Daily Current Affairs 13 March 2026: India Oil Supply, NH Green Cover Index, Kavach 4.0 & Black Rain

Daily Current Affairs 13 March 2026: Daily current affairs help aspirants understand important national and international developments related to economy, environment, technology, and geopolitics. The major news of 13 March 2026 includes India’s oil supply situation amid global tensions, a new environmental index for national highways, railway safety technology upgrades, and environmental risks caused by conflicts in West Asia.

Topics Discussed in Daily Current Affairs 13 March 2026 (For UPSC Exam)

Below are the most important current affairs topics for competitive exams that are discussed on 13 March Daily Current affairs class.

1. India’s Crude Oil and Natural Gas Supply Situation

2. National Highway Green Cover Index (NHGCI)

3. UN Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

4. Oman’s Neutral Diplomacy in West Asia

5. Kavach 4.0 Railway Safety System

6. Black Rain Environmental Risk in Iran

7. Fiscal Health Index 2026

India’s Oil and Gas Supply Situation

India recently assured that crude oil supply in the country remains secure despite global tensions affecting energy transport routes.

India’s Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed Parliament that there is currently no risk of immediate oil shortage in the country. However, the situation became concerning after a cargo ship heading toward India’s Kandla port was reportedly attacked by a missile linked to Iran.

Key Points

• India imports a large portion of its crude oil from global suppliers.

• Due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia, energy transport routes are under risk.

• India has expanded oil imports from Russia to maintain supply stability.

Natural Gas Supply Challenges

India also faces challenges related to natural gas imports.

• Nearly 60% of India’s LNG imports come from Qatar.

• Supply disruptions in the Gulf region have created uncertainty.

• To manage this, India is exploring additional gas imports from:

• USA

• Norway

• Canada

• Algeria

• Russia

Government Measures

The government is also monitoring the domestic market to prevent hoarding or black marketing of LPG cylinders. Ensuring stable supply for households remains a priority.

At the international level, discussions are ongoing between India and Iran to clarify the missile attack incident.

National Highway Green Cover Index (NHGCI)

India released the first National Highway Green Cover Index for 2025–26 to measure vegetation along highways.

This index was prepared by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) with technical support from ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).

Coverage

• Around 23,000 km of national highways were studied.

• Data was collected across 24 states.

• Satellite observations were conducted between July–December 2024.

Methodology

The highway length was divided into 1-kilometre segments. Satellite imagery was then used to measure the percentage of vegetation canopy along both sides of the highway.

The satellite Resourcesat-2A (LISS-IV sensor) with 5-meter resolution helped detect vegetation through chlorophyll signals.

Significance

The Green Cover Index is important because it:

• Measures vegetation development along highways

• Helps reduce air and noise pollution

• Supports carbon absorption

• Provides data for sustainable highway planning

It also allows comparison of green cover across different states and highway corridors.

Lebanon and UN Peacekeeping Concerns

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has recently intensified. Because of rising tensions, many countries including India have expressed concern about the safety of UN peacekeepers.

The peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) was created in 1978 by the UN Security Council.

Key Objectives of UNIFIL

• Ensure Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanon

• Maintain peace along the Blue Line (Israel–Lebanon border)

• Support stability in southern Lebanon

Geography of Lebanon

Lebanon is a small country in West Asia located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Important geographical features include:

• Mount Lebanon Range

• Anti-Lebanon Range

• Bekaa Valley located between the two mountain ranges

• Litani River, the country’s major river

The capital and largest city is Beirut, which is also an important commercial port.

Oman’s Role in West Asian Diplomacy

Oman plays a unique diplomatic role in the Middle East because it maintains neutral relations with multiple rival countries.

The country follows a foreign policy described as “Friend to all, enemy to none.”

Key Diplomatic Role

Oman often acts as a mediator between countries such as:

• Iran

• United States

• Israel

• Saudi Arabia

It has also facilitated prisoner exchanges and negotiations between conflicting states.

Geography of Oman

• Located in the southeastern Arabian Peninsula

• Capital city: Muscat

• Borders:

• Saudi Arabia

• UAE

• Yemen

The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic global oil route, lies between Oman and Iran.

Kavach 4.0: Railway Collision Protection System

Indian Railways has expanded the use of Kavach 4.0, an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to prevent train accidents.

The technology is now being deployed on high-density railway corridors, including the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes.

Key Features of Kavach

• Automatic braking if a train crosses a red signal

• Speed control to prevent overspeeding

• Communication between locomotives and stations

• Real-time train location using RFID tags

Development Timeline

• System developed in 2015

• Operational certification received in 2018

• National adoption approved in 2020

• Kavach 4.0 approved by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in 202

Importance

Kavach improves railway safety by:

• Preventing collisions

• Reducing human error

• Enhancing signalling efficiency

• Supporting modernization of Indian Railways

The technology is part of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative because it is completely indigenously developed.

Black Rain Risk in Iran

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned about the possibility of “Black Rain” in Tehran after attacks on oil facilities.

What is Black Rain?

Black Rain occurs when polluted clouds mix with rainfall, causing rainwater to contain large amounts of pollutants such as:

• Carbon soot

• Hydrocarbons

• Benzene

• Sulfur dioxide

• Nitrogen oxides

These pollutants are released when oil facilities burn during conflicts or industrial accidents.

How It Forms

1. Oil infrastructure burns and releases toxic smoke.

2. Pollutants accumulate in the atmosphere.

3. Rain clouds mix with these pollutants.

4. Polluted rain falls as dark or black-colored precipitation.

Environmental and Health Impact

Black rain can cause:

• Respiratory diseases

• Skin irritation

• Eye inflammation

• Soil and water contamination

• Crop damage

It can also contribute to acid rain, because sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water to form sulfuric and nitric acid.

Fiscal Health Index 2026

The NITI Aayog has released the second edition of the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026.

The index evaluates the financial performance of Indian states by analyzing government revenue and expenditure patterns.

Key Features

• The first edition covered 18 major states.

• The new edition includes separate analysis for Himalayan and North-Eastern states.

Purpose of the Index

The Fiscal Health Index helps measure:

• State revenue generation

• Government spending efficiency

• Fiscal deficit levels

• Debt sustainability

Key Fiscal Concepts

Fiscal Deficit:
Total government expenditure minus total receipts (excluding borrowings).

Primary Deficit:
Fiscal deficit minus interest payments on previous loans.

These indicators help evaluate the financial stability of state governments.

The current affairs of 13 March 2026 highlight important developments across energy security, environmental monitoring, railway safety technology, and global geopolitics. 

From India ensuring stable oil supply to the launch of the National Highway Green Cover Index and the expansion of the Kavach safety system, these developments reflect India’s focus on infrastructure modernization and sustainability. At the same time, global conflicts continue to create environmental and economic risks, as seen in the case of Black Rain in Iran.

UPSC Prelims Practice Quiz – 13 March 2026

Q1. The National Highway Green Cover Index (NHGCI) was released to measure:
(a) Highway traffic density
(b) Vegetation cover along national highways
(c) Carbon emissions from vehicles
(d) Toll revenue from highways

Answer: (b) Vegetation cover along national highways

Q2. Kavach 4.0 system used by Indian Railways is related to:
(a) Railway ticket reservation system
(b) Automatic train collision prevention system
(c) Freight tracking technology
(d) Railway electrification project

Answer: (b) Automatic train collision prevention system

Q3. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established to:
(a) Monitor nuclear activities in West Asia
(b) Maintain peace along the Israel–Lebanon border
(c) Support refugee resettlement in Europe
(d) Protect oil pipelines in the Middle East

Answer: (b) Maintain peace along the Israel–Lebanon border

Q4. The Fiscal Health Index released by NITI Aayog evaluates:
(a) Agricultural productivity of states
(b) Environmental performance of cities
(c) Financial health and fiscal management of states
(d) Industrial output growth

Answer: (c) Financial health and fiscal management of states

Q5. “Black Rain” phenomenon may occur when:
(a) Volcanic ash mixes with rainwater
(b) Industrial and oil-fire pollutants mix with rainfall
(c) Sandstorms combine with monsoon clouds
(d) Oceanic algae contaminate rainwater

Answer: (b) Industrial and oil-fire pollutants mix with rainfall