Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (16th March 2026)

National News

Government Launches Free SATHEE App for Competitive Exam Preparation

• The SATHEE App, developed by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, is a free digital learning platform designed to help students prepare for major competitive examinations.
• SATHEE stands for Self Assessment Test and Help for Entrance Exams and provides high-quality educational resources created by experts from IITs and reputed institutions for structured exam preparation.
• The platform supports preparation for exams such as Joint Entrance Examination, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Common University Entrance Test, Common Law Admission Test, SSC, RRB, IBPS, and ICAR entrance exams.
• It offers video lectures, mock tests, study materials, previous years’ papers, and multilingual support, and an AI-enabled version was recently highlighted at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 to enhance personalized learning and accessibility for students from economically weaker sections.

FASTag Annual Pass Fee Hiked by NHAI from April 2026

• The National Highways Authority of India has announced a revision in the fee for the FASTag Annual Pass, which will take effect from April 1, 2026. The cost for private non-commercial vehicles has been increased slightly from ₹3,000 to ₹3,075.
• The FASTag Annual Pass scheme, launched on Independence Day in 2025, was introduced to simplify toll payments for frequent travelers on national highways and promote digital toll collection.
• This pass is available only for private vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans with a valid FASTag account, allowing up to 200 toll crossings or one year of validity from activation, whichever comes first.
• Since its nationwide rollout in 2016, FASTag has become the primary toll payment system in India, with about 11.86 crore tags issued and more than 50 lakh users currently using the annual pass for convenient highway travel.

22 Year Old Surya Midha Breaks Mark Zuckerberg Record & Joins the Youngest Billionaire List

• Surya Midha has made headlines after matching the youngest billionaire milestone once achieved by Mark Zuckerberg. At just 22 years old, he appeared on the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2026 with an estimated net worth of $2.2 billion.
• Midha is the co-founder of Mercor, an AI-driven recruitment platform he launched in 2023 along with Brendan Foody and Adarsh Hiremath. The platform uses artificial intelligence to analyze job descriptions, candidate profiles, and performance data to help companies identify and interview suitable candidates more efficiently.
• Born in Mountain View and raised in San Jose, Midha attended Bellarmine College Preparatory, where he gained recognition as a top policy debater and competitive student.
• He later enrolled at Georgetown University to study Foreign Service but took an academic leave in 2023 to build Mercor, turning the startup into a fast-growing AI recruitment platform.

Supreme Court Tightens Rules as UPSC Changes DGP Appointment Process

• The process for appointing a state Director General of Police has been tightened following new directions involving the Union Public Service Commission and the Supreme Court of India. The UPSC clarified that state governments cannot delay sending names of eligible DGP-rank officers for empanelment without prior approval from the Supreme Court.
• According to the court’s guidelines, states must send proposals at least three months before the retirement of the current DGP. The UPSC then prepares a panel of three senior officers, from which the state government must select one as the head of the police force.
• The court also emphasized that there is no legal concept of an “acting DGP.” This clarification follows concerns that several states had been appointing temporary DGPs instead of making regular appointments as required under the police reform guidelines.
• These directions are linked to the landmark Prakash Singh vs Union of India, which established procedures to ensure transparency, stability, and independence in appointing police leadership across Indian states.

Rare Medieval Gajapathi Inscription Discovered in Guntur Temple

• A medieval inscription linked to the Gajapati dynasty has been discovered at the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Guntur. The stone pillar inscription, written in Telugu and dating to the 15th century CE, is believed to be associated with Purushottama Deva. 🪨
• Engraved on both sides of a pillar inside the temple’s mandapa, the inscription mentions Kumaraguru Mahapatra, who served as a steward under King Purushottama Deva, indicating that the Gajapati administration extended into parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh.
• Temple traditions also link the structure and idol to Kondaveedu Fort, suggesting that architectural elements and the idol of Lord Narasimha were moved from the fort to the temple during a period of regional invasions.
• Historians say the inscription also records temple management practices, including instructions for ritual offerings such as milk during evening worship, providing valuable insight into medieval governance, religious patronage, and cultural ties between Odisha and coastal Andhra.

International News

Archaeologists Unearth Missing Piece of 3,200 Year Old Ramesses II Statue in Egypt

• Archaeologists in Hermopolis Magna have solved a century-old mystery by discovering the missing upper portion of a massive limestone statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II. The fragment, measuring 3.8 meters tall, joins the lower half found in 1930, completing a seated statue that will stand nearly 7 meters high.
• The discovery was made at El Ashmunein by a joint team from the Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and University of Colorado Boulder religious center dedicated to Thoth, and the newly found fragment reveals the pharaoh wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, with detailed carvings along the throne.
• Ramesses II, also called Ramesses the Great, ruled from 1279 BCE to 1213 BCE and is renowned for his long reign, monumental architecture, and shaping Egyptian culture, politics, and art.

Awards News

Tamil Poet and Lyricist Vairamuthu Wins 2025 Jnanpith Award

• Vairamuthu has been awarded the Jnanpith Award for 2025, India’s highest literary honour, recognizing his decades long contribution to Tamil literature, poetry, and cultural expression through influential writings and creative works.
• Known for powerful poetry and thousands of Tamil film lyrics, Vairamuthu’s works explore human emotions, social justice, rural life, culture, and nature while blending classical Tamil traditions with modern themes accessible to wider audiences.
• Beyond literature, he has significantly shaped Tamil cinema by collaborating with leading composers and filmmakers, creating memorable lyrics that combine poetic depth with emotional storytelling appreciated by generations of listeners.
• Established in 1961 by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, the Jnanpith Award honours exceptional authors writing in Indian languages listed in the Constitution, and includes a citation, cash prize, and a bronze statue of Saraswati.

Oscars 2026 Winners: Michael B. Jordan Wins Best Actor Check Here Full List of Winners

• The 98th Academy Awards celebrated global cinematic excellence at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with the ceremony hosted by Conan O’Brien. The event honoured outstanding achievements in acting, directing, music, and filmmaking across the international film industry.
• One of the biggest highlights of the night was Michael B. Jordan winning the Best Actor award for his performance in the film Sinners, marking his first Oscar win. The film also made history by receiving 16 nominations, the highest ever in Academy Awards history.
• Meanwhile, Paul Thomas Anderson won the Best Director award for One Battle After Another, a political thriller that entered the ceremony with 13 nominations and strong momentum from earlier awards events.
• The awards season leading to the Oscars remained highly competitive, with major honours across events like the Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA Awards, and Critics’ Choice Awards being shared among multiple films, making the final results unpredictable.

Science & Technology News

Scientists Discover New Plant Species And Its Named After Zubeen Garg

• A new plant species named Osbeckia zubeengargiana has been discovered in the grasslands of Manas National Park by botanists from Gauhati University during botanical surveys conducted between 2021 and 2025.
• The plant belongs to the Melastomataceae family and is a tall perennial shrub producing clusters of bright pink flowers, growing about 2.5–3.5 meters high with blooms measuring around 2.5-3 cm.
• Scientists named the species after famous Assamese singer Zubeen Garg to honor his cultural contribution and influence on the identity and heritage of Assam.
• Researchers have currently placed the species under the “Data Deficient” category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List due to limited information about its wider distribution and ecological status.

Gujarat Tested Its First Sounding Rocket Successfully Launched Near Dholera

• Gujarat created history on March 15, 2026, with the successful launch of its first sounding rocket near Dholera at Bavliyari village. The rocket was developed by Ahmedabad-based startup Omspace Rocket and Exploration Private Limited, marking the state’s entry into India’s growing private space technology sector.
• The single-stage suborbital sounding rocket reached an altitude of about 3 km and successfully tested advanced propulsion systems, avionics, onboard control systems, and an autonomous recovery mechanism. The mission also carried a mini satellite payload designed to collect atmospheric and weather data during the flight.
• The rocket’s airframe was built using lightweight carbon fibre and advanced composite materials developed at Omspace’s laboratory under the Make in India program, demonstrating indigenous aerospace capabilities.
• The launch was conducted with approvals from agencies such as the Airports Authority of India, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Indian Coast Guard, and IN-SPACe, and aligns with the state’s Gujarat Spacetech Policy 2025-2030 aimed at promoting private space innovation.

Sports News

19 Year Old Antonelli Shocks F1 World With Historic Chinese GP Win

• Kimi Antonelli created history by winning the Chinese Grand Prix 2026, securing his first Formula 1 victory at the Shanghai International Circuit. The 19-year-old Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team driver delivered a dominant performance and also became the youngest polesitter in Formula 1 history.
• Mercedes achieved a strong one-two finish with George Russell finishing second behind Antonelli. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton secured third place for the Scuderia Ferrari, marking his first Grand Prix podium since joining Ferrari.
• Other top finishers included Charles Leclerc in fourth and Oliver Bearman in fifth for Haas F1 Team.
• The race also saw early drama as drivers like Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Alex Albon were unable to start due to technical issues, reducing the starting grid.

India Creates History: 208 Medals at World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 in New Delhi

• India delivered a remarkable performance at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026, finishing at the top of the medal table with a total of 208 medals. The three-day event was held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and featured 257 athletes from eight countries.
• India dominated the competition by winning 75 gold, 69 silver, and 64 bronze medals, finishing far ahead of Russia, which placed second with 35 medals, while Bosnia and Herzegovina secured third place.
• Among the standout performers was double Paralympic bronze medallist Preeti Pal, who won gold in the women’s 200m T35–37 event. Other notable winners included Shubham Juyal in the men’s shot put F57 and Manojkumar Sabapathi in the men’s 800m T53–T54 race.
• Indian athletes also achieved several podium sweeps, highlighting the depth of talent in the national para athletics team and strengthening the country’s dominance in the competition.

BCCI Naman Awards 2026: Shubman Gill, Mandhana Shines Check Here Full List of Winners

• The BCCI Naman Awards 2026 celebrated outstanding achievements in Indian cricket during a grand ceremony held in New Delhi on March 15, 2026. Organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the awards honoured top performers in international cricket, domestic tournaments, and lifetime contributions to the sport.
• Shubman Gill received the Polly Umrigar Award for the second time, while Smriti Mandhana won the Best International Cricketer (Women) award for the fifth time, recognizing their consistent performances for India.
• Legendary figures such as Rahul Dravid and Roger Binny received the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, while former women’s captain Mithali Raj was honoured with the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women.
• Domestic cricket stars were also recognized, including Ayush Mhatre and Harsh Dubey with the Lala Amarnath Award, while Ira Jadhav, Shafali Verma, and Deepti Sharma were honoured for their achievements in women’s cricket.

Chandrika Pujari Wins Gold at World Boxing Futures Cup 2026 as India Bags Five Medals

• India finished the World Boxing Futures Cup 2026 with a total of five medals at the event held in Bangkok, Thailand from March 8 to March 15, 2026. The Indian team secured one gold, three silver, and one bronze medal during the competition.
• The highlight of India’s campaign was Chandrika Pujari, who won the gold medal in the women’s 51kg category by defeating Mardonova Nazokat of Uzbekistan with a unanimous decision in the final.
• India also won three silver medals through Gunjan in the women’s 48kg category, Joyshree Devi in the women’s 54kg division, and Ambekar Meetei in the men’s 50kg category after finishing as runners-up in their respective finals.
• The fifth medal came from Radhamani Longjam, who secured a bronze medal in the women’s 57kg category, completing India’s five-medal haul at the tournament.

Important Days News

National Vaccination Day 2026: Why India Observes It on 16 March

• National Vaccination Day is observed every year on March 16 in India to promote awareness about the importance of immunization and to recognize the efforts of healthcare workers and policymakers involved in vaccination campaigns.
• The day commemorates the launch of the Pulse Polio Programme in 1995, when the first nationwide dose of the oral polio vaccine was administered to children to eliminate Polio. Due to sustained efforts, the World Health Organization declared India polio-free on March 27, 2014.
• The concept of vaccination dates back to the work of Edward Jenner in 1798, whose discovery that exposure to cowpox could protect against Smallpox laid the foundation for modern immunization practices.

Obituaries News

Veteran Bollywood Actress Madhu Malhotra Dies at 71

• Veteran Bollywood actress Madhu Malhotra passed away on March 13, 2026, in Mumbai at the age of 71. She was a well-known supporting actress in Hindi cinema during the late 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, appearing in more than 100 films.
• She gained recognition through films like Hero and Satte Pe Satta, where her performances and appearances in popular songs became memorable for audiences.
• Madhu Malhotra began her film career with the horror film Andhera directed by the Ramsay Brothers and later earned wider recognition in The Great Gambler.
• During her long career, she also appeared in several notable films such as Karz, Shradhanjali, Vidhaata, and Vishwanath, becoming a familiar face in classic Bollywood cinema.

Motorhead Guitar Legend Phil Campbell Dies at 64

• Phil Campbell, the longtime guitarist of the legendary band Motörhead, passed away on March 14, 2026, at the age of 64 after a prolonged health battle following a major medical operation.
• Campbell joined Motörhead in 1984 and remained a key member for more than three decades, contributing to the band’s powerful sound and global success until it disbanded in 2015 after the death of founder Lemmy Kilmister.
• After the band’s breakup, he continued his musical career by forming Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons with his sons, performing live and keeping the spirit of heavy metal alive.
• Born on May 7, 1961, in Pontypridd, Campbell began playing guitar at a young age and first gained recognition with the band Persian Risk before rising to global fame with Motörhead.

Current Affairs Today | 15-16 March 2026 Current Affairs | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam