CA-05/01/2026
Contents
1. Notifiable diseases
2. Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
3. Somnath Swabhiman Parv
4. India- World's largest rice producer
5. Targeted cancer therapy -Nanobots
6. Mis-selling in insurance
7. OPEC+
Why in news?
Delhi government plans to declare human rabies a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act to enhance surveillance and achieve zero deaths from dog-mediated rabies. This requires all health facilities to report suspected cases promptly. The move supports vaccination drives for humans and animals across the city.
About Notifiable Diseases
Notifiable diseases are specific illnesses that, by law, must be reported to public health authorities when diagnosed. This helps governments track outbreaks, monitor public health trends, and take timely action to prevent epidemics.
- Diseases that require mandatory reporting to health authorities.
- Purpose: Early detection of outbreaks, monitoring disease trends, and guiding public health interventions.
- Legal Basis: In India, reporting is mandated under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Examples of Notifiable Diseases in India
| Category |
Examples |
| Viral Diseases |
Dengue, Influenza, Hepatitis A & B, Measles, Viral Encephalitis, Rabies, Polio, Smallpox |
| Bacterial Diseases |
Cholera, Diphtheria, Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Leprosy, Plague |
| Parasitic Diseases |
Malaria |
| Other Conditions |
Tetanus, Scarlet Fever, Cerebrospinal Fever (Meningitis), Anaemia, Malnutrition, Vitamin A & Iodine Deficiency |
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
Why in news?
Delhi High Court on January 3, 2026, explained that cheque bouncing in insolvency proceedings does not constitute a Section 138 offence. On December 28, 2025, it addressed dishonour due to "account blocked," affirming the offence when cheques are drawn on maintained accounts. These rulings refine application amid rising cheque dishonour cases.
About the Act
The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 is an Indian law that governs promissory notes, bills of exchange, and cheques, providing them legal recognition and ensuring smooth transferability in commerce. It was enacted on 9 December 1881 and came into force on 1 March 1882, and remains in force with amendments.
- Purpose: To define and amend the law relating to negotiable instruments, ensuring uniformity and legal certainty in financial transactions.
- Key Instruments Covered:
- Promissory Notes – Written promises to pay a certain sum.
- Bills of Exchange – Orders to pay a sum to a third party.
- Cheques – Orders to a bank to pay a specified sum.
- Applicability: Initially applied to British India, now applicable across India.
Objectives
- Provide legal recognition to negotiable instruments.
- Facilitate trade and commerce by making instruments easily transferable.
- Establish rights and liabilities of parties involved.
- Prevent fraud and ensure certainty of payment.
Key Features
- Negotiability: Instruments can be freely transferred, giving the transferee better title than the transferor.
- Presumption of Consideration: Every negotiable instrument is presumed to be made for consideration unless proven otherwise.
- Endorsement & Transfer: Rules for endorsement, delivery, and negotiation are clearly defined.
- Dishonour & Penalties: Provisions for dishonour of cheques (Section 138) include criminal liability, making cheque bounce a punishable offence.
- Amendments: Over time, provisions have been updated to strengthen cheque-related transactions and reduce delays in justice.
Risks & Challenges
- Cheque Bounce Cases: Overburden courts; amendments introduced to streamline resolution.
- Forgery & Fraud: Instruments can be misused if not carefully handled.
- Digital Payments: Rise of UPI and online transfers reduces reliance on traditional negotiable instruments, but the Act remains relevant for legal disputes.
Why in news?
Somnath Swabhiman Parv commemorates 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple in 1026 AD by Mahmud of Ghazni, highlighting its resilience despite repeated invasions.
About Somnath Swabhiman Parv
- Occasion: Celebrated in 2026 to honor 1,000 years since the first attack on Somnath Temple in 1026 CE by Mahmud of Ghazni.
- Theme: “A Thousand Years of Unbroken Faith” — highlighting the temple’s resilience, cultural pride, and spiritual continuity.
- Location: Somnath Temple, Prabhas Patan, Gujarat — revered as the first among the 12 Jyotirlingas mentioned in the Dwadasha Jyotirling Stotram.
- Spiritual Belief: Scriptures say that merely seeing the Somnath Shivling frees one from sins and grants righteous desires.
Historical Significance
- Repeated Attacks: Somnath was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, symbolizing India’s civilizational resilience.
- Reconstruction: Leaders across centuries, including Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1951, played pivotal roles in restoring Somnath to its grandeur.
- Symbol of Pride: The temple embodies India’s spiritual strength and cultural identity, often described as the “eternal proclamation of India’s soul”.
India- World's largest rice producer
Why in news?
India has recently surpassed China to become the world's largest rice producer, with output reaching 150.18 million tonnes in 2025 compared to China's 145.28 million tonnes.
Key Highlights
- Production Volume: India produced 150–152 million tonnes of rice in 2025, overtaking China’s ~146 million tonnes.
- Global Share: India now contributes over 28% of total global rice production.
- Policy Push: The Union Agriculture Ministry released 184 new high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties to sustain growth.
- Regional Leaders: States like Telangana, Punjab, and West Bengal are major contributors, with Telangana emerging as India’s second-largest rice producer at 189 lakh tonnes.
Comparison: India vs. China (2025)
| Aspect |
India 🇮🇳 |
China 🇨🇳 |
| Total Rice Output |
150–152 million tonnes |
~146 million tonnes |
| Global Share |
28%+ |
~27% |
| Key Strengths |
High-yield varieties, expanding cultivation |
Advanced irrigation, mechanization |
| Challenges |
Water stress, yield gaps, ecological concerns |
Shrinking rural workforce, land constraints |
Challenges Ahead
- Water Stress: Paddy cultivation is water-intensive; India must balance production with sustainable water use.
- Yield Gap: Despite high output, India’s per-hectare yield is lower than China’s, meaning efficiency improvements are needed.
- Ecological Concerns: Punjab’s over-reliance on rice has led to groundwater depletion — newer rice-producing states must avoid repeating this mistake.
Targeted cancer therapy -Nanobots
About Nanobots therapy
Nanobots in targeted cancer therapy are emerging as a revolutionary approach, offering precise drug delivery directly to tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. They are still largely in experimental stages but show immense promise for the future of oncology.
Working of Nanobots in Cancer Therapy
- Targeted Binding: Nanobots can be engineered to recognize and bind specifically to cancer cells, sparing healthy tissue.
- Drug Delivery: They carry chemotherapy drugs or genetic material and release them only at the tumor site, reducing systemic side effects.
- Magnetic Guidance: Some nanobots are controlled externally using magnetic fields or MRI scanners, allowing doctors to steer them through blood vessels.
- Tumor Penetration: Unlike conventional drugs, nanobots can penetrate dense tumor tissue and even enter cells, ensuring deeper therapeutic reach.
Comparison: Nanobot Therapy vs Conventional Cancer Treatments
| Feature |
Nanobot Therapy |
Chemotherapy/Radiation |
| Precision |
High (targets cancer cells directly) |
Low (affects healthy cells too) |
| Side Effects |
Reduced (localized action) |
Significant (hair loss, nausea, immune suppression) |
| Delivery Method |
Guided via magnetic/MRI or biochemical signals |
Systemic drug infusion or radiation beams |
| Stage of Development |
Pre-clinical/early trials |
Widely established |
| Cost (future outlook) |
Potentially lower (less hospitalization, fewer side effects) |
High (long-term treatment, supportive care) |
Current Research Highlights
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore: Developed magnetic nanorobots that can travel through blood and tissue, binding preferentially to cancer cells.
- Polytechnique Montréal, Canada: Researchers steer drug-loaded nanobots in animal models using MRI scanners.
- Global Research: Nanobots are being explored for both diagnosis and therapy, including detecting cancer at early stages.
Challenges & Risks
- Clinical Trials Pending: Most nanobot therapies are still in pre-clinical or animal testing stages.
- Safety Concerns: Long-term effects of nanobots in the human body remain unknown.
- Manufacturing Complexity: Designing and producing nanobots at scale is technologically demanding.
- Regulatory Approval: It may take years before nanobot therapies are widely available.
Why in news?
Unfair business practice complaints rose 14% in life insurance during FY25, driven by sales targets, bancassurance aggression, and poor agent training. IRDAI urges root-cause analysis, suitability assessments, and channel controls, while the 2025 Insurance Laws Amendment Bill enhances powers for commission disclosures and conflict curbs.
About Mis-selling
- Mis-selling occurs when insurance products are sold inappropriately, either by hiding crucial details, exaggerating benefits, or pushing unsuitable products.
- Examples:
- Selling long-term policies as short-term savings plans.
- Misrepresenting returns in ULIPs (Unit Linked Insurance Plans).
- Not disclosing exclusions (e.g., pre-existing diseases not covered).
- Forcing customers into policies with higher premiums than needed.
Risks & Impact
- Financial loss: Customers pay premiums for products that don’t meet their needs.
- Trust deficit: Mis-selling erodes confidence in insurers and agents.
- Regulatory burden: Rising complaints force IRDAI to tighten monitoring and compliance.
- Social impact: Vulnerable groups (elderly, rural, low-income) are disproportionately affected.
Regulations
IRDAI enforces board-approved anti-mis-selling policies, agent codes of conduct, and point-of-sale disclosures via regulations like those for agents (2016) and brokers (2018). Violations trigger penalties, license suspensions, or fines.
Preventive Measures
- Transparency: Clear disclosure of terms, benefits, and exclusions.
- Suitability checks: Matching products to customer needs and financial capacity.
- Training agents: Ensuring ethical sales practices.
- Regulatory oversight: IRDAI urging insurers to conduct root cause analysis of mis-selling cases.
- Customer awareness: Educating buyers to read policy documents carefully and ask questions.
Why in news?
OPEC+ recently decided to maintain steady oil production levels through Q1 2026 amid market surplus concerns and geopolitical tensions. Eight key members reaffirmed this pause during a January 4 virtual meeting.
About OPEC and OPEC+
OPEC currently has 12 member countries, while OPEC+ expands this group to include 22 oil-exporting nations (OPEC members + 10 non-OPEC allies).
OPEC Member Countries (12)
- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded in 1960 in Baghdad. Its current members are:
- Middle East: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
- Africa: Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo
- South America: Venezuela
OPEC+ Member Countries (22)
- OPEC+ was formed in 2016 to include non-OPEC producers for coordinated oil market management. It consists of the 12 OPEC members plus 10 additional countries:
- Non-OPEC Allies: Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Mexico, Oman, Bahrain, Brunei, Malaysia, Sudan, South Sudan
- New Addition (2025): Brazil joined OPEC+ recently
Comparison Table
| Group |
Members |
Key Countries |
Purpose |
| OPEC |
12 |
Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, UAE, Venezuela |
Coordinate oil policies among member states |
| OPEC+ |
22 |
OPEC + Russia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Brazil, Oman, etc. |
Broader cooperation to stabilize global oil markets |
Key Insights
- OPEC controls ~38% of global oil production.
- OPEC+ decisions (like production cuts or increases) significantly impact global oil prices.
- The inclusion of Russia and now Brazil makes OPEC+ a geopolitical powerhouse, balancing Middle Eastern, African, and non-OPEC producers.
Question & Answer
Question 1. In the context of India recently becoming the world's largest rice producer, which of the following statements accurately reflects the associated policy actions and challenges?
Select your answer:
A) The production surge is attributed solely to increased governmental procurement under Minimum Support Price (MSP) schemes without technological input.
B) Sustaining this high output necessitates significant reduction in water-intensive paddy cultivation across all major producing states to combat yield gaps.
C) The government released new high-yielding varieties specifically designed to maximize yield while minimizing reliance on monsoon rainfall.
D) The primary challenge moving forward is overcoming the yield gap by adopting advanced mechanization prevalent in European agriculture.
Explanation: (C)
India surpassed China largely due to policy pushes, including the release of 184 new high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties. Statement (c) reflects this policy push. Statement (b) is partially true regarding water stress, but the goal is balance, not necessarily elimination of paddy. Statement (a) ignores technology. Statement (d) incorrectly identifies the primary technological challenge area.
Question 2. The recent production decisions by the OPEC+ group have global economic implications, especially for oil-importing nations like India. What is a defining characteristic of the OPEC+ grouping structure compared to the original OPEC?
Select your answer:
A) OPEC+ is defined by a shared membership requirement of controlling at least 50% of global oil reserves.
B) OPEC+ includes major non-OPEC producers like Russia and recently joined nations such as Brazil, forming a broader coalition for market management.
C) Unlike OPEC, OPEC+ allows any country to unilaterally withdraw its production quotas without collective agreement.
D) OPEC+ membership is restricted only to countries located in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Explanation: (B)
OPEC+ was formed to include non-OPEC allies (like Russia, Kazakhstan, and recently Brazil) alongside the 12 OPEC members (Total 22 countries) to coordinate production and stabilize global markets. OPEC proper consists only of the original 12 members.
Question 3. The move by a major state government to declare human rabies a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act serves which primary public health objective in India?
Select your answer:
A) To ensure compulsory vaccination of all domestic animals within the municipal limits exclusively.
B) To grant the State Disaster Management Authority immediate jurisdiction over all health facilities.
C) To mandate prompt reporting of suspected cases to track outbreaks and guide immediate preventive interventions.
D) To replace the existing monitoring mechanisms of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
Explanation: (C)
The purpose of declaring a disease notifiable under the Epidemic Diseases Act is to enforce mandatory reporting. This reporting allows public health authorities to monitor disease trends early, enabling timely intervention to prevent outbreaks or achieve specific targets like zero deaths.
Question 4. Regarding Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, recent judicial interpretations have refined its applicability. Which situation involving a cheque, as per current legal understanding in commercial disputes, is generally NOT covered under the penal provisions of Section 138?
Select your answer:
A) Dishonour due to insufficient funds in the drawer's account.
B) Dishonour because the cheque was drawn on an account that was frozen by a regulatory order.
C) Dishonour because the drawer failed to make payment during ongoing insolvency proceedings.
D) Dishonour because the cheque was presented after the expiry of its validity period.
Explanation: (C)
Recent rulings suggest that cheque bouncing during insolvency proceedings might not constitute the Section 138 offence, as the insolvency process itself deals with debt settlement. Dishonour due to insufficient funds (a) is the core offence. Dishonour due to a blocked account (b) where the account is otherwise maintained is usually covered, provided the cheque was drawn on a maintained account. Dishonour due to expiry (d) is generally covered if presented within the time limit stipulated by the Act, though the question implies a general context of dishonour.
Question 5. Nanobots are being developed for targeted cancer therapy. Which mechanism best distinguishes this advanced therapeutic approach from conventional chemotherapy?
Select your answer:
A) Nanobots utilize high-energy radiation beams to destroy malignant cells within the tumor mass.
B) They are engineered to recognize and bind specifically to cancer cells, releasing therapeutic agents only at the localized site.
C) They function by magnetically steering standard chemotherapeutic drugs through the systemic circulation until they reach the liver.
D) Their primary function involves repairing DNA damage in healthy cells surrounding the cancerous tissue.
Explanation: (B)
The core advantage of nanobot therapy described is its high precision—engineering them to bind specifically to tumor markers and deliver the drug locally, thus minimizing systemic side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy (a) or radiation.
Question 6. Concerns regarding rising mis-selling in the life insurance sector in India have prompted regulatory action from IRDAI. Which measure aligns with the stated regulatory response to mitigate this practice?
Select your answer:
A) Imposing a national cap on the commission structure payable to insurance agents.
B) Mandating that all long-term insurance policies must be compulsorily sold via the bancassurance channel.
C) Requiring insurers to conduct root-cause analysis of complaints and enforce suitability assessments for product sales.
D) Transferring all jurisdiction over agent licensing and suitability assessment from IRDAI to SEBI.
Explanation: (C)
The provided text states that IRDAI urged root-cause analysis and suitability assessments as preventive measures against mis-selling. Option (a) is a potential regulatory outcome but not the specifically mentioned immediate action. Option (b) contradicts the goal of controlling aggressive sales channels. Option (d) is incorrect regarding jurisdiction.
Question 7. The Somnath Swabhiman Parv commemorates a significant historical event related to the Somnath Temple. Considering its historical context as the first among the 12 Jyotirlingas, which of the following statements accurately describes its symbolic importance in modern India?
Select your answer:
A) It symbolizes the establishment of the first major administrative center of the Mauryan Empire.
B) It represents India's civilizational resilience against repeated historical invasions and destruction.
C) It highlights the success of the first Five-Year Plan in restoring key cultural infrastructure.
D) It is primarily observed to mark the adoption of the Indian Constitution in Gujarat.
Explanation: (B)
The Somnath Swabhiman Parv highlights the temple's repeated destruction and reconstruction over centuries, symbolizing the resilience of India's cultural and spiritual identity against external forces. It is NOT primarily related to the Mauryan Empire, the Five-Year Plans, or the Constitution adoption.
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