Current Affairs for March 19, 2026

Current Affairs for March 19, 2026

• Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025: Announced in 24 Indian languages. For Hindi, Mamta Kalia won for her memoir "Jeete Ji Allahabad". For English, Navtej Sarna won for his novel "Crimson Spring". Other notable winners include Jitendra Kumar Soni (Rajasthani) and Ali Shaida (Kashmiri).
• Initiative of the Year Award for RBI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was honored with the "Initiative of the Year" award by Central Banking London. The award recognizes RBI's mandate of the "bank.in" internet domain for all licensed banks to curb digital fraud and fake websites.
• Odisha's First Smart Village: Kusunpur Village is set to become the first smart village in Odisha. The initiative, part of the Viksit Bharat 2047 project, is led by the CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) to integrate digital and sustainable infrastructure in rural areas.
• Maternity Leave for Adoptive Mothers: The Supreme Court declared Section 60(4) of the Social Security Code 2020 unconstitutional. Previously, adoptive mothers were only eligible for maternity leave if the child was under 3 months old. The Court ruled this violates Articles 14 and 21, granting leave regardless of the child's age.
• City Union Bank Brand Ambassador: The bank has appointed Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja as its brand ambassador for a two-year period. City Union Bank, established in 1904, is one of India's oldest private sector banks.
• Best Director Award for 'Chaimi': Dr. Partha Sarathi Mahanta, an IGP in Assam Police, won the Best Director award at the New York Short Animation Festival. His animated film "Chaimi" is based on the cultural background and human emotions of Northeast India.
• 'Godham' Scheme in Chhattisgarh: Launched by CM Vishnu Deo Sai, the Gadham Yojana aims to provide shelter to stray cattle (cows and bulls) and boost the rural economy. It involves creating "Surabh Godhams" where caretakers are paid by the government to manage livestock and promote organic farming.
• Bharat Tribes Fest 2026: Organized by TRIFED and the Ministry of Tral Affairs, the festival is being held in New Delhi (March 18–30). It aims to promote tribal culture, art, and traditional cuisine while providing a global market for tribal artisans.
• Nowruz Festival: Celebrated on March 20, 2026, as the Parsi (Zoroastrian) New Year. It marks the first day of the Iranian calendar. Historically, the festival was introduced in India by Ghiyasuddin Balban and later banned by Aurangzeb.
• Ordnance Factory Day (March 18): India celebrates this day to commemorate the establishment of the first Ordnance Factory in Cossipore, Kolkata, on March 18, 1801. Today, India has 41 ordnance factories operating under the Ministry of Defence.