Hudsonian Godwit
INTERNATIONAL
Why in News?
The Hudsonian godwit has been proposed for international protection at the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP15) held in Campo Grande, Brazil, due to a drastic population decline.
Key Highlights
• Severe Population Decline: The species has experienced an alarming 95% population decline, raising serious conservation concerns.
• Migratory Bird: The Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica) is a long-distance migratory shorebird.
• Extraordinary Migration: It can fly about 11,000 km non-stop during its migration.
Its total annual migration distance is around 30,000 km, travelling from the Arctic breeding grounds to Patagonia in South America.
• IUCN Status: The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
UPSC/BPSC
Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme
NATIONAL
Why in News?
❖ The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the IVFRT Scheme for five years from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031 with a financial outlay of ₹1,800 crore.
❖ The extension aligns the scheme with the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
About the Scheme
Key Features
Integrated Platform:
Facilitating Legitimate Travel:
Technological Modernisation:
UPSC/BPSC
Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement
NATIONAL
Why in News?
❖ India, along with South Africa, Türkiye and around 37 other countries, raised objections at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the China-backed Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement.
❖ The issue was raised ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) scheduled to begin on 26 March in Cameroon, a Central African nation.
What is the IFD Agreement?
Objective
Key Features
❖ Plurilateral Agreement
❖ Focus on Investment Facilitation
India’s Concerns
❖ Non-Trade Issue
❖ Violation of Marrakesh Agreement
UPSC/BPSC
Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) Framework Extended till 2031
NATIONAL
Why in News:
The Government of India has retained the retail inflation target of 4% (±2%) for the next five-year period from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031, continuing the Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) framework adopted in 2016 to ensure price stability and macroeconomic stability.
Key Highlights:
• The inflation target remains 4% with a tolerance band of ±2%, meaning inflation should remain within the range of 2% to 6%.
• This is the second extension of the inflation targeting framework, after the previous extension for 2021–2026.
• Under the Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) framework, controlling inflation is the primary goal while also supporting economic growth.
• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is used as the main indicator to measure inflation in India.
• The CPI currently uses base year 2024 for calculating inflation.
• The Government of India sets the inflation target in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Background:
• Section 45-ZA of the amended RBI Act, 1934 states that the primary objective of monetary policy is to maintain price stability while keeping growth in mind.
• India formally adopted Flexible Inflation Targeting in 2016 based on the recommendations of the Urjit Patel Committee.
• Globally, New Zealand was the first country to adopt inflation targeting in 1990.
UPSC/BPSC
Regional Connectivity Scheme – Modified UDAN
NATIONAL
Why in News:
The Union Cabinet has approved the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Modified UDAN with a ₹28,840 crore outlay for the period 2026–2036 to strengthen regional aviation connectivity and address viability challenges faced in earlier phases of the UDAN scheme.
Key Highlights:
• The Modified UDAN scheme was introduced in the Union Budget 2025–26 as a revamped version of the UDAN initiative.
• The scheme aims to ensure affordable air travel and improve connectivity to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
• It also focuses on infrastructure development and long-term operational sustainability of regional air routes.
• The original UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme was launched in October 2016 to promote regional connectivity.
• Under the original UDAN scheme, 663 routes were operationalized and more than 162.47 lakh passengers travelled through these routes.
• The scheme helped revive several unserved and underserved airports across the country.
Background:
• According to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report, only 7%–10% of routes remained financially viable after the subsidy period ended.
• The initial subsidy period of three years was not sufficient for airlines to develop self-sustaining markets in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
• Out of 663 routes launched since 2017, about 327 routes had become non-operational by February 2026.
• Additionally, 15 out of the 95 airports revived under the scheme had ceased operations.
UPSC/BPSC
Miocene Fossil Beds Discovered in Dwarka Basin
Why in News:
Researchers have recently discovered fossil beds in the Dwarka Basin that date back to the early Miocene epoch (23 million–5.3 million years ago), providing new evidence about the region’s ancient climate and ecosystem.
Key Highlights:
• Scientists identified 42 different species of fossilized snails in the Dwarka Basin.
• The fossil findings suggest that the region once had a warm climate and nutrient-rich environment.
• The diversity of snail species indicates that the area likely supported rich aquatic ecosystems in the past.
UPSC/BPSC
CALM-Brain: India’s First Digital Repository of Psychiatric Disorders
NATIONAL
Why in News:
India has launched CALM-Brain, the country’s first digital repository of major psychiatric disorders, aimed at transforming research, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illnesses.
Key Highlights:
• CALM-Brain is a first-of-its-kind open-source database focused on psychiatric disorders.
• It compiles detailed information on brain structure and brain function associated with mental illnesses.
• The platform will help enable advanced scientific research and improved clinical diagnosis and treatment.
• The repository has been developed by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) – Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
• The initiative is being developed under the Rohini Nilekani Centre for Brain and Mind (CBM).
UPSC/BPSC
Artemis 2 Mission
INTERNATIONAL
Why in News:
NASA is set to launch the Artemis 2 mission on 1 April 2026, which will be the first crewed mission beyond Low Earth Orbit in more than 50 years, marking a major step in reviving human deep-space exploration after the Apollo 17 mission.
Key Highlights:
• Artemis 2 will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon.
• It will be the first crewed flight under NASA’s Artemis program.
• The mission aims to take humans beyond Low Earth Orbit for the first time since 1972.
• Unlike previous lunar landing missions, Artemis 2 will perform a lunar flyby, where astronauts will orbit the Moon and return safely to Earth.
Artemis 2 Crew
UPSC/BPSC
BIHAR NEWS
Bihar: ‘Focus State’ at the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026
NATIONAL
Why in News:
Bihar has been designated as the ‘Focus State’ at the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026.
Key Highlights:
• The Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 is a global conference-cum-exhibition on the power sector.
• It is being held from 19 March to 22 March 2026.
• The venue of the summit is Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
• The four-day summit aims to promote dialogue on energy challenges and opportunities.
• It also highlights India’s leadership in the global energy transition.
• The theme of the summit is “Electrifying Growth. Empowering Sustainability. Connecting Globally.”
UPSC/BPSC
BIHAR NEWS
Bihar Nursery and Green-Tech Conclave 2026
NATIONAL
Why in News:
The Bihar government will organize the first-of-its-kind three-day national horticulture conclave titled “Bihar Nursery and Green-Tech Conclave 2026” from 21–23 March at Gyan Bhawan, Patna.
Key Highlights:
• The conclave aims to support the adoption of advanced horticulture practices and improve output and productivity of horticultural crops.
• It also seeks to strengthen Bihar’s position in the horticulture sector.
• The event will be organized by the Horticulture Directorate under the Bihar Agriculture Department.
• The theme of the conclave is “Parampara Se Pragati Tak” (From Tradition to Progress).
• The programme will include “Udyan Pathshala” sessions to train farmers and youth in modern horticulture techniques.
• A special “Chanakya Horti-Pitch” initiative will allow startups and entrepreneurs to present business ideas and seek investment.
• The Bihar government will support selected ventures emerging from this initiative.
UPSC/BPSC
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