Daily Current Affairs March 13,2026 | Kavach 4.0 | VBSA Bill | Transgender Bill|Menstrual leave Policy

Here is the curated GK and Current Affairs content for March 13th, 2026.Stay informed with today’s breakdown of major global conflicts, national policy shifts, and key scientific milestones - March 13, 2026 Current affairs and GK for competitive exam preparation (UPSC, SSC, Banking, State PSC).

India-National News

Kavach 4.0 Commissioned: The Union Railway Minister announced the successful commissioning of Kavach 4.0 on 1,452 Route Kilometers across the high-density Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes. This indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system ensures safe operations during bad weather and prevents collisions.
NITI Aayog Fiscal Health Index: NITI Aayog released the "Fiscal Health Index 2026." Odisha has secured the top rank for fiscal performance and financial soundness, followed by Goa and Jharkhand.
VBSA Bill Debated: The Vikshit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill was a major point of discussion in Parliament. The bill aims to introduce sweeping reforms in higher education to align Indian universities with global standards.
New State Party in Tamil Nadu: V.K. Sasikala officially announced her party's name: All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, introducing a new dynamic to TN politics.
The Maharashtra government introduced the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026 (also known as the Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam) in the state Assembly on March 13, 2026. The bill aims to regulate religious conversions and criminalise those carried out through coercion, fraud, inducement, or marriage. The bill was introduced during the state's budget session and will be debated in both Houses before being sent for the Governor's assent. If enacted, Maharashtra would become the 13th state in India with such a law.
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 13, 2026, by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to amend the 2019 Act. It redefines transgender persons by listing specific socio-cultural categories (kinner, hijra, aravani, jogta) and excludes those with different sexual orientations.

Definition Changes: The bill refines the definition of a transgender person, shifting away from a strictly self-perceived definition towards recognized socio-cultural identities.
Medical Board: It introduces a medical board headed by a Chief Medical Officer to certify intersex variations.
Scope: The amendment explicitly clarifies that the Act does not cover individuals with different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities.

Removal of FSSAI dual licensing for streetvendors:The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has approved major food safety reforms that effectively remove the dual licensing requirement for street food vendors.As of March 13, 2026, street food vendors already registered with their local Municipal Corporations or Town Vending Committees are now "deemed registered" under FSSAI.
Supreme court on Menstrual leave policy:In a recent ruling on March 13, 2026, the Supreme Court of India declined to mandate a nationwide menstrual leave policy. The Court expressed concerns that making such leave compulsory by law could unintentionally harm women's careers and discourage employers from hiring them.
Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh has launched Bharat Tex 2026, touted as the world’s largest integrated textile event. Building on the success of previous editions, the event is scheduled for July 14–17, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Scale: Expected to host over 3,500 exhibitors, 7,000 international buyers from 140+ countries, and 1,30,000 trade visitors.
Scope: Showcases the entire ecosystem—from fibers, yarns, and apparel to technical textiles, handlooms, and smart manufacturing.
Significance: Reflects India's integrated global strength in textile manufacturing, design, and technology.

GeodCon-26 Held in New Delhi:India’s first national conference dedicated to geodesy and geospatial sciences, was held at the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) in New Delhi.

11 March – 13 March 2026.
Organizers: IIT Kanpur (NCG) along with Regional Centres at IIT Bombay, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, MANIT Bhopal, MNNIT Allahabad, Anna University, and IIST Thiruvananthapuram.

International News

UNSC Resolution on Iran: In a significant diplomatic move, India co-sponsored a resolution at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemning "egregious" attacks by Iran against Jordan and GCC countries.
US Trade Investigation: The United States has launched a Section 301 investigation into alleged "discriminatory trade policies" against India, China, and 14 other major trading partners. This move signals a potential return to high-tariff pressures.
West Asia Crisis & Shipping: Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have reached a peak. While Iran has selectively allowed some Indian-flagged LPG carriers to pass, global shipping through the route has largely slowed due to ongoing conflict between US-Israeli forces and Iran.
U.S. Refueling Aircraft Crash: All six crew members died when a U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq. The Pentagon confirmed the total U.S. death toll in "Operation Epic Fury" has reached 13.
World Bank Air Quality Agreement: The World Bank, India, and the Haryana government signed a $300 million agreement for the "Haryana Clean Air Project" to reduce pollution and create e-bus employment for 10,000 women and youth.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to formally announce Japan's participation in the "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative during her meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on March 19, 2026.The joint effort aims to develop a next-generation "shield" against hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) from adversaries like China and Russia.

Defence & Technology

Iran Ballistic Capacity "Defeated": The US Defense Secretary stated that combined US-Israeli strikes have "functionally defeated" Iran’s ballistic missile production capacity by destroying key defense industrial sites.
ISRO Cryogenic Engine Test: ISRO successfully conducted a ground test of the CE20 cryogenic engine, a critical component for India's heavy-lift launch vehicles and future lunar missions.A cryogenic engine is a highly efficient, complex rocket engine utilizing liquefied gases—typically liquid hydrogen (fuel) and liquid oxygen (oxidizer)—stored at extremely low temperatures (below -150°C). They provide high specific impulse, crucial for launching heavy payloads into space.
New Species Discovery: Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered two new species of lichen moths:
- Caulocera hollowayi
- Asura buxa
These species were discovered in the Eastern Himalayas and identified through distinctive wing patterns and anatomical features

Sports Highlights

IPL 2026 Schedule: The schedule for the first phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 was released. The season opener will feature defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
T20 World Cup Logistics: The ICC confirmed that the final group of players from the West Indies and South Africa, who were delayed in India due to Middle East airspace closures, have safely flown out.

Economy and Banking

Anti-Dumping Duty on India: China announced anti-dumping duties of up to 30.1% on halogenated butyl rubber imports from India, Japan, and Canada, alleging unfair pricing.
RBI NBFC Crackdown: The RBI cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of 36 NBFCs as part of its regulatory cleanup, while another 9 firms voluntarily surrendered their licenses.
India Proposes Economic Stabilisation Fund:The Government of India proposed the creation of an Economic Stabilisation Fund of Rs.1 Lakh Crore to help the country respond to global economic uncertainties. The fund is intended to provide fiscal flexibility during external shocks such as geopolitical tensions or global financial instability.This move aims to strengthen India's macroeconomic resilience and safeguard growth during global crises.

March 13 2026 important days

World Sleep Day (observed the Friday before the Spring Equinox in 2026)

March 13:Major Historical Milestones

Discovery of Uranus (1781): Astronomer William Herschel discovered the seventh planet from the Sun, Uranus, which he initially thought was a comet or a star.
Election of Pope Francis (2013):Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th pope, becoming the first pontiff from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in over 1,200 years.
Anschluss Announced (1938): The political union between Austria and Nazi Germany was formally announced, leading to the annexation of Austria.

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Daily Current Affairs and GK March 13, 2026