🔆 CURRENT AFFAIRS POINTERS — 10 MARCH 2026

🔆 INTERNATIONAL NEWS

📍 India Sends Rice Aid to Malawi

🌍 Country: Malawi (Africa)

📦 Aid
✅ 1,000 metric tons of rice

📍 Reason
⚠ Severe drought-induced food crisis
⚠ Linked to El Niño climate phenomenon

📍 Malawi – Key Facts
✅ Capital: Lilongwe
✅ Currency: Malawian Kwacha

📍 India–Uzbekistan Pharma-Nutra Corridor

🎯 Aim
✅ Expand access to CIS & Eurasian healthcare markets

💰 Estimated market opportunity
✅ $7–10 billion

📍 Partners
• Uzbekistan Ministry of Health
• Nutrify Today
• Pharma Eurasia

📍 Pharma Eurasia 2026
📅 20–22 May 2026
📍 Tashkent, Uzbekistan

📍 Uzbekistan – Key Facts
✅ President: Shavkat Mirziyoyev
✅ PM: Abdulla Aripov

📍 FATF Grey List Update

⚠ Added to Increased Monitoring (Grey List)
• Kuwait
• Papua New Guinea

📍 Reason
⚠ Deficiencies in AML/CFT frameworks

📍 Black List Countries
• Iran
• North Korea

📍 FATF – Key Facts
✅ HQ: Paris, France
✅ Global body against money laundering & terror financing

📍 Romania Joins International Solar Alliance

🌞 Romania submitted Instrument of Ratification of ISA

📍 ISA – Key Facts
✅ Launched 2015 (COP21 Paris) by India & France
✅ HQ: National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurugram

📍 ‘Towards 1000’ Strategy
🎯 Targets by 2030
• $1000 billion solar investment
• 1000 GW solar capacity
• 1000 million people energy access

🔆 NATIONAL NEWS

📍 “Say No to Proxy Sarpanch” Campaign

🏛 Launched by: Ministry of Panchayati Raj

📅 Duration
8–18 March 2026

📍 Aim
⚠ Address “Sarpanch Pati” practice

📍 Meaning
❗ Male relatives control decisions of elected women sarpanches

📍 Panchayati Raj System
✅ Introduced through 73rd Constitutional Amendment (1992)
✅ Three-tier system:
• Gram Panchayat
• Panchayat Samiti
• Zila Parishad

📍 NoBroker Launches AI Speech Models

🏢 Platform: ConvoZen AI

📍 New Models
• Akshara – Speech-to-Text
• Ragini – Text-to-Speech

📍 Features
✅ Multilingual AI
✅ Supports multiple Indian languages

📍 NH Green Cover Index (NH-GCI) Report

🏛 Released by NHAI

📍 Prepared with
✅ NRSC-ISRO

📍 Purpose
✅ Measure green cover along National Highways

📍 Coverage
✅ ~30,000 km highways
✅ 24 states

📍 Method
✅ Satellite-based vegetation measurement

📍 Historic Winter Opening of Zoji La

📍 Location
🏔 Kargil district, Ladakh

📍 Altitude
✅ 11,650 ft

📍 Importance
✅ Connects Srinagar – Kargil – Leh

📍 Zoji La Tunnel
✅ Launched 2018
✅ Will be Asia’s longest strategic tunnel

🔆 DEFENCE

📍 India 2nd Largest Arms Importer

📊 SIPRI Report (2021-25)

🥇 Largest importer: Ukraine

📍 Key Points
✅ India imports declined by 4%
✅ Russia remains largest supplier

📍 Russia share in India’s imports
• 40% (2021-25)
• 51% (2016-20)
• 70% (2011-15)

📍 Global arms exports
🥇 USA – 42% share

📍 Manual of Security Instructions 2026

🏛 Released by Ministry of Defence

🎯 Purpose
✅ Strengthen security protocols in defence establishments

📍 Released by
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh

📍 Exercise LAMITIYE-2026

🇮🇳 India – 🇸🇨 Seychelles Joint Military Exercise

📍 Edition
✅ 11th edition

📍 Venue
Seychelles Defence Academy

📍 Objective
• Interoperability
• Peacekeeping operations

📍 Exercise Cold Response 2026

🌍 NATO Arctic military exercise

📅 9–19 March 2026

📍 Participation
✅ 25,000 troops from 14 countries

📍 Freedom Shield Exercise

🇺🇸 USA – 🇰🇷 South Korea joint exercise

📍 Participation
✅ 18,000 South Korean troops

🔆 MoUs

📍 Kolkata Port – East Horizon Agreement

🏛 Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port

📍 Project
✅ Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU)

📍 Location
Haldia Dock Complex

💰 Investment
✅ ₹260 crore

📍 Purpose
✅ Improve LNG infrastructure

📍 NITI Aayog – Tata Electronics Partnership

🎯 Focus
✅ Boost electronics manufacturing
✅ Strengthen supply chains

🔆 STATES

📍 Dombivli Lezim Dance World Record

📍 Participants
✅ 9,111 women & girls

📍 Event
International Women’s Day 2026

📍 Dance
Lezim – traditional folk dance of Maharashtra

📍 Mizoram Resolution on Mizo Language

🏛 Mizoram Assembly passed resolution to include Mizo language in Eighth Schedule

📍 Current languages in Eighth Schedule
✅ 22 languages

📍 Uttarakhand Tops ICJS Implementation

📊 Score: 93.46

📍 Top States
1️⃣ Uttarakhand
2️⃣ Haryana
3️⃣ Assam
4️⃣ Sikkim
5️⃣ Madhya Pradesh

📍 ICJS 2.0
✅ Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System

🔆 SCHEMES

📍 PM JANMAN

Full form: Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan

📍 Ministry
Ministry of Tribal Affairs

📍 Focus
✅ Development of PVTGs

📍 Coverage
• Housing
• Drinking water
• Education
• Health
• Connectivity

📍 Target
✅ 500 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras by March 2026

📍 PM Vishwakarma & Women MSMEs

📊 Women-led MSMEs
✅ 3.07 crore enterprises

📍 Key Support
• Credit Guarantee Scheme
• Skill training
• Marketing support

📍 CGTMSE Benefit
✅ 90% credit guarantee for women

📍 PM Ujjwala Yojana

📅 Launched: 2016

📍 Ministry
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas

📍 Coverage
✅ 10.51 crore LPG connections

📍 Subsidy
💰 ₹300 per cylinder

🔆 APPOINTMENTs

📍 RM Nachammai

⭐ First woman to head operations of a functional nuclear power plant in India

📍 Position
Chief Superintendent – Kaiga Nuclear Plant (Units 3 & 4)

📍 Organisation
NPCIL

🔆 OBITUARY

📍 K.G. George

🎖 Vir Chakra awardee

📍 Known for
Heroism during 1965 India-Pakistan War

📍 Served in
Indian Army Corps of Signals

#CurrentAffairs

🔆 Kanheri Caves (Mumbai)

📍 Location

✅ Situated in Kanheri Caves, inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

📍 Key Features

✅ Second largest Chaitya-griha in India after Karla Caves.

✅ Lion-pillar motifs at entrance — architectural similarity with Karla.

✅ Podhis (rock-cut water cisterns) for rainwater harvesting — advanced water management.

✅ Images of Standing & Seated Buddha, often flanked by Bodhisattvas — shows Mahayana influence.

✅ Viharas (monastic dwellings) with rock-cut benches and seats for monks.

✅ Inscriptions mention Gautamiputra Satakarni, indicating Satavahana patronage.

#prelims
#art_and_culture

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🔆 CURRENT AFFAIRS — 11 MARCH 2026

🔆 NATIONAL

📍 FDI Policy Changes (Land Border Countries)
✅ Automatic route allowed for non-controlling beneficial ownership up to 10%
✅ Fast-track approval timeline: within 60 days
✅ Focus sectors: electronics, capital goods, solar value chain

📍 Madurai Airport Declared International
✅ Cabinet approves international status for Madurai Airport (Tamil Nadu)
✅ Boost to tourism & regional connectivity

📍 Jal Jeevan Mission Extended
✅ Mission period extended till Dec 2028
✅ Total outlay: ₹8.69 lakh crore
✅ Target: Har Ghar Jal for 19.36 crore rural households
✅ Digital framework: “Sujalam Bharat”

📍 Jal Mahotsav 2026
✅ Launched in Navsari (Gujarat)
✅ Duration: 8–22 March
✅ Promotes community participation in rural water management

📍 PB-SHABD Platform Update
✅ Logo-free news content access extended till March 2027
✅ Around 1000 stories uploaded daily

📍 Project Cheetah Update
✅ Total cheetah population reaches 53 at Kuno NP (MP)
✅ Indian-born cubs rise to 33

📍 AAHAR International Fair
✅ 40th edition held in New Delhi (10–14 March)
✅ Italy is partner country

📍 Essential Commodities Act Invoked
✅ Govt diverts natural gas to priority sectors (PNG, CNG, LPG, fertilisers)
✅ Trigger: global supply disruptions due to geopolitical tensions

🔆 DEFENCE

📍 AVATAAR Amphibious Drone
✅ India’s first air-and-underwater surveillance drone unveiled by AquaAirX
✅ Designed for ISR missions in maritime environments

📍 ADC-150 Trials
✅ DRDO & Indian Navy conduct successful air-droppable container trials
✅ Payload capacity: 150 kg for sea logistics support

🔆 SCHEMES

📍 PM-KISAN Update
✅ ₹4.09 lakh crore disbursed via 21 instalments since launch
✅ Benefit: ₹6,000/year via DBT

📍 PM-SYM Enrolment
✅ Total enrolment crosses 52.4 lakh unorganised workers
✅ Minimum pension: ₹3,000/month after age 60

🔆 IMPORTANT DAY

📍 International Day of Women Judges
✅ Observed on 10 March
✅ Theme: “Women Judges on the Bench and Beyond: Protecting Access to Justice.”

🔆 AWARDS

📍 BIS Certification – Bokaro Steel Plant
✅ Certification for 4 new HSLA steel grades under IS 513 (Part 2) standards

🔆 SPORTS

📍 Ironman New Zealand
✅ Anant Rana completes full triathlon in 11h 50m

📍 India–New Zealand Sports Cooperation
✅ 2026 marks 100 years of sporting ties
✅ Focus sports: Rugby, Rowing, Sailing, Athletics, Cycling

📍 World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026
✅ Hosted in New Delhi (11–13 March)
✅ Participation: 257 athletes from 8 countries

#CurrentAffairs

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🔆 Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves (Odisha)

📍 Historical Background
✅ Date back to 2nd–1st century BCE.
✅ Dedicated to Jainism → excavated during the reign of King Kharavela (Mahameghavahana dynasty).

📍 Structure & Number of Caves
✅ Udayagiri: 18 caves
✅ Khandagiri: 15 caves

📍 Important Caves
✅ Hathi Gumpha
✅ Rani Gumpha
✅ Ganesh Gumpha

📍 Art & Inscriptions
✅ Rich carvings of Jain Tirthankaras and deities.
✅ Famous Hathigumpha Inscription written by King Kharavela.
✅ Inscription has 17 lines engraved in deep-cut Brahmi script.
✅ Mainly records military campaigns, conquests, and achievements of Kharavela.

#prelims
#art_and_culture

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Day 85: 13 March target:

Art and culture
Topics:
Religion
Bhakti movements
Schools of philosophy
Dances, puppetry
Science and technology through ages
Misc.
PYQs

Current Affairs: November 2025
Social Issues
History, art and culture related
Security
Disaster management

#UpscRevisionProgram

After completion of target post 'DONE'
In comment section. Targets are decided as per practical approach. In remaining time, you can study whatever you want.
Thank you.



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🔆 Pala Dynasty (8th – 12th Century CE)

📍 Gopala (c. 750 CE)
✅ Founder of the Pala dynasty.
✅ Displaced the later Guptas of Magadha and Khadga rulers of eastern Bengal.
✅ Followed Buddhism → built the famous Odantapuri Monastery.

📍 Dharmapala (c. 770 – 810 CE)
✅ Founded Vikramshila University (Bihar) → scholar Dipankara Atisa associated.
✅ Founded Somapura Mahavihara and renovated Nalanda University.
✅ Patronised Buddhist scholar Shantarakshita → promoted Yogacara–Svatantrika–Madhyamaka synthesis
→ Integration of:
• Yogacara (Asanga)
• Madhyamaka (Nagarjuna)
• Logic & epistemology (Dharmakirti)

📍 Devapala (c. 810 – 850 CE)
✅ Extended empire to Kamarupa (Assam), parts of Odisha (Utkala), and Nepal.
✅ Defeated Hunas, Gurjaras (possibly Mihir Bhoja), and Dravidas.
✅ Sailendra ruler Balaputradeva (Suvarnadvipa – Indonesia/Java) requested grant of 5 villages to Nalanda monastery → accepted.
✅ Appointed Viradeva as monastery head.
✅ Buddhist scholar Vajradatta wrote Lokeshvarashataka.
✅ Arab merchant Sulaiman referred to Pala Empire as Ruhimi / Ruhma Dharma.

📍 Mahipala I (c. 977 – 1027 CE)
✅ Revived Pala power after decline.
✅ Faced defeat at the hands of Rajendra Chola I.

📍 Ramapala (c. 1072 – 1126 CE)
✅ Last powerful Pala ruler → revived fortunes temporarily.
✅ Reasserted control over Kamarupa and Kalinga.
❗ Eventually, Vijayasena of Sena dynasty ended Pala rule in the 12th century.

#history #prelims #mains

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🔆Cassava (Also called ‘Bread of the Tropics’)

✅Also known as ‘Yuca’ or ‘Manioc’, cassava is a root vegetable grown through stem cuttings.
✅It is a tall semi-woody perennial shrub or tree native to South America and was introduced in Africa & Asia by Portuguese sailors.
✅Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of Cassava.
✅It has numerous health benefits as it is rich in energy & vitamins. 
✅Under India’s National Policy on Biofuels (2018), cassava is recognized as a raw material for ethanol production, enhancing its significance beyond food security.

🔆 Mahakapi Jataka (Bharhut Stupa, Sunga Period)

📍 Story Background
✅ Part of Buddha’s previous lives (Jataka tales).
✅ Mahakapi, a giant ape, leads a group of monkeys in a forest near a village.

📍 Moral of the Story
✅ Witnessing a flood, Mahakapi takes the responsibility to protect his group.
✅ He instructs the monkeys to build a dam to stop the flood.
✅ Through teamwork and perseverance, they construct a strong dam, successfully stopping the disaster.

🔥 Significance
- Symbolizes leadership, sacrifice, and wisdom.
- Depicted in Bharhut Stupa carvings from the Sunga period.
- Emphasizes compassion and duty towards one’s community. 🚩

Result of J&K Combined Competitive Examination 2024- Deployment of
Candidates for Medical Examination thereof.

🔆 Dravidian Style of Temple Architecture

📍 Origin & Development
✅ Emerged prominently after decline of Pallavas → flourished under Cholas

📍 Key Architectural Features
✅ High boundary walls surrounding temple complex (unlike Nagara style)
✅ Gopuram → Tall monumental entrance gateway
✅ Panchayatana layout → Main shrine + 4 subsidiary shrines

✅ Vimana
• Tower above sanctum in stepped pyramidal form
• Only one vimana over main shrine (subsidiary shrines generally lack vimana)

✅ Shikhara (Crowning element)
• Octagonal / dome-like top (not spherical like Nagara kalasha)

✅ Antarala
• Vestibule/tunnel connecting mandapa (assembly hall) to garbhagriha

✅ Sculptural Features
• Entrance adorned with Dwarapalas, Mithuna figures, Yakshas

✅ Temple Tank
• Presence of water tank (pushkarini) within temple complex

📍 Important Examples
✅ Brihadeeswara Temple (Thanjavur)
✅ Gangaikondacholapuram Temple

#prelims
#art_and_culture

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🔆 India’s 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

📍 Why in Focus?
India has submitted its Seventh National Report under the Convention on Biological Diversity to the Conference of the Parties (COP).

📍 About the Repors

✅ Prepared by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.

✅ Submitted under Article 26 of the CBD, which requires member countries to report progress on biodiversity conservation.

📍 Key Highlights

✅ Assessment of Global Targets:
First comprehensive evaluation of progress toward 23 targets of the
Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

✅ Policy Alignment:
India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) aligned with KMGBF through:
• 23 National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs)
• 142 indicators

📍 Progress Achieved

✅ Forest & Tree Cover:
India ranks 9th globally with 25.17% of geographical area under forest and tree cover.

✅ Land Restoration:
24.1 million hectares restored out of the 26 million hectares target by 2030.

✅ Carbon Sink Contribution:
India ranks 5th globally with forests removing about 150 million tonnes of CO₂ annually (2021–2025).

✅ Energy Transition:
51.93% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, exceeding India’s NDC target of 50%.

📍 About the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

✅ Adopted: 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

✅ Entered into force: 1993.

✅ Secretariat: Montreal.

✅ Operates under the United Nations Environment Programme.

📍 Objectives of CBD
✅ Conservation of biodiversity
✅ Sustainable use of biological resources
✅ Fair & equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.

📍 Important Protocols
✅ Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
✅ Nagoya Protocol

📍 Exam Pointer
✅ CBD adopted: 1992
✅ Secretariat: Montreal, Canada
✅ Key Framework: Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
✅ Protocols: Cartagena & Nagoya

#GS3 #Environment

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Day 86: 14 March target:

Modern History
Topics:
Advent of Europeans
1857 revolt
Pre congress associations



Current Affairs: December 2025
Revision
Social issues, History, art and culture related
Security
Disaster management

#UpscRevisionProgram

After completion of target post 'DONE'
In comment section. Targets are decided as per practical approach. In remaining time, you can study whatever you want.
Thank you.

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🔆 Nanda Dynasty (345 BC – 321 BC)

📍 General Features
✅ First Non-Kshatriya dynasty in Magadha
✅ Described as Adharmik (did not follow Dharma norms)
✅ Buddhist texts: belonged to “annatakul” (unknown lineage)

📍 Mahapadma Nanda (Founder)
✅ Considered first historical emperor of India (origins debated)
✅ Puranas: Son of last Sisunaga king + Shudra woman
✅ Jain texts & Greek writer Curtius: Son of a barber & courtesan

✅ Titles:
• Sarva-Kshatriyantaka → Destroyer of Kshatriyas
• Ekrat → Sole sovereign

✅ Expansion:
• North → Kuru | South → Godavari Valley
• East → Magadha | West → Narmada

✅ Other Points:
• Annexed Kalinga; canal construction mentioned in Hathigumpha inscription (Kharavela)
• Conquered Kosala
• Maintained large army (Ugrasena)

📍 Dhanananda (Last Ruler)
✅ Known as Agrammes / Xandrames in Greek texts
✅ Alexander’s invasion during his reign (stopped before Gangetic plains)
✅ Credited with Nandopakramaṇi (fiscal/measurement system)

❗ Unpopularity:
• Heavy taxation
• Anti-Kshatriya policies

#history #prelims #mains

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🔆 International Climate Initiative (IKI)

📍 Why in Focus?
India and Germany launched a €20 million (~₹180 crore) project under the International Climate Initiative (IKI) to strengthen climate resilience in India.

📍 About the International Climate Initiative (IKI)

✅ Established: 2008
✅ Nature: Major climate finance mechanism of Germany
✅ Objective: Support developing and emerging economies in climate mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity protection

📍 Countries Involved

✅ Donor Country: Germany
✅ Partner Countries: Over 150 countries

Priority Countries include:
India, Brazil, China, South Africa, Mexico, Indonesia.

📍 Aim of IKI

✅ Help countries implement Paris Agreement commitments (NDCs).
✅ Support goals under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

📍 Key Features

✅ Climate Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

✅ Climate Adaptation: Strengthening resilience against climate impacts

✅ Carbon Sink Protection: Forest conservation under REDD+

✅ Biodiversity Conservation

📍 Implementation Model

✅ Consortium-based approach:
Projects implemented by NGOs, research institutions, international organizations and private sector partners such as
👉 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

📍 Important Approaches

✅ Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA):
Using nature-based solutions like forest restoration and wetland protection.

✅ Innovative Financing:
Blended finance, biodiversity credits, climate insurance.

✅ Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) frameworks for scaling solutions.

📍 India–Germany IKI Project (New Initiative)

Funding: €20 million

Priority Regions in India

✅ Himalayas
✅ Western Ghats
✅ North-East India
✅ Island ecosystems
✅ Lower Gangetic floodplains

Focus Areas
✅ Forest restoration
✅ Groundwater recharge
✅ Flood management
✅ Biodiversity corridors for climate-driven species migration

#GS3 #Environment

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