Current Affairs

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu to lay the foundation of large integrated steel plant

Andhra Pradesh will mark a major step in its industrial development with the foundation laying of a large integrated steel plant in the Anakapalli district today.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will lay the foundation stone along with Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy and other Union Ministers from the state.

They are scheduled to visit the project site in the afternoon, review the plant model, and later address a public gathering.

The project is being set up by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India with an investment of 1.36 lakh crore rupees, the largest in the state’s steel sector to date.



Secretary (West) George calls on Iceland FM to discuss bilateral ties, implementation of India-EFTA TEPA

Secretary (West), Ambassador Sibi George, on Sunday called on Iceland Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir to discuss issues of bilateral, regional and multilateral interest and the implementation of India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Secretary (West) @AmbSibiGeorge called on Foreign Minister of Iceland, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir. They discussed issues of bilateral, regional and multilateral interest, also the positive progress made in bilateral engagement in recent years, especially in sectors such as geothermal, fisheries and clean energy. The implementation of India-EFTA TEPA was also discussed."



Sahibzada Farhan, Arundhati Reddy win ICC Player of the Month award for February

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has been named the ICC Player of the Month for his record-breaking performances in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 during February, while India seam bowler Arundhati Reddy secured the women's award after her fine performances in a T20I series in Australia.

Sahibzada won the award ahead of many stalwarts as he broke Virat Kohli's record for runs in one edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and became the first to register two centuries in a single edition of the tournament - against Namibia and Sri Lanka.

The dynamic opener topped the charts, amassing 383 runs in seven T20Is at an impressive average of 76.60, while maintaining a strike rate of 160.25, including two centuries and two fifties. His performances stood out from the tournament for the monthly award as the final two Super Eight fixtures and the knockout stages took place in March and will be evaluated in the next cycle.



Amit Shah To Introduce Central Armed Police Forces Bill In Rajya Sabha

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will introduce in the Rajya Sabha on Monday an "umbrella law" for central armed police forces (CAPFs) to regulate recruitment, deputation, promotion and other conditions of services of their officers, according to the List of Business issued by the House.

All the CAPFs -- CRPF, BSF, ITBP and SSB -- are governed by their respective Acts. The rules under these Acts govern the recruitment and conditions of service of Group A General Duty Officers and other officers and members in the CAPFs.

The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, provides that for the purposes of appointment of officers from the Indian Police Service in CAPFs, 50 per cent of the posts will be filled by deputation in the rank of Inspector General and a minimum of 67 per cent of the posts will be filled by deputation in the rank of Additional Director General.



Ria Solanki Wins Shot Put Gold at Para Athletics

The story of Meerut's para-athlete Riya Solanki is an example of triumph over poverty and physical disability. Despite missing one arm, Riya won a gold medal at the National Para Games 2026, completing a hat-trick of gold medals. Her father, a driver, and her mother, a cook, sacrificed their own lives to give wings to Riya's dreams. This journey from a rented room to becoming a national champion is an inspiration for millions of daughters across the country.

It is said that 'only those who have life in their dreams can reach their destination. Wings are of no use, it is courage that makes one fly.' A disabled girl from Meerut has proved this saying true. Even the physical challenge of not having one arm and the financial hardship at home could not stop Riya Solanki. By winning the gold medal in the shot put event at the 24th National Para Athletics Championship 2026 held in Bhubaneswar, Riya has brought glory not only to her family but to the entire state of Uttar Pradesh. This is Riya's third consecutive national gold medal win, which bears testimony to her hard work and never-say-die spirit.



Anahat Singh wins India Open; shows ability to break into Squash’s Top 10

An Anahat Singh boast – a shot of exquisite skill, that hits the sidewall of a squash court, then ricochets to the front wall, before trickling down like a hearty chortle, is something India needs to get accustomed to.

It was the 18-year-old’s second straight JSW Indian Open title, as she defeated Egyptian World No 29 Hana Moataz 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6 at the court that got conjured at CCI. Playing against a taller, stomping opponent, Anahat conjured angles on squash’s cheekiest shot that put Moataz in all sorts of trouble. The first two games were wrapped up by the Indian in 6 minutes apiece, as Anahat quickly moved to the front court and casually scythed the racquet to unleash far too many variations for the Egyptian’s comfort.



Elon Musk launches 'Terafab' project to make own AI chips

Elon Musk announced on Saturday (March 22, 2026) a plan to make chips for artificial intelligence, robotics and data centres in space, in the latest bold project by the world's richest person.

The "Terafab", a manufacturing facility based near Austin, Texas, will aim to produce one terawatt of computing power per year, Mr. Musk said.

A terawatt is equivalent to one trillion watts. That is slightly less than the total power generation capacity of the United States, according to an industry group.



Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi rolls out Rs 2,612 crore projects on World Water Day

Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday launched projects worth ₹2,612 crore on World Water Day, inaugurating 124 projects valued at around ₹320 crore and laying the foundation for 17 projects worth ₹2,292 crore.

Speaking at the state-level event at Lok Seva Bhavan, Majhi stressed the importance of water conservation. “Each drop of water is precious. Several countries are facing water crises. We must prioritise conservation and rainwater harvesting to prevent shortages,” he said.

The chief minister said the “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” has made water conservation a national priority. He added that ensuring water security is key to Odisha’s development vision for 2036, when the state marks its centenary.



Bihar Celebrates 114th Foundation Day

Bihar is celebrating its 114th Foundation Day today. On this day in 1912, Bihar was carved out of Bengal and granted the status of a separate state. A three-day state-level ceremony is being organized at Gandhi Maidan in Patna to mark Bihar Divas.

The theme of this day is “Unnat Bihar, Ujjwal Bihar” (Progressive Bihar, Bright Bihar). On this occasion, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the state-level function at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Governor Lieutenant General (Rtd) Syed Ata Hasnain will address the closing ceremony on March 24. Several renowned artists from across the country will perform during the celebrations.

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have extended greetings to the people of Bihar living in the country and abroad on the occasion of Bihar Foundation Day.



Gujarat approves power agreement to restart Tata Power’s Mundra Plant

The Gujarat government has approved the supplementary power purchase agreement with Tata Power for its 4 GW Mundra Power plant, paving the way for it to restart the plant, which has been lying idle for around nine months due to high imported coal costs.

“The Gujarat cabinet has approved the Supplementary PPA, and a Government order has been issued. After regulatory clearances, the Company and Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) will sign the agreement,” the company said in a statement.

The updated PPA allows cost pass-through for coal, which was a concern after the power ministry withdrew emergency compensation for high fuel costs.