Daily Current Affairs March 15, 2026 | Gk updates for exams

Daily Current Affairs March 15, 2026 | Assembly Polls Schedule & BCCI Awards

Here is the Daily Current Affairs & GK – 15 March 2026 prepared for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and State PSC exam preparation.This update includes the high-stakes Assembly election announcement, critical updates from the West Asia conflict, and the prestigious BCCI Naman Awards.

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National & Polity

• Assembly Election Schedule 2026: The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the poll schedule for five states/UTs.

  • Single Phase: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Puducherry will vote in a single phase.

  • Two Phases: West Bengal will witness a two-phase election..

• Bharat Ratna Appeal: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote to PM Modi seeking the Bharat Ratna posthumously for BSP founder Kanshi Ram, citing his transformative role in Indian politics for the underprivileged.

International & Geopolitics

• Strait of Hormuz Conflict: The US-Israeli war with Iran entered its third week.

  • Donald Trump's Stance: The US President stated he is "not ready" for a deal with Tehran, citing unfavorable terms, and threatened further strikes on Iran's oil hub, Kharg Island.

  • Missile Test: Iran reportedly launched a Sejjil ballistic missile at Israel for the first time during this conflict.The Sejjil (or Ashura) is an advanced, two-stage, solid-fuel, medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed by Iran. With an estimated range of 2,000 kilometres, it is designed to reach targets across the Middle East, including Israel. It is known as the "dancing missile" for its ability to maneuver at high altitudes to evade defence systems.

• Nordic-Canada Arctic Pact: Prime Ministers of the Nordic countries and Canada met in Oslo to sign a joint statement on Arctic security and defense industrial cooperation to deter regional threats.The Nordic countries are a region in Northern Europe consisting of five sovereign states—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—along with three autonomous territories: Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Åland. Known for high standards of living, strong welfare systems, and close political cooperation, they are collectively termed the "Nordic region" (or Norden)

• Kazakhstan Referendum: Voters in Kazakhstan participated in a referendum on a new constitution that significantly strengthens the President's power, including the right to appoint all government officials.

• The Academy Awards (Oscars) 2026 were scheduled to take place on 15 March at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrating achievements in the global film industry.

Economy & Business

• Shipping Success: Two Indian LPG tankers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz and are expected to dock at Mundra and Kandla ports by March 17.

• Natural Gas Curtailment: The Indian government reduced gas allocation to non-priority industries to 65–80% to ensure supply for households (PNG) and transport (CNG) during the energy crisis.

Sports

BCCI Naman Awards 2026 (Full Winners List)

The BCCI honored the best of Indian cricket in a grand ceremony held in New Delhi on March 15, 2026.

• Polly Umrigar Award (Best International Cricketer - Men): Shubman Gill
• Best International Cricketer (Women): Smriti Mandhana
• Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger Binny & Rahul Dravid
• BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award (Women): Mithali Raj
• Best International Debut (Men): Harshit Rana
• Best International Debut (Women): N Sree Charani
• Madhavrao Scindia Award (Ranji Trophy Top Scorer): Y V Rathod (Vidarbha)
• Madhavrao Scindia Award (Ranji Trophy Top Wicket-taker): Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha)
• Lala Amarnath Award (Best All-rounder - Ranji Trophy): Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha)
• Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy (Best Sr Woman Cricketer): Shafali Verma (Haryana)
• Best Performance in Domestic Tournaments: Mumbai Cricket Association
• Best Umpire in Domestic Cricket: Ulhas Gandhe

• F1 Chinese Grand Prix: 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli won his first Formula One race with Mercedes, becoming the second-youngest winner in history.Max Verstappen is the youngest Formula 1 race winner in history, having won the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix at 18 years and 228 days old. He broke the previous record held by Sebastian Vettel. 

Science and Tech

• NavIC Satellite Setback: ISRO confirmed that the atomic clock onboard the IRNSS-1F satellite failed. While the satellite remains in orbit, its navigation services are now limited to one-way messaging.
• Drone Shakti Scheme: The Ministry of Agriculture announced the successful pilot completion of an advanced drone-based spraying system to enhance crop yields.

Static GK & Exam Snippets

• Article 21: Interpreted by the SC to include the "Right to Die with Dignity" and "Right to Health."

• Sejjil Missile: A two-stage, solid-fueled medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of ~2,000 km.

Important Days (March 15)

• World Consumer Rights Day-Theme "Safe Products, Confident Consumers
• International Day to Combat Islamophobia-  A UN-observed day to promote tolerance and human rights globally.

March 15 in History

• March 15 is most famously known as the Ides of March, the date in 44 BC when Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of Roman senators.
• 1564: Mughal Emperor Akbar abolishes the Jizya tax. This tax on non-Muslim subjects was removed as part of his efforts toward religious tolerance in India.
• 1939: Germany occupies Czechoslovakia. Adolf Hitler forced Czech President Emil Hácha to surrender, effectively ending the nation's independence .
• 1990: Mikhail Gorbachev is elected President. He became the first (and only) President of the Soviet Union .
• 1877: First-ever Test Cricket Match(March 15-19). Australia played England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground; Australia won by 45 runs.
• 1985: First Internet Domain Name. The world’s first domain, symbolics.com, was registered.