Daily GK Update- 12th March, 2026

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Madurai Airport Declared as an International Airport by the Union Cabinet: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Narendra Modi, approved the declaration of Madurai Airport in Madurai, Tamil Nadu as an International Airport.Madurai Airport, situated in the famous temple city of Madurai, is among the oldest airports in Tamil Nadu, enhancing its role in domestic and international connectivity.

 

2. Uttar Pradesh Signs MoU with OneOTT Intertainment Ltd to Expand High-Speed Broadband under ‘Project Ganga’: The Uttar Pradesh government signed an initial pact with OneOTT Intertainment Ltd, a subsidiary of the Hinduja Group, to expand high-speed broadband connectivity across the state under ‘Project Ganga’.The MoU, signed between the State Transformation Commission and OneOTT Intertainment Ltd, aims to provide high-speed internet to over 20 lakh households in the next two to three years.Under Project Ganga (Government Assisted Network for Growth and Advancement), the initiative is expected to benefit nearly one crore people and promote technology-driven employment opportunities for youth in the state.

 

3. NITI Aayog Partners with Tata Electronics Private Limited to Boost Electronics and Semiconductor Manufacturing in India: NITI Aayog partnered with Tata Electronics Private Limited to promote the growth of electronics manufacturing in India, supporting the country’s industrial development goals.The partnership aligns with government initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat, aiming to strengthen domestic capabilities in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing.

 

4. NHAI Signs MoU with Commercial Vehicle Aggregator Platforms to Enhance Safety and Efficiency on National Highways: The National Highways Authority of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with commercial vehicle aggregator platforms to enhance commuting ease, safety, and efficiency for commercial vehicle drivers and fleet operators on National Highways in New Delhi.Under the agreement, aggregator platforms will integrate the Rajmargyatra App and a dedicated Call 1033 feature, enabling timely safety communication and one-click access to the National Highway Helpline.The initiative will also include Vishisht Saarthi commercial driver recognition to encourage safe driving, along with Jan Bhagidari – Driver-Led Reporting, allowing geo-tagged reporting of National Highway issues to be integrated with the Rajmargyatra ecosystem for centralized resolution.

 

5. Kavinder Gupta Sworn in as the 30th Governor of Himachal Pradesh: Kavinder Gupta took oath as the 30th Governor of Himachal Pradesh at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Shimla.The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

 

6. Jishnu Dev Varma Sworn in as the New Governor of Maharashtra: Jishnu Dev Varma was sworn in as the Governor of Maharashtra at Darbar Hall, Lok Bhavan, Mumbai. The oath was administered by Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

Varma succeeded Acharya Devvrat, who was holding additional charge as Maharashtra Governor

 

7. Gujarat Launches ‘Lake and Air Watch’ for Urban Environmental Monitoring: Gujarat is strengthening its efforts toward sustainable urban development with the launch of the ‘Lake and Air Watch’ initiative under the Gujarat Urban Development Mission (GUDM). The programme aims to monitor lake health and air quality in real time across cities. Introduced under the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department of the state government, the initiative supports the broader vision of building environmentally resilient and future-ready cities as part of India’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ mission. Rapid urbanisation has created multiple environmental challenges in cities, including polluted lakes, declining groundwater recharge and deteriorating air quality. Urban lakes are increasingly affected by pollution, siltation and reduced water quality, while densely populated areas face rising levels of air pollution. The ‘Lake and Air Watch’ initiative seeks to tackle these issues by integrating monitoring systems across departments, enabling faster and coordinated responses.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. International Malaria Conference 2026 Held in New Delhi: The International Malaria Conference 2026 was held in New Delhi and organised by the ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research under the Indian Council of Medical Research.The conference focused on accelerating global efforts for malaria control and elimination, with the theme: “Discovery, Development and Delivery: Driving Malaria Elimination and Beyond.”India aims to eliminate malaria by 2030 under the National Framework for Malaria Elimination, highlighting the country’s commitment to public health goals.

 

2. Mojtaba Khamenei Appointed as the Third Supreme Leader of Iran: Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei.His appointment followed the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in airstrikes earlier in the conflict, creating the vacancy for the country’s highest authority.The leadership transition marks only the third time in the Islamic Republic’s history that a new Supreme Leader has been named since its establishment in 1979, highlighting continuity amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

 

3. Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems Begins in New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems 2026 in New Delhi. The three-day international conference will be held at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Convention Centre with the theme “Driving Progress, Attaining New Heights.” The event aims to highlight the critical role of women in agriculture and promote inclusive growth within the global agri-food sector. The conference is being organised to recognise and strengthen the contribution of women in agriculture and food systems. It seeks to provide a global platform for discussions on empowering women farmers and addressing gender gaps in agricultural production, technology access, and decision-making.Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will also attend the inaugural session, reflecting the government’s focus on promoting inclusive agricultural development. According to ICAR Director General Dr M. L. Jat, the event is being organised during the United Nations-declared International Year for Women Farmers in 2026. The theme “Driving Progress, Attaining New Heights” aligns with the global effort to recognise the role of women farmers in ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture. The conference aims to highlight the challenges faced by women in the agricultural sector and explore ways to strengthen their participation in farming, agribusiness, and rural entrepreneurship.

 

4. Rare Oarfish Sighting Reported Near Cabo San Lucas Coast: Two giant oarfish were recently spotted near the shoreline of Cabo San Lucas, a coastal city in Mexico, in a rare marine encounter that has attracted widespread attention. Beachgoers first noticed one oarfish struggling close to the shore and attempted to guide it back into deeper waters. While assisting the first fish, another oarfish was spotted nearby, making the incident even more unusual. Oarfish are deep-sea creatures that are rarely seen near the ocean surface, making such sightings noteworthy for both scientists and the public. Oarfish are among the most mysterious fish species in the ocean. They usually inhabit deep ocean layers at depths of around 3,000 feet (approximately 900 metres), where sunlight barely penetrates. These fish have extremely long, ribbon-like bodies with a silvery appearance and a striking red dorsal crest extending from the head along the back. Oarfish can grow up to about 30 feet (9 metres) in length, making them the longest bony fish known in the world’s oceans.

 

5. Gurudongmar Lake Tourism Revives After 2023 South Lhonak GLOF: Tourism to Gurudongmar Lake in North Sikkim has begun to recover after more than two years of disruption caused by the South Lhonak Lake glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in October 2023. The disaster had severely damaged road infrastructure and washed away several bridges, cutting off access to the region. With the reopening of the Chungthang–Lachen road and the inauguration of the newly constructed 400-foot Taram Chu bridge, authorities have resumed issuing tourist permits for travel towards Lachen, the key base for visitors heading to the high-altitude lake. The South Lhonak Lake GLOF in October 2023 caused widespread destruction across North Sikkim. Several bridges collapsed and large stretches of road were damaged, disrupting transportation and isolating communities in the Lachen belt. Tourism activity came to a near halt as access to Gurudongmar Lake became impossible. The disaster highlighted the vulnerability of Himalayan infrastructure to climate-induced hazards such as glacial lake outburst floods.

 

6. HRW Accuses Israel of Using White Phosphorus in Lebanon: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Israel of unlawfully using white phosphorus munitions over residential areas in southern Lebanon during recent military operations. The allegation comes amid escalating tensions along the Israel–Lebanon border following renewed clashes involving Hezbollah. According to the rights group, the use of such munitions in populated areas poses serious risks to civilians and may violate international humanitarian law. The New York-based organisation stated that Israeli forces fired artillery shells containing white phosphorus over the southern Lebanese town of Yohmor on March 3, 2026. HRW reported that it verified and geolocated several images showing airburst white phosphorus munitions exploding above residential areas. The images also reportedly showed civil defence workers responding to fires in homes and vehicles within the town, indicating damage to civilian property. White phosphorus is a chemical substance that ignites immediately when exposed to oxygen. Militaries often use it to produce smoke screens, illuminate battlefields, or mark targets during operations. However, when used as an incendiary weapon, it can cause severe burns, respiratory damage, organ failure, and potentially death. Because the substance burns intensely and spreads quickly, its use in populated areas is highly controversial and subject to restrictions under international humanitarian law.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Centre Approves ₹117.54 Crore Renovation of Kolkata Bascule Bridge: The Union Government has approved the renovation of the historic Bascule Bridge at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal cleared the project with an estimated cost of ₹117.54 crore. The renovation aims to modernise the decades-old bridge and improve cargo and vehicular movement within the Kolkata Dock System, a key maritime hub in eastern India. The proposal for the bridge’s renovation was submitted by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, and examined by the Delegated Investment Board (DIB). The board, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, reviewed the proposal during a meeting held on February 16, 2026. After appraisal, the project received approval to proceed with the planned modernisation works.

 

2. DRDO and Navy Test Indigenous ADC-150 Air Droppable Container: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy have successfully conducted four in-flight release trials of the indigenous Air Droppable Container (ADC-150). The trials were carried out from the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft off the coast of Goa between February 21 and March 1, 2026. Conducted under various extreme release conditions, the successful tests mark a significant step toward strengthening India’s naval logistics capabilities during operations at sea. The ADC-150 is an indigenously designed container developed to deliver payloads of up to 150 kilograms from aircraft to naval vessels deployed far from the coastline. The system allows rapid delivery of essential supplies such as critical equipment, spare parts, medicines and emergency stores. This capability is particularly useful for ships operating in deep seas that require urgent logistical support during missions or distress situations.

 

3. Sheshnaag-150 Swarm Drone Boosts India’s Unmanned Warfare Capability: India is advancing its unmanned warfare capabilities with the development of the Sheshnaag-150, a long-range swarming attack drone currently undergoing testing. Developed by Bengaluru-based defence startup Newspace Research Technologies, the drone represents India’s effort to build cost-effective and flexible unmanned systems similar to those increasingly used in modern conflicts. The system completed its maiden flight about a year ago and is being evaluated as part of India’s evolving strategy in drone warfare. Modern conflicts have highlighted the strategic impact of relatively inexpensive drones. Platforms such as Iran’s Shahed-136 and the United States’ LUCAS unmanned aerial vehicle have demonstrated that low-cost drones can deliver significant battlefield effects by striking infrastructure, military vehicles and logistics networks. These systems allow armed forces to conduct precision strikes without deploying expensive fighter aircraft or missiles. India’s Sheshnaag-150 aims to replicate this cost-effective capability through indigenous technology and swarm-based operations.

 

SPORTS

 

1. BCCI Announces Record ₹131 Crore Cash Reward for Suryakumar Yadav and India’s T20 World Cup-Winning Team: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a record ₹131 crore cash reward for Suryakumar Yadav and the T20 World Cup-winning Indian team following their historic triumph in Ahmedabad. This reward is the highest ever in Indian cricket, surpassing the ₹125 crore awarded to Rohit Sharma and his team after winning the T20 World Cup in Barbados two years ago. For context, India’s Champions Trophy-winning team received ₹58 crore, and last year’s Women’s World Cup-winning team was awarded ₹51 crore, highlighting the scale of the new reward.

 

2. India and New Zealand Plan Expanded Sports Cooperation in Centenary Year: India and New Zealand have initiated discussions to expand bilateral sports cooperation as 2026 marks 100 years of sporting relations between the two countries. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level ministerial meeting in New Delhi with a New Zealand sports delegation to explore new avenues of collaboration in sports development, training and innovation. The dialogue highlighted sports diplomacy as an important component of the broader India–New Zealand partnership. The year 2026 commemorates the centenary of sporting ties between the two nations, tracing back to the Indian Army hockey tour to New Zealand in 1926. That historic visit marked one of the earliest sporting engagements between India and New Zealand and laid the foundation for long-standing sporting exchanges. Building on this legacy, both sides are exploring initiatives to deepen engagement between their sporting institutions and athletes.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. FSI Halts AI-Based Anavaran Deforestation Alert System: The Forest Survey of India (FSI), the central agency responsible for monitoring the country’s forest resources, has stopped issuing fortnightly deforestation alerts through its AI-based Anavaran portal. The system, which provided near-real-time alerts on forest cover loss using satellite data and machine learning, has not been updated since November 2025. Active monitoring through the portal reportedly ceased in January 2026, halting the regular alerts that were previously sent to states every 15 days for targeted field inspections. The Anavaran-Deforestation Alert System was operational from January 2024 and used satellite imagery and advanced algorithms to detect changes in forest cover. The portal analysed before-and-after images to identify new patches of deforestation and sent precise location alerts to state forest departments. The system relied on Google Earth Engine for data processing and was designed to strengthen real-time monitoring of deforestation across India. Despite its operational use for nearly two years, officials say the portal functioned only as a pilot project and its effectiveness is currently under review.

 

2. ESA’s Proba-3 Mission Faces Setback After Losing Contact with Coronagraph: The European Space Agency’s ambitious Proba-3 mission to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere has encountered a major technical setback after losing contact with one of its two spacecraft. The mission aims to capture detailed images of the Sun’s corona by creating artificial solar eclipses in space. Scientists are now investigating an anomaly that caused the Proba-3 Coronagraph spacecraft to lose attitude control, interrupting communication with mission control. The problem began in mid-February 2026 when an onboard anomaly triggered a progressive loss of attitude control in the Coronagraph spacecraft. Attitude control refers to a satellite’s ability to maintain its orientation in space. Due to this failure, the spacecraft’s solar panels stopped facing the Sun, preventing it from generating sufficient power. As a result, the onboard battery rapidly discharged, forcing the satellite to enter survival mode where only essential systems remain active and communication with Earth is halted.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI Named Strongest Indian Bank with AAA+ Brand Rating: State Bank of India (SBI) has been named the strongest Indian bank and the 16th strongest globally, earning the AAA+ brand strength rating, highlighting its reputation, customer trust, and brand resilience in the global banking sector.HDFC Bank remains India’s most valuable banking brand, valued at $12.4 billion, despite a 7% YoY decline, and improved its global brand strength ranking, reflecting strong customer confidence and influence.ICICI Bank showed a 19% YoY increase in brand value to $5.5 billion and improved its global rank to 76th, indicating a strong growth trajectory among Indian private sector banks.

 

2. NABARD Launches 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 the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge to strengthen India’s climate resilience framework for rural regions. The initiative aims to build foundational technological layers of a National Climate Stack that will integrate diverse climate datasets and enable more effective climate intelligence for agriculture, rural finance, and public planning.

India is increasingly facing climate-related risks such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, and cyclones, which pose serious threats to agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. Although climate data availability has improved over the years, forecasting and risk management systems remain fragmented across different platforms. The new initiative aims to bridge these gaps by creating interoperable and accessible climate data systems. The National Climate Stack seeks to integrate multiple climate datasets and models into a unified technological framework. According to NABARD Chairman Shaji K V, the challenge lies in the fact that climate data currently exists across isolated platforms and websites, limiting its effective use. The proposed stack aims to bring together these data streams into a seamless system that can support predictive analysis and real-time decision-making. The initiative aligns with India’s broader vision of using digital technology to build resilient rural ecosystems.