Current Affairs Quiz 14th and 15th March 2026 Quiz

Exp. Parthanil Ghosh Appointed MD & CEO of HDFC ERGO General Insurance, to Succeed Anuj Tyagi

HDFC ERGO General Insurance Board has approved the appointment of Parthanil Ghosh as the new Managing Director & CEO, effective 16 April, subject to regulatory approvals.

He will succeed Anuj Tyagi, who resigned on 16 January 2026 to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.

Ghosh joined the company in 2016 after the merger with L&T General Insurance and has been serving as Executive Director since 1 May 2025.

Exp. Gujarat Launches ‘Lake and Air Watch’ Initiative to Monitor Urban Lakes and Air Quality in Real Time

Gujarat has launched the ‘Lake and Air Watch’ initiative under the Gujarat Urban Development Mission (GUDM) to monitor lake health and air quality in real time across cities.

The programme, introduced by the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, aims to tackle urban environmental challenges such as polluted lakes, declining groundwater recharge and rising air pollution.

The initiative will use satellite technology to track indicators like lake area changes, waste accumulation and algae growth, generating alerts to enable timely conservation and restoration of urban water bodies.

About Gujarat

• Capital- Gandhinagar
• Chief Minister- Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel
• Governor- Acharya Devvrat

Exp. Assam Disburses ₹3,600 Crore to 40 Lakh Women Under Orunodoi 3.0 Through DBT

The government of Assam transferred ₹9,000 each to 40 lakh women under Orunodoi 3.0, marking a major welfare initiative for women beneficiaries.

Around ₹3,600 crore was disbursed through Direct Bank Transfer (DBT), making it one of the largest single-day welfare fund transfers in the state.

About Assam

• Formation – 26 January 1950
• Capital – Dispur
• Chief Minister –Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Governor – Lakshman Prasad Acharya

Exp. Kerala Police Launches ‘Nirbhaya Nisha initiative’ to Enhance Night Safety for Women in Kerala

Kerala Police has launched the Nirbhaya Nisha initiative to enhance women’s safety during night travel across Kerala.

The initiative provides rapid police assistance between 9 PM and 5 AM to ensure timely support for women travelling at night.

Women can seek immediate help through the 112 emergency helpline, enabling quick response from the police.

About Kerala

• Capital – Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief Minister – Pinarayi Vijayan
• Governor – Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar

Exp. Indian Orchid Festival 2026 Concludes in Pakyong District, Sikkim

The festival was organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Research Centre for Orchids (ICAR-NRCO).

The theme of the festival was “Orchids for Beauty & Prosperity.”

Exp. India’s Retail Inflation Rises to 3.21% in February 2026: Consumer Price Index (CPI) Data

India’s retail inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 3.21% in February 2026, compared to 2.75% in January 2026, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

The rural inflation rate was 3.37%, while urban inflation stood at 3.02%, under the revised CPI series with 2024 as the base year.

The Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) inflation was 3.47%, while housing inflation stood at 2.12% for February 2026.

Previous Months CPI-based Retail inflation

• October 2025 – 0.25%
• November 2025 – 0.71%
• December 2025 – 1.33%
• January 2026 – 2.75%

Exp. RBI Launches Pilot ‘Awareness Program on Digital Payments’ in Maharashtra During Digital Payments Awareness Week

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a pilot programme titled “Awareness Program on Digital Payments” to promote safe and wider adoption of digital payments across India.

The pilot programme was conducted in Maharashtra in partnership with CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd during the Digital Payments Awareness Week (March 9–13, 2026).

The initiative aims to reach 10 lakh participants in rural and semi-urban areas through in-person awareness sessions conducted by Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs).

Exp. Bank of Baroda Launches ‘bob Women Sapphire Savings Account’ with ₹10 Lakh Cancer Care Coverage for Women

Bank of Baroda launched a special savings account for women named bob Women Sapphire Savings Account to promote financial inclusion and empowerment.

The account is designed to provide exclusive banking benefits along with healthcare and lifestyle privileges for women customers.

It also offers ₹10 lakh cancer care coverage for women account holders aged 18 to 60 years.

About Bank of Baroda (BOB)

• Founded – 1908
• Headquarters – Vadodara, Gujarat
• MD & CEO – Debadatta Chand
• Chairman – Mukesh Kumar Bansal
• Tagline – India’s International Bank

Exp. United States and South Korea Launch ‘Freedom Shield’ Joint Military Exercise Amid Regional Tensions

The United States and South Korea began a large joint military exercise called Freedom Shield, involving thousands of troops.

Around 18,000 South Korean troops are participating in the exercise, which will continue until March 19, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Exp. Indian Army and Ladakh Forest Department sign MoU to protect wildlife

On World Wildlife Day, the Indian Army and the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department of Ladakh signed an MoU to protect the fragile ecosystem and wildlife of Ladakh.

The agreement focuses on conserving species such as the Snow Leopard, Himalayan Wolf, Bharal, Ibex, Marmot, and Black-necked Crane under the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program.

A Joint Snow Leopard Conservation Cell will be established to monitor conservation efforts and promote sustainable development and biodiversity protection in Ladakh’s high-altitude ecosystems.  

Exp. Lakshya Sen Finishes Runner-Up at All England Open Badminton Championships After Loss to Lin Chun-Yi

India’s Lakshya Sen finished runner-up in the Men’s Singles at the All England Open Badminton Championships after losing the final.

He was defeated by Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei in straight games 15–21, 20–22.

The final match was played at Utilita Arena, where Sen fought back strongly in the second game but narrowly lost 22–20.

Exp. Iran Withdraws from FIFA World Cup 2026

Iran announced its withdrawal from the FIFA World Cup 2026, one of the biggest international football tournaments.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Upcoming FIFA Men’s World Cup Events

• 2026 – Canada, Mexico, United States
• 2030 – Morocco, Portugal, Spain
• 2034 – Saudi Arabia

Upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup Events

• 2027 – Brazil

Exp. Veteran Tamil Filmmaker Thakkali Srinivasan Dies

Veteran Tamil filmmaker, producer and composer Thakkali Srinivasan passed away in Bengaluru at the age of 72.

A respected figure in the Tamil film industry, he was known for his versatile roles as a producer, director, composer and actor, contributing to several notable films over decades.

Exp. Renowned German Historian and Indologist Hermann Kulke Passes Away

Renowned German Indologist and historian Hermann Kulke passed away; he was widely known for his research on the history, culture and Jagannath traditions of Odisha.

Hermann Kulke was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2010 for his significant contributions to the study of Indian history and culture.

Exp. Veteran Actor-Filmmaker Amol Palekar to Receive 2026 META Lifetime Achievement Award

Veteran actor-filmmaker Amol Palekar will be honoured with the 2026 META Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades-long influence in Indian theatre and cinema.

The 21st edition of the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META), established by the Mahindra Group and produced by Teamwork Arts, will be held in New Delhi from March 19–25, 2026, showcasing prominent stage productions.