Daily Current Affairs – 11-03-2026

Sports News

Smriti Mandhana Tops ICC Women’s ODI Batter Rankings

The International Cricket Council (ICC) released the Women’s ODI batter rankings in Dubai, in which India’s opening batter Smriti Mandhana secured the first position with 790 points. In the recently concluded series against Australia, Mandhana scored 58 and 31 runs. South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt moved to the second position with 782 points. Australia’s Beth Mooney advanced two places to reach the third position with 749 points, while Australia’s Alyssa Healy, who retired from international cricket after the series against India, moved up two places to the fourth position with 744 points. Ashleigh Gardner of Australia dropped two places to the fifth position with 724 points. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur moved up four places to the ninth position with 652 points after scoring two half-centuries in the series against Australia, while Jemimah Rodrigues dropped four places to the eleventh position.

National News

Removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker - Article 94

The Constitution of India provides the procedure for the removal of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha under Article 94.

According to Article 94(c), the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) may be removed from office by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Lok Sabha.

A member who intends to move such a resolution must submit a written notice to the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha, and the notice must be supported by at least 50 members of the House for admission.

The Constitution also requires that a minimum of fourteen days’ notice be given before moving the resolution for removal. After receiving the notice, a motion seeking leave to move the resolution is included in the List of Business on a day fixed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

During the discussion on the resolution for removal, the Speaker cannot preside over the House, but they are permitted to speak, participate in the proceedings, and vote in the first instance, though they cannot exercise a casting vote in case of a tie.

In parliamentary history, notices for removal have been moved against G.V. Mavalankar (1954), Sardar Hukam Singh (1966), and Balram Jakhar (1987), but none of these motions resulted in the removal of the Speaker from office.

Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026

The BJP government of Chhattisgarh approved the draft of a new anti-conversion law titled the “Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026” in a Cabinet meeting. The proposed legislation seeks to curb religious conversions carried out through force, inducement, fraudulent means, undue influence, or misrepresentation. Following the approval of the draft, the Bill can be introduced in the Chhattisgarh State Legislative Assembly, which is currently in session. The issue of forced religious conversions has been repeatedly reported in Chhattisgarh, and an incident in which two Keralite nuns were arrested on charges of human trafficking and kidnapping of three tribal women for forced religious conversion attracted national attention and led to protests in Kerala and Delhi.

Resolution for Removal of Lok Sabha Speaker

The Lok Sabha took up a resolution for the removal of Speaker Om Birla, with the proceedings beginning when Congress MP Mohammad Jawed read the notice seeking to move the motion. The motion was supported and moved by Congress MPs K. Suresh and Mallu Ravi. The resolution was admitted for discussion after more than the required 50 Members of Parliament stood in support of the notice. During the debate, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal presided over the proceedings as a member of the Panel of Chairpersons appointed by the Speaker, which was questioned by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi. The objection was opposed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who supported Mr. Pal’s role in presiding over the session. Congress MP K. C. Venugopal raised the issue that the post of Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha has remained vacant for several years. The debate on the motion is expected to include the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah before the Lok Sabha proceeds with further discussion on the resolution.

Defence Forces Vision 2047 Document

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released a vision document titled “Defence Forces Vision 2047: A Roadmap for a Future-Ready Indian Military” at South Block, New Delhi. The document outlines a long-term strategy to transform India’s Armed Forces into a modern, integrated and technologically advanced military by 2047, the centenary year of India’s Independence. A key feature of the vision document is strengthening jointness among the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force to improve coordination and integration among the three defence services.

Extension of Jal Jeevan Mission till 2028

The Union Cabinet approved the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti until 2028. The programme aims to provide a minimum amount of daily potable drinking water to every rural household in India, and the Cabinet has also approved additional funding to achieve this objective. According to a press note issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the focus of the Jal Jeevan Mission will shift from infrastructure creation to service delivery in order to improve the supply of drinking water in rural areas across the country.

The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched on 15 August 2019 by Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort.

Key facts:

• Launch Date: 15 August 2019

• Launched By: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

• Launch Location: Red Fort, New Delhi

• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti

• Objective: To provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) ensuring safe drinking water to every rural household.

Supreme Court Directs No-Fault Compensation Policy for COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Events

The Supreme Court of India directed the Union Government, acting through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to frame a “no-fault compensation policy” for serious adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination. The order was delivered by a Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta while hearing petitions seeking compensation for deaths linked to Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) after COVID-19 vaccination. According to a government affidavit, a total of 219.86 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in India until 19 November 2022. The affidavit also stated that 92,114 AEFI cases (0.0042%) were reported and 1,171 deaths were recorded in connection with AEFI cases.

International News

India Supplies Diesel to Bangladesh through Friendship Pipeline

India supplied 5,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh through the ‘Friendship Pipeline’, which became operational in 2023. The diesel was supplied from the Numaligarh Refinery in India to Dhaka, Bangladesh, as Bangladesh faced a shortage of petroleum products in the context of the West Asia conflict. The supply was described as part of the ongoing energy trade between India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh has also requested additional petroleum supplies, which will be considered after prioritising India’s domestic fuel requirements.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Autobiography of K.K. Venugopal

Former Attorney-General of India K.K. Venugopal authored an autobiography titled “An Accidental Lawyer – My Adventures in Law and Life”. The book was discussed at an event in New Delhi, where N. Ram, Director of The Hindu Group, spoke about the work. The autobiography covers events and experiences from the life and legal career of K.K. Venugopal, including references to major historical incidents such as the 1984 anti-Sikh violence in Delhi and the Babri Masjid demolition. K.K. Venugopal served as the Attorney-General of India from July 2017 to September 2022. The discussion also included remarks by former MP Subhashini Ali.

Amendment to Press Note 3 on Land Border Investments

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved amendments to the 2020 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rules related to investments from countries sharing a land border with India (LBCs). The earlier rule issued through Press Note 3 (2020) required that all investments from such countries must receive prior approval from the Central Government of India. The amended guidelines introduce the concept of “beneficial ownership” and allow investors with non-controlling beneficial ownership up to 10% from LBC countries to invest in India through the automatic route, subject to applicable sectoral conditions. The rule applies to countries sharing a land border with India, including China, which is one of the major investors. The investee company must report investment details to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The government also stated that proposals for LBC investments in sectors such as electronic capital goods, electronic components, polysilicon, and ingot-wafer manufacturing will be processed within 60 days, and the list of specified sectors may be revised by the Committee of Secretaries under the Cabinet Secretary.

Essential Commodities Act Invoked for Natural Gas Allocation

The Government of India invoked the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to regulate the allocation of natural gas to priority sectors. The decision was implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) through a gazette notification dated March 9. Under the new tiered allocation structure, priority sectors include domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicular fuel, and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) production, along with fertilizer manufacturing, tea industries, manufacturing units and other industrial consumers. The government had earlier invoked the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to prioritise LPG supply for domestic consumers. According to the notification, sectors such as PNG supply for households, CNG for transport and LPG production will receive 100% uninterrupted supply, based on their average consumption during the previous six months, while fertilizer plants will receive 70% of their consumption requirements, calculated on the basis of their average consumption over the previous six months.

Record Foodgrain Production Expected in 2025–26

According to the Second Advance Estimates of production of major crops for 2025–26 released by the Union Ministry of Agriculture, India’s foodgrain production is expected to reach a record level. Government data estimates kharif season foodgrain production at 1741.44 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) and rabi season foodgrain production at 1745.13 LMT. These estimates show an increase of about 46 LMT (2.8%) in kharif production and 53 LMT (3.2%) in rabi production compared with the previous year. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is associated with the announcement of the production estimates released by the Union Agriculture Ministry.

Resignation of IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers

Pieter Elbers, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IndiGo, resigned from his position and will be relieved from March 10. Following his resignation, Rahul Bhatia, the promoter and Managing Director (MD) of IndiGo, will assume the management responsibilities on an interim basis. Pieter Elbers, a Dutch aviation executive who previously worked with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, joined IndiGo in August 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic and led the airline during a challenging period for the global aviation sector.

Batting Coach of Gujarat Titans for IPL 2026

Matthew Hayden, former Australia opening batsman, has been appointed as the batting coach of Gujarat Titans for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Matthew Hayden is a two-time ODI World Cup winner with Australia and a former international cricketer known for his international career. With experience in T20 batting, he joins the Gujarat Titans coaching set-up for the upcoming IPL 2026 season.

Alyssa Healy Retires from International Cricket

Alyssa Healy, wicketkeeper-batter of the Australia Women’s Cricket Team, retired from international cricket after a 16-year international career. Her farewell match took place at the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) Ground, Perth, during a one-off Women’s Test match between Australia and India, where Australia, chasing a target of 25 runs, defeated India, which was led by Harmanpreet Kaur and was bowled out for 149 runs in the second innings. Alyssa Healy, aged 35, had earlier announced in January that the home series against India would be her final series. During her career, she was part of 109 wins in 126 One Day Internationals (ODIs), 111 wins in 162 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and 6 wins in 11 Test matches, and she won eight ICC Women’s World Cups. She scored 3,777 runs in ODIs with a strike rate of 100.69, 3,054 runs in T20Is with a strike rate of 129.79, and 502 runs in 11 Test matches. As a wicketkeeper, she recorded 173 catches and 103 stumpings in international cricket. She is the niece of former Australian cricketer Ian Healy and the wife of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc. Notable performances include 75 runs off 39 balls against India in the Women’s T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and 170 runs off 138 balls in the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup final against England.

Tamil Nadu News

Madurai Airport Granted International Status

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal to declare Madurai Airport in Tamil Nadu as an International Airport on March 10. The announcement was made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after the Union Cabinet meeting held in New Delhi. The decision enables international flight operations from Madurai Airport, improving connectivity from Madurai to different parts of the world. Madurai, one of the important cities in Tamil Nadu, is known for major religious and cultural sites such as the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, Koodal Azhagar Temple, Thirupparankundram Murugan Temple, Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple, and Rameswaram. Madurai Airport is also one of the oldest airports in Tamil Nadu, and granting it international status is expected to improve regional air connectivity, trade activities, and economic development.

Other International Airports in Tamil Nadu

• Chennai International Airport – Became an international airport in 1954.

• Coimbatore International Airport – Declared an international airport in 2012.

• Tiruchirappalli International Airport – Became an international airport in 2012.

• Madurai International Airport – Approved for international status in 2026.

Katranai Thoorum Arivu Silai” (Knowledge Statue)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the “Katranai Thoorum Arivu Silai” (Knowledge Statue) built at a cost of ₹1.43 crore near Vivekananda House at Marina Beach, Chennai, to highlight the achievements of the Tamil Nadu School Education Department.

On the same occasion, M.K. Stalin released a book titled “Katranai Thoorum Arivu – Sadhanai Sarithiram”, which documents the schemes implemented by the Tamil Nadu School Education Department over the last five years.

PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Projects Worth ₹5,650 Crore in Trichy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), Tamil Nadu, on March 11 to participate in a government function and an NDA (National Democratic Alliance) public meeting. During the government event organised by Indian Oil Corporation, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the Indian Railways, the Prime Minister inaugurated, laid the foundation stone for, and flagged off development projects worth approximately ₹5,650 crore. These include laying the foundation stone for the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) City Gas Distribution network in Nilgiris and Erode districts with an investment of ₹3,680 crore, dedicating the Indian Oil Corporation lube oil blending plant at Manali, Chennai with an investment of ₹1,490 crore, inaugurating 89 rural roads covering 370 km in Tamil Nadu under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), and laying the foundation stone for a green bypass road near Gangaikonda Cholapuram on National Highway-81 (NH-81). The Prime Minister also flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express trains, two Express trains, and one passenger train service.

Book on Chennai’s 100-Year-Old Trees Released

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin released a book titled “Chennai’s 100-Year-Old Trees – A Living Heritage” at an event held at the Chennai Secretariat organised by the Tamil Nadu Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department. The book documents 57 trees belonging to 27 ancient species in Chennai, located in government and private premises, of which 24 trees are more than 200 years old and 33 trees are between 100 and 200 years old. On the occasion, M.K. Stalin presented the Best District Forest Officer awards to S. Gowtham (Nilgiris), N. Venkatesh Prabhu (Gudalur), S. Ganesalingam (Pudukkottai), and Vishmija Vishwanathan, who serves as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force). He also presented the Best Forest Range Officer awards to M. Saran Vivek (Hosur), T. Pandurangan (Tamil Nadu Forest and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau), M. Sadasivam (Pudukkottai), and Satish Kumar (Kallakurichi).

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Sets Record in Handling Wind Turbine Blades

The V.O. Chidambaranar Port at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, set a record in India by handling 147 wind turbine blades and their spare parts from a single ship. The blades, each measuring 76 metres in length, were imported from China and were fully unloaded on Sunday. Earlier, the previous record at the port was handling 103 wind turbine blades from a single ship in November. During the current financial year up to February, the V.O. Chidambaranar Port handled 4,211 wind turbine blades, compared to 2,395 blades during the same period last year, showing a growth of 75.82%. The port has also developed 2.4 lakh square metres of additional storage facility for handling such cargo. The development was associated with Sushanta Kumar Purohit, Chairman of the Port Authority.

BCCI Announces ₹131 Crore Prize for ICC T20 World Cup Winning Indian Team

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a ₹131 crore prize for the Indian cricket team led by Suryakumar Yadav after winning the ICC T20 World Cup. The Indian team defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final held in Ahmedabad on the 8th, securing the championship title. The prize amount will be distributed among the 15 players of the Indian team, the coach, and the assistant coaches. Earlier, the Indian team led by Rohit Sharma had won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024, for which the BCCI had awarded ₹125 crore, and the new prize amount of ₹131 crore is ₹6 crore higher than the previous reward. The announcement was issued by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia.

Smriti Mandhana Retains Top Spot in ICC Women’s ODI Rankings

The International Cricket Council (ICC) released the Women’s ODI batter rankings in Dubai, in which Smriti Mandhana, the opening batter of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team, retained the No.1 position with 790 rating points. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur continued in the 8th position with 652 points. Jemimah Rodrigues dropped one place to the 12th position in the rankings. New Zealand batter Brooke Halliday, who scored 157 runs against Zimbabwe, moved up eight places to 11th position with 644 points, while another New Zealand player Maddy Green advanced four places to 23rd position with 584 points.