Current affairs for March 20, 2026

Current affairs for March 20, 2026

• World Happiness Index 2026: India ranks 116th out of 147 countries, an improvement from 118th last year. Finland remains the happiest country for the ninth consecutive year.
• Global Metro Network Ranking: India now has the third-largest operational metro network in the world, trailing only behind China and the USA.
• KISS Humanitarian Award 2025: Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani was honored with this award in Bhubaneswar for her contributions to social development and education.
• Small Hydro Power Development Scheme: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy launched this scheme (2026–2031) with a ₹2,584 crore budget to develop 1,500 MW of capacity.
• International Day of Happiness: Observed annually on March 20 to promote global well-being and highlight the importance of happiness in public policy.
• Mark Lynton History Prize 2026: British historian William Dalrymple won this award for his book "The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World".
• IOS-Sagar Initiative: The Indian Navy conducted the second edition of this maritime security exercise near Mumbai with the participation of 16 Indian Ocean region nations.
• World’s Largest Coconut Producer: India has been officially recognized as the world's leading coconut producer, accounting for 30.3% of global production.
• Floating LiDAR Buoy System: India successfully tested this indigenous system off the Tamil Nadu coast for precise weather and offshore wind speed measurement.
• Gudi Padwa and Ugadi 2026: Celebrated on March 19 across Maharashtra and South India, marking the beginning of the Hindu New Year (Vikram Samvat 2083).