Current Affairs - National

The National Highways Authority of India has revised the FASTag Annual Pass fee for the financial year 2026–27, increasing it from Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,075. This revised fee applies to non-commercial vehicles using FASTag across around 1,150 toll plazas on national highways and expressways. The annual pass offers significant convenience by allowing either one year of validity or up to 200 toll crossings, reducing the need for frequent recharges. Users can easily activate the pass through digital platforms like the Rajmarg Yatra App or the official website, making it a cost-effective and user-friendly solution for regular highway commuters.

The ‘Say No To Proxy Sarpanch’ campaign was launched to address the issue of proxy leadership in village governance, commonly referred to as the “Sarpanch Pati” practice. In many villages, women are elected as sarpanches due to reservation policies, but their husbands or male relatives often take over decision-making authority. The campaign aims to promote genuine leadership by elected women representatives and encourage communities to respect their authority. It also raises awareness through public participation and social media engagement. Additional measures include advisory recommendations such as penalties for proxy governance, helplines for complaints, and capacity-building programs to strengthen women’s leadership in Panchayati Raj institutions.

ICF Chennai served as the venue for the International Rail Coach Expo (IRCE) 2026, which was inaugurated on March 12, 2026. The event was opened by U. Subba Rao, General Manager of the Integral Coach Factory, and organised in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry. The expo brought together railway manufacturers, technology providers, and industry experts from India and other countries. It showcased innovations in railway coach manufacturing, sustainability initiatives, advanced safety systems, and modern rail technologies. ICF Chennai plays a crucial role in India’s railway modernisation and is globally known for manufacturing passenger coaches and producing the Vande Bharat Express train sets.

V.O. Chidambaranar Port became the first major port in India to implement a Digital Twin platform, a cutting-edge digital system that creates a real-time virtual replica of the port’s infrastructure and operations. The platform integrates technologies such as IoT sensors, GPS tracking, LiDAR mapping, drone imaging, and CCTV networks to monitor activities like vessel movement, berth occupancy, and crane utilisation. The system also supports predictive maintenance of cargo-handling equipment and intelligent scheduling to reduce congestion. This initiative at V.O. Chidambaranar Port aims to reduce vessel turnaround time by up to 25% and improve energy efficiency while supporting sustainability goals.

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.