MAY 02,2026 CURRENT AFFAIRS
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BIS: Ensuring Quality Through Standardization Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published standards for medical assistive technologies like Elbow crutches, Walking sticks, Multi-legged walking sticks, etc.as a part of the NLEAP (National List of Essential Assistive Products) initiative. BIS » National Standards Body of India under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016. » Headquarters: New Delhi » Regional Offices: Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Delhi » Core Functions o Standards Formulation: Develops standards across 17 sectors, e.g., Agriculture, Electronics, Environment, Health o Product Certification: BIS Standard Mark (ISI mark) ensures conformity to Indian Standards. o Hallmarking: Ensures purity of Gold (since 2000) and Silver (since 2005) o Laboratory Services: 8 BIS labs + NABL accredited labs for testing product conformity & certification |
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Directorate of Enforcement Marks 70 Years with FY 2025–26 Report Assets attached in money laundering cases rose 23-fold between 2005-14 and 2014-24. » Money Laundering covers any process or activity connected with the proceeds of crime and is a process that typically follows three stages to finally release laundered funds into the legal financial system: » Placement (i.e. moving the funds from direct association with the crime) » Layering (i.e. disguising the trail to foil pursuit) » Integration (i.e. making the money available to the criminal from what seem to be legitimate sources) Other Key findings of Annual Report » Performance under Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA): ED maintained a formidable conviction rate in money laundering cases is approx. 93–94%. » Properties worth ₹2,178.34 crore have been confiscated under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act,2018. Impediments faced by ED in completion of PMLA trials » Requirement of prosecution sanction under Section 197 CrPC (now Section 218 BNSS). » Limited geographical spread of Special Courts, which are predominantly located in metropolitan and Tier-I cities. » Complexity of financial investigations which requires detailed forensic analysis that takes time to record and prove during trial. » Requests to foreign jurisdictions face delays due to legal complexities and some countries’ reluctance or refusal to share information. Directorate of Enforcement (ED) » Genesis: It was established on 1st May 1956 as "Enforcement Unit" under the Department of Economic Affairs for enforcing Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (FERA). o Presently, it operates under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. » HQ: New Delhi. » ED is entrusted with the implementation of the following legislations: » The Foreign Exchange Regulation Act,1973 » The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 » The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 » Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 |
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Gig Workers in Focus: India’s New Labour Force Karnataka operationalised a grievance redressal mechanism for gig workers and Telangana becomes fifth state to adopt gig workers legislation, following Karnataka, Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand. Gig workers » Definition: The Code on Social Security, 2020, defines a gig worker as a person who works outside a traditional employer-employee relationship. » Types: Platform and Non platform-based workers. o Platform workers are those whose work is based on online apps or digital platforms. E.g., Ola, Zomato, Urban Company, etc. o Non-platform gig workers are generally casual wage workers and own account workers in the conventional sectors, working part-time or full time. |
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India Reignites Buddhism as Soft Power Tool India’s Buddhist Heritage » Civilization core: India''s sacred geography holds defining arc of Buddhist faith, including enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, first sermon at Sarnath, and mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar. o India currently has seven of eight most significant Buddhist sites globally including Nalanda, Shravasti, Rajgir, and Kapilvastu apart from above three sites. » Historical Networks & Cultural Linkages: Deeply rooted in trans-Himalayan exchanges, tracing back to Emperor Ashoka''s envoys and development of Mahayana Buddhism during Kushana period. » Pilgrimage: India is the source of Theravada traditions defining spiritual identity of followers in Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea, which forms most of Buddhist tourism in India. Underutilization of Buddhist Heritage for Soft Diplomacy » Global Buddhist tourism market: India receives less than 1% of it. » Lack of Integrated Branding: India still treats its Buddhist heritage as a set of isolated tourist stops rather than a cohesive national civilizational mission. » Institutional & Academic Constraints: Academic and cultural initiatives, such as the revival of Nalanda University, have suffered from delays and domestic politics, falling behind regional competitors like China. Way Ahead » Need for Institutional Mechanism: Establish a dedicated Buddhist Heritage and Pilgrimage Development Authority to coordinate conservation, transport, and destination branding. » Infrastructure Modernisation: Through genuine international airport ecosystems (e.g., Gaya), high-speed rail circuits, and specialized fast-track Buddhist pilgrim visas. » Knowledge & Cultural Diplomacy Push: India must move beyond symbolic gestures by backing knowledge creation, such as offering fellowships in Pali and Buddhist studies. » Countering Regional Competition: Leverage India’s historical legitimacy as the birthplace of Buddhism, along with the presence of the Dalai Lama, to counterbalance China''s growing footprint in Asian Buddhist diplomacy. |
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India’s Critical Minerals Imports in Focus A recent study by Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis highlights that India’s critical mineral imports remain heavily concentrated in a few countries. » Highlights of report Key Mineral Suppliers of India: o Cobalt: Finland o Copper: Tanzania, Japan o Lithium: Ireland, Chile, China o Graphite: China o Nickel: Australia, Belgium » Import Dependence: India is 100% import-dependent for lithium, cobalt, and nickel. » Chile has emerged as India’s largest critical mineral supplier (FY19–FY25), mainly due to copper ore and lithium-linked imports. » China’s Dominance: In global graphite production, cobalt processing, and battery supply chains, creating strategic vulnerabilities. |
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India’s e‑Court Mission Transforms Judiciary Chief Justice of India declares Sikkim to be the first paperless state judiciary in the country. » A fully paperless judiciary is a system in which all legal processes are done electronically rather than through physical paper, using measures such as digital files, e-filing, online hearings, digital case tracking etc. » Such digital transformation of courts is being undertaken under e-Courts Mission Mode Project. e-Court Mission Mode Project » Pan-India initiative to computerise and digitise the judiciary for delivering efficient and accessible justice services. » Launch: Launched in 2007 under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP). » Implementing Authority: Department of Justice under the guidance of the e-Committee of the Supreme Court of India. |
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Indian Navy Expands with Project 17A Class Frigates Mahendragiri, the sixth ship of Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) and fourth ship of the class built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), was delivered to the Indian Navy. » Other P17A ships are Dunagiri, Taragiri, Udaygiri, Himgiri, Nilgiri. Project 17A » Project 17A frigates are versatile multi-mission platforms, designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team (Mumbai). » P17A ships are fitted with an advanced weapon and sensor suite as compared to the P17 (Shivalik-class) and include anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare systems. » These ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants, comprising a diesel engine and a gas turbine. |
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Legacy Landfills Blamed for India’s Microplastic Surge » Microplastics are synthetic plastic particles smaller than 5 mm formed from the breakdown of larger plastics or manufactured directly for industrial use. o Types: Ø Primary: Intentionally manufactured small plastics (e.g., microbeads, industrial pellets). Ø Secondary: Generated from degradation of larger plastic waste due to sunlight, heat, and physical abrasion. Key Findings of the Study » Dispersion: Landfill leachate and seasonal winds transport microplastics into groundwater, farmlands (soil), urban areas, and coastal ecosystems. o These tiny, toxic particles pose a direct threat to local agriculture, drinking water, food webs, and human health. » Primary Culprits: Polyethene and polypropylene are the most frequently identified plastics, which dangerously pollute soils and compost used for growing food. » Policy Gap: Existing initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Mission lack dedicated mechanisms for monitoring microplastic emissions during landfill remediation. » Governance Deficit: Absence of India-specific standardised monitoring frameworks hinders effective regulation and evidence-based waste management. Challenges of Landfills Management in India » Waste Management Deficit: Poor waste segregation, inadequate landfill infrastructure, etc. due to weak financial and technological capacities of Municipal bodies hinder scientific waste processing. » Urban Sustainability Challenge: Rapid urbanisation and rising municipal waste generation (nearly 1.62 lakh tonnes daily) are placing immense pressure on existing landfill capacities. Initiatives to deal with Legacy Landfills in India » Swachh Bharat Mission: Focuses on scientific waste management and legacy landfill remediation under SBM-U 2.0. o Under the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme, 2,479 legacy dumpsites have been identified and over 61% of legacy waste has already been processed. » Waste Management Rules: Solid Waste Management Rules (2026), Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016), and E-Waste Management Rules (2022) promote segregation, recycling, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). » GOBARdhan Schem: Converts biodegradable waste into biogas and organic manure to reduce landfill burden. » Legacy Waste Biomining: Municipal bodies are reclaiming old dumpsites through biomining and bioremediation. » Single-Use Plastic Ban (2022): Prohibits identified single-use plastic items to curb plastic pollution. |
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NISAR: Earth’s Eyes in Orbit NASA’s NISAR satellite observations revealed rapid land subsidence in Mexico City due to excessive groundwater extraction. NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) Satellite » Nature: First joint Earth observation satellite mission between ISRO and NASA. » Launch Vehicle: GSLV-F16 (GSLV Mk-II) » Orbit: Sun-synchronous polar orbit » Mission Life: 5 years » Dual Bands: First satellite to use both L-band and S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) from a single platform Unique Feature. » Imaging Capability: o Fully polarimetric and interferometric data o ~240 km swath coverage o Revisits Earth every 12 days » Technique Used: Advanced SweepSAR technology for high-resolution wide-swath imaging. |
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Provisions for Survivors: Justice and Support Supreme Court has expanded definition of “acid attack victims” under Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD), 2016 by including forcible acid ingestion victims and victims with internal injuries (even without visible disfigurement). » SC has also suggested a shift in Burden of Proof on acid attack accused. » RPwD Act, 2016 ensures that all PwDs can lead their lives with dignity, without discrimination and with equal opportunities. Legal provisions for acid attack survivors in India » Section 124, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS, 2023): Acid attack causing injury/deformity is cognizable, and non-bailable offence with punishment up to 10 years to life and fine. » Section 397, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS): Free, immediate treatment in all hospitals; police intimation mandatory » Victim compensation scheme: Under Sec 396 Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). » Prime Minister''s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) Assistance: Up to ₹1 lakh aid and recognised for welfare schemes. » Landmark Judgments: o Laxmi case: Regulated acid sale o Parivartan Kendra: Action against illegal suppliers » After Vietnam, many countries codified it in its domestic laws. |
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Super El Niño Triggers Extreme Weather Events Forecasts of a potential “super” El Niño in late 2026 have raised concerns over intensified heatwaves, droughts, floods, and extreme weather events. Super El Nino » An exceptionally strong El Niño event in which sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific rise by more than 2°C above normal for a sustained period. » El Nino is a warm phase of ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation) marked by abnormal warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, often weakening the Indian monsoon. |
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Tanzania in News: India–Tanzania Trade Talks & Kilimanjaro Spotlight Tanzania (Capital: Dodoma) Recently, 5th India–Tanzania Joint Trade Committee Meeting was held to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation. Political features » Location: Largest East African country situated just south of Equator. » Bordering Countries: Kenya and Uganda to North; Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to the West; Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the South. » Bordering water bodies: Lake Victoria in North; Indian Ocean in the East; Lake Tanganyika in West; and Lake Nyasa in Southwest. Geographical features » Major lakes: Lake Tanganyika (World’s second deepest lake). » Highest Peak: Mountain Kilimanjaro (Dormant volcano and highest mountain in Africa). » Major Rivers: Ruvuma, Rufiji etc. » Islands: Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. |
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UAE: Hub of Global Diplomacy United Arab Emirates (UAE) (Capital: Abu Dhabi) UAE accused Iran launched first attack since ceasefire and drone strike at Fujairah oil facility injures three Indians. Political Features » UAE is a federation of seven emirates including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah. » Bordering Countries: Saudi Arabia (west and south), Oman (southeast). » Maritime Boundary: Gulf of Oman (east), Persian Gulf (north and northwest). o Strategic location along the Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for crude oil. Geographical Features » It is located in the Eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. » Climate: Desert (hot and humid in summer, warm and sunny in winter); cooler in eastern mountains. o It has no perennial streams or regularly occurring bodies of surface water. » Tropic of Cancer passes through UAE (Abu Dhabi emirate). |
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USTR Releases Special 301 Report on IPR India was retained on Special 301 Report Priority Watch List indicating concerns over intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement. Special 301 Report » Released by:Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), under Trade Act 1974. » The report identifies countries that are considered by the US as not providing adequate and effective protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) or fair and equitable market access to IP rights holders from the US. » Not legally binding but used as pressure tool in trade negotiations. |