Daily Current Affairs and GK | 10 March 2026

Topic: International News

1. Balendra Shah will become the next Prime Minister of Nepal.

• His party, the Rashtriya Swatantra Party, has won a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections.
• Balendra Shah defeated former Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli in the Jhapa-5 constituency.
• Oli is the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).
• Balendra Shah first gained fame as a rapper. His songs focused on poverty and unemployment and criticized corruption in society.
• General elections were held in Nepal on March 5, 2026, to elect 275 members of the House of Representatives.
• The elections were called after youth protests in September 2025 forced the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli.

Topic: Defence

2. United States and South Korea launched Joint Military Exercise ‘Freedom Shield’.

• On 9 March, a large-scale joint military exercise named “Freedom Shield” has been launched by the United States and South Korea, involving thousands of troops from both countries.
• The exercise has been initiated as part of the ongoing defence cooperation between the two allies to strengthen military readiness and coordination.
• According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, around 18,000 South Korean troops are participating in the military drills.
• The joint exercise is scheduled to continue until March 19, during which multiple operational and training activities will be conducted.
• Although the exact number of participating American troops has not been disclosed.
• The Freedom Shield exercise includes combined defence operations and strategic coordination activities between the armed forces of both nations.
• The exercise is expected to demonstrate the allies’ preparedness to respond to regional security challenges.
• North Korea has criticised such joint military exercises, describing them as rehearsals for invasion.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

3. 35th meeting of SCOVA chaired by Dr. Jitendra Singh in New Delhi.

• The 35th meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) chaired by Dr. Jitendra Singh in New Delhi on 10 March 2026.
• The meeting has been organised by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) to address issues related to the welfare of Central Government pensioners.
• The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has been actively coordinating with various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India to formulate pension policies and resolve pension-related grievances.
• Continuous engagement has also been maintained with Pensioners’ Welfare Associations representing lakhs of Central Government pensioners across the country to ensure participative consultation in welfare measures.
• The Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) was constituted in 1986 by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare to institutionalise coordination between government departments and pensioners’ associations.
• The committee functions under the chairmanship of the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, while the Secretary of DoPPW serves as its Secretary.
• The SCOVA consists of 15 non-official members representing Pensioners’ Welfare Associations along with official members from various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.
• The committee provides an institutional platform for pensioners’ associations to raise issues concerning pensioners’ welfare directly before the concerned ministries through constructive discussions.
• Pensioners’ Welfare Associations from Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat participated in the meeting.

Topic: National News

4. PM Modi to visit Kerala and Tamil Nadu to launch major development projects.

• On 11 March 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kerala and Tamil Nadu to inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects.
• Development projects worth around ₹10,800 crore will be launched in Ernakulam, Kerala, where the Prime Minister will also address a public gathering.
• Later in the evening, projects worth about ₹5,650 crore will be inaugurated and initiated in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, covering several infrastructure sectors.
• In Kerala, the foundation stone for a Polypropylene Unit at the Kochi Refinery of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) will be laid with an investment of over ₹5,500 crore.
• The proposed polypropylene unit will have a production capacity of 400 kilo tonnes per annum, strengthening India’s domestic polymer manufacturing capability and reducing import dependence.
• Two major highway projects will be inaugurated, including the six-laning of the Thalapady–Chengala section of NH-66, constructed at a cost of over ₹2,650 crore as part of the Mumbai–Kanyakumari Economic Corridor.
• The Kozhikode Bypass project from Vengalam to Ramanattukara, developed at a cost of around ₹2,140 crore, will also be inaugurated to reduce congestion and improve road safety.
• The PM will inaugurate 23 rural roads in Kerala under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, improving connectivity in remote regions and strengthening rural livelihoods.
• Three railway stations — Shoranur Junction, Kuttippuram and Changanassery — redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, will also be inaugurated along with the electrification of the Shoranur–Nilambur railway line.
• In Tamil Nadu, projects such as Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited’s City Gas Distribution Network and Indian Oil Corporation’s lube blending plant at Manali, Chennai, along with rural roads and a greenfield highway bypass, will be launched.
• These initiatives, including the introduction of Amrit Bharat Express trains, aim to strengthen infrastructure and boost regional economic growth.

Topic: International News

5. India dispatched 1,000 metric tons of rice to Malawi to support food security.

• A humanitarian consignment of 1,000 metric tons of rice has been dispatched by India to Malawi to support the country’s food security efforts.
• The shipment has been sent to assist communities affected by severe drought conditions caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon.
• The rice consignment was dispatched from the Nhava Sheva Port in Maharashtra to provide immediate relief to drought-affected populations.
• The assistance has been provided as part of India’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with developing countries and partners in the Global South.
• The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the humanitarian support reflects the spirit of South-South cooperation and India–Malawi partnership for food security.
• The El Niño climate pattern, which originates in the tropical Pacific Ocean due to unusually warm sea surface temperatures, has disrupted rainfall patterns across several regions of southern Africa.
• As a result, reduced agricultural production and rising food insecurity have been reported in countries including Malawi.
• Malawi, a landlocked nation in southeastern Africa, depends heavily on agriculture for both food supply and economic stability.
• Prolonged drought linked to El Niño has significantly affected maize production, which is the staple crop of the country, placing millions at risk of food shortages.
• Through the dispatch of rice assistance, India has reaffirmed its role as a reliable humanitarian partner supporting vulnerable nations during climate-induced crises.

Topic: Banking/Finance

6. SBI launched $500 million syndicated social term loan to promote women empowerment.

• A $500 million syndicated social term loan facility has been launched by the State Bank of India to promote women’s empowerment initiatives.
• The financing initiative has been announced on the eve of International Women’s Day, highlighting its focus on advancing gender equality.
• The loan facility includes a greenshoe option and is exclusively dedicated to projects supporting women’s empowerment and social impact.
• The initiative has been described as a significant milestone for SBI and the global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) financing landscape.
• The financing programme aims to accelerate social impact initiatives and reduce the gender gap by supporting women-focused development activities.
• The initiative also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG-5), which focuses on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
• According to SBI Chairman C. S. Setty, the landmark social loan reflects the bank’s commitment to ESG principles and inclusive development.
• The financing programme emphasises that economic progress must be accompanied by meaningful social transformation and equal opportunities for women.
• Through this initiative, SBI intends to create stronger financial support systems that enable women to access opportunities and participate actively in economic growth.
• The launch of the syndicated social term loan is expected to strengthen global ESG financing efforts while promoting a more inclusive and equitable financial ecosystem.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

7. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the birth of five cheetah cubs.

• The cubs were born to the female cheetah Jwala at Kuno National Park.
• The minister said the development marks an important step in India’s wildlife conservation efforts.
• After the new births, the number of cubs born and surviving in India has reached 33.
• These cubs form the tenth successful cheetah litter born in the country.
• The latest births have increased India’s total cheetah population to 53.
• Bhupender Yadav described the event as a significant milestone for the cheetah conservation programme.

Topic: Defence

8. An Indian Armed Forces contingent has arrived in Seychelles to take part in Joint Military Exercise LAMITIYE-2026.

• This is the eleventh edition of the bilateral military exercise.
• The exercise is being conducted with the Seychelles Defence Forces.
• The training is taking place at the Seychelles Defence Academy.
• The exercise has started on 9 March. It will continue until the 20th of this month.
• The programme aims to strengthen coordination between the two armed forces.
• It focuses on sub-conventional operations, which are practiced in a semi-urban environment.
• The exercise also improves cooperation during peacekeeping missions.
• It helps enhance interoperability between the two militaries.
• The twelve-day exercise includes field training activities. It also involves combat-related discussions.
• The exercise will end with a validation phase, which will last for two days.

Topic: Personality in News

9. Gary Kirsten has been appointed as head coach of Sri Lanka men's national cricket team.

• His tenure will begin on 15 April. The coaching contract will last for two years. His term will end on 14 April 2028.
• Gary Kirsten earlier played international cricket. He represented the South Africa national cricket team.
• His playing career lasted from 1993 to 2004. He scored a total of 14,087 international runs.
• He scored 21 centuries in Test cricket. He also made 13 centuries in One Day Internationals.
• Kirsten became head coach of the India men's national cricket team in 2008. He served in that role until 2011.
• During his tenure, India won the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2011.

Topic: Reports and Indices

10. According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India remained the world’s second-largest arms importer.

• This ranking covers the period from 2021 to 2025.
• The report states that Ukraine became the biggest global importer of weapons during the same timeframe.
• Other major arms importers after India include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan.
• India’s leading suppliers of military equipment were Russia, France, and Israel.
• The volume of India’s arms imports declined by around four percent compared with the 2016–2020 period.
• Russia’s share of India’s arms imports decreased to about 40 percent during the 2021–2025 period.
• Pakistan ranked fifth globally with about 4.2 percent of total arms imports.
• Roughly 80 percent of Pakistan’s weapons imports originate from China.
• In global trends, Europe emerged as the largest arms-importing region during the past five years.
• Europe’s share of worldwide arms imports rose sharply to about 33 percent from 12 percent in the previous five-year period.
• The leading exporters of major weapons in 2021–2025 were the United States, France, Russia, Germany, and China.
• The United States accounted for roughly 42 percent of total global arms exports during 2021–2025.
• India did not appear among the top 25 arms-exporting nations in the world.