Current Affairs – March 19, 2026

{GS1 – Geo} ISRO Study Highlights Ice Patch Collapse on Melting Glaciers **

Context (TH): A study by ISRO has linked the Dharali village (Uttarakhand) 2025 flash flood to the collapse of an exposed ice patch on the nivation zone of Srikanta Glacier.

Ice patches are exposed portions of glacier ice that become visible when the overlying snow & firn layers melt due to warming temperatures.
Unlike snow-covered ice, ice patches are more unstable & sensitive to temperature changes & rainfall.
The study expands glacier hazard understanding beyond Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) to include ice-patch collapse and emerging cryo-hydrological hazards in the Himalayas.

Nivation zone is an area on a mountain where snow stays for a long time and slowly wears away the ground underneath.
Due to repeated freezing and melting, this area becomes weak and unstable, making it prone to landslides or ice collapse.

Deglaciation

Deglaciation refers to the retreat, thinning, or loss of glaciers due to rising temperatures and climate change.
It occurs when the melting of ice exceeds the accumulation of snowfall, leading to a reduction in glacier mass.
Deglaciation results in features like glacial retreat, exposed ice patches, and the formation of glacial lakes.
It increases the risk of hazards such as flash floods, GLOFs, and ice collapse events.

Srikanta Glacier

Srikanta Glacier is a valley glacier located in the upper Bhagirathi River basin near Srikanta Peak in Uttarakhand.
The glacier feeds the Khir Gad stream, which flows through Dharali and joins the Bhagirathi River.
The glacier has shown signs of deglaciation, including thinning snow cover & formation of exposed ice patches.

Context (IE): Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education recommended introducing breakfast under PM POSHAN to counter undernourishment and stunting among children.

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommended scheduling cognitively demanding lessons in morning hours after a nutritious breakfast.
State Initiatives: Several states have independently launched breakfast programmes using their own resources, e.g., Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka.

Recommendations by the Standing Committee

Breakfast Inclusion: Introduction of at least a light breakfast, prioritising morning-shift schools.
Coverage Expansion: Immediate extension of PM POSHAN to Class 10 and phased rollout to Class 12 within five years.
Funding: Progressive increase in financial contributions by both the Central and State governments to fund the additional meal.
Cost Revision: Revision of the material cost rate per child per day to keep pace with inflation.

Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN)

PM POSHAN is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Education, replacing the former National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools.
Nodal Agency: The scheme is overseen by the Department of School Education and Literacy.
Provision: It provides one hot cooked meal every school day to all students from Classes 1 to 8 and children in Bal Vatikas in government and government-aided schools.
Nutrition Norms: Meals must meet prescribed norms of 450 kcal & 12 g protein for Primary students, and 700 kcal and 20 g protein for Upper Primary students.
Scale: PM Poshan serves approximately 11 crore children across over 11 lakh schools, making it one of the world’s largest school meal programmes.
Cost Sharing: Central Government and States share costs in a 60:40 ratio, while North Eastern and Himalayan states share costs in a 90:10 ratio.
Accountability: Social audits are mandatory in all districts to ensure transparency, accountability, and service quality.
Supplementary Nutrition: The scheme allows Aspirational Districts and areas with high anaemia prevalence to provide milk, eggs, or fruit beyond the standard meal.

Context (TH): A recent report on child mortality was released by the United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME).

Report highlights the global slowdown in reducing child mortality, while India shows steady progress.

Key Highlights of the Report

Around 4.9 million children under five died in 2024, including 2.3 million newborns, highlighting a major global health concern.
Global under-five mortality has declined by over 50% since 2000, but progress has slowed by more than 60% since 2015, threatening SDG targets.
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 58% of total under-five deaths, indicating major regional disparities.

Major Causes of Child Deaths

Neonatal complications: Preterm birth, birth asphyxia, & delivery-related complications account for the largest share of under-five deaths.
Infectious diseases: Malaria, pneumonia, & diarrhoea remain leading causes, especially in developing regions.
Malnutrition (SAM): Acute malnutrition weakens immunity & increases risk of death among children.

India’s Status in Child Mortality

Under-5 Mortality Rate: U5MR decreased significantly from 127 in 1990 to 27 in 2024 (UN).
Neonatal Mortality Rate: NMR reduced from 57 (1990) to 17 in 2024 (UN).
As per the Sample Registration System (SRS), MMR fell from 130 in 2014–16 to 88 in 2020–22.

Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR): Number of deaths of infants within the first 28 days of life per 1,000 live births.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Number of deaths of children below 1 year of age per 1,000 live births.
Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR): Number of deaths of children under five years of age per 1,000 live births.
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): Number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births due to pregnancy-related causes.

Government Schemes and Initiatives for Maternal & Child Health

National Health Mission (NHM): Umbrella programme for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) services.
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): A conditional cash transfer scheme promoting institutional deliveries among poor and vulnerable women.
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): Provides free delivery, Caesarean section, drugs, diagnostics, diet, blood, and transport for mothers and infants.
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): Ensures free antenatal care (ANC) by specialists on the 9^th of every month.
Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK): Screens children (0–18 years) for 4Ds: Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies, and Developmental delays, including disability.
STOP Diarrhoea Campaign: Promotes Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and Zinc therapy.
Mothers’ Absolute Affection (MAA): Promotes breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding.
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC): Skin-to-skin care for low-birth-weight babies.
SAANS: Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Effectively reduces pneumonia deaths.

{GS3 – IE} Supreme Court to Re-examine Definition of Industry

Context (TH | LM): Supreme Court has constituted a 9-judge Constitution Bench to reconsider the definition of “industry” as defined in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (IDA).

The Court is also questioning whether government-run welfare or support activities (e.g., canteens in defence organisations) should be treated as industries.
Traditionally, only core sovereign functions, defence, law & order, judiciary, and policymaking were excluded from labour laws.
The ruling will affect labour rights, the scope of labour laws, and the functioning of public sector and welfare institutions.

Current Definition of Industry

The present understanding of “industry” is based on the 1978 SC judgment in Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board v. A. Rajappa.
The definition is guided by the “triple test”, systematic activity, employer–employee relationship, and production or distribution of goods or services.
Profit motive is not necessary, meaning even non-profit and charitable organisations can be considered industries.

As a result, entities like hospitals, educational institutions, clubs, and some government bodies can fall under this definition.
The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 broadly retains this definition from IDA but excludes sovereign functions and domestic services.

Probable Impacts of Revisiting Industry Definition

Impact on Workers: Reduced coverage under labour laws if the definition is narrowed, excluding sectors like hospitals, NGOs, & universities.
- Workers may lose access to labour courts and dispute resolution mechanisms, making justice slower and more expensive.
- Possible erosion of job security, protection against unfair dismissal, and union bargaining power.
Impact on Employers: Employers may benefit from reduced regulatory and compliance burden, especially in non-profit and public sectors. Greater flexibility in hiring, firing, & managing workforce.
Economic & Social Impact: Potential shift towards ease of doing business, but at the cost of worker protections.

{GS3 – IE} India Prioritises PNG Network Expansion Amid LPG Supply Shortage **

Context (IE): Central Government urged states to expedite Piped Natural Gas (PNG) expansion amid LPG supply disruptions due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

Other Key Steps: The government recently issued an order, under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to prioritise gas allocation to the domestic PNG and CNG sectors.
- An amendment to the LPG Control Order now prohibits households with active PNG connections from retaining or obtaining domestic LPG cylinders.

About Piped Natural Gas (PNG)

PNG mainly contains methane (85–95%), along with small quantities of ethane and propane.
Safety Feature: PNG is lighter than air, so it disperses quickly during leaks. LPG is heavier than air and therefore settles near the ground.
Supply Flow: It is supplied continuously (24/7) via underground City Gas Distribution (CGD) pipelines.
Regulation: PNG operations are overseen by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).
Infrastructure: Expansion of PNG networks is driven by the One Nation, One Gas Grid initiative, including projects like the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga pipeline.
Significance: Expanding PNG networks boosts energy security, promotes cleaner combustion, and removes logistical hurdles of cylinder transportation.

One Nation, One Gas Grid initiative, launched in 2014, integrates regional gas networks into a unified national grid, ensuring equitable access to CNG and PNG.
Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga pipeline links eastern & northeastern states to India’s national gas grid.

{GS3 – IE} Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) **

Context (NOA): Union Cabinet approved Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) with a total outlay of ₹33,660 crore.

Objective: The scheme aims to make India a global manufacturing hub by developing 100 plug-and-play industrial parks.
Park Size: The parks will range from 100 to 1,000 acres, with a minimum of 25 acres in the Northeast and hilly regions.
Land Bank: BHAVYA targets bringing ~34,000 acres of land into immediate industrial readiness.
Selection: Projects are selected through challenge mode using four criteria: PM GatiShakti principles, underground utility corridors, green energy infrastructure, and Ease of Doing Business reforms.
Timeline: The programme runs for six years across two phases from FY 2026-27 to FY 2031-32, with the first phase covering 50 industrial parks.
Funding: Central Government will provide up to ₹1 crore per acre for core infrastructure and fund up to 25% of external connectivity costs.
Nodal Agency: The National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) serves as the nodal agency.
SPV Model: Each park will be managed by a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) responsible for planning, development, and execution.
Connectivity: Alignment with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan ensures seamless multimodal connectivity across all parks.

Plug-and-Play Industrial Infrastructure refers to ready-to-use industrial parks or zones where core infrastructure, essential utilities, and key regulatory approvals are arranged in advance.

{GS3 – Agri} Government Approves MSP Funding for Cotton Sector

Context (ET | PIB): Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved fresh Minimum Support Price (MSP) funding to the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) for the cotton season 2023–24.

CCI, established in 1970, serves as the primary agency for MSP operations in the cotton sector and functions under the Ministry of Textiles.

About Cotton

Cotton is a Kharif cash crop, often referred to as “White Gold” due to its high economic value.
Climatic Needs: Around 21°C–30°C temperatures, about 210 frost-free days, & 50–100 cm of rainfall.
Soil Types: Deep black cotton soil (Regur) of the Deccan Plateau is ideal, but also grows in alluvial, red, and laterite soil.

Cotton Production in India

India is the largest cotton producer (2024–25), contributing around 23–25% of global cotton output.
It has the largest area under cultivation globally, accounting for nearly 40% of total acreage.
Major States: Maharashtra leads in production, while Gujarat records the highest productivity.
Diversity: India is the only country in the world that commercially cultivates all four species of cotton—G. arboreum, G. herbaceum, G. barbadense, G. hirsutum.
GM Cultivation: Over 90% of cotton acreage is under Bt cotton, a genetically modified variety to resist bollworm infestation.

Recent Government Initiatives

Mission for Cotton Productivity (2025–26) was launched in the Union Budget 2025-26, to boost yields via technology, pest-resistant varieties, and focus on Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton.
Kasturi Cotton Bharat, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Textiles, CCI, and TEXPROCIL, aims to create a premium global brand for Indian cotton using blockchain and QR-based traceability.
Digital Integration: Cott-Ally App monitors MSP rates, procurement centres, and best practices; Kapas Kisan App streamlines cotton procurement.

Read More > Cotton Production | Cotton Industry in India

{GS3 – Envi} Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme **

Context (PIB): Union Cabinet approved the Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme for FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.

It aims to install a total of 1,500 MW of small hydropower capacity over five years in targeted regions.
The scheme focuses on run-of-the-river projects in remote, hilly, and North Eastern terrains.
Nodal Ministry: It is managed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Financing: It provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) through a tiered subsidy system.
- North Eastern States & International Border Districts get ₹3.6 crore per MW or 30% of project cost (whichever is lower).
- Other States receive ₹2.4 crore per MW or 20% of the project cost (whichever is lower).
Key Mandate: Projects must use 100% indigenous plant and machinery to qualify for financial support aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Significance: It reduces reliance on long transmission lines, minimises losses, and supports India in reaching its 500 GW non-fossil capacity target by 2030.

In India, hydropower projects up to 25 MW are classified as SHP; they fall under the MNRE, while projects above 25 MW fall under the Ministry of Power.

{GS3 – Envi} Aravalli Hills Definition Committee **

Context (IE): Supreme Court has ordered a fresh committee to define the Aravalli range after controversies over earlier criteria.

Existing Mapping (2011): Forest Survey of India (FSI) had already scientifically mapped the Aravallis using GIS and slope-based criteria, making redefinition arguably unnecessary.
100 m Criterion: A committee in 2025 proposed defining Aravalli hills using a 100 m height threshold.

Key Concerns About the Aravalli Definition Issue

Flawed Criteria: The proposed 100 m elevation rule is overly simplistic and ignores the natural geomorphology of hill systems.
Ecological Risk: Excluding low-elevation hills may expose them to mining, deforestation, and land degradation.
Scientific Inaccuracy: It disregards slope-based and GIS mapping methods used by FSI, which are more reliable.
Reduction in Coverage: Sharp drop from ~62 districts (FSI) to 37 districts (new committee) risks large-scale exclusion.
Threat to Fragile Ecosystem: Aravallis play a key role in desert control, groundwater recharge, & biodiversity, making misclassification dangerous.

Aravalli Range

Among the world’s oldest fold mountains (Precambrian age), it is highly eroded & low in height.
Location: Extends about 700 km from Delhi–Haryana to Gujarat, passing through Rajasthan.
Highest peak: Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
Physiographic Role: Acts as a natural barrier between Thar Desert and Indo-Gangetic plains, helping limit desert expansion.
Ecological Role: Supports biodiversity, groundwater recharge, & climate regulation in north-west India.
Threats & Conservation: Faces mining, deforestation, urbanisation pressures; addressed through initiatives like the Aravalli Green Wall Project.

{Prelims – IR} Iran Strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG Hub *

Context (IE | NDTV): Iranian missile strikes have damaged Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG Complex, including the Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) project.

Pearl GTL project is the world’s largest facility converting natural gas into high-quality liquid hydrocarbons beyond LNG.

About Ras Laffan LNG Complex

The complex is the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export centre, located on Qatar’s northeast coast along the Persian Gulf.
Resource Base: The plant processes gas from the North Field, the largest non-associated gas field.
- The field lies beneath the Persian Gulf, shared between Qatar (North Field) and Iran (South Pars).
Capacity: It can produce around 77 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), representing ~20% of the total global LNG supply.
Infrastructure: It features the world’s largest artificial harbour and large-scale LNG “mega trains.”
Export Destinations: It mainly exports LNG to China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the EU.

LNG is mostly methane, cooled to a liquid state. Liquefying reduces volume by 600 times, making transport easier. It emits 40% less CO₂ than coal and 30% less than oil.

{Prelims – Geo} Silverpit Crater

Context (TOI): New research has confirmed that the Silverpit Crater beneath the North Sea was formed by an asteroid impact 43–46 million years ago, likely triggering a massive tsunami.

Location: Located beneath the North Sea, about 130 km off the coast of the United Kingdom.
Discovery: Discovered in 2002 through seismic surveys during oil and gas exploration.
Depth: The structure lies around 700 metres beneath the seabed, buried under thick sediment layers.
Scientific Evidence: Presence of shocked quartz and feldspar crystals, which form only under extreme pressure from meteorite impacts.
Rarity: Oceanic impact craters are rare; only about 33 such craters have been identified beneath the oceans worldwide.
Scientific Importance: Helps scientists understand asteroid impacts, planetary geology, and potential future collision risks.

{Prelims – Species} Butis bargabhimae *

Context (RM): Scientists discovered a new estuarine fish species, Butis bargabhimae, in the Rupnarayan River near Tamluk, West Bengal.

Butis bargabhimae is a small, bottom-dwelling sleeper goby fish.
Appearance: It has alternating light and dark bands on its pectoral fins and unique interorbital scales between its eyes.
Habitat: The goby prefers muddy or sandy substrates in brackish estuarine waters.
Diet: It is a carnivorous ambush predator that feeds on crustaceans and small invertebrates.
Ecological Role: It is a mesopredator in the estuarine food web, regulating populations of smaller invertebrates and crustaceans.

Rupnarayan River is a right-bank tributary of the Hooghly River in West Bengal. The ancient port of Tamralipta was located on its right bank in present-day Tamluk.

{Prelims – Agri} Coconut Promotion Scheme

Context (PIB): Union Budget 2026-27 announced a Coconut Promotion Scheme to increase production and enhance sectoral productivity.

It is a Central Sector initiative under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW).
Nodal Agency: Coconut Development Board (CDB), a statutory body based in Kochi, Kerala, will implement the scheme.
Key Focus: Removal of old, senile, and diseased palms, replacing them with new, high-yielding, early-bearing, and climate-resilient saplings.
Tech Integration: Farmers will be connected to Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual AI platform providing real-time advice on pests and nutrient management.

India’s Coconut Production

India is the largest producer, contributing about 30.37% of global coconut production, and ranks 2^nd worldwide in coconut productivity.
Cultivation Area: India accounts for about 2.16 million hectares out of 12.39 million hectares globally.
Livelihood Support: The sector employs almost 30 million people, including 10 million farmers.
Major States: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh produce over 90% of the total.

{Prelims – S&T} Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Discovers New Particle *

Context (TH): Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have discovered a new subatomic particle called Xi-cc-plus.

Xi-cc-plus consists of three quarks and is about four times heavier than a proton.
It has two charm quarks and one down quark, unlike a proton with two up quarks and one down quark.

Quark is an elementary particle and a fundamental building block of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons (e.g., protons and neutrons).
Charm quark is one of six quark types; it is heavier and less stable than the up and down quarks.

About Large Hadron Collider

LHC is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator, built by the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN). It is located in a circular underground tunnel near Geneva.
It aims to test the predictions of the Standard Model of particle physics and to advance quantum research.
Function: Accelerates proton or ion beams to near light speed and collides them to recreate conditions that existed fractions of a second after the Big Bang.
Technology: The collider uses over superconducting magnets kept at extremely low temperatures to guide and focus beams.
Key Achievement: The LHC confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson in 2012.

{Prelims – Defence – Exercise} Exercise LAMITIYE-2026

Context (TH | PIB): 11^th India–Seychelles joint military exercise LAMITIYE-2026 is taking place at the Seychelles Defence Academy.

The 2026 edition marks the first tri-service participation, involving the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Objective: To improve interoperability for sub-conventional operations in semi-urban environments under the UN Peacekeeping Operations.
Focus Areas: Rapid-response drills, maritime security, AI and swarm drones in disaster management, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
Significance: The exercise strengthens India’s defence partnership in the Indian Ocean Region and supports its SAGAR vision.

Seychelles is an archipelago with about 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar. It lies on the Mascarene Plateau and comprises two main island groups—the mountainous Mahé group and the flat coralline Outer Islands.