Daily Current Affairs March 29, 2026

Current Affairs & GK Brief: March 29, 2026

Here is a detailed, exam-oriented Daily Current Affairs & GK roundup for 29 March 2026, covering National, International, Economy, and Sports. This is structured for competitive exam preparation (UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, etc.) with crisp facts and key takeaways.

National & Polity

• Hydrogen Train Milestone: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that India's first indigenous hydrogen-powered train successfully completed its oscillation trials. This is a major step toward the "Green Railways" goal by 2030.
• India as Electro-Tech Hub: A World Economic Forum (WEF) report titled "The Silicon Rise" identified India as the world's premier hub for electro-technology, with solar capacity reaching 120 GW and the electronics sector valued at $130 billion.
• Stuti Pradhan (Sikkim): Stuti Pradhan was selected to represent India at the World Youth Parliament 2026, focusing on global climate policies and sustainable. development.
• Assam launches SVEEP Campaigns to boost voter awareness ahead of April 9 Polls:In Assam, to promote informed electoral participation for the April 9 General Assembly Elections, District Administrations are conducting Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) initiatives across the state.
• IndiaSkills National Competition 2025-26 commences in Greater Noida:IndiaSkills National Competition 2025-26, the country’s premier platform to celebrate excellence in skills, commenced today in Greater Noida. Organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the competition brings together over 650 skilled youth from across the country, competing across 63 skill categories aligned with national and global industry standards. The winners of the national competition will represent India at the prestigious WorldSkills Competition Shanghai 2026.
• A critically endangered Great Indian Bustard chick recently hatched in Gujarat, India, marking a major conservation milestone after a 10-year gap in the state. The chick, part of a population of only about 150 left in the wild, is being protected by a 50-person team.
• Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam debuts in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections:In Tamil Nadu, Tamilaga Ventri Kazhagam, founded by Actor Politician Vijay, is making its debut in the State Assembly elections. Vijay released the first set of candidates and introduced the contestants who will enter the fray for the first time.

International & Geopolitics

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal meets DG of World Trade Organisation:Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and had valuable discussions with her as part of engagements at WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference.
• Indian Navy conducts IMEX TTX 2026 at Maritime Warfare Centre in Kochi:The Indian Navy conducted a maritime exercise, IMEX TTX 2026, on Friday at the Maritime Warfare Centre in Kochi. The event brought together naval officers and experts from many countries in the Indian Ocean region to discuss growing security challenges at sea., the Ministry of Defence said representatives from Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Timor-Leste took part in the exercise. The exercise comes at a time when India has taken over the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium for the 2026-2028 period after 16 years. IMEX TTX 2026 is seen as a key step in strengthening India’s leadership role in regional maritime security.
• Ambassador to Chad: Senior diplomat Naba Kumar Pal (IFS: 2008) has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to the Republic of Chad.
• Freedom House Report 2026: The report "Growing Shadow of Autocracy" noted a 20th consecutive year of global democratic decline. India remains classified as "Partly Free" in the 2026 assessment.

Economy & Business

• India's First 'Port of Refuge': Adani Ports (APSEZ) officially operationalized India’s first Port of Refuge (PoR) to assist distressed vessels on the high seas and enhance maritime safety.

Sports & Awards

• Hockey India Awards: Key Winners of the Hockey India Awards 2026 (for 2025 season)
• Player of the Year (Men - Balbir Singh Sr. Award): Hardik Singh
• Player of the Year (Women - Balbir Singh Sr. Award): Navneet Kaur
• Lifetime Achievement (Major Dhyan Chand Award): Zafar Iqbal
• Goalkeeper of the Year (Baljir Singh Award): Bichu Devi Kharibam
• Defender of the Year (Pargat Singh Award): Sanjay Rana
• Midfielder of the Year (Ajit Pal Singh Award): Sumit
• Forward of the Year (Dhanraj Pillay Award): Sukhjeet Singh
• Upcoming Player of the Year (Men - U21): Prince Deep Singh
• Upcoming Player of the Year (Women - U21): Sakshi Rana
• Khelo India Tribal Games enter fifth day; Karnataka leads medal tally-In Chhattisgarh, on the fifth day of the first Khelo India Tribal Games, competitions in hockey, weightlifting and football will be held today in Raipur.

Static GK & Exam Snippets

• Republic of Chad: A landlocked country in North-Central Africa. Capital: N'Djamena.
• Hydrogen Fuel: Often called "Green Fuel" as its only byproduct is water.
• Major Dhyan Chand: Known as the "Hockey Wizard." National Sports Day is celebrated on his birth anniversary (August 29).
• Freedom House: A US-based non-profit that conducts research and advocacy on democracy and political freedom.

Key Historical Events (March 29)

• 1857: Sepoy Mangal Pandey revolted against British rule in Barrackpore, India, marking the beginning of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.