Current Affairs

Hantavirus cases and fatalities were confirmed aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic, highlighting global infectious disease surveillance. The species reported is Andes virus, a rodent-borne virus spread via aerosolised urine/droppings/saliva; it is the only hantavirus with known human-to-human transmission. It causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome. Diagnosis: ELISA (IgM) and early RT-PCR. Incubation: 1–8 weeks. No vaccine/specific antivirals; supportive care and rodent control are key.

Researchers from Annamalai University discovered a new plant species, Cyphostemma annamalaii (family Vitaceae; genus Cyphostemma), at Sanjeevi Hill, Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, aiding biodiversity documentation in the southern Eastern Ghats. Named after Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiyar, it is a climber of tropical dry forests/open scrub, endemic with restricted distribution. Distinct morphology from allied C. setosum was expert-reviewed in Phytotaxa.

Rare caracal (Caracal caracal; Padang) sighted in Shahgarh, Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) near the India‑Pakistan border, aiding monitoring of India’s northwestern population (~50; >95% decline from habitat loss and retaliatory killings). Found mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Legal status: Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Schedule I; IUCN Least Concern; CITES Asia Appendix I, Africa Appendix II. Conservation tools include camera traps, radio-collaring, Goat Bank compensation and identifying Thar refuge zones.

India and Suriname reviewed bilateral ties at the 9th Joint Commission meeting, adopting a six-point approach covering people-to-people links, Suriname’s development, defence, development partnership projects, trade, tourism, and sharing India’s digital technology and AI expertise. Suriname’s capital is Paramaribo; it lies on South America’s northern coast, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, French Guiana, Brazil and Guyana; major rivers are Courantyne, Suriname and Maroni; climate is tropical; highest peak is Juliana Top (Wilhelmina Mountains).

Bangladesh has sought China’s support for the Teesta project; the Teesta is a transboundary river between India and Bangladesh. It originates from Tso Lhamo Lake (also linked to Pahunri, Khangse glaciers and Chho Lhamo Lake) in North Sikkim, flows through Sikkim and West Bengal, enters Bangladesh and joins the Brahmaputra at Fulchori. Rangit is its main Sikkim tributary. A 2011 draft Teesta water agreement (India 42.5%, Bangladesh 37.5% in dry season) remains stalled due to West Bengal’s objections.

India’s elderly population is projected to reach 347 million (~20%) by 2050, up from 8.6% in 2011, raising geriatric healthcare, financial insecurity and social isolation concerns. Hospital-centric care is inadequate for multi-morbidity; dementia, Alzheimer’s and depression remain underdiagnosed. High out-of-pocket spending pushes poverty; 78% lack pension and 70% are economically dependent. Women are more vulnerable. Key gaps include geriatricians, social security, digital access and rural-urban divide; long-term care and teleconsultation/EHRs under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission are relevant.

Union Cabinet approved ECLGS 5.0 (May 2026; ECLGS launched May 2020 under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan) to provide collateral-free, low-cost liquidity to MSMEs and airlines hit by West Asia conflict and rising ATF prices. Nodal: Ministry of Finance; implemented by NCGTC under DFS. Eligible: existing borrowers standard as on 31 Mar 2026. MSMEs: extra credit up to 20% of peak Q4 FY26 working capital, capped ₹100 crore; guarantee 100%, tenure 5 years, 1-year moratorium. Airlines: max ₹1,500 crore; up to 50% unpaid interest convertible to FITL; guarantee 90%, tenure 7 years, 2-year moratorium. Rates capped 9% (banks) and 13% (NBFCs). Valid for NCGTC-sanctioned loans till 31 Mar 2027; additional credit flow ₹2.55 lakh crore incl ₹5,000 crore for airlines; aviation allocation ₹1,000 crore per airline plus ₹500 crore on equivalent equity infusion.

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.