Birsa Munda

Art & Culture

Context

PM Modi paid tributes to Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda Ji on his martyrdom day.

Birsa Munda

He was born in 1874 in Ulihatu village, Jharkhand and was a spiritual reformer and freedom fighter.
He is Known as Dharti Aaba (“Father of the Earth”).
He led the Ulgulan or “Great Tumult” (1899–1900) (also called Munda Rebellion (1895–1900)) which was a fierce movement for tribal self-rule and the restoration of Khuntkatti (community land rights).
He united the Munda tribes against British land laws and feudal exploitation.
He envisioned a moral, self-governed society free from colonial influence.
He was captured and martyred in Ranchi Jail at the age of 25.

Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is dedicated to remembering the contributions of tribal freedom fighters for the country.
This day will now be celebrated every year.
It would recognize the efforts of the tribals for the preservation of cultural heritage and would help the coming generations know about the sacrifices made by the tribals for the country.
November 15th chosen for Janjatiya Gaurav Divas – The date is the birth anniversary of Sri Birsa Munda who is revered as Bhagwan by tribal communities across the country.

PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan

Objective – To ensure last-mile welfare scheme delivery and protection for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra – It is a nationwide programme to reach out to all villages and include those eligible for various central schemes.

Hindu Kush Himalaya

Geography

Context

The HKH Monsoon Outlook 2026, projects below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region during the 2026 monsoon season.

Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)

The HKH mountains extend around 3,500 km over eight countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
These mountains are also called the “water towers of Asia” because they are the origins of 10 crucial river systems on the continent — Amu Darya, Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween, Mekong, Yangtse, Yellow river, and Tarim.
These river basins provide water to almost one-fourth of the world’s population and are a significant freshwater source for 240 million people in the HKH region.

Coal Exchange Rules, 2026

Economy

Context

The Ministry of Coal has notified the Coal Exchange Rules, 2026, paving the way for the establishment of Coal Exchanges in the country to enable transparent and market-driven coal trading.

Coal Exchange

A Coal Exchange is an electronic marketplace where coal producers, consumers, traders, and other participants can buy and sell coal through transparent trading mechanisms.
Significance – It facilitates efficient price discovery based on market demand and supply conditions.

Coal Sector in India

India is the world’s second-largest producer and consumer of coal.
India has the fifth-largest coal reserves globally.
Coal accounts for around 55% of India’s primary commercial energy requirement and about 70% of electricity generation.
Major coal-producing regions are concentrated in states such as Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal

Dark Patterns

Science and Technology

Context

According to a report, Indian consumers are losing an estimated ₹25,000 crore to ₹28,000 crore annually due to dark patterns, across online marketplaces.

About

Definition – Dark patterns are user interface or user experience designs that manipulate, pressure, or mislead people into making choices they might not otherwise make.
The term ‘dark patterns’ was coined by Harry Brignull in 2010.
It encompasses a wide range of manipulative practices such as drip pricing, disguised advertising, bait and click, choice manipulation, false urgency and privacy concerns.

Dark patterns can:

Undermine informed consent.
Reduce user autonomy.
Lead to unintended purchases or data sharing.
Erode trust in products and companies.

India’s Laws Related to Dark Patterns

Consumer Protection Act, 2019 & CCPA Guidelines, 2023: The Consumer Protection Act empowers the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to curb unfair trade practices.
The CCPA’s Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023 explicitly prohibit deceptive practices such as false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, and subscription traps.
Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020: Require transparency in pricing, advertisements, and terms of sale, and prohibit misleading practices on e-commerce platforms.
Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: Mandates free, informed, and unambiguous user consent for data processing, thereby discouraging dark patterns that manipulate users into sharing personal data.

Summer Air Pollution and Ground-Level Ozone

Environment

Context

Several Indian cities witnessed severe summer air pollution in 2026, leading to the reimposition of Stage-I restrictions under GRAP in Delhi.

Summer Causes Ground-Level Ozone

Ground-level ozone is a secondary pollutant and is not released directly into the air.
Formation – It forms when Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) from vehicles and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from industries, paints, solvents, and fuel emissions react under strong sunligh
Hot summer conditions and heatwaves accelerate this reaction, causing high ozone levels during daytime.
Ozone and particulate matter can cause serious respiratory illnesses, especially among children, the elderly, and people with lung diseases.

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

Objective – It is a set of emergency measures implemented in Delhi-NCR to control air pollution based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels.
Implementation – It was formulated by the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) and enforced by CAQM from 2021.

GRAP is divided into four stages corresponding to AQI levels:

Stage I – Poor (AQI 201–300)
Stage II – Very Poor (AQI 301–400)
Stage III – Severe (AQI 401–450)
Stage IV – Severe+ (AQI >450)

Additional Information – Commission for Air Quality Management

Constituted under: The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
Jurisdiction: Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
Purpose: To coordinate and implement region-wide measures for air quality improvement, replacing the earlier EPCA.

Southwest Monsoon

Geography

Context

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed the arrival of the southwest monsoon in Kerala (June 4, 2026).
This marks the official start of the rainy season in India.

Southwest Monsoon

Onset and Retreat: The monsoon season in India generally starts in early June and lasts until September.
The onset of the monsoon is marked by the arrival of the southwest monsoon winds, which bring moisture-laden air from the Indian Ocean.
The withdrawal or retreat of the monsoon typically begins in October.
The northeast monsoon, occurring from October to December, brings rainfall to parts of southern India.
Monsoon Dynamics: Factors such as the El Niño and La Niña phenomena can influence the strength and distribution of the monsoon.
Agricultural Impact: The success of the monsoon directly influences crop yields and, consequently, the overall economy of the country.

Connect with the basics- Difference between El Niño and La Niña

Feature	El Niño (Warm Phase)	La Niña (Cold Phase)
Meaning	Spanish for “Little Boy”	Spanish for “Little Girl”
Ocean Temp.	Abnormal warming of eastern Pacific	Abnormal cooling of eastern Pacific
Trade Winds	Weaken or reverse direction	Become unusually strong
Indian Monsoon	Weakens monsoon; often leads to droughts	Strengthens monsoon; brings heavy rainfall
Winter in India	Generally warmer/milder winters	Severely cold winters in North India
Frequency	Occurs every 2–7 years; lasts 9–12 months	Occurs every 2–7 years; can last 1–3 years

Connect with the basics- Difference between El Niño and La Niña

Navachar Mantra Initiative

Economy

News

Navachar Mantra is a national initiative launched by the Union Minister at IIT Delhi.

Navachar Mantra Initiative

Launched by – Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
Objective – to identify, mentor, and scale grassroots innovations originating from Tier-2, Tier-3, and rural India

Key Features

Target Demographic: Open to Indian citizens aged 18 to 55 residing in aspirational districts and underserved rural or semi-urban geographies.
Eligibility: Flexible criteria allow individuals with ideas in the validation or early prototype stages to apply; a registered corporate entity or finished market product is not required.
Focus Sectors: Prioritizes high-impact verticals including Agritech, HealthTech & Wellness, EdTech, Climate Action, Rural Commerce, and MSME Enablement.

Price Stabilisation Fund

Economy

Context

The Union Cabinet has approved a one-time budgetary support of up to ₹10,000 crore for Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to provide Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price stabilisation support to Scheduled Indian Airlines.

Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) Price Stabilisation Fund

Financial outlay – ₹10,000 crore
Objective – It protects Indian airlines from sudden jumps in fuel prices.

How It Works

Fixed Price: The fund pays oil companies to keep jet fuel prices steady for local airlines.
The Buffer: When global oil prices go up, the fund covers the extra cost. When prices go down, the money goes back into the fund.
Rules: Airlines must sign a 36-month deal to buy fuel only from participating oil companies. Foreign airlines cannot use this fund

E85 Fuel Adoption in India

Environment

Context

The Union Government is considering a policy framework to support the affordable adoption of E85 fuel in India.

E85 Fuel

E85 is a fuel blend containing 85% ethanol and 15% petrol.
It can be used in specially designed flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) that can operate on varying ethanol-petrol blends.
These vehicles are equipped with modified engines and fuel systems that can automatically adjust to different fuel compositions.

Why is India Promoting E85?

Enhancing Energy Security: Greater ethanol use can reduce India’s dependence on imported crude oil.
Reducing Import Bill: If just 1% of annual petrol vehicle sales shift to E85 during the 2026–27 ethanol supply year, India could save around ₹195 crore in foreign exchange.
Supporting Farmers and Rural Economy: Increased adoption of E85 could generate demand for more than 4 crore litres of ethanol.
Environmental Benefits: E85 adoption at the projected level could result in a net reduction of nearly 0.86 LMT of CO₂ emissions.

Ethanol

Ethanol is9% pure alcohol that can be blended with petrol. It can be produced from sugarcane, maize, wheat, etc which are having high starch content.

Ethanol Blending

Ethanol blending refers to the practice of mixing ethanol with gasoline to create a fuel mixture that can be used in internal combustion engines.

There are a few common blends:

E10: This is a mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. It is the most common blend and is used widely in many countries.
E15: This blend contains 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline.
E85: This is a high-ethanol blend, consisting of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. It’s used in flex-fuel vehicles designed to run on higher ethanol content.