National Current Affairs
1. India Plans Revival of Formula 1 and World Rally Championship
The Government of India has initiated discussions to revive Formula 1 (F1) racing and the World Rally Championship (WRC) in the country.
A meeting was held between Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI).
FMSCI President: Arindam Ghosh.
The proposal includes restarting races at the Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh).
The circuit previously hosted Formula 1 races from 2011 to 2013.
The government is exploring the development of street circuits and international motorsport infrastructure.
A Centre of Excellence for Motorsport is also being planned to develop young Indian drivers.
An international karting event is proposed at MIKA Circuit, Chennai in September 2026.
2. India Hosts Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems
India hosted the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026).
Date: 12–14 March 2026.
Venue: ICAR Convention Centre, NASC Complex, New Delhi.
Organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
ICAR Director General: Dr. M. L. Jat.
The conference focused on:
Women’s role in global agriculture and food supply chains.
Gender equality in agricultural research and development.
Policy measures to improve participation of women farmers.
The event brought together scientists, policymakers, and agricultural experts from multiple countries.
3. India Strengthens Sports Infrastructure through Khelo India Initiatives
The Government continues expansion of the Khelo India Programme.
Objective:
Identify talented athletes at the grassroots level.
Develop sports infrastructure across India.
The program provides:
Scholarships for young athletes.
Development of training centers.
International exposure for athletes.
International Current Affairs
4. Global Sports Recognition Event – 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 recognize top Indian athletes across 45+ sports categories.
Major award segments include:
Athlete of the Year
Emerging Sportsperson of the Year
Team of the Year
Coach of the Year
The event highlights India’s achievements in global sporting competitions during 2025.
Banking and Economy
5. Expanding Role of Women in Global Agri-Food Economy
Discussions at the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems highlighted:
Women constitute nearly 43% of the agricultural workforce globally.
Policy frameworks are required to improve financial inclusion and credit access for women farmers.
The conference emphasized the importance of:
Gender-inclusive agricultural financing.
Women-led agri-business startups.
Technology-driven farming solutions.
Sports Current Affairs
6. India Wins Medals at World Boxing Futures Cup 2026
The World Boxing Futures Cup 2026 was held in Bangkok, Thailand from 8–15 March 2026.
India finished the tournament with 5 medals.
Medal tally:
Gold: 1
Silver: 3
Bronze: 1
Gold Medal Winner: Chandrika Pujari.
Category: Women’s 51 kg.
Final match result:
Chandrika Pujari defeated Mardonova Nazokat of Uzbekistan by unanimous decision.
7. Tamil Nadu Police Win 9 Medals in National Athletics Championship
The 74th All India Police Athletics Team Championship was conducted at PAP Headquarters, Jalandhar (Punjab).
Event Date: 7–12 March 2026.
Tamil Nadu Police contingent:
Total athletes: 46 personnel.
Medal tally:
Gold: 3
Silver: 3
Bronze: 3
Felicitation ceremony held at DGP Headquarters, Chennai.
Director General of Police (Tamil Nadu): K. Venkataraman congratulated the athletes.
8. Chhattisgarh Cricketers Selected for Central Zone Team
Kriti Gupta and Mahak Narwase from the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association (CSCS) were selected for the Central Zone team.
Tournament: Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal Multi-Day Trophy 2025-26.
Venue: Puducherry.
Tournament Dates:
League stage: 20–22 March 2026
Semi-finals: 26–28 March 2026
Final: 1–3 April 2026.
Performance Statistics
Kriti Gupta
Role: Opening Batter
Runs scored: 294 runs
Matches: 9
Batting average: 73.50
Half-centuries: 3
Highest score: 94*
Mahak Narwase
Role: All-rounder
Wickets: 20
Bowling average: 14.30
Four-wicket hauls: 2
9. BCCI Naman Awards 2026
The BCCI Naman Awards 2026 honoured outstanding cricket performances.
Major Awards
Polly Umrigar Award (Best International Cricketer – Men)
Winner: Shubman Gill
Achievement: Second time winning the award.
Best International Cricketer – Women
Winner: Smriti Mandhana
Record: 5th time receiving the award, the highest by any female Indian cricketer.
10. India’s Cricket Vision for 2027 World Cup
Shubman Gill, captain of India’s ODI team, announced that winning the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 is the team’s primary objective.
The 2027 Cricket World Cup will be hosted by:
South Africa
Zimbabwe
Namibia
The announcement followed India’s strong performances in recent ICC tournaments.
11. Growth of India’s T20 Cricket Talent Pool
Suryakumar Yadav, captain of India’s T20 team, highlighted the depth of Indian cricket talent.
According to him, India currently has enough talent to field two to three competitive international-level T20 teams simultaneously.
This growth is attributed to:
Strong domestic cricket structure.
Talent development through the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Important Facts for Competitive Exams
Sports Minister of India: Mansukh Mandaviya
FMSCI President: Arindam Ghosh
ICAR Director General: Dr. M. L. Jat
Venue of GCWAS-2026: ICAR Convention Centre, New Delhi
Venue of TOISA 2025: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
World Boxing Futures Cup 2026 Venue: Bangkok, Thailand
74th All India Police Athletics Championship Venue: Jalandhar, Punjab
Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal Multi-Day Trophy Venue: Puducherry
