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Daily Current Affairs: 8 & 9 March 2026

Current affairs of 8 & 9 March 2026: SHINE App: Railways’ Harassment Reporting Tool for Women Staff; Green Ammonia and Methanol Standards Under NGHM; Nari Shakti message from PM Modi on Women’s Day, and 13 more topics. Key facts for every exam, with a quiz.

Take the quiz (15 questions)March 2026

In this issue: 16 topics

National Affairs

SHINE App: Railways’ Harassment Reporting Tool for Women Staff
Nari Shakti message from PM Modi on Women’s Day
Khelo India Tribal Games: First Edition in Chhattisgarh
Essential Commodities Act 1955: Features and Penalties

Government Schemes

SWAYATT Initiative: GeM Marks Seventh Anniversary
Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2026: 7 March and Its Purpose

Banking & Finance

AU Small Finance Bank: RBI Drops NOFHC Condition for Universal Bank Switch
NBFC Risk Weights: Upper Layer Firms Ask RBI to Cut
SBI Raises USD 500 Million Social Loan to Back Women

Economy

Karnataka Budget 2026-27: ₹4.48 Lakh Crore Outlay

Agriculture & Rural

National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge by NABARD

Science & Technology

Green Ammonia and Methanol Standards Under NGHM
VLEO satellites: BEL and Bellatrix Aerospace sign MoU

Defence & Security

Su-30MKI Crash in Assam: Fighter Jet Profile
BEL-SASMOS MoU to Boost Indigenous Defence Electronics
Dhiraj Seth Named Next Vice Chief of Army Staff

National Affairs

Government Schemes

1. SHINE App: Railways’ Harassment Reporting Tool for Women Staff

Indian Railways launched the SHINE app on 8 March, International Women's Day, for women staff to report workplace harassment.
It links to HRMS, opens through the ESS portal and keeps complainants confidential.
Legal base: Vishakha Guidelines (1997) and POSH Act, 2013.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Polity & Governance

2. Nari Shakti message from PM Modi on Women’s Day

PM Narendra Modi greeted the nation on International Women's Day, observed on March 8.
He praised "Nari Shakti" (women power) as a force in nation-building.
Women's empowerment was called central to many flagship schemes.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Government Schemes

3. Khelo India Tribal Games: First Edition in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh will host the first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games between 25 March and 6 April 2026.
It is a national-level multi-sport event exclusively for tribal athletes.
Host cities are Raipur, Jagdalpur and Sarguja.
The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced it under the Khelo India Scheme.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Polity & Governance

4. Essential Commodities Act 1955: Features and Penalties

The Centre invoked the ECA, 1955 after an Iran-linked energy crisis, to regulate supply and stop hoarding.
Violations under Section 3 can bring imprisonment of 3 months to 7 years, plus fines.
The Centre can add or remove Schedule items after consulting State Governments.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Government Schemes

5. SWAYATT Initiative: GeM Marks Seventh Anniversary

GeM marked seven years of SWAYATT on 6 March 2026 in New Delhi.
SWAYATT: Startups, Women and Youth Advantage through e-Transactions, begun 19 February 2019.
It sits under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, implemented by GeM.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Government Schemes

6. Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2026: 7 March and Its Purpose

Jan Aushadhi Diwas is observed every year on 7 March in India.
It promotes affordable generic medicines and the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.
Narendra Modi declared the day in 2019.
The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India, under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, organises it.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Banking & Finance

Banking & Finance

7. AU Small Finance Bank: RBI Drops NOFHC Condition for Universal Bank Switch

RBI removed the mandatory NOFHC requirement for AU Small Finance Bank's move to universal bank status.
A NOFHC is needed only if further financial entities such as insurance are planned.
In-principle approval of 7 August 2025 is valid for 18 months.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

8. NBFC Risk Weights: Upper Layer Firms Ask RBI to Cut

Upper Layer NBFCs asked RBI to lower risk weights, mainly on retail loans, citing stricter scrutiny and higher capital needs.
Retail loans carry a 75% risk weight at banks but 100% at NBFCs; corporate loans are 100% for NBFCs.
NBFCs also want a refinance window like NHB's and permission to take public deposits.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Banking & Finance

9. SBI Raises USD 500 Million Social Loan to Back Women

State Bank of India launched a USD 500 million syndicated social loan to promote women's economic empowerment.
Money will support MSMEs, Self-Help Groups and women-focused livelihood efforts.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is the mandated lead arranger and loan coordinator.
The loan matches UN Sustainable Development Goal 5, gender equality.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Economy

Polity & Governance

10. Karnataka Budget 2026-27: ₹4.48 Lakh Crore Outlay

Siddaramaiah presented Karnataka's FY2026-27 budget of ₹4.48 lakh crore in the state Legislative Assembly.
Revenue receipts are estimated at ₹3.15 lakh crore.
The fiscal deficit is put at ₹97,449 crore.
Themes: technology-led growth, infrastructure and sustainability.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Agriculture & Rural

Agriculture & Rural Development

11. National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge by NABARD

NABARD launched the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge in March 2026 with Gates Foundation and Dalberg Advisors.
The Stack will offer decision-ready climate intelligence for agriculture, rural finance and public planning.
Prizes: ₹15 lakh, ₹10 lakh and ₹5 lakh for the top three.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Science & Technology

Environment & Ecology

12. Green Ammonia and Methanol Standards Under NGHM

India announced standards for green ammonia and green methanol under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The standards set emission thresholds and eligibility criteria for the green label.
The mission began in January 2023 under MNRE, with an initial outlay of ₹19,744 crore.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Science & Technology

13. VLEO satellites: BEL and Bellatrix Aerospace sign MoU

BEL and Bellatrix Aerospace signed an MoU for Very Low Earth Orbit satellites.
VLEO is 150-450 km up, below LEO's 500-2,000 km.
Aim: indigenous satellites for defence and civilian use.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Defence & Security

Defence & Security

14. Su-30MKI Crash in Assam: Fighter Jet Profile

An IAF Su-30MKI crashed at Inglong Ekopi Hill, Assam, on 5 March 2026 during routine training.
The Su-30MKI (Flanker-H) is a twin-engine, heavy multirole air superiority fighter and the IAF's primary combat aircraft.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited builds it in India at Nashik.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

15. BEL-SASMOS MoU to Boost Indigenous Defence Electronics

Bharat Electronics Limited signed an MoU with SASMOS HET Technologies Limited to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing and exports.
The MoU was exchanged in Rajnath Singh's presence at SASMOS Aerospace SEZ, Bengaluru.
A naval radar communication subsystem built in six months was displayed.
The tie-up aims to speed up defence electronics innovation and production.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Defence & Security

16. Dhiraj Seth Named Next Vice Chief of Army Staff

Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth was appointed the next Vice Chief of Army Staff.
He takes charge on 1 April 2026, succeeding P. P. Singh.
He is an Armoured Corps officer commissioned in 1986 and presently GOC-in-C of Southern Command.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Test yourself

15 questions from the news of 8 & 9 March 2026, with answers and explanations.