The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) officially entered into force, aimed at doubling bilateral trade to 35,000 crore over the next four to five years. The agreement ensures that 95% of Indian exports to New Zealand will be tariff-free or enjoy low levies, while India's sensitive sectors like dairy, agriculture, and honey remain protected. New Zealand has also committed $20 billion in foreign direct investment to India and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in manufacturing, technology, and kiwi farming.
The India-New Zealand FTA aims to double bilateral trade to 35,000 crore within four to five years.
About 95% of Indian exports to New Zealand will become tariff-free or have low levies.
India's sensitive sectors like dairy and agriculture are protected and excluded from concessions.
Exam Points
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $1.3 billion in the fiscal year 2024-25.
New Zealand committed $20 billion in foreign direct investment to India.
95% of exports from India to New Zealand will be tariff-free or at low levies.
A status report submitted by the Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Supreme Court revealed 105 instances of unauthorized currency removal captured on CCTV within the Ram Temple donation case. The Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that the investigation is substantially concluded, with a chargesheet expected soon. The SIT verified valuable articles, examined 173 witnesses, and cross-checked receipts against software records, though some valuable articles and records of donations lacked proper accounting.
The SIT identified 105 instances of unauthorized currency removal in the Ram Temple donation case.
A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant reviewed the status report on the investigation.
The SIT recorded statements of 173 witnesses and examined records relating to counting and donations.
Exam Points
The SIT identified 105 instances of unauthorized currency removal.
The statements of 173 witnesses were recorded during the investigation.
Approximately 944.41 kg of white metal was verified by the Trust for melting.
Rising temperatures and environmental shifts are fueling a surge in drug-resistant fungal infections, posing a major global health threat. Fungi are developing resistance to standard antifungal treatments, prompting researchers to rethink traditional aggressive elimination strategies. Instead of relying solely on high doses that accelerate resistance, scientists are studying alternative approaches such as combination therapies and managing fungal loads rather than complete eradication, aiming to balance patient survival with reduced drug resistance.
Climate change and rising temperatures are driving a surge in drug-resistant fungal infections globally.
Overuse of high-dose antifungals is creating a chemical 'arms race', leading to resistant fungal strains like Candida auris.
Researchers are exploring gentler treatment strategies, such as lowering drug concentrations combined with supportive therapies.
Exam Points
Candida auris was first identified in Japan in 2009 and is a multidrug-resistant pathogen in ICU facilities.
Fungi grow best in damp places below 30 degrees Celsius.
More than 90% of clinical isolates of C. auris are resistant to common azole-based antifungals.
Researchers have identified a new living cat species in Bolivia's cloud forest, marking the first discovery of its kind in over a century. Named Leopardus tilcayo and commonly known as the Tilcayo cat, the small wildcat was confirmed through genetic data analysis. The study revealed that tiger cats are actually comprised of five genetically distinct species, with the Tilcayo lineage having separated from other tiger cats approximately 1.4 million years ago.
A new wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, has been discovered in Bolivia's cloud forest after over a century.
Genetic analysis revealed that tiger cats comprise five distinct species rather than a single species.
The Tilcayo lineage separated from other tiger cats approximately 1.4 million years ago.
Exam Points
The new species is scientifically named Leopardus tilcayo.
The divergence of the Tilcayo lineage occurred approximately 1.4 million years ago.
The cat measures about 46 cm long and weighs around 1.4 kg.
An interim governing body comprising senior officials, local representatives, and artists has been established to administer the India-built Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka's Northern Province. Financed by India with a $12 million grant, the 11-storeyed facility was completed in early 2020. The newly formed Trust will manage the cultural centre until institutional capacity and financial sustainability are achieved, prior to handing it over to the Jaffna Municipal Council.
An interim governing body was established to administer the India-funded Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka.
The 11-storeyed cultural centre was financed by India through a $12 million grant and completed in early 2020.
The Trust will manage operations and ensure financial sustainability before handing the facility over to the Jaffna Municipal Council.
Exam Points
The cultural centre was built using an Indian grant of $12 million.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the centre in 2015.
The facility is an 11-storeyed structure with an auditorium that seats 600 persons.
The number of Indian coal-fired power plants with critically low fuel stocks of less than 25% surged to 74 amid a spike in power demand driven by hot weather linked to El Niño. While renewable power generation rose between April and August, coal-fired power remained essential for meeting round-the-clock demand. Analysts attribute the stock decline to temporary logistical constraints rather than structural supply shortages, even as high electricity demand prompted increased coal imports.
The number of coal power plants with critically low fuel stocks rose to 74 due to a surge in power demand.
Erratic monsoon rains and hot weather linked to El Niño impacted shipments and increased cooling demand.
India's peak power demand hit an all-time high of 270.70 gigawatts in May.
Exam Points
Power plants with critically low coal stocks of less than 25% rose to 74 as of September 19.
India's peak power demand hit an all-time high of 270.70 gigawatts.
Renewable power generation rose by about 21% between April and August.
The Supreme Court struck down Maharashtra's methanol rules requiring manufacturers to add denaturants and bitterants to discourage illicit consumption, holding the measures disproportionate and lacking sufficient connection to public health goals. The Court ruled that the rules violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution by imposing excessive burdens on legitimate industrial users without effectively preventing illicit liquor tragedies. The judgment emphasized the importance of proportionality in state regulations affecting trade and commerce.
The Supreme Court struck down Maharashtra's methanol rules for being disproportionate and unconstitutional.
The rules mandated adding denaturants and bitterants to methanol to prevent its misuse in illicit liquor production.
The Court held that the regulations violated Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 19(1)(g) (freedom of trade).
Exam Points
The case involved challenges to amendments made to the Maharashtra Poisons Rules, 1972.
The proportionality framework was cited from the landmark K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) judgment.
The Supreme Court bench included Justices A.K. Bindasa and K. Vinod Chandran.
Adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in India is primarily concentrated among two-wheelers and three-wheelers rather than cars. While EV adoption in two-wheelers grew steadily, petrol and diesel vehicles continue to dominate the overall vehicle market, accounting for nearly 83.5% of total registrations in 2025. The data indicates that hybrid and CNG alternatives are witnessing varied growth trends across vehicle categories, with charging infrastructure acting as a crucial catalyst for future EV adoption.
EV adoption in India is heavily concentrated in the two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments rather than passenger cars.
Petrol and diesel vehicles still account for over 83% of total vehicle registrations as of early 2025.
Hybrid-electric and CNG vehicles are growing at varying paces due to consumer preferences and refueling infrastructure availability.
Exam Points
In the passenger vehicle category, petrol and diesel vehicles accounted for 83.5% of registrations in early 2025.
Share of EVs in two-wheelers grew from 6.4% in 2025 to 9.1% in 2026.
Three-wheeler EV registrations surged past 60% in recent years.
As tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz, analysts suggest revisiting the historical management model of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. In 1971, littoral states Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore signed a joint statement declaring the strait an international strait while establishing a cooperative mechanism for navigation safety and environmental protection without compromising territorial sovereignty. Applying a similar transit passage framework to the Strait of Hormuz could help balance freedom of navigation with regional security concerns.
The Malacca-Singapore transit management model offers a potential template for resolving navigation disputes in the Strait of Hormuz.
In 1971, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore issued a joint statement balancing international navigation with littoral state sovereignty.
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) introduced the concept of transit passage for international straits.
Exam Points
The Strait of Malacca is approximately 800 kilometres long.
The three littoral states of Malacca signed a joint statement in 1971.
UNCLOS establishes rules regarding 12-nautical-mile territorial seas and transit passages.
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