NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
9th India Pharma Conference 2026
- The 9th India Pharma Conference 2026 was organised by Department of Pharmaceuticals with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) was held in New Delhi.
- Theme: “Discover in India: Leapfrogging Life-Sciences Innovation”. It aims to position India as a global hub for pharma innovation and research.
- Conference Aim: It focuses on shifting sectors from a volume-driven to value- and innovation-led model, healthcare access, strengthening global supply chains and health security.
- About FICCI: Est. 1927, represents over 2.5 lakh companies, while Department promotes innovation, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat 2047 goals in pharma and medtech sectors.
ASI Unearths 1,500-Year-Old Reservoir on Elephanta Island
- Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered a 1,500-year-old stepped reservoir on Elephanta Island near Mumbai, It highlights advanced ancient water management systems and maritime linkages.
- Features: The reservoir is T-shaped with 20 precisely aligned stone steps. It is built using stones transported from mainland, indicating high engineering precision for efficient storage of monsoon runoff on rocky terrain.
- Elephanta Island, also known as Gharapuri. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its rock-cut cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, representing Indian rock-cut architecture.
- About ASI: It functions under Ministry of Culture and derives its mandate from Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act) to protect and excavate heritage sites.
National Human Rights Commission Flags Concerns Over Gleeden App
- NHRC issued notice to Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) seeking a report on legality and functioning of Gleeden app, following a complaint over its societal impact.
- Acting under Section 12 of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, NHRC took cognisance of allegations by Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation, which claimed the platform facilitates extramarital relationships, with around 40 lakh Indian users.
- NHRC, established in 1993. It is a statutory watchdog protecting rights related to life, liberty, equality and dignity.
- Key Functions: Include prison visits, review of safeguards, suo motu inquiries, court intervention, and examining factors like extremism affecting human rights, ensuring stronger protection mechanisms in India.
KABIL Receives Environmental Clearance in Argentina
- Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) received environmental clearance from Argentina government for deep exploration of five brine lithium blocks, marking a key step in securing critical minerals for India.
- About KABIL: It was incorporated under Ministry of Mines, on 8 August 2019 under Companies Act. It is a joint venture in a 40:30:30 ratio of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL) It aims to identify, explore and acquire overseas mineral assets, focusing on lithium and cobalt across Argentina, Australia and Chile.
- KABIL Capital: It has an authorised capital of ₹500 crore and paid-up capital of ₹100 crore, with headquarters in New Delhi, led by NALCO.
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Indonesia’s Mount Semeru Erupts
- Mount Semeru (also called Mahameru) in Indonesia erupted multiple times, sending ash up to 1,100 m, with alert level at Level III (second-highest).
- At 3,676 m, it is the tallest volcano on Java and among the most active; It is an active stratovolcano with explosive eruptions and cultural significance.
- Located in East Java, part of Tengger Massif (includes Mount Bromo).
- Formed due to subduction of Indo-Australian Plate beneath Sunda Plate, creating magma and layered volcanic structure over time.
- Indonesia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, hosting ~130 active volcanoes.
ENVIRONMENT CURRENT AFFAIRS
Sundarbans in Decline: Loss of Ecosystem Resilience
- The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site across India–Bangladesh, is witnessing a decline in ecological resilience, as per a study in Communications Earth & Environment.
- About 10–15% (610–990 sq km) of forest has lost resilience (2000–2024), showing “critical slowing down”, slower recovery, higher fluctuations, and instability.
- Decline linked to reduced canopy height, species diversity, and structural complexity, making forests more uniform. Similar trends seen in Amazon Rainforest.
- Sundarbans (~10,000 sq km), located at Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna delta, is the only mangrove forest with tigers, highly vulnerable to climate and human pressures.
Indian Softshell Turtles Rescued: Illegal Wildlife Trade Exposed
- Indian Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), also known as Gangetic Softshell Turtle, was recently rescued from illegal smuggling networks supplying markets in Delhi, with further demand in Nepal and China. Each turtle reportedly fetches ₹40,000–₹1 lakh in black market.
- It is a large freshwater reptile from Trionychidae family, characterised by a leathery shell instead of a hard bony carapace, and belongs to the order Testudines.
- Conservation Status: Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and protected under CITES Appendix I.
- Habitat & Distribution: Found mainly in Ganges, Indus and Mahanadi river systems, inhabiting deep, muddy freshwater bodies across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and parts of Afghanistan.
POLITY CURRENT AFFAIRS
India’s Internet Censorship Regime
- A study of six major Indian ISPs shows an inconsistent internet censorship regime– only 1,414 of 43,083 blocked domains were uniformly restricted across providers.
- ISPs block websites based on government and court orders, but implementation varies widely, with different blocklists. Blocking is more consistent for terrorism/militancy content, while arbitrary blocking is also observed. ISPs can block content using any of these protocol layers, leading to varied enforcement.
- Internet Protocols (IP) govern how data is transmitted online, ensuring correct delivery of information.
- Key protocols used in blocking: DNS: Converts domain names to IP addresses; HTTP/HTTPS: Web data exchange (secure in HTTPS); TLS: Ensures encryption and privacy; TCP: Ensures reliable and ordered data delivery.
International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026
- Election Commission of India (ECI) launched International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026 during Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.
- 38 delegates from 22 countries are participating, observing India’s electoral scale, precision, and transparency.
- IEVP is a flagship initiative to promote international cooperation with Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and showcase India’s best practices in election management.
- It provides insights into electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and innovations of the world’s largest democracy.
- Two-phase visits: Phase I: Assam, Kerala, Puducherry (April 2026) and Phase II: West Bengal and Tamil Nadu (late April 2026)
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
Direct-to-Device (D2D) Satellite Communication in India
- Department of Telecommunications (DoT), through Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), organised a workshop titled “The D2D Frontier: Technology, Global Precedence and Indian Context” in New Delhi, with participation from Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing (WPC), IN-SPACe and industry experts.
- Direct-to-Device (D2D) is an emerging satellite communication technology enabling standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites without specialised hardware, effectively turning satellites into “cell towers in space” for global coverage.
- It operates using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, integrating with LTE/5G spectrum, and ensures seamless handover when users move beyond terrestrial networks.
- Under Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) framework, satellites act as relays, linking devices to ground stations and core telecom networks, enhancing connectivity in remote and underserved regions.