CURRENT AFFAIRS 31 March, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 31 March, 2026

1. MAHAVIR JAYANTI –

• The President of India extended greetings on the eve of Mahavir Jayanti (Mahaveer Janma Kalyanak), which marks the birth anniversary of Lord Vardhamana Mahavira, who was the 24th and last Tirthankara (supreme preacher and spiritual teacher) of Jainism.
• In 2026, it is observed on 31st March, falling on Trayodashi tithi, the 13th day of Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the moon) in the month of Chaitra.

Who was Lord Vardhamana Mahavira?

• Early Life: He was born as Vardhamana in 599 BCE in Kundalagrama, located near Vaishali in present-day Bihar.
• He belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty and was born to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala.
• Spiritual Quest: At the age of 30, Vardhamana renounced his royal privileges, family, and material wealth to become an ascetic in pursuit of spiritual awakening.
• He attained ‘Kevala Jnana’ (omniscience or supreme infinite knowledge) under a Sal tree on the banks of the Rijupalika river.
• Title of Mahavira: Upon conquering his senses and inner enemies (like anger, greed, ego, and deceit), Vardhamana earned the titles ‘Jina’ (the conqueror) and ‘Mahavira’ (the great hero).
• Nirvana: Lord Mahavira attained Moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) at the age of 72 at Pavapuri, near modern-day Rajgir in Bihar.
• According to Mahavira, Nirvana or salvation is achieved through liberation from worldly desires, which begins with renunciation and is guided by the observance of the Tri-Ratna (Three Jewels) – (Samyak Darshan (right faith), Samyak Gyan (right knowledge), and Samyak Charitra (right conduct)).

2. AMARAVATI SET TO BE ANDHRA PRADESH SOLE CAPITAL –

• The Centre is set to introduce the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha to formally recognise Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh. The move aims to provide statutory backing to the greenfield capital project and bring clarity to the long-standing capital issue in the State.

Legislative Push for Amaravati

• The proposed amendment seeks to modify Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The original Act designated Hyderabad as the joint capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for ten years after bifurcation, without specifying a permanent capital for Andhra Pradesh. The new Bill aims to explicitly name Amaravati as the State’s sole capital, thereby removing ambiguity.

3. CENSUS 2027 TO BE INDIA’S FIRST FULLY DIGITAL ENUMERATION –

• India is set to conduct its first fully digital population census, with the initial phase beginning on 1 April 2026. Announced by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, the exercise will mark the 16th census since inception and the eighth after Independence. It is expected to be the world’s largest enumeration exercise, involving over 3 million officials, including enumerators and supervisors, across the country.

Digital transformation and self-enumeration

• For the first time, the census will be conducted using mobile applications for data collection. A major innovation is the introduction of self-enumeration, allowing citizens to submit their details through a secure online portal available in 16 languages. Households can generate a unique Self-Enumeration ID after submission, which will be verified during the enumerator’s visit. This hybrid model combines traditional field surveys with digital convenience and aims to improve data accuracy and participation.

4. ARTEMIS II MARKS FIRST CREWED MOON MISSION IN 53 YEARS –

• NASA has begun the final countdown for Artemis II, its first crewed mission to the Moon in over five decades. Scheduled for launch on 1 April 2026, the mission represents a major milestone in human space exploration since the Apollo era. Four astronauts will embark on a nearly 10-day journey, testing systems crucial for future lunar landings under NASA’s broader Artemis programme.

Mission profile and objectives

• Artemis II will use the Space Launch System (SLS), a 32-storey rocket, to lift off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. After entering Earth’s orbit, the Orion spacecraft will propel the crew on a lunar flyby trajectory. The mission will not involve a landing; instead, it will execute a loop around the Moon before returning to Earth, concluding with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The primary objective is to validate life-support systems, navigation and deep-space communication technologies.

5. WHICH IS THE LARGEST LPG PRODUCING CITY IN INDIA ? –

• As you know, LPG is in the news these days , but did you ever thought where this LPG gas in your kitchen comes from, the journey of this gas in our kitchens starts from a famous place named, Jamnagar. Jamnagar, located in Gujarat, isn’t just a location on the map but is the heart of India’s energy production and known as the largest producer of LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) in the country.

Largest LPG Producer in India

• Jamnagar District of Gujarat is the largest producer of LPG in India. The city has the world’s biggest oil refining complex, operated by Reliance Industries. These industries processes crude oil to create fuels like petrol, diesel and LPG. Jamnagar serves as India’s main energy hub due to the advanced technology and its huge capacity, which benefits millions of households in receiving clean cooking gas every day.

Why Jamnagar Leads the Country?

• The main reason behind Jamnagar’s leading in LPG production is that it is the home to the world’s largest oil refinery, Jamnagar Refinery. This refinery produces large quantities of LPG along with petrol, diesel and other petroleum production, making Jamnagar the largest LPG and other petroleum producer in India.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   Bab el-Mandeb Strait, that was recently seen in news, connects which water bodies ?

1. a) Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea
2. b) Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
3. c) Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman
4. d) Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea

Q2.   Recently, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) was in the news for its role in insolvency cases. The NCLAT has been constituted under which of the following Acts ?

1. a) Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
2. b) Companies Act, 2013
3. c) Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956
4. d) Competition Act, 2002

Q3.   Recently, India conducted Exercise Dweep Shakti, a high-intensity tri-service drill to strengthen coastal and island defence capabilities. The exercise was conducted in which of the following regions ?

1. a) Lakshadweep Islands
2. b) Mumbai Coast
3. c) Gujarat Coast
4. d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Q4.   Match the following awards with their respective fields:

          Award                                                    Related Field

1. Balbir Singh Sr. Award a) Player of the Year
2. Major Dhyan Chand Award b) Lifetime Achievement
3. Jugraj Singh Award c) Emerging Player

          Choose the correct answer:

1. a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
2. b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
3. c) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
4. d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a

Explanation-

• In the recently held Hockey India Awards 2026, it was clarified that the Balbir Singh Sr. Award is given for the “Player of the Year”, which for the year 2025 was awarded to Hardik Singh and Navneet Kaur.
• The Major Dhyan Chand Award is given for “Lifetime Achievement”, which this time was awarded to Zafar Iqbal for his long-term and outstanding contribution, especially for his role in the 1980 Olympic gold medal-winning team.
• In addition, the Jugraj Singh Award is given to emerging (young) players, with the objective of encouraging new talent.
• This entire development shows that a structured award system has been developed in India to promote the growth of hockey and encourage players, which enhances excellence in the field of sports.

Q5.   Consider the following statements regarding the G-7 Summit 2026:

1. It will be held in France.
2. India will participate as a permanent member.
3. Issues such as the global economy and maritime security will be discussed.

          Select the correct answer:

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

Explanation-

• The Group of Seven (G-7) is an informal group comprising the world’s major developed economies—the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan. The G-7 Summit 2026 is proposed to be held in France.
• India is not a permanent member of the G-7; rather, it is invited from time to time as a guest country.
• G-7 summits generally discuss important issues such as the global economy, geopolitical tensions, energy security and maritime security, especially in the context of sensitive regions like the Strait of Hormuz.

Answer Key