Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (7th March 2026)

National News

Government e Marketplace (GeM) Celebrates 7 Years of SWAYATT Initiative

• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) celebrated seven years of the SWAYATT Initiative, launched on 19 February 2019 to promote inclusive public procurement in India.
• The programme supports startups, women entrepreneurs, youth, self-help groups, and micro enterprises by providing direct access to government buyers through digital procurement.
• Over the years, participation has grown significantly. Orders from women-led businesses increased from ₹1,265.62 crore in FY2018–19 to ₹83,323 crore by FY2025–26, while startup orders rose from ₹497.24 crore to ₹54,005.8 crore.
• Initiatives like Startup Runway and Womaniya on GeM further enhance visibility for startups and women entrepreneurs, strengthening inclusive growth in India’s procurement ecosystem.

Indian Government Suspends TRP Ratings for TV News Channels

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to suspend Television Rating Points (TRP) for TV news channels for four weeks, starting March 7, 2026.
• The decision comes amid concerns over sensational reporting related to the Israel–Iran conflict.
• The government said the temporary suspension aims to discourage competitive pressure among channels that may lead to exaggerated or unverified coverage, which could create fear among viewers especially those with connections to conflict-affected regions in West Asia.
• The directive was issued under Clause 24.2 of BARC policy guidelines, which requires compliance with government instructions.

Hurun Rich List 2026: India Becomes Third-Largest Hub for Billionaires

• The Hurun Rich List 2026 reveals that India now has 308 billionaires, making it the third-largest billionaire hub globally after the United States and China.
• India added 57 new billionaires this year, while 27 dropped out, resulting in a net rise of 24. The total wealth of Indian billionaires increased 10% to ₹112.6 trillion, reflecting strong entrepreneurial growth.
• Mukesh Ambani remains India and Asia’s richest person with a net worth of ₹9.8 trillion, followed by Gautam Adani at ₹7.5 trillion. Roshni Nadar Malhotra ranks third and is the only woman in India’s top 10 richest list.
• The healthcare sector produced the most new billionaires, while Cyrus S. Poonawalla recorded the largest wealth gain. Mumbai remains India’s biggest billionaire hub with 95 billionaires, and Ritesh Agarwal is the youngest billionaire at 32.

State News

Karnataka Proposed Ban On Social Media For Children In Budget of 2026-27

• The government of Karnataka has proposed banning social media use for children under 16 in its Budget 2026, announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
• The proposal aims to protect children from harmful online content, excessive screen time, and digital addiction. If implemented, Karnataka could become the first Indian state to introduce such a restriction.
• Similar discussions are emerging elsewhere. The government of Andhra Pradesh, led by N. Chandrababu Naidu, is considering restrictions for children under 13 and monitored access for teenagers.
• At the national level, Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government is studying age-based regulations under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act to improve online safety for minors.

Karnataka Budget 2026: Social Media Ban, Big Education Push & ₹4.48 Trillion Spending Plan

• Toutlay of ₹4.48 trillion, a 13.3% increase from the previous year. The budget projects a fiscal deficit of ₹97,449 crore (2.95% of GSDP) and outlines major investments in education, welfare, transport, and technology.
• A key proposal is a ban on social media use for children under 16, aimed at reducing digital addiction and harmful online exposure.
• Education initiatives include 15,000 new teaching posts and ₹565 crore for school infrastructure. Women’s welfare remains a priority with schemes like Gruhalakshmi Scheme and Shakti Scheme.
• The budget also announces a ₹2,000-crore electric bus programme, an Intermediate Ring Road in Bengaluru, and the Bangalore Robotics and AI Innovation Zone (BRAINz) in collaboration with Indian Institute of Science and Indian Space Research Organisation.

Maharashtra Budget 2026: Big Loan Waiver for Farmers and Major Development Plans Announced

• The Maharashtra Budget 2026-27 was presented on March 6, 2026 by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the finance portfolio.
• The budget focuses on agriculture support, infrastructure expansion, renewable energy, tourism growth, and job creation.
• A major announcement was the farm loan waiver of up to ₹2 lakh under the Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar Farmers Loan Waiver Scheme.
• Around 28–30 lakh farmers are expected to benefit, while farmers who repaid loans regularly will receive a ₹50,000 incentive.
• The budget also proposes over 1,000 km of metro lines and 6,000 km of highways, solar power projects worth ₹20,000 crore, and new development zones Mumbai 3.0 and Mumbai 4.0 in Mumbai to boost infrastructure, industry, and employment.

International News

Indonesia Social Media Ban for Children Under 16 Announced

• Indonesia will ban social media access for children under 16 starting March 28, 2026, according to an announcement by Meutya Hafid.
• The regulation will prevent minors from creating accounts on major platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
• Technology companies will be required to introduce stronger age-verification systems to ensure users under 16 cannot access these services.
• The government said the measure aims to protect minors from cyberbullying, online fraud, pornography exposure, and social media addiction.
• The move reflects a growing global trend where governments are introducing age-based digital safety regulations to safeguard children from harmful online content and excessive social media use.

Balen Shah Set to Become Nepal’s Prime Minister After Election

• Nepal is witnessing a major political shift after the 2026 parliamentary elections, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party emerging as the dominant force.
• The party, founded only three years ago, secured early victories and led in more than 100 constituencies out of 150 counted, leaving traditional parties like Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (UML) far behind.
• Party leader Balendra ‘Balen’ Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician and former mayor of Kathmandu, is expected to become the next Prime Minister. His rise follows the 2025 Gen Z protests that led to the fall of the government of K. P. Sharma Oli.

Mattel Unveils Barbie Dream Team Featuring Serena Williams and Smriti Mandhana

• Mattel launched the Barbie Dream Team 2026 on March 4 as part of a month-long campaign celebrating International Women’s Day.
• The initiative honors influential women by creating one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls modeled after them.
• The Dream Team includes global icons such as Serena Williams, Smriti Mandhana, Chloe Kelly, astronaut Kellie Gerardi, racer Regina Sirvent, singer Helene Fischer, mountaineer Zoja Skubis, and surfer Stephanie Gilmore.
• A major highlight is Mandhana becoming the first Indian cricketer honored in the Dream Team, reflecting the rising global recognition of women athletes. The campaign aims to inspire young girls worldwide by showcasing women who have broken barriers and achieved excellence in diverse fields.

Banking News

RBI Announces ₹1 Lakh Crore Bond Purchase to Support Banking Liquidity

• The Reserve Bank of India has announced that it will purchase ₹1 lakh crore worth of government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMOs) to ease liquidity pressures in the banking system.
• The purchases will occur in two tranches of ₹50,000 crore each on March 9 and March 13, 2026.
• Under OMOs, the central bank buys or sells Government Securities to regulate money supply. By purchasing these bonds, the RBI injects liquidity into the banking system.
• The move comes ahead of the financial year-end, when banks typically face cash outflows due to GST payments and advance tax obligations.
• The intervention is also expected to stabilize government bond yields, ensure smoother market functioning, and maintain adequate liquidity in the financial system.

Economy News

India Forex Reserves Reach Record $728.5 Billion At End February 2026

• India’s foreign exchange reserves reached a record $728.49 billion for the week ending February 27, 2026, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India.
• The reserves increased by $4.88 billion, surpassing the previous record of $726 billion recorded earlier in February.
• The rise was mainly driven by higher gold reserves and foreign currency assets (FCA).
• Gold reserves surged by $4.14 billion to $131 billion, supported by rising global gold prices, while FCAs which include currencies such as the US dollar, euro, pound sterling, and yen rose by $561 million.

Defense News

Operation Sankalp Back in Focus as Indian Navy Stays Alert in West Asia

• Operation Sankalp is a major security initiative launched by the Indian Navy on 19 June 2019 to protect Indian merchant ships and ensure safe navigation in sensitive sea routes.
• The operation was initiated after attacks on commercial tankers in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz raised global maritime security concerns.
• Under Operation Sankalp, Indian warships maintain a continuous presence in key regions such as the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf of Aden, escorting Indian-flagged vessels and monitoring shipping activity.
• The mission also uses surveillance aircraft and special forces units to respond to piracy or maritime threats.

Lt Gen Pushpendra Pal Singh to Become Western Command GOC in C

• The Indian Army has appointed Lt Gen Pushpendra Pal Singh as the next General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Western Command.
• He will take charge at Chandimandir later this month after the retirement of Lt Gen M. K. Katiyar. Singh has been serving as the Vice Chief of Army Staff since July 31, 2025.
• Commissioned into the Parachute Regiment in 1987, he has extensive operational experience.
• His service includes key missions such as Operation Pawan, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Rakshak, and Operation Orchid.
• He has also commanded Special Forces units, an infantry brigade, and a mountain division, gaining experience along both the Line of Control and Line of Actual Control, strengthening India’s border defence leadership.

Sports News

Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 to Be Held in Chhattisgarh

• Mansukh Mandaviya announced that the first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 will be held in Chhattisgarh from March 26 to April 6 2026.
• The games will be hosted across Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Sarguja.
• The event will feature seven medal sports: athletics, football, hockey, weightlifting, archery, swimming, and wrestling.
• Organized under the Khelo India Scheme, the initiative aims to identify and nurture sporting talent from tribal communities.
• It will also strengthen grassroots sports infrastructure and provide tribal athletes with opportunities to join India’s national sports ecosystem.

Jasprit Bumrah Reaches 500 International Wickets & Joins Elite Club

• Jasprit Bumrah reached the milestone of 500 international wickets during the semifinal of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against England national cricket team at Wankhede Stadium.
• He achieved the landmark by dismissing England captain Harry Brook on the first ball of his spell.
• Since making his international debut in 2016 against Australia national cricket team, Bumrah has become a key figure in India’s bowling attack.
• His record includes 234 Test wickets, 149 ODI wickets, and 117 T20I wickets, totaling 500 across formats, placing him among India’s leading wicket-takers alongside legends like Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Lakshya Sen Reaches Semi Finals at All England Open 2026

• Lakshya Sen delivered an impressive performance at the All England Open Badminton Championships 2026, defeating Li Shi Feng in the quarter-finals with a 21-13, 21-16 straight-game victory at the Utilita Arena Birmingham.
• With this win, Sen advanced to the semi-finals and remains India’s only surviving contender in the prestigious Badminton World Federation Super 1000 tournament.
• Sen dominated the first game with strong rallies and a six-point streak to close it 21-13.
• The second game was tighter, but his precise net play and attacking strategy helped him finish 21-16. The victory marked his eighth win in 15 meetings against Li Shi Feng.

Important Days News

International Women’s Day 2026: Date, Theme, Significance, Messages & Wishes

• International Women’s Day will be celebrated worldwide on March 8, 2026, recognizing women’s achievements in fields such as education, politics, science, sports, and business while promoting gender equality and empowerment.
• The 2026 campaign theme “Give To Gain” encourages people and organizations to support women through mentorship, sharing resources, and creating opportunities that help advance equality.
• Meanwhile, the official theme by United Nations is “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” calling for stronger legal protections and equal opportunities globally.
• International Women’s Day also uses symbolic colours: purple for justice and dignity, green for hope and progress, and white for unity—traditions rooted in the early women’s suffrage movement.

Current Affairs Today | 07 March Current Affairs 2025 | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam