Current Affairs

{GS1 – Geo – IG} One Nation, One Time

Context (TOI): The government will mandate the use of Indian Standard Time (IST) for all legal, commercial, digital, and administrative purposes.

For the first time in Indian history, IST will be the official legal time of India. To implement the change, the government will soon notify the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025.
The draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025, were notified by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) for seeking comments from all stakeholders.

Indian Standard Time (IST)

Official Time: IST was adopted in 1906 during the British era with the phasing out of its precursor Madras Time. After Independence in 1947, the govt. established IST as the official time for whole country.
Reference Longitude: Indian Standard Time is calculated from the reference longitude of IST at 82°30’E passing near Vindhyachal of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.
CSIR-National Physical Laboratory: Responsible for the maintenance and for keeping it traceable to the UTC provided by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures located in Sevres, France.

IST passes through 5 States: UP, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, & Andhra Pradesh.
UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) +5:30 hours: IST is 5;30 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
India Does Not Observe Daylight Saving Time. However, it was used briefly during the China–India War of 1962 and the Indo-Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971.

Draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025

Aim: To establish IST as mandatory time reference across all sectors, ensuring uniformity and precision.
Currently, India uses GPS satellites to determine the time, down to milliseconds, and it is linked to UTC. The new government proposal changes the way India manages its time zone, using its own Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) for time dissemination.
Key Provisions:
- Mandatory IST: These rules mandate the synchronization of legal, administrative, and commercial activities with IST, prohibiting the use of alternative time references unless explicitly permitted.
- Protocols: The adoption of reliable synchronization protocols such as Network Time Protocol (NTP) and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) by government offices & public institutions is required.
- Exceptions: Granted for scientific, astronomical and navigational purposes under prior government approval.
- Compliance: Will be periodically monitored through audits, with penalties imposed for violations.

Importance

Technological Competitiveness: Accurate timekeeping is essential for navigation, telecom, power grids, banking, and technologies like artificial intelligence, 5G technologies, and the Internet of Things.
National Security: Currently, many telecom and internet providers rely on foreign time sources, such as GPS, which can pose a risk to national security and real-time operations.
- The need for an indigenous time system was felt during Kargil War of 1999. India’s capacity to accurately target enemy positions was impacted due to its reliance on time data from foreign satellites.
Optimize Industrial Operations: By enabling synchronized manufacturing processes, enhancing technological integration, and improving global competitiveness.
Enhance Economic Efficiency: These rules synchronize communication networks, technological infrastructure, and public services, enabling seamless interactions and enhancing economic efficiency.
Others: The rules will facilitate accurate financial transactions, support emergency response coordination and ensure consistent scheduling of public transportation.

Also read > Historical Evolution of Timekeeping in India.

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} G7 Summit

Context (TH | BBC): 2025 G7 Summit in Canada, intended to mark the group’s 50^th anniversary with a display of unity, instead exposed deep internal divisions & lack of consensus on major global issues.
The summit’s outcomes raised questions about the relevance and value of India’s continued participation in such forums.

Key Outcomes and Issues

Lack of Consensus Amid Global Turmoil: The summit failed to address effectively several urgent international issues:
- The Russia-Ukraine war continues with no breakthrough.
- The Israel-Iran conflict, along with Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, saw no consensus.
- The U.S. resisted criticism of Israel and blocked efforts to call for a ceasefire, while instead pushing a one-sided condemnation of Iran.
U.S. Disruption and Trump’s Exit: President Trump’s unpredictable positions unsettled the G7 members. His tilt toward Russia, ambiguity on China, and support for Israeli aggression drew strong reactions.
- His proposal to expand the G7 to include Russia and China, followed by his early exit, prevented a joint declaration, resulting in only a Chair’s Summary being issued.
India-Canada Tensions Eased, Not Resolved: PM Modi’s presence stirred concerns among Canada’s Sikh diaspora, but the summit led to a diplomatic thaw, with both nations agreeing to restore consular services after last year’s row.
Trade Talks and Carney’s Economic Pitch: While no major deals were struck, tariff issues saw progress. The UK gained partial tariff cuts on car exports to the U.S., and Japan committed to ongoing talks. Carney emphasized Canada’s economic resilience and need to reduce U.S. trade dependence.

Broader Implications of the G7 Summit

A G6 in Practice: President Trump’s early exit and unilateral approach raised doubts about the U.S.’s commitment to multilateralism. The remaining leaders appeared more aligned, hinting at a de facto G6 dynamic during crucial discussions.
Security and Diplomacy in a Polarized World: Despite global tensions, Carney secured joint agreements on AI, quantum computing, wildfire cooperation, and migrant smuggling.
- His results-driven, technocratic leadership earned praise, though broader diplomatic breakthroughs remained limited.
Trade as a Diplomatic Lever: Amid rising trade tensions and looming U.S. tariffs (“Liberation Day” in July), leaders sought strategic trade gains. The EU, Canada, Japan, and the UK all engaged the U.S. on trade, with mixed outcomes.

Analysis

The G7’s failure to release a unified statement on global conflicts reflects its diminishing influence and growing internal divisions.
U.S. foreign policy volatility under Trump, coupled with rising unilateralism and conflicting national interests, has eroded the G7’s cohesiveness.
PM Modi’s last-minute invitation to the G7 summit reflects poorly on India’s strategic positioning. His limited role in just one outreach session offered minimal diplomatic returns for the resources and effort invested.

Way Forward for India

India must reassess the strategic utility of attending G7 summits unless there is meaningful engagement or a platform to further core national interests.
Stronger focus on alternative forums like BRICS, G20, SCO, and the Global South platforms could offer more balanced and inclusive dialogue spaces.
India should continue engaging bilaterally with key G7 members to pursue specific trade, technology, and security objectives.

{GS2 – IR – USA} Resetting the India-U.S. Partnership

Context (TH): India-U.S. ties face strain amid shifting U.S. policies, a strategic reset is needed to preserve long-term alignment & mutual trust.

Factors Responsible for Strained Relations

Transactional Diplomacy vs. Strategic Culture: U.S. prioritises short-term deals, India prefers civilisational & long-term engagement. E.g. Trump’s erratic style created uncertainty in Indian strategic circles.
Revival of Hyphenation with Pakistan: Post-Operation Sindoor, Trump equated India & Pakistan, undermining India’s global standing.
Incoherent Economic Signals: U.S. support for Indo-Pacific contradicted by moves like discouraging Apple from manufacturing in India.
Frictions Over Immigration: H-1B visa restrictions weaken technology & innovation linkages critical to bilateral ties.
Strategic Misunderstanding: India’s independent foreign policy seen as “fence-sitting” rather than sovereign assertion.

Hyphenation Policy means the U.S. treating India & Pakistan as equal or linked in foreign policy, instead of dealing with them separately.

Current Affairs

Implications

Diplomatic Parity Undermines India’s Rise: Re-equating India with Pakistan erodes India’s distinct global image.
Security Partnership at Risk: Trump hosting Pakistan’s army chief & CENTCOM praising Pakistan raises doubts on U.S. reliability.
Counterterrorism Doubts: U.S. cooperation with Pakistan viewed as ignoring its support for cross-border terror.
Nostalgia Over Strategy: U.S. sees Pakistan as a familiar partner despite repeated duplicity in Afghanistan and beyond.

CENTCOM (U.S. Central Command) is a unified combatant command of the U.S. military responsible for operations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia.

Approach to Stabilise Relations

Calibrated Diplomacy: Avoid overreaction and maintain quiet for issue-based engagement in defence, Quad & intelligence sharing. Prioritise tone, clarity & consistent commitment in diplomacy to reduce drift.
Broaden Outreach in U.S.: Engage U.S. lawmakers, think tanks & the Indian-American diaspora to shape bipartisan support.
Reignite Economic Confidence: Pursue modest but meaningful trade pacts, while U.S. must ease immigration & investment fears.
Advance Shared Values: Focus on building a democratic, rules-based Indo-Pacific rather than just balancing China.
Reframe Skilled Migration: Position H-1B visas as innovation enablers, not concessions.
Shared Innovation: Emphasise co-creation in tech, AI & green energy as core of bilateral cooperation.

Read also > India-US relations.

Context (TH | IE): The 16^th Finance Commission, set to decide devolution from April 2026, faces growing demands from States to raise their share in the divisible pool from 41% to 50%.

What is divisible pool of taxes?

The portion of central tax revenues shared with States as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission (FC), as outlined in Article 270 of the IC.
Shared taxes include corporation tax, personal income tax, Central GST, and Centre’s share of IGST.
Apart from the share of taxes, States are also provided grants-in-aid as per the recommendation of FC.
Cess and surcharge imposed by the Centre are not part of the divisible pool.
Current Share: The 15th Finance Commission fixed the States’ share at 41%, but actual transfers have been lower due to increased cess and surcharges, which are not shareable.

Key Issues in Financial Devolution

Rise in Cess & Surcharges: Non-shareable cess/surcharges have grown from 12.8% (2015–20) to 18.5% (2020–24) of Centre’s gross tax revenue. Effective State share has dropped to ~31% in recent years.
Post-GST Limitations: With GST subsuming several State taxes, their autonomous revenue capacity is limited. Even though GST collections have improved, States remain heavily reliant on Union transfers.
Horizontal Devolution Concerns: The formula favours States with larger populations and lower income, which penalises economically progressive States (especially Southern States) for better governance and fiscal responsibility.
- Northern States, with higher population growth, receive a greater share due to devolution formulas favoring 1971 population data and income distance.
Uneven tax returns across states: States get back varying amounts for every rupee they contribute to Central taxes.
- Industrially developed states receive less than a rupee per rupee contributed, while states like Uttar Pradesh get more as many corporations are headquartered in these state capitals where they would remit their direct taxes.
Composition & Mandate concerns: Appointments to 16^th Finance Commission, reflect minimal representation from South India.
- While its Terms of Reference (ToR) appear focused and clear, past commissions were criticised for being overloaded with vague tasks and exhibiting partisan bias.

Way Forward

Modest Increase in Vertical Devolution: A midway solution (e.g. increasing to 45%) could signal commitment to cooperative federalism.
Curb Arbitrary Tax Tools: Cap cess/surcharges or include them in the divisible pool to avoid weakening States’ fiscal space.
Refined Devolution Formula: Criteria should balance needs, performance, and area to reward good governance, not just demographic weight.
Enhance Stakeholder Consultation: The appointment process for the Finance Commission should involve States and reflect regional diversity.
A New Federal Compact: There is an urgent need for a political settlement that addresses the growing divergence in fiscal contribution and political power.

Context (TH): India saw a record 54 institutions featured in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

The QS World University Rankings is an annual publication by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a British company specialising in education & study abroad.
Performance metrics used for evaluation:
1. Academic & Employer Reputation.
2. Faculty Student ratio, International Faculty Ratio, International Student Ratio.
3. Citations per Faculty, International Research Network.
4. Employment Outcomes & Sustainability.

Key Findings

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) tops rankings for 14^th consecutive year with score of 100.
Top 5 Universities: MIT (1st), Imperial College London (2nd), Stanford University (3rd), University of Oxford (4th) & Harvard University (5th).
Asia’s Best: National University of Singapore (8th), NTU Singapore (12th), Peking University (14th), Tsinghua University (17th).
Biggest Climber: Sunway University (Malaysia) rose over 120 places.

Current Affairs

India Specific Findings

India ranks 4th globally with 54 institutions, behind the USA (192), UK (90) & China (72). Ranked universities have grown from 11 in 2014 to 54 in 2026, a 390% rise, the fastest among G20 nations.
IIT Delhi is the highest-ranked Indian institution, placed 123^rd globally, climbing over 70 spots in 2 years.
IIT Bombay ranked 129^th, slightly down from its best rank of 118 in 2025.
IIT Madras entered the top 200 for the 1^st time at 180^th by climbing 47 places.
India added 8 new universities in the 2026 rankings, the most by any country this year.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Biofuels: Food vs Feed Dilemma

Context (DTE | IE): India’s biofuel push raises concerns as food grains & subsidies are diverted for fuel, threatening food security & equity in the green transition.

Biofuels

Biofuels are energy carriers derived from biomass sources like food/non-food crops, algae, wood residues & agri-waste (FAO).
Ethanol is produced from:
- 1G (First Generation) sources: Food crops like rice, maize & sugarcane.
- 2G (Second Generation) sources: Non-food crops like agricultural residues, non-food biomass & lignocellulosic waste.
- 3G (Third Generation) sources: Algae & fast-growing aquatic organisms.
- 4G (Fourth Generation) sources: Genetically engineered crops.

Need for Biofuels

Import Substitution: Ethanol blending lowers crude oil imports by 80% of its oil, saving up to $4 billion annually (NITI Aayog) & acts as a domestic buffer against global oil price shocks, aiding economic & inflationary stability.
Environmental Gains: E20 ethanol blend cuts carbon monoxide emissions by 50% in two-wheelers & 30% in four-wheelers, improving air quality.
Rural Livelihood: Biofuel production can generate up to 18 million rural jobs, boosting incomes & supporting agrarian livelihoods.
Supports Agriculture: Promotes farm-sector investment & innovation, offering farmers alternative markets for surplus & waste crops.

Biofuels: A Threat to Food Security?

Food & Feed Diversion: Ethanol use has shifted maize & rice from food to fuel, making India a maize importer from exporter. E.g. 12.7 MT maize & 1 MT rice used for ethanol (2024–25).
Rising Prices & Feed Shortage: Livestock feed crunch (20 MT maize need) has pushed maize prices from ₹14K to ₹25K/tonne in 4 years.
Environmental cost: Crops like sugarcane need 1,500–2,000L water/kg, monocropping harms soil & long-term land health.
Crop Diversity: Ethanol-linked crops (rice, sugarcane) are preferred over pulses/oilseeds, hurting food diversity & climate resilience.
Oilseed Sector: Ethanol by-product replaced soybean meal, causing a 30% price drop, farmers got ₹4,300 vs. MSP of ₹4,892.

Way Forward

Focus on 2G, 3G, 4G Biofuels: Promote ethanol from non-food sources like crop residue, algae & GM organisms to avoid food crop diversion.
Vulnerable Groups: Strengthen food safety nets like the NFSA to shield poor households from rising food prices due to biofuel demand.
Crop Diversification: Promoting non-food biofuel crops (like pongamia, castor, jatropha) on wastelands can reduce pressure on food crops.
Utilise Wastelands: Encourage biofuel crop cultivation on degraded or non-arable land to protect food-producing farmland.
Rationalise Incentives: Adjust subsidies & taxes to discourage the use of fertile land for ethanol crops while supporting sustainable production.
Land Use Mapping: Use scientific land classification to balance ethanol targets with food production & ecological needs.
Clean Energy: Diversify energy strategy by investing in EVs, solar, wind & hydrogen to reduce pressure on agriculture.

Read also> Biofuels

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} Fattah Missile

Context (TH): Iran launched the Fattah hypersonic missile during a strike on Israel.

Fattah (meaning Conqueror in Persian) is Iran’s first indigenously developed hypersonic ballistic missile. Two-stage propulsion system improving range and terminal speed.
Range: Medium-range (1,400 km).
Speed: Claimed to reach Mach 13–15.
Propellant: Uses solid fuel for quicker launch and easier storage.
Warheads: Can carry multiple types, including nuclear.
Manoeuvrability: Re-entry vehicle (final missile stage) can change flight path mid-air to evade defences.

Credits: Wikipedia

Terms Explained

Range Classification: Short: <1,000 km; Medium: 1,000–3,000 km; Intermediate: 3,000–5,500 km; Long: >5,500 km.
Mach: Speed equal to the speed of sound (1,235 km/h at sea level).
Solid-Fuel Propellant: Ready-to-use, pre-mixed fuel for quick launch and long shelf life.
Two-Stage Propulsion: First stage lifts the missile; second extends speed and range.
Manoeuvrability: Allows mid-air path changes to avoid interception.
Terminal Speed: Final and fastest speed of the missile during its descent to the target.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio – Diseases} Venous thromboembolism (VTE)

Context (TH): The recent surge in COVID-19 cases in India has raised growing concerns over the associated risk of Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

VTE is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein. It occurs with DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE). It can result in significant mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs.
- Approximately 30% of patients with symptomatic VTE manifest with PE, and others with DVT.

Credits: EKHUFT

It occurs when a blood clot forms in deep veins, usually in the legs.
Symptoms: Swelling, pain, tenderness, or redness in the leg, especially the calf.
Severity: Can lead to pulmonary embolism if the clot travels to the lungs. Can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.

Pulmonary embolism is a serious condition where a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs, causing breathing difficulty and can be life-threatening.

The risk of developing VTE is highest after major surgery, major injury, or during periods of infection and inflammation.
Risk Factors: Increasing age, trauma, surgery, prolonged hospitalisation, malignancy, neurologic disease, central venous catheter, prior superficial vein thrombosis, and varicose veins etc.
- In women, oral contraceptive pill use, pregnancy, and hormone replacement therapy are established as independent risk factors.
Treatment: It can be treated using blood-thinning medicines.

Link with COVID-19

Hypercoagulability: COVID-19 triggers excessive inflammation, which increases blood clotting tendencies, heightening the risk of DVT.
- The virus also directly harms the endothelial cells that line blood vessels, which further increases the risk of clots forming.
Reduced Mobility: Patients confined to beds during isolation or hospitalization experience slower blood circulation, a major contributor to clot formation.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio} Inheritance: Beyond DNA

Context (TH): A new rice study shows environmental changes can affect traits passed to future generations, partly supporting Lamarck’s idea and challenging the belief that only DNA controls inheritance.

Lamarck’s Theory

Proposed by Jean Baptiste Lamarck in 1809 that traits acquired during an organism’s lifetime (through use, disuse, or environment) could be passed to offspring.
- E.g: Giraffes that stretched their necks developed longer necks, which were then inherited by their offspring.

Later Discoveries on Inheritance

Weismann’s Experiment: Cutting mice tails for generations didn’t change their babies; showed acquired traits aren’t inherited.
Mendel’s Laws: Traits are passed through fixed genetic units (genes), not affected by the environment.
DNA & Mutations: DNA carries traits, changes come from gene mutations, not from life experiences (like sickle cell example).

Later discoveries and Hereditary

Genes as Units of Inheritance: Mendel showed that traits are passed through stable genes, leading to predictable inheritance patterns (e.g., pea plant traits).
Genetic Variation Through Segregation: Mendel’s laws of segregation & independent assortment explained how different traits are inherited independently, increasing variation.
DNA Identified as Hereditary Material: Later discoveries confirmed that DNA, not proteins, carries genetic information.
Mutations Drive Evolution, Not Acquired Traits: Changes in DNA (mutations) explain new traits disproving Lamarck’s idea that acquired traits are inherited.

Significance

Environmental Influence on Heredity: The study showed that cold stress caused heritable epigenetic changes in rice without altering DNA, reviving Lamarckian ideas in modern science.
Epigenetics in Evolution: Demonstrated that gene expression can be regulated across generations via methylation, expanding understanding of inheritance beyond mutations.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Offers a breakthrough path for developing stress-tolerant crops without genetic modification vital for food security under climate change.

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without alterations to the underlying DNA sequence.

{Species – Discovery} Nothopegia Fossils discovered from Assam

Context (PIB): Researchers discovered 24-million-year-old fossilized leaves in the Makum Coalfield of Assam, resembling modern plant species of Nothopegia genus which is found in the Western Ghats.

The fossils date to the late Oligocene, around 24–23 million years ago.
Researchers used advanced techniques such as herbarium comparison, cluster analysis, and the Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program (CLAMP) in their study.

Credit: India Biodiversity Portal

Makum Coalfield: A Tertiary-age coal belt in Assam rich in fossil plant remains.
Oligocene: A geological epoch (34–23 million years ago) marked by global cooling and floral shifts.
Herbarium comparison: Refers to the process of examining and analyzing plant specimens preserved in herbaria (collections of dried, pressed plants) to identify, classify, and study plant diversity.
CLAMP: Estimates the paleoclimatic parameters of fossil floras based on datasets drawn from modern vegetation.

Key Findings of the study

Tectonic uplift of the Himalayas dramatically transformed the climate of Northeast India.
These geological changes led to cooler temperatures and disrupted rainfall and wind patterns, rendering the region inhospitable for many tropical plant species.
This Climate change caused the disappearance of Nothopegia from northeast India, while the species survived and became endemic to the Western Ghats, making it a living relic of an ancient ecological past.

Significance

Shows that extinction & migration driven by climate change are shaping the planet’s biodiversity for eons.
Understanding how Nothopegia once migrated helps scientists predict how modern plants might respond to global warming.
Understanding Nothopegia’s ancient migration highlights the importance of protecting biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats, which serve as sanctuaries for ancient plant lineages.

About Nothopegia

Nothopegia is a genus of plants in the family Anacardiaceae, native to India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Out of 11 species only 8 are reported to occur in India. Except Nothopegia heyneana all other species are restricted to the Western Ghats and South West India.
Small deciduous trees characterise this genus with simple leaves, unisexual tetramerous flowers and drupaceaous fruits.

Drupaceous fruits are fruits that are fleshy with a single hard stone or pit inside, which encloses the seed. Example – Mango, Peach, Plum etc.