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Current affairs

Current affairs March 16 – March 22, 2026 for CUET

3 stories from the week of March 16 – March 22, 2026, in the order they happened, then a quiz on the week.

March 2026 in current affairs: eleven stories for CUET

Awards & Appointments

Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025, in 24 languages

The Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025, announced 16 March 2026, went to 24 languages; Hindi to 'Jeete Jee Allahabad'.

On 16 March 2026 the Sahitya Akademi announced its awards for 2025 in the 24 languages it recognises: 8 books of poetry, 4 novels, 6 short-story collections, 2 books of essays, 1 of literary criticism, 1 autobiography and 2 memoirs.

The Hindi award went to the memoir 'Jeete Jee Allahabad', and the English award to the novel 'Crimson Spring'. For the first time, books were invited directly from authors and publishers. Each award carries an engraved copper plaque, a shawl and ₹1,00,000.

Test yourself

Question 1

EasyOriginal question

In how many languages does the Sahitya Akademi give its annual awards?

  1. A12
  2. B18
  3. C22
  4. D24
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

  1. The Akademi gives awards in the 24 languages it recognises.

  2. 22 is the number of languages in the Eighth Schedule; the Akademi also recognises English and Rajasthani.

Worth noting

24, not 22: the Akademi's list is the Eighth Schedule plus English and Rajasthani.

Concept
Sahitya Akademi languages
Typical time
40 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 2

MediumOriginal question

Which book won the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 for Hindi?

  1. ACrimson Spring
  2. BJeete Jee Allahabad
  3. CSafar Jaari Hai
  4. DKalyanilya Resha
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

  1. The Hindi award went to the memoir 'Jeete Jee Allahabad'.

  2. 'Safar Jaari Hai' won for Urdu, 'Crimson Spring' for English and 'Kalyanilya Resha' for Marathi.

Concept
Sahitya Akademi 2025, Hindi
Typical time
50 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 3

MediumOriginal question

'Crimson Spring' won the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 in which language, and in which form?

  1. AEnglish, poetry
  2. BPunjabi, short stories
  3. CHindi, memoir
  4. DEnglish, novel
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

  1. 'Crimson Spring' won the English award, in the novel category.

  2. The Hindi winner was a memoir, and the Punjabi winner a short-story collection.

Concept
Sahitya Akademi 2025, English
Typical time
50 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 4

HardOriginal question

What changed in how books were selected for the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025?

  1. ABooks were invited directly from authors and publishers for the first time
  2. BThe prize money was raised to ₹5 lakh
  3. COnly books published in the award year were considered
  4. DReaders voted online for the winners
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

  1. For 2025 the Akademi invited books directly from authors, publishers and well-wishers for the first time, through an open advertisement.

  2. The award money stayed at ₹1,00,000.

Concept
Sahitya Akademi selection, 2025
Typical time
65 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in
Read the releasePractise this: Awards & Appointments

Month →

Government Schemes & Policy

A ₹2,584.60 crore scheme for small hydro power

A ₹2,584.60 crore Small Hydro Power Development Scheme (2026-31) was approved on 18 March 2026 for about 1,500 MW.

On 18 March 2026 the Cabinet approved the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31, with an outlay of ₹2,584.60 crore for about 1,500 MW of projects between 1 and 25 MW. North-eastern states and border districts get up to ₹3.6 crore per MW or 30 per cent of project cost (capped at ₹30 crore a project); other states up to ₹2.4 crore per MW or 20 per cent (capped at ₹20 crore). It is run by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Test yourself

Question 1

MediumOriginal question

About how much new capacity is the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme of March 2026 meant to install?

  1. A25 MW
  2. B500 MW
  3. C1,500 MW
  4. D5,000 MW
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

  1. The scheme targets about 1,500 MW of small hydro projects.

  2. 25 MW is the upper size of a single small hydro project.

Concept
Small hydro scheme capacity
Typical time
50 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 2

EasyOriginal question

Which ministry runs the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme approved in March 2026?

  1. AThe Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  2. BThe Ministry of Power
  3. CThe Ministry of Jal Shakti
  4. DThe Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

  1. Small hydro, like solar and wind, falls under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

  2. Large hydro projects come under the Ministry of Power.

Concept
Small hydro: ministry
Typical time
40 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 3

HardOriginal question

Under the March 2026 small hydro scheme, what is the most a project in a north-eastern state can receive?

  1. A₹3.6 crore
  2. B₹15 crore
  3. C₹20 crore
  4. D₹30 crore
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

  1. North-eastern and border projects get ₹3.6 crore per MW or 30 per cent of cost, capped at ₹30 crore a project.

  2. Projects elsewhere are capped at ₹20 crore.

Concept
Small hydro: assistance cap
Typical time
65 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in
Read the releasePractise this: Government Schemes & Policy

Month →

Government Schemes & Policy

BHAVYA: 100 plug-and-play industrial parks

BHAVYA, approved 18 March 2026, gives ₹33,660 crore for 100 plug-and-play industrial parks over six years.

On 18 March 2026 the Union Cabinet approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA), with ₹33,660 crore to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks over six years, 2026-27 to 2031-32. 'Plug-and-play' means land, infrastructure and approvals are ready before an investor arrives.

Up to 50 parks will be chosen in the first phase through a challenge-based competition among states. Parks range from 25 acres in hill states, small union territories and the North-East to up to 1,000 acres near cities. The National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), under DPIIT, anchors the scheme.

Test yourself

Question 1

EasyOriginal question

How many industrial parks is the BHAVYA scheme, approved in March 2026, meant to develop?

  1. A12
  2. B50
  3. C100
  4. D1,000
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

  1. BHAVYA provides for 100 plug-and-play industrial parks.

  2. Up to 50 are to be chosen in the first phase; 1,000 is the largest park size in acres.

Concept
BHAVYA industrial parks
Typical time
40 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 2

MediumOriginal question

What is the outlay of the BHAVYA scheme?

  1. A₹10,000 crore
  2. B₹25,060 crore
  3. C₹28,840 crore
  4. D₹33,660 crore
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

  1. BHAVYA carries about ₹33,660 crore over 2026-27 to 2031-32.

  2. ₹25,060 crore is the Export Promotion Mission and ₹28,840 crore Modified UDAN.

Concept
Outlay of BHAVYA
Typical time
50 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 3

MediumOriginal question

Which body anchors the implementation of the BHAVYA scheme?

  1. AThe National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation
  2. BNITI Aayog
  3. CThe Small Industries Development Bank of India
  4. DThe Ministry of MSME
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

  1. NICDC, under DPIIT in the Commerce and Industry Ministry, anchors BHAVYA.

  2. BHAVYA builds on the industrial smart cities of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.

Concept
Who runs BHAVYA
Typical time
50 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 4

HardOriginal question

How will parks be chosen in the first phase of BHAVYA?

  1. ABy allotting two to every state
  2. BBy auction to private developers
  3. CBy lottery among districts
  4. DThrough a challenge-based competition among states
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

  1. Up to 50 parks in the first phase will be picked through challenge-based competitive selection.

  2. Size depends on need and on each state's commitment, from 25 to 1,000 acres.

Concept
Selection under BHAVYA
Typical time
65 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in
Read the releasePractise this: Government Schemes & Policy

Month →

Take the week's quiz

10 questions from this week's stories, untimed, with the answer after each.

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Every item on this page, and the document it came from

Sources on this page · Last verified:

  1. Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 — Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Culture
  2. Cabinet approves scheme on 'Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31' — Press Information Bureau, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  3. Cabinet approves a New Era of Plug-and-Play Industrial Development through Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) — Press Information Bureau, Cabinet