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Daily Current Affairs Quiz 19th March 2026 Check Important Questions Here |

Practice Current Affairs Quiz to stay updated with national, international, economic, and banking news. This quiz is based on the previous day’s current affairs and is designed to boost your exam readiness, improve speed and accuracy, strengthen memory, and build confidence for competitive exams and interviews.

Daily Current Affairs: 19 March 2026

Q1. India holds a dominant position in global coconut production, contributing significantly to both cultivation area and output. What percentage of global coconut production is contributed by India?

(a) 25.10%
(b) 28.75%
(c) 30.37%
(d) 32.50%
(e) 35.00%

Answer: c

Solution:

India is the world’s largest producer of coconuts, contributing about 30.37% of global coconut production.
Globally, coconut cultivation spans approximately 12,390 thousand hectares, out of which India accounts for around 2,165.20 thousand hectares.
India produces nearly 21,373.62 million coconuts annually, highlighting the scale of its production.
The average productivity of coconut cultivation in India is about 9,871 nuts per hectare.
Coconut farming plays a crucial role in the country’s agricultural economy and rural livelihoods.
Around 30 million people, including nearly 10 million farmers, are directly or indirectly dependent on coconut cultivation for their livelihood.

Q2. The Punjab Government has launched ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0’ as part of its major school education reform initiative, aiming to make the education system globally competitive through external institutional support. This programme is being implemented in collaboration with which of the following organizations?

(a) Asian Development Bank

(b) UNESCO

(d) World Bank

(e) International Monetary Fund

Answer: d

Solution:

The Punjab Government has launched the second phase of school education reforms titled ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0’.
The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the World Bank to make Punjab’s education system globally competitive.
The programme involves a total investment of ₹3,500 crore over the next six years.
Out of the total investment, ₹2,500 crore will be funded through World Bank loan assistance, while ₹1,000 crore will be contributed by the Punjab Government.
The initiative is considered one of the largest education reform investments in the state’s history.
The programme aims to improve the quality of school education, strengthen infrastructure, and enhance learning outcomes across the state.

Q3. The Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, a major global platform for the power and electricity sector, focuses on innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration through a well-defined theme guiding its discussions and sessions. What is the official theme of the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026?

(a) Powering the Future with Innovation

(b) Sustainable Energy for Global Growth

(d) Energy Transformation for a Better Tomorrow

(e) Global Electricity Vision 2030

Answer: c

Solution:

The Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, a flagship global conference-cum-exhibition for the power and electricity sector, will be held from 19 to 22 March 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
The summit is expected to host over 100 high-level conference sessions and feature more than 300 speakers.
It will witness participation from representatives of over 80 countries, making it a truly global platform.
The event will include over 500 exhibitors, including more than 100 startups, and is expected to attract over 25,000 visitors.
The summit is considered one of the largest global platforms dedicated to the electricity and power sector.
The theme of the summit is “Electrifying Growth. Empowering Sustainability. Connecting Globally.”
The programme will include strategic and technical conferences, leadership panels, and industry-focused interactions, aimed at shaping the future growth of the global electricity sector.

Q4. The Government of India has introduced ALMM List-III under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework to include solar ingots and wafers, with a specific implementation timeline for compliance in solar projects. From which date will the provisions of ALMM List-III come into effect?

(a) 1 January 2027

(b) 1 June 2027

(d) 1 June 2028

(e) 1 December 2028

Answer: d

Solution:

The Government of India has extended the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework to include solar ingots and wafers, aiming to strengthen domestic solar manufacturing.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has introduced ALMM List-III specifically for solar ingots and wafers.
The new provisions will come into effect from 1 June 2028.
From this date onwards, all solar power projects, including net metering and open access projects, will be required to use ALMM-listed wafers.
Under the revised rules, bids submitted after a specified cut-off date under the Electricity Act must mandatorily use ALMM List-III compliant wafers.
The initial ALMM List-III will be released only after at least three independent manufacturers with a combined production capacity of 15 gigawatts (GW) become operational in India.
Manufacturers must also have equivalent ingot production capacity, promoting backward integration in the solar value chain.
The government has provided grandfathering provisions to safeguard projects already in the pipeline.
Existing Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) norms will remain unchanged.
This initiative supports India’s target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030 and promotes self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in the clean energy sector.

Q5. In a landmark judgement aimed at ensuring equality for adoptive mothers, the Supreme Court invalidated a provision related to maternity leave under the Social Security Code, 2020. What duration of maternity leave did the Court affirm for adoptive mothers?

(a) 8 weeks

(b) 10 weeks

(d) 16 weeks

(e) 12 weeks

Answer: e

Solution:

On 17 March 2026, the Supreme Court of India struck down a provision that restricted maternity leave for adoptive mothers based on the age of the child.
The judgement was delivered by a Bench comprising Justices J. B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan.
The Court held that an adoptive mother is entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave, irrespective of the age of the adopted child.
It ruled that maternity benefits cannot be limited based on the child’s age, emphasizing equality and child welfare.
The Court stated that an adoptive mother has the same rights and responsibilities as a biological mother.
The judgement came in response to a petition challenging Section 60(4) of the Social Security Code, 2020, which allowed maternity leave only if the adopted child was below three months of age.