Current Affairs – May 26, 2026

{GS2 – IR} Challenges before Peacekeeping Missions **

Context (HT): The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has warned that geopolitical tensions and a funding crisis are seriously jeopardising UN peacekeeping missions.

United Nations Peacekeeping is a deployment of international military, police, and civilian personnel to help conflict-torn countries create the conditions for sustainable peace.

Challenges and Measures

Challenges

Measures

Funding Crisis: Against budget of $5.6 billion for 2024-25, $2 billion remained unpaid as major donor countries failed to honour their commitments.
Declining Missions: Total 58 peacekeeping operations were active in 2025, falling below 60 for the 1^st time since 2016.
Shrinking Deployments: By 2025, around 79,000 personnel (lowest in 25 years) were deployed in peacekeeping operations, & nearly 3/4^th personnels were serving in just 5 countries.
Veto Politics: Veto threats and hard-line demands from permanent members complicated the renewal of operation mandates. Eg: US demanded an end to UNIFIL (Lebanon).
Evolving Nature of Conflicts: Modern conflicts involve terrorism, civil wars, ethnic violence, and non-state armed actors, making traditional peacekeeping methods ineffective.

Timely Financial Contributions: Member states must fulfil their financial obligations on time to ensure uninterrupted functioning of peacekeeping missions.
Reform the UN Security Council: Reducing political deadlock and limiting misuse of veto power can improve the effectiveness and credibility of peacekeeping operations.
Modernise Peacekeeping Operations: The UN should strengthen missions through advanced technology, better intelligence systems, rapid response mechanisms, improved logistical support.
Regional Partnerships: Greater collaboration with regional bodies like the African Union (AU) and EU to complement UN efforts.
Political Solutions First: Peacekeeping must be backed by genuine diplomatic efforts as military presence alone cannot ensure lasting peace.

Read More> UN Peacekeeping

{GS2 – IR} World Health Assembly Resolution on AMR *

Context (NOA | DTE): The 79^th World Health Assembly (WHA79) concluded in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme, “Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility.”

The Assembly adopted 13 resolutions, most notably the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR) for 2026–2036.
Other Key Resolutions: A pioneering radiation protection framework, a mandatory stroke-reduction plan, an AI-based drug safety tracking system, and a 2026–2030 plan viewing healthcare as a key economic investment.

WHA is the main decision-making body of WHO, based in Geneva. It meets annually to govern health policy, direct financial strategy, and appoint the WHO Director-General.

About GAP-AMR 2026–2036

The 10-year framework builds on the first 2015 GAP-AMR and utilises the One Health approach to curb antimicrobial drug resistance.
Key Target: A 10% reduction in bacterial AMR-associated deaths globally by 2030, aligned with the 2024 UNGA commitments.
6 Objectives:
1. Awareness & Behaviour Change: Increase awareness to reduce irresponsible antimicrobial demand.
2. Surveillance & Diagnostics: Expand multisectoral tracking and diagnostic networks.
3. Infection Prevention through vaccination, improved Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure.
4. Access & Stewardship: Ensure fair access, proper use, and safe disposal of antimicrobials globally.
5. Research & Innovation: Secure investments for new medicines, and alternative treatments against AMR.
6. Governance & Financing: Strengthen multisectoral accountability frameworks across all levels.
Implementation: Support and Coordination will be provided with WHO and Quadripartite partners, i.e., FAO, UNEP, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

AMR occurs when microorganisms evolve resistance to medications, rendering standard treatments ineffective and allowing infections to persist.
Primary Drivers: Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in human medicine, agriculture, and livestock.
Current Burden: In 2023, 1 in 6 bacterial infections were antibiotic-resistant, according to WHO; bacterial AMR caused 4.71 million deaths globally in 2021 (Lancet).

{GS3 – Envi} India’s First Geothermal Energy Project in Ladakh *

Context (BS): Ladakh administration has approved a five-year extension of the MoU with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for Puga Valley geothermal project.

The Puga Valley project is India’s 1^st geothermal venture in the Ladakh region, which is also the world’s highest at 14000 ft.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is a renewable source of energy obtained from the heat stored beneath the Earth’s surface.
Uses: Electricity generation, district heating, agriculture, space heating/cooling systems, etc.
Significance: Provides continuous low-carbon electricity unlike solar energy, which is affected by weather and daylight conditions
India has 381 geothermal sites across 10 provinces with an estimated potential of 10,600 MW of geothermal power generation. Himalayan Geothermal Province is a major tectonic belt spanning over 1,500 km across the India-Eurasia collision zone, containing over 150 thermal springs.
- Major Sites: Puga Valley and Chumathang in Ladakh, Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh and Tapovan in Uttarakhand are major sites.

India launched the National Policy on Geothermal Energy (2025) to promote clean geothermal energy and help achieve the Net Zero 2070 target, with focus on electricity generation, heating, agriculture and five pilot projects.

Read More> Geothermal Energy in India

{GS3 – S&T} Global Regulation of Cyber Warfare **

Context (TH): Cyber warfare is rapidly outpacing global legal accountability, creating a governance vacuum as states exploit unresolved rules on attribution and prohibited force.

Cyber warfare is a politically or militarily motivated digital attack by nation-states or state-sponsored groups to disrupt an enemy nation’s critical infrastructure, computer systems or networks.

Global Cyber Warfare Landscape

Sponsor Share: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea sponsor 77% of suspected state-linked cyber operations globally. China leads with 33% of documented incidents.
Cost Projection: Global cybercrime and state-linked cyber warfare were projected to cost an all-time high of $10.5 trillion in 2025.
Target Nations: The United States, Ukraine, Israel, and India rank as the most targeted nations globally for state-sponsored cyber warfare and hacktivist campaigns.
Target Sectors: Tech supply chains are the most targeted global sector, followed closely by research-academia and government public infrastructure.

Legal Blindspots in the Regulation of Cyber Warfare

Attribution Gap: International Law Commission rules on state responsibility set an evidentiary threshold for state attribution that digital forensics rarely meet.
Force Ambiguity: Article 2(4) of the UN Charter does not clarify whether non-physical cyber operations on civilian infrastructure constitute prohibited force.
Data Loophole: International Humanitarian Law excludes digital data from its definition of civilian objects, leaving vital civilian databases legally unprotected from non-physical destruction.
Espionage Shield: The permissive stance of international law on peacetime espionage shields states from liability for pre-positioning cyber weapons under the guise of intelligence operations.
Consent Barrier: International tribunals lack the authority to hear cyberwarfare claims against a state without the sovereign state’s explicit legal permission.

Global Initiatives for Regulation of Cyber Warfare

UN Global Mechanism on ICTs: Coordinates member states in implementing 11 voluntary norms that discourage attacks on foreign critical infrastructure during peacetime.
UN Convention Against Cybercrime: Harmonises international criminal laws and establishes 24/7 law enforcement protocols to share electronic evidence across borders.
Budapest Convention: Council of Europe’s binding treaty streamlining trans-border data access for cybercrime investigations. Russia, China, and India are non-signatories.
Tallinn Manual: NATO-sponsored academic framework evaluating the efficacy of existing international law in governing digital conflict and state sovereignty.
Digital Geneva Convention: Tech-sector-backed proposal for a binding treaty to protect civilian digital infrastructure from state-sponsored cyber warfare.

{Prelims – Envi} Apis Cerana and Malabar Tree Toad

Context (TH): Karnataka government has announced plans to declare the Asiatic honey bee the state insect and the Malabar Tree Toad the state amphibian.

Asiatic honey bee (Apis cerana)

Also known as the eastern honey bee, it is a medium-sized bee native to South, Southeast, and East Asia.
They build multiple parallel combs within smaller colonies in natural cavities, ranging from high-altitude forests to dense urban areas.
Cerana honey is valued for its unique aroma, high enzyme activity, and traditional medicinal uses.
Heat Balling: Worker bees form a tight ball around predators like giant Asian hornets, vibrating to increase temperature and CO₂ levels, ultimately killing the predator.

Malabar Tree Toad (Pedostibes tuberculosus)

Also called the warty Asian tree toad, it is a nocturnal amphibian endemic to the Western Ghats. It is India’s only truly arboreal toad species.
Climbing Adaptation: The toad’s fingertips and toe pads are uniquely dilated to function as suction cups for clinging to wet branches and leaves.
They emerge from tree canopies only in the first 2-3 weeks of the south-west monsoon for breeding.
IUCN: Least Concern; WPA: Schedule II

{Prelims – Geo} Dandewala Gas Field

Context (AIR): Oil India Limited has discovered a new gas-bearing zone in the Dandewala gas field in the Jaisalmer Basin of western Rajasthan.

The discovery marks the first confirmed gas presence in the shallower Sanu Formation at Dandewala, opening a new exploration zone in the basin.
The Sanu Formation is a sedimentary rock formation located in the Jaisalmer Basin of Rajasthan. It belongs mainly to Khuiala Formation of Tertiary sequence of lower Eocene epoch.
- Khuiala Formation: A rock formation found mainly in the Jaisalmer Basin containing sandstone, shale and limestone deposits.

Natural gas reserves in India are unevenly distributed, with major reserves concentrated in western and eastern offshore basins. Important gas-bearing basins include Mumbai Offshore Basin, KG Basin, Cambay Basin, Assam-Arakan Basin and Cauvery Basin.

{Prelims – IE} Global EV Outlook 2026

Context (DTE): Global EV Outlook is an annual report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) that analyses global trends in electric mobility.

The report provides data and projections on EV sales, battery demand, charging infrastructure, government policies and market trends across countries and regions.

Key Findings

2026 Sales: Global electric vehicle (EV) sales are projected to reach 23 million units in 2026, accounting for 28% of global car sales.
China supplied nearly 60% of EV cars sold globally, maintaining its lead in EV manufacturing and exports.
India’s EV Progress: India witnessed a 75% rise in EV sales in 2025, reaching around 165,000 units, though EVs still account for only about 4% of total car sales.
Drivers of EV Adoption: Falling battery prices, better charging infrastructure, supportive government policies and high fuel prices are accelerating the global shift towards electric mobility.

{Prelims – IR} Expiry of the U.S. Sanction Waiver

Context (TH): The US sanctions waiver for certain Russian oil shipments already at sea, under General License No. 134C, is set to expire on 17 June 2026.

This 30-day licence, issued by the US Treasury, permits transactions involving Russian crude loaded on or before April 17, 2026.

Russian crude accounts for 35%-40% of India’s oil imports. India has saved an estimated $20–$25 billion by purchasing discounted Russian crude over recent years.

Implications of the US Waiver Expiration for India

Supply-Margin Squeeze: A ~400,000 bpd shortfall in Russian crude will push Indian refiners to the spot market, squeezing margins already strained by volatile upstream supply chains.
Fiscal Impact: The loss of the $10-$12-per-barrel Russian discount will raise India’s annual import bill by $9-$11 billion, increasing pressure on the rupee against the US dollar.
Inflation Spillover: Higher crude import costs will worsen wholesale inflation, already at a 3.5-year high, and push upstream price shocks into the retail fuel and transport sectors.

{Prelims – MoRD} Draft Rules For VB-GRAMG

Context (DTE): The central government has notified draft rules under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025.

VB-GRAMG is set to officially replace the flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) from July 1, 2026.

Key Highlights

National Level Steering Committee (NLSC): Proposed to set up for overseeing implementation of the mission, recommend allocation of funds to states and coordinate among ministries etc.
Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council: Proposed to support implementation, evaluation, monitoring and reporting under the Act.
Administrative Expense: Specify expenditure to be borne by the Centre, shared with states or borne by states.
Grievance Redressal: Seek to establish a technology-enabled, multi-tier and time-bound system supported by digital public infrastructure.
Transitional Provisions: The rules provide for the continuation of ongoing works, settlement of liabilities, transfer of records and continuation of worker rights during the transition period.

{Prelims – Polity} Public Accounts Committee (PAC) *

Context (TH): Reconstituted Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the 2026-27 term held its first meeting under the chairmanship of K. C. Venugopal.

PAC is one of the oldest parliamentary committees, established in 1921 under Government of India Act, 1919.
Composition: 22 members: 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha. Members are elected annually by proportional representation by Single Transferable Vote. Members serve for one year. No sitting Minister can serve on the PAC.
Chairperson: Appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Since 1967, the PAC Chairperson has always been chosen from the Opposition to ensure non-partisan and independent scrutiny.
Functions: PAC examines the annual audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. It does not merely track compliance but also evaluates the efficiency, economy, and propriety of expenditure. The committee may independently take up matters for investigation.
Limitations: PAC recommendations are not binding on the government. It cannot scrutinise broader government policies, only their execution. It reviews expenditure only after the funds have been spent.

{Prelims – S&T} Information Agents

Context (TH): Google has introduced “information agents” that monitor the web on behalf of users.

Information agents are AI-powered assistants integrated with search systems that continuously monitor websites, updates, listings, and user-defined tasks on behalf of users.
They perform better with access to detailed personal information such as location, finances, preferences, etc.
Key Concerns: May collect sensitive personal data, reduce publisher traffic and advertising revenue through AI-generated summaries, and increase automated web traffic and scraping, placing greater strain on internet infrastructure.

Context (PIB): Ministry of Education flagged off Indian school students for educational & scientific exchange visit to Japan under the Sakura Science Programme 2026.

Launched by the Japan Science and Technology Agency in 2014, the Programme promotes youth exchange through exposure visits to Japan’s science and technology ecosystem.
India has been participating in the programme since 2016, and 2026 Indian delegation includes government school students selected under the National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme.
The initiative aligns with NEP 2020 by encouraging holistic & experiential learning through international educational exposure.

Context (DDN): Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) organised “Medical Innovations Patent Mitra: Innovators-to-Industry (I2I) Connect” in New Delhi.

It is India’s 1^st structured platforms dedicated to biomedical innovation showcasing and technology transfer under the ICMR Medical Innovation Patent Mitra initiative. It aims to accelerate commercialisation of indigenous healthcare technologies.
ICMR also transferred 41 public health technologies to industry partners for further development, manufacturing and commercialization.

About ICMR

Located in New Delhi, ICMR is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
Established in 1911, it is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. It conducts, coordinate and implement medical research for the benefit of the Society.

Notable Technologies Transferred

Glycoconjugate and recombinant vaccines for typhoid and paratyphoid, along with diagnostic technologies for diseases such as Japanese Encephalitis.
Transferred inactivated KFD (Kyasanur Forest Disease) and Chandipura virus biomaterials to industry to strengthen vaccine manufacturing and biomedical research.

Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD): Commonly known as “Monkey Fever,” it is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to the Western Ghats region of India.