4.5/5
Current Affairs 26th March 2026
NICKNAMES OF Historical CITIES
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Jaipur – Pink City
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Udaipur – City of Lakes
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Jodhpur – Blue City
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Varanasi – Spiritual Capital of India
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Amritsar – Golden City
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Madurai – Temple City
1. Gujarat Becomes 2nd State in India to Pass Uniform Civil Code
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Mandatory Registration of Relationships: The Bill makes the registration of both marriages and live-in relationships compulsory. Marriages must be registered within 60 days, or a fine of up to ₹10,000 will be imposed. For live-in relationships, failure to register can lead to up to three months of imprisonment.
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Prohibition of Bigamy and Certain Practices: It also bans practices like Nikah Halala and allows for remarriage after divorce without any conditions. Violations of marriage laws, such as using force or fraud, can attract a prison sentence of up to seven years.
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Exemptions for Scheduled Tribes (STs): A significant feature of the Bill is the complete exemption of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population. Given the constitutional protections under the Fifth and Sixth Schedules, the government has ensured that the customary rights and traditional practices of tribal communities remain untouched by this new legal framework.
Footnotes: Gujarat's Governor: Acharya Devvrat, CM: Bhupendrabhai Patel, Capital: Gandhinagar
2. Agnikul test-fires first-of-its-kind 3D-printed booster engine
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Revolutionary Manufacturing Speed: The Agnite engine is manufactured as a single-piece structure using Inconel (a high-strength superalloy). While traditional rocket engines take several months to assemble from thousands of parts, Agnikul’s 3D-printing process produces a fully functional engine in just seven days, reducing production time by approximately 90–97%.
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World’s Largest Single-Piece Design: Standing at one metre in height, Agnite is the largest rocket engine ever built as a single integrated component without any welds, joints, or fasteners. This "single-shot" printing significantly improves structural integrity, reduces weight, and minimizes potential failure points during high-temperature combustion.
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Innovative Electric Pump Architecture: Unlike conventional engines that use complex gas generators, Agnite is driven by electric motor-driven pumps powered by battery packs.
3. Loni Overtakes Delhi as Worlds Most Polluted City
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Alarming PM2.5 Levels: Loni recorded an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 112.5 µg/m³ in 2025. This is more than 22 times the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended safe limit of 5 µg/m³ and represents a nearly 23% increase from its 2024 levels.
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Regional Crisis in NCR: While Loni took the top spot globally, other cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) also ranked among the worst. Delhi was ranked the 4th most polluted city globally (99.6 µg/m³) but retained its title as the world’s most polluted capital city for the eighth consecutive year.
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India’s Global Standing: India is currently ranked as the 6th most polluted country in the world, showing a slight 3% improvement in national pollution levels compared to previous years.
4. Chhattisgarh To Host Landmark Khelo India Tribal Games 2026
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Decentralized Hosting Model: The Games are being held across three culturally significant hubs to bring the action closer to tribal heartlands: Raipur (hosting hockey, football, swimming, weightlifting, and archery), Jagdalpur/Bastar (focusing on athletics), and Ambikapur/Surguja (hosting wrestling and mallakhamb).
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Massive Participation & Inclusivity: Approximately 3,800 participants (including over 3,000 athletes) from 30 states and Union Territories are competing. Notably, the event maintains a nearly 50:50 gender participation ratio, and host Chhattisgarh, along with Odisha, Jharkhand, and Assam, have fielded the largest contingents (each with 100+ athletes).
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Symbolism & Talent Scouting: The official mascot is 'Morveer'—where 'Mor' means 'our own' in Chhattisgarhi and 'Veer' signifies bravery. Beyond the competition, the event serves as a high-visibility scouting ground; standout performers will be inducted into Khelo India training centers.
Footnotes: Chhattisgarh's Governor: Ramen Deka, CM: Vishnu Deo Sai, Capital: Raipur
5. India’s First Indoor Athletics Championships Kickoff at Kalinga Stadium
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Historic Infrastructure Milestone: The event was held at India’s first-ever world-class indoor athletics facility, which features a 200-meter banked synthetic track (Mondo track). Unlike outdoor 400m tracks, this indoor setup requires athletes to adapt to narrower lanes, sharper turns, and a climate-controlled, wind-free environment.
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Preparatory Ground for World Championships: This national meet serves as a critical testing ground for both athletes and officials as Bhubaneswar has already been named the host city for the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships. It is the first time India will host a global track and field showpiece, making this domestic debut essential for building a local indoor ecosystem.
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National Record-Breaking Performances: The championships witnessed several landmark results, most notably in the 60m sprints. Gurindervir Singh shattered the men's 60m national record with a time of 6.60 seconds, while Saloni Nagar Kumari broke a 21-year-old indoor record in the women's 400m by clocking 53.73 seconds.
6. Rudrendra Tandon appointed as East Secretary, MEA
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Succession and Leadership Transition: A 1994-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Tandon will succeed Periasamy Kumaran (IFS:1992) in this critical role. As Secretary (East), he will be responsible for overseeing India’s diplomatic relations with countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific region.
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Extensive Regional Expertise: Tandon brings significant experience in handling complex geopolitical territories. He previously served as India's Ambassador to Greece (2023–2026) and was the Ambassador to Afghanistan (2020–2021) during the high-stakes period of the Taliban takeover. He also served as India’s Ambassador to the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, making him well-versed in the "Act East" region.
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Strategic Portfolio Focus: In his new capacity, he will lead India's engagement with major regional groupings including ASEAN, BIMSTEC, and the East Asia Summit. His role is pivotal in strengthening the "Act East Policy" and managing bilateral ties with key partners like Japan, South Korea, and Australia, particularly within the framework of the Indo-Pacific strategy.
Footnotes: MEA's Minister Responsible: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, HQ: New Delhi, Estd: 1946
7. Puneet Gupt appointed as Chairperson of DNPA
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Leadership Transition: Gupt succeeds Mariam Mammen Mathew (CEO of Manorama Online), who completed her two-year term. Having previously served as the Vice Chairperson of the DNPA, Gupt’s elevation is seen as a move to ensure continuity in the association’s ongoing strategic initiatives and policy advocacy.
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Focus on AI and Digital Disruption: Upon his appointment, Gupt highlighted that the industry is navigating a "consequential shift" driven by Artificial Intelligence. His primary focus will be on shaping policy frameworks that address how content is discovered, valued, and monetized in an AI-driven world, ensuring that publishers are proactive participants rather than just reactive observers.
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New Executive Team: Alongside Gupt, the DNPA appointed Anant Goenka (Executive Director of The Indian Express Group) as the new Vice Chairperson.
8. PKF & WWF-India Present Machhli & Vanya Prani Mitra Awards
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Honoring "The Lady of the Lakes": The Machhli Award is named after the legendary tigress of Ranthambore (T-16), known for her 19-year reign and fearless nature. The 2026 recipient of this prestigious national award is Anita Chaudhary, a forest guard at Rajasthan’s Shergarh Sanctuary.
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Community & Conflict Management: The Vanya Prani Mitra Award focuses on individuals who excel in managing human-wildlife conflict. A notable 2026 winner is Anil Bishnoi from Hanumangarh, often called the "Protector of Deer."
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Strategic Expansion and Prize Pool: For the first time, the foundation allocated a significant prize pool of ₹10 lakh to be distributed across awardees in both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?
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Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness: 26thMarch
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Theme 2026: #EpilepsyPledge
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Lavender is the international flower for epilepsy, symbolizing solitude.
Download Daily GK PDF of 26th March 2026
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