Daily Current Affairs 2025  

08/03/2026

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CA-08/03/2026

• Cultural preservation of the Santal heritage.
• Social development and tribal welfare.
• Recognition of historic leaders and freedom fighters.

• Historic Role of Santals: She praised the Santal community’s role in India’s freedom struggle, recalling Tilka Majhi’s revolt (1780s) and the Santal Hul of 1855 led by Sido-Kanhu, Chand-Bhairav, and Phoolo-Jhano.
• Language Milestone: Highlighted the inclusion of Santali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution (2003).
• Recent Achievement: Release of the Indian Constitution in Santali (Ol Chiki script) in 2025.
• Message: Urged the community to preserve roots while embracing progress, balancing tradition with modern development.

• Cultural Identity: Reinforces pride in Santal traditions, folklore, and language.
• Political Recognition: The President’s presence underscores the government’s commitment to tribal empowerment.
• Global Participation: Representatives and community leaders from different regions attended, making it an international platform for tribal voices.

• For the Santal Community: Recognition of their sacrifices and cultural richness.
• For India: Strengthens inclusivity by acknowledging tribal contributions to national identity.
• For Policy: Encourages continued focus on tribal welfare, education, and language preservation.

• Greenfield Airport Foundation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone for the ₹1,507 crore Kota-Bundi Greenfield Airport at Shambhupura, Kota, on March 7, 2026.
• Economic Transformation: The project is expected to be a "catalyst" for industrial and economic growth, directly benefiting the four districts of the region: Kota, Bundi, Baran, and Jhalawar.
• Tourism Push: The inaugural Kota-Hadoti Travel Mart 2026 was held recently at the Chambal River Front to showcase the region's wildlife, heritage, and cultural potential to national and international players.
• Infrastructure Growth: Plans were announced to develop 600 hectares of land near the new airport for industrial use, with expectations for Kota to emerge as a major IT and agro-industry hub. 

• Geography: Located in the southeastern part of Rajasthan, it covers approximately 9.6% of the state's total area.
• Districts: Comprises four main districts: Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar, and Baran.
• Historical Origin: Named after the Hada Rajputs, a branch of the Chauhan clan who established their rule in the 13th century.
• Major River: The Chambal River is the lifeline of the region, supported by tributaries like the Kalisindh, Parvati, and Parwan.

• Educational Hub: Kota is globally famous as a major center for competitive exam coaching.
• Energy Production: A unique region producing power from nuclear, thermal, gas, and hydro sources.
• Key Products: Famous for Kota Doria sarees, Kota Stone, and agricultural exports like coriander and Basmati rice.

• Home to Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve and Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve.
• Notable sites include the Garadia Mahadev temple, Chambal River Front, and various forts in Bundi.

• Language: Hadauti is the primary local language spoken in the region.

• 8th Anniversary Milestone: The event celebrated nearly a decade of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) and its role in providing affordable healthcare.
• Expansion Targets: The government reaffirmed its ambitious goal to expand the network of Jan Aushadhi Kendras from the current 18,000+ to 25,000 by March 31, 2027.
• Financial Impact: It was highlighted that the scheme has saved Indian citizens over ₹40,000 crore on medicine expenses since its inception.
• Women Empowerment: Official data released during the event showed that more than 8,000 of the 18,000+ Kendras are operated by women entrepreneurs. 

• Theme: The 2026 theme was “Jan Aushadhi Sasti Bhi, Bharosemand Bhi, Sehat Ki Baat, Bachat Ke Saath” (Affordable and Trustworthy, Health with Savings).
• Organiser: The Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• Janaushadhi Saptah: A week-long awareness campaign held from March 1 to March 7, featuring over 250 health check-up camps nationwide.

• Medicines Offered: The scheme now provides over 2,110 medicines and 315 surgical items across 29 therapeutic categories.
• Cost Savings: Generic medicines at these centres are 50% to 90% cheaper than branded alternatives.
• Daily Reach: These pharmacies serve approximately 10 lakh people daily.

• Jal Arpan Ceremony: The event is making headlines for the "Jal Arpan" initiative, where piped water supply schemes are being formally handed over to Gram Panchayats and Village Water & Sanitation Committees.
• Women in Governance: The 2026 edition specifically recognises the transformative role of women in water governance under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Tourism Milestone: In Madhya Pradesh, the 9th edition of the Hanuwantiya Jal Mahotsav (which began in late December 2025) is nearing its conclusion in March 2026, having established itself as a premier water-based tourism destination. 

• Duration: March 8 to March 22, 2026 (concluding on World Water Day).
• Objective: To strengthen Jan Bhagidari (public participation) and community ownership of rural drinking water assets.
• Tiers of Celebration:
  • National Level: Jal Mahotsav.
  • State Level: Rajya Jal Utsav.
  • Village Level: Lok Jal Utsav, shaped by local customs and traditions.
• Key Activities:
  • Jal Arpan: Symbolic handover of water assets to local communities.
  • Awareness Drives: Water testing campaigns, school debates, and sanitation drives around water bodies.
  • Nodal Agency: Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS). 

• Location: Hanuwantiya Island, located on the backwaters of the Indira Sagar Dam (Narmada River) in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
• Organizer: Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board.
• Accommodations: A massive Tent City featuring approximately 100 luxury Swiss-style tents.
• Major Attractions:
  • Water Sports: Jet skiing, speed boating, scuba diving, kayaking, and banana rides.
  • Aerial Adventure: Paramotoring, parasailing, and hot air ballooning.
  • Land Activities: ATV racing, cycling, and night safaris on Boriamal Island.
  • Culture: A craft bazaar for local handicrafts and evening folk music/dance performances.

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued standards defining what will be called “Green Ammonia” and “Green Methanol” in India.
• These standards set lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emission limits (per kg of product) and conditions for production using green hydrogen from renewable energy.
• Notifications were issued on 27 February 2026 as part of implementation of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• A detailed methodology for measurement, reporting, monitoring, on‑site verification and certification will be issued separately to enable trading and use of these fuels.
• Government expects these norms to guide industry and investors and to accelerate decarbonisation in fertilisers, shipping, power and heavy industries.

• Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced using electricity from renewable sources (solar, wind, etc.) via water electrolysis, with very low lifecycle GHG emissions.
• It is the feedstock for both green ammonia and green methanol, replacing hydrogen from fossil fuels like natural gas or coal.

• Ammonia (NH₃) is normally produced from hydrogen and nitrogen, traditionally using hydrogen from natural gas (high emissions).​
• Green ammonia is ammonia produced using green hydrogen and atmospheric nitrogen, powered by renewable electricity, resulting in very low or near‑zero lifecycle carbon emissions.
• Major uses- nitrogenous fertilisers, Energy carrier and hydrogen storage medium, carbon‑neutral fuel

• Methanol (CH₃OH) is usually made from hydrogen and a carbon source (often natural gas based syngas), which is emission‑intensive.​
• Green methanol is produced using green hydrogen plus a renewable or recycled carbon source (captured CO₂ or biomass‑based carbon), with energy from renewables, thus greatly lowering lifecycle emissions.
• Major uses- Marine fuel, Chemical industry, Other energy uses

• Definition: “Green Ammonia” means ammonia produced exclusively using green hydrogen; “Green Methanol” means methanol produced using green hydrogen.​
• Emission caps: MNRE has notified lifecycle emission limits around 0.38 kg CO₂‑equivalent per kg of green ammonia and 0.44 kg CO₂‑equivalent per kg of green methanol to qualify as green (values as reported by sectoral news sources).​
• Renewable electricity: Power used in production must be from renewable sources; it can include electricity stored in energy storage systems or banked with the grid under applicable regulations.
• Certification framework: Standards will be backed by a formal system for measurement, reporting, monitoring, on‑site verification and certification, which MNRE will detail separately.
• Policy objective: These standards operationalise part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission and aim to enable domestic use and exports of certified green ammonia and methanol.

• The Blue Sparrow missile is currently making global headlines following its reported use in a high-profile precision strike in Tehran on February 28, 2026. 

• Assassination of Iranian Leadership: The missile is cited as the primary weapon used in a joint US-Israeli operation that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and over 40 senior officials.
• "Missile from Space": It gained notoriety for its unique quasi-ballistic trajectory, where it briefly exits the Earth's atmosphere before descending almost vertically at hypersonic speeds.
• Operational Debut: While originally developed as a target for missile defence testing, this event marks its evolution into a sophisticated offensive strike weapon. 

• Manufacturer: Developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
• Launch Platform: Typically air-launched from fighter jets, specifically Israeli F-15 Eagle aircraft.
• Physical Dimensions:
  • Length: Approximately 6.51 metres.
  • Weight: Nearly 1,900 kg (1.9 tonnes).
• Performance:
  • Range: Approximately 2,000 kilometres (roughly 1,240 miles).
  • Speed: Strikes at hypersonic speeds (over Mach 5).
  • Trajectory: Climbs to the edge of space before a re-entry vehicle separates and drops steeply onto the target, making it nearly impossible for conventional air defences to intercept.
• Navigation: Uses a dual GPS and Inertial Navigation System (INS), allowing it to strike with high precision even in GPS-denied or jammed environments.
• Sparrow Family: Includes three variants—Black Sparrow (short-range/Scud-B sim), Blue Sparrow (medium-range/Scud-C/D sim), and Silver Sparrow (long-range/Shahab-3 sim).
• Indian Context: India is reportedly integrating similar technology, such as the ROCKS missile and the proposed "Golden Horizon," to enhance its deep-strike capabilities. 

• Causative Agent: A spiral-shaped bacterium called Treponema pallidum.
• The "Great Imitator": Often called this because its symptoms (like rashes and sores) mimic many other diseases, making it easy to misdiagnose.

• Sexual Contact: Through direct contact with a syphilis sore (chancre) during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
• Vertical Transmission: From an infected mother to her unborn baby (congenital syphilis).
• Blood: Rare transmission via blood transfusion. 

1. Primary: Characterized by a single, usually painless sore (chancre) at the site of infection. It heals on its own in 3–6 weeks, but the infection remains.
2. Secondary: Marked by non-itchy rashes (often on palms and soles), fever, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue.
3. Latent: A "hidden" stage with no symptoms that can last for years or decades while the bacteria remain in the body.
4. Tertiary: Occurs years after infection in untreated cases; can lead to severe damage to the brain, heart, eyes, and nerves, and can be fatal. 

• Treatment: Effectively cured with Penicillin (specifically Benzathine Penicillin G). It is the only treatment recommended for pregnant women to prevent transmission to the baby.
• Prevention:
  • Consistent and correct use of latex condoms.
  • Regular screening for sexually active individuals and all pregnant women.
  • Doxy-PEP: Using the antibiotic doxycycline within 72 hours of unprotected sex is an emerging prevention strategy for high-risk groups.
• Outcome: While antibiotics kill the bacteria and stop future damage, they cannot reverse organ damage that has already occurred.

• Geography: Located in the Strait of Hormuz, Qeshm is the largest island in the Persian Gulf and is roughly twice the size of Bahrain.

• Strategic Importance: It sits along a narrow passage responsible for nearly 20% of the world's oil supply.

• It is a designated Free Trade Zone, allowing for independent economic policies.
• The island is being developed into a major bunkering hub for ships, with four large refineries under construction as of 2025–26.

• UNESCO Global Geopark: Home to unique geological formations, including the Namakdan Salt Cave (the world's longest salt cave at over 6 km) and Chahkooh Canyon.
• Wildlife: Features the Hara Mangrove Forests, a major biosphere reserve for migratory birds and hawksbill sea turtles.

• Culture: Known for the traditional Bandari way of life, distinctive handicrafts, and the ancient Portuguese Castle.
• Proposed Infrastructure: Plans include the Persian Gulf Bridge, a 2.2 km railway bridge to link the island directly to Bandar Abbas on mainland Iran. 

• Core Purpose: A transportable US anti-ballistic missile system designed to intercept short, medium, and intermediate-range missiles during their terminal phase (descent).
• Hit-to-Kill Technology: Unlike traditional systems that use explosives, THAAD interceptors use pure kinetic energy to destroy targets by colliding with them directly.
• Atmospheric Versatility: It is the only US system capable of intercepting targets both inside (endoatmospheric) and outside (exoatmospheric) the Earth's atmosphere.

• Interceptors: 8 per launcher; single-stage solid-fuel rockets travelling at Mach 8.
• Radar (AN/TPY-2): An X-band radar capable of tracking threats up to 1,000 km in terminal mode and 3,000 km in forward-based mode.
• Launchers: Six truck-mounted units per battery.

• Interception Range: Approximately 150–200 kilometres.
• Max Altitude: Up to 150 kilometres.

• Layered Defence: THAAD is designed to be interoperable with Patriot (lower-tier) and Aegis (upper-tier) systems to create a multi-layered defensive shield.
• Manufacturers: Primarily developed by Lockheed Martin, with Raytheon providing the radar systems.
• Unit Cost: A single THAAD battery costs roughly $1 billion, with individual interceptor missiles priced at approximately $13 million each.

• Identity: A joint industry body established in 2010 to design and manage an accurate television audience measurement system for India.
• Stakeholders: Promoted by three major bodies:
  • Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF): 60% stake.
  • Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA): 20% stake.
  • Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI): 20% stake.
• Leadership: Gaurav Banerjee was elected as the Chairman in August 2025, succeeding Shashi Sinha. Nakul Chopra serves as the CEO.
• Scale: It is the world’s largest television audience measurement service, tracking habits across 210 million TV households (approximately 891 million viewers).

• Uses Audio Watermarking technology to track viewership.
• Currently utilizes a sample of over 55,000 "panel homes", with plans to scale up to 65,000.
• Recently transitioned (June 2025) from a "four-week rolling average" to reporting weekly unrolled data for all genres to increase transparency.

• BIO News/Advision: Visualisation tools for broadcasters and advertisers.
• TV + OOH: Measures viewership in public spots like restaurants and pubs across 120+ towns.
• Spot Trek: Provides monitoring reports for advertising spots. 

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