Current Affairs

A rare weather phenomenon resembling a waterspout was observed over the Brahmaputra in Assam’s Barpeta district. A waterspout is a rotating column of air and mist over a water body, usually less intense, lasting ~5 minutes (up to 10), averaging ~165 feet in diameter with winds around 100 km/h. It forms with high humidity and warm water relative to overlying air. Types are tornadic (thunderstorm-linked, develops downward) and fair-weather (calmer cumulus base, develops upward, little movement).

Union Minister for Communications launched revamped Dak Sewa and Dak MITRA apps in New Delhi to strengthen digital postal service delivery and Branch Post Office operations. Dak MITRA (Mobile Interface for Transactions & Rural Assistance) is a unified platform for over 1.4 lakh Branch Post Offices, indigenously developed by CEPT under the APT platform (DoP IT 2.0), enabling paperless real-time postal/financial services. Dak Sewa offers 24×7 citizen access, tracking/booking/complaints, locators and calculators, with 23 languages via BHASHINI.

Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister held high-level bilateral meetings with South Asian counterparts on the sidelines of the 17th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Mongolia is landlocked in north-central Asia, bordering China (south) and Russia (north); capital Ulaanbaatar; continental climate. Vegetation: forest-steppe, steppe, semidesert, desert. Ranges: Khentii, Khangai, Altay; highest Nayramadlin Orgil (4,374 m). Orkhon valley is UNESCO-listed; Hovsgol Nuur lies on Russia border. Resources: coal, fluorite, copper, gold, silver.

Madhya Pradesh is restoring Ashoka-linked Buddhist monuments, starting excavation at Vaishya Tekri stupa, Ujjain. Size: ~350-ft base, ~100-ft height. Gwalior State archaeology (1938-39) found large bricks and punch-marked coins, suggesting Mauryan date, but historians caution; no Ashokan pillars exist. Ashokan edicts mention a kumara at Ujjain. Xuanzang’s 7th-century Kumhar Tekri stupa aligns with 3rd-century BCE burial-cremation finds; urbanisation threatens the site.

ICAR’s National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu (established 1993), released two banana varieties: Kaveri Thangam and Kaveri Nadan. Kaveri Thangam is biofortified with nearly 10 times higher Vitamin A (provitamin A), golden-yellow firm pulp, unique aroma, 15-day shelf life, and resistance to banana weevils. Kaveri Nadan yields up to 75 t/ha, nearly double traditional Nadan, improving productivity and reducing climate-related risks. NRCB undertakes crop improvement/biotechnology, post-harvest/export protocols, and AI- and sensor-based micro-irrigation.

NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies cancelled the primary reboost attempt under the Swift Boost Mission to extend the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory’s life in LEO. The LINK spacecraft, launched on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL from Kwajalein Atoll, suffered attitude-control failures (reaction-wheel overheating, thruster anomalies). LINK will attempt non-docking proximity operations to test autonomous navigation. Swift (launched 20 Nov 2004) monitors GRBs using three multiwavelength telescopes; without propulsion, its orbit will decay to re-entry.

Cochin Shipyard Ltd delivered INS Mangrol to the Indian Navy, third of eight ASW Shallow Water Crafts under a 16-vessel ASW-SWC programme split between CSL (Mahe-class) and GRSE (Arnala-class), to replace Soviet-origin Abhay-class corvettes. Named after Mangrol (Junagadh, Gujarat), it carries the legacy of minesweeper INS Mangrol (in service till 2004). With >80% indigenous content (BEL, L&T Defence, Mahindra, NPOL, MSMEs), it has 200 nm range, 900-1,100 t, 78 m, 25 knots, 2-week endurance, diesel-waterjet propulsion (2.7 m draught), Abhay sonar and variable-depth sonar, and RBU-6000, torpedoes, 30 mm gun, mine-laying; aimed at coastal ASW amid Chinese IOR activity and Pakistan’s AIP Hangor-class induction.

Scientists from Pune reported two new benthic foraminifera (single-celled marine protists) from intertidal sediments along the Konkan coast, Maharashtra (western India): Psammophaga holzmannae and Psammophaga sinhai. Psammophaga (“sand eater”) ingests micro-particles and agglutinates sand grains to form protective tests. The species honour Dr Maria Holzmann (Swiss foraminifera molecular research) and Dr Rajiv Sinha/Indian coastal researchers. Foraminifera are bio-indicators and paleo-climate proxies.

Supreme Court bench led by the CJI directed the Union to conduct a fresh survey of elephant corridors and held they cannot be blocked citing crop-damage fears. In an ongoing writ on human-elephant conflict, it sought a report on banning coercive deterrents (fireballs, spikes) that divert natural movement. India has 22,446 elephants (SAIEE 2021-25); 2023 mapping identified 150 corridors in 15 States, with 32 bottlenecked in South India. West Bengal has 26 corridors; Charmar-Jingol (Chhattisgarh) is 20 km by 2.5 km, used by 80-100 elephants from Odisha.

The Kerala High Court permitted a breast cancer patient to be impleaded in a petition examining the “exorbitant” price of Ribociclib, described as a life-saving breast cancer medicine. Ribociclib is a CDK 4/6 (cyclin-dependent kinase) inhibitor used with other medicines and always alongside hormone therapy for certain advanced, metastatic, or locally advanced breast cancers; it blocks kinase to inhibit cancer growth and spread, with possible serious adverse effects.

Government and Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched a nationwide cloud and AI skilling initiative for youth in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across all states and Union Territories. It will provide foundational AI and cloud literacy to 1.5 lakh learners via AWS digital training, and intensive job-ready training to 10,000 through AWS re/Start under NSDC and Cultus Education. Delivery is fully online via Cultus, with a national hackathon for cloud and AI projects.

Recently, 416 marriages were solemnised in a day at Guruvayur Temple, Guruvayur (Thrissur, Kerala), the “Dwarka of the South”, dedicated to Guruvayurappan (Vishnu as Baby Krishna) and among India’s largest daily-footfall shrines. It has Kerala-style gabled-roof architecture, Nalambalam, Balikkal, Deepastambam, 17th-century murals, and ~70-ft gold-plated Dwajasthamba; offers Thulabharam. It keeps captive male Asian elephants; nearby Punnathur Kotta has 56. References occur in 14th-century Tamil Kokasandesam; earliest recorded history: 17th century. Present structure rebuilt 1638; Dutch plunder/fire 1716; rebuilt 1747; captured 1766 with 10,000-fanam ransom; shrines destroyed/fire 1789; idol reinstalled 1792.

ISRO plans to launch GISAT-1A (EOS-05) in September 2026 as replacement mission F17, after GISAT-1/EOS-03 (August 2021, GSLV Mk-II) failed when the cryogenic upper stage did not start due to a valve leak lowering liquid-hydrogen tank pressure (LH2 fuel, LOX oxidiser). GISAT provides wide-area, near-continuous subcontinent imaging for floods, cyclones, agriculture and forestry. Recent PSLV-C61 (EOS-09, May 2025) and PSLV-C62 (N1, January 2026) failed in third-stage anomalies; launches paused for investigation.

MeitY notified the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with an outlay of ₹62,500 crore for FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 to scale manufacturing, deepen value addition and strengthen supply chains (domestic share >99.2%). It has TS1 (2.25%-5% incentive) and TS2 (5% + 3% for Indian design/R&D), plus up to 1.5% for domestic sourcing; TS2 needs Indian ownership / control, IP, in-house R&D, with one-year gestation. Eligibility: FY 2025-26 turnover ₹10,000 crore (TS1) or ₹1,000 crore (TS2); EMS registered in India may apply; localized components must be ≥25%. Expected: ~₹39 lakh crore production, ~60,000 direct jobs, higher exports.

Ministry of Rural Development launched National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II as a 3-month drive to promote rural SHG women’s entrepreneurship towards creating 6 crore Lakhpati Didis, covering farm and non-farm enterprises and SHG product marketing. It strengthens enterprise promotion cadre, formalisation, digital/e-commerce, producer groups, and issues monthly “Sankalp Shakti” bulletin. CRP-EPs/BDSPs are recognised as “Udyam Sakhis”. Targets: train 5 lakh women, formalise 50,000 enterprises, onboard 25,000 on e-commerce, encourage 20 lakh in agro-ecological practices; promote via ONDC (open B2C/B2B) and GeM (B2G procurement).

WHO Regional Office for Africa confirmed the end of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Congo and Uganda, after independent outbreak assessments. Confirmation followed review of surveillance, laboratory and epidemiological evidence, population immunity and vaccination campaign performance. Burundi strengthened routine immunisation and environmental surveillance; Ghana laboratory capacity; Uganda improved response after 2024 detection; Guinea-Bissau reported no detection since July 2021; Congo’s last detection was December 2023. Risk persists; high vaccination and strong surveillance remain essential. Polio can cause irreversible paralysis.

Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), launched September 2018, strengthens MSP implementation via assured procurement, price stabilisation and market intervention. Components: PSS procures pulses, oilseeds and copra at MSP (NAFED/NCCF on State request; registered farmers with land records) when prices fall below MSP; PSF maintains buffers (pulses, onion, potato) by harvest procurement and lean-season release; PDPS pays MSP-market gap (up to 15% of MSP) to banks without procurement (mainly oilseeds); MIS procures perishables (e.g., tomato/onion/potato) without MSP when prices drop ≥10%, with Centre-State cost-sharing via nodal agencies.

National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2019 for nationwide vaccination and surveillance to control/eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis, with 100% Central funding to States/UTs. Nodal body: Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. FMD is a highly contagious viral vesicular disease of cloven-hoofed animals. Brucellosis is a reproductive disease (Brucella abortus). Targets: FMD vaccination twice yearly; Brucellosis vaccination once in lifetime for 4–8 month female bovine calves.

India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on maritime security cooperation, creating an operational framework between the Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force across the Indo-Pacific (Indian and Pacific Oceans). It enables real-time maritime domain awareness and intelligence sharing, SLOC protection via ship visits, joint exercises, and reciprocal port/repair access; SAR/HADR using IPLN; joint shipbuilding under Make in India; mine countermeasures; DRDO-ATLA R&D; support for rules-based order, freedom of navigation / overflight; cooperation with integrated theatre commands and special forces; and groundwork for the 2+2 Dialogue in Tokyo.

Ministry of Earth Sciences released the “National Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources of the Indian EEZ,” consolidating ~4 decades of research from 400+ cruises across India’s 2.37 million sq km EEZ under the Marine Living Resources Programme. Using FORV Sagar Sampada, it assesses myctophids driving the biological carbon pump, underexploited demersal stocks beyond 200 m, maps vulnerable hotspots, integrates eDNA, acoustics, satellites, AI, and supports Vision 2047 Blue Economy, SDG 14 and UN Decade of Ocean Science.

A study finds ~1 in 10 butterfly species shifts geographic range or elevation due to environmental change. Drivers: warming pushes movement to higher latitudes/altitudes, phenology mismatch with host plants, drought/heat loss of plants and water, and extreme-weather habitat loss. Survival impacts include shortened migration, population decline and range contraction/fragmentation; some expand in one direction while disappearing elsewhere. Shrinking ranges are documented in Europe/North America; elevation shifts mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. Examples: Tawny Coster (India-Sri Lanka-Bangladesh) spread across Australia ~135 km/year since 2012; Godartiana byses expanded south in Brazil; UK Small Blue contracted; Germany Cranberry Fritillary declined with peat-bog drainage; Romania Danube Clouded Yellow shrank due to intensive agriculture.

NSO’s Annual Report on Improvement of Crop Statistics (ICS) Scheme 2023-24 flags weak Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs), a field method to estimate yield. Only 72% followed prescribed procedures; 28% had lapses. Errors included crop selection/harvesting/weighing (11%) and recording inputs (10%). Village/field replacements, inadequate supervision and untrained staff affected sampling. Report suggests full supervision, training, updating GCES plan and stronger digital monitoring. ICS, launched in 1973-74 by MoSPI and states, is executed by NSO to evaluate crop-area and CCE quality.

NITI Aayog released “India’s Services Sector: Insights on Regulatory Regime in Professional Services” (August 2026). It reviews India’s regulation of professional services (e.g., lawyers, tax advisors, IT consultants) and compares selected foreign countries. It flags unclear regulations, market-entry barriers, competitiveness issues, limited recognition of Indian qualifications, and skill upgradation needs. A four-pronged strategy targets global best practices, value-chain strengthening, emerging trends, and continuous professional development. Professional services contribute nearly one-fourth of India’s services exports.

In State of Karnataka v. Prathik Parasrampuria, the Supreme Court directed measures to curb electoral inducements, money power and political interference in prosecutions. States cannot unilaterally withdraw candidate-related cases; withdrawals need High Court scrutiny. Election-related FIR probes should be fast-tracked (target 1 year) with progress reported to ECI. High Courts must designate special trial courts; trials should conclude before next 5-year cycle. Static Surveillance Teams seizing >₹10 lakh must record reasons, show prima facie electoral link, and inform Income Tax. ECI and states must file compliance by 18 November 2026.

Indian Prime Minister congratulated Hakainde Hichilema on re-election as President of Zambia. Zambia is a landlocked Southern-Central African country; capital Lusaka; sub-tropical climate moderated by high altitude. Borders: DRC (N), Tanzania (NE), Malawi (W), Mozambique (SE), Zimbabwe and Botswana (S), Angola (W), Namibia (SW). Rivers: Zambezi (to Indian Ocean), Kafue, Luangwa; lakes Tanganyika, Kariba; Mafinga Mountains; resources: copper, cobalt, silver, uranium, lead, coal, zinc, gold, emerald.

A workshop on AIKosh was held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. AIKosh is a national platform under the IndiaAI Mission for datasets, AI models and related resources, enabling discoverability, access and responsible use, shared toolkits, use-case showcasing, and an AI sandbox (integrated development environment) with tools and tutorials. Governed by MeitY, the IndiaAI Mission (MeitY–Nasscom, 2023) is implemented by IndiaAI to expand high-end compute access for startups and researchers.