Current Affairs (EXAMIVERSE) — March 15, 2026 (Sunday)
Verified sources used: PIB India, The Hindu, News on AIR, and International Awards Committees.
For exams: SSC CGL, Banking, UPSC, KPSC + State PSCs
🏛️ National & Governance
ECI announces Election Schedule for 5 States/UTs
- What: The Election Commission of India announced dates for Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry. West Bengal will see a multi-phase poll, while others will have single-phase voting.
- Exam angle: Powers of ECI (Article 324); Model Code of Conduct (MCC); state legislative structure.
Mayank Chakraborty: First Chess Grandmaster from Northeast India
- What: 16-year-old International Master Mayank Chakraborty from Assam made history by becoming the first-ever Grandmaster (GM) from the scenic Northeast region and Assam.
- Exam angle: Contributions of NE India to sports; FIDE titles and India's growing dominance in Chess.
Discovery of New Moth Species in NE India
- What: Scientists identified two new species - Eudemopsis hunliensis and Eudemopsis gobuka - in the biodiversity hotspots of Northeast India.
- Exam angle: Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayas; role of the Zoological Survey of India.
🌍 International Relations
- S. Jaishankar begins 2-day Visit to Brussels
- What: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in Belgium to hold high-level talks with EU counterparts focusing on the implementation of the newly signed Free Trade Agreement.
- Exam angle: India-EU Strategic Partnership; Trade and Technology Council (TTC) outcomes.
💰 Economy
- Global Central Banks monitor Mideast conflict impact
- What: The Bank of Japan (BoJ) and the US Federal Reserve signaled a cautious approach to interest rates as rising energy prices (Brent crude >$106) threaten global inflation stability.
- Exam angle: Role of Monetary Policy in inflation control; impact of geopolitical shocks on commodity markets.
🏆 Awards & Honors
98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026): Key Winners
- Best Picture: One Battle After Another
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
- Exam angle: Global soft power through cinema; major categories and historical significance of the Academy Awards.
BCCI Naman Awards 2026 Ceremony
- Best International Cricketer (Men): Shubman Gill
- Best International Cricketer (Women): Smriti Mandhana
- Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger Binny, Rahul Dravid, and Mithali Raj.
- Exam angle: Recognition of excellence in Indian sports; history of BCCI's annual awards.
🏆 Sports
- Closing Ceremony of 2026 Winter Paralympics
- What: The Games concluded in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Theme: "Italian Souvenir". USA dominated Para Ice Hockey with a "three-peat".
- Exam angle: Venue for 2030 Winter Paralympics (French Alps); record-breaking performance of Italy in 2026.
📅 Important Days
- World Consumer Rights Day (March 15, 2026)
- Theme: "Safe Products, Confident Consumers".
- Purpose: To raise global awareness about consumer rights and protection.
- Exam angle: Consumer Protection Act 2019 (India); rights such as Right to Safety, Right to be Informed.
⚡ Quick Revision Points (no Q&A)
- Elections: Schedule for 5 states/UTs announced by ECI.
- Chess GM: Mayank Chakraborty becomes the first GM from Assam & NE.
- Oscars: One Battle After Another wins Best Picture.
- Cricketers of the Year: Shubman Gill & Smriti Mandhana win top BCCI honors.
- Consumer Day: March 15 theme is "Safe Products, Confident Consumers".
- Paralympics: Winter Paralympics end in Italy; handover to French Alps.
- Species: Two new moth species discovered in Northeast India.