Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (12th March 2026)

National News

UIDAI Launches Bug Bounty Program to Strengthen Digital Protection For Aadhar

• Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched its first Bug Bounty Program to strengthen the security of the Aadhaar digital ecosystem.
• The initiative invites cybersecurity experts and ethical hackers to identify vulnerabilities in UIDAI’s digital platforms before they can be exploited.
• A panel of 20 cybersecurity researchers will test key systems such as the UIDAI website, the myAadhaar Portal, and the Aadhaar Secure QR Code application. Rewards will be given based on the severity of vulnerabilities discovered.
• UIDAI has partnered with ComOlho IT Private Limited to coordinate the program and ensure responsible disclosure of security issues, helping improve protection of India’s digital identity infrastructure.

NITI Aayog Releases Fiscal Health Index 2026 to Measure States Financial Strength

• NITI Aayog released the second edition of the Fiscal Health Index 2026 to evaluate the financial performance and fiscal stability of Indian states.
• The report, launched in New Delhi by Suman Bery and Nidhi Chhibber, assesses states using five pillars including expenditure quality, revenue mobilisation, fiscal prudence, debt index and debt sustainability.
• Among major states, Odisha ranked first, followed by Goa and Jharkhand in the Achiever category. States like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka were classified as Front Runners.
• Among North Eastern and Himalayan states, Arunachal Pradesh secured the top position, followed by Uttarakhand and Tripura.

India Overtakes China as Top Exporter of Cotton Products to the US in 2025

• India has overtaken China to become the largest exporter of cotton products to the United States in 2025, according to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
• India exported about 0.6 million tonnes of cotton products to the United States, surpassing China’s 0.5 million tonnes.
• The U.S. imported around 3.3 million tonnes of cotton products in 2025, with India gaining a larger market share due to the competitiveness of its textile sector and integrated supply chain from cotton farming to garment manufacturing.
• China’s share declined partly because of U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, prompting American companies to diversify sourcing. Other countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan also expanded exports to the U.S. market.

WHO Foundation and Novo Nordisk Launch Initiative to Tackle Childhood Obesity in India

• WHO Foundation and Novo Nordisk have partnered to tackle childhood obesity in India through awareness programs and preventive health strategies.
• The initiative will develop scalable school-based health programs to promote healthy lifestyles and address rising obesity levels among children.
• According to the World Health Organization, obesity is linked to major non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and Type 2 Diabetes, making early prevention critical.
• Schools will play a key role by encouraging physical activity, balanced diets, health education and early risk screening.
• The partnership aims to create healthier environments for children and strengthen primary healthcare preparedness to reduce the long-term burden of lifestyle diseases

State News

PM Modi Launches ₹5,600 Crore Development Projects in Tiruchirappalli

• Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for ₹5,600 crore development projects in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, focusing on clean energy, highways, railways and rural connectivity.
• These initiatives aim to improve infrastructure, energy access and economic development in the region.
• A major project includes a ₹3,700 crore City Gas Distribution network by Bharat Petroleum in Nilgiris and Erode, which will provide PNG connections to about nine lakh households.
• The Prime Minister also dedicated a major lubricant facility of Indian Oil Corporation in Chennai.

Delhi Installs India’s First Microalgae Air Tower to Fight Highway Pollution

• New Delhi has installed India’s first microalgae-based PureAir Tower along the Aerocity corridor to help reduce vehicular air pollution.
• The biotechnology system uses photosynthetic microalgae to absorb pollutants such as CO₂, particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) and convert them into oxygen and algal biomass.
• Unlike traditional smog towers that rely on mechanical filters, the system purifies air through natural biological processes, requiring minimal energy and producing no filter waste.
• The project was implemented by C P Arora Private Limited in collaboration with Carbelim Pvt Ltd, a climate-tech startup incubated at Indian Institute of Technology Madras and supported by IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre.

Chhattisgarh Cabinet Approves Freedom of Religion Bill 2026

• Chhattisgarh Cabinet has approved the draft Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 to prevent illegal religious conversions.
• The decision was taken in Raipur during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
• The bill aims to stop conversions carried out through force, inducement, fraud or undue influence while protecting individuals’ right to follow their chosen faith.
• After cabinet approval, the proposed law will be introduced in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.
• If passed, it will regulate religious conversion activities while aligning with constitutional provisions under Articles 25–28 that guarantee freedom of religion in India.

Gujarat Launches ‘Lake and Air Watch’ Initiative to Monitor AQI and Lake Health

• The Gujarat government has launched the ‘Lake and Air Watch’ initiative to monitor and improve air quality and lake health across urban areas.
• The project will be implemented by the Gujarat Urban Development Mission (GUDM) under the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department.
• Under the initiative, real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring systems will be installed in 17 municipal corporations and 152 municipal areas to track pollution levels and generate alerts if limits are exceeded.
• Satellite technology will also be used to monitor lake conditions, detect pollution, waste accumulation and algae growth.

International News

IEA to Release Record 400 Million Barrels from Emergency Reserves

• International Energy Agency (IEA) has announced the largest emergency oil release in its history, making 400 million barrels of oil available from strategic reserves to stabilize global energy markets.
• The move comes amid rising tensions in West Asia and security threats to shipping in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.
• IEA member countries collectively hold over 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with additional reserves maintained by private industries. These reserves are released during crises to prevent major supply disruptions.
• The decision follows reports of attacks on commercial shipping linked to tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, raising concerns about global oil supply security.

Banking News

Parthanil Ghosh MD and CEO of HDFC ERGO

• HDFC ERGO General Insurance has appointed Parthanil Ghosh as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO).
• The decision was approved by the company’s Board and will take effect from April 16, 2026, subject to regulatory approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
• Parthanil Ghosh joined the company in 2016 after the merger with L&T General Insurance and was appointed Executive Director in May 2025.
• His elevation reflects the company’s strategy of promoting experienced internal leaders as India’s insurance sector expands with digital adoption.
• HDFC ERGO General Insurance is a joint venture between HDFC Ltd. and ERGO International AG, part of the Munich Re Group, offering a wide range of insurance products across India.

Defense News

DRDO Tests Indigenous Air Droppable Container from P-8I Aircraft

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully tested the indigenous Air Droppable Container ADC-150 from a Boeing P-8I Poseidon aircraft off the coast of Goa between February 21 and March 1, 2026.
• The trials included four in-flight release tests under different operational conditions, confirming the system’s reliability for aerial supply delivery.
• The ADC-150 can carry payloads of up to 150 kg, including medical supplies, food, spare parts and technical equipment.
• The container enables aircraft to drop essential logistics directly to naval ships operating in distant ocean regions without needing to land.

Ranks & Reports News

Top 10 Richest Person in India 2026: India’s Billionaire Club Expands

• According to the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2026, India now has 229 billionaires, up from 205 in 2025, with their combined wealth crossing $1 trillion.
• Strong stock market performance and new company listings significantly boosted fortunes.
• Mukesh Ambani remains India’s richest person with $99.7 billion, followed by Gautam Adani with $63.8 billion.
• Savitri Jindal ranks third and continues to be the richest woman in India.
• Other billionaires in the top 10 include Lakshmi Mittal, Shiv Nadar, Cyrus Poonawalla, Dilip Shanghvi, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Radhakishan Damani and Uday Kotak.

Sports News

Shailesh Kumar Wins Gold at World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026

• Shailesh Kumar won gold in the men’s high jump T63 category at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix held in New Delhi with a jump of 1.84 metres.
• The reigning world champion said the performance marked a positive start to his season despite it being below his personal best of 1.91 metres.
• Recovering from a knee injury after the World Para Athletics Championships, he focused on a safe return rather than pushing for record heights.
• Shailesh is now targeting the upcoming Asian Para Games and working on improving his take-off technique to achieve better results later in the season.

Iran Pulls Out of FIFA World Cup 2026 Amid Geopolitical Tensions

• Iran has officially withdrawn from the FIFA World Cup 2026, according to Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, citing rising geopolitical tensions with the United States and Israel.
• The tournament will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
• Iran had already qualified and was placed in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with matches scheduled in Los Angeles and Seattle.
• Following the withdrawal, FIFA, led by President Gianni Infantino, will need to decide how to fill the vacant spot in the tournament lineup.

India Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualification Explained

• India women’s national field hockey team qualified for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 after defeating Wales women’s national field hockey team 4-1 in a Pool B match at GMC Balayogi Hockey Stadium in Hyderabad.
• Navneet Kaur scored a hat-trick, while Sakshi Rana opened the scoring early, helping India top Pool B in the Women’s Hockey World Cup Qualifiers.
• India secured qualification even before the semifinals due to its higher world ranking advantage over other teams competing for the final qualification spot.
• Teams like Australia women’s national field hockey team, Chile women’s national field hockey team and Ireland women’s national field hockey team had already qualified from the other qualifier event held in Santiago.

Important Days News

World Kidney Day 2026: Why Kidney Health Matters More Than Ever

• World Kidney Day 2026 is observed on March 12, 2026, drawing global attention to the rising burden of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and the importance of early detection and prevention.
• The campaign was launched by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations to promote kidney health awareness worldwide.
• The 2026 theme, “Kidney Health for All: Caring for People, Protecting the Planet,” highlights the link between kidney health and environmental factors such as pollution, extreme heat and unsafe water.
• CKD affects about 1 in 10 people globally and often progresses silently. Awareness campaigns, screenings and healthy lifestyle practices are promoted to reduce risks and support early diagnosis.

Obituaries News

Veteran Tamil Filmmaker Thakkali Srinivasan Dies at 72

• Thakkali Srinivasan, a veteran filmmaker, producer, composer and actor in Tamil cinema, passed away on March 10, 2026 in Bengaluru at the age of 72 after a prolonged illness.
• His career spanned several decades and he was known for experimenting with different film genres.
• He began his journey as a producer with the film Ivargal Varungala Thoongal and later produced notable movies like Nalaya Manithan, Jenma Natchathiram and Athisiya Manithan.
• Srinivasan also directed and composed music for films such as Jenma Natchathiram, inspired by the Hollywood film The Omen.

Current Affairs Today | 12 March 2026 Current Affairs | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam