Daily Current Affairs 12 March 2026 for UPSC Exam

Daily current affairs play a crucial role in preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Questions in both Prelims and Mains are increasingly linked to contemporary developments in governance, international relations, environment, energy security, and social welfare schemes. Understanding the background, policy framework, and implications of these events is essential for building analytical answers in the examination.

The Daily Current Affairs for 12 March 2026 covers significant developments such as the West Asia geopolitical crisis affecting global oil supply, India’s efforts to enhance energy security, the ULLAS adult literacy programme, renewable energy initiatives discussed at the Fourth National Agro-RE Summit, reforms in environmental clearance mechanisms, and the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission. Each topic is explained with a UPSC exam perspective, helping aspirants connect news events with syllabus topics and potential examination questions.

Topics Discussed on Daily Current Affairs 12 March 2026 for UPSC Exam

The Daily Current Affairs for 12 March 2026 covers major developments relevant for UPSC Prelims and Mains preparation.

• West Asia Conflict and Energy Security
• Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS)
• Fourth National Agro-RE Summit
• PM KUSUM Scheme
• PM Surya Ghar Yojana
• Standing Authority on Environment Impact Assessment (SAEIA)
• PARIVESH Portal
• Jal Jeevan Mission

West Asia Conflict and Energy Security

• The conflict in West Asia has intensified, affecting global energy security.
• A commercial ship “Mayuri Nari” traveling to Kandla Port (India) was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz close to the Oman coast.
• The ship was carrying an energy consignment when it caught fire after the attack.
• Four individuals were injured, and India strongly condemned the incident.
• The escalation followed US airstrikes targeting Iranian naval assets and the financial institution Bank Sepah.
• Iran warned that it could target major Middle Eastern financial institutions in retaliation.
• Israel launched airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah positions in the Aisha Bakar area.

Iran reportedly launched attacks on:

• Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia (hosting US forces)
• Shaybah Oil Field in Saudi Arabia
• These attacks were intercepted by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) released 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves to stabilize global markets.
• India increased domestic LPG production by 25% to strengthen energy security.
• The government introduced a Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) system for LPG delivery to prevent misuse of subsidized cylinders.
  

  UPSC Angle

Prelims

• Strait of Hormuz as a major global oil transit route.
• International Energy Agency (IEA) role in global oil stability.
  

  Mains (GS Paper II & III)

• Impact of geopolitical conflicts on global energy markets.
• India’s strategies for energy security and supply diversification.

Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS)

• Chandigarh achieved 99.93% literacy, ranking second among Union Territories under the ULLAS initiative.
• Ladakh secured the first position in achieving near 100% literacy.
• Overall, Chandigarh ranks sixth among states and UTs.
• ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) is also called Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.
• The scheme focuses on adult education and literacy.
• It targets individuals aged 15 years and above who lack basic literacy and numeracy skills.
• The scheme runs from 2022 to 2027.
• Implemented by the Ministry of Education through the Department of School Education and Literacy.
• It operates within the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The programme provides:

• Basic reading and writing skills
• Numeracy skills (basic arithmetic)
• Digital literacy
• Financial literacy
• Legal awareness and civic education

• Student volunteers participate in teaching adults and receive academic credits and certificates.
• Digital learning is supported through the ULLAS mobile application and DIKSHA portal.

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UPSC Angle

Prelims

• Features and target group of the ULLAS scheme.
• Link between ULLAS and NEP 2020.
  

  Mains (GS Paper II – Social Sector)

• Role of adult education in inclusive development.
• Importance of literacy in achieving socio-economic empowerment.

Fourth National Agro-RE Summit

• The Fourth National Agro-Renewable Energy (Agro-RE) Summit focused on integrating renewable energy with agriculture.Organized by:
• National Solar Energy Federation of India
• Indian Agri-Voltaic Alliance
• The summit aimed to boost farmer income through renewable energy adoption.
• Key emphasis areas:
  • Rooftop solar panels in rural areas
  • Solar-powered irrigation systems
  • Agri-voltaic systems (solar panels installed above farmland)

Major Highlights

• Solar irrigation pumps reduce diesel use and cut irrigation costs by ₹5,000–₹6,500 per acre annually.
• Agri-voltaics allow farming under solar panels while generating electricity.
• Crop shading from solar panels reduces water evaporation.
• Farmers can earn ₹60,000–₹1,00,000 per acre annually from solar power generation.
• India’s renewable capacity increased from 81 GW (2014) to about 275 GW (2026).
• Target: 500 GW non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030.

UPSC Angle

Prelims

• Concept of Agri-voltaics.
  

  Mains (GS Paper III – Environment & Economy)

• Renewable energy integration with agriculture.
• Sustainable farming and climate-friendly technologies.

PM KUSUM Scheme

• PM KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) launched in 2019.
• Objective: Promote solar energy in agriculture.
• Provides solar pumps to farmers, reducing diesel dependence.
• Farmers can sell surplus electricity to the grid.
• Target: 34,800 MW solar capacity by March 2026.Subsidy Pattern

General States

• 30% Central subsidy
• 30% State subsidy
• 40% Farmer contribution
  

  Special Category States

• 50% Central subsidy
• 30% State subsidy
• 20% Farmer contribution
  

  Components

• Component A: Grid-connected solar power plants.
• Component B: Standalone solar agriculture pumps.
• Component C: Solarization of grid-connected agricultural pumps.

UPSC Angle

Prelims

• Components of PM KUSUM scheme.

Mains (GS Paper III)

• Role of solar energy in sustainable agriculture.

PM Surya Ghar Yojana

• PM Surya Ghar Yojana launched in 2024.
• Promotes rooftop solar installations in households.
• Provides 40% subsidy on installation costs.
• Over 3.1 million households have installed solar panels under the scheme.
• Helps households reduce electricity bills and produce electricity.

UPSC Angle

Prelims

• Features of PM Surya Ghar Yojana.
  

  Mains (GS Paper III)

• Importance of decentralized renewable energy systems.

Standing Authority on Environment Impact Assessment (SAEIA)

• The EIA Notification 2006 created a framework for environmental impact assessment.
• Environment is listed in the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
• At the state level:
  • SEAC evaluates environmental impact.
  • SEIAA grants final project approval.
• Members of SEAC/SEIAA are appointed for 3 years.

Standing Authority on EIA (SAEIA)

• Created to address delays in environmental clearances.
• If state authorities fail to process applications within 120 days, the project is transferred to SAEIA.
• SAEIA members are appointed by the Central Government.

PARIVESH Portal

• PARIVESH: Pro-Active and Responsive Facilitation by Interactive, Virtuous and Environmental Single-window Hub.
• Provides online submission and tracking for environmental clearances.

UPSC Angle

Prelims

• PARIVESH portal and EIA process.

Mains (GS Paper III – Environment)

• Balancing environmental protection with economic development.

Jal Jeevan Mission

• Jal Jeevan Mission launched on 15 August 2019.
• Objective: Provide functional household tap connections (FHTC) to rural households
• Target supply: 55 litres per capita per day (LPCD) of drinking water
• Implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The mission has been extended until December 2028.

Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 Goals

• Universal rural tap water connections.
• Sustainable water supply systems.
• Improved water quality monitoring.

Funding Pattern

• Union Territories: 100% Central funding
• North-Eastern & Himalayan States: 90% Centre, 10% State
• Other States: 50% Centre, 50% State

Digital Monitoring

• Sujalam Bharat platform provides digital monitoring of water supply services.

UPSC Angle

Prelims

• Objectives and funding pattern of Jal Jeevan Mission.

Mains (GS Paper II & III)

• Importance of water governance and rural infrastructure

UPSC Prelims Practice Quiz – 12 March 2026

Here is the Daily current affairs UPSC Prelims Practice Quiz for practice:

Consider the following statements about the Strait of Hormuz:

1. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
2. A significant portion of the world’s oil trade passes through it.
3. It lies between Iran and Oman.Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 only
   B. 1 and 2 only
   C. 2 and 3 only
   D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

Consider the following statements regarding the ULLAS Scheme:

1. It is also known as the Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.
2. It aims to provide literacy and numeracy skills to adults aged 15 years and above.
3. It is implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
   B. 2 only
   C. 1, 2 and 3
   D. 1 only

Answer: A

Which of the following best describes Agri-voltaics?

A.Use of nuclear energy in agriculture
B. Integration of solar energy generation with agricultural farming
C. Use of wind energy for crop irrigation
D. Solar-powered cold storage for crops

Answer: B

Consider the following statements about PM KUSUM Scheme:

1. It was launched in 2019.
2. It promotes solar energy in agriculture through solar pumps.
3. Farmers can sell surplus electricity generated to the grid.Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 only
   B. 1 and 2 only
   C. 2 and 3 only
   D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

Which ministry is responsible for implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission?

A.Ministry of Rural Development
B. Ministry of Jal Shakti
C. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Answer: B

Consider the following statements about the PARIVESH Portal:

1. It is a single-window digital platform for environmental clearances.
2. It allows online submission and monitoring of environmental approval applications.
3. It was created to replace the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
   B. 2 and 3 only
   C. 1, 2 and 3
   D. 1 only

Answer: A

The PM Surya Ghar Yojana aims to:

A.Provide solar irrigation pumps to farmers
B. Promote rooftop solar energy in households
C. Build solar power plants in deserts
D. Provide electricity subsidies to industries

Answer: B

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the government aims to provide how much drinking water per capita per day?

A. 40 litres
B. 55 litres
C. 70 litres
D. 100 litres

Answer: B

Which of the following organizations released oil from strategic reserves to stabilize global supply during the West Asia crisis?

A. OPEC
B. International Energy Agency
C. World Bank
D. International Monetary Fund

Answer: B

Environment is placed under which list of the Indian Constitution?

A.Union List
B. State List
C. Concurrent List
D. Residuary List

Answer: C

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