The fourth week of March 2026 concludes, but the West Asia conflict hasn't yet. On 26 March, Iran warned it would block the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait after the Strait of Hormuz if the US and Israel escalate the war.
While the ongoing situation in West Asia has triggered panic in India, citing a possible LPG shortage. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has reiterated that India's petroleum and LPG supply situation is fully secure. Adequate stocks of petrol and diesel are available at all petrol pumps across the country.
At the same time, several key terms in news emerged this week. A Great Indian Bustard chick hatched in Kutch, Gujarat, after a decade, while the Noida International Airport finally takes off under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Meanwhile, with the Union Budget 2026-27 doubling the allocation for the PM-KUSUM scheme to Rs 5,000 crore, the term 'agri-photovoltaics' is gaining attention. And India's foreign exchange reserves declined by $11.413 billion to $698.346 billion in the week ended March 20, 2026, as per the data released by the Reserve Bank of India.
Current Affairs Terms in News This Week (22-28 March 2026)
1. Bab-al-Mandeb Strait
Why in news?
Iran has threated to block the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if the US and Israel escalate the war. With four weeks into the conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb strait has been in focus due to the rising geopolitical tensions.
What is it?
Bab el-Mandeb strait is a strategic chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The strait links the Mediterranean Sea (via the Suez Canal) with the Indian Ocean.
Key Points
- The Bab-el-Mandeb, also known as 'Gate of Tears'
- The strait is a major global chokepoint between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa.
- The strait handles about 10 to 12 per cent of total global seaborne trade.
2. Great Indian Bustard
Why in news?
On 26 March 2026, a chick of endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) hatched after a decade in Kutch, Gujarat. This historic milestone in the field of wildlife conservation was achieved through a conservation measure known as the 'Jumpstart Approach'. The Project GIB was launched in the year 2016 to conserve GIB.
What is it?
Great Indian Bustard or Indian Bustard is the largest and heaviest flying bird in India. These are a critically endangered species of birds, with fewer than 150 individuals remaining in the wild.
Key Points
- The Great Indian Bustard are primarily found in the dry grasslands and semi-arid regions of northwest India.
- 90 per cent of GIB population is surviving in Rajasthan's Thar Desert, while few exist in Gujarat's Kutch region, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
3. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model
Why in news?
PM Narendra Modi, on 28 March 2026, officially inaugurated the Phase I of Noida International Airport at Jewar in Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. Phase I of the airport has been built at the cost of approximately Rs. 11, 200 crore under the Public-Private Partnership Model (PPP) model.
What is it?
The Public-Partnership Model (PPP) model is an arrangement where a Government/ statutory entity/ Government owned entity and a private sector entity or entities collaborate to deliver public assets, infrastructure, or services.
Key Points
- The PPP model enables risk sharing, risk distribution, and expertise exchange between the public and private sectors.
- PPP models are widely used in sectors such as transportation, education, healthcare, energy, etc.
- Various PPP models in India include Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT), Design-Build-Finance-Operate (DBFO), Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC), BOT-Annuity, among others.
4. Agri-Photovoltaics
Why in news?
In the Union Budget 2026-27, the allocation for the PM-KUSUM scheme was nearly doubled to Rs 5,000 crore, with a National Agri-photovoltaics Mission being considered to achieve 10 GW of capacty.
What is it?
Agri-photovoltaics is the simultaneous use of land for both solar energy and agriculture by instaling solar panels at an appropriate height under which crops are placed.
Key Points
- The strategic placement of the solar panels provides partial shade to the crops protecting them from extreme heat and reducing water loss.
- The moisture released by the crops from below cools the solar panels, which in turn increases their photovoltaic efficiency.
- Farmers gain a secondary, reliable source of revenue as they are replace diesel pumps with solar power and sell surplus electricity back to the grid.
5. Forex Reserves
Why in news?
India's foreign exchange reserves declined by $11.413 billion to $698.346 billion in the week ended March 20, 2026, as per the data released by the Reserve Bank of India.
What is it?
Foreign exchange reserves, or forex reserves are assets held by a country's central bank (like RBI) in foreign currencies.
Key Points
- India's forex reserves comprises: Foreign Currency Assets (FCA), gold holdings, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), and a Reserve Tranche Position with the IMF.
- Foreign Currency Assets (FCA), the largest component, is primarily used by the RBI to manage exchange rate volatility.
- As of 2026, India holds the fourth-largest foreign exchange reserves in the world, with total reserves touching around $700 billion mark.
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation