12 March 2026 Current Affairs Quiz in English | Daily GK Questions with Answers

✔ Correct Answer: (C) Amol Palekar

Explanation: Amol Palekar, a senior Indian actor and theatre veteran, will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 21st Mahindra Excellence Awards 2026. Amol Palekar is celebrated for his natural acting in landmark films of the 1970s and 1980s and for his contributions to theatre and direction. Lifetime achievement honours given to artists in theatre and cinema are a recurring awards topic in current affairs and help candidates score in the arts-and-culture section of competitive exams.

✔ Correct Answer: (C) European Space Agency

Explanation: The Proba-3 mission is operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). Proba-3 is a pioneering mission consisting of two satellites flying in precise formation to create an artificial solar eclipse, allowing detailed study of the Sun's corona. Notably, Proba-3 was launched by ISRO's PSLV, highlighting India's growing role as a global launch provider. Space missions, their operating agencies and India's launch contributions are frequently asked in the science and technology section of current affairs.

✔ Correct Answer: (B) NABARD

Explanation: NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) launched the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge to strengthen climate adaptation in rural India. The initiative encourages innovative, technology-driven solutions to help rural communities cope with climate change impacts on agriculture and livelihoods. NABARD plays a central role in rural development and agricultural finance, and its climate-focused initiatives are important for the economy, environment and banking-awareness sections of competitive examinations.

✔ Correct Answer: (D) Rural broadband connectivity

Explanation: The recently launched Project Ganga by the Uttar Pradesh government primarily relates to rural broadband connectivity. The project aims to expand high-speed internet access to rural areas, bridging the digital divide and enabling better access to e-governance, education and digital services. Digital infrastructure and connectivity initiatives are a growing policy priority and feature regularly in current affairs, reflecting the government's push toward Digital India and inclusive development.

✔ Correct Answer: (C) 143 GW

Explanation: India plans to increase its inter-regional power transmission capacity to 143 GW by 2027. Strengthening inter-regional transmission is essential for evacuating renewable energy from surplus regions to deficit regions and for ensuring a reliable, integrated national grid ('One Nation, One Grid'). Power-sector targets, renewable energy integration and grid expansion are important themes in the economy and infrastructure sections of current affairs and competitive exam preparation.

✔ Correct Answer: (A) New Delhi

Explanation: The second World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 is being organised in New Delhi. Hosting international para-athletics events reflects India's growing commitment to inclusive sports and its emergence as a venue for global sporting competitions. The success of Indian para-athletes at the Paralympics and World Championships has boosted the profile of para-sports. Hosting of major sporting events and venues is a commonly asked topic in the sports section of competitive examinations.

✔ Correct Answer: (A) Mizo

Explanation: The Mizoram Legislative Assembly recently proposed the inclusion of the Mizo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The Eighth Schedule lists the officially recognised languages of India (currently 22), and inclusion brings benefits such as representation on the Official Languages Commission and development support. Demands for inclusion of new languages in the Eighth Schedule are a recurring polity and current-affairs topic relevant for UPSC and state PCS exams.

✔ Correct Answer: (B) Discovery, Development and Delivery

Explanation: The theme of the International Malaria Conference 2026 was 'Discovery, Development and Delivery'. This theme highlights the complete pipeline needed to combat malaria—from scientific discovery and drug/vaccine development to effective delivery of interventions in affected populations. Malaria remains a major global public-health challenge, and themes of major health conferences and observance days are frequently asked in the health and current-affairs sections of competitive examinations.

✔ Correct Answer: (B) second

Explanation: According to the latest SIPRI report, India is the world's second largest arms importer. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is an independent institute that publishes authoritative data on global military expenditure, arms transfers and disarmament. India's high level of arms imports underscores the importance of initiatives like 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' in defence manufacturing. SIPRI reports and defence-economy data are frequently featured in current affairs.

✔ Correct Answer: (B) Paytm Payments Bank

Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India approved the appointment related to Paytm Payments Bank's interim CEO. The RBI is the regulator of all banks in India, including payments banks, and its approval is mandatory for key managerial appointments. Payments banks are a special category of banks that can accept deposits and offer payment services but cannot give loans. RBI decisions, banking regulations and leadership appointments are core topics for the banking-awareness and current-affairs sections of competitive exams.