Daily Current Affairs – 17-03-2026

Personalities, Awards and Events

Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 – S. Tamilselvan

The Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 has been awarded to Tamil writer S. Tamilselvan for his book ‘Thamizh Chirukathaiyin Thadangals’, as announced on March 16, 2026, in New Delhi. The Sahitya Akademi Award, recognized as the highest literary honour in India, is presented annually by the Central Government to writers in 24 languages including Tamil, covering categories such as short stories, novels, literary criticism, and essays, and carries a cash prize of ₹1 lakh and a citation. The awarded book ‘Thamizh Chirukathaiyin Thadangals’, published by Bharathi Puthakalayam, is a 900+ page scholarly work that analyses the evolution and development of Tamil short stories from 1913 to 1970, focusing on their origins, trends, and major contributors in Tamil literary history.

National News

24-Hour Express Post Service Launched

The Central Government launched the ‘24 Express Post’ service on March 17, 2026, by Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia along with Minister of State Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, ensuring delivery of mail within 24 hours. In the first phase, the service has been introduced in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Along with this, the ‘48 Express Post’ service, ensuring delivery within 2 days, has also been introduced in the same cities. The service includes features such as One-Time Password (OTP), SMS alerts, end-to-end encryption, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) facility, API integration, bulk booking incentives, and money-back guarantee for delivery delays.

States’ News

Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 – Maharashtra

The Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026 was passed in the Maharashtra Assembly on March 16, 2026, through a voice vote. The bill provides punishment for illegal religious conversions carried out through force, fraud, inducement, or marriage. As per the provisions, conversion through marriage attracts 7 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh. Illegal conversion of children, mentally ill persons, women, Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) is punishable with 7 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹5 lakh. Mass conversions also attract 7 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹5 lakh, while repeat offenders face 10 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹5 lakh.

Sports News

Indian Wells Open 2026 Champions

In the Indian Wells Open Tennis Tournament 2026 held in the United States, Italy’s Jannik Sinner won the men’s singles title, while Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka won the women’s singles title on March 16, 2026, and both players secured the Indian Wells title for the first time.

Environment News

Rare Gynandromorphic Crab Discovery in Kerala

A rare case of gynandromorphy was discovered in a freshwater crab species Vela carli in the Silent Valley National Park, Western Ghats, Kerala, where a single crab exhibited both male and female biological characteristics. The condition was identified in three crabs found in tree holes, and Vela carli is an endemic species of the Central Western Ghats. This study marks the first recorded instance of gynandromorphy in the species Vela carli and also the first such report in the freshwater crab family Gecarcinucidae. The research was conducted by K.S. Anoop Das and K.T. Fahis from the Centre for Conservation Ecology, MES Mampad College, along with Sameer K. Pati and Purnima Kumari from the Zoological Survey of India, and the findings were published in the international journal Crustaceana.

James Foster Appointed CSK Fielding Coach for IPL 2026

For the IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has appointed former England wicketkeeper James Foster as its fielding coach. James Foster, who represented England in 7 Test matches, 11 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 5 T20 Internationals, has prior coaching experience in both franchise and international cricket, and this appointment marks his second stint in the IPL after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Mayank Chakraborty – India’s 94th Grandmaster

16-year-old Mayank Chakraborty became India’s 94th Grandmaster (GM) after winning a tournament in Stockholm, becoming the first Grandmaster from Assam and the North-East region of India. He began playing chess at the age of 6 and later trained under GM Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury and GM Swayams Mishra. He had earlier won a silver medal in the Under-9 National Open, became Under-11 National Champion, secured a silver medal in the Under-10 Asian Youth Tournament held in Sri Lanka in 2019, and won the Under-17 National Championship twice. India’s first Grandmaster was Viswanathan Anand in 1988, and this achievement marks the first GM title from Assam and North-East after nearly three decades.

India in Sea Dragon Anti-Submarine Exercise

The Indian Navy participated in the US-led multinational anti-submarine warfare exercise ‘Sea Dragon’ by deploying a P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft to Guam in the Western Pacific. The exercise is a two-week drill involving maritime patrol aircraft from Indo-Pacific partners including QUAD countries, with participation from the United States Navy (P-8A Poseidon), Indian Navy (P-8I), Royal Australian Air Force (P-8A), Royal New Zealand Air Force (P-8A) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (P-1 aircraft). The exercise focuses on anti-submarine warfare operations, long-range maritime surveillance, and joint coordination, with participating crews undertaking over 200 hours of flight training.

98th Academy Awards 2026 – Winners

Best Picture – One Battle After Another

Best Director – Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

Best Actor – Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)

Best Actress – Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)

Best Supporting Actor – Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)

Best Supporting Actress – Amy Madigan (Weapons)

Best Adapted Screenplay – Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

Best Original Screenplay – Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

Best Cinematography – Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners)

Best Film Editing – One Battle After Another

Best Production Design – Frankenstein

Best Costume Design – Kate Hawley (Frankenstein)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling – Frankenstein

Best Visual Effects – Avatar: Fire and Ash

Best Sound – F1

Best Original Score – Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)

Best Original Song – “Golden” (KPop Demon Hunters)

Best Animated Feature Film – KPop Demon Hunters

Best Animated Short Film – The Girl Who Cried Pearls

Best Live Action Short Film – The Singers & Two People Exchanging Saliva

Best Documentary Feature Film – Mr Nobody Against Putin

Best Documentary Short Film – All the Empty Rooms

Best International Feature Film – Sentimental Value

International News

Operation Sankalp – Indian Navy Escorts Ships

The Indian Navy deployed warships under Operation Sankalp to ensure safe passage of Indian-flagged merchant vessels through the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, and escorted the vessels Shivalik, Nanda Devi, and Jag Laadki after crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel Jag Laadki, carrying over 80,000 metric tonnes of crude oil, departed from Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates on March 15, 2026, and had a narrow escape from an attack. The LPG carrier Shivalik reached Mundra Port on March 16, 2026, while Nanda Devi is expected to reach Kandla Port on March 17, 2026, with all crew members reported safe. Around 22 Indian-flagged vessels remain stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, and the operation aims to protect maritime trade and India’s interests in the Gulf region, while domestic LPG supply continues without disruption.

FIDF Scheme

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) is being implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying since the financial year 2018–19 with a total fund size of ₹7522.48 crore to develop and strengthen fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure in India. The scheme provides concessional finance to State Governments, Union Territories and other stakeholders, with an interest subvention up to 3% per annum, and loans provided at an interest rate not below 5% per annum through Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs). Under FIDF, 228 projects have been approved with a total cost of ₹5559.54 crore, including an interest subvention component of ₹4351.86 crore. The scheme supports infrastructure development to reduce post-harvest losses, increase fish production and productivity, improve value addition, marketing efficiency and strengthen the fisheries value chain, and includes projects such as a Technology Diffusion Centre at Bhopal (₹5 crore) and private sector projects in Madhya Pradesh, along with related initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

PMMSY

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a flagship scheme implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying from the financial year 2020–21 with an outlay of ₹20,750 crore for the holistic development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in India. India’s fish production reached 183.93 lakh tonnes in FY 2023–24, with inland fisheries contributing 75.57%, supporting the livelihoods of over 2.8 crore fishers and fish farmers. Under PMMSY, projects worth ₹21,274.16 crore have been approved with a central share of ₹9,189.79 crore during the period 2020–21 to 2024–25, including post-harvest infrastructure, fishing harbours, fish landing centres, cold chain, ice plants and cold storages, with ₹5,740.89 crore allocated for post-harvest infrastructure. The scheme provides insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh for accidental death or permanent disability, ₹2.5 lakh for partial disability, and ₹25,000 for hospitalization, covering an average of 33.14 lakh fishers annually, and also includes Kisan Credit Card (KCC) support, with 5,01,900 cards sanctioned and ₹3,692.73 crore disbursed. The scheme supports initiatives like Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV) and promotes infrastructure such as fish markets, processing centres, cold storage, fishing jetties, along with sustainable practices like seaweed cultivation and artificial reefs, and includes the use of Turtle Excluder Devices. As a result, India’s seafood exports increased from ₹30,213 crore (2013–14) to ₹62,408 crore (2024–25), and fish production in Amreli district of Gujarat increased from 35,906 metric tonnes (2020–21) to 45,353 metric tonnes (2023–24).

Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS)

The Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS) is implemented by the Ministry of Textiles since the 12th Five Year Plan (12th FYP) to make the Indian Textile Industry globally competitive by promoting environment-friendly processing standards and technologies and addressing pollution issues in the textile processing sector. The scheme supports the establishment of new Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), upgradation of existing CETPs, and development of new textile processing parks in processing clusters. The scheme was implemented up to 2021, after which it continues only for meeting committed liabilities.

Biopharma SHAKTI Scheme

The Biopharma SHAKTI Scheme has been announced by the Government of India with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over five years to strengthen the domestic biopharmaceutical sector and enhance global competitiveness in biologics and biosimilars, with the objective of building a globally competitive ecosystem and supporting affordable healthcare in India. The scheme includes components such as Biopharma Discovery Grant Fund, Discovery & Development Equity Fund, NIPER Network and National Biopharma R&D Network, and the creation of an India Clinical Trial Sites Network with 1,000 accredited sites under ICMR. It also focuses on fermentation-based bulk drugs manufacturing, biopharma delivery devices and packaging ecosystem, and biosimilars and emerging biologics manufacturing initiatives, along with regulatory strengthening through CDSCO for improved drug review standards and faster approvals. The scheme aims to promote research and development, clinical trial infrastructure, and collaboration between academia, research institutions, and industry, thereby enhancing domestic innovation, reducing import dependence, and strengthening India’s role as a global biopharma manufacturing and innovation hub.

AI-Based Monsoon Forecast Pilot for Kharif

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare conducted an AI-based pilot project in collaboration with the Development Innovation Lab-India for local monsoon onset forecasting across parts of 13 states for Kharif 2025, using an open-source blended model including NeuralGCM, ECMWF’s Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS) and 125 years of rainfall data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The forecasts were disseminated via M-Kisan portal through SMS to 3,88,45,214 farmers in Hindi, Odia, Marathi, Bangla and Punjabi, focusing on helping farmers decide sowing dates. Feedback surveys conducted through Kisan Call Centers in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar showed that 31% to 52% farmers adjusted planting decisions based on the forecasts. The Government has decided to integrate this system into the national framework through collaboration among the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for implementation in 2026.