MAY 16, 2026 CURRENT AFFAIR
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Chabahar Port: Linking India to Central Asia Iran''s Foreign Minister highlighted Chabahar Port as a key India-Iran cooperation symbol, calling it a golden gate to Central Asia. In 2018, an Indian company, India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) took over the operations of Chabahar Port. In 2024, a 10-year contract was signed for operating the Shahid Beheshti Terminal of Chabahar Port. Chabahar Port » Location: Sistan and Baluchestan province on the Makran coast in South-eastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman. » Two terminals: Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti. » It is the only Iranian port with the direct access to the Indian Ocean. » It is a key component of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), enhancing trade between India, Central Asia, and Russia. |
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Historic Bhojshala Complex » The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently declared the disputed Bhojshala complex a Hindu temple, quashing a 2003 Archaeological Survey of India order. » Origins: Established by Parmara King Raja Bhoja in 11th-century Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. » It was turned into the Kamal Maula Mosque by the subsequent Muslim rulers of Dhara. » Temple of Goddess Vagdevi Saraswati (idol now in the British Museum, London) Key Features: » Served as a premier college and centre of Sanskrit learning. » Engraved slabs contain two odes to the Kurmavtara or crocodile incarnation of Vishnu written in Prakrit, classical poetry etc. » Two sarpabandha pillar inscriptions detailing Sanskrit grammar. |
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India’s Dam Safety Upgrade – 2025 India is undertaking one of the world’s largest dam rehabilitation and safety modernisation programmes focused on strengthening ageing water infrastructure. Status of Dams in India » India has the world’s third-largest dam network with 6,628 specified dams after the United States and China. » Around 98.5% of these dams are owned by the State Government. » Maharashtra has the highest number of specified dams, followed by Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. Key issues of Dam safety in India » Ageing: About 26% (1,681 dams) of these dams are more than 50 years old. » Sedimentation: Reservoirs have lost an average of 19 % of their gross storage capacity due to sedimentation. » Seismic vulnerability: E.g. The earthquake in Bhuj (Gujarat) in 2001, led to liquefaction in the foundation of Chang Dam. » Vulnerability to Glacial Lake Outburst: E.g., in 2023, Chungthang Dam (Sikkim) was washed away during flash floods caused by a glacial lake outburst. » Other: Changing hydrological patterns and increasing climate variability Initiative taken to ensure Dams Safety in India » Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Programme (DRIP): It is a multi-phase programme started in 2012 with the help of World bank in 3 phases to focus on structural rehabilitation, dam safety inspections, and emergency action planning. » Dam Safety Act, 2021: It provides for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of specified dams. » The Act created a 4-tier institutional structure: National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), State Committees on Dam Safety and State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs). » Others: Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring Application (DHARMA) platform, Mandatory Inspections to carry out pre-monsoon and post-monsoon inspections of all specified dams etc. |
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India’s Stealth Fighter AMCA Defence Minister laid foundation stone for AMCA programme facility in Andhra Pradesh. About Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) » AMCA is India’s indigenous 5th-generation medium-weight stealth multirole fighter jet. » Developed by: Aeronautical Development Agency, DRDO. » Variants: AMCA Mk1 with GE-F414 engines; Mk2 planned with indigenous engines. » Timeline: Prototype expected by 2028-29 and induction targeted by 2034-35. Characteristics of 5th Generation Fighter Jet » Twin-engine: Provides higher level of air safety in case of engine failure. » Stealth Capabilities: Minimizes radar, infrared and visual signatures to delay or prevent enemy detection and engagement. » Super cruise: Ability to maintain supersonic flight (speeds >Mach 1) without engaging fuel-heavy afterburners, significantly increasing its operational range and efficiency. » Others: Integrated Avionics, AI Integration to enhance pilot-aircraft interface, Resilient Networking and Communication. » Examples of Operational 5th Generation Fighter Jets: F-22 and F-35 (United States), Sukhoi Su-57 (Russia), Chengdu J-20 (China). Strategic Importance of 5th Generation Fighter Jet AMCA » IAF Modernisation: Fills critical capability gap post-MiG-29/Mirage phaseout, helps restore IAF''s depleted squadron strength. » Technological Sovereignty: Reduces dependency on foreign platforms, enhances long-term defence autonomy through Make in India. » Atmanirbhar Bharat: Enhances India''s indigenous defence capabilities by fostering a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem. |
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India’s Unique Soft-shell Species India’s first satellite-tagged Indian soft-shell turtle has been released in Kaziranga National Park. » About Indian Soft-shell Turtle Trade: It is also known as the Ganges Softshell turtle. » Characteristics: o Found in freshwater habitats o Distinguished by its prominent, tube-like snout and flattened shell. o Differentiated from other riverine turtles by its distinct arrowhead-shaped markings on the top of the head. » Distribution and Range: Found throughout the northern plains of the Indian Subcontinent, in the Indus, Ganga, Narmada, Mahanadi basins and Brahmaputra basin. o It is also found in countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan » Conservation Status: » WPA, 1972: Schedule I » CITES: Appendix » IUCN: Endangered |
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India–UAE Defence Accord During the visit of the Indian Prime Minister, both countries signed the Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership » Framework - will promote Defence Industrial collaboration, innovation and advanced technology, training, exercises, education and doctrine, special operations and interoperability, etc. Other Key Highlights » Promotion of Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Signed MoU to enhance energy security via crude storage in India''s Strategic Petroleum Reserves (Vishakhapatnam/Chandikol). » Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar, Gujarat: MoU between Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and Drydocks World (DDW) to establish a repair and offshore fabrication cluster. » MAITRI: Both counties welcomed the operationalization of Virtual Trade Corridor using MAITRI (Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface interface). » Significance of India-UAE Relations » Trade & Investment: Bilateral trade hit $101.25 billion (FY25-26), targeting $200 billion by 2032. » The UAE is India’s 7th largest investor, with economic ties streamlined by the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the 2024 Bilateral Investment Treaty, and the INR-AED settlement system. » Energy: The UAE is India’s 4th largest crude and largest LPG supplier, and the sole foreign participant in India''s Strategic Petroleum Reserve program. » Strategic and Security Cooperation: E.g., I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA) and UFI (UAE-France-India) Trilateral » People-to-People: The 3.5 million Indian diaspora forms the largest expatriate group in the UAE, driving strong remittance inflows. |
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Launchpad to Pollution A study found that the explosive rise of satellites launched into space since 2019 is causing potent, long-lasting black carbon or soot pollution in the upper atmosphere. » Black carbon is a component of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5). It is formed by incomplete combustion of wood, waste and fossil fuels. Impact on the atmosphere » Deposition of soot particles is reducing the amount of sunlight (acting like a form of geo-engineering) reaching the Earth’s surface. » The soot lingers in the upper layers of the atmosphere longer than soot from earthbound sources resulting in a 500-fold greater impact on the climate. » Satellite launches can also release chemicals such as chlorine into the atmosphere that can degrade ozone by reacting directly with it |
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Maritime Insurance Pact – India The ''Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool'' (BMI Pool) aims to facilitate continuous maritime insurance coverage and insulating India’s maritime trade from global volatility. BMI Pool? » It is a government-backed maritime insurance pool with a capacity of $1.5 billion and sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore ($1.4 billion). » Ministry: Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance » Coverage: Major maritime risks, including Hull and Machinery, Cargo, Protection and Indemnity (P&I) and War risks for - » Indian flagged or controlled vessels. » Vessels destined to or starting from India. » Governance: » Pool Administrator: General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) » A Governing Body and an Underwriting Committee to oversee the pool''s functions and risk management respectively. HowBMIPoolOperates: » Combined underwriting capacity of the Pool is ~Rs.950 crore. » Claims Handling: Up to $100 million (by the Pool own capacity); Exceeding $100 million (triggers sovereign guarantee as a contingent safety net of last resort) |
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Rajasthan Manufacturing Hubs Launched Union Minister inaugurated new Manufacturing facilities in Rajasthan. About the Facilities: » India’s first Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)-led Semiconductor facility at Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. » ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging) and OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Testing) facility. » Developed under MeitY’s Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS) o SPECS scheme provides 25% financial incentive on capital expenditure for targeted electronic goods. o The sunset date for applications under SPECS was 31 March 2024. » ELCINA Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Salarpur. o EMC Scheme provides financial assistance for building infrastructure to attract global investments and boost domestic electronics manufacturing. Freedom to Innovate Plan Tripura became the first state to complete all priority areas under Deregulation Phase-II of the National Compliance Reduction and Deregulation initiative. » Deregulation is reduction or elimination of government oversight of an industry. About National Compliance Reduction and Deregulation initiative: » Genesis:Task Force on Compliance Reduction and Deregulation was constituted in 2025 under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary. » Objective: Identifying redundant or outdated compliances and recommending their rationalisation; guiding states in amending laws and procedures to align with principles of minimal regulation. » The Task Force identified 23 Priority Areas across 5 broad sectors. » Phase II was rolled out in January 2026 to cover priority areas, including land, building and construction, utilities and permissions, environment, education, health, labour, and overarching reform. |
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Sukhdev Thapar – Freedom Fighter in Focus Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar’s birth anniversary was observed on May 15. » About Sukhdev Thapar (1907 - 1931) » He was Born in Ludhiana Punjab. Key Contributions: » He was regarded as a key strategist of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). » He was arrested along with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru for their involvement in the assassination of British police officer J.P. Saunders (Lahore Conspiracy Case). » He was Hanged on March 23 1931 in Lahore Jail, along with Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru, observed as Shaheed Diwas (Martyr’s Day). » Values: Sacrifice, patriotism, valour etc. |
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Survival Wages In context of worker protests in Noida, Supreme Court highlighted State’s obligation to provide a “living wage” to workers, in accordance with the Constitution’s Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). » Article 43 (DPSP): mandates that the State shall endeavor to secure a "living wage" and a decent standard of life for all workers. Living Wages: » A living wage, or living income, is the remuneration received for a standard workweek that is sufficient to afford a decent standard of living for a worker and their family. » Often, the living wage is higher than the minimum wage. » Minimum wages are the lowest legally mandated remuneration that employers must pay their workers. |
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o The Ocean’s Fragile Connectors Recent proposal by Iranian state media to impose charges on undersea cable operators in the Strait of Hormuz highlights the growing vulnerability of global undersea cables. Undersea Cables: » Undersea, or submarine, cables are fibre optic lines laid on the ocean floor to carry global data and serve as the backbone of modern digital connectivity. » These "invisible highways" transmit between 95% and 99% of all international data traffic. » United Nations General. Assembly (UNGA) in 2010 had described Submarine cable as “critical communication infrastructure”. » Subsea cables carry a much larger bandwidth and are more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable than satellites. » Narrow maritime corridors such as the Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz, where multiple undersea cables converge, are often referred to as “digital chokepoints.” Threats to the Undersea Cables Network » State-sponsored Intervention: The IRGC proposed licensing fees and annual "protection" payments from tech giants (Meta, Amazon, Microsoft). » Gray-zone warfare: Increasingly weaponised in hybrid conflict. » Espionage & Cyber Threats: State-sponsored wiretapping for intelligence gathering and attacks on network management systems. Implications for India » Financial Sector: E.g., Stock trading and banking systems relying on fast connectivity could face paralysis within minutes. » IT and Outsourcing Sector: E.g., India’s IT-BPM industry relies on uninterrupted global connectivity for providing services to international clients. » Strategic and National Security Risks: E.g., Military communications and intelligence sharing |
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Western Hoolock Gibbon: Vanishing Voice of the Forest A canopy bridge was constructed bypassing railway track in Assam''s Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary for Western Hoolock Gibbon. Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) » It is the only ape species native to India. » Found in: India (between south of the Brahmaputra river and east of the Dibang river in the northeastern states); Bangladesh and Myanmar. » Habitat: Tropical evergreen rainforests, semi-evergreen forests, tropical mixed deciduous forests, and subtropical broadleaf hill forests. » They swing from tree to tree in a mode of locomotion known as Brachiation. » Threats: Hunting, logging, Mining & quarrying etc. » Conservation Status: Endangered (IUCN), Schedule 1 of WPA 1972 Ø Eastern hoolock gibbon is listed as Vulnerable. |