• 13 Mar 2026

Bihar Approved Sonepur Greenfield Airport

Why in News? 

The Bihar Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has approved the construction of a new greenfield international airport in Sonepur, Saran district. 

Key Points: 

• Project Cost: The Bihar Cabinet has approved the construction of a greenfield international airport at Sonepur with ₹1,302 crore allocated for land acquisition. 
  • The airport will be developed on about 4,200 acres in the Dariyapur Chanwar area, situated between Hajipur and Dumaria in Saran district of Bihar. 
• Target: The State government has set an ambitious target to complete the airport by 2030, marking a major infrastructure initiative for northern Bihar. 
  • The Sonepur Greenfield Airport is expected to be the fifth largest airport in India, after the international airports at Delhi, Hyderabad, Navi Mumbai, and Noida (Jevar). 
• Employment: The construction and operational phases are likely to create direct and indirect employment opportunities for thousands of people in the region. 
  • Land acquisition and planning are expected to incorporate environmental and ecological safeguards as part of the greenfield development. 
• Impact: The project is seen as a significant boost to regional connectivity in north Bihar, improving passenger and cargo movement, promoting tourism and strengthening economic growth in the region. 

Read More: India's Ambitious Airport Expansion Plan, Noida International Airport 

Amusement Expo 2026 in Mumbai

Why in News? 

A winning startup from the Create in India Challenge (CIC) under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is showcasing its Made-in-India Extended Reality (XR) innovations at the Amusement Expo 2026 in Mumbai, highlighting the country’s progress in immersive technology and creative industries. 

Key Points: 

• Event: The Amusement Expo 2026 was held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Goregaon, Mumbai, in March 2026.  
  • Youth Buzz, incubated under the WAVEX Startup Accelerator Program, presented multiple “Made in India” XR entertainment solutions, including interactive gaming experiences such as Immersive Warfare and Meta Dwar. 
• Demonstrations: The startup displayed racing and flying simulators along with a cloud‑connected RC Cloud Arena platform, which allows remote control of real‑world devices over the internet. 
• Support: The event was supported by the Create in India Challenge (CIC) under the WAVES programme to promote innovation and nurture talent in the AVGC‑XR sectors. 
  • AVGC‑XR refers to the creative and immersive tech sectors: Animation, VFX, Games, Comics, and Extended Reality (VR/AR/MR). 
• Focus: CIC provides an industry‑driven and government‑supported platform for youth, helping identify and curate creative talent across media domains such as animation, gaming, comics, XR, music, film, and digital media. 
• Significance: Youth Buzz’s participation highlights the progress of Indian startups in immersive technology and underscores the Government’s push towards building a future‑ready creative and tech ecosystem. 

Read More: VR/AR/MR 

Bharat Tex 2026 — World’s Largest Integrated Textile Fair

Why in News? 

The Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, launched Bharat Tex 2026, set to be India’s flagship global textile event and the world’s largest integrated textile fair, signalling India’s growing leadership in the global textile economy. 

Key Points: 

• Event: Bharat Tex 2026 was unveiled by the Union Minister of Textiles, with industry and export promotion councils joining hands to host the landmark event.  
  • It is envisaged as the largest and most comprehensive global textile platform covering the entire textile value chain. 
  • The event will showcase the full textile ecosystem, including fibres and yarns, fabrics, apparel and fashion, home textiles, technical textiles, handlooms, handicrafts, and intelligent manufacturing technologies. 
• Venue: The event is scheduled to be held in July 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. 
• Focus: Special focus will be on sustainable and circular textiles, technical textiles, MSME integration, innovation, and global market access. 
  • Bharat Tex 2026 will provide Indian MSMEs, start‑ups, designers, and academia a platform to showcase innovations, connect with global manufacturers and buyers, engage in high‑level discussions, and form strategic partnerships. 
• Industry‑Led Initiative: The event will be organised by the Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) — an umbrella group of textile Export Promotion Councils and industry bodies — highlighting strong collaboration between government and industry stakeholders.  

Read More: MSME, Export Promotion Councils 

Jal Mahotsav 2026

Why in News? 

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, called for making water conservation an integral part of daily life while addressing the Jal Mahotsav 2026 in New Delhi, emphasising the critical role of sustainable water management for the nation’s future. 

Key Points 

• Event: Jal Mahotsav 2026, a nationwide campaign organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, is being observed in March 2026, to strengthen community participation in rural drinking water service delivery under the Jal Jeevan Mission. 
  • President Murmu urged citizens to view water not merely as a commodity but as a priceless national asset, and stressed that water conservation must become part of people’s daily life to secure future generations’ needs. 
  • She highlighted that water in India is deeply connected to culture, traditions, livelihoods, and community life, and recalled the historical struggle of villagers, especially women and children, who had to travel long distances to fetch drinking water. 
• Role: The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched to provide safe and adequate drinking water through functional tap connections in rural households, significantly improving water access and community health. 
• Community Ownership: The President emphasised the importance of community participation and ownership in water management, noting that involving local gram panchayats and Self‑Help Groups enhances sustainable conservation efforts. 
  • She also highlighted coordinated measures such as groundwater recharge, greywater management, and campaigns like Catch the Rain and Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari as crucial in strengthening water security nationwide. 
• Focus: Awareness among the younger generation and the active role of women, particularly through Self‑Help Groups in water testing and management, were underlined as key to long‑term water conservation success. 

Read More: Jal Jeevan Mission, Self‑Help Groups,  Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 

Government Expands Mobile Connectivity in Odisha

Why in News? 

The Government of India, through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) programme, is providing substantial support to telecom operators to expand mobile connectivity in rural and remote areas of Odisha 

Key Points: 

• Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN): The programme aimed to enhance universal telecom access by promoting connectivity and telecommunication service delivery in rural, remote, and urban areas across the country.  
• Planned Towers: A total of 5,182 mobile towers are planned in Odisha to cover 7,157 villages, including 4,470 towers in 13 Fifth Schedule districts. 
• Subsidy: Funds amounting to ₹2,229.35 crore have been disbursed from the DBN to telecom operators to strengthen mobile connectivity in rural and remote parts of Odisha.  
  • This includes ₹1,859.95 crore allocated for districts under the Fifth Schedule. 
  • The project will provide mobile connectivity to villages previously without network access, bridging the digital divide. 
• Socio-Economic Benefits: Improved connectivity will facilitate education, e-governance, healthcare, and economic activities in remote regions. 
• Implementation: Towers are being constructed under 12 DBN-funded projects, monitored to ensure timely completion and quality. 
• Strategic Importance: Enhancing digital infrastructure in Odisha supports inclusive growth and rural development, strengthening the state’s integration with national digital networks. 

Read More:  Inclusive growth, Telecom Sector 

India’s Low-Cost Strike Drones: Sheshnag-150 and Project KAL

Why in News? 

Low-cost drones are reshaping warfare, as seen in Ukraine for the last four years, and now in the Iran war. Iran's low-cost Shahed drones have inspired the US's LUCAS. In India, low-cost, deep-strike drone projects like Sheshnag-150 and Project KAL are picking pace. 

Key Points: 

• Equivalents to Iran's Shahed: India has fast-tracked several projects specifically designed to match the "low-cost, long-range" profile of the Shahed-136:  
• Sheshnaag-150: Developed by Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT), this is India’s closest equivalent to the Shahed. 
  • Range: Over 1,000 km. 
  • Payload: Carries a 25–40 kg warhead. 
  • Key Feature: Unlike the simpler Shahed, it uses AI-powered swarm technology, allowing multiple units to coordinate autonomously to saturate and overwhelm enemy air defences. 
• Project KAL: A classified long-range kamikaze drone project by Noida-based IG Drones. 
  • It is designed for deep-penetration strikes with a range of up to 1,000 km and an endurance of 3 to 5 hours.  
• Inducted Low-Cost Tactical Drones: For frontline and infantry use, the Indian Army has already inducted smaller, man-portable suicide drones:  
• Nagastra-1: India's first indigenous man-portable suicide drone, developed by Solar Industries (EEL). 
  • Capability: Precision strikes with 2-metre accuracy and a range of up to 30 km. 
  • Cost Efficiency: Designed as a cheap solution to target lower-end threats like terrorist launch pads without risking soldiers. 
• SkyStriker: A loitering munition developed by Alpha Design (ADTL) in collaboration with Israel’s Elbit Systems.  
  • It has a range of 100 km and was recently deployed in forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir.  
• ALFA-S (Air Launched Flexible Asset - Swarm): A unique system being developed by HAL and NewSpace Research.  
  • These are swarm drones launched from fighter jets (like the Su-30MKI or Jaguar) that can autonomously identify and strike targets such as surface-to-air missiles and radars.

Chandigarh Becomes Second Fully Literate Union Territory with 99.93% Literacy

Why in News? 

Chandigarh has achieved a significant educational milestone by recording a 99.93% literacy rate, leading to its recognition as a fully literate Union Territory (UT) — the second UT in India after Ladakh to do so.  

Key Points: 

• The Announcement: It follows a comprehensive verification process under the New India Literacy Programme (NILP), marking the highest literacy level ever recorded for any state or UT in the country. 
• The Literacy Gap: Out of the total target population identified during the initial survey, the UT successfully educated and certified the remaining non-literate individuals, bringing the figure to near-absolute saturation. 
• Methodology: The status was achieved through the rigorous implementation of the Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme), which targets non-literates aged 15 years and above. 
• Verification: The 99.93% figure was validated through the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) conducted across all government schools and community centres in the UT.  
• Factors Driving the Success:The UT administration mobilised "Vidyalaya Kalyan Samitis" and student volunteers from colleges to act as "Preraks" (instructors) for non-literate adults. 
  • Digital Integration: Extensive use of the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) mobile app helped track learners’ progress in real-time. 
  • Urban-Rural Convergence: Intensive drives were conducted in "Colonies" and peri-urban pockets of Chandigarh to ensure that migrant populations were included in the literacy net. 
  • Targeted Focus: Specific attention was given to functional literacy—teaching individuals not just to sign their names, but to perform basic banking tasks, read signboards, and use digital payment interfaces.  
• Significance:This achievement is a direct contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

PM Releases 22nd Instalment of PM‑KISAN from Guwahati

Why in News? 

On 13th March, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 22nd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. 

Key Points: 

• Total Amount Disbursed: Approximately ₹21,000 crore will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of eligible farmers. 
• Beneficiary Base: Over 9.5 crore farmer families across the country will receive the benefit in this round. 
• Mode of Transfer: The funds are transferred via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) using the Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS) to ensure transparency and eliminate middlemen. 
• Impact: With this instalment, the total amount transferred under the PM-KISAN scheme since its inception in 2019 will cross ₹3.45 lakh crore. 
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Success: PM-KISAN is one of the world's largest DBT schemes, showcasing India's prowess in digital public infrastructure (DPI). 
• Income Support vs. Subsidies: It represents a shift from input-based subsidies to direct income support, providing farmers with greater liquidity and decision-making power. 
• Inclusion of Allied Sectors: The scheme acts as a safety net, helping small and marginal farmers (who constitute over 85% of Indian farmers) manage climate-related risks and market fluctuations.

Read More: PM-KISAN 

Bihar CM Launched Tunnel Connecting Two Museums in Patna

Why in News? 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched an underground tunnel project that will directly connect the Bihar Museum and the Patna Museum in Patna, aiming to strengthen cultural infrastructure and improve visitor experience.  

Key Points: 

• Project Cost: The tunnel project, estimated at about ₹542 crore, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. 
  • The underground passage will link two major cultural institutions — the Bihar Museum and the Patna Museum — located a short distance apart in the state capital.  
• Purpose: The tunnel will allow visitors to move between both museums without using city roads, enhancing the overall visitor experience and encouraging exploration of Bihar’s history and heritage. 
  • The tunnel is described as a heritage corridor, with plans to display cultural exhibits, murals, and artworks along the passage to showcase Bihar’s rich history. 
• Tourism Impact: This project is expected to boost tourism infrastructure in Patna by creating a unique cultural attraction and improving accessibility between two key museum destinations. 
• Construction Features: The tunnel is planned to be approximately 1.4–1.5 km long, and will include facilities such as lighting, ventilation, emergency safety systems, and visitor amenities. 

Read More: Tourism