Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (13th March 2026)

State News

Araku Kouni: Andhra Pradesh Launches First Tribal Millet-Based Food Menu

• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched “Araku Kouni”, the state’s first tribal millet-based food menu during the Collectors’ Conference at the State Secretariat

• The initiative aims to promote traditional tribal millet diets while supporting tribal farmers and preserving indigenous culinary heritage

• The menu includes traditional dishes like Korra Payasam, Ragi Chapati, Samala Pulihora, Kantla Ambali, Corn Vada and Toor Dal Curry

• The project was led by the Alluri Sitarama Raju district administration with support from Anganwadi workers, the Indian Culinary Institute and the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department

• The initiative also aims to promote healthy diets and boost tribal food tourism in the Araku region

National News

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Becomes India’s First Port to Launch Digital Twin Platform

• V.O. Chidambaranar Port has launched a Digital Twin platform, becoming the first port in India to adopt this advanced technology for smart port management

• The initiative was inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on February 23, 2026 to enhance operational efficiency and digitalisation

• The Digital Twin system creates a real-time virtual replica of port infrastructure, vessel movement, cargo operations and maritime assets

• It integrates advanced technologies such as IoT sensors, LiDAR mapping, GPS tracking, drone imaging and CCTV monitoring

• The platform is expected to reduce vessel turnaround time by up to 25% while improving safety, efficiency and sustainability

India Plans ₹1 Trillion Fund to Boost Chip Manufacturing

• India is planning to launch a ₹1 trillion semiconductor fund under the India Semiconductor Mission to strengthen domestic chip manufacturing

• The fund will support chip design, semiconductor fabrication, equipment manufacturing, and supply chain development

• It expands the $10 billion semiconductor incentive programme launched in 2021

• Global companies like Micron Technology, Tata Group, and Foxconn have already announced semiconductor projects in India

• The initiative aims to reduce import dependency and position India as a global semiconductor hub

Delhi Tops India’s Pollution List Again in 2024-25

• Delhi remained the most polluted city in India in 2024-25 with the highest PM2.5 levels according to Climate Trends analysis

• Patna ranked second while pollution levels were also examined in cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata

• The study used air quality data collected by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

• Major causes include vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, construction dust and crop burning

• Experts called for stronger policy reforms to improve air quality in Indian cities

RN Ravi Becomes 22nd Governor of West Bengal

• Former IPS officer R. N. Ravi took oath as the 22nd Governor of West Bengal on March 12, 2026 in Kolkata

• The oath was administered by Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Sujoy Paul

• Ravi succeeded C. V. Ananda Bose who resigned earlier in March

• The ceremony was attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other senior officials

• Ravi has previously served as Governor of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu

PM-KISAN 22nd Installment Released to Over 9 Crore Farmers

• The government released the 22nd installment of the PM-KISAN scheme providing ₹2,000 to eligible farmers

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the installment from Guwahati, Assam

• More than ₹18,600 crore was transferred to over 9 crore farmer families through DBT

• Under PM-KISAN, farmers receive ₹6,000 annually in three installments

• The scheme aims to support farmers in managing agricultural and household expenses

Supreme Court Clarifies Creamy Layer Rule in OBC Reservation

• The Supreme Court clarified that parental income alone cannot determine creamy layer status in OBC reservation

• Authorities must also consider parental occupation, position and social status while determining eligibility

• The concept of creamy layer was introduced in the 1992 Indra Sawhney judgment

• Currently, individuals with parental income above ₹8 lakh are classified under the creamy layer

• The judgment aims to ensure reservation benefits reach genuinely disadvantaged OBC groups

Summits and Conferences News

International Rail Coach Expo 2026 Inaugurated at Integral Coach Factory Chennai

• The International Rail Coach Expo (IRCE) 2026 was inaugurated at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai on March 12, 2026

• The event was inaugurated by ICF General Manager U. Subba Rao and organised in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry

• The expo will be held from March 12 to March 14 and brings together railway manufacturers, technology firms and industry experts

• The exhibition focuses on sustainability, safety, indigenous railway manufacturing and advanced coach technologies

• The expo supports India’s railway modernization efforts and promotes collaboration between global and Indian companies

President Murmu Addresses Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems

• President Droupadi Murmu addressed the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) held in New Delhi on March 12, 2026

• The conference highlights the crucial role of women in agriculture, fisheries, livestock and agri-food supply chains

• The event was organised by ICAR, TAAS, CGIAR and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority

• Global policymakers and agricultural experts participated to discuss gender-inclusive development

• The President highlighted the UN declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer

Awards News

KSRTC Wins PSU National Award for Dhwani Spandana Accessibility System

• Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) won the Governance Now 12th PSU National Award for its Dhwani Spandana accessibility initiative

• The Dhwani Spandana system helps visually impaired passengers identify buses and travel independently using audio-based guidance

• The system has been implemented in 200 Mysuru City Transport buses to improve accessibility and passenger safety

• The project was developed with technical support from GIZ Germany to enhance inclusive public transport

• The initiative promotes independent travel and supports the goal of building inclusive and accessible urban mobility systems

Economy News

CPI Inflation Rises to 3.21% in February 2026

• India’s retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index rose to 3.21% in February 2026 from 2.74% in January

• The increase was mainly driven by rising food prices and higher costs of consumer goods

• Rural inflation stood at 3.37% while urban inflation was recorded at 3.02%

• Despite the increase, inflation remains below the RBI’s medium-term target of 4%

• CPI data is released monthly by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

Banking News

South Indian Bank Launches EPF Payment Service with EPFO Integration

• South Indian Bank has launched a new EPF payment service integrated with the Employees Provident Fund Organisation through its internet banking platform SIBerNet

• The service allows employers to make EPF contributions, pending payments and remittance charges online

• It eliminates manual processes and reduces paperwork for businesses

• The integration ensures faster and secure EPF transactions for employers

• This initiative is part of South Indian Bank’s efforts to expand digital banking services

RRB Conclave 2026 Organised by Indian Banks Association

• The Indian Banks’ Association organised the RRB Conclave 2026 in New Delhi under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services

• The event focused on strengthening Regional Rural Banks through next-generation reforms

• Banking leaders and policymakers discussed financial inclusion and digital transformation in rural banking

• Key participants included Ashish Madhaorao More, Atul Kumar Goel and Goverdhan S. Rawat

• Discussions also covered agricultural financing and stronger IT systems for RRBs

Canara Bank Revises MCLR Lending Rates

• Canara Bank has increased its MCLR lending rates by 10 basis points for two- and three-year tenures effective March 12, 2026

• The two-year MCLR has been raised to 8.95% from 8.85%

• The three-year MCLR has increased to 9.00% from 8.90%

• The change will impact loans linked to MCLR such as home, auto and personal loans

• MCLR is the minimum lending rate set by banks based on funding cost and other factors

Razorpay Launches AI Agent Studio for Payment Automation

• Razorpay has launched Agent Studio, an AI platform designed to automate payment operations for businesses

• The platform was unveiled at the FTX 2026 event

• It is powered by Anthropic’s Claude AI technology to deploy intelligent AI agents

• These agents can handle tasks such as payment disputes, failed subscriptions and abandoned cart recovery

• The system integrates with Shopify, Shiprocket and WhatsApp for seamless payment workflows

Nvidia Launches Nemotron 3 Super AI Model

• Nvidia has launched Nemotron 3 Super, a 120-billion-parameter AI model designed for advanced AI agent systems

• The model supports autonomous multi-step reasoning and decision making

• It uses a mixture-of-experts architecture for higher efficiency

• Nemotron 3 Super features a 1 million token context window

• Nvidia also released 10 trillion tokens of training data to support AI development

Perplexity Launches Personal Computer AI Agent

• Perplexity has launched a new AI agent called Personal Computer designed to automate digital tasks

• The system runs on a Mac mini and works as a personal AI assistant

• It can perform research, draft emails and prepare briefings automatically

• The AI agent supports multiple models including Claude, Gemini and Grok

• The system ensures secure workflows through cloud reasoning and local safeguards

Sports News

Cricketers Suspended in Bim10 Corruption Case

• Cricketers Javon Searles, Trevon Griffith and Chitranjan Rathod have been provisionally suspended in the Bim10 corruption case

• The suspension was announced jointly by the ICC and Cricket West Indies

• The case relates to alleged corruption during the 2023–24 Bim10 tournament in Barbados

• Charges include match manipulation and failure to report corrupt approaches

• The players have been given 14 days to respond to the allegations

Obituaries News

Malayalam Actor Hari Murali Dies at 27

• Former Malayalam child actor Hari Murali was found dead at his residence in Kannur, Kerala at the age of 27

• He was the son of theatre artist K. A. Murali

• Hari gained recognition as a child actor in films such as Rasikan and Annan Thampi

• He later worked as a VFX artist after studying animation in Bengaluru

• His sudden death has shocked the Malayalam film and television industry