This is the current affairs 16 & 17 March 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. Who won the Oscar Award 2026 for Best Film?
a. Anora
b. Weapons
c. Mr. Nobody Against Putin
d. One Battle After Another
Answer: d. One Battle After Another
– The film is directed and written by Paul Thomas Anderson, and produced by Adam Somner, Sara Murphy, and Paul Thomas Anderson.
– This was the 98th edition of the Academy Awards.
– The ceremony was held on 15 March 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles (USA).
– The event was hosted by Emmy-winning writer, producer, and comedian Conan O’Brien.
– The official name of the Oscars is the “Academy Award of Merit.”
About the film ‘One Battle After Another’
– Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
– Inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland.
– The film won four awards at the 83rd Golden Globes and six awards at the 79th BAFTA Awards.
– It tells the story of a former rebel and his daughter trying to survive in a chaotic America.
– Cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Chase Infiniti.
What about Indian films?
– Despite being shortlisted among 15 films for Best International Feature Film, Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound did not make it to the final five.
– India produces around 2,000 films annually, but has never won in the Best Film category.
– However, India has won Oscars in other categories like short film, music, sound mixing, and original song.
—————
2. Which film got maximum 6 awards in Oscar ceremony 2026?
a. Mr. Nobody Against Putin
b. The Girl Who Cried Pearls
c. One Battle After Another
d. All the Empty Rooms
Answer: c. One Battle After Another
Awards won by ‘One Battle After Another’
– Best Film
– Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
– Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Paul Thomas Anderson
– Best Casting: Cassandra
– Best Editing: Andy Jurgensen
– Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn
—————-
3. Who got the Best Actor award at the 98th Oscar Awards ceremony 2026?
a. Cillian Murphy
b. Michael B. Jordan
c. Robert Downey
d. Adrien Brody
Answer: b. Michael B. Jordan (Film: Sinners)
– He became the sixth Black actor to win in the Best Actor category.
– He is also a producer and director.
About the film
– Directed by Ryan Coogler.
– Set in the 1930s.
– Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers Smoke and Stack.
– The story revolves around their return after World War I and opening a juke joint, followed by a vampire attack.
—————-
4. Who got the Oscar Award for Best Actress 2026?
a. Jessie Buckley
b. Mikey Madison
c. Deepika Padukone
d. Jennifer Lawrence
Answer: a. Jessie Buckley (Film: Hamnet)
– She won for her outstanding performance in Hamnet.
– She became the first Irish actress to win this award.
– She is also a talented singer.
—————-
5. Who received the Best Director award at the 98th Oscars ceremony in 2026?
a. Joachim Trier
b. Paul Thomas Anderson
c. Chloé Zhao
d. Josh Safdie
Answer: b. Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
– His film won six awards, making it the biggest winner.
– This was his first Oscar win.
– He is known for films like Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, and Phantom Thread.
—————-
6. Oscar 2026 Winners List
– Best Picture: One Battle After Another
– Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
– Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
– Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
– Best International Feature Film: Sentimental Value
– Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
– Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
– Best Editing: Andy Jurgensen (One Battle After Another)
– Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners)
– Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Paul Thomas Anderson
– Best Animated Feature Film: Kpop Demon Hunters
– Best Animated Short Film: The Girl Who Cried Pearls
– Best Original Screenplay: Sinners
– Best Documentary Feature Film: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
– Best Documentary Short Film: All the Empty Rooms
– Best Original Song: “Golden” (K-pop Demon Hunters)
—————
7. Which Indian actress got the responsibility of presenting the award at the Oscar Awards ceremony 2026?
a. Deepika Padukone
b. Priyanka Chopra
c. Alia Bhatt
d. Aishwarya Rai
Answer: b. Priyanka Chopra
– Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas served as a presenter at the 98th Academy Awards.
– She presented the Best International Feature Film award along with Javier Bardem.
– She shared the stage with stars like Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Paul Mescal.
– The ceremony was held on 15 March 2026 at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles.
– Hosted by Conan O’Brien.
Second time as presenter
– She had earlier presented at the Oscars in 2016 as well.
—————
Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025
—————
8. Who received the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 for Hindi language?
a. Badri Narayan
b. Hrishikesh Mallik
c. Arjun Chawla
d. Mamta Kalia
Answer: d. Mamta Kalia (Jite Ji Allahabad)
– The awards were announced on 16 March 2026 in 24 recognized Indian languages.
About the book
– A memoir recalling her early days in Allahabad.
– Describes places like Ranimandi, Loknath, and Chowk.
– Also reflects on writers and literary culture of that time.
About Sahitya Akademi
– National literary institution under the Ministry of Culture.
– Established: 12 March 1954
– Headquarters: New Delhi
– Award includes a copper plaque, shawl, and ₹1 lakh prize.
—————
9. Who received the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 for English Language?
a. Navtej Sarna
b. Anuradha Roy
c. Neelam Saran Gour
d. Khalid Hussain
Answer: a. Navtej Sarna (Crimson Spring)
– A former diplomat and author.
– The novel revisits the Jallianwala Bagh massacre with emotional depth.
—————–
10. Complete list of Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025 (24 languages)
Total categories:
– 8 poetry collections
– 4 novels
– 6 short story collections
– 2 essays
– 2 memoirs
Language : Book & Genre, Author
– Hindi: Jite Ji Allahabad (Memoir), Mamta Kalia
– English: Crimson Spring (Novel), Navtej Sarna
– Sanskrit: Prasthana Chatushtaye Brahmaghoshah (Poetry), Mahamahopadhyaya Sadhu Bhadreshdas
– Urdu: Safar Jaari Hai (Poetry), Pritpal Singh Betab
– Maithili: Dhatri Paat San Gaam (Memoir), Mahendra
– Assamese: Kadi Khailar Sadhu (Novel), Davabrata Das
– Bengali: Shreshtha Kabita (Poetry), Prasun Bandyopadhyay
– Bodo: Donne Lama Monse Gathon (Novel), Sahayasuli Brahma
– Dogri: Thakur Satsai (Poetry, Couplets), Khajur Singh ‘Thakur’
– Gujarati: Bhattkhadki (Poetry), Yogesh Vaidya
– Kannada: Dada Serisu Tande (Short Story), Amaresh Nugadoni
– Kashmiri: Najdawneki Pot Alaav (Poetry), Ali Shaida
– Konkani: Konkani Kavye: Rupan Ani Rupaka (Critical Essay), Henry Mendonca (H.M. Pernal)
– Malayalam: Mayamanushyar (Novel), N. Prabhakaran
– Manipuri: Kanglamadrib It (Short Story), Haobam Nalini
– Marathi: Kalyanilya Resha (Autobiography), Raju Bavisakar
– Nepali: Nepali Paramparik Sanskriti Ra Sabhyatako Dhukuti (Essay), Prakash Bhattarai
– Odia: Padapurana (Poetry), Girijakumar Baliarsingh
vPunjabi: Safety Kit (Short Story), Jinder
– Rajasthani: Bharkhama (Short Story), Jitendra Kumar Soni
– Santali: Mid Birna Chenne Saon Inag Saagai (Short Story), Sumitra Soren
– Sindhi: Waghu (Short Story), Bhagwan Atlani
– Tamil: Tamil Sirukathaiyin Thadangal (Literary Criticism), Sa. Tamilselvan
– Telugu: Animesh (Poetry), Nandini Siddareddy
(Then follows language-wise list exactly as given, already translated implicitly into English titles/transliterations where applicable.)
—————-
11. When is the International Day to Combat Islamophobia observed?
a. 13 March
b. 14 March
c. 15 March
d. 16 March
Answer: c. 15 March
Established by the United Nations.
– Marks the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks (New Zealand), where 51 people were killed.
—————
12. When is World Consumer Rights Day celebrated?
a. 10 March
b. 15 March
c. 20 March
d. 30 March
Answer: b. 15 March
– First observed in 1983.
– Inspired by US President John F. Kennedy’s speech on 15 March 1962 highlighting consumer rights.
Theme 2026
– “Safe Products, Confident Consumers”
PDF Download: Click here
