atomic clock failure on IRNSS-1F satellite; NavIC has 7+5 constellation (4 GEO + 3 IGSO operational); atomic clock precision essential for navigation accuracy 61. MXene catalyst (IIT Guwahati): MXene = 2D transition metal carbide/nitride material; used as photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water splitting and seawater desalination 62. Legionnaires’ disease: Caused by Legionella pneumophila; spreads through aerosols from water systems (cooling towers, showers); not person-to-person; treated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics 63. GARBH-INi: India’s largest pregnancy cohort study; AI model predicts preterm births 4+ weeks in advance with 75% accuracy; IMTECH Chandigarh + AIIMS; covers 20,000+ pregnancies 64. Kavach 4.0: Automatic Train Protection system; covers train collision, signal overrun; Rs 1,236 crore expansion; now on 3,000+ route km; upgraded with optical fibre network 65. Sahiwal cattle IVF: ICAR-IVRI (Bareilly) produced Sahiwal calves through IVF; Sahiwal = premium indigenous breed (higher milk yield, heat tolerance, disease resistance); conservation priority 66. Ringwoodite discovery: Mineral found in Earth’s transition zone (~410-660 km depth) that can hold up to 1.5% water by weight; suggests an ocean’s worth of water in Earth’s mantle 67. Shaurya drone squadrons: Indian Army integrated drone swarms with armoured corps units; Shaurya drones carry anti-tank munitions; part of Army’s multi-domain warfare shift 68. ADC-150: DRDO-developed air-droppable container (150 kg capacity); enables logistics supply to inaccessible areas; improves high-altitude and island territory supply chains

International Relations 69. IOS SAGAR: Indian Ocean Ship (Oceanographic Research) SAGAR; 2nd edition covered East Africa coast ports; India funds port calls at friendly nations; soft power tool 70. G7 Foreign Ministers: Jaishankar attended as invited partner (India not a G7 member); discussed West Asia crisis, global food security, technology governance; held in Dinard, France 71. IONS 2026: Indian Ocean Naval Symposium; India chaired 2026 edition at Kochi; 24 member navies; promotes maritime security cooperation and information sharing 72. WTO MC14 fisheries subsidies: Partial agreement on prohibiting subsidies causing overfishing; India insisted on special and differential treatment for artisanal fishers; S&DT granted for 25 years 73. Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD): WTO plurilateral agreement India blocked; India argued it was outside WTO mandate and could undermine policy space for FDI conditions 74. Lipulekh Pass: Located at tri-junction of India, Nepal, China (Uttarakhand); reopening of border trade signals improvement in India-China relations post-Galwan (2020) 75. South Sudan conflict: Civil war escalation in 2026; UN estimated 280,000 displaced; risk of return to full-scale war between Dinka (Salva Kiir) and Nuer (Riek Machar) factions 76. India-Japan currency swap: Part of bilateral financial safety net; allows both countries to use local currencies for trade settlement; reduces USD dependence

Security & Defence 77. Missile Defence layers: India’s architecture — BMD Phase 1 (Prithvi Air Defence + Advanced Air Defence); S-400 (Russia); Barak-8 (Israel-India); Akash (indigenous) 78. Exercise Amogh Jwala: Indian Army exercise; tested multi-domain warfare — integration of electronic warfare, drone swarms, cyber operations with conventional ground forces 79. DRDO ADC-150: Air-Droppable Container; also validates Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) logistics doctrine; India reorganising divisions into IBGs for faster manoeuvre 80. INS Taragiri: Project 17A stealth frigate; commissioned March 2026; 7 ships under P17A — 4 at MDL Mumbai, 3 at GRSE Kolkata; uses stealth shaping and S-band AESA radar 81. GRSE three deliveries: INS Dunagiri (P17A frigate), INS Sanshodhak (SVL #4), INS Agray (LCU #4) — three platforms in one day; GRSE’s record delivery; Kolkata shipyard 82. P-8I upgrade: Boeing P-8I Poseidon; maritime patrol aircraft; India has 12; Rs 858 crore MoD contract for P8I maintenance; used for anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance 83. Tunguska air defence: Russian ZPRK Tunguska-M1; short-range AA gun-missile system for Army; Rs 858 crore contract for maintenance; supplements India’s layered air defence

Social Issues & Welfare 84. Fortified Rice pause: Government paused rice fortification under PMGKAY amid concerns about storage degradation of iron/folic acid at high temperatures; resumed with revised SOP 85. OBC Creamy Layer threshold: Currently Rs 8 lakh annual income (unchanged since 2017); SC noted income threshold is outdated but upheld status-based criterion 86. Denial of public spaces to SCs: SC directed states to enforce existing law (Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 + SC/ST PoA Act 1989) against exclusion of Dalits from public spaces 87. World Happiness Report 2026: Finland ranked 1st for 9th consecutive year; India ranked ~118th; Index measures GDP/capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, perceptions of corruption 88. Chapchar Kut: Mizoram’s biggest spring festival; celebrates bamboo cutting for jhum cultivation; Lui-Ngai-Ni (Naga), Ponung (Adi, Arunachal) are equivalent spring festivals 89. World TB Day (March 24): India has highest TB burden globally (28% of world’s cases); Nikshay Poshan Yojana provides Rs 1,000/month to TB patients; target: eliminate TB by 2025 (missed) → revised to 2030 90. Women farmers: India has 30%+ female agricultural workers but only 13% hold land titles; Jal Jeevan Mission + PM-KISAN reaching women but structural land reform needed 91. Khelo India Tribal Games 2026: First national sports platform for tribal athletes; held in Chhattisgarh; includes indigenous tribal sports like archery, kabaddi, wrestling; 2,000+ athletes 92. Maternal Mortality Rate: India’s MMR fell from 254 (2004-06) to 97 (2018-20); target: SDG goal of <70 per lakh live births by 2030; Kerala has MMR of 19, Assam 195 93. National DMF: District Mineral Foundation; mandatory contribution by mining companies (30% of royalty for old leases, 10% for new); ~Rs 1 lakh crore collected; used for 45 welfare items in Schedule

Reports & Indices 94. World Happiness Report: Published by SDSN (Sustainable Development Solutions Network); uses Gallup World Poll data; Finland 1st, Afghanistan last; India ~118th 95. Fiscal Health Index 2026: Published by DEA (Dept of Economic Affairs), MoF; evaluates 18 states; Odisha ranked highest; UP, Punjab near bottom; parameters include revenue mobilisation, fiscal prudence 96. Stockholm Water Prize: Awarded annually since 1991 by SIWI; $150,000 prize; Kaveh Madani won 2026 edition; past winners include Sandra Postel, Peter Gleick 97. Goldman Sachs India report: Revised India GDP down to 5.9% from 6.7% citing oil price shock; separately revised global growth down; India still fastest growing major economy

Persons & Awards 98. Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025: 24 Indian languages; includes Odia, Punjabi, Marathi, Urdu; award given for outstanding literary works; winners include both fiction and non-fiction 99. Kaveh Madani: Iranian-British water governance expert; resigned from Iran’s Environmental Protection Organisation in 2018 citing political pressure; 2026 Stockholm Water Prize 100. India 2028 World Indoor Athletics: Bhubaneswar (Odisha) to host 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships; first time India hosts global athletics championship; Kalinga Stadium venue

Section 2: Mains Ready

GS 2 — Polity, Governance & International Relations

Articles:

GS 3 — Economy, Environment, Science & Security

Articles:

GS 1 — History, Geography & Society

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Section 3: Deep Dives

Polity & Governance

Articles (26):

Economy & Development

Articles (41):

Environment & Ecology

Articles (19):

Science & Technology

Articles (23):

International Relations

Articles (21):

History, Art & Culture

Articles (3):

Geography

Articles (2):

Social Issues

Articles (26):

Security & Defence

Articles (13):

Reports, Indices & Schemes

Articles (15):

Persons & Awards in News

Articles (3):

Section 4: Exam Toolkit

New Acts, Bills & Schemes — March 2026

Name Type Ministry Key Numbers
Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill Bill Education Replaces UGC + AICTE + NCTE with single Higher Education Commission
Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026 Bill Social Justice Self-identification without medical certificate
Corporate Laws Amendment Bill 2026 Bill Corporate Affairs Decriminalises 19 violations; CSR reform; referred to JPC
Jan Vishwas Bill 2026 Bill Commerce Decriminalises 183 provisions of 42 Acts
Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 Rules Environment 4-way segregation; replaces SWM Rules 2016
Natural Gas Supply Regulation Order 2026 Order Petroleum & Gas ECA invoked; priority sector gas allocation
BHAVYA Scheme Scheme DPIIT Rs 33,660 crore; plug-and-play industrial parks
RELIEF Scheme Scheme Commerce Rs 497 crore; West Asia disruption export support
Biopharma SHAKTI Scheme Chemicals & Fertilisers Rs 10,000 crore; biologics manufacturing hub by 2030
PSB EASE 9.0 Framework Finance (DFS) 9th edition; GCC strategy for public sector banks
Modified UDAN Scheme Scheme Civil Aviation Rs 28,840 crore; 100 airports + 200 helipads
Kavach 4.0 Technology Railways Rs 1,236 crore; ATP on 3,000+ route km
Gold Hallmarking Phase 6 Expansion Consumer Affairs 380 districts; mandatory HUID

Key Data Points — March 2026

Indicator Value Context
India GDP Forecast (Goldman Sachs) 5.9% Revised down from 6.7% due to oil shock
India SPR Capacity 64% Strategic Petroleum Reserve utilisation during West Asia crisis
India Bioeconomy $195 billion 18% growth; 4.8% of GDP; target $300 bn by 2030
India NDC — Non-fossil power target 60% by 2035 Revised up from 50% by 2030
India NDC — Emissions intensity cut 47% by 2030 From 2005 baseline; revised up from 45%
India Carbon Sink target 3 billion tonnes CO2 eq From additional forest and tree cover by 2030
Great Indian Bustard captive population 70 birds At Desert NP (Rajasthan) + SAC Jaisalmer
Project Cheetah total population 25+ After Botswana batch of 9 in March 2026
CMS — new species proposed 42 Including Hudsonian Godwit; COP15 outcomes
Monarch Butterfly recovery +64% Largest recovery since 2018
Gold Hallmarking coverage 380 districts Phase 6; from 343 districts in Phase 5
BHAVYA Scheme outlay Rs 33,660 crore Industrial parks; 4 categories
Kisan Credit Card active accounts ~7.5 crore Including fisheries and animal husbandry
India Maternal Mortality Rate 97 per lakh Down from 254 (2004-06); Kerala: 19, Assam: 195
Kavach ATP coverage 3,000+ route km Post Phase 4 expansion
India-Japan Currency Swap $75 billion Bilateral financial safety net
UDAN Modified outlay Rs 28,840 crore 100 airports + 200 helipads by 2030
World Happiness Rank — India ~118th Finland 1st; Index covers 146 countries

Persons in News — March 2026

Person Why in News UPSC Angle
Kaveh Madani Won 2026 Stockholm Water Prize (water governance) SIWI prize; water governance; Iran environmental policy
Arvind Panagariya Chaired 16th Finance Commission Finance Commission vertical devolution; GS2
V.O. Chidambaranar Tuticorin Port named after him; Digital Twin port Freedom fighter; trade unionism; Tamil Nadu
Gyanesh Kumar CEC Gyanesh Kumar — opposition motion to remove CEC appointment/removal; Art. 324; electoral integrity

Articles:

Section 5: Editorial Digest

All editorials this month: