Welcome to Daily Current Affairs for 16 March 2026. In this article, you will get the most important national and international current affairs with short explanations. Additionally, you will find exam-important one-liners and MCQs for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways and State government exams.
1. Gulveer Singh Sets New National Half-Marathon Record 🏃🇮🇳
Gulveer Singh broke India’s men’s half-marathon record at the New York City Half Marathon by finishing in 59:42 and securing third place. Moreover, he surpassed the previous national mark of 1:00:30 set by Avinash Sable in 2020. He also became the first Indian runner to hold multiple national records from 3,000m to 25 km. Meanwhile, the Asian Games medallist now targets podium finishes at the Commonwealth Games 2026 and the Asian Games. 🏅✨
2. BCCI Naman Awards Honours Indian Cricket Excellence 🏏🏆
Board of Control for Cricket in India will host the Naman Awards in New Delhi today. Moreover, Roger Binny and Rahul Dravid will receive the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. Mithali Raj will get the women’s lifetime honour. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana will be recognised for best international performances. In addition, domestic stars and five ICC title-winning Indian teams will also be felicitated for outstanding achievements. 🇮🇳✨
3. ‘Shape of Momo’ Gains Global Recognition on Festival Circuit 🎬🌍
Shape of Momo, directed by Tribeny Rai, continues its international success after screening at Glasgow Film Festival. Recently, the film opened C-Movie in Italy. Moreover, it will compete at the 35th African, Asian and Latin American Film Festival under “Windows on the World.” Meanwhile, the team is attending Spirit of Fire International Debut Film Festival in Russia. Next, the film will reach Cinema Asia Film Festival before its grand premiere in Gangtok. 🎥✨
4. Global Conference Boosts Women’s Role in Agri-Food Systems 🌾👩🌾
Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems concluded in New Delhi after advancing gender-responsive agricultural policies. Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the three-day event. Moreover, participants from 18 countries discussed inclusive innovation and women’s leadership in agriculture. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare honoured successful women farmers for their achievements. Meanwhile, M. L. Jat announced that Indian Council of Agricultural Research is developing a national gender platform linking 900 institutions to strengthen research, extension, and capacity-building for women in agriculture. 🌱📘
5. NHAI Revises FASTag Annual Pass Fee for FY 2026–27 🚗🛣️
National Highways Authority of India has increased the FASTag Annual Pass fee from ₹3,000 to ₹3,075 for FY 2026–27. The revised charge will apply from next month, as announced by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Moreover, eligible non-commercial vehicles with valid FASTags can use this facility at over 1,000 toll plazas on national highways and expressways. The annual pass allows one-time payment for one year or 200 toll crossings. Therefore, it reduces frequent recharges and supports smoother toll transactions across India. 🚘📘
MCQs with Explanation
1) Gulveer Singh recently made news because he:
A. won gold in marathon at Asian Games
B. broke India’s half-marathon national record
C. won New York City Half Marathon
D. qualified for Olympics in steeplechase
✅ Answer: B. broke India’s half-marathon national record
Explanation: Gulveer Singh finished in 59:42 at New York City Half Marathon and broke India’s previous men’s half-marathon record.
2) The Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award is given by:
A. International Cricket Council
B. Board of Control for Cricket in India
C. Sports Authority of India
D. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
✅ Answer: B. BCCI
Explanation: It is the highest honour of BCCI for exceptional service to Indian cricket.
3) ‘Shape of Momo’ is associated with:
A. Assamese literature
B. Sikkimese cinema
C. Marathi theatre
D. Nepali documentary
✅ Answer: B. Sikkimese cinema
Explanation: Shape of Momo is directed by Tribeny Rai and is gaining international festival recognition.
4) The Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems was inaugurated by:
A. Narendra Modi
B. Droupadi Murmu
C. Agriculture Minister
D. ICAR Director General
✅ Answer: B. Droupadi Murmu
Explanation: The conference focused on gender-responsive agriculture and women-led innovation.
5) FASTag Annual Pass revised fee for FY 2026–27 is:
A. ₹3000
B. ₹3050
C. ₹3075
D. ₹3100
✅ Answer: C. ₹3075
Explanation: National Highways Authority of India revised the annual pass fee by ₹75.
UPSC Style Tricky Statement Questions
1) Consider the following statements about Gulveer Singh:
1.He broke the national half-marathon record in New York.
2.He surpassed a record held by Avinash Sable.
3.He won the event.
Which statements are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: A. 1 and 2 only
Trick:
He finished third, not first.
2) Consider the following statements about Naman Awards:
1.Rahul Dravid and Roger Binny will receive Col. C.K. Nayudu Award.
2.Mithali Raj receives same category award as men.
3.Smriti Mandhana gets Best International Cricketer award.
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 1 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: A. 1 and 3 only
Trick:
Mithali Raj gets women’s lifetime award, not same category.
3) Consider the following statements about FASTag Annual Pass:
1. It is valid only for commercial vehicles.
2. It covers one year or 200 crossings.
3. It applies to over 1000 toll plazas.
A. 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: A. 2 and 3 only
Trick:
It is for non-commercial vehicles, not commercial.
4) Consider the following statements about Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems:
1.ICAR plans a gender platform connecting 900 institutions.
2.Conference included participants from 18 countries.
3. It was held in Hyderabad.
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: A. 1 and 2 only
Trick:
Venue was New Delhi, not Hyderabad.
5) Consider the following statements about Shape of Momo:
1.It is directed by Tribeny Rai.
2. It opened C-Movie festival in Italy.
3. It is a documentary film.
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: A. 1 and 2 only
Trick:
It is a feature film, not documentary.
FAQ – Daily Current Affairs 16 March 2026
Q1. Which exams require daily current affairs preparation?
UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, Defence and State PSC exams require daily current affairs preparation.
Q2. How can I revise current affairs quickly?
You should revise one-liners daily and practice MCQs regularly for better retention.
Q3. Is this current affairs useful for UPSC prelims?
Yes, it is useful for UPSC prelims as it includes national, international, economy, schemes and sports updates.
✅ Conclusion
Daily Current Affairs 16 March 2026 provides important news updates with exam-focused revision points and MCQs. Keep visiting our website daily for the latest updates and PDF notes.Images are not actual its AI generated for better informative.