UPSC Current Affairs 18 March 2026 — PIB

• Cabinet approves scheme on ‘Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31’
• Cabinet approves a New Era of Plug-and-Play Industrial Development through Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA)
• Government Enacts Online Gaming Act 2025, Prohibits All Forms of Online Money Games and Promotes Safe Digital Ecosystem
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEVELOPMENT OF SATELLITE LAUNCH FACILITIES IN INDIA
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SPACE DEBRIS MANAGEMENT
• ECI deploys over 25 lakh Officials for violence-free, inducement-free elections in 5 States/UTs
• Union Agriculture Minister in Lok Sabha: Incomplete Irrigation Schemes and River-Linking Projects Back on Track under Our Government
• Financial Inclusion and Citizen-centric Services
• Data centre capacity in the country has grown from 375 MW in 2020 to more than 1500 MW
• Aadhaar is the world's largest biometric identity system with approximately 134 crore live Aadhaar holders
• VIBRANT VILLAGES PROGRAMME-II (VVP-II)
• Government Extends ALMM Framework to Solar Ingots and Wafers; To Come into Effect from 1 June 2028
• SVAMITVA SCHEME
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN QUANTUM RESEARCH AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP INCLUDING FELLOWSHIPS
• India’s Power Sector:
• Infrastructure Financing in India: Trends, Institutions, and Innovations
• Cabinet approves construction of 4-Lane Access-Controlled National Highway-927 from Barabanki to Bahraich (101.515 km) in Uttar Pradesh on Hybrid Annuity Mode at a cost of Rs.6969.04 crore
• Cabinet approves MSP funding of Rs.1,718.56 crore to CCI for cotton seasons 2023-24 for direct support to cotton farmers
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SATELLITE-BASED DISASTER MONITORING MECHANISMS
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SPACE-BASED INITIATIVES FOR AGRICULTURE
• Zero Customs Duty to Transform Nuclear Energy Economics, Dr Jitendra Singh Tells Lok Sabha in Written Reply
• Strengthening Passenger Facilitation in Indian Aviation
• Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia says, the future of 6G must be built on four pillars—interoperability, common standards, innovation, and inclusive growth
• Telecom expansion in border villages reflects new development paradigm: Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in Lok Sabha
• Multi-State Cooperative Societies for organic products
• Fraudulent activities in the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS)
• World's largest food storage scheme for farmers
• RuPay Kisan Credit Cards for cooperative societies
• INDIAN NAVY CONTINUES IOS SAGAR INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN MARITIME PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIAN OCEAN NATIONS
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Automatic Weather Stations
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Mission Mausam
• Digital India program has enabled wider access to digital services and opportunities
• WHITE REVOLUTION 2.0
• National Workshop on One Health organised in Nagpur on “Operational Frameworks for One Health: National Vision and State Action”
• FORENSIC SCIENCE AND NEW CRIMINAL LAWS
• INTEGRATING CAMPUSES OF NFSU AND CFSL
• Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 Strengthens Anti-Piracy Framework; Offenders Face Up to 3 Years Imprisonment and Fine up to 5% of Production Cost
• Uttar Pradesh Signed Reform‑Linked MoU under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DIGITAL GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL THROUGH CENTRAL PLATFORMS
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: POSTS FILLED THROUGH LATERAL ENTRY
• Inter-Ministerial Briefing on Recent Developments in West Asia
• RailOne App Becoming Popular Among Passengers with Total 2.57 crore Downloads and 7.64 lakh Average Daily Ticket Bookings
• Indian Railways Attracts US$ 942 Million FDI Equity Inflows Over Last 11 Years, Including Under the Automatic Route, to Boost its Infrastructure
• National Highways Fee Rules, 2026 Amended to Strengthen Toll Compliance and Digital Enforcement
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: POLICIES FORMULATED RELATING TO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: TECHNOLOGY TRANSLATION RESEARCH PARKS (TTRP)
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: INSPIRE SCHEME
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION SCHEME
• REHABILITATION OF MANUAL SCAVENGERS
• Release of SDG Bulletin Reports on “Planet” and “Prosperity”
• Environmental Accounting Explainer Series “Pollination Services”
• India–Vietnam Ministerial Meeting Deepens Cooperation in Tribal and Ethnic Development
• Government adopting a whole-of-government approach to ensure convergence in the implementation of initiatives related to Early Childhood Care and Education
• Mission Poshan 2.0 empowers frontline functionaries by providing them with smartphones
• Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce Interacts with UK Business and Trade Committee in New Delhi
• PRESS RELEASE ON THE 196TH REPORT OF DEPARTMENT RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE
• PRESS RELEASE ON THE 195TH REPORT OF DEPARTMENT RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE
• Ayush Services Expand in Rural Odisha with Increased Doctors, Camps and Tele-Consultation
• Standardization and quality control of Ayush products
• Promotion of Ayush system in Kerala
• Conservation and cultivation of medicinal plants in tribal areas
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ENHANCEMENT OF INDIGENOUS CAPACITY IN NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
• Cabinet approves a New Era of Plug-and-Play Industrial Development through Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA)
• NICDC Organises Stakeholder Consultation on Revitalising Export-Oriented Industrial Clusters
• Strengthening and computerisation of PACS in Bihar
• Defunct PACS in Andhra Pradesh
• Governance of cooperative institutions in Odisha
• Share Capital of Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited
• Status And Impact of Bharat Taxi Service
• Audits of Multi-State Cooperatives
• Keel laying of two Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels for ICG
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: STUDIES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: REAL-TIME WEATHER UPDATES
• CAQM ETF Reviews Air Pollution Enforcement; Emphasises Stricter Inspections and Compliance in NCR
• Launch of Krishi Sakhi Initiative to empower women farmers
• LIVESTOCK HEALTH AND DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAMME
• PROMOTION OF INDIGENOUS COW BREEDS AND A2 MILK CERTIFICATION
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission in Andhra Pradesh
• DEVELOPMENT OF LIVESTOCK AND DAIRY SECTOR SCHEMES FOR BIHAR
• ACHIEVEMENTS OF RASHTRIYA GOKUL MISSION
• INITIATIVES FOR GREEN ENERGY
• Government Establishes Strategic Partnerships to Strengthen IICT and the AVGC-XR Ecosystem
• Union I&B Secretary delivers keynote address at AdTrust Summit 2026, Calls for Responsible and Trusted Advertising Ecosystem
• Advertising Code Prohibits Misleading Claims, Unsafe Portrayal of Children and Violation of Advertising Council (ASCI) Norms
• WAVES OTT Enhances Prasar Bharati’s Diverse Content Offering; Platform Records Over 84 Lakh Registered Users
• Cabinet approves scheme on ‘Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31’
• PANCHAYATI RAJ DEVOLUTION INDEX
• CAPACITY BUILDING OF ELECTED PANCHAYAT REPRESENTATIVES
• Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs organises National Youth Parliament Competitions
• Amid High-occupancy & Popularity of Vande Bharat Chair Car Services, Centre seeks State Support in its Expansion
• Indian Railways Provides Safety Fencing Along Railway Tracks Across Zones for 16,398 km to Prevent Trespassing and Ensure Safe Train Operations
• Feasibility Study Underway to Develop Talgaria Station of Jharkhand as Satellite Terminal by Railways; Capacity Expansion to Benefit Passengers in Dhanbad-Bokaro Industrial Belt
• Backed by Better Monitoring, CCTV Surveillance & Special Drives, RPF Detects 4328 Drug Trafficking Cases in Last 3 Years
• PROMOTION OF GREEN HIGHWAY INITIATIVES
• Cabinet approves construction of 4-Lane Access-Controlled National Highway-927 from Barabanki to Bahraich (101.515 km) in Uttar Pradesh on Hybrid Annuity Mode at a cost of Rs.6969.04 crore
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NATIONAL PROGRAMMES THROUGH DST, CSIR AND DBT
• PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Technological Contributions of CSIR–CRRI and Traffic Management Studies for Rajkot
• Govt Approves ₹472 Crore Road Over Bridge to Power Tuna-Tekra Port Connectivity
• NCVET and ASQA hold meeting to strengthen cooperation in vocational education and training
• JAN SHIKSHAN SANSTHAN SCHEME UNDER SKILL INDIA PROGRAMME
• IMPACT OF EMERGING WORKPLACE TECHNOLOGIES
• CERTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, ROBOTICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGIES
• OUTCOMES OF PMKVY
• SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN AI, DIGITAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
• ATAL VAYO ABHYUDAY YOJANA
• ACTION ON NHRC RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING BEGGARY REHABILITATION
• ALLOCATION AND UTILISATION OF SC FUNDS
• Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has undertaken several technological initiatives to modernise “National Sample Survey”
• Secretary (Textiles) Reviews Status and Preparedness of Jute Cultivation; MoU Signed to Strengthen Jute Value Chain in North Eastern Region
• Cabinet approves MSP funding of Rs.1,718.56 crore to CCI for cotton seasons 2023-24 for direct support to cotton farmers
• Step into the Heart of Tribal India Bharat Tribes Fest 2026 Begins in New Delhi
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs Launches “RISA: Timeless Tribal” - A Premium Signature Brand
• Tribal entrepreneurship and ‘Viksit Bharat’
• Implementation of Van Dhan Yojana in Jammu and Kashmir
• Ministry of Women and Child Development implementing Centrally Sponsored Schemes in the country for the welfare of women and children
• Revamped Mission Vatsalya Portal an integrated Digital platform for all stakeholders related to child protection services
• National Exhibition-cum-Technical Event under Mission सह-SANKALP Showcases Science & Technology for Sustainable Livelihoods
• CCI approves additional shareholding acquisition in Baby Memorial Hospital (BMH) by Bentley Asia; and BMH’s subsequent acquisition of certain shareholding in Unimed Health Care via secondary purchase
• NHRC, India organises Open House Discussion on ‘Access to Social Media by Children’
• Prime Minister Speaks with Crown Prince of Kuwait
• Prime Minister shares an article on India's robust energy ecosystem and sustainable future
• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses retiring Members of Rajya Sabha
• English rendering of PM’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha
• Rajya Sabha bids farewell to retired/retiring Members
• Text of Farewell Speech to Retiring Members made in the House today by Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, Hon'ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha.
• LIVESTOCK HEALTH AND VETERINARY INFRASTRUCTURE IN MAYURBHANJ
• TRAINING AND AWARENESS PROGRAMMES
• Union I & B Secretary Visits IICT, Reviews Expansion Plans and Content-Creator Lab planning
• STRENGTHENING OF GRAM PANCHAYATS THROUGH FINANCIAL DEVOLUTION
• Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 - Uniting Policymakers and Industry Leaders at one platform for Shaping India’s Power Future
• Ministry of Steel to hold Open House on Steel Import Issues on 23rd March
• Implementation of ASRY in Konkan
• PRESIDENT OF INDIA TO VISIT UTTAR PRADESH FROM MARCH 19 TO 21
• PRESIDENT’S GREETINGS ON THE EVE OF CHAITRA SUKLADI, UGADI, GUDI PADAVA, CHETI CHAND, NAVREH AND SAJIBU CHEIRAOBA
• Governor of Madhya Pradesh meets Prime Minister
• Prime Minister condoles the loss of lives in a fire incident in Palam, Delhi
• Prime Minister condoles the loss of lives in a fire mishap in Indore, Madhya Pradesh
• Prime Minister shares a Sanskrit Subhashitam, highlights the significance of bravery and courage in influencing the world
• LOK SABHA SPEAKER EXTENDS GREETINGS ON THE EVE OF CHAITRA SHUKLADI, UGADI, GUDI PADWA, AND CHETI CHAND