Current Affairs - March 13, 2026 Current Affairs

Bank of Baroda introduced the “bob Women Sapphire” savings account to provide exclusive financial and lifestyle benefits for women customers. The account requires maintaining a Monthly Average Balance of ₹1 lakh and includes several health and wellness features. These benefits include a ₹10 lakh cancer care coverage plan, complimentary online doctor consultations for up to six family members, and discounts on medicines and pathology services. Customers also receive the Bob Bhoomi RuPay Select Debit Card, which provides privileges such as airport lounge access, gym memberships, spa or salon services, and OTT subscriptions, along with additional concessions on loans and locker charges.

AVATAAR amphibious drone is India’s first drone designed to operate both in the air and underwater. It was developed by AquaAirX Autonomous Systems and features a carbon-fibre structure that provides high resistance to corrosion in marine environments. The drone uses advanced sonar systems, including multibeam imaging sonar, to map the seabed and detect underwater objects. It also includes an acoustic communication modem and an Ultra-Short Baseline navigation system for precise positioning during missions. The name AVATAAR stands for Amphibious Vehicle for Autonomous Tactical Aerial & Aquatic Reconnaissance and is intended for surveillance, reconnaissance, and security operations around ports, harbors, and coastal regions.

Gujarat launched the ‘Lake and Air Watch’ initiative through the Gujarat Urban Development Mission to monitor environmental conditions in urban areas. The program uses satellite technology and advanced sensors to track air quality and the condition of city lakes, including pollution levels, siltation, and algae growth. Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) data will be gathered from monitoring stations across 17 municipal corporations and 152 municipalities. A centralized digital dashboard will continuously update environmental data and generate alerts if pollution levels or lake conditions change significantly, helping authorities respond quickly and improving environmental transparency for citizens.

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Voltas Limited to promote collaboration between industry and start-ups working in cooling and smart appliance technologies. The initiative aims to support innovation in areas such as HVAC systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, power electronics, and advanced control technologies. Through programs like the Startup India initiative and the Bharat Start-up Grand Challenge, selected start-ups will receive mentorship, technical support, and access to testing infrastructure. The partnership also encourages the development of energy-efficient cooling solutions, IoT-enabled appliances, air-quality monitoring systems, and predictive maintenance technologies.

George Russell won the 2026 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, delivering a strong performance for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. Russell started the race from pole position and secured victory with a comfortable lead of about 2.9 seconds over his teammate, achieving his sixth career Formula 1 win. During the race, he briefly lost the lead to Charles Leclerc but regained it after a Ferrari strategy error during a Virtual Safety Car period. The win highlighted Mercedes’ impressive early pace in the 2026 season, making them strong contenders for the championship. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton finished fourth in his debut race for Ferrari.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international body responsible for setting standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, placed Kuwait and Papua New Guinea on its “grey list” for increased monitoring after its February 2026 plenary meeting. Countries on this list have strategic deficiencies in their financial monitoring systems and must implement specific action plans within a given timeframe to address these gaps. While the grey list expanded, the FATF “black list” remained unchanged and includes Iran, North Korea, and Myanmar. The monitoring aims to safeguard the global financial system while ensuring humanitarian financial flows are not disrupted.

The Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved the procurement of 1,25,855 metric tonnes of Rabi crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) in Telangana. The total procurement value is over ₹894 crore and aims to benefit thousands of farmers in the state. This initiative ensures farmers receive fair prices for their produce and are protected from market price fluctuations. By preventing distress sales and encouraging the production of pulses and oilseeds, the program supports agricultural growth, improves nutritional security, and contributes to strengthening the rural economy under the leadership of Narendra Modi.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed a Framework Memorandum of Understanding with All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, to advance research in space medicine for upcoming human space missions. The agreement was signed by Dinesh Kumar Singh, Director of the Human Space Flight Centre, and Srinivas M, Director of AIIMS, in the presence of ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan. The collaboration will focus on studying human health challenges in microgravity, including musculoskeletal atrophy, neuroscience, nutrition, immunity, and metabolic health. This partnership supports India’s long-term goals, such as developing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and preparing for future crewed missions to the Moon.

Van Allen Probe A, part of NASA’s Van Allen Probes mission, re-entered Earth’s atmosphere on March 11 after nearly 14 years since its launch in 2012. The mission was conducted by NASA and managed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The spacecraft studied the Van Allen radiation belts, which are regions of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field. One of the mission’s major discoveries was the identification of a temporary third radiation belt formed during intense solar activity. The data collected helps scientists understand space weather and its effects on satellites, astronauts, communication systems, and power grids on Earth.

The United States announced a historic $300 billion partnership with Reliance Industries Ltd to build a major oil refinery called “America First Refining” at the Port of Brownsville in Texas, United States. The project was announced by Donald Trump and represents the first major refinery construction in the U.S. in about 50 years. It is expected to be one of the cleanest refineries in the world and the largest investment in U.S. history. The initiative aims to strengthen energy security, create thousands of jobs, and stabilize global oil markets amid disruptions in supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.

Nashik Municipal Corporation became the first Urban Local Body in Maharashtra to issue public Green Municipal Bonds and list them on the National Stock Exchange of India. These bonds are fixed-income debt instruments used by local governments to raise funds specifically for environmentally sustainable projects and climate-friendly initiatives. The listing ceremony was marked by Ashish Chauhan, Managing Director of NSE, who presented a replica of the NSE bell to Devendra Fadnavis. The funds generated from these bonds will support green infrastructure, sustainable urban development, and environmentally beneficial public projects in the city.

PayU partnered with GoKwik to introduce India’s first Integrated Conversion-to-Completion stack aimed at improving the online shopping experience for Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands. The collaboration integrates GoKwik’s conversion intelligence with PayU’s advanced payment infrastructure to reduce revenue loss caused by checkout drop-offs and payment failures. This innovative solution helps merchants create a smoother and more reliable purchase journey for customers. By addressing common issues such as failed payments and abandoned carts, the integrated system supports businesses in scaling efficiently and maximizing revenue while ensuring a seamless transaction process for online shoppers.