Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (11th March 2026)

National News

Indian Cabinet Approves International Status for Madurai Airport

• The Union Cabinet of India has granted international status to Madurai Airport on March 10, 2026, under the leadership of Narendra Modi.
• This decision will allow the airport to handle international passenger flights, improving connectivity between Madurai and global destinations. It strengthens aviation infrastructure and makes travel easier for tourists, businesses and the Indian diaspora.
• The move is expected to boost tourism in Madurai, especially for pilgrims visiting the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple.
• It will also support economic growth, trade, investment and employment opportunities in southern districts of Tamil Nadu by improving international connectivity.

Cabinet Extends Jal Jeevan Mission Till 2028 – What Big Changes Are Coming in JJM 2.0?

• The Union Cabinet of India chaired by Narendra Modi has approved the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission until December 2028, introducing an upgraded phase called JJM 2.0.
• The mission will now shift its focus from infrastructure creation to sustainable service delivery of rural drinking water.
• The revised programme has a total outlay of ₹8.69 lakh crore, with the central government increasing its share to ₹3.59 lakh crore to strengthen water supply systems across rural India.
• A new digital monitoring framework called Sujalam Bharat will map the entire rural water supply chain, assigning each village a unique “Sujal Gaon” ID for better tracking and transparency.

Cabinet Approves Greenfield Connectivity Project to Jewar International Airport

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Narendra Modi, has approved a revised capital cost of ₹3,630.77 crore for a Greenfield connectivity corridor to Noida International Airport.
• The project will be implemented across Uttar Pradesh and Haryana under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
• The project involves building a 31.42-km corridor connecting the Delhi–Faridabad–Ballabhgarh–Sohna spur of the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway to the airport, improving travel for passengers and cargo in the National Capital Region.
• Around 11 km of the corridor will be an elevated highway, linking the DND-Ballabhgarh bypass with the airport, helping reduce congestion and support urban expansion.
• The corridor will integrate with major transport networks such as the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Yamuna Expressway and the Dedicated Freight Corridor, creating a multimodal transport system for the NCR.

Prasar Bharti SHABD Platform Gets Free Access Extension Till 2027

• Prasar Bharati has announced that the PB-SHABD will continue to provide free access to media organizations until March 2027.
• The platform, launched in March 2024, distributes logo-free verified news content for easy use by media outlets.
• PB-SHABD acts as a centralized digital news feed, offering ready-to-use videos, audio reports, text stories and photographs that can be used without credit requirements.
• The platform is supported by a nationwide network of over 1,500 reporters and correspondents and around 60 edit desks, which together publish more than 1,000 news stories daily across sectors like agriculture, technology, governance and foreign affairs.

Cabinet Eases FDI Policy for Neighboring Countries of India

• The Union Cabinet of India has approved changes to Press Note 3 to streamline Foreign Direct Investment approvals from neighbouring countries.
• A 60-day timeline has now been introduced for processing investment proposals that require government scrutiny.
• The Press Note 3 policy, introduced on April 17, 2020, mandated government approval for investments from countries sharing a land border with India to prevent opportunistic takeovers of Indian companies during the COVID-19 period.
• The new decision aims to speed up approvals and provide policy clarity, encouraging investments in startups, deep technology, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics and semiconductor sectors.

India Invokes Essential Commodities Act to Secure LPG Supply

• The Government of India has invoked the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955 to ensure stable domestic supplies of LPG and natural gas amid West Asia tensions following attacks on Iran.
• Under the ECA, refineries must maximize LPG output, OMCs must prioritize household supply, and a 25-day booking window is mandated to prevent hoarding.
• The Natural Gas Supply Regulation Order 2026 prioritizes domestic PNG, CNG for transport, and fertilizer plants to ensure essential services and agriculture are uninterrupted.
• This move safeguards energy security, stabilizes prices, and ensures fair distribution during extraordinary geopolitical disruptions.

Supreme Court Allows Withdrawal of Life Support in Harish Rana Passive Euthanasia Case

• The Supreme Court of India allowed withdrawal of life support in the Harish Rana passive euthanasia case, marking an important step in India’s legal debate on end-of-life decisions.
• The ruling was delivered by a bench of Justice J. B. Pardiwala and Justice K. V. Viswanathan, directing All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi to supervise the process.
• Harish Rana, a 31-year-old who suffered severe injuries after a fall at Panjab University in 2013, has remained in a permanent vegetative state with no realistic chance of recovery.
• Based on medical board evaluations, the court ruled that forcing prolonged artificial life support may violate human dignity, allowing passive euthanasia under established legal safeguards.

State News

Nagauri Pan Methi Receives PPVFRA Patent for Farmers

• Nagauri Pan Methi has been granted community farmers variety registration by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act, 2001, with the notification published in the Plant Variety Journal (February 2026).
• This recognition gives statutory ownership and legal rights to the farming community of Nagaur district, represented by Geeta Devi.
• Nagauri Pan Methi is cultivated on over 7,000 hectares in Nagaur and is valued as a multi-cut fenugreek crop, allowing several harvests per season and generating high income for farmers.
• The registration protects the crop from biopiracy and misuse, while opening possibilities for a GI tag, export recognition, and greater market value.

Economy News

Government Revises Fiscal Deficit Ratios After GDP Base Year Update

• The Government of India has revised fiscal deficit ratios for FY23–FY25 after introducing a new Gross Domestic Product series, replacing the earlier 2011–12 base year. The updated figures were presented in Parliament by Pankaj Chaudhary.
• Under the revised calculations, the fiscal deficit stands at 6.7% of GDP for FY2022-23, 5.7% for FY2023-24 and 4.9% for FY2024-25. These values are slightly higher than previous estimates due to recalculations using the new GDP base.
• In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit amounts to ₹17.38 lakh crore (FY23), ₹16.55 lakh crore (FY24), and ₹15.74 lakh crore (FY25), showing a gradual reduction trend.

Business News

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers Resigns & Rahul Bhatia Steps In as Interim Chief

• IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has resigned with immediate effect, citing personal reasons. Following his departure, Rahul Bhatia, promoter and Managing Director of InterGlobe Aviation, will serve as interim CEO to oversee the airline during the transition period.
• The leadership change comes about three months after a major operational disruption in December 2025, when IndiGo cancelled over 4,200 flights across its network.
• The crisis was linked to stricter pilot duty time regulations introduced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
• Elbers had joined IndiGo in September 2022 after leading KLM Royal Dutch Airlines as CEO, helping guide IndiGo’s international expansion plans.

Deloitte Opens ConnectSafe Cyber Security Facility in Bengaluru

• Deloitte has launched ConnectSafe, a cybersecurity testing facility in Bengaluru, aimed at protecting connected technologies and critical infrastructure from advanced cyber threats.
• The centre helps organisations identify vulnerabilities and test systems against simulated cyber-attack scenarios, making it one of the first facilities of its kind in India.
• Unlike traditional cybersecurity labs that focus on IT systems, ConnectSafe concentrates on operational technology used in industries such as power plants, manufacturing, banking, automobiles and healthcare.
• The 4,500-square-foot facility can simulate real-world cyberattacks, test connected devices and evaluate security controls in complex ecosystems.

Trump Announces $300 Billion Refinery Partnership with Reliance Industries

• Donald Trump announced a $300 billion partnership with Reliance Industries to build the America First Refining project in the United States. The refinery will be constructed at the Port of Brownsville and is expected to be the first major oil refinery built in the U.S. in nearly 50 years.
• The project aims to significantly expand America’s refining capacity, strengthen energy security and create thousands of jobs while boosting economic activity in Texas.
• Announced on Truth Social, the refinery is planned to be one of the world’s largest and cleanest facilities, aligning with the “America First” energy strategy and addressing global energy supply uncertainties.

Awards News

Amol Palekar to Receive META Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 for Theatre Excellence

• Amol Palekar will receive the META Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 at the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META), recognizing his decades-long contribution to Indian theatre and cinema.
• The 21st edition of the festival, organized by Mahindra Group and produced by Teamwork Arts, will be held in New Delhi from March 19–25, 2026.
• Palekar is celebrated for experimenting with theatre performances in unconventional venues and for portraying relatable middle-class characters in Hindi films like Gol Maal, Chitchor and Chhoti Si Baat.
• META 2026 received 422 entries from over 20 states, with 10 productions shortlisted across 13 award categories.

Defense News

Tata Advanced Systems Partners with Ramco for IAF C-130J MRO Facility

• Tata Advanced Systems has partnered with Ramco Systems to develop the digital backbone of a new C-130J Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the Indian Air Force.
• The facility will support maintenance operations for the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft.
• The project aims to modernize aircraft maintenance in India by using Ramco’s aviation software platform to manage maintenance schedules, spare parts, repair workflows and real-time monitoring.
• Establishing a domestic MRO facility will reduce dependence on overseas maintenance centres, speed up servicing cycles and improve operational readiness of the IAF fleet.
• The C-130J aircraft plays a crucial role in special operations, disaster relief, humanitarian missions and strategic airlift, especially in remote and high-altitude regions of India.

Defunct NASA Satellite Van Allen Probe A Set to Re-Enter Earth’s Atmosphere

• Van Allen Probe A, a defunct satellite launched by NASA in 2012, is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere in March 2026 after over a decade studying space radiation.
• The spacecraft was part of the mission to study the Van Allen radiation belts surrounding Earth.
• Weighing about 600 kg, most of the satellite is expected to burn up due to extreme heat during re-entry, creating a bright trail in the sky.
• Scientists say the risk from debris is extremely low, as nearly 71% of Earth’s surface is covered by oceans, making it unlikely for fragments to hit populated areas.

Important Days News

No Smoking Day 2026: Why March 11 Is the Day to Start to Quit Tobacco

• No Smoking Day 2026 is observed on March 11 to encourage people to quit tobacco and adopt healthier lifestyles.
• The global awareness campaign highlights the harmful effects of smoking and supports individuals trying to overcome nicotine addiction.
• First launched in the United Kingdom in 1984, the observance is now marked every year on the second Wednesday of March. Governments and health organizations use the day to promote tobacco cessation programs and public health campaigns.
• Smoking is linked to serious diseases such as **Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Stroke and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Obituaries News

Renowned Indologist Padma Shree Award Winner Hermann Kulke Passes Away

• Hermann Kulke, a renowned German historian and Indologist, passed away at the age of 87. He was widely respected for his extensive research on the history, culture and temple traditions of Odisha and made major contributions to global scholarship on Indian civilization.
• Kulke’s famous study “Jagannatha Cult and Gajapati Kingship” explained how the Jagannath temple tradition helped legitimize the rule of Gajapati dynasty in medieval Odisha.
• He taught at Heidelberg University and Kiel University and played a key role in international Odisha research projects linking Indian and European scholars.
• In recognition of his contributions to Indian history, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2010.

Current Affairs Today | 11 March 2026 Current Affairs | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam