Daily Current Affairs Brief : March 25, 2026

Authored By : K Shiva

1. International Current Affairs

West Asia Conflict Escalation: Strikes continued across West Asia as Tehran targeted Israel's Tel Aviv and other regional sites.

Strait of Hormuz Deadlock: Tehran's continued control of the Strait of Hormuz has snarled international shipping and caused global fuel prices to skyrocket.

Lebanon Diplomatic Move: Lebanon's Foreign Ministry withdrew the accreditation of Iranian ambassador Mohammad Reza Sheibani, ordering him to leave by Sunday.

US Homeland Security: The U.S. Senate confirmed Markwayne Mullin as Homeland Security Secretary following the firing of Kristi Noem.

Sudan Drone Strikes: The United Nations reported over 500 civilian deaths from drone strikes in Sudan between January and mid-March.

Burkina Faso Jihadist Attack: At least 14 soldiers were killed in a jihadist attack on a military post in northern Burkina Faso.

Japan Inflation Indicator: The Bank of Japan is considering a new inflation indicator to strip out the effects of government subsidies on living costs.

2. National Current Affairs

Supreme Court on SC Status: The Supreme Court ruled that converting to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism leads to an immediate loss of Scheduled Caste status.

West Asia Peace Efforts: Prime Minister Modi informed the Rajya Sabha that India's goal is to restore peace in West Asia through dialogue and diplomacy.

PM-Trump Dialogue: Prime Minister Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open during a phone call.

Corruption Perceptions Index: India ranked 91st out of 182 countries in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index with a score of 39.

Indian State Railway Archives: Historical reports from 1926 show the Indian State Railways once estimated a net profit of 6.5 million pounds.

Tax Demands on Insurers: New India Assurance and HDFC Life received significant Income Tax demand orders exceeding ₹189 crore and ₹172 crore, respectively.

InvIT Listing: The National Highways Authority of India’s Raajmarga Infrastructure Investment Trust (RIIT) was listed on the BSE.

3. Science & Technology

Quantum Discovery: Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider discovered a new particle named as Xi-cc-plus

, which is four times heavier than a proton.

Biopharma SHAKTI Strategy: The 2026 Union Budget announced this strategy to boost domestic production of biologics and biosimilars.

Assam Satellite Tender: Assam became the first Indian state to float a tender for low-earth orbit satellites to monitor floods and borders.

Dwarka Basin Fossils: Researchers identified 42 species of ancient snails in the Dwarka Basin dating back to the Miocene epoch.

AI in Suicide Prevention: Telangana Police are using Al-driven algorithms in collaboration with Meta to detect and intervene in suicide-related distress signals online.

AI-Enabled TB Screening: Andhra Pradesh plans to procure 100 AI-enabled handheld X-ray machines for doorstep tuberculosis surveillance.

Quantum Computing Conclave: SRM University-A.P. inaugurated a three-day conclave and national hackathon focused on quantum technology.

4. States Current Affairs

Delhi Green Budget: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presented a ₹1.03 lakh crore budget for 2026-27, focusing on infrastructure and women's welfare.

Gujarat UCC Bill: The Gujarat Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, becoming the second state to do so after Uttarakhand.

Tamil Nadu Election Manifesto: AIADMK released its manifesto promising free dal and cooking oil to ration cardholders.

Bihar JD(U) Presidency: Nitish Kumar was elected national president of Janata Dal (United) for the fourth time.

Tamil Nadu Seat Sharing: The ruling DMK finalized seat sharing with allies, including 10 seats for DMDK and 8 for VCK.

Meghalaya Election Law: The Meghalaya Governor approved legislation requiring Scheduled Tribe certificates for candidates in Garo council polls.

Andhra Pradesh Safe Water Goal: The state government aim to ensure continuous safe drinking water to every household by 2028 under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.

5. District & Local News

Hyderabad Fuel Panic: Rumors of a fuel shortage led to long queues and panic buying at petrol pumps across Hyderabad.

Amaravati Fire Mishap: A fire at a stockyard in Amaravati destroyed large quantities of plastic pipes, prompting a high-level inquiry.

Vijayawada Terror Arrests: Three youths with alleged links to banned terror groups were arrested for planning activities across the country.

Hyderabad Traffic Speed: Data shows Hyderabad’s average traffic speed improved to 23.4 kmph in 2025 despite rising vehicle numbers.

Vizianagaram TB Drive: District authorities launched a 100-day initiative to completely eradicate tuberculosis in Vizianagaram.

Vizag Shortcut Road: VMRDA is fast-tracking a 3.8 km greenfield road to ease travel from northern Vizag to the upcoming Bhogapuram airport.

Hyderabad Water Award: HMWS&SB received recognition at the 20th Water Digest World Water Awards for environmental conservation.

6. Sports & Games

IPL Ownership Changes: RCB changed hands in a $1.76 billion deal, and a Kal Somani-led consortium won the bid for Rajasthan Royals for $1.63 billion.

National Indoor Athletics: Tamil Nadu's Baranica Elangovan set a new national record of 4.22m in women's pole vault in Bhubaneswar.

IPL Rule Discussions: The upcoming IPL captains' meeting will discuss the Impact Player rule and two bouncers per over.

Klopp Coaching Denials: Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp dismissed rumors of taking over as Real Madrid coach.

RCB Pacer Out: Yash Dayal will not participate in IPL 2026 due to personal and legal situations.

Italian Football Crisis: Italy's national team faces critical World Cup qualifying matches after losses to Norway.

Augusta Masters Test: Golfer Akshay Bhatia described the upcoming Augusta Masters as a major "test of patience".

7. Cinema & Entertainment

Kamal Haasan’s Poll Stance: The MNM founder opted out of the Tamil Nadu assembly poll fray but extended full support to the DMK-led alliance.

Political Casting in Kerala: Political outfit Twenty20 fielded popular TV show participants and Malayalam woman actors as candidates for state elections.

Celebrity Lyrics Partnership: Elton John's long-term songwriting partnership with his lyricist is highlighted as one of the most successful in history.

Historical Revolutionary Visual: Visual cues identified Chandra Shekhar Azad, the revolutionary commander-in-chief who died in 1931.

Cultural Festivities: The Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada celebrated Vasantha Navaratri with elaborate 'Pushparchana' and floral decorations.

Submarine Tourism: The Gujarat government announced plans to launch submarine tourism near Dwarka to view submerged ancient structures.

8. General Knowledge Points for Competitive Jobs

1. Which international day is observed today, 25 March, to honor the millions who suffered under the yoke of slavery? Answer: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. (The 2026 theme is "Justice in Action: Confronting History, Advancing Dignity, Empowering Futures.")

2. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched three major digital initiatives today. What is the most significant one for DD Free Dish viewers? Answer: In-built Satellite Tuners in TV sets. (This allows viewers to watch DD Free Dish channels without a separate set-top box, reducing costs and wiring.)

3. Which state is hosting the first-ever "Khelo India Tribal Games 2026," which was inaugurated today?Answer: Chhattisgarh. (The event is being held across Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Surguja from March 25 to April 3, featuring 3,000+ athletes.)

4. India has recently formed how many "Empowered Committees" to manage the economic and security impact of the West Asia crisis? Answer: Seven Committees. (These panels, led by top secretaries, focus on areas like Energy Security, Supply Chains, and Defense to prevent economic shocks.)

5. Which startup recently delivered the "Akasha300" high-temperature 3D printer to ISRO to boost self-reliance in space manufacturing? Answer: A Kerala-based startup (supported by IIST).

6. The Supreme Court of India recently delivered a key ruling regarding "Scheduled Caste" status. What was the verdict? Answer: Scheduled Caste status cannot continue after conversion to non-Hindu religions. (The Court ruled this in a significant constitutional interpretation case.

7. Which bank received the National Award today for "Outstanding Performance in Self-Help Group (SHG) Bank Linkage" for 2024–25? Answer: Karnataka Grameena Bank (KGB).

8. NITI Aayog recently sanctioned ₹1.55 crore to which center to support women-led enterprises in Andhra Pradesh? Answer: RISE Centre (Guntupalli, NTR district).

9. Who has been named in India’s 23-member football squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier against Hong Kong, marking a potential debut? Answer: Ryan Williams. (The Australian-born winger's change of association was recently cleared by FIFA.)

10. Goldman Sachs recently lowered India's GDP growth forecast for 2026 to what percentage due to the Iran-Israel war impact? Answer: 5.9% (down from the previous 7% forecast).

11. Scheduled Castes Order: Clause 3 of the 1950 Order specifically mandates SC status for those professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism.

12. Judicial Recusal: India currently has no specific statute governing judicial recusal or a binding code of conduct for Supreme Court judges.

13. International Waterway: The Strait of Hormuz is a critical choke point for global energy transit between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

14. Corruption Perception Score: The global average score in the 2025 CPI dropped to 42 out of 100.

15. Miocene Epoch: This geological period lasted from approximately 23 million to 5.3 million years ago.

16. UAPA Act: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is used for sentencing in high-profile separatist and terror-related cases in India.

17. Representation of the People Act, 1950: Requires freezing of electoral rolls seven days before the last date of filing nomination forms.

9. Do You Know?

• The "Boxless" TV: The new in-built satellite tuners launched today mean your next TV won't need a "Dabba" (Set-top box) for free channels. This uses a technology called DVB-S2, which is now being standardized for all new Indian TV models.

• The "Ark of Return": At the UN Headquarters, there is a permanent memorial for today's International Remembrance Day called the Ark of Return. It is designed to invite visitors to "return" to the history of the slave trade to ensure it never happens again.

• Morveer the Mascot: The mascot for the Tribal Games starting today is 'Morveer', which represents the courage and spirit of tribal communities in Chhattisgarh.

• Coal Power: Despite the green energy push, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy noted today that 74% of India’s electricity is still generated by coal, and India has enough reserves to last another 70 years.

• The "Sunday" Budget Secret: As we near the end of the fiscal year, remember that the Union Budget 2026 made history on Feb 1 by being the first ever presented on a Sunday to avoid immediate stock market volatility.

• Etymology of "Shrink": The slang term for psychiatrists comes from "headshrinker," a term used for medicine men in cannibal tribes who dried and shrunk victims' heads.

• Murugan’s Name: The name Murugan (Murukan) in Tamil is unique because it includes all three categories of consonants: mellinam, idaiyinam, and vallinam.

• Response to "Thank You": "Don't mention it" is standard in British English, while "You're welcome" is primarily American.

• History of "Kudos": The word means "glory" and was popularized by Oxford and Cambridge students in the 18th century.

• Wily Definition: The word of the day, "wily," means marked by skill in deception; synonyms include crafty and cunning.

10. Job & Educational Topics

Telangana Gurukulam Results: 47,381 seats were allotted in the first phase of the TGCET results for residential institutions.

Andhra Pradesh Job Calendar: The state government released a calendar to fill approximately 10,000 jobs in various departments.

Intermediate Admissions: The Board of Intermediate Education, A.P., announced that application sales for 2026-27 start on April 1.

SRM University Admissions: Applications for various undergraduate and engineering programs at SASTRA Deemed University open on March 27, 2026.

High Court Recruitment: The High Court of Andhra Pradesh invited online applications for various posts including Section Officer and Assistant, with a deadline of April 19.

Cochin Shipyard Training: One-year pre-sea GME courses are being offered with 100% placement opportunities.

Faculty Openings: C.V. Raman Global University and SRM are seeking faculty members in CSE and Science/Humanities.

11. Day Special

World TB Day (March 24/25): Marked by statewide awareness programs, reviews of eradication targets, and the release of new screening technologies.

Lockdown Anniversary: Today marks the six-year anniversary of the imposition of the COVID-19 lockdown in India.

Historical Coup Anniversary: Fifty years ago, on March 25, 1976, a military coup in Argentina ousted President Isabel Perón.

Vasantha Navaratri: Local temples observed the sixth day of these festivities with special rituals like 'Pushparchana'.