Current Affairs - 27 March 2026

Punjab–Rajasthan Water Sharing Dispute

NATIONAL

Why in News

The Punjab Chief Minister revived the long-standing Punjab–Rajasthan water dispute by demanding ₹1.44 lakh crore from Rajasthan for using 18,000 cusecs of water since 1960.

Punjab cited a colonial-era royalty agreement and highlighted its worsening groundwater crisis.

Key Facts about the Dispute

Historical Basis (1920s Agreement)

The dispute traces back to a commercial agreement in the 1920s between Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner and undivided Punjab during British rule.
Rajasthan (then Bikaner state) received water from the Sutlej River through the Gang/Bikaner Canal.
Royalty payments were made for water usage until around 1960.

Indus Waters Treaty (1960)

The Indus Waters Treaty (1960) between India and Pakistan gave India exclusive rights over the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
After the treaty, water sharing within India was treated as inter-state allocation rather than a commercial arrangement, and Rajasthan stopped paying royalty.

Tripartite Agreement (1981)

A tripartite agreement was signed between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan with the support of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Out of 17.17 million acre-feet (MAF) of water:
Rajasthan received 8.6 MAF, the largest share.
This allocation supported the expansion of the Indira Gandhi Canal in Rajasthan.

Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004

Punjab passed the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004 to cancel earlier water-sharing agreements.
However, the law protected existing water supply to Rajasthan, so current usage continued.
In 2016, the Supreme Court ruled that states cannot unilaterally terminate inter-state agreements, restoring the previous legal framework.

Punjab’s Riparian Principle Claim

• Punjab argues based on the riparian principle, which states that states through which rivers flow have primary rights over their waters.

• Rajasthan is a non-riparian state because the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers do not flow through it.

• Punjab claims that Rajasthan receiving the largest share of water is inequitable, especially considering Punjab’s severe groundwater depletion.

Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Biopharma SHAKTI Scheme

NATIONAL

Why in News

The Union Budget 2026–27 introduced the Biopharma SHAKTI Scheme to boost domestic production of biologics and biosimilars and promote the shift from traditional animal testing to advanced Non-Animal Methodologies (NAMs) such as organoids.

About the Biopharma SHAKTI Scheme

• Biopharma SHAKTI (Strategy for Healthcare Advancement through Knowledge, Technology and Innovation) is a flagship initiative to transform India from a generic drug producer into a global hub for advanced biologics and biosimilars.

• The scheme aligns with the National Biopharma Mission (NBM), 2017, which aims to develop India as a USD 100 billion global biotechnology industry and capture around 5% share of the global pharmaceutical market.

Financial Outlay

The government has allocated ₹10,000 crore over 5 years starting from FY 2026–27.

Disease Focus

The scheme prioritizes affordable domestic production of therapies for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as
Cancer
Diabetes
Autoimmune disorders.

Significance

Addresses the rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) which account for around 63% of all deaths in India.
Strengthens India’s pharmaceutical self-reliance and innovation capacity.
Helps India respond to global trade pressures and tariffs on branded pharmaceutical products, while boosting high-value drug manufacturing.

Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Seven Empowered Committees on West Asia Crisis

NATIONAL

Why in News

Amid the escalating West Asia crisis, the Government of India has formed seven empowered committees to manage its potential impact on the economy, energy supplies, national security and supply chains.

Purpose

The committees will monitor developments and coordinate government responses to mitigate disruptions caused by the crisis.
Focus areas include energy security, economic stability, trade routes, food supply and public communication.

Seven Empowered Committees

Panel 1: Defence, External Affairs and Public Order
Panel 2: Economy, Finance and Supply Chains
Panel 3: Energy Security
Panel 4 & Panel 5: Agriculture, Fertiliser and Essential Commodities
Panel 6: Transport, Logistics and Trade Routes
Panel 7: Information, Communication and Public Engagement

Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Indian Railways Refund Policy 2026

NATIONAL

Why in News

The Indian Railways Refund Policy 2026 introduces stricter timelines and revised refund slabs for ticket cancellations.

Key Changes in Refund Policy

• No refund if the ticket is cancelled within 8 hours before departure.

• 50% deduction for cancellations made between 24 hours and 8 hours before departure.

• 25% deduction for cancellations made between 72 hours and 24 hours before departure.

• Full refund (after deducting basic charges) if the ticket is cancelled more than 72 hours before departure.

Comparison with Old Rules

Earlier, no refund was applicable only within 4 hours before departure.
25% deduction applied between 48 hours and 12 hours before departure.

Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

AssamSAT – Earth Observation Satellite Initiative

NATIONAL

Why in News

Assam became the first Indian state to float a tender for a constellation of earth-observation satellites called AssamSAT.

The initiative aims to improve disaster management, environmental monitoring, and surveillance of international borders.

Key Highlights

AssamSAT Project

• Assam has invited private companies to design, build, launch and operate at least 5 satellites.

• These satellites will be placed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

• The project aims to strengthen real-time monitoring for floods, landslides and border security.

Use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

• Due to heavy cloud cover in Assam for nearly half the year, the satellites will carry Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).

• SAR technology can capture images through clouds, rain and even at night, ensuring continuous observation.

Current Mechanism

• At present, state disaster management agencies request satellite data from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).

• The NRSC processes and provides the required satellite data, which can cause delays.

• AssamSAT will enable direct and faster access to satellite data for the state government.

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

About

• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is the region of space closest to the Earth’s surface.

• It typically lies between 160 km and 2,000 km above Earth.

Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

BIHAR NEWS

Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 for Maithili Language

NATIONAL

Why in the news?

❖ Dr. Mahendra Jha has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 for the Maithili language for his memoir “Dhatri Paat San Gaam.”

Key highlights

❖ Dr. Mahendra Jha was born on 6 January 1947 in a village in Saharsa district of Bihar.

❖ He is currently residing in Bhelahi village in Supaul district of Bihar.

Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

BIHAR NEWS

Dinesh Chandra Rai

NATIONAL

Why in the news?

❖ Prof. Dinesh Chandra Rai has been awarded the Fellowship of the Chamber for Advancement of Small and Medium Businesses (CASMB).

Key highlights

❖ The award was given in recognition of his three decades of work in Dairy Science and Food Technology.

❖ He is currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University (BRABU).

❖ He is also a senior professor at Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

BIHAR NEWS

‘Ayushman Manthan’ Conclave

NATIONAL

Why in the news?

❖ The ‘Ayushman Manthan’ conclave was recently held at the Urja Auditorium in Patna.

About the Conclave

The event was organised by the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) in collaboration with the Bihar Health Security Committee.
The conclave brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals and experts.
The discussions focused on assessing the impact and implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
AIIMS Patna was recognised for excellence in service delivery during the conclave.

Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

ONE LINER NEWS

ONE LINER

FACTUAL

Gujarat has become the second state after Uttarakhand to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill.
International Day of the Unborn Child 2026 is observed globally on 25 March to highlight the importance of life before birth and raise awareness about the dignity of unborn children.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has been sold for $1.78 billion (₹16,660 crore), with ownership transferred from United Spirits Limited to a consortium including the Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Blackstone Inc. and Bolt Ventures, marking a major development in Indian cricket.
Puneet Gupta has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Digital News Publishers Association on 24 March 2026.
India’s sports economy crossed the $2 billion mark in 2025, reaching a valuation of ₹18,864 crore.
Kompella Venkata Ramana Murty has been appointed as a whole-time member of Securities and Exchange Board of India on 25 March 2026 for a three-year term.
OpenAI has appointed Kiran Mani as Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
The Akasha300 industrial high-temperature 3D printer developed by Kerala-based startup Spacetime 4D has been delivered to ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) to manufacture complex components for space missions, marking an important step toward Atmanirbhar Bharat in aerospace manufacturing.
The Philippines has declared a national energy emergency amid escalating tensions in the U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict, as disruptions in global oil supply and rising fuel prices threaten the country’s energy security.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of global oil supply passes, has become a major geopolitical flashpoint in the 2026 Iran conflict, with Iran allowing passage mainly to selected “friendly” nations such as India, China and a few others.
Cuba’s power grid collapsed again in March 2026, leaving the entire country in darkness for the third time that month, highlighting a deepening energy crisis caused by ageing infrastructure, fuel shortages and geopolitical tensions.

Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Padhai Marg

Turning Aspirants Into Officer's