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Daily Current Affairs 1st March 2026 Daily GK Update
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National News
Petroleum Ministry Mandates Nationwide Sale of E20 Petrol with Minimum RON 95 from April 2026
- The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has mandated the nationwide sale of E20 petrol (up to 20% ethanol blending) with a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 across all States and Union Territories from 1 April 2026 to enhance cleaner fuel usage.
- The Ethanol Blended Programme, launched in January 2003 with an initial 5% blending target, has gradually expanded to higher levels of blending to boost India’s energy security and support farmers and the agricultural economy.
ESIC Launches 75th Foundation Year Celebrations, Unveils Commemorative Coin and Swasthya Rath Initiative
- The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation commenced its 75th Foundation Year celebrations at Bharat Mandapam, marking over seven decades of dedicated social security and healthcare service to workers and their families across India.
- Established in 1952 with about 1.2 lakh beneficiaries and a single dispensary, ESIC has expanded significantly and now serves over 15 crore beneficiaries through a network of 166 hospitals, 17 medical colleges, and nearly 1,600 dispensaries nationwide.
- To commemorate the Platinum Jubilee (ESIC@75), a special commemorative coin was released along with the launch of the ESIC@75 Coffee Table Book, highlighting the Corporation’s milestones, legacy, and transformative initiatives.
Casebook on AI and Gender Empowerment Launched at India AI Impact Summit 2026
- The Casebook on AI and Gender Empowerment was launched at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, underscoring India’s commitment to inclusive, ethical, and gender-responsive artificial intelligence development.
- The casebook was developed by the Government of India under the IndiaAI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in partnership with UN Women and supported by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), featuring 23 impactful AI solutions promoting gender equality from over 50 countries.
UIDAI Partners with Google to Display Authorised Aadhaar Centres on Google Maps Nationwide
- The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has partnered with Google to display authorised Aadhaar Centres on Google Maps, improving accessibility, transparency, and convenience for residents across India.
- Users will be able to identify centres based on specific services such as adult enrolment, child enrolment, address/mobile updates, along with details on accessibility features (divyang-friendly infrastructure), parking availability, and operating hours.
- The collaboration will cover over 60,000 verified Aadhaar Centres, including Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASKs), and in the next phase, UIDAI will utilise Google Business Profile to manage centre information and respond directly to public feedback for a more responsive service ecosystem.
About Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
- UIDAI is a statutory authority established by the Government of India to issue Aadhaar, a 12-digit unique identification number to residents of India.
- It functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Headquarters – New Delhi
- CEO – Bhuvnesh Kumar
Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches Rail Tech Policy and e-RCT Digitisation Under Indian Railways’ 52 Reforms Initiative
- Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the Rail Tech Policy and announced the complete digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) under Indian Railways’ “52 Reforms in 52 Weeks” initiative, promoting technology-driven governance and administrative reforms.
- The Rail Tech Policy aims to engage startups, innovators, industries, and institutions through a simplified selection process and a dedicated Rail Tech Portal, enabling single-stage proposal submissions to accelerate innovation in railways.
- Key focus areas include AI-based Elephant Intrusion Detection Systems (EIDS), fire detection in coaches, drone-based broken rail detection, solar-powered coaches, and AI-driven dispute resolution systems, with Indian Railways offering up to 50% development funding support and long-term scaling opportunities for successful solutions.
PM Narendra Modi Launches Nationwide Free HPV Vaccination Drive for 14-Year-Old Girls from Ajmer
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign from Ajmer to protect 14-year-old girls from cervical cancer.
- The campaign will use Gardasil, a quadrivalent vaccine that protects against HPV types 16 & 18 (which cause cervical cancer) and types 6 & 11. The vaccination will be voluntary and free of cost at government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and district hospitals.
- Cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer among women in India, with around 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths annually, making this campaign a major public health initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
President Droupadi Murmu Becomes First Indian President to Fly in Attack Helicopter Prachand
- President Droupadi Murmu became the first Indian President to fly in an attack helicopter, undertaking a 25-minute sortie in the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand near the India–Pakistan border from Jaisalmer Air Force Station.
- During the historic flight, she acted as co-pilot, flew over the Pokhran firing range, and delivered a message praising the armed forces while emphasizing the significance of indigenous defence capabilities.
Sikkim’s Pakyong Airport to Be Renamed After Freedom Fighter Trilochan Pokhrel
- Sikkim’s Pakyong Airport will be renamed after freedom fighter Trilochan Pokhrel, the state’s first independence activist, as announced by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.
- Trilochan Pokhrel, also known as “Gandhi Pokhrel”, actively participated in the Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, and Quit India movements led by Mahatma Gandhi.
About Sikkim
- Capital – Gangtok
- Chief Minister – Prem Singh Tamang
- Governor – Om Prakash Mathur
Banking And Financial News
IRFC Raises USD 400 Million Equivalent ECB from SMBC and MUFG via GIFT City Branches
- Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) has raised an External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) of JPY equivalent to USD 400 million by signing a loan agreement with a consortium of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and MUFG Bank through their GIFT City branches.
- This marks IRFC’s second ECB transaction in FY 2025–26, following its earlier USD 300 million equivalent borrowing in December 2025, strengthening its diversified global funding strategy.
- The five-year unsecured loan is benchmarked to the Tokyo Overnight Average Rate (TONAR), and the proceeds will be utilised to finance railway sector projects, including those with forward and backward linkages, in accordance with ECB guidelines.
IIFL Home Finance Secures $300 Million ADB Loan to Boost Affordable and Green Housing for Women
- IIFL Home Finance has secured a $300 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to expand access to affordable housing finance in India.
- The loan proceeds will be on-lent as mortgages primarily to women in low-income communities across peri-urban, urban, and lagging states, promoting financial inclusion and women’s empowerment.
- Over 25% of the loan amount is earmarked for financing green-certified affordable homes, supporting sustainable and climate-resilient housing development.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- Founded – 19 December 1966
- Headquarters – Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines
- President – Masato Kanda (replace Masatsugu Asakawa)
- Member Countries – 69 (Israel)
NSE IX Soft Launches Global Access Platform to Enable Indian Investors to Trade in US and Global Markets
- The NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) has soft-launched a Global Access platform, enabling Indian investors to directly trade in international equities, debt instruments, and ETFs, thereby connecting domestic investors with global capital markets.
- The platform will initially provide access to the US markets, with plans to expand to nearly 30 international markets—including G-7 nations—over the next three to six months, offering broader global diversification opportunities.
- The initiative operates under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) of the Reserve Bank of India, allowing resident individuals to remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year for overseas investments.
Sri Lanka’s First Blue Bond Listed on NSE IX at GIFT City
- Sri Lanka’s first-ever Blue Bond, a LKR 3 billion issuance by DFCC Bank, has been dually listed on the NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) at GIFT City, marking the first blue bond admitted for trading within India’s IFSC jurisdiction.
- The dual listing was enabled through an MoU between NSE IX and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), strengthening cross-border capital market collaboration and promoting innovative financial products across jurisdictions.
- The Blue Bond aims to finance sustainable marine resource use, clean drinking water supply, aquatic pollution control, and ocean-based economic activities, reflecting growing global focus on environmentally responsible and impact-driven investments.
About Sri Lanka
- Legislative capital – Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Executive and Judicial capital – Colombo
- Currency – Sri Lankan rupee
- President – Anura Kumara Dissanayake
- Prime Minister – Harini Amarasuriya
Defence News
Indian Air Force Showcases Full-Spectrum Combat Power in Exercise ‘Vayushakti-26’ at Pokhran Range
- The Indian Air Force conducted Exercise ‘Vayushakti-26’ at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, showcasing full-spectrum air combat capabilities, operational synergy, and advanced technological prowess in a simulated live combat theatre.
- For the first time, the exercise followed a defined operational storyline integrating offensive air strikes, air defence operations, special forces missions, and humanitarian assistance—highlighting the IAF’s role as a multi-domain, integrated force and the nation’s first responder.
INS Anjadip, Built with Indigenous SAIL Steel, Set to Join Indian Navy Fleet
- Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) supplied the entire quantity of approximately 3,500 tonnes of special-grade indigenous steel for INS Anjadip, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), strengthening India’s defence manufacturing capabilities.
- INS Anjadip is the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) corvette to join the Indian Navy, following INS Arnala and INS Androth in 2025, and is part of the indigenous programme to replace the ageing Abhay-class vessels.
- The steel was sourced from SAIL’s integrated plants at Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela, highlighting India’s robust domestic supply chain and reinforcing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat through reduced import dependence in defence projects.
Obituary News
Veteran Steel Industry Leader Jatinder Mehra Passes Away
- Jatinder Mehra, a veteran of India’s steel industry with over six decades of experience, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of technical expertise and transformative leadership in both public and private steel enterprises.
- As Vice Chairman of Essar Group’s Metals and Mining Division, he provided strategic direction, expanded steelmaking capacity at Hazira, and strengthened the group’s production and global competitiveness.
- Mehra played a key role in developing major integrated projects, including the Paradip steel facility in Odisha, consolidating Essar’s position in value-added steel production and international exports.
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