Daily Current Affairs – 19-03-2026

States’ News

Free Bus Travel Scheme for Persons with Disabilities in Andhra Pradesh

In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched a free bus travel scheme for persons with disabilities under the name ‘Power of Persons with Disabilities’ at Mangalagiri bus stand in Guntur district. This initiative follows the implementation of the free bus travel scheme for women and is part of the ‘Super Six’ schemes promised during the 2024 elections by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Under this set of welfare measures, the government provides monthly financial assistance of ₹4,000 to the elderly, ₹6,000 to persons with disabilities, and ₹10,000 to individuals affected by chronic diseases such as diabetes and AIDS. Additionally, families below the poverty line receive three free LPG cylinders per year, and Anna Canteens provide meals at ₹5. The ‘Thalli Bidda’ scheme provides ₹15,000 annually to mothers. The newly launched scheme is expected to benefit around 12.5 lakh persons with disabilities, allowing them to travel free of cost in five categories of government buses.

National News

Bharat Industrial Development Scheme

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the ₹33,660 crore Bharat Industrial Development Scheme on March 18 in New Delhi to develop 100 industrial parks across India. The scheme aims to enhance manufacturing capacity and develop world-class industrial infrastructure, with industrial parks ranging from 100 to 1,000 acres and financial assistance of ₹1 crore per acre, and is expected to generate 15 lakh direct jobs. The scheme will be implemented with the participation of state governments and the private sector, based on the success of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme. The Cabinet also approved a ₹2,585 crore small hydro power scheme to promote 1,500 MW renewable energy capacity, to be implemented till 2030-31, supporting projects of 1 MW to 25 MW capacity without dam construction. Additionally, ₹1,718.56 crore was allocated for procurement by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to support farmer welfare and the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, and a ₹6,969 crore project was approved to upgrade National Highway 927 from Barabanki to Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh into a four-lane road.

Credit Score Requirement for Public Sector Bank Jobs

The Central Government informed the Rajya Sabha on March 18 that candidates seeking employment in Public Sector Banks (PSBs) must maintain a good credit score. In a written reply, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary stated that applicants appearing for recruitment through the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) under the Common Recruitment Process (CRP) must have satisfactory credit scores, which reflect their loan eligibility and repayment capacity, with minimum requirements varying as per individual bank policies. In the past three years, the appointments of 20 candidates in public sector banks were cancelled or withdrawn due to unsatisfactory credit-related records. This condition is not applicable to candidates who do not have a bank account or have not availed any bank loan.

Sports News

Thomas and Uber Cup Badminton 2026 – India Ranked 8th

The Thomas and Uber Cup Badminton Tournament will be held from April 24 to May 3 in Horsens, Denmark, with India placed in Group A alongside defending champions China. Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams are ranked 8th in the world, and the men’s team, which won the Thomas Cup in 2022, is grouped with China, Canada, and Australia, while the women’s team group includes Denmark and Ukraine. The Indian women’s team had earlier secured bronze medals in 2014 and 2016.

International News

Republic of Congo Presidential Election 2026

In the Republic of Congo, a Central African country, incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso won the presidential election held recently with 94.82% of votes in Brazzaville. He first came to power in 1979 and has ruled the country for about 42 years, and is currently 82 years old. Other candidates received around 1% or less of the votes. According to the World Bank, despite being an oil-rich country, more than half of the population in the Republic of Congo lives below the poverty line without basic facilities.

SBI Mutual Fund Investment in Urban Company

The SBI Mutual Fund acquired about 4% stake in Urban Company for ₹632 crore through a Bulk and Block Deal in New Delhi on March 18. The fund purchased around 5.75 crore shares at an average price of ₹109.83 to ₹109.85 per share, increasing its stake from 1.89% to 5.87% in the company. Meanwhile, Wellington Management, TF International Partners, and ABG Capital together sold 4.62% stake worth ₹734 crore, with Wellington Management exiting fully and ABG Capital reducing its stake to 0.16%.

New Rules for PAN Card Application from April 1

The Central Government announced that from April 1, Aadhaar alone will not be sufficient to apply for a PAN Card, and additional proof of birth documents will be mandatory, as informed in New Delhi on March 18. The existing facility of obtaining instant PAN through Aadhaar will end on March 31, and new application forms will replace the old ones. Applicants must submit Aadhaar along with one document such as Birth Certificate, Voter ID, Class 10 Mark Sheet, Driving License, or Passport as proof of birth. It has also been made mandatory that name and details in PAN must exactly match Aadhaar, and document verification will be more stringent, leading to a possible increase in processing time.

BHAVYA Scheme for Industrial Parks Approved

The Union Cabinet approved the ₹33,660 crore Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA) to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across India by 2032 in New Delhi. The scheme aims to create future-ready industrial parks integrated with PM GatiShakti for multi-modal connectivity and last-mile access, and will be implemented for six years from 2026-27, with 50 parks in the first phase. The parks will require a minimum of 100 acres of land, reduced to 25 acres for hilly and North Eastern states, with a maximum size of 1,000 acres, and the Central Government will provide financial assistance of up to ₹1 crore per acre. The scheme will involve State Governments and the private sector, and is aligned with ease of doing business reforms through single-window systems and streamlined approvals.

Morocco Declared AFCON Champion After CAF Decision

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and declared Morocco as the champion following a review of the final held on January 18 in Rabat. The decision was taken by the CAF Appeals Committee under Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON Regulations, citing that the Senegal national team forfeited the match by leaving the field without authorization during the match. As per the rules, the result was officially recorded as a 3-0 victory in favour of Morocco. Senegal has decided to appeal the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Dress Code Rules in Himachal Pradesh Government Offices

The Himachal Pradesh Government imposed a dress code for its employees, banning jeans, T-shirts, and party wear in government offices and courts, allowing only formal attire. The guidelines were issued by Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, mandating employees to wear clean, modest clothing in sober colours. The order also restricts employees from expressing views on government policies on social media platforms, and violations of these rules will lead to disciplinary action.

Economy News

Atanu Chakraborty Resigns as HDFC Bank Chairman

HDFC Bank announced that its part-time Chairman and Independent Director Atanu Chakraborty resigned from his position with effect from March 18 in New Delhi. He had joined the bank’s board in May 2021 and oversaw key developments including the merger of HDFC Ltd with HDFC Bank, which created one of India’s largest financial institutions and made HDFC Bank the second-largest lender in India. Prior to joining the bank, Atanu Chakraborty served for 35 years in the Government of India, including as Secretary in the Ministry of Finance in the Department of Economic Affairs and Department of Disinvestment.

Reliance Jio IPO and Appointment of Merchant Bankers

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani is proceeding with the IPO listing of Reliance Jio Platforms, appointing more than 15 merchant bankers to manage the process in Mumbai, despite volatile market conditions due to the Iran war. The proposed IPO is expected to exceed $4 billion, making it one of the largest in India, and is likely to be completed by mid-2026, with the company valuation estimated at $170 billion and structured mainly as an Offer-for-Sale (OFS). The merchant banking consortium includes global institutions such as Citigroup, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America, along with domestic firms like Axis Capital, ICICI Securities, IIFL, and Kotak Mahindra Capital. Meanwhile, Arohan Financial Services, a Kolkata-based microfinance company, is planning a ₹1,500 crore IPO and will file documents with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Reports and Indices

Consumer Justice Report 2026 Highlights Weakness in Redressal System

The Consumer Justice Report 2026, released by the India Justice Report (IJR) in New Delhi on March 18, highlighted that vacancies, rising pendency of cases, and lack of transparency have weakened India’s consumer grievance redressal system. The report, based on data from 2020 to 2024, noted that case pendency increased by 21%, with cases rising from 88,000 to 5.15 lakh, exceeding the timeline prescribed under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. It also stated that nearly 40% of member posts are vacant, with many State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions (SCDRCs) and district commissions functioning without a president, and states such as Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh having no members in state commissions. Among states, Andhra Pradesh ranked highest in case disposal, Telangana ranked lowest, and Meghalaya topped among smaller states, while Tamil Nadu recorded the highest clearance rate of 114.6%. In February 20

Personalities, Awards and Events

Stockholm Water Prize 2026

Kaveh Madani was announced as the recipient of the Stockholm Water Prize 2026, which is regarded as the world’s most prestigious award for water-related work. The prize has been awarded annually since 1991 by the Stockholm Water Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It is given to individuals or organizations contributing to the conservation of water resources and the well-being of the planet and its people. The award is presented during World Water Week in August by H. M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

Postal Ballot Facility for Assembly Elections 2026

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for Legislative Assembly Elections 2026 in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal and bye-elections in six states on March 15, 2026, with notifications issued for Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry on March 16, 2026. Under Section 60(c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, voters aged 85 years and above and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) can vote through postal ballots using Form 12 D within five days of notification, with polling teams collecting votes at their homes. The facility is also extended to essential service voters, including Fire Services, Health, Electricity, Transport, Ambulance, Aviation, and Government Bus Services, and ECI-authorised media personnel. Voters on election duty can cast votes at facilitation centres, while service voters will receive ballots through the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS). All postal ballots must reach the Returning Officer by 8:00 AM on May 4, 2026, the date of counting.

NITI Aayog Report on Sports Equipment Export Potential

The NITI Aayog released a report titled “Realising the Export Potential of India’s Sports Equipment Manufacturing Sector” in New Delhi on March 19, in the presence of Vice Chairman Suman Bery, Member Arvind Virmani, and CEO Niti Sippu. The report highlights that the global sports goods market was valued at $700 billion in 2024 and is expected to cross $1 trillion by 2036, while India currently exports about $275 million worth of sports equipment, accounting for only 0.5% of the global market, with production concentrated in Jalandhar (Punjab) and Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) and dominated by MSMEs (90%). It identifies challenges such as 15–20% higher production costs, high import duties on raw materials like carbon fibre and EVA foam, and high certification costs. The report recommends measures such as reducing import duties, establishing four new greenfield manufacturing clusters, modernising existing clusters, and setting up testing and certification facilities. If implemented, exports are projected to increase to $8.1 billion by 2036, with India’s global share rising to 11% and generating about 54 lakh additional jobs.

India–Malawi Energy Cooperation at Bharat Electricity Summit 2026

A bilateral meeting between India and Malawi was held during the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 in New Delhi on March 19, involving Union Minister Manohar Lal (Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, India) and Dr. Jean Mathanga (Minister of Energy and Mining, Malawi). The discussions focused on cooperation in the energy sector, including renewable energy development, electricity access, power sector planning, and capacity building. Both sides noted that Malawi is a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which was launched in 2015 by India and France, and agreed to enhance collaboration through institutional and technical exchanges.