UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 March 2026
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 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 1/3 :
• Early Summer and Heat-Wave Conditions
Early Summer and Heat-Wave Conditions
GS Paper 3:
• Bridging the Digital Divide
Bridging the Digital Divide
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• #SheLeadsBharat – Shakti Walk Initiative
#SheLeadsBharat – Shakti Walk Initiative
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• Desalination Plants
Desalination Plants
• Cold Response Drill
Cold Response Drill
• Exercise Lamitiye 2026
Exercise Lamitiye 2026
• Removal of the Chief Election Commissioner
Removal of the Chief Election Commissioner
• Proba-3 mission
Proba-3 mission
Mapping:
• Malawi
Malawi
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 March 2026
GS Paper 1/3 :
Early Summer and Heat-Wave Conditions
Source: IE
Subject: Disaster Management
Context: North India is experiencing a rare and early arrival of heat-wave conditions, with temperatures in regions like Himachal Pradesh soaring 8 to 13 degrees Celsius above normal within the first week of the month.
About Early Summer and Heat-Wave Conditions:
What it is?
• A heat-wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature, that occurs during the summer season. In the current context of North India, early summer refers to the sudden transition from winter to summer-like heat in February and March, effectively bypassing the traditional spring transition.
Data/Stats on Heatwaves in India:
• Extreme Deviations: Temperatures in North and West India have been recorded at 8°C to 13°C above the seasonal average in early March 2026.
• Mountain Warming: Shimla, typically cool until May, has seen temperatures rise above 25°C in March, a probability previously considered negligible.
• Rainfall Deficit: All-India rainfall for January and February 2026 was just 16 mm, which is 60% below the normal average.
• Historical Context: February 2026 has been classified as the third driest February in India since record-keeping began in 1901.
Factors Driving the Early Heatwave:
• Dry Winter Effect: A lack of winter rain prevents soil moisture evaporation; instead, the dry soil absorbs heat directly, causing rapid surface warming.
• Weak Western Disturbances: The east-moving rain-bearing winds from the Mediterranean were subdued since November 2025, leading to a lack of cooling snowfall and rain.
• Lack of Wind Convergence: There was no significant meeting of westerly and easterly winds, which usually brings moisture from the seas to Central and North India.
• Atmospheric Anticyclones: High-pressure systems over Western India have led to sinking air that compresses and warms up, preventing cloud formation.
• Climate Change Trends: Long-term global warming is shifting seasonal boundaries, making early-onset heatwaves a recurring new normal in the subcontinent.
Initiatives Taken
• IMD Seasonal Forecasts: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued early warnings for above normal heatwave days specifically for Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
• Agricultural Advisories: Government agencies have issued frequent irrigation alerts to farmers to save standing Rabi crops from wilting.
• Heat Action Plans (HAPs): Municipalities in North India are activating local HAPs to manage public health risks and cooling centers.
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Guidelines: Revision of standard operating procedures for heatwave management, focusing on labor timings and water access.
Challenges Associated:
• Rabi Crop Vulnerability: Sudden heat during the grain-filling stage can shrivel crops like wheat and mustard, reducing yields.
Example: Wheat farmers in Punjab and Haryana are facing potential terminal heat stress, requiring urgent and frequent irrigation to save the harvest.
• Water Resource Depletion: Increased demand for irrigation and drinking water during a dry spell exhausts local groundwater and reservoirs.
Example: The lack of winter snow in Himachal has led to lower discharge in downstream rivers, threatening the summer water supply for Chandigarh and Delhi.
• Public Health Risk: Early heatwaves find the human body unacclimatized, leading to higher instances of heat exhaustion and strokes.
Example: In Shimla and Jammu, where residents are unprepared for 25°C+ temperatures in March, there is a spike in dehydration-related hospital visits.
• Power Demand Spikes: Unseasonal heat leads to an early surge in air conditioning and cooling loads, stressing the power grid.
Example: Delhi’s peak power demand in early March has already begun to mirror late April levels, forcing discoms to arrange for early power procurement.
• Economic Impact on Labor: Outdoor workers in construction and agriculture face reduced productivity and health hazards during peak sun hours.
Example: MNREGA workers in Rajasthan are seeing their work hours shifted to early morning to avoid the 13°C-above-normal midday heat.
Way Ahead
• Climate-Resilient Crops: Accelerating the distribution of heat-tolerant varieties of wheat and mustard.
• Enhanced Micro-Irrigation: Promoting drip and sprinkler systems to maintain soil moisture without exhausting water tables.
• Urban Heat Mitigation: Increasing green cover and using cool roofs to reduce the Urban Heat Island effect in North Indian cities.
• Predictive Health Surveillance: Using AI-based models to predict localized heat impacts on vulnerable populations like the elderly and children.
• Water Harvesting: Strict implementation of winter rainwater harvesting to ensure soil remains moist even during dry winters.
Conclusion:
The 2026 early heatwave serves as a stark reminder of the volatile shifts in India’s seasonal cycles driven by a lack of Western Disturbances and dry soil conditions. Addressing this requires a shift from reactive relief to proactive adaptation, particularly in protecting India’s food security and public health. As the International Year of the Woman Farmer, 2026 must focus on helping rural workforces navigate these increasingly hostile climatic shifts.
Q. “Heat is emerging as a new driver of drought in India’s changing climate regime.” Explain the mechanisms through which rising temperatures intensify drought conditions. Examine its implications for agricultural planning. (10 M)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 March 2026 – GS Paper 3:
Bridging the Digital Divide
Source: PIB
Context: India is witnessing a monumental shift in its digital landscape as the BharatNet project reaches over 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats and broadband subscriptions cross the 1 billion mark as of early 2026.
About Bridging the Digital Divide:
What it is?
• The Digital Divide refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communication technology (ICT) and those that don’t. Bridging this divide in India involves a three-pronged strategy: building Universal Connectivity (optical fiber/5G), deploying Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) (Aadhaar/UPI), and enhancing Digital Literacy to ensure that technology leads to socio-economic empowerment for every citizen.
Data/Stats on Digital Divide in India:
• Broadband Surge: India crossed 100 crore (1 billion) broadband subscriptions in November 2025, a sixfold increase from 13.15 crore a decade ago.
• Data Affordability: Data costs have plummeted by over 96%, from ₹269 per GB in 2014 to roughly ₹8–10 per GB in 2026.
• Infrastructure Reach: Optical fiber deployment has more than doubled in five years, reaching 42.36 lakh route km by 2025.
• Rural Literacy: The PMGDISHA program has successfully trained over 6.39 crore rural individuals in digital skills as of 2024.
Need for Bridging the Digital Divide:
• Inclusive Governance and Welfare: To ensure Antyodaya (serving the last person), digital access is mandatory for receiving government benefits.
Example: Aadhaar-enabled Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) have ensured that subsidies for gas and grains reach 143 crore users without middleman leakages.
• Financial Inclusion: Digital connectivity allows rural populations to access banking services without physical bank branches.
Example: The UPI ecosystem now processes ₹28.33 lakh crore monthly, enabling even small street vendors in Tier-III cities to accept digital payments.
• Equitable Education: Bridging the divide ensures that a student in a remote village has access to the same quality of study material as one in a metro.
Example: Platforms like DIKSHA and SWAYAM host over 18,000 courses, allowing students in rural Bihar or Ladakh to learn from top IIT/IISC professors.
• Economic Empowerment of Farmers: Digital tools help farmers bypass traditional cartels by providing direct market linkages.
Example: The e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) platform has digitally integrated 1,522 mandis, helping 1.79 crore farmers get better price discovery.
Initiatives Taken So Far:
• BharatNet: Connecting all 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats with high-speed optical fiber to provide a rural internet backbone.
• PM-WANI: Deploying over 4 lakh Wi-Fi hotspots via local shops (Public Data Offices) to provide low-cost internet in shadow areas.
• Common Service Centres (CSCs): A network of 6.5 lakh VLEs (Village Level Entrepreneurs) providing assisted digital services to those who cannot use devices themselves.
• Namo Drone Didi: Training women SHGs to use drones for agricultural purposes, merging high-tech with rural livelihoods.
• IndiaAI Mission: A ₹10,300 crore initiative to provide subsidized computing power and AI datasets to startups and researchers across all districts.
Challenges Associated:
• The Gender Gap: Despite progress, women in rural areas still have significantly lower access to personal mobile devices compared to men.
Example: Statistics indicate that while mobile penetration is high, only a fraction of rural women use the internet for financial or educational purposes independently.
• Language Barriers: Much of the internet’s high-value content remains in English, creating a language divide for non-English speakers.
Example: While Bhashini (AI translation tool) is being deployed, many deep-tech resources and certifications are still not available in local dialects.
• Last-Mile Quality of Service: While fiber reaches the Panchayat, last-mile connectivity to individual homes often remains erratic.
Example: In hilly terrains like Uttarakhand or the North East, physical fiber damage frequently leads to prolonged internet outages in remote villages.
• Cybersecurity and Digital Frauds: Low digital literacy makes the newly connected rural population vulnerable to phishing and financial scams.
Example: Rise in Jamtara-style phishing cases targeting rural citizens who are unfamiliar with secure digital banking practices.
Way Ahead:
• Expansion of 6G and Satellite Internet: Utilizing LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites to provide internet to dark zones where laying fiber is geographically impossible.
• Mainstreaming Bhashini: Integrating real-time voice-to-voice translation in all government apps to remove the literacy and language barrier.
• Digital Skills 2.0: Moving beyond basic literacy to teaching AI, coding, and cybersecurity at the school level via Atal Tinkering Labs.
• Universal Device Access: Incentivizing the production of low-cost, high-quality smartphones and tablets to ensure the device divide is bridged.
• Strengthening inclusive TBIs: Setting up more Inclusive Technology Business Incubators in Tier-II and III cities to encourage local entrepreneurship.
Conclusion:
India’s journey from a connectivity-starved nation to a global digital leader proves that technology can be the ultimate equalizer when backed by robust public infrastructure. By integrating digital literacy with affordable access and indigenous innovation, Bharat is ensuring that the digital revolution is not just an urban phenomenon but a grassroots movement.
Q. While digitalization brings opportunities, ensuring inclusive access to technology is crucial. Efforts should be made to bridge the digital divide by providing affordable and accessible technology in rural and economically disadvantaged areas. Examine. (250 words)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 March 2026 – Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
#SheLeadsBharat – Shakti Walk Initiative
Context: The Ministry of Women and Child Development organised the Shakti Walk #SheLeadsBharat at Kartavya Path, New Delhi to mark International Women’s Day 2026.
About #SheLeadsBharat – Shakti Walk Initiative:
What it is?
• #SheLeadsBharat is a national campaign highlighted through the Shakti Walk initiative, aimed at celebrating the leadership and contributions of women in India.
• The walk was organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development as part of International Women’s Day celebrations.
• To promote women’s empowerment and leadership across sectors.
• To celebrate Nari Shakti and women’s role in nation-building and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Key Features:
• Large-scale participation – Over 3,000 women participants from 200+ ministries, departments, and sectors.
• Symbolic route – The walk covered Kartavya Path from India Gate to Vijay Chowk, symbolising unity and national commitment to gender equality.
• Diverse representation – Participants included women from the armed forces, police, healthcare, aviation, sports, media, entrepreneurship, sanitation, and education sectors.
• Cultural celebrations – Traditional performances such as Dollu Kunitha, Kalaripayattu, Ghoomar, and Ranchandi showcased India’s cultural diversity.
Relevance in UPSC Examination
• GS Paper II
• Government policies and interventions for women empowerment. Role of ministries and institutions in promoting gender equality.
• Government policies and interventions for women empowerment.
• Role of ministries and institutions in promoting gender equality.
• GS Paper I
• Social issues and role of women in society.
• Social issues and role of women in society.
• GS Paper IV (Ethics)
• Gender justice, dignity, and empowerment in public policy.
• Gender justice, dignity, and empowerment in public policy.
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 March 2026 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Desalination Plants
Source: IE
Subject: Science and Technology
Context: Recent military strikes in the escalating US–Israel–Iran conflict in West Asia have targeted desalination plants, raising concerns over water security and humanitarian crises in the region.
About Desalination Plants:
What it is?
• A desalination plant is a facility that converts saline seawater or brackish water into potable freshwater by removing dissolved salts and minerals.
• The most common technology used is Reverse Osmosis (RO), where high pressure pushes seawater through semi-permeable membranes to separate salt from water.
Where they are located:
Desalination plants are primarily concentrated in arid and water-scarce coastal regions, especially:
• West Asia / Gulf Region – Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain
• North Africa – Libya, Algeria
• Other regions – Israel, Spain, Australia, United States, and China
West Asia alone accounts for nearly 70% of global desalination capacity, making it the global hub of desalinated water production.
The primary objectives of desalination plants are:
• Ensure freshwater supply in regions with scarce natural water resources.
• Support urban populations and industrial development in arid coastal countries.
• Provide water security during droughts and climate variability.
• Reduce dependence on groundwater and rivers in water-stressed regions.
Key Features:
• Reverse Osmosis Technology – Uses semi-permeable membranes to remove salts and impurities from seawater.
• Energy Intensive Process – Requires significant electricity, often integrated with thermal or gas-based power plants.
• Large-scale Infrastructure – Many plants are co-located with power plants to share energy and reduce costs.
• Brine Discharge – Produces concentrated saltwater (brine) that is typically released back into the ocean.
• Growing Global Sector – Over 21,000 desalination plants operate worldwide, with capacity growing 6–12% annually.
Significance:
• Provides drinking water where natural freshwater sources are scarce.
• In Gulf countries, desalination supplies 40–90% of drinking water, making it critical for survival.
• Supports megacities and industrial zones in desert regions.
Cold Response Drill
Source: News on Air
Subject: Security
Context: NATO has begun the 2026 edition of the Cold Response military exercise in the Arctic, with a stronger focus on civilian preparedness and total defence.
About Cold Response Drill:
What it is?
• Cold Response is a large-scale biennial NATO military exercise conducted in the European Arctic, primarily in northern Norway and surrounding regions, designed to test the alliance’s ability to defend NATO territory under extreme Arctic conditions.
• The exercise simulates collective defence scenarios under Article 5 of NATO, including amphibious operations, air support, logistics, and coordination between allied forces.
Nations Involved: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• Strengthen NATO’s collective defence capability in the Arctic region.
• Enhance interoperability among allied forces operating in harsh Arctic environments.
• Demonstrate NATO’s deterrence posture against potential adversaries near Arctic borders.
Key Features
• Arctic Warfare Simulation – Conducted in snow-covered mountainous terrain and freezing temperatures to test combat readiness.
• Large Multinational Participation – About 25,000 troops from 14 NATO and partner countries take part.
• Integration with Arctic Sentry Mission – Supports NATO’s broader effort to strengthen presence in the Arctic region.
• Civilian Preparedness Component – Hospitals, businesses, and public institutions participate to support military operations.
• Total Defence Strategy – Norway has declared 2026 as the Year of Total Defence, emphasizing society-wide resilience.
• Medical and Logistics Exercises – Includes scenarios like treating mass casualties transported from a simulated frontline in Finland.
Significance
• Strengthening Arctic Security – The Arctic is emerging as a strategic theatre due to melting ice, new sea routes, and resource competition.
• Deterrence Against Russia – Conducted near the Russia–Finland border, reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank after Finland joined NATO.
Exercise Lamitiye 2026
Source: ANI
Context: An Indian Armed Forces contingent has arrived in Seychelles to participate in the 11th edition of the joint military exercise Lamitiye 2026.
About Exercise Lamitiye 2026:
What it is?
• Exercise Lamitiye is a biennial joint military training exercise conducted between India and Seychelles to enhance operational coordination, tactical skills, and military cooperation.
• The term Lamitiye means Friendship in the Creole language, reflecting the close strategic and defence partnership between the two nations.
Host Country: Seychelles
Nations Involved: India and Seychelles
• Enhance interoperability and coordination between Indian and Seychellois forces during joint military operations and peacekeeping missions.
• Improve tactical capabilities in handling sub-conventional threats in semi-urban environments.
Key Features:
• Tri-service participation – Involves the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, highlighting integrated joint operations.
• Tactical training drills – Includes field exercises, combat discussions, demonstrations, and case studies.
• Semi-urban warfare focus – Troops train to neutralize threats in semi-urban and coastal environments.
• Technology showcase – Demonstration of new-generation military equipment and technologies.
• Validation phase – The exercise concludes with a two-day validation drill to test operational readiness.
• Capacity building – Facilitates exchange of skills, best practices, and operational experiences.
Significance:
• The exercise reinforces India’s strategic partnership with Seychelles, an important Indian Ocean maritime partner.
• Cooperation helps counter threats like piracy, illegal fishing, and maritime crime in the region.
• Supports India’s policy of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) by promoting regional stability.
Removal of the Chief Election Commissioner
Source: TH
Subject: Polity
Context: The INDIA bloc parties, led by the Trinamool Congress, are set to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
About Removal of the Chief Election Commissioner:
What it is?
• The removal of the CEC is a formal, quasi-judicial process designed to ensure the independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI) from executive interference. To protect the sanctity of the democratic process, the CEC is granted security of tenure similar to that of a judge of the Supreme Court of India.
Constitutional Article:
• Article 324(5): This article explicitly states that the Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
Criteria for Removal:
A CEC can only be removed on two specific grounds:
• Proved Misbehavior: Acts that violate the code of conduct or involve corruption/partiality.
• Incapacity: Physical or mental inability to perform the duties of the office.
Procedure for Removal:
The process is rigorous and requires a Special Majority in Parliament:
• Initiation: A motion must be signed by at least 100 members in the Lok Sabha or 50 members in the Rajya Sabha and submitted to the Speaker/Chairman.
• Investigation: If the motion is admitted, the Chair constitutes a three-member committee to investigate the charges.
• Parliamentary Vote: If the committee finds the CEC guilty, the motion is taken up for voting. It must be passed by: A majority of the total membership of that House. A majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
• A majority of the total membership of that House.
• A majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
• Presidential Order: Once both Houses pass the motion in the same session, an address is presented to the President of India, who then issues the formal order of removal.
• Note: Unlike the CEC, other Election Commissioners or Regional Commissioners can be removed by the President simply on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Significance:
• By making the removal process difficult, the Constitution ensures the CEC can function without fear of being sacked by the ruling government for unfavorable decisions.
• The involvement of the Judiciary (via the investigation committee) and the Legislature (via voting) prevents arbitrary executive action.
Proba-3 mission
Source: IT
Subject: Science and Technology
Context: The European Space Agency (ESA) has lost contact with the Coronagraph spacecraft, one of the two satellites in the Proba-3 mission, after an anomaly caused a power failure and sent the craft into a silent survival mode.
About Proba-3 mission:
What it is?
• Proba-3 is the world’s first precision formation-flying mission, designed to study the Sun’s atmosphere with unprecedented clarity.
Launched By: European Space Agency (ESA) in December 2024 (aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C59).
Aim: To create an artificial solar eclipse in space to observe the Sun’s faint outer atmosphere—the corona—which is usually obscured by the intense light of the solar disk.
Key Features:
• Twin Spacecraft System: The mission consists of two independent satellites: the Coronagraph (carrying the camera) and the Occulter (the disk that blocks the Sun).
• Precision Formation Flying: The two satellites must maintain a fixed distance of approximately 150 meters with millimeter-level accuracy, acting as a single, giant virtual instrument.
• Artificial Eclipse: The Occulter blocks the Sun’s bright disk, casting a precise shadow onto the Coronagraph’s lens, mimicking a natural total solar eclipse.
• Autonomous Maneuvering: The satellites use advanced sensors (lasers and cameras) and cold-gas thrusters to coordinate their relative positions without constant ground control intervention.
• High-Cadence Data: Before the anomaly, the mission completed over 60 orbits, providing hours of continuous solar data that is impossible to capture during short-lived Earth-based eclipses.
Significance:
• By studying the corona, scientists can better understand Solar Winds and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), which can disrupt satellite communications and power grids on Earth.
• If successful, the formation-flying technology proven by Proba-3 will pave the way for future distributed space telescopes that are too large to be launched as a single piece.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 March 2026 Mapping:
Malawi
Source: ANI
Subject: Mapping
Context: India has dispatched 1,000 metric tonnes of rice as humanitarian assistance to Malawi after a severe drought triggered by the El Niño caused a major food crisis.
About Malawi:
What it is?
• Malawi is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa known for its agriculture-based economy and large freshwater lake system.
• The country is heavily dependent on subsistence farming, making it vulnerable to climate shocks such as droughts and floods.
Location: Malawi is located in southeastern Africa along the East African Rift Valley.
Capital City: Lilongwe
Neighbouring Nations: Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia.
Key Geographical Features
• East African Rift Valley – The country lies along the Great Rift Valley, shaping much of its topography.
• Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa) – One of Africa’s largest lakes, covering over one-fifth of Malawi’s total area and forming part of its eastern boundary.
• Shire River Valley – The Shire River, the only outlet of Lake Malawi, flows southward into the Zambezi River.
• Highlands and Plateaus – Includes regions such as the Nyika Highlands and Shire Highlands, with elevations above 2,000 metres.
• Mulanje Mountain Massif – The highest point in Malawi (3,002 m) located in southeastern Malawi.
• Lake Chilwa Basin – A shallow inland lake system important for local fisheries and wetlands.
Significance:
• A large share of the population depends on subsistence agriculture and cash crops such as tea and tobacco.
• Lake Malawi is one of the largest and most biodiverse freshwater lakes in the world, supporting fisheries and livelihoods.
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