Daily Current Affairs Brief : March 1, 2026

Authored By : K Shiva

1. International Current Affairs

Escalation in West Asia: The United States and Israel launched a major coordinated military operation, titled "Operation Epic Fury," against Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

Targets and Casualties: Strikes targeted Iran's top leadership and military installations, with unconfirmed reports indicating that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may have been killed. Iran's Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and IRGC Commander Mohammed Pakpour were reported dead.

Iranian Retaliation: Iran responded by firing missiles and drones at Israel and U.S. military bases in the Gulf, including Al Udeid (Qatar), Ali Al Salem (Kuwait), and the 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

Strategic Waterway Closure: Following the attacks, Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.

Global Flight Disruptions: Over 900 flights were cancelled or rerouted as airspaces over several West Asian countries were closed, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded.

U.S. Political Stance: President Donald Trump called for the overthrow of the Iranian government, urging the Iranian public to "seize control of your destiny".

2. National Current Affairs

Semiconductor Milestone: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Micron Technology's semiconductor assembly and test plant at Sanand, Gujarat, pitching India as a reliable global investment destination.

Project Cheetah Update: Nine more cheetahs from Botswana were released into the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, bringing India's total cheetah population to 48.

HPV Vaccination Launch: PM Modi launched a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign from Ajmer, Rajasthan, targeting cervical cancer prevention in girls.

Judicial Conclave: The "Justice Unplugged 2026" conclave was held in New Delhi, where senior advocates like Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi discussed constitutional morality and the challenges of a 5.4 crore case backlog.

Rice Fortification Suspension: The Central government has reportedly suspended its rice fortification scheme, a move welcomed by various health and food activists.

Supreme Court on Service Norms: The Supreme Court directed the Centre to revisit British-era service conditions and retirement ages for armed forces and coast guard personnel.

3. Science & Technology

RNA Breakthrough: Researchers developed "QT45," a synthetic self-replicating RNA molecule that provides insights into how life might have originated on Earth.

AI and Legal Tools: At the Justice Unplugged conclave, practitioners highlighted how AI is now routinely used to summarize lengthy legal briefs and assist with translations.

Evolutionary Study: A new study in Scientific Reports indicates that mosquitoes began biting humans approximately 1.8 million years ago in Southeast Asia.

Critical Minerals Exploration: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) announced plans to increase critical mineral exploration projects from 236 to 300 in the upcoming season.

Clean Energy Investment: GAIL (India) Ltd. approved an investment of ₹1,736.25 crore to set up 178.2 MW of wind power capacity in Maharashtra.

4. States Current Affairs

Andhra Pradesh (Investment): HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh laid the foundation for a ₹2,300 crore Blue Jet Healthcare unit in Anakapalli district, emphasizing the state's "Speed of Doing Business".

Telangana (Governance): CM Revanth Reddy launched "Praja Palana-Pragati Pranalika," a 99-day program starting March 6 to expedite pending files and improve public welfare delivery.

West Bengal (Electoral Roll): The Election Commission deleted 63.66 lakh names from West Bengal's voter rolls following an intensive revision, bringing the total electorate down to 7.04 crore.

Punjab (Investment): The Progressive Punjab Investors' Summit 2026 is scheduled for March 13-15 at Plaksha University, Mohali.

Karnataka (Snakebite Crisis): Karnataka reported a sharp rise in snakebite cases, reaching 16,805 cases and 154 deaths in 2025.

5. District & Local News

Kakinada Firecracker Tragedy: A massive explosion at a firecracker unit in Vetlapalem village killed 20 people and critically injured 10 others.

Delhi Weather: Delhi recorded its hottest February day in three years, with the mercury reaching 32.5°C on Saturday.

Security Upgrade for Delhi Rail: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is procuring advanced drones, face-recognition CCTVs, and 277 walkie-talkies to secure Delhi's major railway stations.

Agra FIR against MLA's Son: Police in Agra registered an FIR against the son of Fatehpur Sikri BJP MLA Chaudhary Babulal for allegedly thrashing toll plaza staff.

Assam Polls: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi is likely to contest the upcoming Assam assembly elections from the Jorhat constituency.

6. Sports & Games

Historic Ranji Title: Jammu and Kashmir won their maiden Ranji Trophy title, defeating eight-time champions Karnataka in the final.

Player of the Series: Seamer Aquib Nabi was named Player of the Series for his 60-wicket haul during J&K’s historic campaign.

Ranji Trophy Cash Reward: J&K CM Omar Abdullah announced a cash reward of ₹2 crore for the winning team and support staff.

T20 World Cup Logistics: The ICC is working on alternate travel plans for players and officials returning from the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka due to West Asia's airspace closures.

Prague Chess Festival: Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram took his tally to 1.5 points after a third-round draw against Parham Maghsoodloo.

7. Cinema & Entertainment

Music Legend Passes Away: Neil Sedaka, the hit-making singer-songwriter known for his boyish soprano, passed away at the age of 86.

Upcoming Telugu Release: The film Pedda Katha, directed by Satish and featuring Shrinath Maganti, is set to release on March 7.

New Series Announcement: Vijay Sethupathi is set to star in a new rural drama series titled Muthu, directed by M. Manikandan.

Themed Cinema: A film titled Mahila Kabaddi, featuring real-life players and actor Suman, is being produced to highlight the struggles of women in sports.

8. General Knowledge points for competitive jobs

1. EPFO Interest Rate: The Central Board of Trustees is likely to recommend an interest rate of 8.2% to 8.25% for the current financial year.

2. Constitution Articles: Under Article 108, the President can call a joint session of Parliament if there is a deadlock between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

3. Judiciary Statistics: As of January 2026, the total number of pending court cases at all levels in India reached 5.4 crore.

4. Geography (Oil Trade): The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly 20% of the world's seaborne oil trade and is the passage for 40% of India's crude imports from West Asia.

5. Medical Science: Garadasil-9 is a vaccine used to protect against 9 types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), including types 16 and 18 which are major causes of cervical cancer.

6. Which global day is observed today, 1 March, to promote equality and dignity for everyone regardless of their background? Answer: Zero Discrimination Day (The day, launched by UNAIDS, aims to ensure that everyone can live a full and productive life with dignity.)

7. What major digital rule change regarding SIM binding has become mandatory in India starting today, 1 March 2026? Answer: Mandatory SIM binding for WhatsApp accounts. (The Department of Telecommunications now requires your WhatsApp account to be linked to the physical SIM in your primary phone to prevent remote scams.)

8. Which two world leaders joined PM Modi at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial as part of a historic state visit that concluded recently? Answer: António Costa (President of the European Council) and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission).

9. India and which country recently launched the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for businesses in both nations to strengthen digital trade? Answer: Israel. (The "masterstroke" move allows seamless digital transactions between Indian and Israeli businesses.)

10. Pakyong Airport, located in which Indian state, is set to be renamed after a famous freedom fighter? Answer: Sikkim.

11. Which specialized force in India is celebrating its 20th Raising Day in early 2026, known for its expertise in disaster management? Answer: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

12. In a historic T20 World Cup clash on 15 February 2026, India defeated Pakistan by how many runs? Answer: 61 runs. (Ishan Kishan was the 'Player of the Match' for his 77 off 40 balls; India bowled out Pakistan for 114.)

13. Which Indian city recently hosted the foundation stone laying ceremony for the country's first "Quantum Valley"? Answer: Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh.

14. Who has been appointed as the new Chief People Officer of the multinational firm Amazon in early 2026? Answer: Arvind KC.

15. Which international day is observed today to honor the role of civil defense and the prevention of accidents and disasters? Answer: World Civil Defence Day.

9. Do you know?

• The 6-Hour Rule: Starting today, due to the new SIM binding rules, WhatsApp Web or Desktop users may experience automatic logouts every 6 hours if the primary phone (with the SIM) isn't nearby or verified.

• The "Zero Prize": India has introduced the "Zero Prize," the country's first results-based environmental award to honor individuals achieving zero-waste milestones in their communities.

• A "Prachand" Flight: President Droupadi Murmu recently made history by flying a sortie in the indigenous LCH Prachand helicopter, showcasing India's growing defense capabilities.

• Yellowstone Birthday: Today marks the anniversary of the establishment of Yellowstone, the world's first National Park, on March 1, 1872.

• St. David's Day: While we focus on GK, today is also St. David’s Day, the national day of Wales, where people traditionally wear leeks or daffodils to celebrate.

• Sea-Hill Geography: Anjarle in Maharashtra is among the rare <0.1% of India’s coastline where the sea directly meets the hills, a UNESCO-recognized ecological zone

• Sungudi Saris: A traditional Madurai handloom art, it takes more than 15 days to transform a cotton sari into an intricate "Sungudi" featuring up to 15,000 dots.

• The "Baahubali" Rocket: ISRO’s GSLV Mark-III (LVM3) is popularly known as the "Baahubali" of Indian rockets for its heavy-lift capabilities.

10. Job & Educational Topics

APPSC Group-I: The Supreme Court upheld a High Court order to move 326 Group-I officers to non-focal posts following evaluation irregularities.

Delhi University Convocation: More than 1.2 lakh students were awarded degrees at the 102nd convocation of DU.

JEE Main 2026: Results for Session-1 showed N. Mahith from Andhra Pradesh as a state topper with a 100 percentile score.

Educational Reform Discussion: Experts at the Justice Unplugged conclave called for simplifying legal statutes and judgments to make them more accessible to common litigants.

11. Day Special (March 1):

World Civil Defence Day: Observed annually on March 1st to raise awareness about the importance of civil protection and the efforts of national services in disaster management.

Zero Discrimination Day: Celebrated globally to promote equality before the law and in practice, highlighted this year in the context of discussions at the Justice Unplugged conclave.