This is the current affairs 21 March 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. Citing the 1920 water agreement, from which state did the Punjab government demand ₹1.44 lakh crore in arrears, threatening to stop drawing water otherwise?
a. Haryana
b. Rajasthan
c. Himachal Pradesh
d. Uttar Pradesh
Answer: b. Rajasthan
Punjab–Rajasthan water dispute
– Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has asked Rajasthan to pay ₹1.44 lakh crore as arrears for water usage since 1960, otherwise stop taking water
What is the dispute about?
– Rajasthan draws water from Punjab through the Gang Canal and Ferozepur Feeder
– Claim: No payment has been made since 1960
– Water quantity: Around 18,000 cusecs
Historical background
– 1920 agreement (British-era agreement)
– Parties: British Government + Bahawalpur State (now in Pakistan) + Bikaner princely state (now Rajasthan)
– Condition: Payment in exchange for water
– However, after the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, there is no clear mention of payment
– This is where the dispute began
Punjab’s argument
– The 1920 agreement has not expired
– It was to be reviewed every 25 years (but was not done)
– Therefore, royalty (water charges) should be paid
Why is Punjab demanding money?
– Rivers (like Sutlej) are natural and do not belong to any one state
– But water has to be transported through canals
– These canals are built and maintained on Punjab’s land
Role of the Central Government
– The issue has been raised before the Centre
– It may potentially become an inter-state water dispute
Punjab CM – Bhagwant Mann
Rajasthan CM – Bhajan Lal Sharma
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2. What type of industrial parks will the 100 parks be that are to be developed under the Bharat Industrial Development Scheme (BHAVYA)—for which the Centre has approved ₹33,660 crore?
a. Only agriculture-based industrial parks
b. Plug-and-play based integrated industrial clusters
c. Only export processing zones (EPZ)
d. Only IT parks
Answer: b. Plug-and-play based integrated industrial clusters
– The Central Government has approved the Bharat Industrial Development Scheme (BHAVYA) worth ₹33,660 crore
– The decision was approved in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2026
Key features of the scheme
– 100 plug-and-play industrial parks will be developed across the country so that industries can start production immediately upon arrival
– Land will be pre-prepared, with electricity, water, roads, and approvals already in place
– These will not be sector-specific parks but cluster-based industrial ecosystems including manufacturing, logistics, and services in one place
– Each park will range between 100 to 1000 acres
– Government will provide financial assistance up to ₹1 crore per acre
– Ready infrastructure will be provided to industries
– Involves participation of central and state governments along with the private sector
Objectives
– Promote the manufacturing sector
– Develop world-class industrial infrastructure
– Accelerate India’s economic growth
– Expected to generate around 1.5 million direct jobs
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3. When is World Sparrow Day celebrated?
a. 17 March
b. 18 March
c. 19 March
d. 20 March
Answer: d. 20 March
– This day is observed to raise awareness about sparrows and promote their conservation
– Sparrow populations have declined due to increasing pollution and other factors
– World Sparrow Day was initiated by Nature Forever Society of India along with Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France)
– It was first celebrated on 20 March 2010
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4. What is the main objective of the ‘IOS Sagar’ initiative, the second edition of which was launched in March 2026?
a. Maritime trade and profit
b. Promote maritime security and international naval cooperation
c. Promote fishing
d. Port construction
Answer: b. Promote maritime security and international naval cooperation
– The Indian Navy launched the second edition of IOS Sagar 2026 in March 2026
– The program began on 16 March 2026 with participation from 16 countries
– It is also linked to India’s chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Symposium (IONS) in 2026
What is IOS Sagar?
– A maritime cooperation initiative of the Indian Navy
– Objective: Enhance security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
– Based on India’s SAGAR vision
– SAGAR = Security and Growth for All in the Region
What does it include?
– Training in Kochi
– Joint exercises on Indian Navy ships
– Real-time deployment at sea
– Port visits to other countries
Objectives
– Strengthen maritime security
– Address challenges like piracy and trafficking
– Enhance trust and interoperability among countries
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5. Who assumed the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Symposium (IONS)?
a. French Navy
b. Indian Navy
c. Australian Navy
d. Indonesian Navy
Answer: b. Indian Navy
– Earlier, the chairmanship was held by the French Navy
Indian Ocean Symposium (IONS)
– A multilateral naval cooperation forum involving navies of Indian Ocean Region (IOR) countries
– Established: 2008
– Initiated by: Indian Navy
– Objective: Strengthen maritime security and enhance coordination among member countries
– Member countries: 25+ nations including India, Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Oman, etc.
– Meetings are held every 2 years
– Chairmanship rotates among member countries
– Indian Navy Chief – Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi
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6. When is International Happiness Day celebrated?
a. 19 March
b. 20 March
c. 21 March
d. 22 March
Answer: b. 20 March
Theme for 2026
– Social media and happiness
– The United Nations declared this day recognizing the importance of happiness and well-being in promoting sustainable development and global peace
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7. In which country’s hosted multinational military exercise, ‘Sea Dragon 2026’, did the Indian Navy participate?
a. Australia
b. Japan
c. United States
d. New Zealand
Answer: c. United States
– Sea Dragon is a multinational Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise
– It is organized by the United States Navy
– The 2026 edition is being held near Guam (Pacific Ocean)
– The exercise is significant in the context of increasing Chinese naval activities in the Indo-Pacific region
Participating countries
– India
– United States
– Australia
– Japan
– New Zealand
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8. Who was conferred the honorary title of ‘Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)’ in March 2026?
a. Sundar Pichai
b. N. Chandrasekaran
c. Mukesh Ambani
d. Satya Nadella
Answer: b. N. Chandrasekaran
– N. Chandrasekaran (Chairman of Tata Group) was awarded honorary knighthood
– This honor is conferred by the United Kingdom government
– He was awarded the ‘Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE)’
– The honor was given for his contribution to strengthening India-UK business relations
– It was presented on behalf of King Charles III by the UK High Commissioner in India
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9. When is World Water Day celebrated?
a. 20 March
b. 21 March
c. 22 March
d. 23 March
Answer: c. 22 March
Theme for 2026
– Water and Gender
(Promoting active participation of women in water management, governance, and leadership)
– Observed annually since 1993
– Declared by the United Nations
– Aims to focus on clean water availability, water crisis, and water management challenges
Importance
– Water crisis: More than 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water; poor sanitation causes deaths of children under five every two minutes
– Melting glaciers: Climate change is accelerating glacier melt, affecting water supply and environmental stability
– Situation in India: Around 16,627 glaciers in the Himalayan region play a crucial role in water supply; their melting impacts rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra
Government initiatives
– Jal Jeevan Mission
– Atal Bhujal Yojana
– Namami Gange
– Aim: Sustainable management and conservation of water resources
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10. When is World Puppetry Day celebrated?
a. 23 March
b. 22 March
c. 21 March
d. 20 March
Answer: c. 21 March
– The day aims to promote this ancient folk art and create awareness among the masses and future generations
– Puppetry is a blend of multiple art forms including writing, theatre, painting, costume design, sculpture, woodcraft, textile art, makeup, music, and dance
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