India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth slowed to a five-month low of 4.1% in March 2026, primarily due to a near-halving in construction sector growth and low growth in consumer-centric sectors. This slowdown has been observed since January 2026, even before the West Asia crisis began. For the full financial year 2025-26, IIP growth was 4.1%, marginally faster than the previous year. Manufacturing sector growth also slowed to 4.3% in March, while capital goods accelerated to a 29-month high of 14.6%, indicating intact investment-led demand despite muted consumer non-durables growth.
India's industrial output growth, measured by the IIP, reached a five-month low of 4.1% in March 2026.
The slowdown is attributed to reduced growth in construction and consumer-centric sectors.
Despite the overall slowdown, the capital goods sector showed robust growth, indicating sustained investment-led demand.
Exam Points
IIP growth in March 2026: 4.1% (five-month low).
Full financial year 2025-26 IIP growth: 4.1%.
Manufacturing sector growth in March 2026: 4.3% (five-month low).
The UAE announced its withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the wider OPEC+ group, effective May 1. This decision, driven by the UAE's long-term strategic and economic vision, aims to accelerate investment in domestic energy production and allow it to act responsibly by bringing additional production to market gradually, aligned with demand. The move follows years of the UAE pushing back against production quotas it felt were too low. The exit is not expected to have immediate market effects due to constrained oil supplies from the war in Iran, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz.
The UAE is withdrawing from OPEC and OPEC+ to pursue its long-term strategic and economic vision, focusing on domestic energy production.
The decision allows the UAE to increase oil production independently, addressing its past dissatisfaction with low OPEC quotas.
The immediate market impact is expected to be minimal due to existing oil supply constraints from the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Exam Points
UAE exit from OPEC/OPEC+ effective: May 1.
UAE was producing around 3.4 million barrels of crude a day before the war on Iran.
OPEC accounts for roughly 40% of the world's oil output.
The U.S. war on Iran has evolved into a "battle of wills" over the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, characterized by naval blockades and stalled diplomacy. Iran has restricted traffic through the Strait since the US-Israel attacks on February 28, refusing to ease control until the US lifts its blockade of Iranian ports. Despite a ceasefire in Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes continue, and the US maintains its blockade, hoping economic pressure will force Iran to yield. The article advocates for a phased, reciprocal de-escalation: the US lifting its blockade and Iran reopening the Strait to commercial shipping, to reinforce the fragile ceasefire and build confidence for future talks.
The conflict between the U.S. and Iran has intensified into a standoff over control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.
Iran has restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Israel attacks, demanding the US lift its blockade of Iranian ports.
Diplomatic efforts, mediated by Pakistan, have stalled, with Iran refusing further direct talks with Washington.
Cervical cancer, a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in low and lower-middle-income countries, is preventable. Professor Harald zur Hausen's 2008 Nobel Prize-winning discovery of HPV as the cause led to vaccines and detection tests. The WHO launched an initiative in 2018, with a global strategy in 2020, to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, targeting 90% HPV vaccination for girls under 15, 70% screening for women at 35 and 45, and 90% treatment. India's National HPV Vaccination Campaign, launched on February 28, 2026, signifies high political commitment, offering free vaccination to 14-year-old daughters.
Cervical cancer is a preventable disease, primarily caused by persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
The WHO's 2018 initiative aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030 through specific targets for HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment.
HPV vaccines are highly effective, providing 85-90% protection against cancers caused by virulent strains like HPV 16 and 18.
Exam Points
Professor Harald zur Hausen received Nobel Prize: 2008 (for HPV discovery).
WHO cervical cancer elimination initiative launched: 2018.
Global strategy formally launched: November 17, 2020.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting in Bishkek, emphasized that terrorism remains the most serious threat to global peace. He called for a unified and consistent approach to eliminate terrorism, extremism, and radicalism, stressing that terrorism has no nationality or theology and cannot be justified. Singh highlighted the importance of credibility and rejecting double standards, particularly concerning state-sponsored cross-border terrorism. He also invoked the philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family) and called for an "orderly world" defined by peace and prosperity, urging SCO members to prioritize diplomacy over conflict.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh advocated for a unified and consistent approach by SCO members to combat terrorism, extremism, and radicalism.
He asserted that terrorism is a global threat that cannot be justified under any circumstances and has no nationality.
Singh stressed the need for SCO members to maintain consistency and reject double standards, especially regarding state-sponsored cross-border terrorism.
WhatsApp informed the Supreme Court that it banned up to 9,400 accounts linked to "digital arrests" and "law enforcement impersonations" scams, primarily active in Cambodia. The platform's probe, initiated by government inputs, aimed to dismantle the entire scam network. Measures discussed with the Home Ministry and telecom providers include SIM binding to detect swapping/cloning, using AI/ML to detect impersonation and synthetic content, and blocking device IDs. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant flagged digital arrest scams as "most disturbing" due to financial losses and "blistering sense of violation," with the Home Ministry reporting over 2.41 lakh complaints and ₹30,000 crore losses.
WhatsApp has banned 9,400 accounts involved in "digital arrests" and "law enforcement impersonations" scams, mainly originating from Cambodia.
The platform's investigation was prompted by inputs from government sources and aimed at disrupting the entire criminal network.
Collaborative efforts with the Home Ministry and telecom service providers include implementing SIM binding, AI/ML-based detection, and blocking device IDs.
A unique funeral for Raja Liaquat Ali Khan, whose family members in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) watched from across the Kishanganga river, has reignited calls to reopen Line of Control (LoC) crossing points in Kashmir. Khan, a resident of Kupwara, had family divided by the LoC since the militancy turmoil of 1989-90. While former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had facilitated meetings on humanitarian grounds, cross-LoC trade and bus services were suspended in 2019 after the Balakote strikes, impacting divided families. Netizens and Kashmiri organizations are now demanding a review of the policy to allow families to meet.
A funeral held across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir has brought renewed attention to the plight of divided families and the need to reopen crossing points.
Cross-LoC trade and bus services, which facilitated contact for divided families, were suspended in 2019 following the Balakote strikes.
The suspension has severely impacted families separated by the LoC, preventing them from meeting even for significant life events.
Exam Points
Kishanganga river (known as Neelam in PoK): separates parts of LoC.
Cross-LoC trade and bus service suspended: 2019 (after Balakote strikes).
Cross-LoC bus service started: April 7, 2005 (between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad).
Archaeologists in Italy's Pompeii have utilized artificial intelligence (AI) for the first time to reconstruct the appearance of a victim of the AD 79 volcanic eruption. The AI-generated image shows a man ducking for cover with a bowl over his head, based on recently discovered remains outside the city's southern gates. Believed to have been killed by volcanic rocks while escaping, the man was also carrying a lamp and coins. This application of AI is seen as a way to renew classical studies and make the ancient world more immersive. Pompeii, rediscovered in the 18th century, remains a significant archaeological and tourist site, attracting 4.3 million visitors in 2024.
AI has been used for the first time by archaeologists in Pompeii to reconstruct the face of a victim from the AD 79 volcanic eruption.
The reconstruction is based on recently discovered remains of a male adult found outside the city's southern gates.
The application of AI is expected to enhance classical studies by providing a more immersive view of the ancient world.
The capsizing of a fishing trawler in the Andaman Sea in mid-April 2026, carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, resulted in an estimated 250-280 deaths, underscoring the severe risks of their sea journeys. Fleeing persecution in Myanmar's Rakhine State and dire conditions in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar camps, Rohingya undertake perilous 1,500-nautical-mile journeys to Malaysia on unseaworthy boats. 2025 was the deadliest year on record for Rohingya sea crossings, with 6,500 attempts and nearly 900 deaths. The crisis exposes a governance vacuum in South and Southeast Asia, as countries like India, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia are not signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention, limiting formal protections and leading to ad hoc responses.
The recent capsizing of a trawler carrying Rohingya refugees in the Andaman Sea highlights the extreme dangers of their migration routes.
Rohingya refugees undertake perilous sea journeys from Bangladesh to Malaysia due to statelessness, persecution in Myanmar, and poor conditions in refugee camps.
The year 2025 was recorded as the deadliest for Rohingya sea crossings, with a high perishing rate.
Exam Points
Trawler capsized: mid-April 2026 (Andaman Sea).
Estimated deaths: 250-280.
Deadliest year for Rohingya sea crossings: 2025 (nearly 900 dead/missing out of 6,500 attempts).
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