GK Update

GK Update

Sun 15 Mar, 2026

NATIONAL NEWS

Electricity (Amendment) Rules, 2026

The Government of India has notified the Electricity (Amendment) Rules, 2026, primarily to streamline the framework for captive power generation and enhance industrial competitiveness.
These rules amend Rule 3 of the Electricity Rules, 2005, to remove ambiguities and provide greater flexibility for industries generating their own power.

Development projects in West Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several transformative development projects worth approximately ₹18,680 crore in Kolkata, West Bengal.
These initiatives are aimed at enhancing connectivity, boosting trade, and accelerating economic growth in West Bengal and Eastern India.

Projects and Initiatives

Road Infrastructure (worth nearly ₹16,990 crore)

Kharagpur–Moregram Economic Corridor: Foundation stone laid for five packages of this 231 km long, four-lane corridor (NH-116A). It will reduce travel distance by 120 km and save 7–8 hours of travel time between Kharagpur and Siliguri.
National Highway Upgrades: Inauguration of sections of NH-19 (West Bengal and Jharkhand) and NH-114 (West Bengal), totaling over 420 km.
Bypasses and Bridges: Foundation stone for a 5.6 km four-lane Dubrajpur Bypass on NH-14 and new four-lane bridges over the Kangshabati and Shilabati rivers.

Railway

New Train Service: Flagged off the Purulia–Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi) Express, improving connectivity to the national capital region.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: Inauguration of six redeveloped railway stations: Kamakhyaguri, Anara, Tamluk, Haldia, Barabhum, and Siuri.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Dedicated a 16 km long third rail line between Belda and Dantan and an Automatic Block Signalling system between Kalaikunda and Kanimohuli to improve safety and punctuality.

Ports and Shipping

Haldia Dock Complex: Inauguration of the mechanization project at Berth No. 2 for more efficient and eco-friendly cargo handling.
Kolkata Dock System: Rejuvenation project at Khidderpore Docks (Dock 1 – West) and renovation of the Bascule Bridge.
River Tourism: Projects including bank protection works and a terminal building for a river cruise terminal near the Indenture Memorial complex.

STATE SPECIAL NEWS

UiWIN regional workshop in Visakhapatnam

The first two-day regional workshop on the Urban Invest Window (UiWIN) was conducted by Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd. (HUDCO) in Visakhapatnam.
The workshop aims to create awareness about UiWIN as a structured single-window platform to strengthen project preparation, financial structuring, asset monetisation and access to capital markets for urban development.

HUDCO

Establishment: Founded on 25 April 1970 under the Companies Act, 1956.
Status: It is a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), a status granted by the Central Government on 18 April 2024.
Administrative Control: Operates under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
Motto: "Profitability with Social Justice".
Nature of Entity: It is a Government-owned Non-Banking Financial Company – Infrastructure Finance Company (NBFC-IFC) registered with the RBI.
Housing Finance: Focuses on providing long-term finance for housing projects, specifically targeting Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low-Income Groups (LIG). Over 92% of its sanctioned dwelling units benefit these groups.

Gujarat’s first sounding rocket at Dholera

Gujarat achieved a historic milestone by successfully launching its first sounding rocket, developed by Ahmedabad-based startup Omspace Rocket and Exploration Private Limited (OSRE), from Bavaliyari near Dholera.
Supported by IN-SPACe (ISRO) and the Gujarat Spacetech Policy 2025-2030, the single-stage sub-orbital rocket reached ~3 km altitude, validating indigenous technology.
The project was authorized by IN-SPACe (ISRO) and received support from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Indian Coast Guard, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
This success supports the development of India's first fully indigenous reusable launch vehicle, Infinity One, which is under development.

Gujarat

Date of Formation: 1st May 1960
Chief Minister: Bhupendra Patel
Governor: Acharya Devvrat
Major Places: Rani Ki Vav, Somnath Temple, Lothal (Ahmedabad)
Dholavira (Kutch)

Festivals: Navratri, Kite festival, Kutch Utsav, Modhera dance festival
Dance, Drama & Music forms: Dandiya Raas, Garba dance
Tippani, Padhar Dance, Bhavi Folk drama, Hallisaka, Dangi Nrita

Islands : Khadir, Pirotan, Nora, Bhaidar, Bet/Piram Bet, Shiyal Bet, Sadhu bet
National Parks: Gir, Vansda, Black Buck, Marine National Park
Biosphere reserve: Great runn of Kuch biosphere reserve

‘Natural Farming Villages’ in Gujarat

Gujarat Government announced a strategic initiative to develop 500 villages as dedicated Natural Farming Villages. This move aims to transition large agricultural areas into chemical-free farming zones through a phased, cluster-based approach.

Divyang Welfare Department as Divyang Empowerment Department

The Maharashtra government officially renamed the Divyang Welfare Department as the Divyang Empowerment Department.
The renaming is part of a broader organizational overhaul to align with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and it reflects a strategic shift from a "welfare-centric" approach to one focused on "rights-based empowerment".
The office of the Commissioner of Divyang Welfare will now be called the Office of Divyang Empowerment. The district level will have a Divyang Empowerment Office-DEO.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Indian-flagged vessels, Shivalik and Nanda Devi

Indian government confirmed that two Indian-flagged LPG tankers, the Shivalik and the Nanda Devi, successfully crossed the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The vessels, operated by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), are carrying a combined 92,700 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Strait of Hormuz

World's most critical maritime chokepoint due to its role in global energy trade.
Connecting Water Bodies: It links the Persian Gulf (also known as the Arabian Gulf) to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Bordering Nations:
- North: Iran.
- South: The Musandam Peninsula, which is an exclave of Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Dimensions: It is approximately 167 km long and narrows to about 33 km (21 nautical miles) at its narrowest point.

Key Islands: Includes Hormuz, Qeshm, and Larak (under Iranian control), as well as the disputed Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa islands.

Switzerland denies US military overflights

Switzerland has denied two requests from the US to fly over its territory as part of the military action in the Middle East.
The government’s statement cited its law of neutrality which prohibits overflights by parties to the conflict that serve a military purpose related to the conflict.

Switzerland

Location: Landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany (N), Austria & Liechtenstein (E), Italy (S), and France (W).
Physical Divisions: Divided into three main regions: the Jura Mountains, the Swiss Plateau (Central Plateau), and the Swiss Alps (covers 60% of the area in the south).
Key Features: Renowned for Alpine glaciers and lakes (e.g., Lake Geneva, Lake Neuchâtel). It acts as a "water tower" of Europe, with major rivers like the Rhine and Rhone originating there.
Capital: Bern (de facto).
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
President: Guy Parmelin

Neutrality: Switzerland is famously neutral, not a member of NATO or the European Union (EU), but a member of the United Nations since 2002.

North Korea launched ballistic missiles

North Korea launched approximately 10 ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, prompting an immediate emergency alert from the Japanese government.
The launch occurred during the annual "Freedom Shield" springtime joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea.

About North Korea

Location: Occupies the northern half of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia.
Borders: Shares land borders with China (north-west, Yalu/Amnok River), Russia (north-east, Tumen River), and South Korea (south).
Sea Access: Yellow Sea (West) and Sea of Japan/East Sea (East).
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ): The heavily fortified border separating North and South Korea, established in 1953, acts as a buffer zone.
Topography: Largely mountainous with narrow coastal plains.
Highest Point: Paektu Mountain (Mount Paektu), on the Chinese border.
Capital: Pyongyang, situated on the Taedong River.
Current Leader: Kim Jong-un (Supreme Leader)

APPOINTMENTS

43rd Governor of Bihar: Syed Ata Hasnain

Lieutenant General (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain was sworn in as the 43rd Governor of Bihar.
The ceremony took place at Lok Bhavan in Patna, where the oath of office and secrecy was administered by Sangam Kumar Sahoo, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.

Bihar

Bihar Diwas: 22 March
CM: Nitish Kumar
Governor: Syed Ata Hasnain
Tribes: Agaria, Baiga, Bedia, Gond, Gorait, Khond, Kora, Munda, Savar, Kawar, Kol, Tharu Major Protected Areas: Valmiki National Park, Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Wildlife Sanctuary

Major Places: Tomb of Sher Shah Suri, Barabar caves (oldest rock cut caves), Vikramshila Monastery, Bodhi Tree, Mahabodhi temple, Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Raigir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Ancient city of Patliputra
Dance and Music forms: Jat-Jatin dance of the Mithila region, Bidesia, the songs of Vidyapati, Chau Tribal dances, Jhijhian dance, Kajari dance, Sohar-khilouna dance, Jhumeri dance

Shri MNVS Prabhakar

Government of India has recommended Shri MNVS Prabhakar, currently Executive Director at NMDC Steel Limited, for the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity operating the Vizag Steel Plant.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Jnanpith Award

Lyricist and author Vairamuthu has been selected for the Jnanpith Award, the nation’s highest literary honour.
He is the third Tamil literary figure to receive the award, after a gap of 24 years. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003 for Kallikattu Ithikasam.

Naman Awards 2026

The BCCI Naman Awards 2026 held in New Delhi.
This annual ceremony celebrates Indian cricket's "Golden Year" by honoring individual standouts from the 2024–25 season and felicitating five ICC trophy-winning teams.

Major International Awards

Award	Winner	Achievement
Polly Umrigar Award (Best Men's International Cricketer)	Shubman Gill	Honoured for the second time (2024–25 season).
Best International Cricketer (Women)	Smriti Mandhana	A record fifth win in her career.

Lifetime Achievement Honours

Rahul Dravid: Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award
Roger Binny: Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award
Mithali Raj: BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women

Domestic & Other Category Awards

Best All-Rounder (Ranji Trophy): Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha).
Lala Amarnath Award (Limited Overs): Ayush Mhatre (Mumbai).
Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy (Best Woman Cricketer - Domestic): Ira Jadhav (Mumbai).
Best Performance in Domestic Tournaments: Mumbai Cricket Association (Winners of four trophies).
Best Domestic Umpire: Ulhas Gandhe.

ECONOMY & BANKING

Green Steel Project and coal gasification in Chandrapur

Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the Green Steel Project and coal gasification initiatives at Bhadravati in Chandrapur, aimed at boosting regional employment and supporting environmentally friendly industry.

Major Steel Plants in India

Steel Plant	Location (State)	Company / Ownership
Tata Steel Plant (TISCO)	Jamshedpur, Jharkhand	Tata Steel
Bhilai Steel Plant	Bhilai, Chhattisgarh	Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
Rourkela Steel Plant	Rourkela, Odisha	Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
Durgapur Steel Plant	Durgapur, West Bengal	Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
Bokaro Steel Plant	Bokaro, Jharkhand	Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
IISCO Steel Plant	Burnpur, West Bengal	Steel Authority of India Limited
Visakhapatnam Steel Plant	Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh	Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited
Salem Steel Plant	Salem, Tamil Nadu	Steel Authority of India Limited
Vijayanagar Steel Plant	Ballari, Karnataka	JSW Steel
Dolvi Steel Plant	Dolvi, Maharashtra	JSW Steel
Hazira Steel Plant	Hazira, Gujarat	ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India
Kalinganagar Steel Plant	Kalinganagar, Odisha	Tata Steel

PERSON IN NEWS

Sonam Wangchuk

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has revoked the National Security Act (NSA) detention of Ladakh-based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk with immediate effect, having been in detention since September 26, 2025.
The revocation follows his 170-day detention, which involved confinement in Jodhpur Central Jail following protests regarding Ladakh's statehood.

Ladakh

Union territory: since 31 October 2019
Capitals: Leh and Kargil

Lieutenant Governor: Kavinder Gupta
Major Festivals: Hemis Festival celebrating Guru Padmasambhava, Dosmoche Festival in Leh, and Losar (Tibetan New Year), Saka Dawa

Major Tribes: Balti, Beda, Bot (or Boto), Brokpa (Dard, Shin), Changpa, Garra, Mon, and Purigpa.
Dance forms: Shondol, Cham dance, Jabro dance, Spao dance, Kompa Tsum-Tsag and Takshon

ART & CULTURE

Sikkimese film Shape of Momo gains

The Sikkimese film 'Shape of Momo', directed by award-winning filmmaker Tribeny Rai, has indeed expanded its international presence with several new selections across Europe following its 2026 screening at the Glasgow Film Festival.
The Nepali-language drama, which explores intergenerational womanhood and the struggle against patriarchy in a Himalayan village.

Sikkim

Capital: Gangtok
Founded: 16 May 1975 (became the 22nd state of India)
Governor: Om Prakash Mathur
Official language: Nepali, English, Lepcha and Bhutia
Monasteries: Pemayangste, Tashiding, Rumtek, Enchey, Phensang, Ralong, Phodang, Tolung, Labrang Palden Phuntsok Monastery
Passes: Nathu La, Jelep La, Dingkia

National Park: Kanchenjunga National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Lakes: Tsomgo, Menmecho, Lampokari, Khecheopalri, Gurudongmar
Festivals: Jorethang Maghey Mela, Sonam Losar, Losar cum Tourist Festival, Bhumchu, Ram Nawami, Lampokhari Paryatan Mahotsav, Sakewa, Saga Dawa, Bhanu Jayanti, Drukpa Tshechi, Guru Rinpoche’s Thrunkar Tshechu, Tendong Lho Rum Faat, Pang Lhabsol, Bhadauria Purima Festival, Indrajatra, Namchi Mahotsav, Lhabab Duechen
Lakes: Tsomgo, Menmecho, Lampokari, Khecheopalri, Gurudongmar
River: Lachung, Rangeet, Tista,

ENVIRONMENT + SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Atomic clock aboard the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)-1F

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed that the last atomic clock on the IRNSS-1F satellite stopped functioning.
This failure is significant because it leaves the NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) system with only three operational satellites capable of providing precise Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services—below the minimum threshold of four satellites required for reliable regional navigation.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

Founded: 15 August 1969
Founder: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
First satellite Aryabhatta launched: 1975
Indigenous satellite Rohini (RS-1) launched from India's SLV-3 rocket: 1980

First lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 launched: 2008
Mangalyaan (MOM): 2013
Chandrayaan-2 mission launched: 2019
2023: Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the south pole of the Moon
Sun mission: Aditya-L1 (2023), sent to Lagrange Point-1 (L1) of the Sun

DEFENCE NEWS

INS Trikand concluded Port Call

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trikand concluded its Port Call at Port Louis, Mauritius which participated in the 58th Mauritius National Day Parade.

Indian Navy

Founded: 26 January 1950
Navy Day: 4 December

Motto(s): Shaṁ No Varunaḥ
Supreme Commander: President Droupadi Murmu

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi