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.
