US President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to destroy Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in West Asia. Iran responded by stating it had banked the first proceeds from tolls on shipping through the strait and vowed retaliation after US forces seized an Iranian vessel. Two container ships seized by Iran near the Strait of Hormuz with 40 crew were taken towards Bandar Abbas. The US stated it's not under pressure to end the war, but "the clock is ticking" for Tehran, while Iran vowed to keep the strait closed to all but approved vessels as long as the US Navy blockades its ports.
US President ordered the Navy to destroy Iranian boats caught laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran claimed to have collected revenue from tolls on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran seized two container ships with about 40 crew near the Strait of Hormuz, vowing retaliation.
The Supreme Court questioned the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on whether it was arguing for a "breakdown of constitutional machinery" in West Bengal, momentarily pausing the agency's rejoinder against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and State police officers. The ED had alleged violations of the rule of law during a raid related to a coal smuggling case, citing a "well-established pattern" of violations by the Chief Minister and the ruling Trinamool Congress. Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta clarified that the ED was not arguing for Article 356 (President's Rule) but rather asserting the fundamental rights of its officials to equality before the law.
The Supreme Court questioned the ED's argument regarding a "breakdown of constitutional machinery" in West Bengal.
The ED's submissions highlighted a "well-established pattern" of rule of law violations by the Chief Minister and State police.
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta clarified that the ED was asserting fundamental rights of its officials, not seeking President's Rule.
The article details the complex, decades-long conflict in Lebanon, involving Israel, Hezbollah, Iran, and the US. It traces the conflict from the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) presence to Hezbollah's rise as a powerful militia backed by Iran. Recent events include a joint US-Israel air campaign against Iran, which led to Hezbollah attacking Israel, breaking a 15-month ceasefire. Despite a tenuous ceasefire and ongoing talks in Washington and Islamabad, Lebanon remains fragile, facing challenges of disarmament, civil war, and a severe humanitarian crisis with 35% of its population below the poverty line by early 2026.
Lebanon's conflict predates Iran's Islamic Republic, rooted in its role as a battleground for foreign causes against Israel.
Hezbollah, backed by Iran, evolved into Lebanon's most powerful militia, inflicting losses on the IDF.
A joint US-Israel air campaign against Iran in February 2026 led to Hezbollah attacking Israel, breaking a ceasefire.
Exam Points
Operation Epic Fury: Began February 28, 2026 (against Iran)
India, highly vulnerable to climate change, is strengthening adaptation in its NDCs for 2031-35, aiming to mainstream resilience from national to grassroots levels. Despite initiatives like ICAR's NICRA and Tamil Nadu's Climate Resilient Villages (CRV) programme, adaptation efforts are scattered, and financing remains skewed towards mitigation. The article highlights the need to quantify adaptation benefits, streamline domestic public finance through climate budgeting, and extend institutional mechanisms to local bodies for locally led adaptation. It emphasizes a whole-of-systems approach for effective implementation and achieving national commitments.
India is highly vulnerable to climate change, with significant economic losses and human impact from extreme weather events.
The updated NDCs for 2031-35 emphasize mainstreaming climate resilience and adaptation from national to grassroots levels.
Current adaptation financing is insufficient and skewed towards mitigation, necessitating better resource mobilization and benefit quantification.
Exam Points
India's global climate vulnerability ranking: 9th
Extreme weather events (1995-2024): 430
Adaptation spending (FY22): 5.6% of GDP (Economic Survey 2025-26 estimate)
India is experiencing an early onset of intense heatwaves, typically seen in May-June, now appearing in April, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in several regions. This persistent high heat, exacerbated by a lack of natural cooling and residual El Niño effects, significantly increases the risk of death from cardiovascular causes and has led to substantial work-hour losses, particularly in construction and agriculture. Experts criticize existing Heat Action Plans (HAPs) for focusing on emergency response rather than structural interventions like urban re-greening and heat-safety legislation, highlighting the urgent need for long-term funding and comprehensive public health strategies to address underlying vulnerabilities.
India is experiencing early and intense heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in April.
High heat is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular deaths and significant work-hour losses in key sectors.
Existing Heat Action Plans (HAPs) are criticized for lacking structural interventions and long-term funding.
This article discusses the decline of trade union effectiveness in India and its impact on workers, particularly concerning minimum wages and social security. Kingshuk Sarkar highlights the fragmentation of unions, their focus on regular permanent workforce, and the low unionisation rate (6.3% overall) post-liberalisation. Fredy K. Thazhath attributes this to the general crisis of capitalism, outsourcing, and privatisation, which have weakened workers' bargaining power. Both experts agree that the new Labour Codes do not favor workers and that the implementation of existing labour laws, particularly regarding minimum wages, remains inadequate, leading to a fight for survival for many workers.
Indian trade union movement has weakened significantly post-liberalisation, with declining bargaining power for workers.
Unionisation rate in India is very low, at 6.3% overall, with only 1.8% in the private sector.
The weakening is attributed to fragmentation of unions, outsourcing, privatisation, and political affiliations.
The Congress party criticized the government's alleged permission for ethanol use in aviation turbine fuel (ATF), citing potential safety risks. They argued that ethanol is less energy dense than ATF, requiring more fuel and impacting passenger capacity and efficiency. Concerns were also raised about ethanol absorbing moisture, potentially freezing at high altitudes, and clogging fuel lines. The Petroleum Ministry's notification expanded ATF definition to include "synthesised hydrocarbons," opening doors for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pathways, which can use ethanol as a feedstock after complex chemical conversion, not direct blending, a process internationally approved and already used in commercial flights.
Congress criticized the government's move to allow ethanol use in aviation turbine fuel (ATF), citing safety concerns.
Concerns include ethanol's lower energy density, potential for freezing at high altitudes, and clogging fuel lines.
The Petroleum Ministry's notification expanded ATF definition to include "synthesised hydrocarbons," enabling Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Exam Points
Government body: Petroleum Ministry
International Aviation Organization: International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
India's SAF target: 1% for international flights by 2027
The Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry's annual report for 2025-26 revealed a significant lack of State government support in extending welfare measures to Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs). Only seven States currently issue DNT community certificates, which are crucial for accessing benefits. The Ministry has repeatedly urged States since 2015 to share population estimates, lists of communities, and set up grievance redress mechanisms. DNT communities, historically tagged as "criminal" and denotified in 1952, face marginalization due to misclassification into SC, ST, and OBC lists, mobilizing for a separate classification. The upcoming Census 2027 will enumerate these communities.
State governments show a significant lack of support in extending welfare measures to Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs).
Only seven States currently issue DNT community certificates, hindering access to benefits for these communities.
DNTs, denotified in 1952 after the repeal of the Criminal Tribes Act, often face misclassification into SC, ST, and OBC lists.
Exam Points
Ministry: Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry
The Indian rupee weakened past the 94 level against the U.S. dollar, falling 23 paisa to 94.01, marking its fourth consecutive session of decline despite RBI intervention. This depreciation is driven by high hedging dollar demand, a shift towards safe-haven assets, and a simultaneous rally in crude oil prices (over $100 a barrel) due to West Asia conflict. Analysts attribute the rupee's weakness to a rising current account deficit caused by high crude prices and sustained FPI outflows. Escalating conflict and uncertainty around U.S.-Iran talks further support crude prices, limiting rupee recovery and raising inflation concerns.
The Indian rupee depreciated to 94.01 against the U.S. dollar, marking its fourth consecutive session of fall.
The fall is attributed to high hedging dollar demand, safe-haven asset shift, and rising crude oil prices due to West Asia conflict.
RBI intervention failed to arrest the slide, indicating strong market pressures.
The article discusses the need for safer, noiseless alternatives to traditional fireworks, especially in light of incidents like the Thrissur Pooram festival where high noise levels (122.4 decibels) disoriented elephants and caused injuries. Traditional fireworks pose risks to health (noise pollution, burn injuries) and violate noise standards near hospitals. Cold spark technology, using granulated metal alloy powders, offers a safer alternative, producing sparkler-like effects without high decibels, heavy smoke, or extreme heat (60-100°C vs. 1,200°C). Experts advocate for an incremental transition, starting with large-scale cold spark-based displays, to mitigate environmental and health impacts.
Traditional fireworks, like those at Thrissur Pooram, generate high noise levels (over 122 decibels), disorienting animals and violating noise standards near hospitals.
Noise pollution from fireworks is a significant environmental and health threat, linked to infant brain development issues.
Cold spark technology uses granulated metal alloy powders to produce sparkler-like effects without high noise, smoke, or extreme heat.
Exam Points
Thrissur Pooram festival: Kerala
Noise levels at Thrissur Pooram: Peaked at 122.4 decibels
Central Pollution Control Board's 'Noise Standards for Firecrackers': Prohibit noise exceeding 125 decibels at 4 meters.
Telangana's SEEEPC Survey 2024, a large-scale population survey, reveals that caste inequality in the state is exponential, not incremental, with Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) being structurally locked in despite economic growth. The Composite Backwardness Index (CBI) shows SCs are three times more backward than General Castes. The survey highlights significant heterogeneity within Backward Classes and persistent urban-rural disparities. It recommends education as a crucial lever, emphasizing quality government schools in SC/ST-majority areas to break the cycle of occupational segmentation. The report underscores that income-based targeting has failed, advocating for caste-sensitive, multidimensional interventions.
Telangana's SEEEPC Survey 2024 reveals exponential caste inequality, with SCs and STs structurally disadvantaged despite economic growth.
The Composite Backwardness Index (CBI) shows SCs are three times more backward than General Castes.
The survey identifies significant heterogeneity within Backward Classes and persistent urban-rural disparities in outcomes.
Exam Points
Survey: Telangana Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste (SEEEPC) Survey 2024
Population covered: 97% of the State's population (35 million people)
The article analyzes equity in Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), highlighting that the primary challenge lies in achieving equity in employment, particularly at leadership levels, rather than in admissions for reserved categories. Data from the UGC Annual Report 2023 shows SC, ST, and OBC representation in teaching and non-teaching jobs is lower than mandated reservations, with the gap widening at higher employment levels. While admissions are closer to mandated levels, bridging the employment gap will take years. The analysis also points out limitations in data on discrimination and caste-based crimes, and criticizes the UGC's new regulations for confusing equity with anti-discrimination, focusing on complaint resolution rather than structural gaps.
The main equity gap in Indian HEIs is in employment, especially at higher leadership levels, rather than in admissions for reserved categories.
Representation of SC, ST, and OBC in HEI employment is consistently lower than constitutionally mandated reservations.
Bridging the employment gap will be a long-term process, unlike admission gaps which can be filled faster.
Exam Points
Regulations: University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)) Regulations, 2026
Data source: UGC Annual Report 2023-24, NCRB data for 2023
Reservations: SC (15%), ST (7.5%), OBC (27%)
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