UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 March 2026

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 March 2026 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents

GS Paper 2 :

1. The Collegium System in India

 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Krishi Sakhi Initiative

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA)

2. Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) Framework

3. RISA: Timeless Tribal

4. Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme

5. Stockholm Water Prize 2026

 Mapping:

1. Indian Ocean Region

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 March 2026

GS Paper 2 :

The Collegium System in India

Source:  TF

Subject:  Judiciary System

Context: Recent critiques and data from 2025-2026 highlight a widening gap between the Collegium’s formal principles (seniority and regional representation) and its opaque practices.

• Reports indicate that frequent supersessions and selective representation have left seven High Courts unrepresented in the Supreme Court as of March 2026.

About The Collegium System in India:

What it is?

• The Collegium System is a unique judicial mechanism where a group of the most senior judges of the Supreme Court (and High Courts) decides on the appointment, elevation, and transfer of judges.
• It is an extra-constitutional body, meaning it was not created by an Act of Parliament or a specific Article of the Constitution, but evolved through judicial interpretations of Articles 124(2) and 217.

Origin and Evolution: The Judges’ Cases

The system reached its current form through four landmark Supreme Court judgments:

1. First Judges Case (1981): Ruled that consultation with the CJI did not mean concurrence, giving the Executive primacy in appointments.
2. Second Judges Case (1993): Overturned the previous ruling, introducing the Collegium and stating that consultation means concurrence. It gave the Judiciary primacy.
3. Third Judges Case (1998): On a Presidential Reference, the SC expanded the Collegium to a five-member body (CJI + 4 senior-most judges) for SC appointments.
4. Fourth Judges Case (2015): The SC struck down the NJAC (National Judicial Appointments Commission) Act, terming it unconstitutional and reaffirming the Collegium system.

Working Procedure of the Collegium System:

• Initiation of Proposal: Proposals for SC elevation are initiated by the CJI and the four senior-most judges.

Example: In 2025, the Collegium initiated the elevation of Justice Bagchi to ensure the Calcutta HC eventually sees a CJI.

• Consultation with Colleagues: The Collegium consults with SC judges who have previously served in the High Court from which the candidate hails.

Example: When considering Justice Akil Kureshi, opinions from judges familiar with the Gujarat and Bombay HCs were integral to the deliberation.

• Performance Evaluation: The Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) requires reviewing judgment quality, disposal rates, and integrity.

Example: Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s elevation in 2019 was justified based on outstanding merit despite his lower all-India seniority rank at the time.

• Executive Input: The recommendation is sent to the Law Ministry, which conducts background checks via the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

Example: The government used its power to withhold Justice Kureshi’s file, effectively forcing the Collegium to modify its recommendation to a smaller High Court.

• Final Primacy: If the Collegium reiterates a name after executive objection, the government is bound by convention to appoint them.

Example: Former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud noted in 2023 that the government must not overlook reiterated names to prevent seniority jumping.

Challenges Associated:

• Opaqueness and Lack of Transparency: Deliberations happen behind closed doors without published minutes or reasons for bypassing seniors.

Example: Justice Jasti Chelameswar boycotted meetings in 2016, citing the secretive nature of how judges were picked.

• Supersession of Seniority: Frequent bypassing of senior judges creates professional heartbreaks and affects judicial morale.

Example: Justice Sanjiv Khanna was elevated in 2019 by superseding 32 senior judges, leading to significant institutional debate.

• Regional and Gender Imbalance: Some High Courts remain unrepresented for years, while others dominate the Bench.

Example: As of 2026, seven HCs (e.g., Jharkhand, Orissa) have zero representation, while Bombay HC accounts for nearly 25% of all CJIs historically.

• Executive-Judiciary Deadlocks: The government can pocket veto a name by simply not acting on it, affecting the judge’s ultimate seniority.

Example: The 22-month deadlock following Justice Nariman’s insistence on Justice Kureshi’s elevation left the SC with multiple vacancies.

• Nepotism/Coterie Concerns: Critics often label the system as judges appointing judges, leading to a perceived lack of diversity.

Example: In August 2025, a lone woman member’s dissent against an elevation (due to gender/regional concerns) was leaked, highlighting internal friction.

Way Ahead

• Transparency: Publish redacted resolutions or positive reasons for why a specific judge was chosen over their seniors.
• Establish an Independent Secretariat: Create a permanent body to maintain a database of merit markers (disposal rates, quality of judgments) for all HC judges.
• Fixed Timelines: Amend the MoP to set strict deadlines for the Executive to process recommendations to prevent selective seniority.
• Diversity Mandate: Formally institutionalize a quota or preference for unrepresented High Courts and women to ensure a truly National Court.
• Revisit the MoP: Finalize the long-pending Memorandum of Procedure to bridge the gap between judicial independence and administrative accountability.

Conclusion:

The Collegium remains the shield of judicial independence against executive overreach, yet its survival depends on its willingness to evolve. To maintain public trust, the best-kept secret must transition into a transparent, data-driven system that balances merit with fair representation. True judicial independence is strengthened, not weakened, by the disinfectant of sunlight and accountability.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 March 2026 – Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Krishi Sakhi Initiative

Context: The Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited has launched the Krishi Sakhi Initiative to empower women farmers.

About Krishi Sakhi Initiative:

What it is?

• Krishi Sakhi Initiative is a nationwide program aimed at empowering women farmers through awareness, participation, and capacity building in agriculture and crop insurance.

Organisation: Launched by Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited.

Aim:

• To enhance women’s participation in agriculture and insurance
• To promote inclusive and gender-sensitive agricultural development
• To recognize women’s role in strengthening India’s farm sector

Key Features:

• Month-wise Awareness Campaigns: Structured activities (videos, walkathons, workshops) conducted throughout 2026.
• Capacity Building & Workshops: Ground-level training for women farmers on crop insurance schemes and benefits.
• Social & Behavioral Outreach: Campaigns on sanitation, hygiene, and rural awareness targeting women farmers.

Relevance in UPSC Exam

• GS Paper II (Governance): Role of government institutions and PSUs in promoting gender inclusion and rural development.
• GS Paper III (Agriculture): Agricultural insurance, women’s role in farming, and inclusive growth in the farm sector.
• GS Paper I (Society): Women empowerment, gender equality, and rural socio-economic transformation.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 March 2026 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA)

Source:  PIB

Subject:  Government Scheme

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) with an outlay of ₹33,660 crore to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across India.

About Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA):

What it is?

• BHAVYA is a centrally approved industrial infrastructure scheme aimed at developing 100 world-class plug-and-play industrial parks with ready-to-use facilities, enabling industries to start operations quickly without procedural delays.

Nodal Ministry: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry

Implementing Agency: National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) Aim:

• To accelerate manufacturing-led economic growth.
• To enhance ease of doing business through pre-approved infrastructure.
• To promote cluster-based industrial development and strengthen domestic supply chains.
• To generate large-scale employment and attract investments.

Key Features:

1. Plug-and-play infrastructure: Pre-approved land, utilities, and clearances enable industries to move from intent to production rapidly.
2. Large-scale industrial parks: Development of parks ranging from 100–1000 acres across all States and UTs.
3. Financial support:
   • Up to ₹1 crore per acre for core, value-added, and social infrastructure
   • Up to 25% support for external connectivity infrastructure
4. Integrated infrastructure ecosystem:
   • Core: roads, drainage, underground utilities, ICT systems
   • Value-added: factory sheds, testing labs, warehousing
   • Social: worker housing and amenities
5. Ease of doing business reforms:
   • Single-window clearance systems
   • State-led investor-friendly reforms
6. Challenge-based project selection: Ensures only investment-ready and reform-oriented proposals are approved.
7. Alignment with PM GatiShakti: Enables multimodal connectivity and efficient logistics integration.
8. Sustainable industrial development:
   • Green energy integration
   • Underground utility corridors (no-dig model)

Significance:

• Strengthens India’s position as a global manufacturing hub.
• Creates lakhs of direct and indirect jobs across industries and services.
• Reduces entry barriers, making India more attractive to domestic and global investors.

Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) Framework

Source:  News on Air

Subject:  Government Schemes

Context: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has expanded the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework to include solar ingots and wafers, effective June 1, 2028.

About Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) Framework:

What it is?

• The ALMM is a quality and reliability benchmark framework designed to ensure that solar cells and modules used in Indian projects meet rigorous domestic manufacturing and performance standards.

Launched In: 2019 (under the ALMM Order, 2019).

Organization Involved: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India.

Aim: To promote self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in the solar energy sector by incentivizing domestic manufacturing, ensuring the quality of solar components, and reducing dependence on foreign imports (primarily from China).

Key Features:

1. Mandatory Certification: Only manufacturers and models listed in the ALMM are eligible for use in government-assisted projects, projects under the Net Metering or Open Access schemes, and projects awarded through competitive bidding (Section 63 of the Electricity Act).
2. Tiered Structure: The framework consists of different lists: List-I for Solar PV Modules, List-II for Solar PV Cells, and the newly announced List-III for Solar Ingots and Wafers.
3. Physical Inspection: Enlistment requires a mandatory technical inspection of the manufacturing facility by a team from the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) to verify capacity and quality.
4. Domestic Content Requirement (DCR): It acts as a non-tariff barrier that reinforces DCR policies, ensuring that the heart of the solar panel is made in India.
5. Grandfathering Provisions: The framework includes grandfathering clauses to protect existing projects in the pipeline from sudden policy shifts, ensuring solar developers face minimal disruption.

Significance:

• By expanding to ingots and wafers, India is securing the entire supply chain, moving beyond just assembling imported components.
• It prevents the dumping of low-quality or obsolete solar technology into the Indian market.
• The framework drives massive private investment into the manufacturing sector and creates high-skilled employment in upstream solar technology.

RISA: Timeless Tribal

Source:  PIB

Subject:  Miscellaneous

Context: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched RISA: Timeless Tribal, a premium signature brand to promote tribal crafts and textiles.

About RISA: Timeless Tribal:

What it is?

• RISA: Timeless Tribal is a premium national brand for tribal textiles, embroidery, and handicrafts, designed to showcase India’s indigenous craftsmanship in domestic and global premium markets while preserving cultural heritage.

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Implementing Agency: TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India)

Aim:

• To preserve and promote tribal weaves, embroidery, and crafts.
• To support Vocal for Local and Atmanirbhar Bharat through value addition.

Key Features:

• Premium branding approach: Positions tribal products in high-end domestic and international markets.
• Cluster-based development: First phase covers 10 clusters including weaves, embroidery, and crafts across states.
• Design intervention: Introduction of modern designs and product innovation while retaining traditional essence.
• Capacity building: Skill training and upskilling of artisans to produce high-value, export-ready products.
• Infrastructure support: Development of weaving clusters and stitching units for integrated production.
• Sustainable packaging: Eco-friendly premium packaging developed by NID for global market appeal.
• Strategic designer partnerships: Collaboration with leading designers to bridge tradition with contemporary fashion.
• Diverse craft inclusion: Covers iconic tribal products like:
  1. Eri silk (Assam)
  2. Pashmina (Ladakh)
  3. Dokhra art (Chhattisgarh)
  4. Toda embroidery (Tamil Nadu)

Significance:

• Enhances income and livelihood security of tribal artisans, especially women.
• Safeguards endangered tribal art forms and traditional knowledge systems.
• Bridges the gap between local craftsmanship and global demand.

Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme

Source:  NDTV

Subject:  Government Scheme

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the ‘Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme’ for FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 with an outlay of ₹2,584.60 crore.

About Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme:

What it is?

• The SHP Development Scheme is a centrally sponsored renewable energy initiative to promote installation of small hydro power projects (1–25 MW capacity) across India, particularly in remote and difficult terrains.

Launched In: March 2026 (for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31).

Organization Involved: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India.

Aim: To exploit the untapped small hydro potential in remote and rural areas, reduce transmission losses through decentralized power, and achieve the target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

Key Features:

1. Financial Outlay: A total budget of ₹2,584.60 crore has been allocated, which is expected to leverage a total investment of approximately ₹15,000 crore in the sector.
2. Differential Central Financial Assistance (CFA):
   • NE & Border States: Higher support of ₹3.6 crore/MW (or 30% of cost, max ₹30 crore/project).
   • Other States: Support of ₹2.4 crore/MW (or 20% of cost, max ₹20 crore/project).
3. Pipeline Creation: The scheme earmarks ₹30 crore specifically to support state and central agencies in preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 200 future projects.
4. Atmanirbhar Bharat Focus: To qualify for support, projects must leverage 100% of plant and machinery from indigenous (domestic) sources.
5. Decentralized Nature: By focusing on projects between 1-25 MW, the scheme promotes distributed generation, which requires minimal long-distance transmission lines and reduces grid losses.

Significance:

• Unlike large hydro projects, SHPs avoid large-scale land acquisition, massive deforestation, and the displacement of local communities.
• Reduces need for long transmission lines, lowering transmission losses and costs.

Stockholm Water Prize 2026

Source:  DTE

Subject:  Miscellaneous

Context: Kaveh Madani has been awarded the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize, the world’s most prestigious water-related honour.

• He is the youngest laureate and first UN official to receive the award for linking water science with policy, diplomacy, and public outreach.

About Stockholm Water Prize 2026:

What it is?

• The Stockholm Water Prize is an internationally acclaimed award recognizing outstanding contributions to water conservation, management, and sustainability, often regarded as the Nobel Prize for Water.

Origin:

• Established by the Stockholm Water Foundation
• Inspired by Stockholm’s achievement in maintaining clean and sustainable water systems

History:

• First awarded in 1991.
• First recipient: David W. Schindler
• Presented annually during World Water Week in Stockholm by the Swedish King

Aim:

• To honour individuals/organizations contributing to water resource conservation and sustainability.
• To promote scientific innovation and policy solutions for global water challenges.
• To enhance awareness of water security and environmental protection.

Key Features:

1. Global recognition: Considered the highest international honour in water research and management.
2. Wide eligibility: Open to scientists, policymakers, institutions, and practitioners across disciplines.
3. Rigorous selection process:
   • Evaluation by expert committee
   • Final decision by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Foundation Board
4. Royal presentation: Award conferred by Carl XVI Gustaf during World Water Week.
5. Impact-oriented focus: Recognizes work that has real-world policy, scientific, and societal impact.

About 2026 Winner and His Contribution:

Winner: Kaveh Madani

• Director at United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)

Key Contributions:

1. Concept of Water Bankruptcy:
   • Highlighted long-term systemic water scarcity rather than short-term crises
   • Shifted global discourse towards sustainable water management
2. Science-policy integration:
   • Bridged gap between academic research and policymaking
   • Influenced global water governance and climate negotiations
3. Innovative research methods: Applied game theory and decision science to water conflict resolution.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 March 2026 Mapping:

Indian Ocean Region

Source:  News on Air

Subject: Mapping

Context: The second edition of Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR commenced on March 16, 2026, featuring naval personnel from 16 friendly foreign countries.

About Indian Ocean Region:

What it is?

• The Indian Ocean Region refers to the vast maritime area surrounding the Indian Ocean, encompassing coastal states, island nations, and major sea routes connecting Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Location:

• Lies between:
  • Asia (North)
  • Africa (West)
  • Australia (East)
  • Southern Ocean (South)
• It is the third-largest ocean in the world

Bordering Nations: It is bordered by 36 littoral nations (including India, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia) and impacts 14 landlocked countries.

Key Features

1. Strategic Choke Points: It contains critical waterways including the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca, the Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Suez Canal, which are vital for global energy and trade flows.
2. Monsoon System: It is the only ocean with an asymmetric and semi-annually reversing surface circulation driven by the monsoon winds.
3. Abundant Resources: The region holds massive offshore oil and natural gas reserves, particularly in the Persian Gulf, and accounts for a significant portion of the world’s fishing catch.
4. Island Chains: It hosts strategically important island nations and territories such as the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, and Madagascar.
5. Diverse Ecosystems: It contains nearly 25% of the world’s coral reefs and extensive mangrove forests, making it a critical zone for marine biodiversity.

Significance:

• More than 80% of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes through the Indian Ocean, making its security essential for global energy stability.
• As a bridge between the Atlantic and Pacific, it is the center of the Indo-Pacific construct, where major powers (India, USA, China) vie for influence.
• India sits at the apex of the ocean with a 7,517 km coastline, positioning it as a natural Net Security Provider and First Responder in times of natural disasters.

Follow us on our Official TELEGRAM Channel HERE

Subscribe to Our Official YouTube Channel HERE

Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE

Official Facebook Page HERE

Twitter Account HERE

Instagram Account HERE

LinkedIn: HERE