Current affairs

LIGO-India Project: India’s Role in Global Gravitational Wave Detection

Context The LIGO-India project, one of India’s most ambitious scientific initiatives, aims to establish a gravitational-wave observatory in Hingoli district, Maharashtra. Despite receiving government approval in 2023, construction of the ₹1,600-crore Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract has not yet...

Strong Hybrids and Plug-in Hybrids: Differences, Benefits, and How They Work

Context India is accelerating its transition toward cleaner mobility to reduce vehicular pollution and oil dependence. While the focus of government policy has largely been on Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), the debate has recently expanded to include Hybrid Electric Vehicles...

Indonesia Signs BrahMos Missile Deal with India

Context Indonesia has signed an agreement to procure the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from India, becoming the second foreign buyer after the Philippines. It is produced by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia. About...

India Remains the Second-Largest Arms Importer: SIPRI Report

Context According to the latest report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India remained the world’s second-largest arms importer during 2021–2025, accounting for 2% of global imports. Major Arms Exporters(2021–2025) Major Arms Importers (2021–2025) A few countries dominate...

Second Edition of Fiscal Health Index Released

Context: NITI Aayog has released the second edition of the Fiscal Health Index for the financial year 2023-24 for assessing and comparing the fiscal performance of Indian States. The first edition of the Fiscal Health Index focused on 18 Major...

Finance Commission Grants to Cities

Context Recently there has been an issue of less grants to urban local bodies (ULB’s) by the Finance commission. What is the issue? Importance of urban centers: In India they have become the principal engines of economic growth and capital...

Rajya Sabha Elections: Process, Eligibility, Voting System & Latest Updates

Context On 16 March 2026, Legislative Assemblies of 10 states elected 37 Members of Parliament to the Rajya Sabha. Key Facts about the Rajya Sabha Nature of the House Upper House of Parliament: The Rajya Sabha, also called the Council...

Governor’s Transfer and Lessons for Centre–State Relations

Context The Union government has reassigned several Governors across States and Union Territories. As part of this exercise, R. N. Ravi has been transferred to West Bengal following the sudden resignation of C. V. Ananda Bose. The reshuffle also includes...

Labour Market Impacts of Artificial Intelligence

Context A recent research report by Anthropic, analysing AI usage data and labour statistics from the S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, introduces a new framework called “observed exposure” to measure how AI is affecting the labour market in practice rather...

Women Mukhiyas in Bihar: Role, Reservation and Impact on Panchayati Raj

Context Bihar has emerged as a major example of women’s participation in grassroots democracy. The state government increased reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions to 50% in 2006, leading to a large number of women assuming leadership roles at...