Current Affairs 13th October 2026 : Daily GK Update in Marathi
On 13 Oct 2026
Current Affairs 19th March 2026 : Daily GK Update in English
1. Which Indian PM visited Kerala and Tamil Nadu on March 11, 2026, inaugurating projects worth Rs 16,450 crore?
A) Narendra Modi
B) Amit Shah
C) Rajnath Singh
D) Nitin Gadkari
Answer: A) Narendra Modi
Explanation: PM Modi inaugurated projects in petroleum, highways, and railways sectors.
2. What was the primary trigger for the full-scale US-Israel military assault on Iran in early March 2026?
A) Nuclear program violations
B) Unprovoked attack as per reports
C) Strait of Hormuz closure
D) Proxy attacks on Gulf states
Answer: B) Unprovoked attack as per reports
Explanation: Multiple sources describe the assault as unprovoked, leading to hundreds of civilian deaths and Iran's retaliatory missile launches across the Middle East.
3. As of early March 2026, what was the reported death toll from US and Israel bombings across Iran?
A) Over 200
B) Over 550
C) Over 787
D) Over 1,000
Answer: C) Over 787
Explanation: Reports indicated the death toll climbed to 787 as bombings intensified, with no radiation release confirmed by Iran.
4. Which Iranian official was killed in an Israeli strike on March 18, 2026, targeting intelligence leadership?
A) Ali Khamenei
B) Esmail Khatib
C) Mojtaba Khamenei
D) Qasem Soleimani
Answer: B) Esmail Khatib
Explanation: Israel continued its decapitation campaign by killing Iran's intelligence minister Esmail Khatib, sanctioned for human rights abuses and cyberattacks.
5. What major facility did Israel target in southern Iran on March 18, 2026?
A) Bushehr Nuclear Plant
B) South Pars natural gas field
C) Tehran Airport
D) Qom military base
Answer: B) South Pars natural gas field
Explanation: Israel expanded efforts to collapse the Iranian state by striking South Pars, the world's largest natural gas field.
6. In response to Israeli strikes on March 18, 2026, what did Iran issue for energy facilities across the Gulf?
A) Evacuation warnings
B) Missile retaliation threats
C) Ceasefire proposals
D) Radiation alerts
Answer: A) Evacuation warnings
Explanation: Iran issued unprecedented evacuation warnings for energy facilities across the Gulf amid escalating strikes.
7. What was a major concern raised in US Congress regarding the Iran war in March 2026?
A) Lack of funding
B) Insufficient intelligence briefings
C) NATO non-involvement
D) Civilian casualties only
Answer: B) Insufficient intelligence briefings
Explanation: Democrats criticized briefings as "totally insufficient" on the operation's rationale.
8. What was the US President's stated objective for the ongoing military action against Iran in March 2026?
A) Regime change
B) Nuclear disarmament only
C) Oil price stabilization
D) Proxy force elimination
Answer: A) Regime change
Explanation: President Trump called for regime change in Iran, stating the US would continue attacks to eliminate threats.
9. According to a CNN poll in early March 2026, what percentage of Americans disapproved of the Iran strikes?
A) 45%
B) 59%
C) 72%
D) 38%
Answer: B) 59%
Explanation: A CNN poll showed 59% disapproval, with most believing a long-term conflict was likely.
10. Which airport resumed limited flights for stranded passengers after Iranian strikes in early March 2026?
A) Tehran Airport
B) Dubai International Airport
C) Abu Dhabi Airport
D) Doha Airport
Answer: B) Dubai International Airport
Explanation: Dubai International Airport resumed limited operations after Iranian strikes disrupted the region.
11. Which air base was damaged by an Iranian drone strike in March 2026?
A) Al Udeid Air Base
B) Al Minhad Air Base
C) Incirlik Air Base
D) Diego Garcia
Answer: B) Al Minhad Air Base
Explanation: An Iranian drone damaged Al Minhad Air Base, headquarters of Australia's Joint Task Force 633.
12. What term was used to describe the ongoing conflict pattern with Israel taking credit for targeted killings in March 2026?
A) Full invasion
B) War of attrition
C) Decapitation campaign
D) Proxy war
Answer: C) Decapitation campaign
Explanation: Israel focused on eliminating key military and intelligence leaders in a decapitation strategy.
13. In India, which village in Kendrapada district was set to become the first smart village around March 2026?
A) Kusunpur
B) Puri village
C) Bhubaneswar model
D) Cuttack smart
Answer: A) Kusunpur
Explanation: Kusunpur in Odisha's Kendrapada district was highlighted as becoming Odisha's first smart village.
14. What festival began on March 19, 2026, as per cultural observances in India?
A) Holi
B) Chaitra Navratri
C) Ram Navami
D) Diwali
Answer: B) Chaitra Navratri
Explanation: Chaitra Navratri started on March 19, 2026, celebrated widely with devotion to Goddess Durga.
15. Which spiritual figure's birth anniversary was widely observed on March 19, 2026?
A) Prem Anand Maharaj
B) Shri Premanand Ji Maharaj
C) Radhe Mohan
D) Braj Kilali
Answer: B) Shri Premanand Ji Maharaj
Explanation: Devotees celebrated the birth anniversary (janmotsav) of Shri Premanand Ji Maharaj on this date.
16. Which index did NITI Aayog release its second edition of in March 2026, with Odisha ranking first?
A) Health Index
B) Fiscal Health Index
C) SDG India Index
D) Innovation Index
Answer: B) Fiscal Health Index
Explanation: The Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026 ranked states on fiscal performance, with Odisha at the top.
17. What major global textile event was launched in India in March 2026?
A) Bharat Tex 2026
B) India Fashion Week
C) TexIndia Expo
D) Global Fabric Fair
Answer: A) Bharat Tex 2026
Explanation: Union Minister Giriraj Singh launched Bharat Tex 2026 to position India as a global textile hub.
18. Which country co-hosted the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup that concluded earlier in March?
A) India and Sri Lanka
B) India and Australia
C) India and England
D) India and West Indies
Answer: A) India and Sri Lanka
Explanation: The tournament, ending March 8, 2026, was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
19. What was the reported status of radiation after Iranian facilities were hit in March 2026?
A) Major leak
B) No release
C) Minor contamination
D) Under investigation
Answer: B) No release
Explanation: Iran stated there was no radiation release following strikes on nuclear-related sites.
20. Which US intelligence officials testified on global threats amid the Iran conflict in mid-March 2026?
A) DNI Tulsi Gabbard and others
B) Secretary of Defense
C) Joint Chiefs
D) State Department
Answer: A) DNI Tulsi Gabbard and others
Explanation: Tulsi Gabbard (DNI), along with FBI and CIA directors, testified on threats during the Iran war.
21. A nationwide transportation strike on 19 March 2026 was reported in which country due to rising fuel prices?
A) Indonesia
A) Philippines
C) Thailand
D) Vietnam
Answer: B) Philippines
Explanation: On 19 March 2026, a nationwide transportation strike was organized in the Philippines by groups like Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and PISTON. The protest was against increasing fuel prices, which significantly impacted public transport drivers and commuters.
22. Which leader stated "to be free, we have to be feared" in a nuclear speech in March 2026?
A) Donald Trump
A) Emmanuel Macron
C) Benjamin Netanyahu
D) Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Answer: B) Emmanuel Macron
Explanation: French President Macron made the statement in a keynote on nuclear policy.
23. Which report highlighted India's trade deficit concerns with China in March 2026 current affairs?
A) NITI Aayog Fiscal Report
B) UNEP Medicines Report
C) Neighbourhood Diplomacy Analysis
D) Insights on India-China Trade
Answer: C) Neighbourhood Diplomacy Analysis
Explanation: Discussions on India's foreign relations included the persistent India-China trade deficit.
24. Which state topped NITI Aayog's Fiscal Health Index 2026?
A) Gujarat
B) Odisha
C) Karnataka
D) Tamil Nadu
Answer: B) Odisha
Explanation: Odisha ranked first in the second annual Fiscal Health Index released in March 2026.
25. What did anonymous Iranian sources signal to the US in early March 2026?
A) Surrender terms
B) Openness to talks to end the war
C) Nuclear escalation
D) Full retaliation
Answer: B) Openness to talks to end the war
Explanation: Iranian intelligence signaled willingness for negotiations to end the conflict.