Nationwide Survey to Document India’s Manuscripts

• The Ministry of Culture has launched a three-month nationwide survey to map India’s manuscript heritage.
• The survey will identify and document manuscripts across the country to create a comprehensive national database.
• Data collected will be stored in a national digital repository under the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
• Institutional and privately held manuscripts will both be included in the documentation process.
• Manuscripts will be geotagged to support their conservation, preservation, and digitisation.
• State and district committees led by Chief Secretaries and District Magistrates will oversee the survey.
• India is estimated to have around one crore manuscripts, the largest collection in the world.

Gyan Bharatam Mission

• Launched by the Ministry of Culture to preserve, digitise, and disseminate India’s vast manuscript heritage using modern digital technologies.
• It was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
• Digital Repository: Manuscripts will be digitised and stored in a national digital repository, building on the Kriti Sampada, which already documents 44.07 lakh manuscripts.
• Technology: The mission will use AI tools, Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR), cloud storage, and digital platforms to catalogue and make manuscripts accessible globally.
• Institutional Network: Establishment and strengthening of Manuscript Resource Centres (MRCs) and Manuscript Conservation Centres (MCCs) for identification and preservation.
• Foundation: Builds upon the earlier National Mission for Manuscripts launched in 2003.

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026

• The Union government introduced an amendment Bill in Lok Sabha proposing changes to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.

Key Provisions of the Amendment Bill

• Identity Omission: The Bill omits Section 4(2) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which affirms a person’s right to self-perceived gender identity.
• Definition Narrowing: The definition of ‘transgender person’ is restricted to –
• Socio-cultural identities including kinner, hijra, aravani, jogta, or eunuch.
• Specified intersex variations.
• Congenital variations in primary sexual traits, external genitalia, chromosomes, or hormones.
• Individuals forced to assume a transgender identity through mutilation, castration, or emasculation.
• The Bill removes trans-man, trans-woman, and genderqueer from the statutory definition.
• Board Verification: A new medical board headed by a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) or Deputy CMO will verify transgender identity.
• District Magistrate (DM) will issue a certificate based on the Medical Board’s recommendation.
• Surgery Revision: Persons undergoing reassignment surgery must obtain a revised gender certificate.
• Reporting: Medical institutions must report gender-affirming surgery details to the DM.
• Name Change: Certificate holders can change their first name on official documents.
• Council Inclusion: National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP) will include State and UT representatives on a rotational basis from the North, South, East, West, and North-East regions.
• Representatives must hold a rank not below Director and be nominated by the Central Government.
• Penalty Expansion: The Bill introduces graded punishments for serious offences, including life imprisonment for forced mutilation of a minor and up to 14 years for forcing a child into begging.

Significance of the Amendment Bill

• Targeted Welfare: The Bill narrows the definition of “transgender person” to ensure that affirmative action and welfare benefits reach marginalised communities.
• Certification Control: Medical Board reduces the discretionary powers previously exercised by District Magistrates in identity certification.
• Data Planning: Mandatory reporting of gender-affirming surgeries can help build a national database for healthcare and welfare planning.
• Penal Framework: The Bill expands offences and graded punishments to address crimes such as abduction, mutilation, and forced identity.

Concerns about the Amendment Bill

• Constitutional Conflict: Removing Section 4(2) contradicts the Supreme Court’s NALSA judgement (2014), which recognised gender self-identification as a fundamental right under Article 21.
• Medicalisation Risk: Scrutiny by Medical Boards pathologises gender identity and can subject individuals to invasive examinations.
• Privacy Concern: Mandatory reporting of gender-affirming surgeries to the District Magistrate risks violating medical confidentiality and personal privacy.
• Misuse Risk: Broad terms such as “inducement” or “allurement” allow families or police to target NGOs and healthcare providers assisting voluntary gender transition.

Atomic Clock Failure Weakens NavIC Navigation System

• The atomic clock onboard IRNSS-1F has failed after completing its 10-year design life, affecting the functioning of NavIC, India’s navigation system.
• The number of satellites providing navigation services in NavIC has dropped from four to three, weakening the system’s capability.

Atomic Clocks

• An Atomic Clock is an extremely precise clock that measures time based on the natural vibrations (frequency) of atoms, usually cesium or rubidium.
• Working Principle: It keeps time by measuring the microwave frequency emitted when electrons in atoms change energy levels.
• Accuracy: Atomic clocks are the most accurate time-keeping devices, losing or gaining less than one second in millions of years.
• Use in Satellites: They are essential in navigation systems like NavIC and Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide precise positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.

About NavIC

• NavIC stands for Navigation with Indian Constellation; earlier known as Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System.
• It is India’s indigenous regional satellite navigation system developed by ISRO to provide accurate positioning and timing services.
• ISRO started work on the IRNSS program in 1999 after the Kargil war, where Indian defence forces could not use US-owned GPS systems.
• Launch Period: The first-generation satellites were launched between 2013 and 2018.
• Coverage Area: Provides navigation services over India and up to about 1,500 km beyond its borders.
• Satellite Constellation: Consists of a constellation of navigation satellites placed in geostationary and geosynchronous orbits.
• At least four operational satellites are required to provide reliable Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services.
• Applications: Used for navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking, fleet management, mapping, and timing services.

Second-Generation NavIC Satellites (NVS Series)

• NVS series satellites are being developed by ISRO to replace aging & malfunctioning satellites of NavIC.
• Indigenous Atomic Clocks: The NVS series will carry indigenously developed rubidium atomic clocks.
• First Satellite – NVS-01: The first satellite of the series, NVS-01, was successfully launched in May 2023 and hosts an indigenous rubidium atomic clock.
• Objective: The new satellites aim to restore full operational capability, improve navigation accuracy, and ensure the long-term sustainability of India’s regional navigation system.

Nor’wester

• A Nor’wester storm recently struck Odisha, causing casualties & infrastructure damage.
• A Nor’wester is a severe, localised thunderstorm that occurs during the pre-monsoon season (March to May) in eastern and northeastern India.
• Local Names: It is known as Kalbaisakhi in Bengal and Bordoisila in Assam.
• Formation: Intense daytime heating over the Chhotanagpur Plateau creates low pressure; this draws warm, moist air from Bay of Bengal that collides with cooler northwesterly air.
• Key Features: It brings violent squalls, heavy rainfall, frequent lightning, and occasional hailstorms.
• Agricultural Benefit: Its pre-monsoon showers support summer crops like tea, jute, and rice cultivation.

Sujal Gaon ID

• The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched Sujal Gaon ID, a unique digital identifier for mapping rural piped water supply schemes across India.

About Sujal Gaon ID:

• Sujal Gaon ID is a scheme-based unique digital identifier assigned to each rural piped drinking water supply scheme in India.
• It enables digital mapping of rural water supply assets and service areas, integrating them into a unified national water management platform.

Launched Under:

• It has been introduced under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, the flagship programme aimed at providing Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to all rural households.

Aim:

• To digitally map and monitor rural drinking water infrastructure across India.
• To strengthen transparency, service delivery, and evidence-based decision making in rural water governance.

Key Features:

• Unique Digital Identification – Every rural drinking water scheme is assigned a distinct Sujal Gaon ID, ensuring traceability of assets and services.
• Integration with Sujalam Bharat Platform – The ID is linked with Sujalam Bharat IDs, combining infrastructure ID and service-area ID for complete mapping of water supply systems.
• National Digital Architecture – Creates a source-to-tap digital monitoring system for rural water supply schemes across the country.
• Real-time Monitoring and Data Governance – Enables governments to track scheme performance, infrastructure status, and service delivery outcomes in real time.
• Wide Coverage – Around 1.64 lakh Sujal Gaon IDs across 31 States and UTs have already been generated and linked with 67,000 Sujalam Bharat IDs.

Significance:

• Digital mapping reduces leakages and improves monitoring of rural water infrastructure.
• Data-driven tracking helps policymakers plan maintenance, expansion, and water security strategies.
• Ensures efficient operation and maintenance of piped water supply systems.

Acrylonitrile

• A new experiment shows Acrylonitrile does not form cell-like membranes in the methane-ethane lakes of Titan, challenging earlier theories about possible life there.
• Organic Compound: Acrylonitrile is a colourless, volatile, and flammable organic compound with the chemical formula C₃H₃N.
• Presence in Space: Scientists have detected acrylonitrile in the atmosphere of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn.
• Industrial Use: It is mainly used as a raw material in the production of plastics, synthetic rubber, and acrylic fibers.
• Production Method: It is typically produced through the ammoxidation of propylene, known as the Sohio process.
• Astrobiology Relevance: It was previously hypothesized that acrylonitrile could form cell-like membranes (azotosomes) in Titan’s methane lakes, suggesting a potential basis for non-water-based life.

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

• An outbreak of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) in an overcrowded correctional facility in West Bengal has caused several deaths.
• HSV is a highly contagious DNA virus that causes lifelong, often asymptomatic infection, herpes.
• Latency: The virus stays within nerve cells called ganglia and reactivates periodically.

Types:

1. HSV-1 mainly causes oral herpes and spreads through saliva or close contact, but it is increasingly causing genital herpes infections.
2. HSV-2 mainly causes genital herpes and is transmitted through sexual contact.

• Complications: Active infections cause painful blisters or ulcers. Severe cases may result in meningitis, encephalitis, and a higher risk of HIV.
• Treatment: There is currently no cure, but antiviral drugs like Acyclovir reduce severity and outbreaks.
• Disease Burden: WHO estimates 64% of people under 50 carry HSV-1, and over 13% of adults aged 15–49 carry HSV-2.
• In India, about 10% of adults carry HSV-2, while HSV-1 affects nearly 48% to 67% of the population.

Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974

• The U.S. government has launched two major Section 301 investigations against India and several other nations to probe allegations of excess manufacturing capacity and forced labor.

About Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974:

• Section 301 is a powerful U.S. trade law that grants the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) the authority to investigate and respond to unreasonable, discriminatory, or unjustifiable trade practices by foreign countries that burden or restrict U.S. commerce.

Nations Involved:

• Investigation 1 (Excess Capacity): Involves 16 major economies, including India, China, the EU, Japan, Mexico, and Vietnam.
• Investigation 2 (Forced Labor): A much broader probe involving 60 countries, with India again being a primary focus.

Aim:

• The primary goal is to enforce U.S. rights under trade agreements and eliminate unfair foreign barriers. In the current context, the aim is to determine if foreign surpluses (like India’s solar modules) or labor practices (forced labor) are harming American workers and businesses.

Key Features of the Act:

• Unilateral Power: It allows the U.S. to take action without waiting for World Trade Organization (WTO) approval.
• Broad Scope: It covers everything from intellectual property theft and subsidies to unreasonable labor policies and excess production.
• Mandatory Investigations: Once a petition is accepted or the USTR initiates a probe, a formal investigation with public hearings must follow.
• Retaliatory Tools: If the USTR finds a violation, it can recommend various actions, most commonly the imposition of tariffs (import duties) or quotas on goods from the investigated country.
• Time-Bound: These investigations usually last between six to twelve months before a final decision on retaliation is made.

Recent Issue and India:

• The USTR claims India’s solar module manufacturing is nearly triple its domestic demand, potentially leading to dumping in the U.S. market. It also highlighted surpluses in steel, petrochemicals, and automotive goods.
• The U.S. cited a bilateral trade surplus with India of $58 billion in 2025, though Indian data estimates it closer to $42.2 billion.
• The second investigation examines whether India has taken sufficient steps to stop goods produced by forced labor from entering global supply chains.

Rockwell B-1B Lancer Bomber Aircraft

• The U.S. Air Force has deployed Rockwell B-1B Lancer bombers under Operation Epic Fury to carry out strikes on Iranian targets.
• Rockwell B-1B Lancer, nicknamed “Bone” (from “B-One”), is a long-range, supersonic heavy bomber operated by the United States Air Force.
• Role Shift: Originally built for Cold War nuclear strikes, it is now primarily used for conventional precision-strike missions.
• Performance: It can carry up to 75,000 pounds of payload & achieve a maximum speed of Mach 1.25.
• Range Extension: In-flight aerial refuelling enables the B-1B to perform near-global intercontinental strikes without landing.
• Wing Design: Its variable-sweep wings can adjust from 15° to 67.5° for high-altitude cruising and low-level penetration.

Sejjil Ballistic Missile

• Iran reportedly launched the Sejjil ballistic missile for the first time against Israeli and U.S. bases in the Middle East.
• Missile Type: Sejjil, also known as Ashura, is a two-stage solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed by Iran.
• Range Speed: It has an operational range of 2,500 kilometres and can reach speeds of up to Mach 13.
• Nickname: The missile is nicknamed the “dancing missile” for its ability to manoeuvre at high altitudes and evade air-defence systems.
• Mobility: Its road-mobile design and solid propellant system reduce launch preparation time.

GI-tagged Joha Rice

• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) recently exported 25 MT of GI-tagged Joha Rice to the UK and Italy.
• Joha Rice is a short-grain, aromatic winter paddy native to the Brahmaputra Valley, Assam.
• GI Status: It received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2017.
• Unique Feature: Contains a balanced amount of Omega-6 (linoleic) and Omega-3 (linolenic) fatty acids, supporting heart health. Studies also link Joha Rice with anti-diabetic properties.

Recent GI-Tagged Rice Varieties

• Thooyamalli Rice, a traditional variety from Tamil Nadu, received a GI tag in 2026; its name means “pure jasmine” and is valued for its health benefits.
• Radhunipagal Rice, a traditional short-grain aromatic rice from West Bengal, received the tag in 2025; it is known for mild sweetness and is used in festivals.

Sharansthli Initiative

• The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, distributed compassionate appointment letters to 50 next of kin of terrorism victims under the Sharansthli initiative in Srinagar.

About Sharansthli Initiative:

• Sharansthli is a rehabilitation initiative of the Jammu & Kashmir administration aimed at supporting families of victims who lost their lives due to terrorism.
• Under the programme, compassionate government employment is provided to the next of kin of terror victims to help them rebuild their livelihoods and restore dignity.

Aim:

• Provide stable government employment to families affected by terrorism.
• Acknowledge the suffering of terror victims and ensure institutional support.

Key Features:

• Eligible family members of terror victims receive government jobs under compassionate appointment rules to ensure long-term livelihood security.
• Cases are processed through coordination between police and civil administration to verify victims and ensure legitimate appointments.
• The government is reviewing additional cases of terror victim families, ensuring more beneficiaries receive employment assistance.

Force Majeure

• Major Gulf energy producers like Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain have invoked force majeure on oil and gas exports due to shipping disruptions and infrastructure attacks linked to the 2026 Iran vs. US-Israel conflict.

About Force Majeure: What It Is?

• Force majeure is a legal clause included in contracts that allows a party to suspend or terminate its obligations without penalty when an extraordinary, unforeseeable event makes fulfillment impossible. It essentially pauses the contract because the circumstances are beyond the control of the parties involved.

Origin:

• The term is French, literally translating to superior force. It is rooted in civil law but is now a standard feature in international commercial contracts and maritime law worldwide.
• Aim: The primary goal is to provide legal protection to businesses or governments. It ensures they aren’t sued for breach of contract or forced to pay massive late fees when Acts of God (like earthquakes) or Acts of Man (like war) prevent them from delivering goods or services.

Key Features:

• Unforeseeability: The event must have been impossible to predict at the time the contract was signed.
• Externality: The cause must come from an outside source, not the negligence of the company invoking it.
• Irresistibility: The event must create a genuine impossibility to perform the task, not just make it more expensive or difficult.
• Notification: The party invoking the clause must formally notify their partners immediately (as seen with Kuwait Petroleum and BAPCO).
• Mitigation: Even when invoked, the party is often required to prove they tried everything reasonable to fulfill the contract despite the event.

Significance:

• Protects companies and governments from penalties during disruptions such as wars or pandemics.
• Frequently used in oil, gas, and LNG contracts, allowing exporters to suspend deliveries during geopolitical crises.
• Establishes a clear framework for handling unexpected disruptions, reducing disputes between contracting parties.

The Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) System

• The Indian Army has operationalized its seventh Pinaka regiment and is currently raising an eighth, with plans to reach ten regiments by next year.

About The Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) System:

• Pinaka is an indigenous, multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system capable of firing a salvo of 12 rockets in under 44 seconds. It is a high-volume, area-saturation weapon designed to neutralize enemy troop concentrations and infrastructure over large areas.
• Developed By: the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE).

Aim:

• The primary objective of the Pinaka system is to provide the Indian Army with deep-strike capability, allowing it to destroy enemy communication hubs, logistics depots, and artillery gun positions well behind the front lines.

Key Features of the System:

• Rapid Fire Capability: A single battery of six launchers can fire 72 rockets in just 44 seconds, covering an area of roughly 1,000 by 800 meters.
• Range Variants: The system is versatile, featuring Mk-I (38 km), Mk-II Extended Range (60 km), and Guided variants (75–90 km).
• High Precision: Guided Pinaka rockets utilize an Integrated Navigation System (INS) combined with GPS/NavIC for pinpoint accuracy.
• Mobility: The launchers are mounted on high-mobility Tatra trucks, allowing for shoot-and-scoot tactics to avoid enemy counter-fire.
• Automation: Equipped with an Automated Gun Aiming and Positioning System (AGAPS) and a computerized fire control system for quick deployment.
• Extreme Weather Resilience: The system is designed to operate in diverse Indian terrains, from the high-altitude cold of Ladakh to the intense heat of the Thar Desert.

Significance:

• The Pinaka system is strategically vital as it reduces India’s dependence on Russian Smerch and Grad systems.
• With the development of the Long-Range Guided Rocket (LRGR), which recently hit targets at 120 km, India is building a formidable Rocket Force capable of matching the integrated artillery networks of the PLA along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recently documented nine new species, including jumping spiders and damselflies, at the Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected landscape in Tamil Nadu, often referred to as the High Wavy Mountains. Since 2021, it has been a core component of the Srivilliputhur–Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR), which is India’s 51st tiger reserve.
• Established In: The sanctuary was formally part of the SMTR notification in 2021, though its Eco-Sensitive Zone was previously gazetted in 2018.

Habitat:

The sanctuary is a mosaic of diverse ecosystems, including:

1. Montane Shola Forests and high-altitude grasslands.
2. Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests.
3. Tea and Cardamom Plantations interspersed with natural vegetation.

Rivers Flowing Through:

• The landscape acts as a critical watershed for southern Tamil Nadu. Key rivers include:

1. Vaigai: The lifeline of several southern districts.
2. Suruliyaru and Shanmuganathi: Major tributaries that converge at the Vaigai Dam.
3. Ephemeral Streams: Includes Arjuna Nadhi, Mudangiar, and Gundar, which support local agriculture and drinking water needs.

Key Features:

• Strategic Location: It forms a continuous elephant and tiger corridor connecting the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala with the Grizzled Giant Squirrel Sanctuary in Srivilliputhur.
• Bio-Indicators: The presence of specific mayflies and amphibians serves as a natural gauge for water quality and habitat stability.
• Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ): The sanctuary maintains a protective buffer (ESZ) ranging from 0 km to 1.70 km to minimize human-wildlife conflict.

Species Identified:

• The ZSI survey documented 977 species, with the following nine being entirely new to science:

1. Jumping Spider: Stenaelurillus megamalai.
2. Mayflies: Edmundsula meghamalaiensis.
3. Damselfly: Thraulus vellimalaiensis – Protosticta sholai (endemic to the region).
4. Bark Lice & Cockroaches: Allacta vellimalai and Lachesilla vellimalai.

• Other Notable Fauna: Megamalai rock gecko (Hemidactylus vanam), and historical records of the Critically Endangered Malabar Civet.