Current Affairs Quiz 28th and 29th March 2026 Quiz

Exp. Periasamy Kumaran Appointed as India’s Next High Commissioner to the UK

Periasamy Kumaran, currently serving as Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, replacing Vikram Doraiswami.

A 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, he is expected to take charge soon, while Vikram Doraiswami has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to China.

Exp. PM Narendra Modi to Visit France for G7 Summit from June 15–17

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit France to attend the G7 Summit, which will be held from June 15 to 17.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting during his two-day visit to France.

About G7

• The G7 (Group of Seven) is an intergovernmental group of seven advanced economies: USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
• It was established in 1975 (initially as G6) to discuss global economic issues, later expanded to include Canada in 1976.
• The G7 focuses on key global issues such as economic stability, climate change, international security, and development cooperation.
• It does not have a permanent secretariat; the presidency rotates annually among member countries, which host the summit.

Exp. WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference Begins in Cameroon Amid Global Trade Challenges

The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC-14) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from March 26 to 29, 2026, with participation from 166 member countries under the chairmanship of Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana.

Key issues under discussion include WTO reforms, agriculture, e-commerce, and investment facilitation, which are crucial for shaping the future of global trade.

About World Trade Organization (WTO)

• Founded – 1 January 1995
• Headquarters – Geneva Switzerland
• 1st Director General – Peter Sutherland
• Director General – Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria)
• Member Countries – 166 (166^th Timor-Leste)

Exp. OECD Cuts India’s FY 2026–27 Growth Forecast to 6.1%, FY 2025–26 Seen at 7.6%

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY 2026–27 downward by 10 basis points to 6.1% in its Economic Outlook Interim Report.

However, India’s GDP growth for FY 2025–26 is estimated to remain strong at 7.6%, reflecting robust economic performance.

GDP Projection List 2025                                                                                

• S&P Global Ratings – 7.6% (FY26); 7.1% (FY27)
• Fitch Rating – 7.5% (FY26); 6.7% (FY27)
• CRISIL – 7.1% (FY27)
• Moody’s Rating – 6.45% (FY27)

Exp. Japan Commits ₹16,420 Crore ODA Loan to India for Metro, Healthcare and Agriculture Projects

The Government of Japan has committed an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of JPY 275.858 billion (≈ ₹16,420 crore) to India for four major projects in urban transport, healthcare, and agriculture.

Key projects include Bengaluru Metro Phase 3, Mumbai Metro Line 11, healthcare and medical education strengthening in Maharashtra, and sustainable horticulture development in Punjab.

Metro projects in Bengaluru and Mumbai aim to reduce traffic congestion, improve urban mobility, and mitigate pollution and climate change impacts.

Healthcare and agriculture projects will enhance medical infrastructure, promote Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and boost farmers’ income through sustainable horticulture practices.

Exp. NHB Launches Gruh Sugam Portal to Digitise Home Loans for Defence and Government Employees

The National Housing Bank (NHB) has launched the Gruh Sugam Portal to simplify and digitise access to home loans for defence personnel, paramilitary forces, and government employees.

The portal aims to promote affordable housing, financial inclusion, and digital lending adoption, especially for individuals posted in remote and inaccessible areas.

It provides a seamless and transparent digital platform, reducing the need for physical bank visits and improving accessibility and convenience in the housing finance system.

Exp. MeitY’s BHASHINI Division and PFRDA Sign MoU to Boost Multilingual Digital Pension Services

The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) under MeitY and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) have signed an MoU under the initiative “BHASHINI for Seva / Sanchalan – A BHASHINI Sahayogi Program.”

The collaboration aims to enhance multilingual digital services in the pension sector by integrating the BHASHINI platform, India’s National Language Digital Public Infrastructure, with PFRDA systems.

It will use AI-based translation APIs and voice-enabled technologies to improve language accessibility across all 22 scheduled languages, ensuring greater inclusivity for pension subscribers and stakeholders.

About BHASHINI

• BHASHINI (BHASHa Interface for India) is an AI-powered language technology initiative under MeitY, designed to enable multilingual digital communication across India.
• It supports advanced AI capabilities including 36+ text-based languages, 23 voices, and 35 international languages, helping bridge language and literacy gaps.
• Launched under the National Language Translation Mission

Exp. Kalpana Soren Honoured with BRICS CCI Women Empowerment Trailblazer Award 2026

Jharkhand MLA Kalpana Soren was honoured with the “Women Empowerment Trailblazer Award” at the BRICS CCI WE Annual Women Summit and Felicitation 2026 held in the capital.

The award was presented by the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI) women empowerment vertical for her contribution to women empowerment.

She highlighted the need to amplify voices of marginalised women and promote their access to opportunities, noting that women in Jharkhand are increasingly becoming entrepreneurs and agents of change.

Recent Awards

• Women Empowerment Award at UK House of Commons – Rituparna Sengupta
• National Award for Outstanding SHG Bank Linkage Performance 2024–25 – Karnataka Grameena Bank
• Stockholm Water Prize 2026 – Kaveh Madani (for Outstanding Contributions to Water Science)
• Honorary Knighthood by United Kingdom – N. Chandrasekaran
• META Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 – Veteran Actor-Filmmaker Amol Palekar

Exp. DPIIT Partners with KRAFTON India to Boost Startups in Gaming, AI, and Digital Entertainment

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry signed an agreement with KRAFTON India Pvt. Ltd. to support startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs across India.

The collaboration aims to boost product startups in sectors like digital entertainment, online gaming, esports, interactive media, and AI-driven technologies.

Startups will receive mentorship, industry insights, knowledge-sharing platforms, and engagement opportunities, strengthening India’s digital and creative economy under the Startup India ecosystem

Recent MoUs

• Rashtriya Raksha University Signs MoU with Sashastra Seema Bal to Boost National Security Training and Accreditation
• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Signs MoU with GATI Foundation to Boost Global Skill Mobility
• NITI Aayog Partners with Tata Electronics Private Limited to Boost Electronics and Semiconductor Manufacturing in India
• UIDAI Partners with Google to Display Authorised Aadhaar Centres on Google Maps Nationwide

Exp. Cabinet Approves Extension of IVFRT Scheme till 2031 to Strengthen Digital Immigration System

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme for five years (2026–2031) to strengthen India’s immigration system.

The scheme provides a centralised, technology-driven platform for visa issuance, immigration, and foreigner registration, improving efficiency and security.

The renewed phase focuses on digital modernisation, including mobile services and self-service kiosks, to ensure faster, seamless, and secure immigration processes.

Exp. Government Launches PRISM-SG Portal to Streamline Bridge Construction and Inspections

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has launched the PRISM-SG Portal in New Delhi to improve efficiency, coordination, and transparency in the construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and railway bridges.

PRISM-SG (Portal for Rail-Road Inspection and Stages Management – Steel Girders) is a technology-driven platform that digitises and integrates processes, bringing all stakeholders onto a single system.

The portal enables end-to-end online management, including document submission, inspection scheduling, real-time tracking, and maintaining a complete audit trail for better monitoring and faster approvals.

Exp. 27 March – World Theatre Day

World Theatre Day is observed on 27 March every year to promote the importance of theatre arts and their role in society.
Theme 2026 -Theatre and a Culture of Peace

The day was initiated by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) in 1961 to celebrate theatre and encourage cultural exchange worldwide.

Exp. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched ‘Nivesh Mitra 3.0’

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched ‘Nivesh Mitra 3.0’, a digital platform to simplify and enhance the investor experience, along with new schemes like the UP Private Business Park Development Scheme-2025 and Plug-and-Play Industrial Sheds Scheme.

The platform includes features like an AI-based chatbot, real-time SMS alerts, and a Dynamic Combined Application Form (CAF) to enable single-window clearances and reduce the need for multiple approvals.

About Uttar Pradesh

• Capital – Lucknow
• Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath
• Governor – Anandiben Patel

Exp. Agnikul Successfully Test-Fires World’s First 3D-Printed Rocket Booster Engine ‘Agnite’

Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited, an Indian private space startup, successfully test-fired its 3D-printed rocket booster engine ‘Agnite’.

The test was conducted at the Agnikul Launchpad (ALP-01) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, marking a key milestone in India’s private space sector.

The ‘Agnite’ engine is the world’s first fully 3D-printed booster engine, about one metre long, showcasing advanced manufacturing technology.

The test aimed to validate performance, structural integrity, and propulsion efficiency of the engine.

Exp. Veteran Malayalam Actor E.A. Rajendran Passes Away at 71

Veteran Malayalam actor and director E.A. Rajendran passed away at the age of 71 at his residence in Kollam due to age-related ailments.

He was known for his versatile performances in films, television, and theatre, contributing significantly to the Malayalam entertainment industry.