National Current Affairs

1. “Mahila Samman Abhiyan” Campaign Launched

• The Mahila Samman Abhiyan campaign was launched on 8 March 2026 on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

• The campaign will run from 8 March to 13 March 2026 across multiple districts.

• The initiative focuses on women empowerment, grievance redressal, awareness programmes and recognition of women achievers.

• Special programmes were organised at Vikas Bhawan, Prayagraj and Lucknow.

• Around 1,15,000 “Lakhpati Didis” (women earning more than ₹1 lakh annually through self-help groups) have been identified in Prayagraj district.

• The campaign is linked with the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) to encourage women entrepreneurship and financial independence.

2. Women’s Athletics League Organised

• The Women’s Athletics League was organised at Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium, Prayagraj.

• The event was inaugurated by Chief Development Officer Harshika Singh.

• It included running competitions and athletics events for different age categories of women.

• The programme aims to encourage grassroots participation of women in sports.

3. International Scientific Conference at Banaras Hindu University

• Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is hosting an international conference titled “International Conference on Recent Advances in Multifunctional Materials and Devices (ICRAMMD-2026)”.

• The conference is scheduled from 9 March to 11 March 2026.

• The event is organised by the Department of Physics, Institute of Science, BHU.

• The conference is led by Prof. Sanjay Kumar Srivastava with Prof. Anchal Srivastava as co-convenor.

• Scientists and researchers from India, USA, Germany and Japan are participating.

• Key focus areas include:

  • Nanotechnology

  • Semiconductor materials

  • Energy materials

  • Biomedical devices

  • Smart materials and sensors

International Current Affairs

4. Mojtaba Khamenei Becomes Supreme Leader of Iran

• Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been appointed the Supreme Leader of Iran.

• He is 56 years old and previously served as a mid-ranking cleric with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

• His appointment came after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during military strikes amid escalating Middle East conflict.

• The appointment has intensified geopolitical tensions in the region.

5. Global Oil Prices Surge Amid Middle East Conflict

• Due to escalating conflict in West Asia, Brent crude oil prices crossed $108 per barrel.

• The crisis has impacted global energy markets and financial markets.

• Several countries have started emergency diplomatic initiatives to prevent regional escalation.

6. Evacuation and Travel Advisory for Middle East Region

• Several governments issued travel advisories and evacuation measures for citizens in the Middle East region.

• The United States ordered non-essential staff to leave Saudi Arabia, while European nations increased military preparedness in the region.

Economy and Business Current Affairs

7. Air India Announces Additional International Flights

• Air India announced 78 additional international flights.

• The flights will operate between 10 March and 18 March 2026.

• These flights will cover 9 international routes.

• The initiative aims to manage increased passenger demand and travel disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

• The expansion helps maintain international connectivity and evacuation readiness.

Sports Current Affairs

8. India Wins ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

• India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

• The final was played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

• India scored 255/5 in 20 overs, one of the highest totals in a T20 World Cup final.

• New Zealand were bowled out for 159 runs.

• India became the first team in history to successfully defend the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title.

Key Performances

• Player of the Match: Jasprit Bumrah

• Bowling figures: 4 wickets for 15 runs

• Player of the Tournament: Sanju Samson

• Top batting contributions:

  • Sanju Samson – crucial innings in knockout matches

  • Abhishek Sharma – aggressive top-order performance

  • Shivam Dube – explosive finishing

Bowling Highlights

• Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy finished as joint leading wicket-takers of the tournament.

9. Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 Nomination

• The Indian Women’s Cricket Team has been nominated for the “Team of the Year” category at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026.

• The nomination follows their recent Women’s Cricket World Cup victory.

• The Laureus Awards are considered among the most prestigious international sports honours.

10. Formula One 2026 Season Begins

• The 2026 Formula One season began in Melbourne, Australia.

• The season features 11 teams on the grid, including the new Cadillac F1 team.

• Lando Norris entered the season as the defending Formula One World Champion.

Awards and Literature

11. AutHer Awards 2026 Longlist Announced

• The AutHer Awards 2026 longlist has been announced.

• The awards celebrate literary excellence by Indian women authors.

• The awards are organised by The Times of India in partnership with JK Paper.

• Categories include:

  • Fiction

  • Non-Fiction

  • Debut Writing

  • Children’s Literature

• Final winners will be announced at a formal awards ceremony later in 2026.

Important Events and Upcoming Programmes

12. Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025

• The 8th edition of the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) will be held on 21 March 2026.

• Venue: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

• The awards recognise outstanding performances by Indian athletes during the 2025 sporting season.

• Winners will be selected by a distinguished jury panel consisting of leading sports personalities and experts.

Important Days

13. International Women’s Day 2026

• Observed on: 8 March every year.

• Purpose: Promote gender equality and women empowerment.

• Governments and organisations worldwide conducted programmes focused on women leadership, financial inclusion, and social empowerment.

Key Facts for Competitive Exams

• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Winner: India

• Runner-up: New Zealand

• Player of the Tournament: Sanju Samson

• Player of the Match (Final): Jasprit Bumrah

• Venue of Final: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

• New Supreme Leader of Iran: Mojtaba Khamenei

• International Conference: ICRAMMD-2026 at BHU

• Conference Dates: 9–11 March 2026

• Air India Additional Flights: 78

• International Routes Covered: 9

• AutHer Awards Organisers: The Times of India and JK Paper