Daily Current Affairs and GK | 25 March 2026

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

1. Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy stated that India possesses the world's fifth-largest coal reserves.

• He noted that these reserves are sufficient for long-term utilization. They can meet India's energy requirements for 60 to 70 years.
• The government has implemented several reforms within the coal sector.
• These reforms have been implemented over the past few years.
• The coal block allocation process has been made significantly more transparent.
• Coal remains a primary source of energy in India. It plays a pivotal role in electricity generation.
• Approximately 74% of electricity is generated by coal-based thermal power plants.
• India is the world's second-largest producer of coal. It is also the second-largest consumer.
• The government has intensified coal exploration activities. The objective is to boost domestic production.
• Policies are being introduced to enhance coal production. Efforts are also underway to streamline the approval process.
• The government is prioritizing environmental sustainability. These measures contribute to achieving long-term development goals.

Topic: Sports

2. Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 hosted in Chhattisgarh across three cities.

• The Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 will be hosted in Chhattisgarh from March 25 to April 3 across multiple venues.
• It has been announced that the event will be organised in the cities of Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Surguja.
• More than 6,000 participants, including around 2,300 athletes, are expected to take part in the Games.
• The event is being organised to promote tribal talent and provide a national platform for indigenous sports and athletes.
• A wide range of disciplines such as Archery, Athletics, Football, Hockey, Swimming, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Mallakhamb, and Kabaddi will be featured.
• It has been highlighted that over 32% of the population of Chhattisgarh belongs to tribal communities, making it a suitable host for the Games.
• The Games aim to showcase the rich cultural traditions and athletic excellence of tribal communities across India.
• Mallakhamb and Kabaddi will be presented as demonstrative disciplines to highlight indigenous sporting traditions.

Topic: National News

3. Seven empowered groups constituted to address long-term impacts of the West Asia conflict.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the formation of seven empowered groups to deal with the potential long-term effects of the West Asia conflict.
• A ‘Team India’ approach has been emphasized, and states have been urged to coordinate closely with the Centre to effectively handle the emerging crisis.
• It has been stated that these groups will focus on key sectors such as fuel, fertilisers, gas, supply chains, and inflation management.
• India’s position of resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy has been reiterated as the only viable solution for restoring peace in West Asia.
• Continuous engagement has been maintained by India with major stakeholders including Iran, Israel, and the United States to promote de-escalation.
• The challenges related to supply of essential commodities like crude oil, gas, and fertilisers have been acknowledged as significant concerns for the country.
• It has been highlighted that self-reliance will be the most sustainable strategy to deal with such global disruptions in the future.
• Citizens have been advised to remain prepared as the situation is evolving and uncertainties continue to persist globally.
• A warning has been issued to prevent black marketing and hoarding, and state governments have been directed to take strict action against such practices.
• Efforts are being made to secure crude oil and gas supplies from alternative sources to ensure that the common population remains unaffected.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. 4^th India-Iceland foreign office consultations held in Reykjavik.

• On 23 March, the 4th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Iceland has been conducted in Reykjavik to review bilateral cooperation.
• Various sectors including political relations, trade and investment, geothermal energy, fisheries, and cultural exchanges have been discussed during the meeting.
• The implementation of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement has also been reviewed as part of ongoing cooperation efforts.
• An increase in bilateral trade and investment by Icelandic companies in India has been acknowledged by both sides.
• Future directions for cooperation have been explored, especially in multilateral platforms such as the United Nations.
• Regional and international issues of mutual concern have been discussed, including developments in their respective neighbourhoods.
• The importance of sustained dialogue and multilateral engagement has been underlined to address global challenges effectively.
• Both countries have expressed commitment towards strengthening people-to-people ties and institutional collaborations.
• The consultations have provided an opportunity to deepen understanding and expand cooperation across multiple sectors.
• It has been agreed that the next round of consultations will be held in New Delhi at a mutually convenient time.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

5. Entrepreneur Shova Rai felicitated by NCW for contributions to women empowerment.

• Entrepreneur Shova Rai from Sikkim has been felicitated by the National Commission for Women during an awareness programme held in New Delhi.
• The recognition has been given for her valuable contribution and active participation in discussions related to women entrepreneurship.
• The programme has been organised in collaboration with GLOW Foundation and Mahila Haat to promote awareness of government schemes.
• A focus has been placed on creating opportunities and platforms for women entrepreneurs, especially from Sikkim and the Northeast region.
• A Certificate of Appreciation has been awarded to Shova Rai under the signature of Vijaya Rahatkar.
• Her entrepreneurial journey has been highlighted as an example of determination, starting from a small home-based catering business.
• Professional training in hairstyling has been pursued by her in Mumbai despite financial and personal challenges.
• Her work has been recognised for reflecting resilience, adaptability, and commitment to growth.
• Participants have been encouraged to continue their involvement in initiatives promoting women empowerment.
• The programme has aimed to strengthen awareness, participation, and support systems for women entrepreneurs across regions.

Topic: State News/Tripura

6. State-Level 100-Day TB campaign launched in Agartala on World Tuberculosis Day.

• A state-level 100-day tuberculosis campaign has been launched in Agartala on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day.
• World Tuberculosis Day is observed annually on March 24.
• The initiative has been organised by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Tripura in collaboration with the National Health Mission.
• The campaign has been inaugurated at Kathiyababa Ashram, Nagichherra, to strengthen TB awareness and control measures.
• Emphasis has been placed on early detection and proper treatment, as tuberculosis has been identified as a curable disease.
• The importance of screening tests has been highlighted to achieve the goal of a TB-free state and country.
• Tuberculosis has been described as a “silent killer” that can spread within households as well as in the wider community.
• Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs.
• It is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It spreads through the air.
• Tuberculosis can be treated by a combination of antibacterial medications for a period of six to 12 months.
• India currently has around 2.6 million TB patients, indicating the scale of the challenge.

Topic: National News

7. Ashwini Vaishnaw announced five new reforms under the "52 Reforms in 52 Weeks" initiative.

• The ticket cancellation process has been simplified. If a ticket is cancelled more than 72 hours prior to the train's departure, a minimum fixed fee will be applicable.
• For tickets cancelled between 72 and 24 hours before the train's departure, a 25% deduction will be applied to the fare.
• If a ticket is cancelled between 24 and 8 hours prior to the train's departure, passengers will receive a 50% refund.
• No refund will be granted for tickets cancelled less than 8 hours before the train's departure.
• Tickets purchased at counters can now be cancelled at any railway station across India.
• Passengers can now change their boarding station up to 30 minutes prior to the train's departure.
• Previously, changes to the boarding station were permitted only before the reservation chart was prepared.
• New single-stack and double-stack wagons have been introduced for the transportation of vehicles.
• Under a new rule, for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts, it is now mandatory to possess 20% prior experience in similar railway-related works.
• A fixed Bid Security (earnest money deposit) of 2% has been introduced in the tendering process. This measure aims to ensure that only serious bidders participate.
• Bid capacity will now be evaluated for projects with a cost exceeding ₹10 crore.

Topic: Personality in News

8. Stuti Pradhan, a young leader from Sikkim, has been selected to represent India at the 'World Youth Parliament'.

• The 'World Youth Parliament' is a global platform that brings together youth representatives from various countries.
• These representatives discuss the major challenges facing the world and also propose youth-led policy solutions.
• It features representatives from South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Chad, Thailand, Yemen, and many other nations.
• Ms. Pradhan was the state-level winner of the 'Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025'.
• She has demonstrated exceptional prowess in parliamentary debates. On the occasion of Republic Day 2026, she was invited as a special guest to Sikkim's 'Lok Bhawan'.
• This honor is bestowed upon individuals who have achieved remarkable milestones in their respective fields. She will now represent her state on an international stage.

Topic: Indian Polity

9. The Supreme Court of India has delivered a verdict regarding the eligibility for Scheduled Caste (SC) status.

• It states that SC status is restricted exclusively to Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists.
• The Court held that conversion to other religions results in the loss of of SC status. This includes conversion to Christianity.
• This verdict upholds a previous ruling by the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
• The Court clarified the implications of religious conversion, stating that no individual professing the Christian faith can be recognized as a member of a Scheduled Caste.
• This judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justice P.K. Mishra and Justice Manmohan.
• The Court also addressed the issue of legal protections, ruling that such individuals cannot claim protection under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
• This verdict is grounded in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.
• The Court placed particular emphasis on Clause 3 of this Order, observing that this provision is rigid and admits of no exceptions.
• This restriction applies to all individuals, irrespective of their caste by birth.

Topic: Sports

10. The inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championship commenced on March 24, 2026.

• It is being held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The event is scheduled to span two days.
• A total of 278 athletes have registered for the competition. Of these participants, 97 are women.
• The competition features events in the senior category, as well as events in the Under-20 category.
• The objective of this event is to strengthen indoor athletics in India. It also provides valuable competitive experience right at the start of the season.
• Animesh Kujur will compete in the men's 60-meter sprint. He is currently preparing for the 2026 season.
• Praveen Chithravel will participate in the long jump event. He hails from Tamil Nadu.
• Priyanka C and Krushik Manjunath won gold medals in the women's 3000-meter race and the men's 60-meter hurdles, respectively.
• Kalyan JR secured the silver medal in the men's 800-meter final, finishing behind Mohammed Afsal.
• Priyanka has become the first female athlete to win a gold medal at the Indoor Nationals.