Current Affairs

Union Government extended provisions of five State laws to UT Chandigarh under Section 87, Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, through Official Gazette notifications, for legal modernisation, transparency and ease of living. Article 239 governs UT administration by President via administrator; Chandigarh has no legislature and is capital of Punjab and Haryana. Extended laws: Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendments) 2001/2003; Punjab Abadi Deh Act 2021; Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act 2012 (amended 2014); Haryana Fire and Emergency Services Act 2022; Assam Tenancy Act 2021.

During the Vietnamese President’s visit, India and Vietnam elevated ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, upgrading the 2016 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They set a $25 billion trade target by 2030 (from ~$16 billion) and backed early conclusion of AITIGA review. Thirteen MoUs covered critical minerals, digital connectivity, FinTech, healthcare and Cham manuscripts digitisation. A 2+2 dialogue will begin; Vietnam joined IPOI (India’s 2019 EAS, Thailand, voluntary initiative). Both reaffirmed UNCLOS-1982-based South China Sea rules and Indian oil-gas projects in Vietnamese waters, supporting supply-chain diversification.

Latest NCRB report (vs 2023) shows crime rate declined to 418.9 per lakh (from 448.3) and overall case registrations fell 6%. Crimes against women fell 1.5% (~4.4 lakh), with cruelty by husband ~42%; BNS adds “Offences against Women and Child”. Crimes against children rose 5.9% (~1.8 lakh), senior citizens 16.9% (theft/fraud), and cyber crimes 17.9% (fraud ~73%). NCRB (1986) runs CCTNS (2009; >15,000 police stations) and National Digital Police Portal (2017).

At the North Tech Symposium, the Defence Minister urged faster innovation in emerging defence technologies to strengthen India’s indigenous capabilities. Focus areas included directed-energy weapons (lasers/microwaves/particle beams); hypersonic systems (HGVs/HCMs above Mach 5 with mid-course manoeuvres), with Russia’s Oreshnik cited and Dhvani as an indigenous HGV model; AI for cyber defence, predictive maintenance and simulations; and quantum tech for logistics, QKD-based secure communications and sensors. Enablers include iDEX, ADITI (30 critical deep-tech/strategic technologies), the Technology Development Fund, and an AI framework comprising the Defence AI Council and Defence AI Project Agency.

India is developing an Orbital Data Centre (ODC) via Pixxel–Sarvam to strengthen space-based computing and technological sovereignty. ODCs are scalable, cloud-enabled processing and storage infrastructure operating in space, standalone or with terrestrial clouds. Pixxel will design, build, launch and operate a 200-kg pathfinder satellite (orbit by Q4 2026); Sarvam will provide the AI backbone. In sun-synchronous orbit, near-continuous solar power and vacuum radiative cooling reduce freshwater needs. The satellite will use data centre-grade GPUs and carry a hyperspectral imaging camera.

Supreme Court expanded “acid attack victims” under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 to include forcible acid ingestion and internal injuries even without visible disfigurement, and suggested shifting burden of proof to accused. BNS 2023 Section 124 makes acid attack a cognizable, non-bailable offence (10 years to life, fine). BNSS Sections 397 (free immediate treatment; police intimation) and 396 (victim compensation) apply. PMNRF aid up to ₹1 lakh. Laxmi and Parivartan Kendra cases address acid sale regulation and action against illegal suppliers.

Adam Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations” (1776) completes 250 years on March 9, 2026, reviving debate on “Das Adam Smith Problem”, the perceived conflict with “The Theory of Moral Sentiments” (1759). German thinkers (19th century) saw a shift from sympathy to self-interest, but modern scholars view an integrated moral-economic system: the invisible hand works with moral rules. Jacob Viner (1920s), Amartya Sen, and Kenneth Arrow (1950s) support this. Smith (1723–1790) is a key Scottish Enlightenment figure; the debate informs welfare economics.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved three Railways multi-tracking (3rd/4th parallel lines) projects for capacity expansion, congestion reduction and logistics efficiency, aligned to PM Gati Shakti, Atmanirbhar Bharat and New India: Nagda–Mathura (568 km), Guntakal–Wadi (230 km), Burhwal–Sitapur (103 km) across MP, Rajasthan, UP, Karnataka, AP, Telangana; covering 19 districts, 4,161 villages (83 lakh). Adds 60 MTPA freight (coal, foodgrains, cement, POL, iron/steel/ore, containers, fertilisers); cuts 185 crore kg CO₂ (~7 crore trees) and 37 crore litres oil imports; improves access to Kuno, Mahakaleshwar, Keoladeo, Ranthambore, Naimisharamya, Mathura-Vrindavan, Mantralayam, Sri Nettikanti Anjaneya Swamy Vari and Shyamnath.

At the National Conclave on Technology and Judicial Education in Gangtok, Sikkim was declared India’s first fully paperless state judiciary. The High Court, district and subordinate courts follow a digital-first model with end-to-end e-filing (E-Filing 3.0, 24/7), real-time case tracking, e-orders, digital case management and video-conferencing. AI tools include SUVAS and SUPACE; E-Sewa Kendra aids citizens. NJDG is updated in real time under the e-Courts Mission Mode Project (Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice).

On International Sun Day (3 May), the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy organised the “Run for Sun Marathon” at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi, highlighting PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (Central Sector; launched Feb 2024; MNRE nodal). The scheme subsidises rooftop solar for 1 crore households with up to 300 free units, targets 30 GW residential rooftop solar by FY 2026–27, enabled 2.7 lakh installations in April 2026 and 30 lakh overall (benefiting 45+ lakh). India’s solar capacity reached 150 GW (March 2026; 2.82 GW in 2014), added 50 GW in 15 months, ranks 3rd in installed renewables, and ~50% installed capacity is non-fossil; linked to National Solar Mission and Paris targets.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has deployed an indigenous Cell Broadcast System (CBS) to strengthen disaster management through proactive alerting. CBS is a one-to-many mobile service sending messages from a central platform to designated Base Transceiver Stations, simultaneously reaching all devices in a targeted area without needing phone numbers and avoiding SMS congestion. Alerts appear as pop-ups with siren, support regional languages and text-to-speech, aiding warnings for flash floods, gas leaks and earthquakes. C-DOT (established 1984) is DoT’s R&D centre under Ministry of Communications.

Ministry of Defence addressed the inaugural 3-day North Tech Symposium 2026 at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, themed “Raksha Triveni Sangam: Where Technology, Industry, and Soldiering Converge”, organised by Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers with Indian Army Northern and Central Commands. With 284 participants (MSMEs, start-ups), it focuses on indigenous solutions in AI tools, unmanned systems, quantum and cyber, and ISR. Operation Sindoor deployed BrahMos, Akash and Akashteer. FY25–26: manufacturing ₹1.54 lakh crore, exports ₹38,424 crore; 25% R&D to industry/academia/start-ups; iDEX-ADITI, DRDO TDF; DRDO waived 20% ToT fee; future domains include DEWs, hypersonics, underwater/space awareness, AI, quantum.

UAE accused Iran of launching the first attack since the ceasefire; a drone strike at the Fujairah oil facility injured three Indians, highlighting security concerns around the Strait of Hormuz and regional energy infrastructure. UAE (capital Abu Dhabi) is a federation of seven emirates (including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah) in the eastern Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia (west/south) and Oman (southeast), bounded by the Gulf of Oman (east) and Persian Gulf (north/northwest); desert climate, no perennial streams; Tropic of Cancer crosses Abu Dhabi.

NEHHDC (under Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region) launched ‘Padma Doree’, a cross-regional textile collaboration fusing Northeast India’s GI-tagged Eri (Ahimsa) silk—originating in Assam and other NE states, produced by Samia ricini on castor leaves—with GI-tagged Chanderi fabric from Chanderi, Ashoknagar (MP), a cotton-silk-zari weave with butti motifs. It targets sustainable textiles, knowledge exchange, artisan livelihoods and Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

Union government will introduce an updated Seeds and Pesticide Management Bill in the next Parliament session. Announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, it regulates production, sale, import and use of pesticides for efficacy and safety, replacing the Insecticides Act, 1968, aligning with international food-safety standards via a time-bound process and action against black marketing/fake pesticides. CropLife India seeks 5-year regulatory data protection; exports (Assam tea ~40 million kg to UK/Europe) face strict standards. CIBRC (under Agriculture Ministry) advises on technical matters.

Karnataka launched India’s first state-led space-tech CoE in Bengaluru with Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society and SIA-India to commercialise research and bridge R&D gaps. Focus: startups, skills, advanced research; applications in agriculture, climate forecasting, disaster management. A Common Infrastructure Facility will share equipment, lowering entry barriers. Indian Space Policy 2023 permits non-government players; IN-SPACe single-window, NSIL commercial arm. Karnataka hosts highest space startups and significant aerospace/defence exports.

Hazaribag (Jharkhand) was notified by the Department of Fisheries as India’s first pearl farming cluster under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY, flagship 2020), linked to Blue Economy 2.0. In a landlocked state, the Centre and Jharkhand invested ₹22 crore; output exceeded 1.02 lakh pearls (early 2026) using freshwater mussels. A brood bank is proposed for Hyriopsis cumingii. NABCONS is doing infrastructure gap analysis; NIFPHATT and NFDB (statutory, 2006, under Ministry of Fisheries) support value addition/market linkage; ~800 growers trained.

Parliamentary Committees, comprising MPs, scrutinise government functioning to ensure executive accountability and legislative oversight beyond limited sessions. They are Standing (permanent: Financial Committees and 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees) and Ad hoc (purpose-specific: Select/Joint Committees on Bills). They examine bills clause-by-clause and evaluate PSUs (e.g., Committee on Public Undertakings). Recommendations are advisory; most have one-year tenure. Concerns include delayed constitution, bypassing in law-making, low attendance, and lack of expert advisers (Venkatachaliah Commission).

Thousands were evacuated in the Philippines after the eruption of Mayon Volcano, highlighting volcanic activity and disaster-management measures. The Philippines (capital: Manila) is an island country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific, bounded by the Philippine Sea (east), Celebes Sea (south), Sulu Sea (southwest), and South China Sea (west/north). Main island groups: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. Highest point: Mount Apo; major rivers: Cagayan, Mindanao, Agusan; active volcanoes include Mayon, Bulusan, Kanlaon.

India is drafting the New Delhi Declaration ahead of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Global Big Cat Summit (June 1, 2026, New Delhi), envisaged as the first international declaration covering seven big cats: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma. IBCA, initiated by India in April 2023 (50 years of Project Tiger), is headquartered in New Delhi, has 22 members, and promotes collaboration, research, One Health, habitat connectivity and wildlife crime prevention.

Gujarat Police developed NARIT AI (Narcotics Analysis and RAG-based Investigation Tool), becoming India’s first state police to deploy an AI tool for narcotics investigations. Built by Western Railway Police, Vadodara division, with a Mumbai-based AI startup, it is a Retrieval Augmented Generation system under the NDPS legal framework. Officers upload FIRs; the tool generates reports, checklists and guidance using NDPS Act, 1985, court judgments, Bare Acts and guidelines. Classified as private AI per Gujarat High Court; no open-internet search. Usable by other agencies, not public.

Japan recognised Tokara Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus amamiensis) as a distinct species after 45 years. Cryptic, it differs from Ijima’s Leaf Warbler (Izu; IUCN Vulnerable) by DNA and song. Endemic to Tokara Islands, southern Japan (active Ryukyu Arc), it breeds on one island; threats include habitat loss, climate change and invasives; recommended Vulnerable. Mount Otake on Nakanoshima is an active volcano.

80th round Household Social Consumption on Health survey: tracks expenditure, access, insurance and disease trends. Out-of-pocket: over half public-hospitalisations ~₹1,100; public outpatient median cost zero. Institutional deliveries 95.6% rural, 97.8% urban. Transition: infections down, NCDs (diabetes, cardiovascular) up. Rural public outpatient use 28% (2014) to 35% (2025). Govt insurance 45.5% rural, 31.8% urban. Enablers: 1.84 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs; PM-JAY ₹5 lakh/family/year; AMRIT, PMBJP; JSY, PMSMA; NHM Free Drugs/Diagnostics.

DRDO launched the Vikram VT 21 project to meet India’s future infantry combat vehicle needs, including the Indian Army’s Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle requirement. It comprises two advanced armoured platforms (wheeled and tracked) with enhanced protection against projectiles, blasts and shrapnel, improved mobility, and integrated weapons and surveillance systems. It offers modular blast/ballistic STANAG Level 4/5 protection (NATO-defined resistance to heavy gunfire, explosions and artillery fragments) and is amphibious.