Daily Current Affairs and GK | 7 March 2026

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

1. Bhupendra Yadav and Sari Multala renewed an Environmental Cooperation Agreement between India and Finland.

• The renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in New Delhi.
• Sari Multala is Finland's Minister of Climate and Environment.
• This agreement expands on the Environmental Partnership signed in 2020.
• It aims to strengthen joint efforts to combat pollution and protect the environment.
• This framework supports cooperation on air pollution control, including measures to prevent water pollution.
• Both countries will work on cleaning and remediating degraded soil.
• The agreement promotes better waste management practices, including hazardous waste treatment and recycling.
• Waste-to-energy solutions are also included in the cooperation. The partnership promotes a circular economy approach.
• It promotes low-carbon use of natural resources. Joint efforts will focus on strategies to mitigate climate change.
• Countries will work together on forest and environmental monitoring.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

2. India held its first national-level workshop on mine closure and land repurposing in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu.

• The workshop took place over two days on February 23 and 24, 2026.
• It was organized by the Ministry of Coal and NLC India Limited.
• Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the event.
• The workshop focused on structured mine closure planning and also emphasized sustainable post-mining land repurposing.
• The workshop was attended by 147 nodal officers from mines to be closed.
• Representatives from coal PSUs and private mining companies were present.
• Regulators, NGOs, policymakers, financial institutions, academia, and international organizations also participated.
• The total number of participants exceeded 500.
• The workshop recognized that 25 mines had been successfully closed using scientific methods.
• The Ministry of Coal is taking initiatives to support community development.
• The Ministry released the RECLAIM framework to guide active community participation. RECLAIM stands for Reach Out, Envision, Co-create, Localize, Act, Integrate, and Maintain.
• The Ministry has also developed an interactive online tool called SUVIKALP.
• This tool has been developed to help project proponents identify and implement suitable repurposing projects.

Topic: State News/Kerala

3. AI-powered G-SPIDER robot deployed for canal cleaning in Thiruvananthapuram.

• An AI-powered G-SPIDER robotic canal-cleaning system has been deployed in Thiruvananthapuram under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0 to ensure safe and human-free sanitation operations.
• The robotic system has been installed at the Amayizhanchan Canal near the Thampanoor Railway Station premises, where canal cleaning operations were extremely challenging due to difficult working conditions.
• The initiative has been undertaken to phase out manual scavenging and enhance the safety of sanitation workers engaged in waste removal in high-risk and inaccessible areas.
• The AI-powered canal-cleaning robot was commissioned by Kerala’s Minister for Local Self-Governments, M. B. Rajesh, marking a significant step towards mechanised sanitation.
• The system has been developed by Technopark-based Genrobotic Innovations, the creators of the well-known robotic scavenger “Bandicoot.”
• The G-SPIDER robot is designed on a Cable-Driven Parallel Robotics (CDPR) architecture and is equipped with AI-enabled vision systems and advanced sensor intelligence.
• Through machine vision technology, the robot can autonomously identify different types of waste and adapt to varying flow conditions and structural challenges in canals.
• Its five-degrees-of-freedom robotic mechanism with a biomimetic claw-type grabber enables the accurate handling and removal of mixed and irregular debris.
• The collected waste is transferred directly into designated collection vehicles, ensuring a completely hands-free canal cleaning process from detection to disposal.

Topic: International News

4. United States conducted test launch of Nuclear-Capable Minuteman III Missile.

• A test launch of the nuclear-capable LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), often referred to as a "doomsday missile," has been conducted by the United States off the California coast.
• The missile was launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base near Santa Barbara by the Air Force Global Strike Command on March 3.
• The test was described by officials as a routine launch scheduled years in advance to verify the effectiveness and reliability of the United States’ nuclear deterrent system.
• During the test, the missile designated GT-254 carried two test re-entry vehicles and travelled across the Pacific Ocean.
• The launch was carried out to assess the performance of individual missile components and strengthen the readiness of the land-based nuclear deterrent.
• According to officials, the test also evaluated the functioning of multiple re-entry vehicles, which enhance missile effectiveness and help overcome enemy defence systems.
• The Minuteman III missile forms a crucial part of the United States’ nuclear triad, which enables the launch of nuclear weapons from land, sea and air.
• These missiles are stored in underground silos across the American West and primarily serve as a deterrent against potential nuclear attacks.
• The Minuteman III is capable of travelling up to 6,000 miles at speeds exceeding 15,000 miles per hour, allowing it to strike targets across the globe rapidly.
• The missile can carry nuclear warheads estimated to be up to 20 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, highlighting its strategic significance.

Topic: Banking/Finance

5. ‘Spoorthi’ Program launched by L&T Finance to support women entrepreneurs.

• A specialised program named “Spoorthi” has been launched by L&T Finance to support and empower women entrepreneurs across India.
• Under this program, specific relaxations and financial benefits are being provided to eligible women borrowers, particularly for housing and business expansion purposes.
• Extended loan tenors of up to 25 years for house property purchases or Loan Against Property (LAP) have been introduced under the scheme.
• Apart from this, Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) will provide Industrial LAP tenure up to 12 years.
• Enhanced eligibility norms, including higher debt-to-income ratios, have been introduced to provide greater financial flexibility to women entrepreneurs.
• To qualify for the programme, the woman borrower must hold at least a 50% stake in the business and play a key managerial role in the enterprise.
• It has also been specified that the borrower’s income must constitute at least 50% of the total appraised income when combined with other borrowers.
• The business applying for support must show an annual cash profit of at least ₹5 lakh according to the latest Income Tax Return and should not have reported losses in the last two years.
• The programme will initially be rolled out in major metropolitan regions such as Mumbai MMR, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
• Through the Spoorthi programme, L&T Finance aims to provide women with easier access to capital, strengthen women-led enterprises and promote a more inclusive financial ecosystem.

Topic: International News

6. Scotland became the first UK country to legalise water cremation.

• Water cremation has been made legal in Scotland, making it the first country in the United Kingdom to permit this alternative method of body disposal.
• The process, known as alkaline hydrolysis, has been introduced as a third option for families in addition to traditional burial and flame cremation.
• Under the procedure, bodies are wrapped in biodegradable materials such as silk or wool and placed in a pressurised chamber containing hot water and chemicals.
• The technique accelerates natural decomposition, after which the remaining bones are processed and returned to relatives as powdered remains in an urn.
• The process involves heating the body to around 150°C in a mixture of potassium hydroxide and water for approximately 90 minutes.
• After dissolution of body tissues, the remaining bones are rinsed at high temperature, dried and pulverised using a machine called a cremulator.
• Water cremation is considered an environmentally friendly method and is often referred to as a “green cremation.”
• Studies have shown that the process produces around seven times less carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional cremation, which typically releases about 320 kg of CO₂.
• The method has already been adopted in several countries including the United States and the Republic of Ireland, indicating its growing global acceptance.

Topic: Sports

7. The Khelo India Tribal Games will be held for the first time in 2026 from March 25 to April 6.

• The first edition will be held in Chhattisgarh. The games will be hosted in three cities in the state.
• The host locations are Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Surguja.
• Seven medal sports will be part of the competition. These sports include athletics, football, hockey, weightlifting, archery, swimming, and wrestling.
• Two additional sports will be showcased as demonstration events: Mallakhamb and Kabaddi.
• The Games are designed to increase sports opportunities for tribal youth. Mansukh Mandaviya stated that this initiative is part of expanding opportunities for young athletes.
• The Games logo, theme song, and mascot were already launched on December 23.
• The aim is to integrate tribal athletes into the national sports system.
• The event will be organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India, the Indian Olympic Association, the National Sports Federation, and the Chhattisgarh State Organizing Committee. The official mascot of the Games is Morveer.
• The word "Mor" in Chhattisgarhi means "my" or "our." The word "Veer" signifies bravery and courage.
• Chhattisgarh became the first state to host this event exclusively for tribal athletes.
• The Games are organized under the Khelo India Scheme.
• The scheme aims to increase public participation in sports on a large scale. It also focuses on improving the promotion of sports in the country.
• The Khelo India Games were declared an event of national importance in 2020 under the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act, 2007.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

8. A rare pair of Dusky Eagle Owls has been spotted in the Phato Tourism Zone, a part of the Terai West Forest Division of Uttarakhand.

• They were spotted near the Corbett Tiger Reserve. This discovery has excited conservationists and bird experts.
• This species had not been officially recorded in this area for more than 15 years. The last confirmed sighting was in 2010.
• These owls were documented by naturalist Himanshu Tiruva.
• The Dusky Eagle Owl is known for its secretive behavior. It is very adept at hiding.
• This bird avoids areas with a high human presence.
• The owl blends well into dense forest vegetation, making it difficult to spot.
• It typically lives in dense forests near rivers or water bodies. This species prefers old, tall trees for nesting or resting.
• It primarily preys on small mammals and birds.
• The Phato Zone is already popular for tiger and elephant sightings.
• This recent discovery is expected to increase birdwatching tourism in the area.
• The owl is a large bird of prey, measuring 48 to 58 centimeters long.
• It is somewhat diurnal and may be active during daylight hours in cloudy weather.

Topic: Personality in News

9. Saba Shawl is the first Kashmiri woman to head the largest high-security prison in the Union Territory of J&K.

• She has been appointed Superintendent of Srinagar Central Jail.
• The appointment was announced by an order from the J&K Home Department.
• Four officers were posted as Superintendents of different prisons. Shawl was specifically assigned to Srinagar Central Jail.
• Shawl hails from the Peer Bagh area of ​​Srinagar. She passed the Kashmir Public Service Commission exam in 2012.
• Prior to this role, she served as a staff officer to the Director General of Prisons.
• She also served as a Public Relations Officer in the J&K Prisons Department.
• Srinagar Central Jail is the oldest prison in the Union Territory.

Topic: Geography

10. Echinus Geyser has erupted for the first time in six years.

• This geyser is located in the Norris Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Echinus Geyser had been dormant since 2020.
• Researchers say the geyser may remain active for a short time before becoming dormant again.
• Geysers are geothermally heated springs that erupt intermittently.
• Geysers form from tube-like openings deep in the Earth.
• Water near molten rock, or magma, heats up and eventually erupts from the tube.
• After the eruption, the water slowly drains back into the tube, and the cycle repeats.
• Echinus Geyser previously erupted at regular intervals.
• In the 1970s, it erupted every 40 to 80 minutes. In subsequent decades, eruptions of up to 90 minutes were sometimes observed.
• During peak activity, the geyser could eject water up to 75 feet (23 meters).
• The frequency of eruptions decreased over time, with only one eruption recorded in 2018, one in 2019, and two in 2020.