Current Affairs for March 18, 2026

Current Affairs for March 18, 2026

• 60th Jnanpith Award: Renowned Tamil writer and songwriter R. Vairamuthu has been selected for the 60th Jnanpith Award (for the year 2025). He is the third Tamil writer to receive India's highest literary honor. He is also a seven-time National Film Award winner and a recipient of the Padma Bhushan.
• Chapchar Kut Festival: This prominent cultural festival of the Mizo community is being celebrated in Mizoram. Traditionally observed in March, it marks the completion of the Jhum (slash-and-burn) clearing process and serves as a period of relaxation before the next agricultural cycle.
• Uniqlo’s Brand Ambassador for India: The Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo has appointed Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah as its new brand ambassador for India. He will promote the brand's "LifeWear" philosophy, which focuses on simple, high-quality, and comfortable apparel.
• Lower Kopili Hydroelectric Project: PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 120 MW Lower Kopili Hydroelectric Project in Assam. Built on the Kopili River (a tributary of the Brahmaputra), this "run-of-river" project was developed by the Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited with an investment of ₹2,300 crore.
• Sangeetha Kalanidhi Award 2026: Famous Veena player Jayanthi Kumaresh from Tamil Nadu will be honored with the Sangeetha Kalanidhi Award by the Music Academy, Chennai. Notably, this is the first time in 34 years that a Veena player has received this top honor in Carnatic music.
• Exercise Sea Dragon 2026: The multi-national anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise led by the USA is being held at Guam Island in the Western Pacific. Participant nations include India, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. India has deployed its P8I maritime patrol aircraft for the drill.
• NMDC Hits Iron Ore Production Milestone: The National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) became the first Indian mining company to produce 50 million tonnes of iron ore in a single financial year (2025-26). NMDC is a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Steel.
• New Species Discovered in Meghamalai: The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered nine new species, including spiders and insects, during a survey in the Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. The sanctuary serves as a vital buffer zone for the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
• Gyan Bharat Mission: The Ministry of Culture has launched a nationwide survey to identify, document, and digitize India's vast manuscript heritage. The mission aims to digitize 1 crore manuscripts using AI technology to preserve ancient historical data.
• Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026: The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed this anti-conversion bill, which aims to prevent religious conversions through force, fraud, or allurement. The bill mandates informing the District Magistrate before voluntary conversion and prescribes up to 7 years in prison for violations.