CURRENT AFFAIRS 17 March, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 17 March, 2026

1. STATEHOOD AND 6TH SCHEDULE DEMAND IN LADAKH –

• Protests were organised in Leh and Kargil demanding full statehood for Ladakh, 6th schedule status, dedicated Public Services Commission (PSC) and 2 Parliamentary seats for Ladakh.
• The protests were jointly organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) to protect local land and cultural rights.

Summary

• Ladakh seeks Statehood and Sixth Schedule status to address a “representation deficit” and protect its 97% tribal population and fragile ecology.
• While the government cites strategic security and constitutional hurdles as concerns, measures like strengthening LAHDCs and ensuring domicile-based recruitment are vital.
• A balanced, phased approach is essential for regional stability.

What is the Rationale Behind Ladakh’s Demand for Statehood and 6th Schedule Status?

• Restoration of Democratic Representation: Ladakh’s transition to a Union Territory (UT) without a legislature in 2019 under the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 created a “representation deficit.” Previously, Ladakh had 4 MLAs in the J&K Assembly. Now, decision-making has shifted from elected locals to unelected bureaucrats.
• While the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) exist, they lack the legislative teeth of a state assembly. Leaders argue these councils have been sidelined, leaving “outsiders” to decide Ladakh’s fate.
• Safeguards for Tribal Identity and Resource Sovereignty: Over 97% of Ladakh’s population belongs to tribal communities, making it a predominantly tribal region. The abrogation of Article 370 removed the historical “special status” that protected Ladakhi land and jobs.

2. NAVIC NAVIGATION SYSTEM –

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the atomic clock onboard the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)-1F satellite of India’s regional navigation system stopped functioning.
• This comes amid other technical setbacks in India’s navigation constellation, including the NVS-02 satellite’s failure to reach its final orbit, raising concerns about the reliability of NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation).

What is IRNSS or NavIC?

• About: The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), operationally known as Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), is India’s indigenous satellite navigation system.
• It was designed to provide accurate positioning information to users in India and up to 1500 km beyond its borders, which constitutes the Primary Service Area.
• In addition, an Extended Service Area covers the region between the primary area and the rectangle bounded by 30° South to 50° North latitude and 30° East to 130° East longitude.
• Need for NavIC: The project was initiated to ensure strategic autonomy in navigation services.
• During the 1999 Kargil conflict, the US denied India access to GPS data, highlighting the risks of relying on foreign systems. To address this vulnerability, India approved the NavIC project in 2006.

3. INDIAN NAVY JOINS SEA DRAGON 2026 ASW EXERCISE –

• The Indian Navy is participating in Exercise Sea Dragon 2026, a United States-led multinational anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drill being conducted at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The exercise, held annually in the Indo-Pacific, gains added significance amid evolving geopolitical tensions, particularly due to the ongoing instability in West Asia. India’s participation reflects its growing role in regional maritime security and cooperation.

Nature and Scope of the Exercise

• Exercise Sea Dragon 2026 is a two-week high-intensity drill focusing on anti-submarine warfare operations. It involves advanced maritime patrol aircraft, including the P-8A Poseidon and India’s P-8I aircraft.
• These platforms are deployed to conduct coordinated missions aimed at detecting, tracking, and neutralising submarine threats. The exercise progresses from simulated scenarios to real-time tracking of live submarines, enhancing operational realism.

4. INDIA REVISES GDP BASE YEAR TO 2022–23 –

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has revised the base year of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 2011–12 to 2022–23. The updated GDP series was officially released on 27 February 2026. The revision reflects improvements in statistical methods, incorporation of new data sources and adoption of updated economic classifications. The move aims to better capture the current structure of the Indian economy and improve the accuracy of national income estimates used for policy decisions.

Improved GDP estimation framework

• The revised GDP series introduces methodological and conceptual improvements aligned with international statistical recommendations. The updated estimates incorporate new administrative and survey data sources to better measure both corporate and unincorporated sectors.
• The compilation of GDP now uses the latest National Industrial Classification (NIC)-2025, which covers a broader range of economic activities including services and IT-enabled sectors. These improvements make the estimates more reliable and reflective of the modern economy.

5. SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARDS 2025 ANNOUNCED FOR 24 INDIAN LANGUAGES –

• Sahitya Akademi announced the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025 for outstanding literary works in 24 Indian languages recognised by the institution. The awards cover multiple literary genres including poetry, novels, short stories, essays, memoirs, literary criticism, and autobiography. The annual awards recognise distinguished literary contributions published in the respective languages and selected through a multi-stage evaluation process involving expert juries.

Announcement and Selection Process

• The selection process for the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025 began in January 2025 following the release of a public advertisement on 30 January 2025 inviting nominations. Works published in the eligible period were considered across 24 recognised languages.
• A panel of distinguished jury members evaluated the entries in each language. Their recommendations were subsequently approved by the competent authority of Sahitya Akademi before the final announcement. The award recognises literary merit across genres and linguistic diversity in Indian literature.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   National Vaccination Day is observed in India every year on which day ?

1. a) 15 March
2. b) 16 March
3. c) 17 March
4. d) 18 March

Q2.   International Day of Mathematics is celebrated every year on which day ?

1. a) March 13
2. b) March 14
3. c) March 15
4. d) March 16

Q3.   The Jnanpith Award is given for excellence in which field ?

1. a) Literature
2. b) Journalism
3. c) Science
4. d) Cinema

Q4.   Match the following rocket systems with their respective countries:

          Choose the correct answer using the code given below:

1. a) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
2. b) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
3. c) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
4. d) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

Explanation-

• Pinaka: Pinaka is an indigenously developed Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system of India, developed by DRDO and used by the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.
• HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System): HIMARS is an advanced rocket artillery system of the United States, which has been widely used in the Ukraine war.
• PHL-03: PHL-03 is a long-range multi-barrel rocket system developed by China.
• Smerch: Smerch is a powerful long-range rocket artillery system developed by Russia, and it is also used by the Indian Army.

Q5.   Kharg Island and the Strait of Hormuz

          Question: Consider the following places:

1. Kharg Island
2. Qeshm Island
3. Bahrain Island

          Which of the above are located in the Persian Gulf ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 and 3 only
3. c) 1, 2 and 3
4. d) 1 only

Explanation-

• Kharg Island is located in the Persian Gulf, about 25–30 km off the coast of Iran. It serves as Iran’s main oil export terminal, and a large portion of the country’s crude oil exports are shipped from this island.
• Qeshm Island is a large island of Iran located near the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. It is considered the largest island in the Persian Gulf.
• Bahrain Island is part of a group of islands located in the Persian Gulf and is also the main island of the country Bahrain. Thus, all three places are located in the Persian Gulf.

Answer Key