Daily Current Affairs & GK Updates

Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2026: Elon Musk Tops Globally; Mukesh Ambani Leads in IndiaIn March 2026, Forbes released its 40th annual World’s Billionaires List 2026 , the definitive ranking of the world’s richest people featuring a record 3,428 billionaires, with Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesla and SpaceX, retaining the top spot for the second consecutive year with a net worth of about USD 839 billion, while Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), ranked as India’s richest with USD 99.7 billion.Larry Page of Alphabet (Google) ranked second with a net worth of USD 257 billion, followed by Sergey Brin of Alphabet Inc.(Google) in third place with USD 237 billion.Highlights of Forbes Billionaires List 2026:Overview: The list includes 3,428 billionaires with a combined net worth of USD 20.1 trillion, up from USD 16.1 trillion in 2025. The 2026 list includes 390 new entrants, reflecting a rise in younger billionaires.Countries: The United States of America (USA) leads with 989 billionaires, followed by Mainland China with 539 billionaires and India ranking third with 229 billionaires.Women Representation: In 2026, a total of 481 women featured on the list, accounting for 14% of all billionaires, up from 13.4% in 2025.Walmart heir Alice Walton remains the world’s richest woman for the second consecutive year, with USD 134 billion.

21 Mar, 2026

Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2026: Elon Musk Tops Globally; Mukesh Ambani Leads in IndiaIn March 2026, Forbes released its 40th annual World’s Billionaires List 2026 , the definitive ranking of the world’s richest people featuring a record 3,428 billionaires, with Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesla and SpaceX, retaining the top spot for the second consecutive year with a net worth of about USD 839 billion, while Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), ranked as India’s richest with USD 99.7 billion.Larry Page of Alphabet (Google) ranked second with a net worth of USD 257 billion, followed by Sergey Brin of Alphabet Inc.(Google) in third place with USD 237 billion.Highlights of Forbes Billionaires List 2026:Overview: The list includes 3,428 billionaires with a combined net worth of USD 20.1 trillion, up from USD 16.1 trillion in 2025. The 2026 list includes 390 new entrants, reflecting a rise in younger billionaires.Countries: The United States of America (USA) leads with 989 billionaires, followed by Mainland China with 539 billionaires and India ranking third with 229 billionaires.Women Representation: In 2026, a total of 481 women featured on the list, accounting for 14% of all billionaires, up from 13.4% in 2025.Walmart heir Alice Walton remains the world’s richest woman for the second consecutive year, with USD 134 billion.

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IA Conducts Exercise ‘Amogh Jwala’ at Babina Field Firing Ranges, UPThe Southern Command of Indian Army (IA) successfully conducted Exercise ‘Amogh Jwala’ from March 6 to 18, 2026 at the Babina Field Firing Ranges in Uttar Pradesh (UP).The 13-day long military exercise aimed to validate the IA’s preparedness for mechanised warfare in a multi-domain operational environment.About Amogh Jwala:Key Achievement: The key highlight of the exercise was the successful demonstration of the deployment of mechanised forces with newly inducted Apache attack helicopters, fighter aircraft, drone and counter-drone systems and network-enabled battlefield platforms.Key Technologies Used: The drill used the advanced surveillance systems, precision firepower and real-time communication networks to enhance battlefield transparency and enhanced decision-making.Integration of Advanced Technologies: The exercise highlighted the effective integration of Electronic Warfare (EW), Air Defence (AD) and night-fighting capabilities , which reflects the rising combat edge of a networked and future-ready force.

21 Mar, 2026

IA Conducts Exercise ‘Amogh Jwala’ at Babina Field Firing Ranges, UPThe Southern Command of Indian Army (IA) successfully conducted Exercise ‘Amogh Jwala’ from March 6 to 18, 2026 at the Babina Field Firing Ranges in Uttar Pradesh (UP).The 13-day long military exercise aimed to validate the IA’s preparedness for mechanised warfare in a multi-domain operational environment.About Amogh Jwala:Key Achievement: The key highlight of the exercise was the successful demonstration of the deployment of mechanised forces with newly inducted Apache attack helicopters, fighter aircraft, drone and counter-drone systems and network-enabled battlefield platforms.Key Technologies Used: The drill used the advanced surveillance systems, precision firepower and real-time communication networks to enhance battlefield transparency and enhanced decision-making.Integration of Advanced Technologies: The exercise highlighted the effective integration of Electronic Warfare (EW), Air Defence (AD) and night-fighting capabilities , which reflects the rising combat edge of a networked and future-ready force.

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BPCL Launches India’s 1st LPG ATM in Gurugram, HaryanaIn March 2026, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), launched India’s 1st Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at Central Park Flower Valley in Sector 33, Sohna, in Gurugram, Haryana.The launch was part of BPCL’s pilot project branded as ‘BharatGas Insta LPG’, which aims to test automated gas distribution in urban areas of the country.About India’s 1st LPG ATM:Objective: It is designed to provide quick, safe, and round-the-clock access to LPG, particularly during global supply shortages amid West Asia war crises.Digital Process: Registered BharatGas customers are required to enter their registered mobile number, verify it via One Time Password (OTP), and scan the barcode or Quick Response (QR) code on their empty cylinder and complete the payment process digitally through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) or debit card.Cylinder Type:The LPG ATM offers lightweight composite cylinder weighing about 15 kilogram (kg) compared to the conventional iron cylinders which weigh nearly 31 kg.Capacity: The newly launched LPG ATM has the capacity to hold a maximum of 10 cylinders. When stock falls below two cylinders, the nearest gas agency will get an alert to replenish the machine.

21 Mar, 2026

BPCL Launches India’s 1st LPG ATM in Gurugram, HaryanaIn March 2026, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), launched India’s 1st Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at Central Park Flower Valley in Sector 33, Sohna, in Gurugram, Haryana.The launch was part of BPCL’s pilot project branded as ‘BharatGas Insta LPG’, which aims to test automated gas distribution in urban areas of the country.About India’s 1st LPG ATM:Objective: It is designed to provide quick, safe, and round-the-clock access to LPG, particularly during global supply shortages amid West Asia war crises.Digital Process: Registered BharatGas customers are required to enter their registered mobile number, verify it via One Time Password (OTP), and scan the barcode or Quick Response (QR) code on their empty cylinder and complete the payment process digitally through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) or debit card.Cylinder Type:The LPG ATM offers lightweight composite cylinder weighing about 15 kilogram (kg) compared to the conventional iron cylinders which weigh nearly 31 kg.Capacity: The newly launched LPG ATM has the capacity to hold a maximum of 10 cylinders. When stock falls below two cylinders, the nearest gas agency will get an alert to replenish the machine.

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NIRYAT Data for FY25: TN Becomes Top Textile ExporterIn March 2026, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) released the National-Import-Export Record for Yearly Analysis of Trade (NIRYAT)data for the Financial Year 2024-25(FY25).As per the report, Tamil Nadu (TN) has emerged as India’s top state in textile exports, registered exports worth USD 7,997.17 million(21.84% of India’s overall exports).Key Findings:Total Value of Exports: The data further revealed that the total value of India’s textile export stood at USD 36,610 million in FY25.Other Top States: TN is followed by Gujarat which secured the 2nd rank with exports USD 5,646.01 million; Maharashtra at USD 3,831.28 million.About NIRYAT: It is a dedicated platform launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in 2022, providing real-time comprehensive data on foreign trade.

21 Mar, 2026

NIRYAT Data for FY25: TN Becomes Top Textile ExporterIn March 2026, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) released the National-Import-Export Record for Yearly Analysis of Trade (NIRYAT)data for the Financial Year 2024-25(FY25).As per the report, Tamil Nadu (TN) has emerged as India’s top state in textile exports, registered exports worth USD 7,997.17 million(21.84% of India’s overall exports).Key Findings:Total Value of Exports: The data further revealed that the total value of India’s textile export stood at USD 36,610 million in FY25.Other Top States: TN is followed by Gujarat which secured the 2nd rank with exports USD 5,646.01 million; Maharashtra at USD 3,831.28 million.About NIRYAT: It is a dedicated platform launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in 2022, providing real-time comprehensive data on foreign trade.

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CEA Midterm Review of 20th Electric Power Survey: India’s Power Capacity to Reach 1,121 GW by 2035-36In March 2026, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the apex power planning body under the Ministry of Power(MoP), released the midterm review of the 20th Electric Power Survey (EPS) titled ‘National Generation Adequacy Plan (2026-27 to 2035-36)’ at the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 held in at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi(Delhi).According to the survey, India’s installed power generation capacity is projected to rise from around 520 Gigawatt (GW) (as of 31 January 2026) to 1,121 GW by 2035–36, with peak electricity demand expected to reach 459 GW with Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.58% and total electricity requirement increasing to 3,365 billion units (BU) (CAGR: 6.41%) between Financial Year 2024-25(FY25) and FY36.India Power Sector Outlook (2035–36):Generation: Gross generation rises to 3,596 BU and net generation nearly doubles from 1,725 BU to around 3,450 BU.Energy Mix: Solar Photovoltaic (PV) leads with 509 GW (45%) share, followed by Coal (315 GW) (28%), Wind (155 GW) (14%), Hydropower (77 GW) (7%), with Nuclear (22 GW), Gas (20 GW), Biomass (16 GW), and Small Hydro (6 GW) contributing smaller shares.Non-fossil: Non-fossil capacity reaches 786 GW (~70%) while its generation share rises to nearly 49% by 2035–36.

21 Mar, 2026

CEA Midterm Review of 20th Electric Power Survey: India’s Power Capacity to Reach 1,121 GW by 2035-36In March 2026, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the apex power planning body under the Ministry of Power(MoP), released the midterm review of the 20th Electric Power Survey (EPS) titled ‘National Generation Adequacy Plan (2026-27 to 2035-36)’ at the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 held in at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi(Delhi).According to the survey, India’s installed power generation capacity is projected to rise from around 520 Gigawatt (GW) (as of 31 January 2026) to 1,121 GW by 2035–36, with peak electricity demand expected to reach 459 GW with Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.58% and total electricity requirement increasing to 3,365 billion units (BU) (CAGR: 6.41%) between Financial Year 2024-25(FY25) and FY36.India Power Sector Outlook (2035–36):Generation: Gross generation rises to 3,596 BU and net generation nearly doubles from 1,725 BU to around 3,450 BU.Energy Mix: Solar Photovoltaic (PV) leads with 509 GW (45%) share, followed by Coal (315 GW) (28%), Wind (155 GW) (14%), Hydropower (77 GW) (7%), with Nuclear (22 GW), Gas (20 GW), Biomass (16 GW), and Small Hydro (6 GW) contributing smaller shares.Non-fossil: Non-fossil capacity reaches 786 GW (~70%) while its generation share rises to nearly 49% by 2035–36.

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GoI launches RELIEF scheme to support Indian exporters amid West Asia conflictIn March 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) announced the launch of a new initiative, Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme to support Indian exporters impacted by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.Key HighlightsPurpose: The RELIEF initiative is a time-bound and targeted measure aimed at mitigating the impact of rising logistics costs, higher insurance premiums, and war-related risks affecting export consignments moving to or through the Gulf region.Financial Outlay: The scheme will be implemented with a financial outlay of Rs 497 crore (Cr) under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).A dashboard-based monitoring system will be introduced to track claims and fund utilisation in real time.Implementing Agency: The ECGC Ltd. (Formerly Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd.), wholly owned by Government of India (GoI), has been designated as the nodal and implementing agency responsible for verification, claim processing, disbursement and monitoring.

21 Mar, 2026

GoI launches RELIEF scheme to support Indian exporters amid West Asia conflictIn March 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) announced the launch of a new initiative, Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme to support Indian exporters impacted by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.Key HighlightsPurpose: The RELIEF initiative is a time-bound and targeted measure aimed at mitigating the impact of rising logistics costs, higher insurance premiums, and war-related risks affecting export consignments moving to or through the Gulf region.Financial Outlay: The scheme will be implemented with a financial outlay of Rs 497 crore (Cr) under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).A dashboard-based monitoring system will be introduced to track claims and fund utilisation in real time.Implementing Agency: The ECGC Ltd. (Formerly Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd.), wholly owned by Government of India (GoI), has been designated as the nodal and implementing agency responsible for verification, claim processing, disbursement and monitoring.

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Global Recycling Day 2026 – March 18 Global Recycling Day is observed annually across the globe on 18 March to promote the importance of recycling in conserving natural resources and ensuring environmental sustainability.18th March 2026 marks the 9th observance of the Global Recycling Day.2026 Theme: “Don’t Think Waste – Think Opportunity”Background:Origin: Global Recycling Day was established by the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), founded on 18 March 1948, to promote recycling worldwide.

20 Mar, 2026

Global Recycling Day 2026 – March 18 Global Recycling Day is observed annually across the globe on 18 March to promote the importance of recycling in conserving natural resources and ensuring environmental sustainability.18th March 2026 marks the 9th observance of the Global Recycling Day.2026 Theme: “Don’t Think Waste – Think Opportunity”Background:Origin: Global Recycling Day was established by the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), founded on 18 March 1948, to promote recycling worldwide.

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Ordnance Factory Day 2026 – March 18Ordnance Factory Day is observed annually on 18 March across India by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to mark the establishment of India’s first Ordnance Factory at Cossipore near Kolkata, West Bengal(WB), in 1801.About Indian Ordnance Factories(IOFS):Structure : The IOFs comprise 41 factories, 9 training institutes, 3 regional marketing centres, and 4 safety controllers under the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence (MoD).Key Role: The IOFs, the oldest and largest defence manufacturing entity, produce arms, ammunition, and equipment for the Armed Forces, along with handling testing, logistics, research, development, and marketing of systems across land, sea, and air.Reform: In June 2021, the 41 factories were reorganised into seven specialised Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).The Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination & Services)(DOO(C&S) was set up on 1 October 2021 to oversee coordination and services, replacing the OFB.

20 Mar, 2026

Ordnance Factory Day 2026 – March 18Ordnance Factory Day is observed annually on 18 March across India by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to mark the establishment of India’s first Ordnance Factory at Cossipore near Kolkata, West Bengal(WB), in 1801.About Indian Ordnance Factories(IOFS):Structure : The IOFs comprise 41 factories, 9 training institutes, 3 regional marketing centres, and 4 safety controllers under the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence (MoD).Key Role: The IOFs, the oldest and largest defence manufacturing entity, produce arms, ammunition, and equipment for the Armed Forces, along with handling testing, logistics, research, development, and marketing of systems across land, sea, and air.Reform: In June 2021, the 41 factories were reorganised into seven specialised Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).The Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination & Services)(DOO(C&S) was set up on 1 October 2021 to oversee coordination and services, replacing the OFB.

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RBI Approves Bain Capital Investment in MFL and its SubsidiariesIn March 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the proposed investment of around Rs 4,385 crore by Bain Capital, along with granting joint management control in Manappuram Finance Limited (MFL) and its subsidiaries: Asirvad Micro Finance Limited (AMFL) and Manappuram Home Finance Limited (MHFL).The transaction with Bain Capital includes a mandatory open offer under Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)’s Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers Regulations, 2011, with the capital infusion targeted for completion by March 31, 2026.Key Details of Acquisition:Acquirers: Bain Capital will acquire a stake in MFL through its affiliates, BC Asia Investments XXV Limited and BC Asia Investments XIV Limited.Key Changes: On the completion of the transaction and depending on the open offer subscription, Bain Capital is expected to hold between 18% and 41.66% stake in MFL on a fully diluted basis, while the existing promoters will hold 28.9% stake, (instead of current 35.25% stake).Board Reconstitution: Following the deal, Bain Capital will be classified as a promoter and will jointly control MFL along with the existing promoters.Additionally, the boards of the company and its subsidiaries will be reconstituted to include nominee directors from Bain Capital, in accordance with the definitive agreements.

20 Mar, 2026

RBI Approves Bain Capital Investment in MFL and its SubsidiariesIn March 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the proposed investment of around Rs 4,385 crore by Bain Capital, along with granting joint management control in Manappuram Finance Limited (MFL) and its subsidiaries: Asirvad Micro Finance Limited (AMFL) and Manappuram Home Finance Limited (MHFL).The transaction with Bain Capital includes a mandatory open offer under Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)’s Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers Regulations, 2011, with the capital infusion targeted for completion by March 31, 2026.Key Details of Acquisition:Acquirers: Bain Capital will acquire a stake in MFL through its affiliates, BC Asia Investments XXV Limited and BC Asia Investments XIV Limited.Key Changes: On the completion of the transaction and depending on the open offer subscription, Bain Capital is expected to hold between 18% and 41.66% stake in MFL on a fully diluted basis, while the existing promoters will hold 28.9% stake, (instead of current 35.25% stake).Board Reconstitution: Following the deal, Bain Capital will be classified as a promoter and will jointly control MFL along with the existing promoters.Additionally, the boards of the company and its subsidiaries will be reconstituted to include nominee directors from Bain Capital, in accordance with the definitive agreements.

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HDFC Bank Appoints Keki Mistry as Interim Part-time Chairman after Resignation of Atanu ChakrabortyOn 19 March 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Keki Mistry as the interim Part-time Chairman of HDFC Bank Limited for a period of three months with immediate effect.This follows the resignation of the bank’s Part-time Chairman and Independent Director, Atanu Chakraborty, who had been serving since May 2021.About Keki Mistry:Experience: He has over four decades of experience in housing finance, banking, and financial services.Career in HDFC: He joined Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC Ltd) in 1981 and held key positions including Executive Director (ED), Managing Director (MD), and later Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO).Current Role: He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at HDFC Bank Limited.He is also the Chairman of HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited and an Independent Operating Advisor at Kedaara Capital.

20 Mar, 2026

HDFC Bank Appoints Keki Mistry as Interim Part-time Chairman after Resignation of Atanu ChakrabortyOn 19 March 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Keki Mistry as the interim Part-time Chairman of HDFC Bank Limited for a period of three months with immediate effect.This follows the resignation of the bank’s Part-time Chairman and Independent Director, Atanu Chakraborty, who had been serving since May 2021.About Keki Mistry:Experience: He has over four decades of experience in housing finance, banking, and financial services.Career in HDFC: He joined Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC Ltd) in 1981 and held key positions including Executive Director (ED), Managing Director (MD), and later Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO).Current Role: He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at HDFC Bank Limited.He is also the Chairman of HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited and an Independent Operating Advisor at Kedaara Capital.

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