Current Affairs

US President Donald Trump posted “The Moon Is Ours” on Truth Social, but the 1967 UN-adopted Outer Space Treaty bars national appropriation of the Moon. Formally, it is the “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States…” First signatories were the US, UK and Soviet Union; 115 parties and 22 signatories (including India, China). It mandates peaceful use, bans WMDs in orbit, assigns liability, information-sharing, and reciprocal access to lunar facilities.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare launched the 7th edition of the National Formulary of India (NFI) and announced Government of India approval of the Biovigilance Programme of India. NFI, published periodically by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) since 2009 (first edition 1960), guides rational, safe prescribing and supports national drug policy. NFI 2026 has 34 chapters, 20 appendices, 653 drugs (42 FDCs, 30 immunologicals), aligned with NLEM and National Health Programmes. The Biovigilance Programme expands patient safety; IPC will monitor and prevent adverse events linked to medicines and biologicals used in organ and tissue transplantation, complementing pharmacovigilance and materiovigilance.

INCOIS, an autonomous MoES body (est. 1999; HQ Hyderabad), launched India’s first integrated marine-litter tracking framework under Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar 5.0 and NIRMaL Sagar. Pilot off Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) with Andhra University and Vijnana Bharati, supported by Indian Navy, Coast Guard and fishers. It uses ocean modelling, satellite remote sensing, AI/ML to map plastic movement, entry pathways (e.g., storm drains) and forecast hotspots for targeted clean-up and circular-economy recycling; INCOIS also runs PFZ, OSF, ITEWC and multi-hazard advisories.

NSE enabled tokenised corporate bond issuances totalling ₹1,000 crore under SEBI’s Regulatory Sandbox Framework, with RBI guidance, signalling early regulated tokenisation in India’s corporate bond market. Using Distributed Ledger Technology, securities are digitally represented with distributed record-keeping, enabling atomic settlement, transparency and operational efficiency, while leveraging existing digital settlement infrastructure. Participants included banks, financial institutions, mutual funds and depositories; SEBI regulates listed corporate bonds/NCDs.

Researchers identified epithelial DARE cells that activate initiator caspase Dronc (fruit-fly ortholog of mammalian Caspase-9) but stall apoptosis, survive, proliferate and restore ~50% tissue within 48 hours; removing DARE cells halts repair as NARE cells (death-resistant, no initiator activation) cannot regenerate alone. Myo1D tethers active Dronc to the membrane, blocking executioner caspases. Paracrine DARE–NARE feedback limits overgrowth. DARE descendants show ~7× ionizing-radiation resistance, informing recurrent therapy-resistant tumors and controlled regeneration.

A checklist by a Keralam research team records 3,261 flowering plant species (plus 26 sub-species, 28 varieties) in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR), covering 1,139 genera and 190 families. It notes 1,018 endemic taxa (31.2%), including 245 steno-endemics, and affinity with Sri Lanka (347 shared taxa) and tropical America (102). ABR (Kerala-Tamil Nadu) was established in 2001, listed by UNESCO in 2016, hosts Kani tribe, and includes Shendurney, Peppara, Neyyar WLS and Kalakkad Mundanthurai TR.

The President notified the Inter-State Council (Amendment) Order, 2026, amending the Inter-State Council Order, 1990 (Gazette of India, May 28, 1990), under Article 263; MHA issued the notification. It replaces provisions to invite concerned Governors/Lieutenant Governors to meetings when Article 356, Article 239AB (Delhi), Government of UTs Act, 1963 (Puducherry), or J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 orders are in force.

RBI issued final directions on minimum capital requirements for market risk for commercial banks, to be implemented by April 1, 2027, aligned with revised Basel III. It removes separate trading-book instructions (HFT identifies trading book), revises Net Open Position/forex risk charges per Capital Adequacy Tenth Amendment Directions, 2026, updates interest-rate risk tables per BCBS, and revises trading-book capital for debt mutual funds/ETFs, using risk-driver-based calculations with safeguards. Basel III (BCBS; post-2007-08) requires higher-quality capital, CET1 ≥4.5% RWA and global CAR 8%.

An India-born cheetah in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park delivered four cubs, taking India’s cheetah population to 56 (36 India-born, 20 from African nations). Currently, 53 are in Kuno and three adults (two males, one female) in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, ~300 km away. Nine were translocated from Botswana in February; earlier transfers were from Namibia (September 2022) and South Africa (February 2023). A third site is being developed at Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary under the Rani Durgawati Tiger Reserve (Sagar, Damoh, Narsinghpur).

IRDAI issued a consultation paper proposing a Public Insurance Registry (PIR) as a Digital Public Infrastructure-style framework to exchange insurance information. It envisages interoperability, minimalist building blocks and a federated, source-system-first architecture (no centralised data), enabling consistent discovery, verification and exchange. Anchors cited: Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act, Digital Personal Data Protection Act and Bima Sugam. IIB to be restructured as an IRDAI-owned not-for-profit; governance includes neutrality, independent execution, rotating industry board; phased rollout, with benefits for policyholders, insurers, reinsurers/IRDAI and banks/government.

Lok Sabha Speaker paid respects to Amrita Devi Bishnoi and other 18th-century martyrs who died protecting Khejri trees at Khejadli village, Rajasthan. Khejri (Prosopis cineraria (L.) Marbride) is Rajasthan’s sacred state tree; locally called jant/janti (Alwar, Sikar, Jhunjhunu). It grows in arid/semi-arid Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and parts of southern India, tolerating 40-45°C, <10°C and 100-600 mm rainfall; deciduous, feathery leaves, yellow flowers; nitrogen-fixing. Uses: sangri, medicinal bark, fodder and nutritious pods; supports Thar ecosystem.

Indian Army authorised deployment of six AASHVAST labs nationwide and mandated cybersecurity screening for drones and CCTV systems. AASHVAST (Assessment and Analysis of Electronic Systems Hardware for Vulnerabilities and Security Threats), developed by a private firm for DG EME, tests military electronics for hidden weaknesses, covering ~14 vulnerability types. It scrutinises drones, communication systems and sensors for firmware flaws, GPS spoofing/jamming, hidden passwords/keys, remote-access tools, and enforces manufacturer-approved updates.

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.