1) Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI):
Launched to integrate science and technology with foreign policy, focusing on AI governance, semiconductor supply chains, and digital public infrastructure for developing countries.
• Shift to Multipolar World: Recognition of a multipolar global order where the Global South and South-South partnerships are gaining influence.
• India’s Strategic Partnerships: India strengthening cooperation through groups like BRICS and initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and India-France-UAE trilateral.
• Reformed Multilateralism & Maritime Security: Calls for reform of the United Nations Security Council and focus on securing maritime routes, supply chains, and undersea cables in the Indo-Pacific region.
2) India Wins T20 World Cup 2026:
India national cricket team defeated New Zealand national cricket team by 96 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium — India’s biggest T20 World Cup final victory.
• Key Performances: Jasprit Bumrah was Player of the Match, while Sanju Samson won Player of the Tournament.
• Historic Record: India became the first team to win three titles (2007, 2024, 2026)and the first to successfully defend a T20 World Cup, also winning it on home soil.
• Cricket Governance & Rankings: The tournament is organised by the International Cricket Council; India currently ranks No.1 in T20I and ODI (Men’s) while cricket in India is governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
3) Launch: C. R. Patil launched Jal Mahotsav 2026 from Gujarat on International Women’s Day, celebrated as “Sujalam Shakti Diwas.”
• Objective: Annual campaign (8–22 March) by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to promote community participation and water conservation under Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Key Activities: Events like Jal Arpan Diwas, Jal Bandhan, and Jal Sankalp encourage community ownership of rural water infrastructure and conservation pledges.
• Focus on Women: Highlights the role of women in water governance, including 24 lakh women involved in water quality testing and participation in village water management.
4) Key Outcomes of Alexander Stubb Visit to India
• Strategic Partnership: India and Finland upgraded ties to a Strategic Partnership in Digitalization and Sustainability during the Raisina Dialogue.
• Major Agreements: MoUs signed on Migration & Mobility, Environmental Cooperation, and Statistics, along with collaboration in green energy and sustainability projects.
• Technology & Innovation Cooperation: Joint initiatives in 5G, 6G, AI, quantum communication, high-performance computing, including a Joint Task Force on 6G between Bharat 6G Alliance and Finland’s University of Oulu.
• Trade & Global Cooperation: Both nations aim to double bilateral trade by 2030 and will co-host the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in India.
5) Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs):
Vehicles that combine an internal combustion engine (ICE) with an electric motor to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions without external charging.
• Self-Charging System: The battery charges automatically through regenerative braking and sometimes through the engine acting as a generator.
• Types: Parallel Hybrid, Series-Parallel (Power-Split) Hybrid, and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) which can also be charged externally.
• Pros & Cons: Provide better fuel economy and lower emissions with no range anxiety, but have higher initial cost and expensive battery replacement.
6) Exercise LAMITIYE-2026:
The 11th edition of the joint military exercise between India and Seychelles; “LAMITIYE” means friendship in Creole.
• Purpose: A biennial exercise (since 2001) to enhance interoperability in sub-conventional operations, peacekeeping coordination, and tactical skill exchange.
• Tri-Service Participation: For the first time, personnel from the Indian Armed Forcesincluding the Assam Regiment, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force participated with assets like INS Trikand and C-130J Super Hercules.
• Strategic Importance: Seychelles is a key maritime partner for India in the Indian Ocean Region, supporting India’s SAGAR vision.
7) India’s Decision:
India declined to join the coordinated release of oil reserves proposed by the International Energy Agency to stabilize rising global oil prices.
• Reason: Following an “India First” energy security approach, the government stated that its Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs) will be used only during domestic supply disruptions, not for global price stabilization.
• India’s SPR System: Managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited with major facilities at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur.
• Capacity & Buffer: India holds about 5.33 MMT of crude reserves (~9.5 days), while total oil reserves including commercial stocks provide around 74 days of energy security.
8) • Launch: National Highways Authority of India released the National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI) 2025–26, prepared with National Remote Sensing Centre.
• About GCI: It measures the percentage of green canopy within each 1-km stretch of national highways using satellite-based chlorophyll data.
• Technology Used: Based on 5-m resolution multispectral data from Resourcesat-2/2A, cross-verified with Cartosat-2S imagery, with results available on the Bhuvan.
• Coverage & Purpose: Monitors ~30,000 km of highways in 24 states under the Green Highways Policy 2015 to ensure plantation and survival of roadside vegetation.
9) • Project: Visakhapatnam will host a high-energy proton accelerator system to support India’s three-stage nuclear power programme and utilize its large thorium reserves through Accelerator-Driven Systems (ADS).
• Working: A proton accelerator generates a high-energy proton beam that strikes heavy metals (lead/bismuth), causing spallation reactions that release neutrons used to trigger nuclear fission.
• Accelerator-Driven System (ADS): The neutrons power a sub-critical reactor, making it safer because the reaction stops automatically if the accelerator shuts down.
• Development: The project is being developed by the Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology under the Department of Atomic Energy to help harness thorium and reduce nuclear waste.
10) • Incident: Residents of Tehran witnessed “black rain” after strikes on Iranian oil facilities caused massive fires and released pollutants into the atmosphere.
• What is Black Rain: Rainfall contaminated with soot, ash, oil particles, and industrial chemicals, which makes the rain appear dark and oily.
• Formation: Smoke and toxic gases from burning oil facilities mix with clouds, and raindrops absorb these pollutants before falling to the ground.
• Impacts: According to the World Health Organization, it poses serious respiratory, skin, and environmental risks, including contamination of soil, water, and food chains.
11) Launch & Governance:
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship formed a National Steering Committee to guide the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability through Upgraded ITIs Scheme (approved in 2025 with ₹60,000 crore budget).
• Objective: Upgrade Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and shift towards industry-led skilling to improve employability and align training with modern industry needs.
• Hub-and-Spoke Model: 200 Hub ITIs will mentor nearby Spoke ITIs, while 5 National Skill Training Institutes will be upgraded as global Centres of Excellence.
• Industry Partnership: Institutes will be managed through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with 51% industry ownership, introducing new-age courses and training in sectors like advanced manufacturing, electronics, mobility, and logistics.
12) • About: Kisan Credit Card Scheme
(launched in 1998) provides short-term institutional credit to farmers for crop cultivation, post-harvest needs, and allied activities.
• Interest Support: Under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme, crop loans up to ₹3 lakh are offered at 7% interest, reduced to 4% after 3% subvention.
• Coverage: Benefits owner farmers, tenant farmers, sharecroppers, SHGs, and Joint Liability Groups, ensuring inclusive access to institutional credit.
• Recent Reforms: Loan limit increased to ₹5 lakh, collateral-free loans up to ₹2 lakh, and digital integration through RuPay-enabled cards and the Kisan Rin Portal for faster loan processing.
13) V.O. Chidambaranar Port – Digital Twin Port
• V.O. Chidambaranar Port became India’s first port with a Digital Twin platform.
• It creates a real-time virtual replica of port infrastructure using IoT, LiDAR, drones, GPS, and AI.
• Benefits include 25% reduction in vessel turnaround time, predictive maintenance, improved safety, and energy efficiency.
• Located at Thoothukudi in the Gulf of Mannar, the port is a key trade gateway.
