Daily Current Affairs 2025  

15/03/2026

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CA-15/03/2026

• Widespread Impact: Approximately 4.32 lakh spinners and weavers are benefiting from these enhanced wages.
• Large-scale Distribution: KVIC held major distribution events, such as in Nashik, providing 1,072 machines and toolkits (including 600 bee boxes and 240 pottery wheels) to 600 artisans to promote self-reliance.
• Strategic Partnerships: KVIC signed an MoU with the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) in late 2025 to create a unified ecosystem that expands market access for rural MSME beneficiaries.
• Increased Budgetary Focus: The budget for rural employment initiatives under GVY for the 2025-26 fiscal year has been substantially increased to accelerate rural industrialization. 

• Wellness & Cosmetics (WCI): Focuses on training and providing pedal or automatic machinery for Agarbatti (incense stick) manufacturing.
• Mineral-Based Industry (MBI): Includes the Kumbhar Sashaktikaran Programme, which provides electric potter wheels and modern blungers to traditional potters.
• Agro-Based & Food Processing (ABFPI): Features the Honey Mission, providing 10 bee boxes with live colonies and toolkits to each beneficiary. It also covers spice and fruit processing.
• Handmade Paper, Leather & Plastic (HMPLPI): Supports footwear manufacturing and sustainable paper crafts like paper plate making and fiber extraction.
• Rural Engineering & New Technology (RENTI): Promotes wooden toy making and products made from Panchgavya.
• Service Industry: Trains rural youth as electricians and plumbers and supports innovative micro-entrepreneurship like the DigniTEA (tea vending on bicycle) project. 

• Eligibility Criteria:
  • Indian citizens aged 18 to 55 years.
  • Preference given to SC/ST, women, unemployed youth, and BPL category applicants.
  • Limited to one person per family.
  • Applicants must not have received similar benefits from other government schemes.
• Key Benefits:
  • Free specialized training ranging from 10 to 20 days.
  • Direct distribution of toolkits and modern machinery (e.g., electric potter wheels, bee boxes).
  • Common Facility Centers (CFCs) for shared access to high-cost machinery.
  • Market Support through exhibitions, branding assistance, and e-commerce platforms like eKhadiIndia.com. 

• Individuals or institutions can apply online through the KVIC Online Portal or by visiting local District Industries Centres (DICs) or State Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs). 

• To organize traditional artisans into collectives (clusters) for economy of scale.
• To provide sustained employment and enhance the marketability of products.
• To equip artisans with modern tools, improved skills, and advanced technologies.

• Soft Interventions: Skill development, capacity building, exposure visits, and trust-building workshops.
• Hard Interventions: Creation of physical infrastructure like Common Facility Centres (CFCs), Raw Material Banks (RMBs), and modern production units.
• Thematic Interventions: Brand building, e-commerce integration, and new media marketing at a sector-wide level.

• Regular Clusters (up to 500 artisans): Funding up to ₹2.5 crore.
• Major Clusters (more than 500 artisans): Funding up to ₹5 crore.
• Heritage Clusters: Budget limits can go up to ₹8 crore for extensive preservation and development.

• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for khadi and village industry products.
• Coir Board for coir-based industries.
• Other agencies like National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and TRIFED for specific sectors.

• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
• Institutions of Central and State Governments.
• Private sector institutions and cooperatives with expertise in cluster development.

• Financial Assistance Rates:
  • 15% assistance for vessels valued below ₹100 crore.
  • 20% assistance for vessels valued above ₹100 crore.
  • 25% to 30% assistance for specialized vessels, including those using green fuels (Methanol, Ammonia, Hydrogen) or hybrid/electric propulsion.
• Extended Validity: The new SBFAS is valid until March 31, 2036, with an in-principle extension planned up to 2047.
• Shipbreaking Credit Note: A new "circular economy" feature where ship owners scrapping vessels at Indian yards receive a credit note worth 40% of the scrap value, which can be used to buy new ships from Indian shipyards.
• Domestic Value Addition: To qualify for incentives, vessels must have a minimum of 30% local manufacturing content.
• Right of First Refusal (RoFR): Indian shipyards get priority in government tenders, with the highest preference given to vessels that are Indian-built, Indian-flagged, and Indian-owned.
• National Shipbuilding Mission: A dedicated mission has been established to ensure coordinated planning and execution of these initiatives across the country.
• Infrastructure Support (SbDS): Complementing the SBFAP, the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) provides 100% capital support for common infrastructure in new greenfield clusters and 25% capital assistance for brownfield shipyard expansions. 

• Employment: The sector has a high employment multiplier of 6.4, aiming to create nearly 30 lakh jobs by 2047.
• Capacity: India aims to reach a commercial shipbuilding capacity of 4.5 million gross tonnage (GT) per annum by 2047, positioning itself among the top five global shipbuilding nations. 

• Cultural Tribute: The species is named after the legendary Assamese singer, filmmaker, and environmentalist Zubeen Garg. This is a rare instance of a botanical discovery being named to honour a living cultural icon.
• New Taxon Discovery: It was identified by a research team from Gauhati University (Barnali Das and Prof. Namita Nath) in collaboration with Dr. Prashob Pulpra from NSS College, Kerala.
• Conservation Status: Despite being locally abundant in its habitat, it has been preliminarily classified as "Data Deficient" under IUCN Red List guidelines because it is currently only recorded from its type locality. 

• Botanical Classification: It belongs to the Melastomataceae family, a group of flowering shrubs found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions.

• Habitat: The plant is found in the open grassland ecosystems of Manas National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Baksa district of Assam.
• Local Name: It is locally known as "Mon Jai" (which translates to "the heart desires").
• Physical Characteristics:
  • Habit: A perennial erect shrub that can grow between 2.5 to 3.5 metres in height.
  • Flowers: Features delicate purple to pinkish tetramerous (four-petalled) flowers, measuring roughly 2.5 to 3 cm in length.
  • Leaves: Characterised by linear-lanceolate leaves with distinct venation.
• Flowering Cycle: The plant typically flowers and bears fruit between mid-September and January.
• Comparison: It is closely related to Osbeckia rostrata but is distinguished by its unique leaf morphology, branching pattern, bract shape, and smaller seed size.
• Ecological Significance: The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayan hotspot and the importance of preserving fragile grassland ecosystems that support various pollinators.

• Originally described from the Siju Cave in Meghalaya in 1924.
• Range Extension: This finding extends the known distribution of the species by over 1,000 km southeast of its original type locality.
• Subterranean Importance: The discovery highlights the "hidden biodiversity" of India's under-explored subterranean ecosystems and underscores the ecological significance of cave habitats. 

• Scientific Name: Myiophanes kempi.
• First Described: In 1924 by British entomologist William Edward China.
• Family: Reduviidae (Assassin bugs).

• It is a specialised predator of subterranean ecosystems, completing its entire life cycle in total darkness.
• The species is highly adapted to the nutrient-poor and stable conditions found in limestone cave systems.

• Body Type: It has a very slender, "thread-like" body.
• Hunting Tools: Possesses elongated raptorial forelegs used specifically for snatching and immobilising prey, such as small arthropods.

• The recent study was published in the journal Subterranean Biology in March 2026.
• Researchers from the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) and other institutions identified the specimens collected from the Baratang Island cave complex.
• The study provided the first detailed illustrations of the male genitalia of the species, correcting long-standing taxonomic gaps. 

• Located in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, Siju Cave (also known as the "Bat Cave" or Dobakkol) is one of the longest limestone caves in India at 4.7 km.
• While it was the original home of Myiophanes kempi, recent surveys in 2019 at Siju failed to find the bug, making its sudden appearance in the Andamans even more significant for scientists.

• "Silver Bullet" Evidence: For the first time, researchers identified "shocked" quartz and feldspar crystals in rock samples, indicating extreme shock pressures of a high-velocity space impact.
• End of a Decades-Long Debate: The discovery overturns a 2009 vote by the Geological Society of London, which previously favoured a non-impact (salt withdrawal) explanation.
• Tsunami Discovery: Computer modelling now confirms that the impact triggered a mega-tsunami over 100 metres (330 feet) high. 

• Location: Situated approximately 80 miles (130 km) off the coast of Yorkshire, UK, buried 700 metres beneath the southern North Sea seabed.
• Discovery: Identified in 2002 during routine seismic surveys for oil and gas exploration.
• Formation Timeline: Formed roughly 43 to 46 million years ago during the Eocene epoch.
• The Impactor: Caused by an asteroid (or comet) approximately 160 metres wide.

• Central Crater: Roughly 3 km wide with a distinct central peak.
• Concentric Rings: Surrounded by a system of circular faults spanning 20 km in diameter.

• One of only 33 known submarine impact craters globally.
• Carbonate Explosion: The impact "baked" the chalk beneath the seabed, releasing carbon dioxide.
• Rare Preservation: The burial under sediment has kept it in an exceptionally well-preserved state. 

• Vaccine Clinical Trials:
  • BioNTech (BNT163): Its mRNA-based preventive vaccine candidate is currently the most prominent in the pipeline, with Phase 1 trials estimated to conclude by October 2026.
  • Moderna (mRNA-1608): Expected to complete its Phase 1/2 clinical trials for a therapeutic vaccine (to treat existing infections) by June 2025.
  • GSK Failure: In late 2024, GSK discontinued its vaccine candidate (GSK3943104) after it failed to meet primary efficacy goals.
• New Drug Breakthroughs:
  • Pritelivir (AiCuris): In October 2025, this drug showed significant superiority in healing lesions for immunocompromised patients. Marketing authorization filings with the FDA are expected in 2026.
  • ABI-5366 (Assembly Bio): Recent interim data showed a 94% reduction in viral shedding in Phase 1b trials. It is moving to Phase 2 in mid-2026.
• Global Burden: Recent World Health Organization (WHO) reports indicate that over 3.8 billion people under 50 have HSV-1, and roughly 1 in 5 adults globally (846 million) live with genital herpes. 

• Two Primary Types:
  • HSV-1: Primarily causes oral herpes (cold sores), though it is increasingly becoming a major cause of genital herpes.
  • HSV-2: Primarily causes genital herpes and is almost exclusively sexually transmitted.
• Transmission: Spread through direct skin-to-skin contact (kissing, sexual activity) or contact with sores and saliva.
• Lifelong Presence: Once infected, the virus remains dormant in nerve cells (trigeminal or sacral ganglia) for life and can reactivate periodically.
• Asymptomatic Spread: Most people have no symptoms but can still shed the virus and infect others unknowingly.
• Triggers for Outbreaks: Recurrences can be caused by stress, fatigue, illness, hormonal changes, or sun exposure.
• Associated Risks:
  • HIV: HSV-2 infection increases the risk of acquiring HIV by three-fold.
  • Neonatal Herpes: A rare but life-threatening condition for infants if passed from mother to child during delivery.
  • Encephalitis/Meningitis: In rare cases, untreated HSV can lead to brain inflammation.
• Treatment: There is no cure, but antiviral medications like Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, and Famciclovir reduce symptoms and the frequency of outbreaks.

• Deepor Beel is a permanent freshwater lake in the Brahmaputra River valley, located on the southwestern outskirts of Guwahati, Assam.
• It is one of the largest and most significant wetlands in the Brahmaputra floodplain and is celebrated as Assam's only Ramsar site.

• Ramsar Site: Designated in November 2002 for its international biological importance.
• Important Bird Area (IBA): Declared by BirdLife International; it supports over 200 bird species, including migratory ones like the Siberian crane and Pallas's sea eagle.
• Wildlife Sanctuary: A core area of 4.1 sq km is protected as the Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Guwahati's Kidney: It acts as the only major storm-water storage basin for Guwahati city, preventing catastrophic urban flooding.
• River Source: It is an erstwhile water channel of the Brahmaputra River.

• Elephants: It is a critical foraging ground for wild Asian elephants from the Rani and Garbhanga Reserve Forests.
• Flora: Home to diverse aquatic plants like the Giant Water Lily (Euryale ferox) and water hyacinth.
• Fish: Supports roughly 50 fish species, providing a primary livelihood for approximately 1,200 local families.

• Pollution: Contamination from the Boragaon garbage dump and untreated urban sewage flowing through the Bharalu and Bahini rivers.
• Fragmentation: The existing railway track on its southern rim frequently leads to fatal elephant-train collisions.
• Encroachment: Rapid urban expansion has shrunk the wetland from an original ~40 sq km to a current area of roughly 13–15 sq km.

• Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ): The MoEFCC has notified an ESZ around the sanctuary to regulate commercial activities.
• Innovation: Local fishing community girls developed the 'Moorhen Yoga Mat', a biodegradable product made from invasive water hyacinth. 

• Alprazolam, widely known by the brand name Xanax, is a potent, fast-acting tranquilizer from the benzodiazepine class. It is primarily used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.

• Massive Seizure: Authorities seized 237 kg of Alprazolam with an estimated market value of ₹47 crore.
• Industrial-Scale Setup: The facility was operating under the guise of a chemical manufacturing unit. Over 3.5 tonnes of chemicals, 800 kg of raw materials, and industrial equipment like reactors and centrifuges were confiscated.
• High-Profile Arrests: Two masterminds, including a senior chemist with 20 years of experience, were arrested for orchestrating the clandestine production and distribution network.
• Interstate Network: Preliminary investigations revealed the drugs were intended for distribution in Hyderabad and potentially for mixing with Toddy (a local alcoholic beverage).

• Anxiety Disorders: Management of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
• Panic Disorder: Treatment of sudden, extreme fear attacks, with or without agoraphobia.
• Adjunct Therapy: Used for chemotherapy-induced nausea and occasionally for insomnia or IBS-related anxiety.

• It works by enhancing the activity of GABA, a neurotransmitter that inhibits brain excitability, producing a calming or sedative effect.

• Common: Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, tiredness, and memory problems.
• Serious: Respiratory depression (slowed breathing), suicidal ideation, and severe coordination issues.
• Interaction Risk: Fatal when combined with alcohol or opioids due to extreme central nervous system depression.

• Legal Status: Regulated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 in India; it is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US.
• Dependency: Highly habit-forming; long-term use can lead to physical and psychological dependence.
• Withdrawal: Abruptly stopping can cause life-threatening seizures and severe rebound anxiety. Gradual tapering under medical supervision is essential.

• In parts of India (like Maharashtra), it is illegally traded as "Kutta Goli" and misused by youth for quick, powerful sedation. 

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