Daily Current Affairs- 5th March 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 5th March 2026

Bihar Will Get New CM As Nitish Kumar To Go Rajya Sabha Will Resign Soon

In the News: The Election Commission of India has announced biennial elections to fill 37 Rajya Sabha seats whose terms end in April 2026.  The election schedule fixes polling on 16 March 2026 (9:00 AM–4:00 PM) and counting at 5:00 PM the same day.  In this cycle, Bihar has five Rajya Sabha vacancies arising from members retiring on 9 April 2026.  On 5 March 2026, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha election from Bihar at the Assembly office in Patna.

Key Pointers

• Rajya Sabha seats of a State are filled by indirect election: the elected MLAs of the State Legislative Assembly elect members using proportional representation by single transferable vote (STV).
• Voting in Rajya Sabha elections uses an open ballot: an MLA belonging to a political party must show the marked ballot to the party’s authorised agent before putting it in the ballot box, as laid down in Rule 39AA.
• Apart from elected seats, 12 members are nominated by the President for special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art, and social service.
• The ECI schedule for these biennial elections is: notification—26 Feb 2026; last date for nominations—5 Mar 2026; scrutiny—6 Mar 2026; withdrawal—9 Mar 2026; poll—16 Mar 2026; counting—16 Mar 2026 at 5:00 PM; completion—by 20 Mar 2026.
• The five Bihar Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant on 9 April 2026 are linked to the retirement of Amarendra Dhari Singh, Prem Chand Gupta, Ramnath Thakur, Upendra Kushwaha, and Haribansh Narayan Singh.
• Nitish Kumar filed his nomination on 5 March 2026, which is also the last date for nominations in the ECI schedule.
• In Bihar, the Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor under Article 164, and the Council of Ministers holds office during the Governor’s pleasure.

Vinai Kumar Saxena Appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh & R. N. Ravi Appointed Governor of West Bengal

In the News: On 5 March 2026, the President of India accepted the resignation of Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose as Governor of West Bengal.  On the same date, Shri R. N. Ravi was appointed Governor of West Bengal.  On the same date, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.  The official communique stated that these appointments will take effect from the dates the appointees assume charge of their respective offices.

Key Pointers

• The President appointed Shri R. N. Ravi, who was serving as Governor of Tamil Nadu, as Governor of West Bengal.
• The President directed that Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who was serving as Governor of Kerala, will discharge the functions of Governor of Tamil Nadu.
• The President appointed Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, who was serving as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, as Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
• The President appointed Shri Taranjit Singh Sandhu as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
• The President appointed Shri Kavinder Gupta, who was serving as Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, as Governor of Himachal Pradesh.
• The same communique also included appointments of Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla as Governor of Telangana, Shri Jishnu Dev Varma as Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Nand Kishore Yadav as Governor of Nagaland, and Lt. General (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain as Governor of Bihar.
• Under the Constitution, a Governor is appointed by the President by warrant under the President’s hand and seal, and the Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President.
• Under the Constitution, every Union Territory is administered by the President through an administrator appointed by the President with such designation as the President specifies.

US Torpedo Sinks Iranian Warship in Indian Ocean

In the News: On 4 March 2026, a U.S. submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean off the southern coast of Sri Lanka.  The Sri Lankan Navy stated that it recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people after the sinking.  U.S. briefings stated that the submarine used a Mark 48 (MK-48) heavyweight torpedo, and the Pentagon released strike footage.  Multiple reports described the incident as the first time since World War II that a U.S. submarine sank another vessel using a torpedo.

Key Pointers

• The Iranian vessel that sank was identified as the frigate IRIS Dena, and the incident occurred off Galle in southern Sri Lanka.
• The Sri Lankan Navy stated that the sinking occurred outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, and it conducted search-and-rescue and recovery operations.
• Sri Lankan authorities stated that 87 bodies were recovered and 32 survivors were rescued, and they also indicated that some survivors were injured and received treatment in Galle.
• Sri Lankan officials stated that the ship had about 180 crew members on board when it went down.
• U.S. defense briefings stated that the strike was carried out using a single MK-48 torpedo, as described by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in the Pentagon briefing cited by USNI News.
• The U.S. Department of Defense released periscope-style video that it said shows the torpedo strike on the warship.  Associated Press reporting stated that the IRIS Dena had been in Visakhapatnam, India, and was sailing home after taking part in an Indian-hosted naval event/exhibition when it was struck.

Deadly Cassava Virus Threatens Africa’s Food Security: Scientists Warn of Rapid Spread

In the News: Scientists and public-health/environment reporting in early March 2026 highlighted Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) as a major and expanding threat to cassava-based food security in sub-Saharan Africa.  A January 2026 research paper modelled the current and future suitable habitats of cassava and CBSD across Africa and quantified the current risk area for CBSD spread.. The research estimated that 33.7% of Africa’s land area (about 10.2 million km²) is currently at risk of CBSD spread, while 54.6% (about 16.2 million km²) is currently suitable for cassava production.  The same reporting stressed that stronger clean-seed systems, better surveillance, and wider deployment of resistant/tolerant varieties are key to limiting further spread.

Key Pointers

• Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) damages cassava by causing necrosis (rot) in the roots, and this damage can lead to severe or total crop loss.
• The disease can remain difficult to detect early because farmers may only clearly see the most serious root damage at harvest, which delays response and increases losses.
• The January 2026 study used species distribution models and combined cassava occurrence data with CBSD occurrence data drawn from published literature to map current and future suitability.
• The study reported that about 54.6% of Africa (16.2 million km²) is currently suitable for cassava production and that about 33.7% (10.2 million km²) is currently at risk of CBSD spread.
• The study identified isothermality (Bio03) as the largest contributor to the modelled current distribution of cassava, and it identified cassava harvested area as the largest contributor to the modelled current distribution of CBSD outbreaks.
• The study projected shifts under CMIP6 climate scenarios for mid-century (2041–2060) and later (2061–2080) periods, using scenarios including SSP126 and SSP585.
• The research paper stated that CBSD was historically concentrated along the East African coast for decades, but outbreaks expanded from the early 2000s into other parts of East and Central Africa.
• The research paper explained that CBSD can enter cassava fields through infectious whiteflies and through the use of infected cuttings as planting material, with infected planting material being especially important for longer-distance spread.

India Stuns England! Thriller at Wankhede Sends India to T20 World Cup 2026 Final

In the News: India defeated England by 7 runs in Semi-Final 2 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on 5 March 2026.  India scored 253/7, and England finished on 246/7, making it a 499-run match, which the ICC described as the most runs in a men’s T20 World Cup match.  The win set up a final against New Zealand at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, scheduled for 8 March 2026.

Key Pointers

• India posted 253/7, with Sanju Samson scoring 89 off 42 balls and providing the main platform for the total.
• England’s chase ended at 246/7, and England fell short of what would have been a record chase in a T20 World Cup semi-final.
• England were 68/3 inside the powerplay, with early wickets including Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, and Harry Brook falling inside the first six overs.
• Jacob Bethell kept England in contention with 105 off 48 balls, and the ICC noted he hit eight fours and seven sixes before being run out.
• The ICC recorded a key dismissal as a relay catch in which Axar Patel intercepted near the boundary and the catch was completed by Shivam Dube, ending the Bethell–Will Jacks partnership.
• The match was played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, and India qualified for the title clash after winning by 7 runs.
• The final is scheduled on 8 March 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, as per ICC fixtures/schedule communication.

Finn Allen Creates History With Fastest T20 World Cup Century

In the News: New Zealand reached the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final after a nine-wicket semi-final win over South Africa.  Finn Allen scored an unbeaten 100 off 33 balls, which the ICC described as the fastest century in Men’s T20 World Cup history.  The innings broke the previous Men’s T20 World Cup fastest-century record of 47 balls (Chris Gayle, 2016).

Key Pointers

• Finn Allen brought up his hundred in 33 deliveries and finished 100*, and the ICC listed this as the new benchmark for the fastest Men’s T20 World Cup century.
• The ESPN match stats note that this century was made in the semi-final in Kolkata, and New Zealand won the match with 43 balls left.
• The ICC stated that New Zealand chased a target of 170 inside 13 overs, with Allen and Tim Seifert (58) forming the key opening partnership.
• The ICC recorded Allen’s boundary count as 10 fours and 8 sixes, and described the innings as a record-book performance.
• ESPN’s statistical recap states that Allen’s hundred is also the fastest across all T20 World Cup matches (men or women), surpassing the previous best of 38 balls (Deandra Dottin, 2010).
• The ICC noted that the win took New Zealand into their first Men’s T20 World Cup final since 2021.
• New Zealand will play the final in Ahmedabad on 8 March 2026, as per the ICC fixtures list.

International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness 2026: Why March 5 Matters for Global Peace

In the News: The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness is observed every year on 5 March.  The UN General Assembly, through resolution A/RES/77/51 (2022), proclaimed 5 March as this International Day.  The UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) marks the day through public-awareness and educational activities, including events and youth engagement programmes.

Key Pointers

• The UN General Assembly proclaimed 5 March as the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness through A/RES/77/51.
• UNODA states that the International Day aims to promote better awareness and understanding of disarmament issues, with a special focus on young people.
• The UNODA programme for the week includes public-facing events (hybrid and in-person) linked to disarmament themes, including sessions hosted from 2–6 March 2026.
• UNODA’s schedule includes youth-focused engagement, including interactions with students (for example, UNREC engagement with students in Togo and UNODA engagement with students from Hiroshima).
• The day is designed as a public-awareness observance, and UNODA explicitly frames it around education and wider participation by the public in disarmament-related understanding.