• Gyan Bharatam Survey: The Prime Minister discussed this survey, which was launched with the objective of gathering information regarding the country's rich cultural heritage and manuscripts. This represents a significant government initiative aimed at 'Jan Bhagidari' (public participation) and the preservation of heritage.
• T20 World Cup 2026 Victory: The PM congratulated the Indian team on their victory in the T20 World Cup 2026. Achievements related to the sports sector are frequently featured in general knowledge quizzes concerning the world of sports.
• International Year of Women Farmers 2026: The year 2026 has been declared the 'International Year of Women Farmers'. This serves as a key theme for policy discussions in the fields of agriculture and women's empowerment.
• Middle East Crisis and Rumors: Amidst current global circumstances (such as crises in Iran and other regions), PM Modi urged citizens to remain united and to refrain from spreading or believing rumors. This is highly relevant from the perspective of international relations and internal security.
• Delhi Marathon and Youth Inspiration: The discussion highlighted how events like the Delhi Marathon serve to inspire the youth to prioritize health and fitness.

The 'Mann Ki Baat' Program:

• It is a monthly radio program hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Objective: To establish a dialogue with the general public and to raise awareness regarding various social issues.
• First Broadcast: October 3, 2014.
• Broadcast Schedule: On the last Sunday of every month.
• 100th Episode: Broadcast on April 30, 2023.
• January 2015 Episode: Featured the participation of then-US President Barack Obama.

• Timeframe: This ban will be effective from 7:00 AM on April 9, 2026, until 6:30 PM on April 29, 2026.
• Scope: During this period, the release of exit poll results through any medium (print, electronic, or otherwise) is strictly prohibited.
• Opinion Polls: There will also be a ban on displaying the results of opinion polls or any other type of survey on electronic media starting 48 hours prior to the conclusion of voting.
• Section 126A: This section prohibits the conducting and dissemination of exit polls during the period notified by the Election Commission.
• Section 126(1)(b): This section prohibits the display of any 'election matter' (which includes opinion polls) through television or other devices during the 48-hour period preceding the conclusion of voting (the 'Silent Period').
• Penalty: Violation of these provisions carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.

• Capital: Beijing
• Currency: Renminbi (Primary unit: Yuan)
• Borders: It shares land borders with 14 countries (including India, Russia, Mongolia, etc.)
• President (Head of State): Xi Jinping
• Legislature: National People's Congress (NPC)
• Continent: Asia
• Official Language: Standard Mandarin (known as 'Putonghua' in China)
• Major Rivers: Yangtze (Asia's longest river) and Huang He

• Astronauts: The four crew members—Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), Christina Koch (Mission Specialist), and Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist – Canadian Space Agency).
• Launch Date: The mission is scheduled to launch on April 1, 2026 (within the window of April 1–6).
• Objective: This is an approximately 10-day mission during which the Orion spacecraft will be flown around the Moon.
• Significance: This mission will take humans beyond Low Earth Orbit—to the vicinity of the Moon—for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.
• During this mission, spanning approximately 10 days, the crew will orbit the Moon at high speed before returning to Earth.

• Missile and Drone Defense: The primary focus of the agreement is the sharing of expertise to counter missile threats and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAVs/Drones).
• 10-Year Strategic Partnership: According to Zelenskyy, this agreement lays the foundation for a defense partnership spanning at least 10 years, encompassing the development of joint projects and defense investments.
• Exchange of Battlefield Expertise: Ukraine will share with Qatar its extensive experience in shooting down Russian and Iranian-origin drones acquired during the Russia-Ukraine war.
• Technical Cooperation and Co-production: Both nations have agreed to collaborate in the fields of defense industry technology, military training, cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Regional Context: This agreement comes at a time when tensions are escalating in the Middle East (West Asia). In addition to Qatar, Ukraine recently signed a similar agreement with Saudi Arabia, and an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is also expected shortly.

• What is GSP Plus? It is a special arrangement by the European Union that allows developing countries to export to European markets at reduced or zero tariffs. In return, the beneficiary country is required to implement 27 international conventions related to human rights, labor rights, and the environment.
• The 61st regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is being held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from February 23 to March 31, 2026.

United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC):

• It is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.
• Establishment: On March 15, 2006, by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Membership: It consists of 47 member states, elected by the United Nations General Assembly through a direct and secret ballot.
• Tenure: Members are elected for a term of three years.
• Limit: No member may serve for more than two consecutive terms.
• Distribution of Seats: Seats are distributed on a geographical basis: Africa (13), Asia-Pacific (13), Latin America and the Caribbean (8), Western Europe and Others (7), and Eastern Europe (6).
• India has been elected unopposed for the seventh time for the 2026–2028 term.

• Venue and Leadership: Held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, under the chairmanship of Cameroon's Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana.
• India's Agenda: India's primary focus is on finding a permanent solution for Public Stockholding (PSH). India seeks to safeguard the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system to ensure food security and protect the livelihoods of poor farmers.

World Trade Organization (WTO):

• Establishment: January 1, 1995 (under the Marrakesh Agreement)
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Membership: Currently comprises 166 member countries (Comoros and Timor-Leste joined recently)
• Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

• BA.3.2 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19.
• It evolved from an earlier BA.3 lineage, which had become nearly extinct following the beginning of 2022.
• A defining characteristic of BA.3.2 is its extensive mutation profile.
• Studies indicate that it possesses over 50 mutations in its spike protein compared to its ancestor, and more than 70 mutations compared to the original Wuhan strain.

• The Cabinet has approved a budget of ₹11,718.24 crore for India's 16th Census (Census of India 2027), which will be the first fully digital census.
• Census 2027 will be conducted in two major phases:
• Houselisting and Housing Census (April–September 2026): In this phase, information regarding houses and living conditions will be collected.
• Population Enumeration (February 2027): In this phase, information related to each citizen's age, gender, education, caste, language, employment, etc., will be gathered.
• The first phase will be conducted in four states/regions: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
• The census is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner. This office functions under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The 2027 Census will be the 16th census since 1872 and the eighth census since independence.
• The government has decided to collect data for the upcoming census, the caste-based enumeration, and the National Population Register (NPR) simultaneously.