Current Affairs – May 24-25, 2026

{GS1 – Geo} Push For Deep-Sea Mining ‘Unlawful’: ISA

Context (TH): International Seabed Authority (ISA) has termed the United States’ push to fast-track deep-sea mining permits in international waters as unlawful.

Deep-sea mining is the process of extracting mineral deposits from the deep seabed, defined as ocean depths greater than 200 metres, which covers approximately two-thirds of the total seafloor.
The ocean floor holds vast reserves of polymetallic nodules rich in manganese, cobalt, nickel, and other critical minerals, demand for which has surged due to the global transition toward electric vehicles, rechargeable batteries, and advanced alloys.

Deep-Sea Mining Governance

Deep-sea mining governance is primarily managed by the ISA under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which designates the international seabed as the “Common Heritage of Mankind”.
To date, the ISA has issued only exploration contracts and is currently developing a comprehensive mining code to govern the transition to commercial exploitation.
The organisation maintains that commercial activity should not commence until this code is formally in place.
Outside international waters, individual countries exercise sovereign rights over mining within their own Exclusive Economic Zones, governed by domestic laws and regional frameworks.

ISA

Autonomous international organization established under the UNCLOS on 16 November 1994.
It became fully operational in June 1996, as an autonomous international organisation.
Headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica
Members: 172 (171 Member States and the EU). India is a member of the ISA.
- The United States is not a party to UNCLOS and therefore not a member of the ISA.
Mandate: Regulate & control all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area beyond national jurisdiction.

{GS1 – IS} Sample Registration System 2024 Report **

Context (HT): The Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner (ORGI) released the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2024 reports.

SRS is India’s largest annual demographic sample survey, conducted by ORGI to estimate vital statistics such as birth rate, death rate, infant mortality rate, and fertility indicators.
It operates on a dual-record system comprising (1) Resident, part-time enumerators continuously recording vital events, (2) SRS supervisors conducting retrospective surveys every six months.

ORGI is an attached office under the Ministry of Home Affairs that conducts the decennial Census, manages the Civil Registration System (CRS), and publishes demographic and linguistic statistics.

Key Findings of the SRS 2024 Report

India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) remained unchanged at 1.9 in 2024, staying below the replacement level of 2.1 for the fifth consecutive year. Rural TFR is 2.1, compared with 1.5 in urban India.
- Only six states remain above the replacement level of 2.1.
Crude Death Rate (CDR) remained above the pre-pandemic level of 6.0 (2019-20). Deaths from cardiovascular diseases rose to 32.1% of total deaths during 2022-24, while those from respiratory infections fell to 5.7%. Deaths from motor vehicle accidents (3.2%) and suicides (2.8%) both rose in 2024.
India’s Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) improved marginally to 918 females per 1,000 males during 2022 to 2024. Under-Five Mortality Rate stands at 28.
Working-age population (15-59 years) expanded to 66.4% of the population, from 64% in 2014. The share of children aged 0-14 years has declined to 24%, signalling the gradual ageing of India’s population structure.

Indicator	National Level	Highest	Lowest
Total Fertility Rate	1.9	Bihar (2.1)	Delhi (1.2)
Crude Birth Rate ↓	18.3 per 1,000 population (2024)	Bihar (26.8)	Goa (10.7)
Crude Death Rate	6.4 per 1,000 population (2024)	Chhattisgarh (8.4)	Delhi (4.5)
Infant Mortality Rate ↓	24 per 1,000 live births (2024)	Chhattisgarh (36)	Manipur (2)
Natural Growth Rate ↓	11.9 per 1,000 population (2024)	Bihar (20.8)	Kerala (3.9)
Elderly population (60 years+) ↓	9.7% (females at 10.1% & males at 9.3%)	Kerala (15%)	Assam (7.6%)

{GS3 – DM} India’s Evolving Metrology Ecosystem *

Context (PIB | AIR): On World Metrology Day (20^th May), the government highlighted India’s evolving metrology ecosystem to strengthen fair trade, consumer protection and global competitiveness.

World Metrology Day commemorates the signing of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875. It is coordinated globally by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML).
- Theme 2026: “Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making”.
Metrology is the science of measurement that ensures accuracy, uniformity and reliability in measurements used in trade, industry, science and governance.

Importance of Metrology

Consumer Protection: Ensures consumers receive the correct quantity and value in products and services such as fuel, packaged goods and electricity.
Industrial Quality: Supports precision manufacturing in sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, healthcare and telecommunications.
Public Welfare: Ensures accuracy in medical diagnostics, water and electricity billing, speed monitoring and digital services.

Evolution of India’s Metrology Framework

Ancient India: Ancient India used standardised units such as Rati, Masha, Tola, Seer and Maund for trade and taxation.
National Physical Laboratory (1947): National Physical Laboratory became India’s National Measurement Institute and custodian of national standards.
Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956: Introduced uniform metric measurement systems aligned with international SI units.
Legal Metrology Act, 2009: Established a modern regulatory framework for weights, measures and packaged commodities; implemented from April 1, 2011.

Government Initiatives

eMaap Portal: Digital platform integrating Legal Metrology systems of all States/UTs for online registration and compliance.
One Nation, One Time Initiative: Disseminates Indian Standard Time (IST) with high precision through collaboration between NPL and the ISRO.
OIML Certification Recognition: India became the 13^th country authorised to issue internationally accepted OIML certificates for measuring instruments.
The Jan Vishwas reforms decriminalised minor legal metrology violations and introduced improvement notices for MSMEs to promote ease of doing business and voluntary compliance.

{GS3 – IE} India’s Talent Economy **

Context (TH): Rajasthan approved a new industrial development policy with focus on talent economy.

What is Talent Economy?

The talent economy refers to an economic system where the skills, creativity, knowledge, and expertise of individuals drive growth, innovation, and competitive advantage.
It prioritizes skills and expertise over traditional job titles and degrees, enabling individuals and companies to thrive in flexible global markets.
Key Drivers: Digital revolution through internet and smartphones, low entry barriers via social media platforms, and the growing dominance of knowledge-based industries and gig work.
Features: The talent economy is individual-centric, where platform-based ecosystems enable flexible work, multiple income streams, and direct access to global markets.

Opportunities and Challenges Presented by Talent Economy

Opportunities

Challenges

Employment Generation: The Talent Economy creates self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, especially for youth.
Democratization of Opportunity: Individuals no longer require massive capital or institutional backing to start earning.
Women Empowerment: Flexible digital work arrangements can increase women’s participation in the workforce.
Rural Empowerment: Digital platforms allow skilled individuals from rural and semi-urban areas to access national and global markets.

Income Instability: Earnings are often uncertain and dependent on market trends and platform algorithms.
Lack of Social Security: Many freelancers and creators lack pension, insurance, healthcare, and job security benefits.
Digital Divide: Unequal access to internet connectivity and digital literacy can exclude disadvantaged sections from opportunities.
Platform Dependency: Creators and freelancers often depend heavily on private digital platforms and their changing policies.

Read More> Gig Economy

{GS3 – IE} ‘Ease of Doing Research & Development in India’ Report **

Context (ET): NITI Aayog released the ‘Ease of Doing Research & Development in India’ report, highlighting major bottlenecks and reforms for the national innovation ecosystem.

Key Issues Highlighted

Funding Gaps: India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) remains stagnant at 0.65% of GDP, lagging behind the US and China. The ecosystem depends heavily on public funding (64%), with a focus on IITs, causing deficits elsewhere.
Human Capital: Despite a high number of science graduates, full-time researcher density is low at 262 per million (compared to China’s 1,585).
Regulatory Issues: Rigid procurement rules, complex applications, delay approved grant fund disbursal.
Research Pipeline: India has a systemic gap in translating research into industrial applications, while application-to-grant success remains below 10%.

Key Recommendations

Expenditure Target: Scale GERD to 2% of GDP within 4–5 years through private sector onboarding.
Fiscal Incentives: Reinstate the 5% GST slab for scientific research procurements and offer a tax deduction of up to 125% for philanthropic research contributions.
Fellowship Reform: Create a unified fellowship architecture, such as ‘Vigyan Nidhi’, to prevent scholarship disbursal delays for young scholars.
Innovation Finance: Channel the RDI Fund for long-term, low-interest deep-tech loans, and create state-level clusters linking Higher Education Institutes, MSMEs, and PSUs.
Policy Thinktank: Establish a National Institute for Science Policy and Governance (NISPG) modelled after South Korea’s STEPI and Japan’s NISTEP to audit domestic progress.

{GS3 – Infra} SBICAPS Report Suggests DISCOM Privatisation

Context (DTE): A new SBICAPS report argues that privatising electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) in 11 states could cut fiscal deficits and revive the sector.

Key Findings of the Report

Uneven Improvement: Aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses fell to 15% in FY25 from over 25% in FY15. DISCOMs collectively posted a profit of ₹27 billion in FY25. However, improvement is “uneven” and partly driven by subsidy clearances and government support schemes not structural reforms.
Private DISCOMs Outperform Public DISCOMs: E.g., Odisha following privatisation of its four DISCOMs, AT&C losses declined by 11 to 16 % points between FY20 and FY25.
Structural Problems Identified: High power purchase costs, ageing infrastructure, delayed tariff revisions and growing subsidy burdens from free electricity schemes.

Recommendations

Privatisation of DISCOMs in 11 viable states could reduce their combined fiscal deficit from around 3.5 %, of gross state domestic product to 3.0 %, aligning with the target recommended by the 16^th Finance Commission.
Phased Approach: For deeply stressed utilities, the report recommends selective privatisation, splitting DISCOMs, state absorption of legacy losses, capex commitments, and debt refinancing.
State-Specific Reforms: States such as Jharkhand and Haryana need tariff rationalisation, while Maharashtra and Karnataka should focus on reducing power purchase costs through a cheaper energy mix.

Read More> India’s Power Sector

{Prelims – AH} Mohenjo-daro

Context (DTE): Study found that Mohenjo-daro defied traditional historical patterns by becoming more economically equal as productivity increased.

Archaeologists used excavation data and house-size measurements to calculate a Gini coefficient indicating reduced residential inequality.
Mohenjo-daro flourished between 2500 BCE and 1900 BCE along the Indus River in Sindh, Pakistan. A key city of the Indus Valley Civilisation, it was contemporary with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
It was first excavated by Rakhal Das Bandyopadhyay (R. D. Banerji) in 1922 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
Unique Features: Grid streets, uniform baked-brick structures, covered drainage, the Great Bath, and a raised platform with large public buildings.
Major Artefacts: Bronze Dancing Girl, steatite Priest-King bust, and Pashupati seal.
Trade: Standardised chert weights and steatite seals regulated exchange, ensuring fair, accessible trade.

{Prelims – Envi} Saudi Arabia Joins IBCA

Context (NOA): Saudi Arabia officially joined International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as the 26^th member.

IBCA is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition dedicated to conserving seven major big cat species — Tiger, Lion, Jaguar, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah and Puma.
Launched by India in 2023 to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Project Tiger, it is headquartered in New Delhi. India will host the first-ever IBCA Summit in 2026.
Membership is open to 95 big cat-range countries, non-range UN member states, international organisations, and corporations.

Read More > IBCA

{Prelims – Envi} Laokhowa-Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary

Context (TH): Women in fringe areas of Laokhowa-Burhachapori WLS converted water hyacinth into wealth.

Laokhowa-Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam form a twin-protected ecosystem on the Brahmaputra’s southern bank, connecting Kaziranga and Orang National Parks.
Fauna: Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal tiger, Asiatic water buffalo, and Bengal florican.

Water hyacinth, native to South America, is a free-floating invasive plant that forms dense mats in freshwater bodies, depleting oxygen and destroying aquatic biodiversity. It’s known as the “Terror of Bengal”.

{Prelims – Envi} State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2026 Report

Context (DTE): World Bank‘s State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2026 report paint an encouraging but uneven picture of global progress.

Key Highlights

Emissions trading system coverage of global emissions has tripled since 2016.
Global carbon pricing systems now cover 29% of GHGs emissions and annual revenues from emissions trading systems and carbon taxes crossed $107 billion in 2025.
However, most carbon pricing revenues are concentrated in developed economies, as developing countries generally have lower carbon prices and limited allowance auctions.
A major global development is the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which entered its definitive phase in 2026.

India Specific Findings

India has emerged as one of the world’s largest new carbon markets with the launch of its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme in 2026.
India’s new emissions trading system currently covers 7 sectors and ~490 industries, with an estimated coverage of around 477 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Only China, European Union, and South Korea currently cover larger absolute volumes of emissions.

Carbon Market: A carbon market is a trading system where countries or companies buy and sell permits to emit greenhouse gases. By putting a price on carbon, governments create a financial incentive to reduce emissions while generating revenue for climate investments.

Read More> India’s Carbon Credit Mechanism

{Prelims – Governance} Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)

Context (PIB): Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the CPGRAMS monthly report.

Launched in 2007 by DARPG, CPGRAMS is a 24×7 online grievance redress platform that provides a single interface for citizens to lodge complaints with Central Ministries, Departments, and State Governments, accessible via web portal, mobile app, and UMANG.

About DARPG

It is the nodal agency of Government of India responsible for administrative reforms, redressal of public grievances and pension-related grievances of Central Government employees.
DARPG functions under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Key Initiatives of DARPG:
1. Sevottam Model: Framework for improving service delivery in government organizations.
2. National e-Governance Plan (NeGP): Launched in 2006, it promotes e-governance across India.

{Prelims – IE} Current Account Deficit

Context (BS): Government is considering several measures to contain the widening Current Account Deficit (CAD) amid global economic challenges and rupee depreciation.

India’s CAD increased to USD 13.2 billion (1.3% of GDP) in the December quarter due to a widening trade deficit and lower exports to the United States.
- Higher crude oil prices, gold and electronics imports are major contributors to CAD.
CAD occurs when a country’s total imports of goods, services and transfers exceed its total exports and foreign receipts over a specific period.

High CAD can put pressure on domestic currency, foreign exchange reserves & overall economic stability.
Way to Reduce CAD: By boosting export competitiveness, curbing non-essential imports, and expanding domestic production of import-dependent sectors such as energy, electronics, and defence.

{Prelims – IE} Parametric Insurance *

Context (DTE): India is testing parametric insurance schemes to protect informal workers from income losses caused by extreme heat.

Parametric insurance is a type of insurance in which payouts are automatically triggered when a predefined event or weather threshold (temperature, rainfall or wind speed) is crossed.
Unlike traditional insurance, it does not require physical damage assessment or lengthy claims verification before compensation is paid.
Significance: Provide quick financial relief to vulnerable informal workers without lengthy claims procedures.
Challenges: The model may not fully capture actual heat stress because factors like humidity, work conditions and health vulnerabilities vary across workers.

{Prelims – IE} Mis-Selling of Insurance

Context (TH): Mis-selling of insurance products remains one of India’s most persistent financial consumer protection challenges.

Mis-Selling of Insurance Products refers to selling a financial product that does not suit the buyer’s needs, often through inadequate disclosure, coercion, or misrepresentation
Common Forms: Selling investment-linked insurance as a pure investment, misrepresenting premium obligations/policy duration, pushing high-commission products over genuinely suitable ones etc.
IRDAI forbids coercion, false promises, and misleading representations during policy sales; free-look period of 30 days; cap commissions and prescribe disclosure of commission payments to policyholders etc.

Read More> Insurance Sector

{Prelims – IE} RBI’s Surplus Transfer to Centre

Context (DDN): RBI approved a surplus transfer of ₹2.86 lakh Cr to Central Government for FY 2025-26.

This marks the highest-ever dividend payout, reflecting a 6.7% rise over FY25, primarily driven by elevated international interest rates and capital gains from forex operations.
Legal Mandate: Section 47 of the RBI Act, 1934 requires the central bank to transfer net profits after deducting expenses, allowances, and provisions.
Framework: Bimal Jalan Committee’s Economic Capital Framework governs the size of surplus transfers, mandating a Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB). RBI revised the CRB to 4.5%–7.5% of its balance sheet in 2025.
Income Sources: RBI earns profits from interest on domestic and foreign securities, central banking fees, and capital gains from forex operations.

{Prelims – IE} Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction

Context (DTE): United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2025-2026, titled “Building fast. Falling short.”

Key Findings of the Report

High Environmental Footprint: Buildings and construction contribute 37% of global CO₂ emissions and nearly 50% of material extraction, despite accounting for only 11–13% of global GDP and 9% of workforce.
Efficiency Improving, But Not Fast Enough: Since 2015, global floor space increased by 20% while operational emissions rose only 6.5%; however, building energy intensity has fallen just 8.5% in a decade and must decline 25% by 2030 to meet the IEA net-zero pathway.
Renewables & Policy Gap: Renewables account for only 17.3% of buildings’ energy supply against the 46% required by 2030, while no G20 country has included a dedicated buildings-sector strategy in its latest NDCs.

India-Specific Findings

Growth Rate: India’s construction sector grew at 11% annually between 2024 and 2025, reaching a market valuation of $210 billion.
Solar Push: PM Surya Ghar initiative drove a 161% year-on-year increase in residential solar deployment, with capacity surging to ~5GW by late 2025.

India’s Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC) 2024 targets a 20–50% efficiency gain for commercial buildings (≥100 kW).

{Prelims – IR} UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2025

Context (AIR): Major Abhilasha Barak received the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2025 for advancing gender equality in peacekeeping operations.

She is serving with UNIFIL as Commander of the Female Engagement Team in Lebanon.
She is also the Indian Army’s first woman combat helicopter pilot and the third Indian recipient after Suman Gawani (2019) and Radhika Sen (2023).
About the Award: Instituted in 2016 by the UN Department of Peace Operations to recognise peacekeepers promoting gender equality and implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace & Security.

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

Established by UNSC in 1978 after Israeli invasion of Lebanon. It is headquartered in Naqoura, Lebanon.
Its role expanded significantly after the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah conflict under UNSC Resolution 1701.
India has been a major troop contributor to UNIFIL since 1998 and regularly deploys Indian Army personnel, including medical and engineering units.

{Prelims – MoSJE} Jeevan App and SHATAYU Dashboard

Context (PIB): Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched JEEVAN app and SHATAYU dashboard to improve welfare access and eldercare support for senior citizens.

JEEVAN (Joint Elderly Empowerment & Virtual Assistance Network) app provides easy access to welfare schemes, emergency assistance, healthcare information, and details of senior citizen homes through a simplified, user-friendly interface tailored for older users.
SHATAYU (Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training for Your Utility) dashboard offers real-time data on trained eldercare professionals for local sourcing of certified professional help.

{Prelims – S&T} Egocentric Data *

Context (IE): Workers fear that the egocentric data they generate today could eventually help build humanoid robots and AI systems that may automate or replace their own jobs.

Egocentric data refers to first-person video and sensor recordings captured through wearable devices while a person performs tasks.
Use: It helps train robotics and AI models by teaching machines how humans interact with objects, move and perform real-world tasks.
Privacy Concerns: May enable workplace surveillance, productivity tracking and collection of sensitive personal information without adequate safeguards.

{Prelims – S&T} Chandrayaan-3 ‘Hop’ Experiment

Context (IE): Scientists have used data from Chandrayaan-3’s “hop” experiment to discover that the Moon’s upper surface contains two distinct layers within a few centimetres of depth.

In 2023, the Vikram lander of ISRO performed a small controlled “hop” on Moon before entering hibernation.
The lander fired its engines, lifted about 40 cm above the lunar surface and landed nearly 50 cm away from its original position.
The experiment demonstrated ISRO’s capability to relaunch a spacecraft from the lunar surface, important for future sample-return (Chandrayaan-4) and human missions.
The hop disturbed the Moon’s upper soil layer, allowing the ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment) to study deeper lunar surface layers and thermal properties.

Chandrayaan-3 achieved India’s first successful soft landing on the Moon in August 2023 near the lunar south pole. It consisted of the Vikram lander, Pragyan rover and a propulsion module designed for lunar exploration and scientific experiments.

{Prelims – Sci} Myopia

Context (TH): Myopia is rising rapidly due to high screen time and low outdoor activity, with 50% of the global population projected to be affected by 2050.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a vision condition where near objects are clear but distant ones are blurry.
It occurs when the eyeball becomes too long or the cornea too curved, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina instead of on it.
Prevalence: 34% of the global population in 2020 and 80-90% of young adults in Urban East Asia.

Context (PIB): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare moved Pregabalin from Schedule H to Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, to curb non-medical abuse among youth.

Pregabalin is a neuropathic medication prescribed for epilepsy and chronic pain; it can cause euphoric and dissociative effects at high doses.
Schedule H vs H1: Both cover prescription-only medicines, but H1 requires pharmacists to keep detailed sale records for three years and aims to curb AMR and drug abuse.

{Prelims – Misc} One Liners

A&C – Silver Filigree of Karimnagar (TH): Silver price surge has affected Karimnagar Silver Filigree industry. Also known as ‘Tarkasi’, it is a famous handicraft known for its intricate silver wire craftsmanship. It is believed to be 400 years old at Karimnagar, Telangana. It was awarded GI tag in 2007. It is also recognized under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative.
Geo – Sankey Tank (TH): Concretisation, sewage inflow and disruption of feeder channels are reducing Sankey Tank’s water retention, groundwater recharge and biodiversity. Sankey Tank is a historic man-made lake in Bengaluru built in 1882 by Colonel Richard Hieram Sankey for water supply and groundwater recharge.
Geo – Nanmangalam Lake (TH): Environmental groups are actively working to conserve Nanmangalam Lake & the adjoining Nanmangalam Reserve Forest, located outside Chennai, amid growing threats from pollution, sewage & urbanisation. The lake support diverse biodiversity, such as the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Painted Snipe, Yellow Bittern & Darter.
S&T – Oreshnik Missile (LM): Deployed by Russia in recent strikes against Ukraine, this intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) has hypersonic speed. It covers 3,000-5,500 km, features multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), and can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.
IR – Battle in the Bay (NDTV): Biennial capability demonstration hosted by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in downtown Tampa, Florida.
- Indian Army’s Para Special Forces participated in the live Capability Exercise (CAPEX) for the first time.
IS – Border Security Force (DDN): An all-women BSF mountaineering team summited Mount Everest under “Mission Vande Mataram,” marking the force’s Diamond Jubilee and 150 years of the national song. Established in 1965 under the Ministry of Home Affairs, BSF is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), protecting borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is the world’s largest border guard force.