Current Affairs (EXAMIVERSE) — March 19, 2026 (Thursday)

Verified sources used: PIB India, The Hindu, Akashvani (AIR), and World News Portals.
For exams: SSC CGL, Banking, UPSC, KPSC + State PSCs

Parliament of India

🏛️ National & Governance

Cabinet approves ₹2,584 Crore Small Hydro Power Scheme
- What: The Union Cabinet gave the green light for a major Small Hydro Power (SHP) scheme with an outlay of ₹2584 crore to enhance renewable energy capacity in hilly and remote areas.
- Exam angle: Target of the National Solar Mission vs Hydro energy; MNRE's role in SHP development.
India celebrates Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, and Navratri
- What: The nation celebrates various festivals marking the Hindu New Year, including Ugadi (Andhra, Telangana, Karnataka), Gudi Padwa (Maharashtra), and the start of Chaitra Navratri.
- Exam angle: Art & Culture: Regional names of New Year festivals in India (e.g., Vishu, Puthandu, Bihu).
23 Institutions to set up Quantum Teaching Labs
- What: Under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), the government approved 23 labs to foster research in quantum computing, communication, and sensing.
- Exam angle: Pillars of the National Quantum Mission; applications of quantum technology in secure communications.
Unemployment Rate dips to 4.9%
- What: Data for February 2026 indicates a decline in India’s overall unemployment rate, reflecting growth in manufacturing and service sectors.
- Exam angle: Role of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS); primary vs secondary sector employment trends.

West Asia Crisis: Qatar expels Iranian Diplomats
- What: After Iranian missile strikes on Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City (retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iranian gas fields), Qatar declared Iranian military attaches persona non grata.
- Exam angle: Strategic importance of Ras Laffan (world's largest LNG export port); Impact on India's energy security (LNG imports from Qatar).
Finland remains World's Happiest Country
- What: For the 9th consecutive year, Finland topped the World Happiness Report 2026.
- Exam angle: Parameters of the World Happiness Report (GDP, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, perceptions of corruption).
US warns Iran over attacks on Qatari Energy sites
- What: US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Tehran, stating the US would destroy Iranian energy infrastructure if attacks on Gulf oil facilities continued.
- Exam angle: US-Iran relations; impact on global Brent crude prices.

Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 begins in New Delhi
- What: A global summit on the power sector started under the theme "Electrifying Growth. Empowering Sustainability."
- Exam angle: India's goal of reaching 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
MNRE introduces ALMM List-III for Solar wafers
- What: To boost domestic manufacturing, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy introduced the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-III for solar ingots and wafers.
- Exam angle: "Make in India" in the solar sector; reducing dependency on imports (especially from China).

Ocean Tech: Floating LiDAR Buoy System successfully tested
- What: Tested off the Tamil Nadu coast, this system measures offshore wind profiles, a critical step for India's upcoming offshore wind projects.
- Exam angle: Deep Ocean Mission; India's offshore wind energy potential in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

Export Potential of India's Sports sector report
- What: PIB released a comprehensive report on the export potential of Indian sports goods and services, aiming to integrate Indian SMEs into the global sports supply chain.
- Exam angle: Role of MSMEs in sports exports; major sports clusters in India (Jalandhar, Meerut).