NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
GI-Tagged Karbi Anglong Ginger Enters Global Market
Assam achieved a milestone in agricultural exports with the first international shipment of GI-tagged Karbi Anglong ginger to London. A consignment of 1.2 metric tonnes of premium fresh ginger, sourced directly from farmers of Karbi Anglong district, was flagged off from Krishi Bhawan in Guwahati.
GI-tagged Karbi Anglong ginger
- The spice carries a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, highlighting its unique origin and qualities. Karbi Anglong ginger is grown mainly in the Singhasan Hills using traditional Jhum and Tila cultivation methods.
- Known for its strong aroma, bold flavour, rich pungency, and high oil content, the variety is considered one of the most flavourful ginger types in India.
BANKING | ECONOMY CURRENT AFFAIRS
SEBI’s AI Tool ‘Sudarshan’ Removes Misleading Finfluencer Posts
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has removed more than 1.2 lakh misleading posts by unregistered financial influencers (“finfluencers”) as part of its efforts to protect retail investors. The action was enabled by ‘AI Tool Sudarshan’. The initiative reflects SEBI’s push for stronger digital market surveillance and responsible financial communication.
About SEBI’s Sudarshan
- It is an in-house AI-powered surveillance tool that scans large volumes of audio, video, and text content across digital platforms to detect misleading financial advice and regulatory violations.
- Sudarshan identifies patterns of unregistered advisory activity and false claims, enabling quicker detection of potential breaches of securities regulations.
- SEBI has also cautioned investors about the high risks involved in options trading, highlighting that a majority of retail participants incur losses.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES CURRENT AFFAIRS
Cabinet approves Amendments in FDI Guidelines for Land Bordering Countries
The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) guidelines for countries sharing land borders with India (LBCs) to improve clarity for investors while safeguarding national economic interests.
Key Features:
- The revised policy introduces a formal definition of Beneficial Owner (BO) aligned with the Prevention of Money Laundering Rules 2005, and the BO test will now be applied at the investor entity level.
- The guidelines also permit non-controlling beneficial ownership up to 10% from LBC investors under the automatic route, subject to sectoral caps and regulatory conditions.
Cabinet Approves Restructuring of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
The Union Cabinet has approved the restructuring of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) based on a proposal from the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The revised framework shifts the mission’s focus from merely creating water supply infrastructure to establishing a citizen-centric service delivery model supported by stronger governance and institutional systems for sustainable rural piped water supply.
- Under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, the government aims to provide tap water connections to all 19.36 crore rural households and certify all Gram Panchayats as “Har Ghar Jal.”
- The target for completion has been set for December 2028, with separate MoUs to be signed with States and UTs to ensure timely implementation.
New Office of National Dam Safety Authority Inaugurated
The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) launched several digital initiatives to improve dam safety monitoring and governance. Additionally, the NDSA launched its official website following DBIM 3.0 guidelines, featuring a GIS-based map interface showing the location and technical details of specified dams in India.
NETRA (NDSA Engine for Tracking and Review using AI)
- It is an AI-enabled platform developed in collaboration with Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE), a research laboratory of the Indian Navy.
- NETRA is designed to enable advanced monitoring, tracking, and evaluation of dam safety parameters, facilitating data-driven oversight of dam infrastructure across the country.
NHAI Signs MoU with Commercial Vehicle Aggregator Platforms
The Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), promoted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), signed an MoU with commercial vehicle aggregator platforms to enhance highway safety and operational efficiency.
- A major feature of this initiative is the integration of the Rajmargyatra App, which provides drivers with digital access to highway information and services.
- The programme also introduces “Jan Bhagidari – Driver-Led Reporting,” enabling commercial vehicle drivers to report road issues such as accidents, hazards, or infrastructure problems directly through digital platforms.
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
UN Report: Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls
The Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls, released by the United Nations, highlights major global gaps in justice systems affecting women and girls. The report warns that despite international commitments to gender equality, legal and institutional frameworks continue to fail women in many parts of the world.
Key Findings of UN Report:
- Women globally enjoy only 64% of the legal rights available to men, exposing them to discrimination, violence, and social exclusion.
- The report also points out serious legal shortcomings in many countries, including Weak Legal Definition of Rape, the persistence of child marriage, and the absence of equal pay laws.
- It calls for stronger legal reforms and justice systems to ensure equal protection and rights for women and girls.
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Operation Sankalp Back in Focus
India has intensified monitoring of the security situation in West Asia, with Indian Navy ships deployed under Operation Sankalp placed on standby for potential Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
Since 2019, the mission has involved the deployment of Indian Navy vessels, including a frigate and a destroyer, in the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Oman to protect merchant shipping and counter piracy.
About Operation Sankalp
- Launched: 2019
- Implemented by: Indian Navy
- Region: Gulf of Aden & Gulf of Oman
- Purpose: The operation was initiated to safeguard Indian-flagged vessels and maritime trade routes amid rising threats to commercial shipping.
ENVIRONMENT CURRENT AFFAIRS
Government Proposes Standing Authority for Environmental Impact Assessment (SAEIA)
The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has proposed establishing the Standing Authority on Environment Impact Assessment (SAEIA) and the Standing Committee on Environment Impact Appraisal (SCEIA) to ensure continuity in granting environmental clearances.
Under the current framework of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006, project appraisals at the state level are conducted by:
- State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA)
- State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC)
SAEIA and SCEIA are proposed as fallback institutional mechanisms to ensure that environmental clearance processes continue smoothly even when state-level bodies are inactive.
STATES CURRENT AFFAIRS
Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025-26
The Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025-26 highlights the strong economic performance of Maharashtra, projecting the state’s economy to grow at 7.9% in 2025–26, higher than the national growth estimate of 7.4%. Maharashtra’s nominal Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is projected to reach ₹51 lakh crore, accounting for 14.3% of India’s GDP.
- The state continues to remain India’s largest sub-national economy, supported by diversified sectors such as finance, services, manufacturing, and trade.
- Although Maharashtra remains economically dominant, its growth between 2021–22 and 2024–25 (around 43%) was slower compared to Karnataka, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.
- Rising per capita income and a controlled fiscal deficit further reflect stable macroeconomic fundamentals.
REPORTS AND INDICES CURRENT AFFAIRS
NITI Aayog’s report on Natural Farming
NITI Aayog released the report “Empowering Farmers: Natural Farming Training Toolkit & Best Practices Guide” to encourage the adoption of natural farming practices in India. Natural Farming:
- It is a chemical-free agricultural system based on ecological principles and livestock integration. It eliminates the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and relies on natural biological processes and on-farm inputs.
Organic Farming:
- It permits the use of externally sourced certified organic fertilizers and bio-pesticides.
National Highways Green Cover Index
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) released the first Annual Report on the National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI) 2025–26, a technology-driven metric designed to quantitatively assess plantations and vegetation along India’s national highways. The initiative aims to improve monitoring of highway plantations and promote environmentally sustainable highway development.
Key Features:
- The index has been developed in collaboration with National Remote Sensing Centre of Indian Space Research Organisation under a three-year MoU signed in January 2024.
- The assessment relies on chlorophyll content detected via high-resolution Resourcesat-2/2A LISS-IV satellite imagery to determine vegetation density.
Second Advance Estimates of Agricultural Production (2025–26)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare publishes Advance Estimates of Agricultural Production periodically to assess crop output across the country. The Second Advance Estimates for 2025–26 include production data for Kharif and Rabi crops, while the summer crop estimates will be incorporated in the Third Advance Estimates.
- The estimates are derived using various sources such as crop area data from States/UTs, remote sensing information, and inputs from the Weekly Crop Weather Watch Group.
- Yield calculations are mainly based on Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) along with historical production trends and weather conditions.
Advance Estimates of Agricultural Production
- Released periodically by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- Used for policy planning, food security, and market forecasting
Census 2027 mascots ‘Pragati’ and ‘Vikas’ Launched
The Amit Shah soft-launched digital tools and unveiled the mascots “Pragati” and “Vikas” for Census 2027 in New Delhi, marking preparations for India’s first fully digital census. The census will be conducted in two phases and is expected to be the world’s largest enumeration exercise.
- Four advanced digital platforms developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing were also introduced to streamline operations and monitoring.
- For the first time, citizens will have the option of Self-Enumeration through a secure web portal available in 16 languages, generating a unique Self-Enumeration ID that enumerators will verify during field visits.
About Census in India
- Conducted under the Census Act, 1948
- Administered by the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs
- Conducted every 10 years
AWARDS & EVENTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
International Women’s Day: 8 March
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated globally on 8 March to recognise the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women and to promote gender equality.
Theme: In 2026, the observance aligned with the United Nations theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
History:
- The origins of the day trace back to early 20th-century labour and suffrage movements in North America and Europe. The first National Women’s Day was celebrated in the United States in 1909 by the Socialist Party of America.
- The date 8 March commemorates the 1917 Petrograd strike by women workers demanding “bread and peace,” which contributed to the Russian Revolution and led to women gaining voting rights in Russia. The UN officially observed the day in 1975 and formally recognised it in 1977.