Current Affairs – March 07, 2026

{GS1 – Geo} Lab-Grown Diamonds (LGDs)

Context (TOI): Lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) are increasingly replacing mined diamonds due to lower cost, ethical sourcing, and advances in diamond-growing technology.

Nature: LGDs are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds. Both are composed of pure carbon arranged in a cubic crystal lattice.
Formation: Natural diamonds formed billions of years ago in the Earth’s mantle. LGDs replicate this process in weeks under controlled laboratory settings.
Methods: There are two main methods for producing LGDs, both beginning with a diamond seed –
1. Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD): Ionises hydrogen and methane into plasma inside a vacuum chamber. Carbon atoms from the plasma then deposit onto the seed layer by layer.
2. High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): Subjects a diamond seed to temperatures of 1,300-1,600°C and pressures of ~5-6 GPa. This causes carbon to crystallise around the seed.
Contrast: CVD simulates diamond formation in interstellar gas clouds. HPHT replicates the conditions of Earth’s mantle.
Industrial Use: Extreme hardness and high thermal conductivity make them critical for high-power electronics, laser diodes, and precision cutting tools.
Conflict-Free: LGDs are exempt from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) because they are not mined.
Global Share: India produced over 3 million carats of LGDs in 2023, accounting for roughly 15% of global production.
- The country is a global leader in CVD-based LGD production, with about 4,000–6,000 reactors, mostly concentrated in Gujarat.
Policy Status: Union Budget 2023-24 declared lab-grown diamonds a “sunrise industry” due to their high technology intensity and employment potential.

Read More > Diamonds and Quantum Technology

{GS2 – Polity} Judicial Safeguards Against the Rise of Hate Speech

Context (TH): Rising hate speech in India is threatening social harmony and testing the judiciary’s role in protecting constitutional values amid legal gaps, weak enforcement, and political sensitivities.

Hate Speech in India

Meaning: Speech or actions that promote hatred, discrimination, or hostility against a group based on identity such as religion, caste, ethnicity, or gender.
Forms: It may appear in speech, writing, symbols, images, gestures, or through online & offline platforms.
Legal Gap: Hate speech is not specifically defined in Indian law.

Regulation of Hate Speech in India

Article 19(2): Permits reasonable restrictions on free speech in the interests of public order, security of the state, and prevention of offences.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: Sections 8, 123(3A), and 125 penalise hate speech in the electoral context.
Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: Prohibits speech that promotes untouchability or communal disharmony.
BNS Section 196 (earlier IPC 153A): Penalises promoting enmity between groups on grounds such as religion, race, or language.
BNS Section 299 (earlier IPC 295A): Punishes deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
BNS Section 353: Penalises statements likely to incite offences against the State or disturb public order.

Supreme Court Judgements on Hate Speech

Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India: The SC refused to create a new offence without legislation and asked the Law Commission to define hate speech and suggest reforms.
Ramji Lal Modi v. State of UP: Upheld restrictions on speech that deliberately outrages religious feelings and threatens public order.
Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015): Struck down Section 66A of the IT Act, while reaffirming that vague restrictions cannot curb free speech.
Tehseen Poonawalla Judgment: Held that the State has a duty to protect citizens’ dignity and lives from hate crimes and mob violence.

Need for Criminalisation of Hate Speech in India

Protect Communities: Criminalising hate speech safeguards vulnerable groups from discrimination and social exclusion. E.g., 2020 Delhi riots saw online posts fueling real-world violence.
Prevent Violence: Legal provisions deter communal clashes and mob lynching by ensuring accountability.
- E.g., Tehseen Poonawalla v. Union of India (2018) mandated appointment of nodal officers to prevent hate crimes.
Ensure Accountability: Holds offenders and negligent authorities responsible, reducing impunity. E.g., the 2024 Karnataka elections had unregistered communal posts, showing enforcement gaps.

{GS2 – Governance} Nicotine Pouches Raise Regulatory Concerns in India

Context (TH): A recent surge in online sales of oral nicotine pouches has led to regulatory concerns and calls for a nationwide ban in India.

Key Concern: These pouches exceed medicinal limits permitted for Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs) under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Ban Rationale: Multinational tobacco companies evade COTPA, 2003, by marketing these as “tobacco–free,” risking neurocognitive development in youth.

Nicotine pouches contain highly addictive synthetic nicotine devoid of tobacco.
Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, regulates tobacco products and bans smoking in public places.

India’s Regulatory Framework for Nicotine

Constitutional Basis: Article 47 mandates that the State prohibit the use of intoxicating substances harmful to health.
Drugs & Cosmetics Act,1940: Permits low-dose NRTs like 2 mg gums while restricting high-dose nicotine products.
FSSAI Regulations, 2011: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India prohibits tobacco or nicotine as ingredients in food products.
Child Protection: Juvenile Justice Act (Section 77) penalises giving intoxicating substances to minors, and the Poisons Act, 1919, regulates unauthorised nicotine handling.

{GS3 – IE} Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FFS 2.0)

Context (HT | PIB): Union Cabinet has approved the ₹10,000 crore Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FFS 2.0) to accelerate India’s innovation journey.

Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS 1.0)

The original FFS was launched in 2016 to support the Startup India Action Plan.
FFS 1.0 nurtured first-time founders and attracted private capital to build a strong foundation for India’s venture capital ecosystem.
It committed its entire corpus to 145 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), with investments exceeding ₹25,500 crore in 1,370 startups.

Objective: This second phase aims to accelerate startup growth by facilitating long-term domestic capital and addressing funding gaps in high-risk sectors.
Operating Agency: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) serves as the fund’s primary operating agency.
Operational Model: The initiative follows a “fund of funds” model, in which the government commits capital to SEBI-registered AIFs rather than investing directly in startups.
Multiplier Effect: These AIFs, known as “daughter funds,” raise additional capital from private investors, creating a financial multiplier effect.
Key Features:
- Targeted Approach: FoF 2.0 prioritises deep-tech and technology-driven manufacturing sectors that require patient, long-term capital.
- Stage Focus: The initiative targets early-growth stage startups to provide a financial safety net and reduce early-stage failures.
- Regional Inclusivity: The policy aims to democratise funding by promoting venture capital investment in tier-II and tier-III cities.
Significance: The scheme fosters high-quality job creation and economic resilience, aligning with the national vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.

Read More > 10 years of Startup India

{GS3 – IE} Impact of the Israel-Iran War on India’s Basmati Exports **

Context (DTE): India’s basmati rice exports are facing disruption due to the ongoing US–Israel–Iran conflict, which has heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Instability in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf waters has increased freight, fuel, and insurance costs, delaying shipments to West Asia.

Basmati Export Overview

Global Leadership: India is the largest global exporter of basmati rice, with total exports around 6 million tonnes in FY 2024–25.
Regional Dependence: West Asia (Middle East) remains the dominant market, accounting for 60–70 % of total shipments.
Iran Significance: Iran alone contributes a significant share, historically accounting for up to 15–20 % of basmati exports, a crucial revenue source.

Immediate Disruptions Due to the War

Stranded Cargo: Nearly 400,000 tonnes of basmati rice remain stuck at Indian ports or mid-transit due to shipping route disruptions and vessel cancellations.
Route Disruption: Shipping lines suspended or rerouted vessels around the Strait of Hormuz, extending transit times from 25–30 days to 35–45 days.
Freight Surge: Container freight rates on Asia–Middle East routes jumped from $1,200–$1,800 to $3,500–$4,500 per FEU, nearly threefold.
Inflation: Bunker fuel prices soared from $520 to $700 per tonne, adding to shipping & logistics costs.
Insurance Hike: War-risk surcharges and marine insurance premiums surged, reflecting heightened security risks in Gulf transits.

Broader Economic Implications

Trade Impact: Basmati export disruption affects textiles, pulses, and manufactured goods bound for the Middle East.
Cost Pressure: Freight and insurance hikes of 15–20% raise overall logistics costs.
Supply Vulnerability: Dependence on the Middle East for energy and fertilisers exposes India to geopolitical shocks.

Mitigation Strategies

To mitigate export disruptions, India must adopt short-term relief and long-term strategies.

Short-Term Strategies

Port Relief: Waive demurrage and storage charges for stranded cargo and facilitate redirection of shipments to alternative routes.
Force Majeure Recognition: Government advisory declaring the conflict as a force majeure event to protect exporters from contractual penalties.

Demurrage is a fee charged when cargo or containers stay at the port beyond the allowed time.
Force Majeure refers to unforeseen events that temporarily excuse contractual obligations without penalty.

Long-Term Strategies

Market Diversification: Target Africa, ASEAN, and Europe to reduce Middle East dependence.
Supply Resilience: Strengthen alternate routes, container capacity, and port infrastructure.
Risk Management: Promote hedging, insurance, and dynamic pricing to mitigate geopolitical risks.

{GS3 – S&T} Bio-based Chemicals and Enzymes

Context (TH): India has prioritised bio-based chemicals and enzymes under the BioE3 Policy to reduce import reliance on imported petrochemicals and crude oil derivatives.

BioE3 Policy

The BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) is a national framework launched in 2024 to position India as a global biomanufacturing powerhouse.
Nodal Ministry: It is spearheaded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science & Technology.
Three Pillars: It focuses on boosting the economy by driving biotechnology-led GDP growth, protecting the environment, and creating employment in Tier-II/III cities.
Focus Areas: Six thematic sectors — bio-based chemicals, smart proteins, precision biotherapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, carbon capture and utilisation, and marine-space research.
Economic Target: To grow India’s bioeconomy from $150 billion (2023) to $300 billion by 2030.

About Bio-based Chemicals

These are industrial chemicals derived from renewable biological feedstocks (sugarcane and biomass residues) rather than from fossil fuels.
They are primarily manufactured through fermentation, microbial synthesis, or enzymatic conversion.
Examples: Include bio-alcohols (ethanol), organic acids (lactic acid), bio-plastics, and bio-surfactants.
Key Benefits: These chemicals have a 30–80% lower carbon footprint than traditional petrochemicals.
Major Challenges: The sector faces high production costs and inconsistent feedstock supply chains.
Significance: Producing these chemicals supports India’s ‘Net Zero’ by 2070 targets by lowering industrial carbon emissions.

About Enzymes

Enzymes are biological catalysts (proteins) that accelerate chemical reactions with high specificity and work effectively at relatively low temperatures and pressures.
- E.g., Include proteases (break down proteins), lipases (hydrolyse fats), & amylases (convert starch).
Industrial Application: Across sectors like Detergents (stain removal), Textiles (bio-polishing), Biofuels (breaking down biomass), and Pharmaceuticals.
Key Benefit: Enzyme use eliminates harsh chemicals, reducing toxic waste and hazardous by-products.
India’s Hurdles: Commercial scaling in India is currently slowed by complex, multi-layered regulatory approval processes.
Future Roadmap: The government aims to establish bio-foundries to design custom enzymes for specific industrial needs.

Read More > India’s Bioeconomy Sector

{Prelims – Envi} New Threat to Declining Migratory Species

Context (DTE): An interim update to the State of the World’s Migratory Species Report (2024) highlights rapid declines in migratory wildlife and identifies a new global threat.

The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) prepared the State of the World’s Migratory Species Report as the first global assessment for the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

Key Findings of the 2026 Interim Report

Extinction Threat: 24% of CMS-protected migratory species and 97% of migratory fish species are now at high risk of extinction.
Population Decline: 49% of CMS-listed species are currently declining in population globally, a 5 percentage point increase from 2024.
New Threat: Avian Influenza (H5N1) has caused mass mortality in species such as African Penguins, Peruvian Pelicans, and South American Sea Lions.
Infrastructure Impact: Rapid linear infrastructure expansion has disrupted ecological connectivity, sharply reducing migratory species populations.
Risk Reclassification: Twenty-six species, including 18 migratory shorebirds, have been classified into higher threat categories on the IUCN Red List.

{Prelims – Species} Dusky Eagle-Owl (Ketupa coromandus) *

Context (NIE): A pair of elusive Dusky Eagle-Owls (Ketupa coromandus) was recently spotted in the Phato tourism zone of Uttarakhand’s Terai West Forest Division near Corbett Tiger Reserve.

About Dusky Eagle-Owl (Ketupa coromandus)

Dusky Eagle-Owl, also known as the Dusky Horned Owl, is a large predatory owl native to South and Southeast Asia.
Appearance: It has greyish-brown plumage, bright yellow eyes, prominent ear tufts, and pale underparts with dark streaks. Females are larger than males.
Activity Pattern: The owl is primarily nocturnal and crepuscular; it becomes active an hour before sunset and may hunt diurnally during cloudy or low-light conditions.
Habitat: It inhabits riparian forests, wetlands, and old plantations such as mango or tamarind groves.
Distribution: Its range spans Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Diet: As an apex predator, it feeds on birds, rodents, hares, squirrels, reptiles, fish, and large insects.
Nesting: It repurposes abandoned stick nests built by large birds such as storks, vultures, or eagles.
Ecological Role: The owl acts as a natural pest controller and signals healthy ecosystems with a stable prey population.
Key Threats: Deforestation, agricultural expansion, superstition-driven hunting, illegal trade
Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern; CITES: Appendix II; WPA: Schedule II.

{Prelims – Envi} Project HANUMAN

Context (DTE): Andhra Pradesh Government launched Project HANUMAN on World Wildlife Day.

World Wildlife Day is observed annually on 3 March to commemorate the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 1973.

Project HANUMAN (Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid and Nursing of Wildlife) aims to reduce human–wildlife conflict and strengthen wildlife conservation.
Technology Integration: It employs AI-powered early warning systems and dispatches specialised wildlife rescue vehicles for rapid response.
Community Participation: Village-level “Vajra Teams” of trained volunteers offer immediate local response during wildlife conflicts.

{Prelims – Sports} First Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG 2026)

Context (PIB): Chhattisgarh will host the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG), 2026.

This new addition to the Khelo India initiative aims to integrate sporting talent from tribal regions into the national sports framework.
It will feature both competitive and traditional demonstration sports (Mallakhamb and Kabaddi).
Organisers: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), Sports Authority of India (SAI), and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) are jointly organising the games.
Mascot: The official mascot, ‘Morveer’, symbolises the pride and courage of tribal communities.
Significance: The initiative advances the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision by strengthening early talent detection in tribal areas.

Khelo India Scheme is a flagship Central Sector Scheme launched in FY 2016–17 by MYAS to strengthen India’s sports ecosystem.

Read More > Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 | Khelo India Scheme