Current Affairs – April 01, 2026

{GS1 – IS} World’s Largest Digital Census Begins with Phase I Rollout *

Context (TH | NOA): Census 2027 Phase I began on 1 April with self-enumeration, while House Listing & Housing Census (HLO), field exercise will run from 16 April to 15 May 2026 in notified States & UTs.

It is India’s first fully digital Census and the world’s largest population-count exercise.
Key Focus: This phase records housing conditions, household amenities, and assets, while individual demographic and socio-economic details are collected in Phase II.
Self-Enumeration: For the first time, respondents can self-enumerate through a secure web portal in 16 languages; this facility is limited to residents present in India.
Questionnaire: It includes 33 questions covering housing infrastructure and household assets such as internet access, smartphones, cooking fuel, and related amenities.
Marital Classification: A ‘live-in couple’ treating their relationship as a “stable union” will be recorded as a married couple for census purposes.
Digital Mapping: Census operations will use digital methods, like web mapping and mobile apps, for house-listing block creation and data collection.

Census 2027 will be India’s first fully digital census and the first complete caste enumeration since 1931, conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Census Act, 1948, & Census Rules, 1990.

Read More > Houselisting and Housing Census | Census 2027

{GS2 – MoPR} Rural Digital Governance through eGramSwaraj and SabhaSaar **

Context (PIB): Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has achieved significant milestones in rural digital governance through the eGramSwaraj and SabhaSaar initiatives.

About eGramSwaraj Portal

It is a unified web portal and mobile application developed by MoPR to strengthen e-governance in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across India.
Decentralised Planning: Supports creating and monitoring the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP), making local development efforts publicly accessible.
Transparency: Its integration with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) enables online payments to vendors, reducing delays and corruption.
Asset Verification: It allows geo-tagging of village assets with GPS for verification and monitoring.
Digital Procurement: It has been integrated with the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for purchasing goods online, ensuring competitive prices.
Key Achievements: Over 2.59 lakh PRIs use the platform, transferring over ₹3 lakh crore through transparent digital payments.

About SabhaSaar

It is an advanced AI-enabled voice-to-text meeting summarisation tool launched by MoPR in 2025.
Integrated with the BHASHINI platform, it enables transcription and translation in major Indian languages.
Infrastructure: It securely operates on the IndiaAI Compute Portal under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Key Achievements: Supports 23 Indian languages; over 1.15 lakh Gram Panchayats use it for automatic meeting documentation and summarisation.

{GS2 – IR} India–Russia Arctic Partnership **

Context (DDN): Recent India–Russia bilateral discussions highlighted Arctic collaboration for long-term energy security amidst the escalating Middle East crisis.

Need for India-Russia Arctic Cooperation

Gas Security: Domestic gas production meets only half of India’s demand; long-term Russian supplies reduce reliance on volatile traditional markets.
Hydrocarbon Base: The Russian Arctic holds ~80% of its gas reserves and vast untapped oil, which can assist India in diversifying its crude oil imports.
Critical Minerals: The partnership facilitates access to coking coal, rare earths, and other vital minerals for India’s green energy and high-tech manufacturing.
Logistics Efficiency: Developing the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor (CVMC) reduces transit times compared to the Suez Canal route.
Geopolitical Balancing: A stronger Indian presence in the Russian Arctic counters China’s expanding influence and its ‘Polar Silk Road’ initiative in the region.

Key Initiatives Driving India-Russia Arctic Partnership

Policy Framework: The 2025 summit endorsed stronger economic cooperation in the Russian Far East and Arctic under the 2024–2029 programme.
Joint Projects: Indian companies have stakes in major Russian energy projects and are exploring opportunities for involvement in Arctic LNG ventures.
Training: Russia is training Indian specialists in polar navigation for year-round Arctic operations.
Logistical Support: Under the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) agreement, India gained access to Russian Arctic naval bases for replenishment and repairs.
LNG Engagement: India resumed LNG supply negotiations with Russia, including potential contracts with NOVATEK Arctic projects.

Read More > India-Russia Relations

{GS3 – IE} Energy Statistics India 2026

Context (PIB): The National Statistics Office has released the 33^rd edition of the Energy Statistics India Report 2026 to provide official energy data.

Objective: To present integrated statistics on reserves, production, consumption, capacity, and trade of all major energy resources for informed policymaking.

Key Highlights of the Energy Statistics India 2026

Energy Supply: India’s Total Primary Energy Supply increased by 2.95% in FY 2024–25, reaching 9,32,816 Kilo Tonnes of oil Equivalent (ktoe).
Renewable Energy Potential: India’s RE potential stands at 47 lakh MW, with solar energy contributing ~71%, followed by wind and hydro.
Regional Concentration of RE: Over 70% of RE potential is concentrated in six states—Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh.
Renewable Capacity: Installed renewable energy capacity increased from 90,134 MW (2016) to 2,29,346 MW (2025), recording a CAGR of 10.93%.
Renewable Power Generation: Renewable electricity generation rose from 1,89,314 GWh to 4,16,823 GWh (2015–16 to 2024–25), growing at a 9.17% CAGR.
Energy Consumption: Per capita energy consumption increased to 18,096 megajoules/person, reflecting higher demand due to development.
Power Efficiency: Transmission & Distribution losses reduced from 22% to 17%, indicating better efficiency in electricity delivery.
Coal: Coal remains the primary energy source, with supply rising to 5,52,315 Ktoe, highlighting dependence on fossil fuels.
Final Energy Demand: Total Final Consumption increased by over 30%, driven by industrialisation and economic expansion.
Financial Support: Credit flow to the energy sector grew over six times from ₹1,688 crore (2021) to ₹10,325 crore (2025).

National Statistics Office

NSO is the nodal statistical agency of India, under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
NSO is responsible for collecting, compiling, and publishing official data on GDP, inflation, employment, and various socio-economic indicators.

{GS3 – Envi} CMS COP15 Concluded in Campo Grande, Brazil **

Context (DTE): 15^th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the CMS concluded in Campo Grande, Brazil, under the theme “Connecting Nature to Sustain Life“.

Next COP: Germany will host COP16 to the CMS in Bonn in 2029, coinciding with the 50^th anniversary of the Convention.

Key Outcomes of CMS COP15

Species Protection: 40 species, subspecies, and populations were added to the CMS Appendices. Giant Otter, Striped Hyena, and Thresher Sharks were added to Appendix I.
Mining Moratorium: Countries were urged to pause deep-seabed extraction until scientific evidence confirms the safety of migratory marine ecosystems.
Enforcement Body: COP15 established the Global Initiative on the Taking of Migratory Species (GTI) to combat illegal hunting and exploitation of migratory species.
Blue Corridors: Transboundary migration routes for whales, turtles, and sharks were promoted for protection under the Blue Corridors Framework.
Seamount Designation: Seamounts were designated as Critical Habitat, calling for restrictions on bottom-trawling and commercial fishing.
Ocean Flyways: Six major flyways were mapped for the first time to coordinate avian protection over open oceans.
Infrastructure Standards: National planning was urged to integrate wildlife-friendly infrastructure standards for roads and railways.
Hemispheric Flyways: Atlas of the Migratory Routes of the Americas was launched to synchronise bird conservation across the Western Hemisphere
Noise Limits: Shipping and seismic surveys were targeted by updated guidelines on underwater noise to minimise physiological trauma to deep-diving cetaceans.
Catfish Protection: The Amazonian Catfish Action Plan was adopted to protect the world’s longest freshwater migration route in the Amazon basin.

Read More> Conservation of Migratory Species

{GS3 – DM} India’s Disaster Funding Framework under 16^th Finance Commission

Context (TH): India’s disaster funding framework underwent a structural overhaul under the 16^th Finance Commission (2026-31)

Disaster Funding Formula under 16^th Finance Commission

Model Shift: The earlier additive disaster-funding model was replaced by a multiplicative Disaster Risk Index (DRI).
Formula: DRI measures state disaster risk as a purely multiplicative formula: Hazard (H) × Exposure (E) × Vulnerability (V).
1. Hazard (H): Historical frequency and severity of 10 specific natural disasters.
2. Exposure (E): Projected population for October 2026, used as a proxy for lives, assets, and infrastructure at risk.
3. Vulnerability (V): Per-capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP); lower-income states score higher due to their limited fiscal cushion.
DRI Logic: States with equal risk (H × E × V) receive identical DRI allocations. The formula does not adjust funding based on a state’s institutional readiness.

Financial Allocation

Total Corpus: ₹2,04,401 crore was allocated for state-level disaster management over five years, a 27.6% increase over the 15^th Finance Commission.
Fund Split: The corpus is split 80:20 between the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF).
Centre-State Ratio: The Centre-State funding ratio is 75:25 for general category states and 90:10 for NE and Himalayan states.
Release Terms: Funds are released in two equal annual instalments, provided that states validate disaster data via the National Disaster Management Information System (NDMIS) portal.
Withholding Rule: If a state’s unspent SDRF balance exceeds its past three years’ annual allocation, the Centre may withhold further releases until the balance drops.
State Flexibility: States may use up to 10% of their SDRF for locally severe disasters not covered under the nationally notified list.

Key Structural Changes

New Disasters: Heatwaves and lightning were added to the nationally notified disaster list, allowing states to access central funds for both.
Discontinued Grants: Revenue Deficit Grants and sector-specific grants were discontinued. All state disaster funding now flows through the disaster management corpus.
Mitigation Priority: Funding for Preparedness and Capacity Building shifted from the SDRF to the SDMF, prioritising proactive risk reduction over post-event response.

Issues with Disaster Funding under 16^th Finance Commission

Population Bias: Population-based Exposure (E) weighting reduces fiscal support for sparsely populated zones facing extreme ecological risks.
Climate Blind Spot: Static historical averages for the Hazard (H) variable fail to account for the nonlinear acceleration of modern climate-induced disasters.
Digital Bottlenecks: Mandatory NDMIS data validation disadvantages technologically lagging states, risking aid delays during active emergencies.
Administrative Friction: The withholding rule does not account for legitimate delays such as procurement cycles and seasonal weather windows.
Safety-Net Erosion: Discontinuing Revenue Deficit Grants removes the primary fiscal cushion for mountain states with permanent structural vulnerabilities.

Proposed Reforms for Disaster Funding

Ecological Weighting: Replace population proxies in Exposure (E) with ecological risk factors to ensure sparsely populated, high-risk zones receive adequate fiscal support.
Efficiency Rewards: Reintroduce Capacity (C) into the DRI as a positive multiplier to incentivise states for institutional disaster preparedness.
Dynamic Modelling: Incorporate predictive climate simulations alongside historical averages to account for the non-linear acceleration of modern disasters.
Equalisation Grants: Establish a dedicated Climate Resilience Grant for mountain states to replace the fiscal cushion lost with the removal of Revenue Deficit Grants.
Risk Pooling: Develop a National Disaster Insurance Pool to reduce the direct fiscal burden on state budgets for high-magnitude catastrophes.

Read More> 16th Finance Commission | Climate Finance

{GS3 – S&T} NASA’s Artemis II Mission *

Context (IE): NASA’s Artemis II mission launches today, making it the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years.
It will carry four astronauts, including the first woman and the first person of colour.
International Partners: NASA has partnered with the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for its Artemis program.
Launch Vehicle: It will launch on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft.
Significance: It is the first crewed Artemis mission and the foundational step for upcoming missions aimed at a renewed human lunar landing and a sustained presence.

Artemis II Flight Path and Phases

Lift-off Phase: The SLS lifts off and places the crewed Orion spacecraft into an elliptical high Earth orbit (HEO) to test onboard life-support systems.
Lunar Phase: Orion will orbit the far side of the Moon, reaching ~7,600 km beyond the lunar surface, enabled by a Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI).
Return Path: It uses a free-return trajectory, letting the Moon’s gravity redirect it to Earth, ensuring passive safety if engines fail.
Re-entry Phase: Orion will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at about 40,000 km/h, testing the largest heat shield ever built before Pacific Ocean splashdown.

TLI is a crucial engine burn in Earth orbit that increases spacecraft velocity to escape Earth’s gravity and set it on a trajectory towards the Moon.

Read More > NASA’s Artemis Mission

{GS3 – S&T} BRIC-Research Advisory Board Holds First Meeting

Context (PIB): BRIC-Research Advisory Board held its inaugural meeting at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad.
BRIC-RAB is a high-level statutory scientific body that defines research priorities and sets strategic direction for the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC).

About Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC)

BRIC is the apex autonomous body under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology.
Establishment: It was founded in 2023 to unify 14 autonomous institutions into a national biotechnology framework.
Model: BRIC operates a decentralised national laboratory model to pool specialised expertise and strengthen global competitiveness.
Alignment: It supports the BioE3 Policy to help grow India’s bioeconomy to ₹300 billion by 2030.
Access: Through the SAHAJ scheme, BRIC provides nationwide access to advanced laboratory infrastructure and high-end scientific instrumentation.
Governance: Union Minister for Science and Technology serves as President, and the DBT Secretary serves as ex officio Director General.

iBRIC: 14 autonomous research institutions unified under the BRIC umbrella.
iBRIC+: An expanded framework that integrates iBRIC institutes with the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB).

{Prelims – Species} Neoloboptera peninsularis *

Context (NDTV): Researchers have identified Neoloboptera peninsularis, a new cockroach species, in Pune, Maharashtra.
India Record: It is only the third Neoloboptera species recorded in India and the first cockroach identified using DNA technology.
Appearance: The species has a glossy, yellowish-brown body with asymmetrical cerci.
Habitat: It was found in palm shrubs and dry, decaying leaf litter.
Distribution: N. peninsularis is endemic to Peninsular India.

{Prelims – Envi} Centre Notifies Bhavasagara as National Deep-Sea Fauna Repository *

Context (PIB): Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) designated “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre as India’s National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna.

The recognition was conferred under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Bhavasagara is situated at the Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) in Kochi, Kerala.
Collection: It holds over 3,500 geo-referenced specimens of identified deep-sea vertebrates and invertebrates for scientific research.
Custodianship: It is now the legal custodian for preserving the genetic data of newly discovered species within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Significance: The designation strengthens India’s Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) and aligns with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).

CMLRE is a leading national institute dedicated to marine ecosystem research and the conservation of marine biodiversity, operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

{Prelims – S&T} CSIR Transfers Indigenous Bio-Bitumen Technology *

Context (PIB): Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) transferred indigenously developed Bio-Bitumen technology for large-scale industry adoption.

Collaboration: CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) jointly developed the technology.
Significance: Industrial adoption will decrease India’s bitumen import costs, while utilising crop residue will aid in reducing stubble burning.

About Bio-Bitumen

Bio-bitumen is a renewable, low-carbon structural binder made from non-food biomass, such as agricultural and forestry residues.
It acts as a sustainable substitute for fossil-fuel-based asphalt in road construction applications.
Composition: Contains lignin polymers, bio-oils, resins, and saturates derived from biomass. Biochar is sometimes incorporated to enhance its hardness and thermal resistance.
Production Process: Agri-waste undergoes pyrolysis at 400–600°C in oxygen-free conditions to produce bio-oil, which is refined into road-grade bio-bitumen.
Climate Impact: It lowers lifecycle carbon footprint by 30–40% and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70% compared to conventional bitumen.
Key Milestones: India became the first country to produce bio-bitumen commercially; the first national highway section using a 15% bio-bitumen blend was inaugurated on NH-44 in 2024.

{Prelims – S&T} IIT Guwahati Develops PCM Bricks for Energy-Efficient Buildings

Context (TH): Researchers at IIT Guwahati have developed energy-efficient bricks that provide passive cooling for buildings.

Thermal Stability: The bricks use Phase Change Materials (PCM) to stabilise indoor temperatures.
Heat Cycle: During the day, the PCM melts to absorb excess heat; as temperatures drop in the evening, it solidifies to release the stored heat gradually.
PCM Type: OM35, with a melting point of 35°C, was chosen for its suitability in tropical climates.
Leakage Control: Porous, carbon-rich biochar absorbs and retains molten PCM within the brick matrix.
Performance: These bricks can lower indoor wall temperatures by about 3°C, potentially reducing cooling energy demands by 10-20%.

{Prelims – Exercise} IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) TTX 2026 *

Context (PIB): The Indian Navy hosted IMEX TTX 2026 at the Maritime Warfare Centre, Kochi.

Organisation Involved: Under the framework of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
Participation: Included navies from Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Timor-Leste.
Nature of Exercise: It was a Table-Top Exercise (TTX) conducted in a simulated environment.
Focus Areas: It focused on tackling non-traditional maritime security challenges such as piracy, trafficking, and maritime disasters in the IOR.
Strategic Importance: The exercise addressed security concerns in the IOR, which is vital for global trade, energy supply routes, and connectivity.
India’s Role: IMEX TTX 2026 coincides with India assuming the IONS

Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

IONS is a voluntary initiative that brings together navies of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Establishment: Launched in 2008 under the leadership of the Indian Navy to promote regional maritime collaboration.
Membership: It comprises navies of littoral states of the Indian Ocean, along with observer countries and international organisations.

{Prelims – Defence} INS Agray *

Context (PIB): ‘Agray’, the fourth Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), was recently delivered to the Indian Navy.

INS Agray is an Arnala-class ASW SWC with over 80% indigenous content, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
It is designed for sub-surface surveillance, search-and-attack missions and anti-submarine operations; also supports mine-laying and low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO).
Arnala-class vessels are the largest water-jet-propelled warships (77 m) in the Indian Navy.
Speed: It can attain ~25 knots, allowing for high manoeuvrability in shallow waters.
Weapon Systems: Equipped with indigenous rocket launchers, lightweight torpedoes, a 30 mm Naval Surface Gun, Stabilised Remote-Controlled Guns, and an advanced SONAR suite.
Significance: The Arnala-class will replace the Abhay-class ASW Corvettes to strengthen coastal anti-submarine capability and advance the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.