News of The Day – 21st March 2026

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• About Youth Policy 2026
• Aims to harness India’s demographic dividend (largest youth population globally).
• Focus areas: education, skilling, employment, mental health, and civic participation.
• Aligns with initiatives like Skill India, Digital India, and Startup India.
• Emphasis on youth entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership development.
• Addresses challenges: unemployment, skill mismatch, and digital divide.

(GS-3: Economy)

• About VRR (Variable Rate Repo) Auction.
  • liquidity management tool used by RBI.
• Helps banks borrow short-term funds by pledging government securities.
• Injection of liquidity stabilises interest rates and banking system liquidity.
• Indicates tight liquidity conditions in the economy. • Supports credit flow and economic activity.

(GS-3: Environment)

• Focus on cultivation of medicinal plants in arid/desert regions.
• Promotes sustainable livelihoods in Rajasthan and arid zones.
• Conserves traditional knowledge and biodiversity.
• Linked with AYUSH sector and herbal medicine industry.
• Supports climate-resilient agriculture.

(GS-3: Environment)

• Seemai Karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) is an invasive alien species.
• Causes groundwater depletion, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation. 
  • The court directed removal to restore ecological balance.
• Raises issue of invasive species management in India.
• Linked to environmental governance and judicial intervention.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• Molecular clouds are dense regions of gas and dust where stars are born.
• Study highlights interaction between galactic disc and nearby clouds.
• Helps understand star formation rates and galaxy evolution.
• Important for astrophysics and cosmology.

• Facility under Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
• Enables inclusive and accessible voting. • Covers senior citizens (85+) and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
• Strengthens free and fair elections and electoral participation.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• About Krishi Sakhi Initiative 
  • initiative to empower women farmers through training and extension services.
• “Krishi Sakhis” act as community resource persons.
• Promotes sustainable agricultural practices and awareness.
• Linked to Self Help Groups (SHGs) and NRLM.
• Enhances women’s role in agri-value chains.

• About Stockholm Water Prize
• Prestigious global award in water research and management. 
• Recognises contributions to water conservation, sustainability, and policy.
• Often called the “Nobel Prize of Water”
• Highlights global challenges: water scarcity, pollution, climate change.

• About SAGAR = Security and Growth for All in the Region.
• India’s vision for Indian Ocean Region (IOR) cooperation.
• Focus: maritime security, disaster relief, blue economy.
• Counters strategic influence of other powers (e.g., China).
• Linked to Indo-Pacific strategy and naval diplomacy.

(GS-3: Economy)

• About PRARAMBH 2026
  • Likely startup/innovation-focused initiative or summit.
• Encourages entrepreneurship, incubation, and innovation ecosystem.
• Supports youth-led startups and emerging technologies.
• Aligns with Startup India and Digital India.

• About National Dental Commission
• Replaces/modernises regulatory framework for dental education and profession.
• Ensures quality standards, transparency, and accountability.
• Similar reform pattern as National Medical Commission (NMC).
• Focus on improving dental healthcare and education infrastructure.

(GS-2: Polity  and Governance)

• About Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC)
  • Set up by the Election Commission to monitor media during elections.
  • Checks paid news and political advertisements.
• Ensures compliance with Model Code of Conduct (MCC)