Current Affairs

India and Sri Lanka are conducting the 13th edition of the bilateral naval exercise SLINEX-26 at Visakhapatnam. Conceptualised in 2005, it begins with a Harbour Phase followed by a Sea Phase. Indian Navy participation includes INS Kavaratti (indigenous anti-submarine warfare corvette) and INS Jyoti (fleet tanker). It aims to enhance maritime cooperation, interoperability and mutual understanding, aligned with India’s MAHASAGAR vision.

Government is considering extending the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme for textiles beyond September 30. Introduced by the Ministry of Textiles in March 2019, RoSCTL rebates State and Central taxes/levies (in addition to Duty Drawback) on exports of apparel/garments and made-ups, succeeding RoSL. Benefits are transferable e-duty credit scrips (FOB-based), issued on Customs, usable for Basic Customs Duty; one-time full transfer; 1-year validity; excludes DGFT Denied Entity List. Implemented by Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

Soaring sulphur prices amid West Asia and Russia-Ukraine conflicts are constraining availability of DAP, SSP and other complex fertilisers in India. Sulphur (S) is a non-metal occurring as native sulphur or sulphate/sulphide minerals; considered the 13th most abundant in Earth’s crust. It is pale-yellow, brittle, odorless, insoluble in water, and combines with most elements except gold, platinum and noble gases. Indian occurrences include Puga Valley (J&K), Barren Island (Bay of Bengal), Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh. Key uses include sulphuric acid for ore processing, fertilisers, oil refining, wastewater treatment and chemical synthesis; powdered sulphur for vulcanisation, agricultural dusts, pharmaceuticals, stock feeds, sulphur lamps, and compounds in detergents, fungicides and dyestuffs.

Astronomers confirmed Elias 2-24 b as the youngest known exoplanet by re-examining 2018 and 2020 archival Keck Observatory data; its motion matches a planet, not a background star or artifact. The host star is in the ρ Ophiuchi star-forming region (~450 light-years). The Jupiter-sized planet is embedded in gas/dust, likely <1 million years old, orbiting ~55 AU. ALMA and ESO’s VLT aided detection; coronagraphs were used.

The first Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) for the Indian Navy had its keel laid at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). NGMV is a high-speed missile combatant for maritime strike/ASuW, sea-denial near choke points, and local/seaward defence of Offshore Development Areas. It features inclined BrahMos SSM launchers, VLSRSAM, 76 mm SRGM, CIWS, and DRDO-developed X-band Multi-Function Radar (~200 km) supplied by BEL; HAL assembles LM2500 turbines. CSL also built INS Vikrant.

The U.S., Denmark and Greenland plan to sign an Arctic security pact at UNGA, New York, subject to Danish and Greenlandic parliamentary approval. It expands U.S. permanent access, basing and overflight rights in Greenland, bars non-NATO adversaries’ basing and restricts sensitive investments (details undisclosed). It has no expiry, remains even if Greenland becomes independent, and does not imply U.S. acquisition. Denmark/Greenland stress sovereignty, territorial integrity, self-determination and cooperation. It builds on the 1951 Defense of Greenland Treaty and 2004 supplement; Pituffik Space Base supports missile warning/defense and space surveillance.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting notified revised CBFC film certification guidelines, retaining the 1991 framework with two additions, aligned to Cinematograph Rules, 2024. CBFC, a statutory body under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, certifies films (not censorship) in categories U, UA, A and S; UA now has UA 7+, UA 13+ and UA 16+. New provisions mandate drug-related disclaimers and allow U certificates with parental-caution endorsement. Guidelines reflect Article 19(2) limits; K.A. Abbas v. Union of India (1970) upheld pre-censorship.

Researchers report updated findings that opportunistic fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii, causing Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), may have developed resistance to a drug not intended to kill it. It affects immunocompromised patients (AIDS, immunosuppressive therapy), is ubiquitous and aerosol/airborne transmitted, and is asymptomatic in immunocompetent persons. Reclassified from protozoa to fungus since 1990s; trophic and cystic forms. PCP features fever, chills, cough, dyspnea, fatigue; treated with high-dose TMP-SMX.

Oman pitched India investment opportunities in Sohar Port to ensure uninterrupted access to Persian Gulf energy amid a potential chokehold at the Strait of Hormuz due to Iran-U.S. hostilities. Sohar is a strategically located deep-sea port in northern Oman on the Gulf of Oman, ~160 km south of Hormuz, midway between Dubai and Muscat, linking the Gulf, Indian subcontinent and East Africa, handling dry/break/liquid bulk and containers; it is governed by SIPC (Omani Government-Port of Rotterdam JV) with an adjacent Sohar Freezone for petrochemicals, metals and energy.

Government relaxed sugar stockholding for bulk consumers from 15 to 30 days, stipulating stocks beyond 15 days must be sourced only from sugar imported under the Advance Authorisation Scheme (AAS). AAS (DGFT) permits duty-free import of inputs physically incorporated in export products, plus packaging, fuel, oil and catalysts; exempts customs duties/cesses, anti-dumping/safeguard and IGST/compensation cess, subject to export obligation. It covers manufacturer and linked merchant exporters; valid 12 months; used for physical exports, intermediate supply, specified deemed exports and stores with SION.

The National Statistical Office (NSO) released district-level labour market indicators for the first time, reporting Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) across districts. Findings cover the 100 most populous districts for persons aged 15+ years. Surat (Gujarat) recorded the highest LFPR and WPR, while Darbhanga (Bihar) recorded the lowest. Over 75% districts had NEET below 30%.

In the Global Business Climate Survey 2026 for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in India, India ranks 1st (Vietnam 2nd) among 41 markets. Produced by Business Sweden, Swedish Chambers of Commerce, and Sweden’s embassies/consulates since 2020, it reflects Swedish business leaders overseas and compares outlook/operating conditions. Asia-Pacific is most optimistic; India and the Philippines lead planned investment. MEA is cautious; Saudi positive outlook fell 90% (2025) to 44% (2026); growth expectations led by India, Philippines, Poland.

Indian Railways approved provision of indigenous Automatic Train Protection system Kavach Version 4.0 over 600+ route km in Lucknow Division, North Eastern Railway. Kavach, adopted as the National ATP system (July 2020), was developed by RDSO. It uses secure UHF radio and track-mounted RFID tags with wayside units drawing station interlocking data, enabling SPAD prevention, cab signalling, collision avoidance, level-crossing horn, rollback/roll-forward protection, SoS messages and centralized monitoring via NMS.

Indian Navy’s INS Trishul made a port call at Alexandria, Egypt. A front-line Talwar-class guided missile frigate, it was inducted in 2003 for multi-dimensional maritime operations. The 125-metre, 3,700-tonne ship has stealth features, top speed above 30 knots and 30-day endurance. It was the second Indian warship with eight-cell KBSM 3S-14NE vertical launcher and first to upload BrahMos PJ-10 AShCM.

India relaxed the sugar stockholding limit for bulk consumers from 15 days to 30 days, with stock beyond 15 days to be sourced exclusively through imports under the Advance Authorisation Scheme (AAS) and Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ). TRQ permits import of a set quantity of specified products. AAS allows duty-free import of inputs physically incorporated in export products; DGFT implements AAS under the Foreign Trade Policy; advance authorisation is valid for 12 months from issue.

WMO’s State of Global Water Resources 2025 report gives a quantitative overview of global water resources, focusing on hydrological variability and trends. In 2025, 34% of groundwater observation stations were below/much-below normal. Persistent deficits (2022–2025) occurred across the Americas, Europe, Middle East, India, southern Africa and Australia. India faces depletion in northern/north-western regions, driven mainly by over-abstraction. Responses include Model Groundwater Bill, NAQUIM/NAQUIM 2.0, Atal Bhujal Yojana (7 States), and Mission Amrit Sarovar.

PM Vishwakarma, a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, launched in 2023, marks three years and has registered 30 lakh beneficiaries. It provides end-to-end support to traditional artisans/craftspeople in 18 trades: recognition, skill upgradation, modern tools, collateral-free credit, digital transaction incentives, and market linkage. Eligibility: self-employed unorganised workers aged 18+; one member per family; no similar credit scheme in past 5 years (exceptions for repaid loans). Government employees/families are ineligible. Digital incentive: Re.1 per transaction, up to 100/month.

The Karnataka Cabinet approved Tulu as a second official language for administrative use in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, invoking Article 345, which allows a State legislature to adopt one or more languages for official purposes. Tulu is the mother tongue of the Tuluva people, including much of the Mangalorean community, and is also spoken in parts of Kerala’s Kasaragod. It is a South Dravidian language; its vocabulary draws from Sanskrit, Arabic, Portuguese and Kannada due to trade, religious practices and cultural exchanges.

Odisha Forest Department rescued five orangutans (under 2 years) from Balasore and shifted them to Nandankanan Zoological Park, near Bhubaneswar, raising transnational smuggling concerns. Orangutans occur naturally only in Indonesia and Malaysia; Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli species (Borneo/Sumatra) are CITES Appendix I. DNA testing will confirm origin. CITES in force since 1975 (India: 1976). Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, amended in 2022, added a CITES schedule; Section 49Q requires establishing illegal import, enabling repatriation at origin’s expense or housing in a recognised zoo/rescue centre, with Environment Ministry consultations.

World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2026 (annual since 2006) measures parity across Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. Globally, 69.2% of the gender gap is closed (+0.4 percentage points); political empowerment falls to 22.1%. India retains rank 131 (of 145) with 64.5% parity; only 14 countries rank below. Iceland (93%), Finland and Norway lead; Chad is last (with Iran and Pakistan in bottom three). India has improved 4.3 percentage points since 2006, mainly education; economic parity is 41.2% (+0.5), 3.5 points below its 2013 best. Australia enters top 10 впервые.

Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), launched in 2015, aims to ensure minimum social and physical infrastructure in mining-affected districts using District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds. Implemented by district DMFs, it complements existing schemes, mitigates mining’s environmental, health and socio-economic impacts, and supports sustainable livelihoods. MMDR Act, 1957 mandates States to incorporate PMKKKY in DMF rules. At least 60% funds go to high-priority areas (drinking water, environment/pollution control, health, education, women/children); up to 40% to other priorities (infrastructure, irrigation, energy, watershed, environmental quality).

A study in Geophysical Research Letters estimates Mercury has contracted up to 23 km in diameter, about 30% more than earlier estimates, by comparing contraction-related faults with surface roughness; rougher regions show fewer observable contraction features. Ongoing ESA-JAXA BepiColombo (ESA’s MPO and JAXA’s Mio) will use laser data to refine contraction linked to interior cooling and geological evolution, building on Mariner 10 (1970s) and MESSENGER (2010s).

The US confirmed deploying a space weapon in Earth’s orbit and, for the first time, acknowledged offensive space capabilities, including ASAT / counter-space methods (kinetic, electronic warfare, cyber, directed-energy, co-orbital). The Outer Space Treaty, 1967 bans nuclear weapons / WMD in orbit but not all space weapons. US Space Force (2019) protects satellites (communication, surveillance, navigation). India’s Mission Shakti (2019) proved ASAT, making it 4th after US-Russia-China; Defence Space Agency is tri-service.

India rejected the Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission (BJC), whose inaugural meeting concluded in Pakistan, as legally invalid. The BJC is envisaged under the 2013 China-Pakistan Agreement on the Boundary Management System; Article 45 provides for establishing the commission to oversee implementation of border management arrangements. India said Pakistan lacks locus standi over Indian territory under illegal occupation, reiterating J&K and Ladakh as integral parts of India, not recognising the 1963 China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement and stating there is no Pakistan-China boundary.

A Nature Communications study found Indian Candida auris isolates using genetic routes for antifungal resistance, including gene mutations, gene amplification and cellular compensatory mechanisms. C. auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast, first reported in Japan (2009), causing invasive bloodstream/systemic disease, especially in hospitals/ICUs, with reported 30-40% mortality and difficult identification and treatment. It notes global-warming-linked selection for heat-tolerant fungi and suggests reducing pathogenicity via less critical pathways to lower resistance pressure.

U.S. House passed (262-159) the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, 2026, after Senate approval; sent to President Trump. It intensifies pressure on Russia’s energy sector, including “shadow fleet” tankers, linked entities, sanctions-evasion mechanisms, and third-country energy trade; some provisions cover Iran. It authorises up to 100% tariffs on top-5 importers / facilitators making new crude purchases 30 days post-enactment, with exemptions; not automatic on India. India cited energy security and warned impacts on India–US ties and global markets.