JULY 23 , 2026 CURRENT AFFAIRS
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2D Boron Sheets Scientists at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, achieved a breakthrough by using borophene as a bio-lubricant additive in castor oil. Borophene What It Is? » Borophene is an ultra-thin, two-dimensional (2D) crystalline allotrope of boron. Consisting of a single-atom-thick layer of boron atoms, it is often referred to as the boron equivalent of graphene, possessing exceptional mechanical strength, flexibility, and electronic conductivities. How It Is Formed? Unlike graphene (which can be mechanically exfoliated from bulk graphite), borophene does not exist naturally in bulk form and must be synthesized artificially: » Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) / Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE): Synthesized under ultra-high vacuum conditions by evaporating pure boron gas onto hot, highly clean metallic substrates (such as silver, gold, or copper). » Substrate Interaction: The metallic substrate provides the necessary electrons to stabilize the planar 2D arrangement of boron atoms, forming a metallic sheet with mixed covalent and electron-deficient bonding networks. Key Features of Borophene: » Anisotropic Physical Properties: Exhibits direction-dependent mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties due to its asymmetric atomic lattice structures. » Exceptional Mechanical Strength and Flexibility: Possesses an ultra-high tensile strength and high Young’s modulus, while maintaining flexibility superior to graphene along specific crystallographic axes. » High Thermal & Metallic Conductivity: Unlike bulk boron (a semiconductor), borophene acts as a fully metallic conductor with high thermal conductivity. » Superior Tribological & Load-Bearing Capacity: Forms durable protective tribofilms during mechanical shear, significantly reducing surface roughness, friction, and mechanical wear. » High Chemical Reactivity: Its electron-deficient nature makes it highly reactive, enabling uniform dispersion in organic fluids (like vegetable/castor oil) without requiring chemical surface modification. Key Applications: » Used as an additive in bio-based lubricants to reduce friction, improve efficiency, and lower energy consumption in industrial machinery and marine transport. » Its high capacity and fast ion transport make borophene ideal for next-generation batteries, supercapacitors, and hydrogen storage systems. |
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Empowerment Ashes 2027 England will host Australia in the first-ever Mixed Disability Ashes in 2027, marking a historic milestone in the international expansion of disability cricket. The series will be played as part of England’s 2027 Ashes summer. The First-Ever Mixed Disability Ashes 2027 What It Is? » The Mixed Disability Ashes is the first bilateral Ashes cricket series between England and Australia featuring mixed disability men’s teams. It extends the iconic Ashes rivalry to elite cricketers with disabilities, promoting inclusive participation in international cricket. Aim: To strengthen inclusive sports, provide elite international competition for cricketers with disabilities, and integrate disability cricket into mainstream global cricket. Key Features: » Historic First Edition: The inaugural Mixed Disability Ashes will be held in England in 2027 between England and Australia. » Part of Ashes Summer: It will be played alongside the Men’s and Women’s Ashes, making all three Ashes formats part of the same season. » T20I-Based Series: The contest will be played in the T20 International format, with venues and schedule to be announced. » Boost to Disability Cricket: The series expands the international calendar for mixed disability cricket, following England’s bilateral series with India. Significance: » Provides elite athletes with disabilities the opportunity to compete in one of cricket’s most prestigious rivalries, advancing equality in sports. » Strengthens the institutional growth of disability cricket and encourages greater investment, visibility, and international participation. |
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Feeding the Future 2026 The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) along with IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO officially released The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2026 report. State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2026 Report What it is? » The SOFI report is the UN system’s annual flagship assessment that tracks global, regional, and national progress toward ending hunger (SDG Target 2.1) and eliminating all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2). » Theme-focused on Understanding and addressing the high cost of a healthy diet, the 2026 edition evaluates the cost drivers of Healthy Diet Baskets (HDB), tracks progress across global maternal and child nutrition targets. Key Findings in the Report: » Africa Overtakes Asia as Hunger Epicenter: For the first time, Africa hosts the largest population facing hunger at 309 million people (20.0% rate), surpassing Asia’s 292 million people (6.0% rate). » Unaffordability of Healthy Diets: An estimated 2.69 billion people (32.7% globally) were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2025. In Africa, this figure rises to a staggering 66.6%. » Nutrient-Dense Cost Disparities: Animal-source foods, fruits, and vegetables account for nearly 70% of the total cost of a healthy diet, whereas starchy staples contribute only one-sixth of the total cost despite providing half the calories. » Poor Minimum Dietary Diversity: Only 30.8% of children aged 6–23 months and 62.7% of women aged 15–49 years achieved minimum dietary diversity globally. » Off Track for 2030 Zero Hunger Target: Projections show that 510 to 520 million people will still face chronic hunger in 2030, with 56% of them residing in Africa. » Worsening Women’s Health & Adult Obesity: Anaemia among women aged 15–49 worsened to 30.7%, while global adult obesity steadily climbed from 12.1% (2012) to 16.2% (2024). » Urban vs. Rural Food Insecurity Gap: Food insecurity remained consistently higher in rural areas (29.7%) compared to peri-urban (25.4%) and urban areas (22.3%). India and Report Findings: » Significant Driver of Regional Progress: Southern Asia’s substantial decline in undernourishment (from 13.9% in 2021 down to 9.3% in 2025) and food insecurity was largely propelled by improvements in India. » Lower-Middle-Income Group Dynamics: India plays a decisive role in the global affordability metrics; excluding India from the lower-middle-income group converts the regional trend of people unable to afford a healthy diet from a decrease to an increase. » On Track for Child Nutrition Goals: Aligned with broader Asian trends, India contributes to Southern Asia remaining on track to meet the 2030 global targets for child stunting reduction and halting child overweight. » Persistent Maternal Anaemia Challenges: Similar to global trends where anaemia is worsening, India faces significant hurdles in meeting the 50% reduction target for anaemia among women of reproductive age. » Subnational Diet Cost Sensitivity: Case studies in the report emphasize that price fluctuations in non-staples like vegetables and fruits disproportionately drive up the daily cost of a healthy diet across South Asian markets. Key Challenges Associated with Food Security and Hunger: » Geopolitical & Energy Shocks: The 2026 West Asian conflict has disrupted oil, gas, and fertilizer supply chains, driving up agricultural input costs and threatening global food inflation. » High Post-Farmgate Supply Chain Costs: Post-farmgate logistics, transport, and processing account for 70% to 75% of consumer food costs, creating severe price markups on perishable fruits and vegetables. » Distorted Agricultural Subsidies: Roughly 70% of global government agricultural support is tied predominantly to staple grains, sugar, and livestock, systematically neglecting nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, and legumes. » Climate Extremes & Infrastructure Deficits: Climate variability combined with weak cold-chain storage and poor rural road networks lead to high post-harvest losses and seasonal food price spikes. » Funding & Aid Reductions: Cuts in Official Development Assistance (ODA) and humanitarian funding strain emergency food assistance programs in crisis-affected regions. Recommendations: » Repurposing Agricultural Subsidies: Shift public farm support and procurement away from staple mono-cropping toward nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, pulses, and legumes to lower their market cost. » Investing in Midstream Value Chain Infrastructure: Direct capital into cold-storage networks, rural transport infrastructure, processing facilities, and energy-efficient logistics to reduce post-harvest waste. » Enhancing Agricultural R&D for High-Value Crops: Reorient research and development investments toward non-staple crops to boost yields and build climate resilience. » Strengthening Data Collection and Social Protection: Institutionalize national monitoring of the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) using retail price data and expand nutrition-sensitive cash transfers for vulnerable households. Conclusion: The SOFI 2026 report emphasizes that while global hunger numbers have shown slight improvement, achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 remains out of reach without structural reform. High prices for nutritious foods continue to keep healthy diets out of reach for over 2.6 billion people, worsening global malnutrition. Ultimately, transforming agrifood systems through targeted infrastructure investments, subsidy repurposing, and robust social protection is essential to make healthy diets affordable for everyone, everywhere. |
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Flavor of India Mission Union DoNER Minister launched Mission Golden Spice, a ₹175.45-crore project. The 5-year initiative aims to build a farm-to-global-market ecosystem for Meghalaya’s GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric. Mission Golden Spice What It Is? » Officially titled the Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project, Mission Golden Spice is a five-year (2025–2030) phased initiative designed to transform Lakadong turmeric into a globally competitive brand. » It operates as part of the Centre’s broader Unlock the Economic Potential of India’s Northeast (USP) initiative under the Ashtalakshmi strategy. Organizations Involved: » Anchor Bodies: Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and the North Eastern Council (NEC). » State Implementation: Government of Meghalaya. Aim: To double turmeric farmers’ earnings (from ₹30–40/kg to ₹80/kg by 2030), overcome post-harvest losses, establish processing facilities, and position Lakadong turmeric as a flagship export product in markets across the US, EU, Japan, and the Gulf countries. Key Features of the Mission: » Phased Roadmap (2025–2030): Implemented in two phases: Phase 1 focuses on strengthening value chain infrastructure, cold chains, and processing. Phase 2 concentrates on commercial expansion, branding, and export scaling. » Cultivation & Production Scaling: Expands land under Lakadong turmeric from 2,500 hectares to 7,000 hectares, targeting an annual yield of 49,400 metric tonnes by 2030. » Multi-Agency Funding Model: Financed jointly by MDoNER/NEC (50%), the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (33.1%), and the Government of Meghalaya (16.9%). » Largest Extraction Facility in the Northeast: Establishes the region’s largest integrated organic processing and curcumin extraction plant in Meghalaya to shift from raw exports to high-value processing. » Women-Led Economic Development: Directly impacts over 17,500 farming households across West and East Jaintia Hills, with women accounting for 99% of processing participation and creating 3,000 additional jobs. » Blockchain Traceability & GI Protection: Integrates digital authentication and blockchain tools to safeguard the Geographical Indication (GI) status and prevent unauthorized regional replication. |
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Global Harmony Declaration An unprecedented assembly of Nobel laureates, AI scientists, religious leaders, and former heads of state gathered at Rome’s Capitoline Hill to sign the Rome Declaration for an Unarmed and Disarming Peace. The Rome Declaration for an Unarmed and Disarming Peace What it is? » Inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas, the Declaration calls for protecting human dignity from unchecked AI. It warns that AI-controlled nuclear systems pose an existential risk, arguing that algorithms lack morality, empathy, and judgment, and must never replace human decision-making in the use of nuclear weapons. Core Principles of the Declaration: Six General Principles » Disarming the Next Arms Race: Coordinated efforts to halt dual arms races in both AI and nuclear capabilities. » Responsible Development: Aligning technological progress with human ethics and transparent governance. » Responsible Use of AI: Ensuring algorithms serve human well-being rather than automated warfare. » Responsible Governance: Building international oversight frameworks tailored to high-risk emerging tools. » Responsible Leadership: Demanding accountability from state leaders and tech developers. » Nuclear Disarmament: Renewed commitment to the total and verifiable elimination of atomic arsenals. Five Ethical and Operational Mandates: » Mandatory Meaningful Human Control: Absolutely barring any automated, algorithmic, or AI-driven platform from executing final nuclear launch decisions. » The Digital Commons Model: Expanding open-data access so independent global experts can evaluate ungoverned AI risks and protect non-tech-dominant nations. » Responsible Development Standards: Mandating that developers publish ethical frameworks and banning fully autonomous, self-improving systems that cannot be audited or halted by human operators. » Internal Arsenal Vulnerability Audits: Urging nuclear-armed states to conduct rigorous technical reviews protecting command-and-control systems from AI data-poisoning, hallucinations, or cyber-tampering. » Time-Bound, Verifiable Disarmament: Renewing good-faith global negotiations toward the permanent, irreversible removal of nuclear weapons. Why the Declaration is Necessary in Modern Geopolitics? » Compression of Decision-Making Windows: Historical crises relied on human skepticism, delay, and moral pause to prevent war. Modern AI logistics compress operational response windows from hours to mere seconds, removing the safety valve of human doubt. » Vulnerability to Algorithmic Failure Modes: Deep neural networks suffer from black box opacity, data poisoning, and hallucinations. In a tense geopolitical standoff, an algorithm misinterpreting a routine network ping or physical probe as an incoming strike could automatically trigger catastrophic retaliation. » Erosion of Global Arms Treaties: Legacy agreements (INF, Open Skies, New START) have weakened, creating a security dilemma where states feel pressured to automate defense systems to avoid losing an algorithmic speed advantage. » Asymmetric Speed and Pre-Delegation Risks: States facing advanced adversaries may feel compelled to pre-delegate firing authority to automated software out of fear that human command structures will be outpaced or jammed. Challenges: » Lack of Global Consensus: Major military powers remain reluctant to sign binding treaties that limit autonomous capabilities during active warfare. » Verifiability and Dual-Use Nature: AI software algorithms are easily hidden, duplicated, and deployed, making international verification far harder than tracking physical nuclear materials. » Technological Fatalism: The rapid pace of private-sector AI innovation frequently outstrips slow multilateral treaty negotiations. Way Forward: » Translating Moral Restraint into Binding Law: Transitioning the Rome Declaration from a moral stance into a UN-backed treaty specifically targeting launch-on-warning automation. » Standardizing Red-Line Governance: Establishing mandatory Human-in-the-Loop architecture across all strategic military command networks. » Mobilizing Public Grassroots Pressure: As noted by Nobel laureate David Gross, raising public awareness is necessary to compel political leaders to prioritize AI-nuclear safety. » Mandating Sovereign Cyber Audits: Forcing nuclear states to isolate strategic software networks from commercial large language models and unverified cloud architectures. Conclusion: The Rome Declaration delivers a vital warning against outsourcing moral decisions to autonomous code. While technology can process data at speeds far beyond human capacity, collective moral responsibility—necessary to ensure human survival—must never be delegated to an algorithm. Achieving true global security requires world leaders to reject technological fatalism and ensure that human control remains an absolute, non-negotiable baseline. |
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Horn of Africa Channel Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced a targeted naval embargo on Saudi Arabia through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening to block oil tankers transiting the Red Sea. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait What It Is? » The Bab el-Mandeb Strait (translating to Gate of Tears in Arabic) is a narrow, strategic maritime passage connecting the Red Sea (northwest) to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean (southeast). It serves as the southern gateway to the Suez Canal, forming part of the shortest sea route connecting Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Location and Bordering Nations: Situated between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, the strait is bordered by three nations: Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea Key Geographical & Hydrographic Features: » Narrow Width: Spans approximately 32 km (20 miles) at its narrowest point between Ras Menheli in Yemen and Ras Siyyan in Djibouti. » Perim Island Division: Divided into two distinct navigation channels by volcanic Perim (Mayun) Island:
» Complex Surface Currents: Acts as the primary water exchange corridor between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, featuring seasonal current reversals driven by monsoon winds. » Volcanic Archipelago: Dotted with volcanic islands, including the Seven Brothers (Sawabi Islands) near the coast of Djibouti. Significance: » Carries 10–12% of global seaborne trade and about 10% of seaborne oil trade, making it the third busiest energy chokepoint after Malacca and Hormuz. » Closure forces ships to detour via the Cape of Good Hope, adding 3,500–4,000 nautical miles and 10–14 days, increasing fuel, insurance, and freight costs. |
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India 6G Vision Alliance Minister of State for Communications announced that the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) expanded its membership to 90 organizations. The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) What It Is? » The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) is an industry-led, government-facilitated collaborative platform established to position India as a global leader in 6G telecommunications. It brings together domestic and international stakeholders to drive research, intellectual property creation, and standard-setting for next-generation networks. Nodal Support: Facilitated by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications. » Global Strategic Partners: Operates under bilateral MoUs with international 6G bodies like the NextG Alliance (USA), 6G-IA (Europe), 6G Forum (South Korea), XGMF (Japan), 6G Brasil, and the European Space Agency (ESA). Aim: To drive indigenous 6G research and development, helping build a self-reliant (Atmanirbhar), globally competitive 6G ecosystem. » It works to ensure India’s technological, manufacturing, and intellectual property priorities are embedded into global 6G standards. Key Functions of the Alliance: » Formulating National Spectrum Roadmaps: Analyzes high-frequency spectrum requirements and advises the Department of Telecommunications on spectrum planning, policy frameworks, and deployment timelines. » Advancing Terahertz Testbeds & Advanced R&D: Coordinates multi-institutional projects under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF), such as the 6G Terahertz testbed at SAMEER Kolkata for ultra-high-rate line-of-sight communication. » Securing Intellectual Property & Standards: Drives Indian contributions to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the IMT-2030 framework, successfully embedding ubiquitous connectivity as a core 6G global requirement. » Supporting Hardware Innovation for Startups: Facilitates research into advanced System-on-Chips (SoCs), multi-chip modules, and IoT devices, utilizing DoT’s Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) scheme to sponsor startup participation in international bodies like 3GPP and oneM2M. » Building Global Supply Chain Resilience: Partners with international research hubs (such as Finland’s 6G Flagship) to establish secure, trusted cross-border supply chains and co-develop open 6G standards. Significance: » B6GA enables India to shape global 6G standards through ITU and 3GPP, moving from a technology adopter to a standards leader. » Links IIT research with industry to commercialize Indian telecom technologies, strengthen cyber security, reduce imports, and boost domestic manufacturing. |
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India’s Offline Hours Following a mobile internet shutdown in Central Delhi during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest, concerns have been raised over the use of internet shutdown powers under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Internet Shutdowns in India What It Is? » An internet shutdown is an intentional, state-ordered disruption of telecommunications or digital communications. It renders internet services inaccessible or unusable within a specific geographic location—ranging from throttling network bandwidth and blocking targeted social platforms to executing complete network blackouts. Governing Statutory Provisions & Constitutional Articles: » Constitutional Rights: As affirmed by the judiciary, shutdowns directly impact Article 19(1)(a) (Freedom of Speech and Expression), Article 19(1)(g) (Right to Practice Trade/Profession), and Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty). » Statutory Framework: Governed under Section 20(2)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024. Procedure for Ordering a Shutdown: » Threshold Mandate: Suspensions can only be issued during a proven public emergency or in the interest of public safety to maintain public order. A peaceful protest alone does not meet the statutory threshold. » Competent Authority Directive: Orders must be formally issued in writing by authorized executive officials. » Proportionate & Reasoned Orders: The order must clearly document written reasons, state why less restrictive measures were insufficient, specify targeted cell sites or geographical boundaries, and be made publicly accessible for judicial review. » Mandatory Review Committee Oversight: Every order must be submitted to a designated Review Committee within statutory timelines to evaluate its necessity and proportionality. Key Legal Features: » Strict Temporal Limit: Under the Telecommunications Suspension Rules, 2024, an individual suspension order cannot remain in force for more than 15 days. Indefinite suspensions are legally invalid. » Proportionality and Targeted Scope: Orders must adhere to the principle of least restrictive means, restricting shutdowns to specific cell sites rather than blanket regional blackouts whenever feasible. » Judicial Reviewability: Citizens and organizations retain the right to challenge suspension orders in High Courts (Article 226) or the Supreme Court (Article 32) on grounds of procedural illegality or arbitrariness. » Prohibition of Procedural Bypassing: State authorities cannot invoke repealed statutes (the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 or 2017 Rules) to sidestep the stricter review safeguards mandated by the 2024 framework. Supreme Court Guidelines (Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India, 2020): » Fundamental Right Status: Recognized that freedom of speech and the right to carry out trade or business over the internet are constitutionally protected under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g). » Proportionality Test: Ruled that broad, complete network suspensions are permissible only as an unavoidable last resort. Any order must satisfy tests of necessity, legality, and proportionality. » Prohibition of Indefinite Bans: Declared indefinite internet shutdowns unconstitutional. » Mandatory Publication: Directed that all shutdown orders and their underlying justifications must be published to allow affected citizens to challenge them before courts of law. |
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Prime Minister’s Youth Excellence Scheme Minister of State reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities for disadvantaged students through the PM-YASASVI scheme, highlighting scholarships and hostel support. PM-YASASVI What It Is? » PM-YASASVI (Prime Minister Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India) is a comprehensive umbrella scheme implemented by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It unifies scholarship support and residential hostel infrastructure for socially and educationally backward youth across India. Launched In / Evolution: » Origin: The hostel construction component originated in 1998–99 to address educational backwardness among OBC youth, undergoing a major revision in 2017–18. » Umbrella Consolidation: Restructured and expanded into the present PM-YASASVI umbrella framework to cover financial assistance across all learning stages—from school level through top-tier college education. Aim: To eliminate financial constraints and geographical barriers for students hailing from rural and economically weaker sections, ensuring equitable access to secondary and higher education through financial scholarships and quality hostel facilities. Target Beneficiaries & Eligibility Criteria: » Identified Categories: Open to students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT). » Non-Creamy Layer Requirement: Applicants must be listed in Central/State/UT lists of OBCs and fall strictly outside the creamy layer. » Priority Allocation: Hostels prioritize post-matric and undergraduate students coming from rural areas lacking local colleges, with a mandatory 5% seat reservation for students with disabilities. Key Features of the Scheme: » Four-Tiered Scholarship Structure: Combines four major financial assistance channels:
» Differentiated Hostel Cost Norms: Standardizes per-seat hostel construction costs across geographic regions:
» Strict Construction Timelines: Hostels must be completed within 18 months from the work order or two years from the first installment release, without project extensions. » Streamlined Land Utilization: Removes the need to acquire new land by permitting hostel construction within ongoing State Government projects, engineering colleges, medical campuses, polytechnics, and Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages. » Performance-Linked Fund Release: Central grants are disbursed in a 3-stage 50:45:5 ratio, where the final 5% is withheld until physical occupation by OBC/EBC/DNT students is formally verified. » Quality & Audit Reserve: Sets aside 0.25% of the budget allocation (up to ₹10 lakh) for independent third-party quality inspections and impact evaluations. |
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