21 March 2026 Current Affairs UPSC-SSC-Banking level

Daily Current Affairs One-Liners – 21 March 

• The Union Cabinet approved the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme (2026–2031) with a financial outlay of ₹2,584.60 crore to boost renewable energy capacity.
• India and Vietnam strengthened collaboration in tribal and ethnic development through a high-level bilateral engagement in New Delhi.

• The Himachal Pradesh Government signed an MoU with the National Dairy Development Board to modernise and expand the dairy sector.
• Tamil Nadu emerged as the top textile exporting state in FY 2024–25, overtaking Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• The Forbes Young Billionaires List 2026 reported 35 billionaires under the age of 30 with a combined net worth of $92.4 billion.
• The World Happiness Report 2026 , released by the Wellbeing Research Centre, ranked Finland as the happiest country for the ninth consecutive year.
• The World Anti-Doping Agency deferred its decision on restricting government officials from attending major international sporting events.
• The 622nd meeting of the Reserve Bank of India Central Board was held in Patna under Governor Sanjay Malhotra.
• The Reserve Bank of India imposed a ₹3.10 lakh penalty on Cashfree Payments India Private Limited for regulatory non-compliance.
• The Reserve Bank of India set up a Working Group on Digital Lending to review regulations for loans via online platforms and mobile applications.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India tightened norms on intraday borrowing by mutual funds to improve liquidity risk management.
• State Bank of India raised ₹6,051 crore through Basel III-compliant Tier-2 bonds to strengthen capital adequacy.
• Edelweiss Asset Management Company introduced India’s first hybrid passive index fund combining equity and government securities.
• The Reserve Bank of India revised dividend distribution guidelines, linking payouts to banks’ CET1 capital ratios.
• Jio Payments Bank launched UPI-based cash withdrawal services at Business Correspondent points, enhancing financial inclusion.
• City Union Bank appointed Ravindra Jadeja as its brand ambassador.
• The Reserve Bank of India approved a ₹4,385 crore investment by Bain Capital in Manappuram Finance Limited.
• Shipping Corporation of India signed a contract with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for constructing a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV).
• The ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute launched a deep-sea expedition in the Arabian Sea to study seamount fisheries.
• International Day of Forests (World Forest Day) is observed on 21 March to highlight the importance of forest ecosystems.
• World Poetry Day is celebrated annually on 21 March to promote literary expression and appreciation of poetry.
• World Down Syndrome Day is observed on 21 March to raise awareness and advocate inclusion of persons with Down syndrome.