Online Current Affairs Test - Current Affairs Test - Random (Last 3 months)

Yamaha Music India appointed A.R. Rahman as its Brand Ambassador, recognising his immense contribution to the global music industry. As an Academy Award-winning composer, he has played a pivotal role in taking Indian music to international audiences. His association reflects a shared vision of promoting musical excellence and nurturing talent in India. The partnership is expected to inspire aspiring musicians and strengthen the country’s music ecosystem. Yamaha Music India, part of the global Yamaha Corporation, continues to support innovation and creativity, and this collaboration reinforces its commitment to the growth of Indian music culture.

V. Hanumantha Rao was appointed as the Advisor for Backwards Classes Welfare and Development by the Telangana government. This position carries the rank of a State Cabinet Minister, highlighting its significance in policymaking and governance. He is an experienced political figure who has previously served as both a Member of the Legislative Assembly and a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament. His appointment reflects the government’s focus on strengthening welfare initiatives for backward classes. Alongside his appointment, other advisory roles were also filled, contributing to a broader administrative framework in the state.

Suvendu Adhikari became the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister of West Bengal after taking oath on May 9, 2026. His appointment followed the BJP’s historic victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, where the party secured 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior NDA leaders. Suvendu Adhikari had earlier joined the BJP in December 2020 after leaving the Trinamool Congress and later emerged as one of the party’s strongest leaders in West Bengal politics.

TVS Venu Group acquired a 9.9% stake in Jana Small Finance Bank for ₹193.3 crore as part of its strategy to strengthen its presence in the financial services sector. The transaction included both primary warrant subscriptions and secondary share purchases from Jana Holdings. Additionally, TVS Motor Company directly secured a 4.9% holding in the bank. Jana Small Finance Bank, headquartered in Bengaluru, began operating as a Small Finance Bank in 2018. This investment also aligns with the broader expansion plans of the TVS Group in banking, lending, and asset management services.

Visakhapatnam is the location where INS Taragiri, the fifth Project 17A stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, was officially commissioned. The ceremony took place at the Naval Dockyard, highlighting the city’s importance as a key naval base on India’s eastern coast. Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, the vessel reflects India’s progress in indigenous defence manufacturing. With advanced stealth features and multi-role combat capabilities, the commissioning strengthens India’s maritime security and enhances the operational readiness of its naval forces.

INS Sudarshini, a sail training ship of the Indian Navy, took part in the biennial ‘Escale à Sète’ maritime festival held in France. The event marked the 400th anniversary of the French Navy and is considered one of the largest maritime gatherings in the Mediterranean region. During the festival, the ship and its crew participated in various activities, including competitions and cultural exchanges. The Sudarshini rowing team even secured a bronze medal. The ship is also on the Lokayan 26 mission, which aims to strengthen international maritime cooperation and relations.

Income Tax Department launched the ‘Kar Saathi’ AI-powered assistant along with a new official website to streamline and simplify the tax-filing process. This initiative aims to provide taxpayers with a centralised and user-friendly platform for accessing direct tax-related services and information. The AI chatbot offers round-the-clock assistance, helping users resolve queries efficiently. As part of broader administrative reforms, the move aligns with efforts to modernise tax systems, reduce complexity, and enhance transparency. The initiative also supports the government’s vision of a technology-driven tax framework under the upcoming Income Tax Act, 2025.

Flipkart, Axis Bank, and PayU jointly introduced a biometric authentication system aimed at enhancing the security of digital transactions. This system replaces traditional SMS-based OTP verification with advanced methods such as fingerprint and facial recognition. The initiative addresses the rising concerns of digital fraud, which has significantly increased in recent years. By implementing device-binding protocols and secure authentication flows, the system reduces risks like SIM-swap and OTP interception. It also aligns with regulatory guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India, ensuring safer and more reliable digital payment experiences for users.

Ordnance Factory Day is observed annually on March 18 in India to commemorate the country’s long-standing legacy in defence manufacturing. The day marks the establishment of the first ordnance factory in Cossipore, Kolkata, in 1802, which played a crucial role in initiating indigenous arms production. Celebrations across India include exhibitions, parades, and awareness programs showcasing defence equipment and technological advancements. The observance also highlights the contributions of engineers, workers, and defence personnel in strengthening national security and promoting self-reliance under initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat.

India and Norway strengthened their strategic partnership in science and innovation through five major bilateral agreements signed in Oslo on May 18, 2026. The agreements involved India’s CSIR and DSIR collaborating with leading Norwegian institutions in areas such as clean energy, offshore wind technology, geosciences, sustainability, and public health research. The partnerships also focused on student mobility, scientific exchanges, and advanced infrastructure solutions. Key organisations involved included SINTEF, NTNU, and FME NorthWind. These agreements reflect growing cooperation between India and Norway in green technology, climate research, renewable energy, and sustainable industrial development.

India is hosting the 68th Session of the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) Governing Body in New Delhi with participation from more than 60 senior delegates representing 20 APO member economies. The event focuses on discussions related to the APO Vision 2030 framework, budget planning for 2027–28, and leadership elections for the organisation. India assumed the APO Chairmanship during the 67th session in 2025 through DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia. Established in 1961, the APO is a regional intergovernmental organisation dedicated to improving productivity and promoting sustainable economic development across Asia-Pacific member economies.

The Cell Broadcast Alert System, introduced in India for real-time disaster warnings, is powered by an indigenous technology known as SACHET. This system has been developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and plays a crucial role in enhancing disaster preparedness and response. It enables authorities to send immediate alerts to citizens’ mobile phones without requiring any prior subscription or user action. The alerts include loud alarm tones and flashing messages, ensuring high visibility. SACHET supports multiple regional languages and is designed to cover a wide range of emergencies, including natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as man-made threats.

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.

The Indian government has extended the PM E-DRIVE scheme for electric vehicle incentives until 2028, demonstrating its continued commitment to promoting sustainable mobility. This policy shift prioritises segments such as e-rickshaws and electric three-wheelers, which play a crucial role in last-mile connectivity and logistics. While subsidies for electric two-wheelers will end earlier, the extended timeline for other segments ensures steady growth in the EV ecosystem. The scheme also aims to balance economic growth with fiscal responsibility, encouraging manufacturers to focus on innovation, localisation, and market-driven strategies as subsidies are gradually phased out.

The 9th PharmaMed 2026 conference is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on March 27, 2026. Organised by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event aims to bring together policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders. It focuses on advancing India’s pharmaceutical sector by promoting innovation, improving regulatory standards, and strengthening supply chains. The conference also emphasises healthcare equity, ensuring access to affordable and quality healthcare for all citizens, aligning with the vision of building a developed and inclusive India.

Shailesh Kumar, an Indian para athlete and reigning world champion, won the gold medal in the men’s high jump T63 category at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 in New Delhi. He secured the top position with a jump of 1.84 metres, marking a strong start to his competitive season despite recovering from a left knee injury. Although the height was lower than his personal best of 1.91 metres, the performance demonstrated a steady return to competition. His training plan currently focuses on refining his take-off technique and preparing for the Asian Para Games, which is considered one of the major upcoming competitions for para athletes in the region.

Telangana introduced a significant reform in May 2026 by mandating a centralised procurement system for distributing educational materials in government schools. This initiative aims to ensure timely delivery and maintain uniform quality across all departments, including those serving backward classes, minorities, tribal communities, and scheduled castes. The policy replaces the earlier decentralised system, which had issues related to fund mismanagement and inefficiencies. By centralising procurement, the government seeks to enhance transparency, streamline logistics, and provide students with essential items like uniforms, notebooks, and school supplies efficiently.

The Tamil Nadu government established the Singappen Special Task Force as a dedicated police wing focused on improving women’s safety and protection across the state. The initiative aims to strengthen preventive measures, security systems, and rapid response mechanisms for crimes against women. The task force functions under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister and includes several high-ranking police officers, such as an Inspector General of Police, Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendents, Inspectors, and Sub-Inspectors. Alongside this initiative, the state also carried out key administrative restructuring under the IAS (Pay) Rules, 2016, reflecting the government’s emphasis on governance reforms and public safety.

IIT Kharagpur established the Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence for AI-Enabled Geological and Mining Systems to advance artificial intelligence applications in India’s mining sector. The centre focuses on areas such as mineral exploration, mine planning, predictive maintenance, and ESG analytics. Supported by a funding commitment of ₹15 crore over five years, it integrates academic research with real-world mining data through its Grand Challenges Programme. As the first Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Kharagpur continues to play a leading role in innovation, and this initiative aligns with its vision of contributing to industrial and technological advancement.

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.