Current Affairs

Researchers discovered a new plant species, Tetrataenium paikadae (Apiaceae; genus Tetrataenium), in moist marshy high-altitude grasslands of Eravikulam National Park, Idukki district, Kerala; it is endemic to the Western Ghats. Named after Rev Fr Joseph Paikada, it occurs at 1000–2500 m, 30–80 cm tall with small white flowers (July–September) and fruits (October–November), distinguished by fruit oil-tube arrangement; threatened by habitat degradation, climate change, tourism and invasive species.

India hosted the first multilateral AI gathering in the Global South, themed “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” (welfare and happiness for all), to translate global AI deliberations into development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and Digital India, promoting ethical AI, adoption, collaboration and hub positioning. Framework: 3 Sutras and 7 Chakras. Flagships: Global Impact Challenges; AI for ALL (Startup India); AI by HER (NITI Aayog WEP); YUVAi (MyBharat, NIELIT). Context: GPAI (OECD-hosted, 29 members; India founding), UK AI Safety Summit (frontier AI risks; 29 nations+EU incl India), G7 Hiroshima AI Process (guardrails, code of conduct).

Exercise MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy. The 2026 edition is being held in Visakhapatnam with participation of more than 70 nations. It aims to promote cooperation, interoperability and maritime partnership among friendly navies worldwide. MILAN was launched in 1995 at Port Blair with four navies and has since evolved into a global multilateral exercise.

Defence Minister flagged off Akash 3rd and 4th Regiment combat systems and inaugurated the Mountain Fire Control Radar at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru. Akash is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed by DRDO with BEL and Bharat Dynamics Limited, enabling simultaneous engagement of aircraft, missiles and UAVs up to 18 km altitude. Rajendra radar covers 80 km; 3D Central Acquisition Radar scans 120 km. Mountain Fire Control Radar supports high-altitude operations in thin air and complex topography.

The Defence Minister reviewed indigenous military gas turbine engine development under the Kaveri Programme at DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru, focusing on ongoing engine projects. A gas turbine engine is an internal combustion engine converting chemical energy of fuel into thermal energy through intake, compression, combustion and exhaust stages: compressor compresses air, fuel burns to produce high-temperature gas, turbine extracts power, and remaining gas exits via a nozzle.

An automated quantum risk tool has been introduced to detect quantum-vulnerable cryptographic algorithms across critical networks, devices and applications, aiding migration planning to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). It generates a report listing vulnerable algorithms, their purpose and exact device location. Core modules include a web application, security scanner agent and control software. PQC resists quantum attacks; US NIST has finalised initial PQC standards. Quantum cryptography includes quantum key distribution and quantum coin-flipping.

India and the Republic of Korea held the 6th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue, reaffirming their Special Strategic Partnership and focus on stronger political and security cooperation. Republic of Korea: capital Seoul; located on the southern Korean Peninsula; land boundary with North Korea along 38°N; bounded by East Sea/Sea of Japan (east), East China Sea (south) and Yellow Sea (west); Korea Strait separates it from Japan’s Tsushima; highest peak Mount Halla (Jeju); major rivers Han, Geum, Nakdong.

Amid rising digital payment frauds and low recovery rates, the Reserve Bank of India introduced a cyber-fraud compensation scheme to protect consumers from small-value unauthorised digital transactions and clarify liability. Compensation is capped at ₹25,000 per case or 85% of loss (lower). It covers UPI, cards and net banking, with shared liability: RBI ~70%, banks ~15%, customers ~15%. Likely funded via RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund with bank contributions. One-time compensation requires timely reporting and proof; RBI will issue draft guidelines and banks must enable fast, automatic payouts.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved India’s first underwater twin-tube road–rail tunnel in Assam over the Brahmaputra region to boost connectivity and multimodal integration in the Northeast. It will connect Gohpur (NH-15) and Numaligarh (NH-715) via a 33.7 km, 4-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor, including 15.8 km twin underwater tubes, costing ₹18,662 crore (EPC). Distance reduces 240 km to 34 km; time 6 hours to 20 minutes. It integrates Rangia–Mukongselek and Furkating–Mariani lines, generates ~80 lakh person-days, links airports, stations, inland waterway terminals, and nodes like Kaziranga and Deopahar.

ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute achieved induced breeding of mangrove clam (Geloina erosa) under captive conditions, aiding conservation and sustainable use. The mud clam is a bivalve mollusc inhabiting organic-rich muddy substrates in mangrove and estuarine ecosystems across South and Southeast Asia. It supports nutrient recycling and sediment stabilisation, and sustains coastal livelihoods and food security; locally called Kandal Kakka in parts of Kerala.

Researchers reported high-dose inhaled nitric oxide (NO) as a potential therapy for drug-resistant pneumonia. Pneumonia is lung infection with alveolar inflammation and fluid/pus; types include community-acquired, hospital/ventilator-associated and aspiration. Drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes about one in five hospital pneumonias. In a large-animal ICU model, 300 ppm NO reduced lung bacterial counts by 99% in ventilated pigs; a Phase-1 study in healthy volunteers showed no serious adverse effects. Limitations include methemoglobin elevation, lung-injury risk, and need for specialised monitoring/equipment.

In 2026, the Government launched the Pradhan Mantri Rahat Road Accident Victim Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment Scheme for cashless “Golden Hour” care to reduce deaths from delayed treatment. Nodal ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Implemented via eDAR integrated with National Health Authority’s TMS 2.0 and ERSS-112. Coverage: within 7 days, police-authenticated; up to ₹1.5 lakh for 7 days. Funding: Motor Vehicle Accident Fund/insurers/government for uninsured or hit-and-run. Claims paid in 10 days; grievances via District Road Safety Committee-designated officer.

RBI issued draft revised guidelines to strengthen district-level coordination under the Lead Bank Scheme, aimed at improving priority-sector credit flow and rural financial inclusion. The scheme, launched in 1969 on Gadgil Committee recommendations and endorsed by Nariman Committee, uses the district as the basic unit. Coordination occurs via SLBC, DCC/DLRC, LDM and BLBC, with District Credit Plans. Targets include 60% rural/semi-urban CD ratio and 100% financial inclusion.

Department of Posts released eight commemorative postage stamps on “Puppets of India” to celebrate traditional puppetry heritage. Earliest literary reference occurs in Tamil classic Silappadikaaram (1st–2nd century B.C.); archaeological evidence includes an Indus Valley terracotta doll with detachable head (c. 2500 B.C.). Traditional puppetry includes string (Kathputli, Kundhei, Gombeyatta, Bommalattam), shadow (Togalu Gombeyatta, Tholu Bommalata, Ravanachhaya), rod (Putul Nautch, Orissa Rod Puppets, Yampuri) and glove (Pavakoothu). Stamps depict Kathputli, Yakshagana Sutrada Gombeyatta, Daanger Putul, Kathi Kundhei, Benir Putul, Pavakathakali, Ravanachhaya and Tolu Bommalatta.

Karnataka estimated 1,882 childhood cancer cases in 2025 (about 2.1% of all new cancers), showing a gradual rise. Childhood cancer affects ages 0–19; globally ~400,000 children develop cancer annually, with ~10% genetic predisposition. Causes include genetic changes and infections (HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, malaria). Treatment: chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, bone marrow transplant. Cure rates: >80% (high-income) vs <30% (many LMICs). International Childhood Cancer Day: 15 February. Ayushman Bharat–Arogya Karnataka supports BPL families up to ₹5 lakh/year; prevention includes Hepatitis B and HPV vaccination.

Finance Minister unveiled an AI-driven advisory and roadmap for AgriStack, termed the “next UPI” for farmers, to strengthen agriculture digital public infrastructure via interoperable, consent-based data systems. Launched in 2024 as a Digital Agriculture Mission sub-component under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, it uses InDEA 2.0 standards; targets 11 crore Farmer IDs by 2026–27, crop registry for 30 crore plots by Kharif 2026, and geo-referencing 6.75 lakh villages by March 2027. It includes farmer/farmland and crop-sown registries, unified service interface/APIs, consent manager, sandbox, and Bharat-VISTAAR multilingual AI linked to ICAR practices.

The Sangtam community in Nagaland resolved to protect pangolins along the India–Myanmar border, strengthening community-led conservation of a highly trafficked mammal. Pangolins are scaly anteaters, the only mammals wholly covered in keratin scales; eight species exist (four Asian, four African). India has Indian and Chinese pangolins (Northeast). Threats include poaching and cross-border trade; IUCN: Endangered/Critically Endangered; CITES Appendix I; WPA 1972 Schedule I. World Pangolin Day: third Saturday of February.

The Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, amends Section 104 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 to clarify repeal of the Trade Unions Act, 1926, Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 and Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. It provides deemed commencement from 21 November 2025, states repeal occurred by Parliament’s operation of law (not executive delegation), and includes a savings clause for existing rights, cases and registered trade unions. It aligns with labour reforms consolidating 29 laws into four Codes, with expanded protection for gig and platform workers.

Union Communications Minister reviewed BharatNet progress and National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 targets for 2030 to expand rural/remote broadband. BharatNet (launched October 2011) under Ministry of Communications, funded by Universal Service Obligation Fund, is a Centre–State project with free Right of Way and connectivity via optical fibre, satellite, radio, fibre over power lines and Wi‑Fi hotspots. By September 2025, over 2.14 lakh Gram Panchayats and 2 lakh villages were covered. NBM 2.0 (April 2025) seeks universal broadband by 2030: optical fibre to 2.7 lakh villages with 95% uptime, 100 Mbps average fixed broadband speed, 60 rural internet subscribers per 100 population, and Right of Way processing reduced from 455 to 30.4 days.

The Union Home Minister launched the State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (S4C) dashboard under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to strengthen coordinated action against cybercrime across States. I4C operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs; its scheme was approved in 2018 and dedicated to the nation in 2020. It provides a coordinated framework for law enforcement, acts as the nodal point, targets crimes against women and children, and promotes public awareness on prevention.

Union Budget 2026 reduced Tax Collected at Source (TCS) on remittances for education and medical expenses abroad under RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). TCS is collected by sellers at sale under Section 206C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. LRS (introduced 2004) allows resident individuals, including minors, to remit up to USD 2,50,000 per financial year for permissible current/capital account transactions; excludes corporates, partnership firms, HUFs, trusts; prohibits gambling/lottery and trading/speculation.

Researchers from Stanford University created the first global map of rare continental mantle earthquakes, highlighting deep seismic activity beneath Earth’s crust. These events occur more than 80 km below the Mohorovičić discontinuity (Moho), which separates the crust from the warm, semi-solid mantle. Most earthquakes originate in the crust at about 10–29 km depth. Mantle earthquakes do not cause serious surface shaking but aid understanding of earthquake origins and Earth’s internal structure.

A 40-year study in the Anamalai Hills found lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) increasing near human areas due to easy food access, but facing higher mortality risks. An arboreal, diurnal macaque endemic to Western Ghats rainforests of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it is threatened by habitat fragmentation, poaching and conflict. Status: IUCN Endangered (2023), CITES Appendix I, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 Schedule I; key seed disperser.

Tamil Brahmi inscriptions dated to 1st–3rd century CE were found in six tombs in Egypt’s Theban Necropolis (Nile Valley). Names/short graffiti on walls, corridors and entrances appear in Tamil Brahmi, Prakrit and Sanskrit, following a Greek practice of leaving names. Visitors included Indians from the north-west, west and south, mostly Tamilagam; movement extended beyond Red Sea ports. “Cikai Koṟṟaṉ” occurs eight times; other names include Kopāṉ, Cātaṉ and Kiraṉ. Links to Sangam corpus and Pugalur (2nd–3rd CE) support Indo-Roman maritime trade and Tamil overseas presence.

During the Budget Session, the Opposition moved a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla (elected 2019, re-elected 2024), highlighting removal provisions. Speaker is elected by Lok Sabha members on a date fixed by the President, holds office for the House’s life and till the new House meets. Article 94(c) allows removal by effective-majority resolution with 14 days’ notice; admission needs support of 50 MPs, taken up within 10 days. Speaker may vote but has no casting vote; none has been removed so far.