Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (6th March 2026)

National News

Home Minister Amit Shah Launches ‘Pragati’ and ‘Vikas’ Mascots for Census-2027

• Amit Shah launched digital tools and unveiled mascots ‘Pragati’ and ‘Vikas’ for Census 2027 in New Delhi, marking preparations for the world’s largest census exercise.
• The census will be conducted in two phases and, for the first time, will be fully digital, allowing citizens to submit information through a Self-Enumeration portal.
• Over 30 lakh enumerators and officials will participate using digital platforms developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing.
• The mascots symbolize gender equality and national development, while new tools will improve data collection, monitoring, and transparency in India’s population census system.

NITI Aayog and UNICEF Join Hands to Transform Aspirational Districts

• NITI Aayog and UNICEF India signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) to improve nutrition and health outcomes in Aspirational Districts and Blocks across India.
• The agreement was signed by Rohit Kumar of NITI Aayog and Arjan de Wagt of UNICEF India.
• The partnership aims to strengthen maternal and child nutrition services, enhance health systems, and improve nutrition awareness in underserved regions.
• It will also mobilize CSR funding through the IMPAct4Nutrition platform, strengthen Anganwadi infrastructure, and support frontline workers to improve child growth and maternal health indicators in priority districts under the Aspirational Districts Programme.

President Murmu Appoints 9 New Governors and Lieutenant Governors in India

• Droupadi Murmu approved a major Governor reshuffle on 6 March 2026, appointing new Governors and Lieutenant Governors across several states and Union Territories of India.
• Key changes include the transfer of Shiv Pratap Shukla as Governor of Telangana and Jishnu Dev Varma as Governor of Maharashtra. Syed Ata Hasnain was appointed Governor of Bihar, while Nand Kishore Yadav became Governor of Nagaland.
• In Union Territories, Vinai Kumar Saxena was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh and Taranjit Singh Sandhu became Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
• Additionally, R. N. Ravi was appointed Governor of West Bengal following the resignation of C. V. Ananda Bose.

State News

India to Build First Riverine Lighthouses on Brahmaputra River

• Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation for India’s first riverine lighthouses on the Brahmaputra River along National Waterway 2.
• Four solar-powered lighthouses will be built at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat and Biswanath Ghat with an investment of ₹84 crore.
• The project will be implemented by Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships in collaboration with Inland Waterways Authority of India.
• Each 20-metre lighthouse will guide vessels up to 14 nautical miles, enabling safer night navigation, boosting cargo transport and promoting tourism along the Brahmaputra corridor in Northeast India.

West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose Resigns Ahead of Assembly Elections

• C. V. Ananda Bose resigned as Governor of West Bengal on 5 March 2026 and submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi, citing health reasons just weeks before the state Assembly elections.
• The development triggered political debate, with Amit Shah reportedly indicating that R. N. Ravi could be considered as the next Governor of West Bengal.
• Bose, a former IAS officer, had served as Governor since November 2022, succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar and was actively involved in governance and university-related issues in the state.
• The Governor, appointed by the President under provisions of the Constitution of India, acts as the constitutional head of the state and exercises executive, legislative, financial and certain discretionary powers.

Gujarat Launches herSTART 5.0: Big Boost for Women Entrepreneurs and Startups

• Bhupendra Patel launched herSTART 5.0, an initiative to promote women-led startups, at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad.
• The programme, run by the Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council, aims to provide incubation, mentorship, and market access for women entrepreneurs.
• During the event, a new research park was also inaugurated to strengthen innovation and startup development.
• Additionally, the university’s convention centre was renamed Vidyagauri Nilkanth Sabhapuram in honour of Vidyagauri Nilkanth, highlighting the state’s commitment to women empowerment and entrepreneurship in India’s growing startup ecosystem.

Andhra Pradesh Announces ₹25,000 Incentive for Second and Third Child

• The government of Andhra Pradesh has announced a ₹25,000 incentive for couples having a second or third child as part of a population boost policy introduced by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
• The scheme aims to address the state’s declining fertility rate and growing ageing population. Currently, the state’s Total Fertility Rate is about 1.5, below the replacement level of 2.1.
• The policy marks a shift from earlier family planning measures toward encouraging population growth.
• The government is also considering changes to the two-child rule that previously restricted people with more than two children from contesting local body elections.

International News

List Of Outcomes Of Finland President Visit to India & Special Partnership Announced

• India and Finland strengthened bilateral ties during the March 2026 visit of Finnish President Alexander Stubb, announcing a “Strategic Partnership in Digitalization and Sustainability.”
• The declaration was made alongside the Raisina Dialogue 2026.
• The partnership focuses on cooperation in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, 6G telecommunications, and quantum computing, along with clean energy, green technologies, and sustainable development.
• Several agreements were signed, including a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement and renewed environmental cooperation.
• The initiative aims to boost innovation, strengthen supply chains, expand education and research collaboration, and deepen technological and economic ties between the two countries.

Banking News

L&T Finance Launches “Spoorthi” Programme for Women Entrepreneurs

• L&T Finance has launched the Spoorthi programme to support women entrepreneurs in India by offering flexible loans with extended tenures of up to 25 years for property purchase or Loan Against Property (LAP) for business expansion and working capital.
• The scheme targets women-led businesses, allowing higher debt-to-income ratios and reduced business vintage requirements for loans up to ₹75 lakh.
• Eligible borrowers must actively manage businesses, hold at least 50% ownership, and meet minimum profit conditions.
• The programme will initially roll out in major metro hubs including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Hyderabad, aiming to improve credit access and strengthen financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs.

Which Banks Rule the World in 2026? Top 10 Most Valuable Banks Revealed

• The Brand Finance Banking 500 2026 ranks the world’s most valuable banking brands, led by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) with a brand value of $90.9 billion, marking its tenth consecutive year at the top.
• Other major banks include China Construction Bank, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and HSBC.
• Chinese and US banks dominate the rankings, while Indian banks such as State Bank of India and HDFC Bank also appear in the global list.

Business News

Adani Group Partners with UNESCO for World Engineering Day 2026

• Adani Group has been selected as the official partner for World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development 2026, an international event recognized by UNESCO and coordinated by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations.
• Announced on 5 March 2026, this is the first time an Indian organization has been chosen for the global partnership.
• The collaboration highlights Adani’s contribution to clean energy and sustainable infrastructure, particularly the Khavda Renewable Energy Park developed by Adani Green Energy Limited in Gujarat.
• The project aims to reach 30 GW capacity by 2029, making it one of the world’s largest renewable energy installations and supporting India in achieving its 500 GW non-fossil fuel energy target by 2030.

Science & Technology News

IBM Launches First Infrastructure Innovation Centre in Bengaluru to Power India-Led AI Development

• IBM has launched its first Infrastructure Innovation Centre in Bengaluru to strengthen India’s role in developing advanced AI and enterprise infrastructure systems.
• The centre operates within the India Systems Development Lab and will serve as a collaborative hub for engineers, clients, and technology partners.
• It aims to accelerate innovation in enterprise AI, hybrid cloud technologies, and secure scalable infrastructure solutions.
• The initiative highlights India’s growing importance in IBM’s global technology ecosystem, with local engineering teams contributing to processor design, operating systems, virtualization technologies, and next-generation enterprise computing platforms.

Sarvam AI Startup Program Launched to Boost AI Startups in India

• Indian generative AI startup Sarvam AI has launched the Sarvam Startup Program to support early-stage AI companies in India.
• The initiative provides 6–12 months of API credits, access to tools like Speech-to-Text, Chat Completion, Translation, and Document Intelligence, along with production-ready AI infrastructure and priority engineering support.
• The program also helps startups with product launches and visibility. Focusing on India’s multilingual needs, Sarvam AI models support 22+ Indian languages plus English, enabling startups to build applications for diverse regional users.

Sports News

India Launches World’s First Franchise-Based Road Cycling League

• Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the official logo of the Cycling League of India, the world’s first franchise-based road cycling league.
• The league will feature eight city-based teams, each with 10 cyclists including international riders, junior cyclists, and Indian professionals to promote talent development.
• Competitions will include criterium races, team time trials, and mass start races, culminating in a grand finale.
• The initiative aims to strengthen India’s cycling ecosystem and attract global participation.
• It also aligns with the Fit India Movement supported by Narendra Modi to promote fitness and cycling culture nationwide.

India Stuns England! Thriller at Wankhede Sends India to T20 World Cup 2026 Final

• India secured a thrilling victory over England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal at Wankhede Stadium, winning by just 7 runs to book their place in the final against New Zealand on 8 March in Ahmedabad.
• After losing the toss, India batted first and posted a massive 253/7, with Sanju Samson scoring 89 off 42 balls and key contributions from the middle and lower order.
• England’s chase saw Jacob Bethell score a century, but critical wickets by Arshdeep Singh and tight death-over bowling from Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, along with Axar Patel’s stunning boundary catch, restricted them to 246/7.
• It was one of the tournament’s closest contests.

India vs England Semifinal Rewrites T20 World Cup Record Books

• The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal between India national cricket team and England cricket team at Wankhede Stadium created history by recording the most sixes in a T20 World Cup match.
• The high-scoring clash saw a total of 34 sixes and 73 boundaries, with both teams combining for 499 runs, as India won by 7 runs.
• Key performances came from Sanju Samson who scored 89 off 42 balls and Jacob Bethell who smashed 105 off 48 balls, with both hitting seven sixes each.
• The match surpassed the previous record for most boundaries set in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2016 clash between England and South Africa, highlighting the rise of power-hitting in modern T20 cricket.

India Becomes First Team to Reach Four Men’s T20 World Cup Finals

• India national cricket team created history by becoming the first team to reach four finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after defeating England cricket team by 7 runs in the 2026 semifinal at Wankhede Stadium.
• India previously reached the finals in 2007, 2014, 2024, and now 2026, highlighting its consistent dominance in the tournament.
• With this victory, India also became the third team to reach consecutive T20 World Cup finals, after Pakistan national cricket team and Sri Lanka national cricket team.
• India will now face New Zealand national cricket team in the 2026 final in Ahmedabad on 8 March.

Current Affairs Today | 05 March 2026 Current Affairs | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam