Current Affairs in English (23-03-2026)

Here are the major current affairs and key news events for March 23, 2026:

International News & Geopolitics

• U.S. Pauses Iran Strikes: U.S. President Donald Trump announced a five-day postponement of planned military strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure. He cited “very good and productive conversations” regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, though Iranian officials publicly denied that any negotiations were taking place.
• Iran Uses Intermediate-Range Missiles: In a significant escalation, Iran operationally used intermediate-range ballistic missiles for the first time, firing two at the direction of the joint U.S.-U.K. military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Neither missile hit the strategic island.
• India Responds to the Crisis: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha, calling the ongoing West Asia conflict “worrisome” due to its adverse impact on the global economy and energy security. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held talks with ambassadors from GCC countries to monitor the safety of the Indian diaspora.

National News (India)

• ‘Kavach’ System Expanded: Indian Railways successfully commissioned the ‘Kavach’ Automatic Train Protection System on the 190 km Prayagraj-Kanpur section of the high-density Delhi-Howrah corridor to boost train safety and speed.
• National Dental Commission Formed: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare officially constituted the National Dental Commission (NDC). This new body replaces the decades-old Dental Council of India (DCI) in an effort to align Indian dental education with global standards.
• Prayagraj Building Collapse: Prime Minister Modi expressed deep sorrow over a tragic cold storage roof collapse in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, which claimed four lives. He announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of the deceased.
• Assembly Elections Update: The filing of nomination papers officially concluded for the upcoming state assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.

Economy & Business

• Oil Prices Cool Off: Following the announced five-day pause in U.S. strikes on Iran, global energy markets reacted immediately. Benchmark Brent Crude futures plunged by more than 12%, briefly dropping back below the $100 per barrel mark.
• Gold & Silver Prices Plunge: Domestic gold and silver prices witnessed a sharp decline of over 7%. The crash was driven by easing geopolitical tensions over the five-day U.S. pause and a strengthening U.S. dollar, which shifted investor interest away from precious metals.
• No Farm Loan Waivers: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified in Parliament that the Central Government is not considering any proposal for a complete loan waiver for farmers, emphasizing instead that the government provides subsidized credit via the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme.
• LPG Tankers Transit Safely: Two Indian-flagged LPG carriers, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, successfully navigated the contested Strait of Hormuz to secure India’s domestic energy supply.

Awards & Recognitions

• William Dalrymple: The renowned historian and author was awarded the Mark Lynton History Prize 2026.
• Rituparna Sengupta: The Indian actress was honored at the UK’s House of Commons with an award for her contributions to Women’s Empowerment