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हिंदी

Current Affairs 17 March 2026

In short

  • ECI Announces Assembly Elections in Four States and One UT
  • Supreme Court Directs Crop Diversification to Pulses Over Paddy

…and 6 more stories on GENERAL.

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GENERAL

ECI Announces Assembly Elections in Four States and One UT

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced Assembly Elections starting April 9 in Assam, Puducherry, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Assam and Puducherry hold single-phase polls on April 9, Kerala on the same date, Tamil Nadu on April 23, and West Bengal in two phases on April 23 and 29. Voter rolls were revised through Special Intensive Revision, reducing counts in Assam to 2.5 crore and removing 8 lakh voters in Kerala. The Model Code of Conduct has been enforced. ECI oversees elections for President, Vice-President, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and state legislatures.

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Which states/UT are scheduled for single-phase Assembly Elections on April 9?

GENERAL

Supreme Court Directs Crop Diversification to Pulses Over Paddy

The Supreme Court urged the government to promote agricultural diversification by encouraging pulses over water-intensive paddy. Paddy requires 3,000–5,000 litres of water per kg, while pulses are more eco-friendly. India produces ~27 million tonnes of pulses against 32 million tonnes demand, leading to imports. Challenges include MSP bias towards rice/wheat, small landholdings, and infrastructure gaps. Benefits encompass nutritional security, climate resilience, and employment in allied sectors like dairy. Agriculture contributes 18-20% to GDP, employing 45% workforce.

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What is the approximate water requirement for producing 1 kg of paddy?

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Current Affairs by JobSafal