Current Affairs

Union Home Minister launched ‘Bank in a Box’ for Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs), offering an integrated bundle of core banking, digital payments, cloud services and regulatory-compliance tools, enabling even single-branch UCBs to digitise without heavy investment. Measures include 15% branch expansion without separate permission, doorstep banking, simpler scheduled-bank status for eligible Tier-3 banks, an RBI nodal officer interface, PSL target cut 75% to 60%, higher housing-loan limits, ‘Member Lending Institution’ status (up to 85% risk cover; collateral-free lending), and cooperative-society PSL limit raised ₹5 lakh to ₹10 crore. UCB origins trace to the Cooperative Credit Societies Act, 1904; cooperation devolved under GoI Act, 1919; Bombay’s first State Cooperative Societies Act, 1925; Varde Committee (1963) and Madhavdas Committee (1979).

BRIC-NCCS Pune and Stanford University studied healthy adults from 8 Indian tribal communities (Warli, Gond, Madia, Kabui, Boto, Balti, Brokpa, Purigpa) across 4 regions, analysing stool and diet via DNA sequencing. Traditional diets, especially trans-Himalayan foods (milk, butter, wheat, barley, rice, turmeric, chilli), linked to higher gut microbiome diversity and Bifidobacterium, distinct carbohydrate-digestion genes, and locally adapted strains, supporting India-specific microbiome research and indigenous probiotics.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs notified 11 additional international ports for entry of e-Visa holders, comprising 9 land ports (Darranga, Gede, Ghojadanga, Haridaspur, Jaigaon, Dawki, Moreh, Attari Road) and 2 airports (Bhopal, Tirupati), raising the total to 88. e-Visa with ETA began in 2014 for 43 countries, now covers 172; ~95% processed within 72 hours; 78% visas are electronic; 17 sub-categories. Pakistani passport holders/PK-origin excluded.

The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) launched India’s first accreditation scheme for mobile food testing laboratories, providing a framework for reliable, quality-assured and internationally benchmarked testing services closer to communities. Expected outcomes include stronger food safety surveillance, improved access to quality testing, faster regulatory interventions and enhanced consumer confidence. NABL, a constituent board of Quality Council of India (QCI), accredits laboratories; NABL accreditation often precedes statutory recognitions.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, causing deaths and widespread damage. Colombia lies in northwestern South America, bordering Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. It has maritime frontage on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the only South American country with both coasts. The Equator crosses its southern edge; the Andes split into Occidental, Central and Oriental.

Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has removed the requirement to submit physical duty payment challans while applying for Export Obligation Discharge Certificates (EODC) under the Advance Authorisation and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) schemes. EPCG, administered by DGFT under India’s Foreign Trade Policy, permits zero customs duty import of capital goods (pre/production/post-production); operational since 1 April 2015; excludes second-hand goods.

RBI released the 2026-27 list of 17 NBFCs in the Upper Layer (UL) under scale-based regulation (Base, Middle, Upper, Top). UL includes NBFCs with asset size ≥₹1,00,000 crore and faces enhanced norms (bank-like) for at least 5 years, with mandatory listing within 3 years. NBFC-ULs: Tata Sons, REC, PFC, IRFC, Bajaj Finance, Shriram Finance, Tata Capital, LIC Housing Finance, Cholamandalam, Muthoot, Aditya Birla Capital, HUDCO, Mahindra Financial Services, L&T Finance, Bajaj Housing Finance, HDB Financial Services, Piramal Finance; NBFCs are under RBI Act, 1934, cannot take demand deposits/issue self-cheques; deposits uninsured.

16th lion population estimation (May 2025) recorded 891 Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) across the Greater Gir landscape, Gujarat, up from 674 (2020) and 523 (2015). The only natural wild population survives mainly in Saurashtra; IUCN status: Endangered. Increase is attributed to strict legal protection, prey-base revival and landscape-level conservation covering Gir Wildlife Sanctuary (1965), Gir National Park, and sanctuaries including Girnar, Mitiyala, Pania and Barda; Project Lion (2020) spans ~60,000 sq km.

Theoretical physicist Deepak Dhar (Uttar Pradesh) was named co-recipient of the ICTP Dirac Medal. Awarded annually by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) on 8 August (P.A.M. Dirac’s birthday), it began in 1985 for significant contributions to theoretical physics, selected by an international committee from nominees; Nobel/Fields/Wolf winners are ineligible; prize: US$5,000. ICTP, Trieste (Italy), founded 1964, is a UNESCO Category 1 institute under an Italian Government–UNESCO–IAEA tripartite agreement.

DST released “R&D Statistics at a Glance 2025-26”, compiled via NSTMIS surveys, on publications, patents and GERD. India ranked 3rd globally in scientific publications (2022). Patent filings were 1.10 lakh in 2024-25; 62% by residents; Indian Patent Office ranked 6th in resident filings. GERD rose to 0.83% of GDP (2021-22), first above 0.8% since 2009-10; private share 45.5% (2021-22) and 51.8% (2023-24), led by transport, pharma, biotech and IT; business exceeded government; India lags China/USA/Japan/South Korea/Israel in GERD/GDP.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Mecca (Makkah) Joint Defence Agreement in the presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, creating a trilateral security arrangement. An armed attack on one is treated as an attack on all, modelled on UN Charter Article 51. Pillars: joint training/exercises, intelligence sharing, defence-industrial integration (Turkish drone production for Saudi capacity) and collective deterrence. No integrated HQ/standing force/common budget/nuclear sharing; discretion to respond; no full text released; excludes protection for aggressor states; builds on Sept 2025 Saudi-Pakistan SMDA; China silent, Russia neutral, India “closely following”.

Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is a fee paid by merchants for accepting digital payments, deducted during settlement, covering processing, interchange and related costs; typically 1–3%. Since January 2020, MDR was removed on UPI and RuPay debit cards, with industry subsidised by government. The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 empowers levying MDR on select electronic modes, including 0.25–0.4% on business UPI, limited to merchant transactions above a value threshold; consumers and P2P transfers remain free.

Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a 100% Government-owned Section 8 company under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, enabling nationwide digital procurement of common-use goods and services by ministries, departments and CPSEs; it marked 10 years. It connects ~1.37 lakh buyers and ~25 lakh sellers. Women-led MSEs: 2.1 lakh+, ₹28,000 crore+. SC/ST procurement: ₹6,000 crore+ (28% annual growth). Startup procurement: ₹19,000 crore in 2025-26 (36% growth). Initiatives include SWAYATT, Womaniya, SARAS and Startup Runway 2.0; Suvidha Kendras and GeM Sahay support onboarding and collateral-free working capital.

The US Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, 2026, targeting Russia and key buyers of its petroleum products, including India; it awaits ratification in the US House of Representatives. It authorises President Donald Trump to impose additional tariffs up to 100% on goods from specified countries—China, India, Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia-potentially risking Indian exports to the US and affecting bilateral trade.

Enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones have affected over 3.8 lakh people in the Philippines. Capital: Manila. It is a Southeast Asian archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean, with maritime borders: Vietnam (W), Taiwan (N), Palau (E), Malaysia and Indonesia (S). Water boundaries: Philippine Sea (E), Celebes Sea (S), Sulu Sea (SW), South China Sea (W and N). Climate: tropical monsoon. Active volcano: Mayon. Highest peak: Mount Apo. Major rivers: Cagayan, Agno, Pampanga, Pasig, Bicol (Luzon and Mindanao).

Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon completed his first spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) with NASA astronaut Jessica Meir during US Spacewalk 96 (6 hours 27 minutes). The EVA prepared the ISS 3B power channel for upgrades enabling installation of additional ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSA) to boost electricity for ISS systems and eventual safe, controlled deorbit. Spacewalks/EVA involve operating outside spacecraft using suits for oxygen, temperature control and vacuum protection, aiding in-space repairs.

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change report ‘Forest Fires in Himalayan Region, its adverse effects and mitigation measures’ flags gaps: no empirical climate-change link study, no consolidated casualty/compensation record, MODIS diurnal gaps (no pass 01:30–10:30, 13:30–22:30), and limited evidence on Chir Pine and invasive species. It recommends region-specific studies, centralized database, Department of Space geostationary satellite, FRI historical-ecological study, invasive eradication with Oak–Deodar Regeneration Mission, National pine-needle utilisation policy, and MoEFCC Pine Needle Management Board under Himalayan Biomass Management Framework.

Government launched Prakriti Gyan Dham, a first-of-its-kind Eco-Educational Hub, at Lucknow. Developed by CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute under the Ministry of Science and Technology, it provides a direct interface between scientific knowledge and public engagement through experiential, interactive learning. Key enclaves include PAaVan interpretive heritage trail, Vibhav Enclave (rare/endangered/threatened plants), Bhairav Enclave (State Plants), Bamboosteum, and Indian Heritage Garden.

CSIR demonstrated its indigenously developed Modified Mix Seal Surfacing Plus (MSS+) road surfacing technology at Jaipur. Developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), it targets construction and maintenance of low to medium volume traffic roads and has been implemented on over 100 km in Uttar Pradesh. MSS+ uses crushed natural aggregate, customized modified bitumen emulsion and mineral admixture; it is prepared at ambient temperature, avoiding pre-heating, and offers cost-effectiveness, durability, all-weather flexibility and improved skid resistance.

Operational guidelines for SDRF/NDRF (2026-31) add heatwaves and lightning to India’s notified natural disasters, taking the list to 14 (earlier 12: cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloudburst, pest attack, frost/cold wave). States can use full SDRF/mitigation funds; NDRF supplements if SDRF is inadequate. Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (replacing NCCF in 2010), SDRF provides immediate relief only (no crop/property compensation); Centre shares 75% (90% for NE states, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K). NDRF is fully Centrally financed via cesses/duties in Public Account. Heat-health actions align with NPCCHH/NAPHRI; NHRIDS covers 51,000+ reporting units.

Microsoft opened its largest India data centre in Hyderabad, adding its fourth India cloud region and expanding Azure’s footprint to Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and Mumbai. The cloud infrastructure is positioned as the backbone for AI services, supporting AI-led computing demand and enterprise digitalisation as India’s data centre sector matures. The expansion occurs amid competition in India’s cloud market with Google and Amazon; AWS, Microsoft and Oracle are also scaling via owned regions and colocation partnerships.

SEBI’s Annual Report states India leads globally in number of IPOs and ranks third in funds raised after the United States and Hong Kong (China). SEBI authorised a new Closing Auction Session (CAS) and updated indicators on corporate bond mobilisation and investor participation. Corporate bond mobilisation fell 8.4% to ₹9.1 lakh crore (first fall in four years). FPI ownership hit a 15-year low; DII holding reached 17% by March 2026. Mutual funds expanded via Tier-3 cities; monthly SIPs averaged over ₹16,400 crore. 62% retail investors were influenced by social-media financial influencers; investor protection measures were strengthened.

SBSTTA-28 in Nairobi is giving scientific, technical and technological advice under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity ahead of CBD COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia. It reviews Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) 23 goals for 2030; 129 national reports show most targets off-track, with slow finance / technology / capacity to developing countries. Agenda includes marine/coastal biodiversity, wildlife management, protected areas and IPBES work, plus synthetic biology: gene-engineering tools with patents concentrated; benefits and ecological/regulatory concerns. COP16 Cali (2024) mandated an action plan and expert group; IUCN Abu Dhabi (Oct 2025) backed case-by-case releases. A draft SBSTTA thematic plan seeks sharing funds, training and technology.

Assam recorded the world’s first release of captive-bred slender-billed vultures (Gyps tenuirostris): five birds bred at the BNHS conservation facility were released at the Jatayu Soft Release Centre, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. Gyps vultures in India declined ~99% in 20 years due to veterinary painkillers; Centre banned diclofenac, aceclofenac, ketoprofen and nimesulide. Species is an Old-World vulture, Critically Endangered since 2002; pesticide poisoning remains a threat in Assam.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued national security guidelines for renewable energy projects in border areas (LoC, LAC, IB). Solar, wind and hybrid projects are banned within 1 km of the international border. Projects up to 50 km from the IB need security clearance; those within 20 km of LoC/LAC/IB require Defence NOC. Applications go only to MNRE. Hiring personnel from Pakistan, Bangladesh or China needs MHA permission. Existing projects: small near LAC; large near IB (Rajasthan, Gujarat); LoC (J&K) mostly solar rooftops; Kargil/Ladakh solar PV.

India reported 68 renewable grid disturbances (Jan 2022-Jun 2025), causing 1-7 GW loss, mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat, linked to variable solar/wind output, non-compliance with LVRT/HVRT (ride-through during voltage disturbances) and frequency instability; STATCOMs can provide rapid voltage support. Installed capacity: 548 GW (Jul 2026); solar 162 GW, wind 47 GW; renewables grew >200% in a decade. FY2026 added 44.61 GW, incl. 16.3 GW distributed solar (PM-KUSUM, rooftop). Transmission planned for 500 GW non-fossil by 2030; measures include ISTS charge waivers and RPOs. Storage need: USD 1.15 tn (2025-2050), USD 3.3 tn (2051-2070). Peak demand rose 242.77 GW (Jun 2025) to 270.8 GW (May 2026); CEA projects 459 GW (2034-35), global estimates 700 GW (2047). EVs may be 6-9% consumption by 2035; data centres may need 14-30 GW by early 2030s.