Current Affairs

UNEP’s “Limiting Overshoot” report warns global warming will overshoot 1.5°C in coming years due to high emissions; current policies/pledges imply peak warming of 1.8°C to over 2°C. Overshoot is a multidecadal pathway temporarily exceeding 1.5°C before falling back, not preferred but seen as remaining option. It heightens heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, sea-level rise; risks tipping points; threatens SIDS, water security, and up to 14% food output loss by 2050. It recommends deep mitigation (CO₂ and methane cuts), transformational adaptation, and responsible CDR to complement reductions.

In Geneva, 128 countries under the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW/Inhumane Weapons Convention) agreed a non-binding framework on autonomous weapons systems (AWS), informally “killer robots”, which detect, identify and engage targets without human approval per attack. CCW seeks to prevent inhumane injuries and civilian harm; it has five protocols: Non-Detectable Fragments; Mines/Booby-traps; Incendiary Weapons; Blinding Laser Weapons; Explosive Remnants of War. Concerns include civilian casualties, accountability gaps, human control and rapid AI-led advances.

A study analysed magnetic minerals in sediments beneath Bakhira Lake over 25,000 years to reconstruct past climate change in northern India and impacts on rainfall, weathering, sediment transport and lake processes. Bakhira Lake, in the Ghaghara-Rapti alluvial system, is a perennial oxbow/floodplain wetland formed by Rapti River cut-off; among Uttar Pradesh’s largest wetlands; Ramsar Site (2022); key waterfowl habitat. Oxbow lakes form from meander cut-offs, are shallow, nutrient-rich, may silt up; common in Ganga plains.

Iran-aligned Houthis took control of Mocha (Mokha), a historic port city in southwestern Yemen on the Red Sea, marking a strategic advance along the Red Sea coast toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Mocha is the chief port on the strait’s northern approach, about 75 km north of Perim (Mayun) Island. A modern port (1955) serves minor logistics/military roles between Aden and Hodeidah; Mocha is linked to coffee exports.

UNESCO presented the 2026 International Literacy Prizes at the International Literacy Day global ceremony in Chiapas, Mexico, themed “Literacy for people, the planet, and prosperity”. Awarded since 1967, they promote literacy for lifelong learning, equity and sustainable development. Eligible applicants include individuals, NGOs and governments with measurable, theme-aligned impact. Six annual awards: 3 King Sejong (Republic of Korea support since 1989; mother-tongue/multilingual) and 3 Confucius (PRC support since 2005; functional literacy in rural/out-of-school youth via technology); each laureate gets medal, diploma and US$30,000.

India’s UNESCO Tentative List has 73 sites after four new cultural additions announced by the Permanent Delegation. A site must remain on the Tentative List for at least one year before World Heritage Committee consideration. Tentative List is a State Party’s 5-10 year inventory of potential nominations with “Outstanding Universal Value”, aiding transparency and conservation priorities; listing doesn’t ensure inscription. India has 45 World Heritage Sites (37 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed-Khangchendzonga); latest: Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath. ASI (Ministry of Culture) is nodal for cultural nominations. UNESCO HQ: Paris; World Heritage Convention: 1972.

Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), an attached office under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, signed an agreement at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, to implement the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) in a State under the State-led model. Formerly USOF, DBN is governed by the Telecommunication Act, 2023, supports universal telecom access, R&D and pilots; contributions go to CFI; balance is non-lapsable; administered by a Central Government-appointed Administrator selecting implementers via bidding/applications.

The 18th BRICS Summit will be held in New Delhi on 12-13 September 2026, marking 20 years since BRICS’ formalisation (2006), with India as host. BRICS has 11 members: South Africa (2010); Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE (2024); Indonesia (Jan 2025). First summit: Yekaterinburg, Russia (2009); consensus-based. NDB proposed by India (2012); by mid-2026 approved ~$44 billion across 141 projects.

Department of Consumer Affairs notified Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, amending 2020 rules under Consumer Protection Act, 2019; effective January 1, 2027. Mandates price-cut display with “prior price” (lowest in preceding 30 days), search neutrality, public ranking parameters, distinct sponsored labels, dark-pattern compliance (Guidelines 2023) with annual self-audit and Compliance Certificate, NCH convergence (2025: 17.71 lakh grievances; e-commerce ~29%/5.11 lakh), recorded complaint copy, affirmative-consent data use limits, ban bundled unrelated fees, and enhanced product/expiry, return-refund, warranty, origin/importer disclosures.

DRDO has invited private firms under the Technology Development Fund to join SHIELD (S-band High-Power Microwave Integrated Evaluation System for Lethality and Damage) to develop high-power microwave systems for testing drone vulnerabilities. SHIELD provides controlled test-and-evaluation to quantify microwave lethality on drones, sensors, radars, communication nodes and command links. It is non-kinetic, using electromagnetic energy, and integrates indigenous GaN solid-state amplifiers (5–10× GaAs power density; 70–80% efficiency) for counter-drone, electronic hardening and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Resplendent Shrub Frog (family Rhacophoridae), 2–3 cm, boldly patterned with shorter limbs, is endemic to the high-altitude shola–grassland ecosystem of the Anamudi region in Eravikulam National Park (Western Ghats, Kerala). It is ground-dwelling, nocturnal, shows pronounced crawling, avoids artificial light, and has direct development (no free-swimming tadpole). IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered. Eravikulam NP: >2000 m grasslands/plateaus, Anamudi Peak 2695 m (highest in South India), vegetation grasslands–shrublands–shola forests; surrounded by Chinnar WLS, Pampadum Shola NP, Anamudi Shola NP, Kurinjimala Sanctuary; largest Nilgiri tahr habitat; “Land of Neelakurinji” (12-year bloom); fauna include elephant, gaur, sambar, leopard, tiger, sloth bear, wild dog.

Researchers reported a new lichen species, Buellia maharajensis, from Mathikettan Shola National Park, Idukki district, Kerala (Western Ghats). It belongs to family Caliciaceae (genus Buellia) and is saxicolous, growing on rocks. A fungus–photobiont symbiosis, it was recorded near 1,351 m in montane wet grassland/rocky outcrops. Named for Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam (150th anniversary), it is the park’s 4th new lichen; Buellia hemisphaerica and B. nilgiriensis are new Kerala records.

Google DeepMind launched AlphaGenome Atlas, a free web portal and API giving academic researchers access to a ~1-petabyte precomputed database predicting functional/molecular effects of 9 billion single-nucleotide variants across the human genome (2% coding, 98% non-coding). It assesses promoters, enhancers and chromatin accessibility, provides an AlphaGenome Variant Impact score (with AlphaMissense), catalogues 2,500+ motifs, maps effects across human/mouse cell models, and supports rare-disease/drug-target research; not a direct clinical tool.

Researchers at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) developed a bi-layered single-piece dental implant integrating Ti6Al4V titanium alloy and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). Spark Plasma Sintering (tapered graphite die) enabled single-step densification to 99.5% density with stable crack-free ceramic–metal interface. Properties: 1350 HV, ~1550 MPa compressive, ~310 MPa flexural; biocompatibility: >90% MTT activity, negligible hemolysis. It reduces 2–3 conventional surgeries, supports scalable indigenous implants under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) launched the indigenous ocean research vessel ‘Sagar Manthan’ for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences-led Deep Ocean Mission (DOM); it is expected to be operational by early 2028. It will support deep-sea exploration, oceanography and geophysical surveys (multibeam, seismic, sub-bottom up to 6 km), deploy AUVs/ROVs, operate from the Indian Ocean to Antarctica, and aid DOM’s six themes including mining, climate services, biodiversity, survey/exploration, ocean energy/freshwater and marine biology station, including exploration of manganese nodules and polymetallic sulphides.

MoSPI is revising India’s GDP growth rates (including back to 2023-24) following methodology changes in the 2022-23 base-year series released in February 2026 (base shifted from 2011-12). Quarterly GDP uses a benchmark-indicator approach; annual estimates use actual output data. MoSPI adopted double deflation and shifted deflators to Producer Price Index (factory-gate prices excluding taxes/margins), using 300+ deflators (vs ~180). Q4 FY26 growth was revised from 7.8% to 8.6%; input PPI is trial-stage for manufacturing only.

UN General Assembly adopted a Togo-led, non-binding resolution urging a shift from the Mercator projection to the Equal Earth projection for world maps/classrooms. It was backed by 164 countries including India; the US voted against; six abstained. Mercator (1569, Gerardus Mercator) is conformal and exaggerates areas near poles. Equal Earth (2018) is equal-area, with curved meridians, suited for thematic/statistical maps. India supported while insisting correct depiction of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Coastal Local Area Bank Ltd, headquartered in Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), has been accorded Scheduled Bank status. Under Section 42(6) of the RBI Act, 1934, criteria include inclusion in the Second Schedule, minimum paid-up capital and collected funds of ₹5 lakh, and compliance/inspection under RBI norms and the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Local area banks require ₹5 crore initial paid-up capital. Scheduled status enables RBI refinancing, clearing-house membership, and higher depositor confidence, aiding CASA and deposit-cost reduction.

Researchers at CeNS Bengaluru, IISER Kolkata and JNCASR Bengaluru developed a peptide-based piezoelectric biomaterial for biomedical use. Piezoelectricity is charge generation under mechanical stress. They found identical peptide chemistry shows different functionality with molecular arrangement: in water it self-assembles into nanofibers with no detectable response, while ~1% co-solvent induces supramolecular reorganisation with strong response. Characterisation used AFM, FESEM and computational simulations; applications include implantable sensors, electronic skin, wearables and energy harvesting from body movements.

India’s first genome-wide endometriosis study identified 21 genetic regions potentially linked to the disease in Indian women, suggesting genetic susceptibility. Endometriosis involves endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus, causing inflammation, scarring, severe period pain, chronic pelvic pain and infertility; it can occur from menarche to menopause and affects ~10% women of reproductive age (~190 million globally), with no definitive cure. The ECGRI initiative, spanning 18 centres, created a clinical-genomic dataset and biorepository using surgically confirmed cases and controls, aiding mechanisms, earlier recognition, non-invasive diagnostics and personalised treatment.

Recent eruptions of Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatau (“Child of Krakatoa”) in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra disrupted air travel. Part of the historic Krakatoa volcanic system, it reflects persistent Sunda Arc volcanism. Indonesia has over 100 active volcanoes, the world’s highest concentration; Smithsonian GVP lists Indonesia, the US and Japan as having most active volcanoes. Volcanism relates to the Pacific Ring of Fire (horseshoe around the Pacific), dominated by subduction-zone plate boundaries. Indonesia lies at the Indo-Australian, Eurasian (Sunda) and Pacific plates’ intersection, heightening earthquake, eruption and tsunami risks.

Banaras Hindu University is systematically documenting 10,000+ artefacts from Rajghat, on Varanasi’s north-eastern outskirts near the Ganga-Varuna confluence, identified as the urban core/capital of ancient Kashi Janapada. Occupation spans pre-NBPW early Iron Age (~800 BCE) to Gupta period, with seals (some Greek), punch-marked coins, iron tools, ivory, terracotta and jars. Rajghat evidences Second Urbanisation and anchors ceramic dating; 1960s human remains face DNA/isotope analysis.

PSLV will launch the Indo-French TRISHNA (Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment) Earth observation mission next year, jointly by ISRO and CNES. It will monitor surface temperature, emissivity, biophysical and radiation variables for energy budgeting, water stress/use, water quality, urban heat islands, thermal anomalies, snow-melt and glacier dynamics, and aerosols/water vapour/clouds. Payloads: CNES four-channel TIR sensor and ISRO 7-band VNIR-SWIR. Sun-synchronous orbit 761 km; resolution 57 m (land/coast), 1 km (ocean/polar); 5-year life; supports GEOGLAM, SDGs, Global Water Watch; outputs EAVs/ECVs.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the last three sections (New Sanand-New Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale, New Saphale-New JNPT) at Vadodara, completing the 1,506-km Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (JNPT, Navi Mumbai-Dadri, UP) with direct port connectivity. With EDFC (1,337 km; Ludhiana-Sonnagar) fully commissioned in Oct 2023, India’s DFC network is 2,843 km. Implemented by DFCCIL (SPV, 2006), funded by World Bank (₹14,900 crore), JICA (₹38,722 crore) and budgetary support.

The U.K. has officially recognised India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) under its carbon tax mechanism, affecting treatment of Indian carbon credits, exporters, and India-UK carbon market cooperation. CCTS, notified under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, is managed by the Ministry of Power and administered by BEE. It prices GHG emissions via tradable Carbon Credit Certificates (1 metric ton CO2e), with compliance and voluntary offset mechanisms, replacing PAT and underpinning the Indian Carbon Market. Recognition may lower CBAM-related costs, avoid double carbon charging, and improve export competitiveness.