This is the current affairs of 8 & 9 March 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. Who was chosen as the new Supreme Leader (Rahbar) of Iran after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
a. Ebrahim Raisi
b. Mohammad Bagher
c. Mojtaba Khamenei
d. Hassan Rouhani
Answer: c. Mojtaba Khamenei
– After the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s powerful institution, the Assembly of Experts, selected his son Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader (Rahbar).
– Mojtaba Khamenei is a Shia cleric and has long been considered influential within Iran’s power structure.
– He is also believed to have the support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
– Although Iran’s ruling ideology disapproves of hereditary succession, he still has a strong support base within the Guards and within his late father’s still-influential office.
Supreme Leader position
– In Iran’s political system, the Supreme Leader is the most powerful position in the country.
– This post is considered more influential than the President, as it holds final authority over the military, judiciary, media, and major policy decisions.
How the Supreme Leader is appointed in Iran
– According to Iran’s constitution, the Supreme Leader is selected by the Assembly of Experts.
– It is a council of 88 Islamic clerics.
– Its members are elected by the public.
– The council’s role is to select the Supreme Leader and remove him if necessary.
Who is Mojtaba Khamenei
– Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of Ayaollah Ali Khamenei and a Shia cleric.
– He participated as a volunteer in the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988).
– In later years, he was considered close to several influential officials of Iran’s powerful military organisation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
– Western countries and some analysts believe this may continue a hardline stance in Iran’s politics.
– After the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the selection of the new Supreme Leader, there was also movement in Middle Eastern politics and the oil market.
– Global crude oil prices rose.
– This was attributed to political uncertainty and potential tensions in the region.
What Trump said about Mojtaba Khamenei
– U.S. President Donald Trump strongly reacted to Mojtaba Khamenei becoming the Supreme Leader.
– Trump said that “Khamenei’s son is not acceptable to me.”
– He described Mojtaba Khamenei as a “lightweight leader.”
– Trump also said that if the new Iranian leader did not receive America’s approval, he would not remain in power for long.
– On the other hand, Iranian leaders said that the selection of the Supreme Leader is solely Iran’s internal matter.
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2. Which team did the Indian team defeat to win the T20 World Cup 2026?
a. England
b. New Zealand
c. Sri Lanka
d. West Indies
Answer: b. New Zealand
– India won the T20 World Cup title for the third time.
– In the final played in Ahmedabad on 8 March 2026, Team India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs.
– After losing the toss and batting first, India scored 255 runs for 5 wickets, while New Zealand was all out for 159 runs.
– India also became the first team in the world to win three T20 World Cups (2007, 2024 and 2026).
– India also became the first team in history to win a T20 World Cup on home soil. It is India’s third consecutive T20 World Cup title, which is a record.
List of T20 World Cup winners
Edition : Host Nation : Winner
2007 : South Africa : India
2009 : England : Pakistan
2010 : West Indies : England
2012 : Sri Lanka : West Indies
2014 : Bangladesh : Sri Lanka
2016 : India : West Indies
2021 : UAE and Oman : Australia
2022 : Australia : England
2024 : USA and West Indies : India
2026 : India : India
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3. Which player received the Player of the Match award in the T20 World Cup 2026?
a. Jasprit Bumrah
b. Surya Yadav
c. Sanju Samson
d. Varun Chakravarthy
Answer: a. Jasprit Bumrah
– Jasprit Bumrah was selected as the Player of the Match.
– Sanju Samson received the Player of the Tournament award.
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4. The Indian government has directed which organisation to temporarily stop reporting TRP (Television Rating Points) of TV news channels amid coverage of the West Asia conflict?
a. TRAI
b. BARC
c. Prasar Bharati
d. PIB
Answer: b. BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council)
– In the first week of March 2026, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting directed BARC to immediately stop reporting the TRP of TV news channels.
– This suspension will remain in effect for four weeks or until further orders.
Why the suspension was imposed
– The government took this step due to “unnecessary sensational and speculative broadcasts” by some channels during coverage of the ongoing war in West Asia.
– The government argued that many TV channels were focusing on sensationalism and speculation in the race for TRPs instead of responsible journalism.
– Even on sensitive international issues such as war, some channels were presenting coverage like a “dramatic show,” including imaginary war scenarios, loud music, and exaggerated graphics.
– Media behaviour has long been criticised for turning news into “infotainment” due to TRP competition.
– As a result, instead of providing deep understanding of serious international issues, content often emphasizes fear, excitement, or nationalist fervor among viewers.
– According to the ministry, such reporting can create fear or confusion among the general public.
– The directive was issued under Clause 24.2 of the 2014 “Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India,” under which BARC must comply with instructions issued by the ministry.
Important points:
– TRP is the primary indicator for measuring TV channel viewership.
– TRP directly affects advertising revenue.
– It shows how many people from which socio-economic groups watched which channels and for how long during a specific period.
– This period may be an hour, a day, or a week; in India, according to international standards, a one-minute duration is considered.
– This data is usually released every week.
– TRP is the main basis for advertisers, who calculate Cost Per Rating Point (CPRP) to decide where to place advertisements.
About BARC
– BARC is an industry body jointly owned by advertisers, advertising agencies, and broadcasting companies, represented by the Indian Society of Advertisers, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, and the Advertising Agencies Association of India.
– Although it was established in 2010, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting notified policy guidelines for television rating agencies in India on 10 January 2014, and in July 2015 BARC was registered under these guidelines to conduct television ratings in India.
– Currently, there are about 230 million television households in India.
– However, viewership data is collected using only about 58,000 people meters (bar-o-meters), which is only about 0.025% of all TV households.
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5. Where did PM Modi inaugurate India’s first Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Making and Packaging (ATMP) facility?
a. Daman
b. Sanand (Gujarat)
c. Noida (Uttar Pradesh)
d. Sriperumbudur (Tamil Nadu)
Answer: b. Sanand (Gujarat)
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country’s first semiconductor facility in Sanand, Gujarat, in March 2026.
– It is a Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Making and Packaging (ATMP) facility.
– It is considered the first major semiconductor unit in India and an important step toward integrating India into the global chip supply chain.
Which company invested
– The facility has been established by the US-based company Micron Technology.
– Micron’s facility will manufacture SSD (Solid State Drive) storage devices as well as RAM-type DRAM and NAND products.
– The company has invested ₹22,516 crore in its Sanand plant.
Semiconductor Mission
– In December 2021, the Government of India announced its Semiconductor Mission with an outlay of about $10 billion to provide subsidies for establishing semiconductor manufacturing, assembly, and testing plants.
Significance:
– Integrating India into the global chip manufacturing ecosystem
– Strengthening the electronics and AI industries
– Reducing import dependence
– Promoting “Make in India” and technological self-reliance
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6. Who was appointed as the Chairman of the Privileges Committee constituted for the 18th Lok Sabha?
a. Kiren Rijiju
b. Ravi Shankar Prasad
c. Bhupender Yadav
d. Piyush Goyal
Answer: b. Ravi Shankar Prasad
– Nearly two years after the formation of the 18th Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla nominated 15 members for the Privileges Committee.
– Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad has been appointed as its chairman.
Privileges Committee
– The Privileges Committee is a Standing Committee of Parliament that examines cases related to breaches of parliamentary privileges and recommends appropriate action to the House.
– The Lok Sabha Privileges Committee has 15 members.
– The Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee has 10 members.
– The committee works to protect the dignity of the House and the independence of Members of Parliament.
Parliamentary Privileges:
– Parliament and its members enjoy certain rights and immunities so that they can perform their constitutional duties without pressure.
Constitutional provisions:
– Article 105 – Privileges of Parliament and freedom of speech in Parliament. No member of Parliament can be subjected to court proceedings for anything said or any vote given in Parliament or its committees.
– Article 122 – Parliamentary proceedings cannot be challenged in court on grounds of procedural irregularity.
– Article 194 – Privileges of State Legislatures.
– Article 212 – Courts cannot interfere in the proceedings of State Legislatures.
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7. What is the main feature of the Gravity Bomb that was discussed during the Middle East war?
a. It has an internal engine and can fly on its own
b. It is a satellite-controlled ballistic missile
c. It is an engine-less munition that reaches its target using only gravity and aerodynamics after being dropped
d. It is launched only from submarines
Answer: c. It is an engine-less munition that reaches its target using only gravity and aerodynamics after being dropped
– During the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Iran’s air defense system had become quite weak.
– After this, the U.S. military began deploying precise gravity bombs of 500 pounds, 1,000 pounds, and 2,000 pounds.
– Historically, gravity bombs are called “free-fall bombs.” They are engine-less munitions dropped from aircraft.
– When released, their trajectory depends on gravity, aerodynamics, and the altitude and speed of the aircraft.
Main features:
– They do not have an internal engine.
– They are usually dropped from fighter jets or bomber aircraft.
– Modern versions can be fitted with GPS or laser guidance kits for greater accuracy.
– They differ from cruise missiles (such as Tomahawk), which have their own engines and navigation systems.
– Gravity bombs are still widely used in modern warfare because of their low cost, high explosive capacity, and rapid deployment.
Low cost and rapid deployment
– Cruise missiles such as the Tomahawk are very expensive and available in limited numbers.
– In comparison, gravity bombs are much cheaper and available in large numbers, allowing rapid use during war.
Why the U.S. used them
– Cruise missiles are very expensive. For example:
– A Tomahawk cruise missile costs about $1–2 million.
– A gravity bomb (with a JDAM kit) may cost around $20,000–30,000.
– If aircraft can safely reach the target, militaries often use cheaper and more readily available weapons.
– Armies also tend to reserve long-range missiles for larger future conflicts, so cheaper weapons are used for easier targets.
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8. Why does the Moon appear red during a total lunar eclipse (3 March), which is called a “blood moon”?
a. Because the Moon is closest to Earth
b. Because of volcanic eruptions on the Moon’s surface
c. Because red wavelengths of sunlight reach the Moon after being refracted by Earth’s atmosphere
d. Because of dust storms on the Moon’s surface
Answer: c. Because red wavelengths of sunlight reach the Moon after being refracted by Earth’s atmosphere
What is a lunar eclipse?
– The Earth revolves around the Sun and the Moon revolves around the Earth.
– Often, the Sun, Moon, and Earth align in a straight line.
– If the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon, the Moon is eclipsed, which is called a lunar eclipse.
– If the Moon blocks the Sun from Earth’s view, it is called a solar eclipse.
What is a blood moon and why does the Moon appear red?
– A blood moon appears during a total lunar eclipse.
– A total lunar eclipse occurred on the afternoon of March 3 and was visible in various parts of the world, including India.
– However, the Moon does not become completely dark.
– Since the Earth lies between the Sun and the Moon, only some sunlight filtered through Earth’s atmosphere reaches the Moon.
– When sunlight collides with molecules in the air, blue light scatters easily, and only red light reaches the Moon, making it appear red.
Why does it appear red?
– Light consists of seven colours known as VIBGYOR: Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red.
– Violet and blue have shorter wavelengths.
– Orange and red have longer wavelengths.
– Blue light scatters in the atmosphere.
– But longer wavelengths (orange and red) reach the Moon.
– Because of this, the Moon appears reddish during a total lunar eclipse.
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9. When is International Women Judges Day celebrated?
a. 12 March
b. 11 March
c. 10 March
d. 9 March
Answer: c. 10 March
– This day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
– The objective of the day is to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
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10. Which Indian player was the runner-up in the men’s singles at the All England Open Badminton Championship 2026?
a. Lakshya Sen
b. HS Prannoy
c. Chirag Shetty
d. Kidambi Srikanth
Answer: a. Lakshya Sen
– In the men’s singles match of the All England Open Badminton Championship 2026, Indian player Lakshya Sen lost to Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei.
– The match was played in Birmingham, England. With this defeat, Lakshya Sen became the runner-up for the second time in the tournament; earlier he had also lost the final in 2022.
Before this, only two Indian players have won the men’s singles title:
– Prakash Padukone (1980)
– Pullela Gopichand (2001)
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