Current Affairs - Places

The Advanced Aadhaar Seva Kendra (ASK) was inaugurated by Minister of State for Defence Shri Sanjay Seth on March 6, 2026, at Estate Plaza, Kantatoli in Ranchi. The centre was established to improve Aadhaar enrolment and update services by introducing upgraded hardware, high-speed connectivity, and better infrastructure. It aims to provide faster processing, greater transparency, and a more user-friendly experience for residents. Operated by Protean eGov Technologies Ltd under UIDAI guidelines, the centre supports both new enrolments and demographic or biometric updates. Its establishment also helps reduce waiting time and improve Aadhaar-related services for people in Ranchi and nearby districts.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, unveiled the official logo of the Cycling League of India (CLI) on March 5, 2026, in New Delhi. The league is recognised as the world’s first franchise-based professional cycling league and aims to promote cycling as a major competitive sport in India. Inspired by franchise models similar to those used in popular cricket leagues, the initiative is designed to encourage grassroots talent, improve professional opportunities for cyclists, and strengthen India’s presence in global cycling competitions. The league will feature city-based teams, professional riders, youth talents, women’s categories, and multiple race formats, including road races, criteriums, and time trials.

The 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue was held from March 5–7, 2026, in New Delhi, India. It is organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs. The Raisina Dialogue is regarded as Asia’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, scholars, and experts from various sectors. The 2026 theme was “Saṁskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement.” The event featured discussions on global governance, climate challenges, technological developments, and economic resilience. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb attended as the chief guest and delivered the keynote address.

The AI-powered ‘Saksham Skill Survey’ was launched in Mumbai, specifically in the H-West ward covering areas such as Bandra, Khar, and Santacruz. The initiative aims to assess the education levels, skills, and employment potential of youth aged between 18 and 40 years. Around 55,000 households will be covered through door-to-door enumeration. The project intends to train at least 15,000 individuals and help about 5,000 achieve self-reliance through employment or entrepreneurship. Conducted by Sapio Analytics, the survey collects data on educational qualifications, skills, and training needs, and uses artificial intelligence to develop a decentralised workforce intelligence model.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) unveiled the indigenously developed 30 kW Wide Band Gap-based Integrated Drive System for electric vehicles in Chennai. The launch took place at IIT Madras under the National Mission on Power Electronics Technology (NaMPET). The system was jointly developed by C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram, IIT Madras, and industry partner Lucas TVS. This innovation enhances India’s capabilities in advanced power electronics and supports the rapidly growing electric passenger vehicle market. It also contributes to reducing dependence on imported high-performance electric vehicle components, strengthening the country’s push toward technological self-reliance.