Daily Current Affairs- 8th March 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 8th March 2026

Assam Woman Receives First Citizenship Certificate Under CAA

In the News: Dipali Das, a 60-year-old woman from Hawaithang in Cachar district of Assam, became the first person in the state to receive Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). She had entered India from Bangladesh in 1988, was declared a foreigner in 2019, spent nearly two years in a detention camp in Silchar, and was later released on Supreme Court orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her case marks a landmark in the practical implementation of the CAA in Assam.

Key Points:

• Historic First: Dipali Das became the first person in Assam to receive Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), receiving her certificate on March 6, 2026, from Cachar district.

• Background — Migration from Bangladesh: Dipali Das, originally from Dippur village under Dhirai police station in Sylhet district of Bangladesh, entered India with her husband Abhimanyu Das on February 7, 1988, reportedly fleeing persecution. They settled in Cachar district and have lived there since.
• Citizenship Dispute: In 2013, police initiated an inquiry into her nationality. A chargesheet dated July 2, 2013, stated that she was a resident of Baniachong in Bangladesh's Habiganj district and had entered India illegally after March 1971, leading to her classification as a suspected foreign national.
• Declared Foreigner & Detention: In 2019, Dipali Das was officially declared a foreigner and sent to a transit/detention camp in Silchar, where she spent nearly two years with her citizenship status unresolved.
• Supreme Court Order & Release: In 17^th  May 2021, the Supreme Court directed that 'declared foreigners' in Assam who had been held in detention for more than two years be released, to reduce overcrowding during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dipali Das was released on bail under this directive.
• Legal Process for CAA Citizenship: After release, she approached social worker Kamal Chakraborty (also referred to as Chakravarty), who connected her with advocate Dharmananda Deb. The lawyer prepared and filed her application under the CAA.

U.P. accounts for most cases of Denial of access to public space to persons from SC communities

In the News: According to the NCRB's 2023 Crime in India report, there were 180 reported cases of Scheduled Caste (SC) persons being denied access to public spaces under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act across India. Of these, 173 cases (over 96%) were reported from Uttar Pradesh alone. The crime category has been rising steadily since it was first introduced by the NCRB in 2017, with U.P. accounting for a disproportionately large and growing share of such cases every year.

Key Points:

• NCRB 2023 Data: There were 180 reported cases of SCs being denied access to public spaces across India in 2023 under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Of these, 173 cases were from Uttar Pradesh, with the remaining cases spread across Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

• NCRB 2022 Data: In 2022, India reported 305 such cases, of which 300 cases (98.36%) were from Uttar Pradesh alone — the peak share ever recorded for any state in this category.
• Crime Category Introduced in 2017: The NCRB introduced the crime head 'Prevent or deny or obstruct usage of public place/passage' under the SC/ST Act in 2017 as part of a broader effort to better classify and record caste-based crimes. In the first year (2017), only 12 cases were reported nationwide, distributed across Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra. Uttar Pradesh reported zero cases that year.
• Rising Trend — U.P.'s Share: From 2018 onwards, U.P. began dominating the data. The state accounted for 68% of all such cases in 2018, 80% in 2019, and peaked at over 98% in 2022. The NCDHR (National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights) noted that this rise reflects 'entrenched caste-based segregation'.
• Other Crime Category — Social Boycott: A related crime category — 'being forced to leave place of residence or facing social boycott' — was also introduced in 2017. U.P. had reported 57 such cases that first year. This category has remained relatively stable at around a dozen cases per year nationally.
• SC vs ST Comparison: NCRB data shows that cases of denial of access to public spaces are significantly lower for Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities compared to Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, suggesting a distinct pattern of caste-based discrimination affecting SCs.

RM Nachammai Becomes First Woman Chief Of Operational Nuclear Plant

In the News: RM Nachammai has created history by becoming the first woman to head the operations of a functional nuclear power plant in India under the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Announced close to International Women's Day 2026, she has been appointed Chief Superintendent of Kaiga Generating Station Units 3 and 4 in Karnataka, with the role taking effect from March 15, 2026. Her appointment is a landmark for gender inclusion in India's highly specialised nuclear energy sector.

Key Points:

• Historic First: RM Nachammai became the first woman Chief Superintendent overseeing the operations of a functional nuclear power plant in India under NPCIL — a landmark in the history of India's nuclear programme.

• Role & Responsibilities: As Chief Superintendent of Kaiga Generating Station Units 3 and 4 (Karnataka), she oversees the Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering Support divisions of the nuclear reactor complex. The role involves round-the-clock monitoring of reactor operations, safety systems, and plant performance — one of the most technically demanding leadership positions in India's nuclear sector.
• Effective Date: March 15, 2026 — announced in close proximity to International Women's Day (March 8, 2026).
• Academic Background: Graduate in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Madras (1990), where she secured a University rank. Joined NPCIL in 1991.
• Early Recognition — Vikram Sarabhai Award: She topped the second batch of NPCIL's engineer trainees and was awarded the prestigious Vikram Sarabhai Award, signalling her exceptional technical promise from the start of her career.
• 35+ Years of Experience: Nachammai has over 35 years of experience across nuclear power plant operations, maintenance, and engineering. She has served at the Madras Atomic Power Station and at Kaiga Generating Station Units 1 and 2.
• Awards & Recognition: Received the NPCIL Special Contribution Award in 2010, 2014, and 2017 — reflecting sustained and consistent contributions rather than a single isolated achievement.
• International & National Outreach: She has made presentations at national-level forums on nuclear power safety, participated in public awareness programmes, and represented NPCIL in multiple international programmes, projecting India's nuclear safety culture globally.
• About Kaiga Generating Station: Located in Karnataka, Kaiga operates four 220 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) with a total installed capacity of 880 MW. Units 5 and 6 are under development, which will raise the total capacity to 2,280 MW.

India Defeat New Zealand, Clinch T20 World Cup 2026 Title

In the News: India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Final on March 8, 2026, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, in front of 86,824 fans. India posted 255/5 — the highest total ever in a T20 World Cup final — and bowled New Zealand out for 159 in 19 overs. India became the first team to win three T20 World Cup titles (2007, 2024, 2026), the first to successfully defend the title, and the first to win the tournament on home soil.

Key Points:

• Historic Win: India won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 on March 8, 2026, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad — becoming the first team to win three T20 World Cup titles (2007, 2024, 2026).

• India's Batting — 255/5: Sanju Samson scored a blazing 89 off 46 balls (5 fours, 8 sixes). Abhishek Sharma contributed 52 off 21 balls, and Ishan Kishan hit 54 off 25 balls. Samson and Abhishek put on a 98-run opening stand in just 7.1 overs. Shivam Dube finished with an unbeaten 26 off 8 balls, including 24 runs in the final over. India's 255/5 was the highest total ever scored in a T20 World Cup final.
• New Zealand's Innings: Tim Seifert top-scored with 52 off 26 balls, but his dismissal in the 9th over effectively ended New Zealand's hopes. Mitchell Santner hit 43 but it was too little too late as NZ were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs — losing by 96 runs.
• India Captain — Suryakumar Yadav: Became the fourth Indian captain to lead the country to a men's cricket World Cup title. He has not lost a single bilateral series since taking charge in July 2024 — a win percentage of 80.77%, the highest among all T20I captains (minimum 20 matches).
• Jasprit Bumrah — National Treasure: With 4 wickets in the final, Bumrah surpassed Lasith Malinga to become the leading wicket-taker among pace bowlers in T20 World Cup history with 40 wickets. Named Player of the Match in the final.
• Sanju Samson — Player of the Tournament: Samson was the standout batter of the tournament with 321 runs, capping it with his match-winning 89 in the final. He had also scored 97* and 89 in the two previous innings. Became only the third Indian to win the Fourth Player of the Tournament award at a T20 World Cup (after Virat Kohli in 2014, 2016 and Jasprit Bumrah in 2024).
• Venue Significance: The Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad — the same venue where India lost the 2023 ODI World Cup final to Australia — became the site of India's redemption and historic T20 title win, witnessed by 86,824 fans.
• India's T20 World Cup Titles: 2007 (South Africa), 2024 (West Indies & USA), 2026 (India — home). New Zealand have now lost two T20 World Cup finals (2021 to Australia, 2026 to India). England and West Indies have each won two T20 World Cups.