Daily Current Affairs March 28, 2026: Operation Urja Suraksha, Noida International Airport & KP Sharma Oli Arrested

Current Affairs & GK Brief: March 28, 2026 | Indian Navy Launches Operation Urja Suraksha & IAF Project Vayu Baan

Here is the comprehensive Current Affairs and GK brief for March 28, 2026. Today’s news is highlighted by major defense launches, a shifting economic outlook due to global tensions, and the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

National

• Indian Navy Launches 'Operation Urja Suraksha': The Indian Navy (IN) officially launched 'Operation Urja Suraksha' (Energy Protection) to safeguard India-bound energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. The mission involves more than five frontline warships to escort high-priority vessels carrying LNG, LPG, and crude oil.
• IAF Launches Project 'Vayu Baan': The Indian Air Force (IAF) initiated 'Vayu Baan', India's first project to develop a helicopter-launched Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). This move reduces reliance on foreign air-launched drone technologies and puts India in an elite group of nations like the USA and China.
• PRISM-SG Portal Launched: Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Ashwini Vaishnaw jointly launched the PRISM-SG (Portal for Rail-Road Innovation & Seamless Management). This digital platform aims to provide a single-window interface for streamlining infrastructure fabrication and rail-road project management.
• MoU for Folk Music Promotion: The Ministry of Culture signed an MoU with YouTube in New Delhi to globally promote India's folk and tribal music. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
• Gruh Sugam Portal: The National Housing Bank (NHB) launched the 'Gruh Sugam Portal' to digitize and simplify housing loan applications specifically for defense personnel, paramilitary forces, and government employees.
• Govt Extends Bharat Tribes Fest 2026 Till April 5 Amid Strong Public Response:The Bharat Tribes Fest 2026 is a major cultural and entrepreneurial event showcasing India's tribal heritage at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi, running from March 18 to April 5, 2026. Organised by TRIFED and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, it features over 200 stalls with 300+ artisans, 120 food exhibitors, and daily cultural performances from across India.
• Govt Invites Nominations for 2026 Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar:The government has invited nominations for the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2026. The award is a prestigious national initiative to recognize outstanding contributions in the fields of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
• PM Modi inaugurates Noida International Airport Phase I at Jewar:Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the first phase of Noida International Airport at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. He also laid the foundation stone of 40 acres of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities.

International & Geopolitics

• Former Nepal PM K P Sharma Oli arrested over Gen Z protest crackdown:Nepal’s Former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was arrested today over Gen Z protest crackdown last year. The move comes a day after the newly formed government of Balendra Shah implemented the probe commission report on the Gen Z protest that rocked the nation last year.
• Canada-India Trade Ties: Canadian Minister Maninder Sidhu met with India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of the WTO conference. They reviewed progress on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and discussed a planned trade mission to Canada.

Economy & Business

• Monthly Economic Review (March 2026): The Finance Ministry released its report noting a "moderation in economic momentum" due to the crisis in West Asia.

• Risks: High import dependence for oil/LPG and disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz (where ship transits fell from ~200/week to just 1/week) are key risks.
• PMI & E-way Bills: The Flash PMI for March showed softening, and E-way bill generation declined by 5.3% month-on-month.
• Inflation: Retail inflation rose to a 10-month high of 3.21% in February 2026, driven by food prices.

Sports

• IPL 2026 Opener (RCB vs SRH): The 2026 IPL season kicked off at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 6 wickets.

Important Days observed

• Earth Hour 2026: Observed on March 28 (the last Saturday of March), where people globally switch off non-essential lights for one hour (8:30 PM to 9:30 PM local time).