Current Affairs for JPSC | BPSC | UPSC

JHARKHAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (JPSC) 

🏛️ POLITY & GOVERNANCE

1. FCRA Amendment Bill – Referred to JPC

News Context: Government to move resolution to refer Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

Key Opposition Concerns:

• Tamil Nadu Assembly passed unanimous resolution against Bill
• Mizoram Christians held mass rally
• Concerns: Bill gives designated authority sweeping powers over land, buildings, funds, and other assets of churches and NGOs whose FCRA registrations are cancelled
• No judicial oversight

Static Link:

• FCRA: Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010
• Regulates foreign contributions to individuals/associations in India
• JPC: Joint Parliamentary Committee – constituted for specific subjects

2. Tamil Nadu Assembly Passes Anti-NEET Resolution

News Context: TN Assembly adopted resolution urging Centre to scrap NEET.

Key Arguments:

• Repeated irregularities in NEET conduct
• Proliferation of coaching centres
• Loss of lives
• One-day test determines higher education path – not 12 years of school education
• Rural and socio-economically disadvantaged students disadvantaged

Demand: Medical admission on basis of Class 12 marks

Walkout: Lone BJP MLA M. Bhojarajan opposed and walked out

Historical Context:

• TN passed similar resolution in 2021 under DMK
• TN Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Act, 2021 – reserved for President’s assent (withheld)

Static Link:

• NEET: National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test – conducted by NTA
• Medical education: Entry 66 of Union List – “co-ordination and determination of standards in institutions for higher education”
• Education: Concurrent List

3. Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026 – Passed in Rajya Sabha

News Context: Rajya Sabha passed Bill amid Opposition walkout.

Key Provisions:

• Establishes National Tribunals Commission (NTC)
• Composition: Chairperson + 4 members (2 judicial + 2 technical)
• Chairperson eligibility: Retired SC judge or retired Chief Justice of High Court

Static Link:

• Article 323A & 323B – Administrative and other tribunals
• Bill aims to bring uniformity, transparency, independence in tribunal appointments

4. Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 – Passed Without Debate

News Context: Lok Sabha passed Bill to rename Kerala to Keralam without discussion.

Static Link:

• Article 3: Parliament may by law change the name of any State
• Requires President’s recommendation

5. National Cooperative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026

News Context: Passed without debate in Lok Sabha.

Static Link:

• NCDC: Established under National Cooperative Development Corporation Act, 1962

6. Cauvery Water Dispute – CWMA Order

News Context: CWMA directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs (approx 1 tmc ft) daily for 15 days to Tamil Nadu.

Key Data:

Karnataka’s Argument:

• “Severe hydrological distress”
• Inflows declining
• 47% less than 30-year average

Tamil Nadu’s Argument:

• Demanded 37 tmc ft by August end
• Karnataka already in “comfortable position”

CWMA Chairperson’s Statement:

• Karnataka can spare 1 tmc ft/day
• No single distress-sharing formula works for Cauvery

Static Link:

• CWMA: Cauvery Water Management Authority
• CWRC: Cauvery Water Regulation Committee
• Article 262 – bars SC jurisdiction over interstate river disputes

7. High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes – Jammu Visit

News Context: HLCDC visited Jammu to study demographic changes in border areas.

Key Facts:

• Head: Former SC judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar (retd)
• Mandate: Study demographic changes in border areas
• Interacted with civil society groups
• Likely to visit detention centre with ~450 Rohingyas
• Home Ministry estimate: ~13,000 Rohingyas in Jammu (2017)

8. SC Seeks Emergency Mechanism Against Online Threats

News Context: SC asked Centre to consider time-bound emergency mechanism against online threats.

Issues Covered:

• Threats of rape, murder, physical violence
• Non-consensual intimate/AI-generated material
• Harmful deepfake impersonation
• Doxxing, child exposure

Observation by CJI Surya Kant:

• Digital harm travels at technological speed
• Conventional legal remedies move at institutional speed – often ineffective

9. SC/ST Act Amendments – Task Force Recommendations

News Context: Internal task force recommended amendments to SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Key Recommendations:

• Enhance compensation for SC/ST victims (adjust for inflation)
• Introduce counselling for accused and victims
• Establish special relief and rehabilitation cells in States/UTs
• FIRs and chargesheets to be sent to government officials within 24 hours

Separate NSCIT Recommendations:

• Protect livelihoods of ST communities alienated from land
• Check registration of “counter FIRs” against those reporting atrocities

Background:

• SC/ST Act last amended in 2018
• Amendment followed SC ruling that diluted provisions

Static Link:

• SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
• National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCSCT) – constitutional body under Article 338A

💰 ECONOMY

10. U.S. LPG Imports – India’s Rising Dependence

News Context: Union Minister said 67% of India’s LPG now comes from the U.S.

Key Data:

Reasons for Shift:

• Strait of Hormuz crisis (West Asia supplies disrupted)
• Saudi CP (LPG price) rose: $543/tonne (Feb) → $790/tonne (June)

Risks:

• Overdependence on U.S. – energy as bargaining tool
• U.S. shipments: 25-35 days vs Gulf: 5-10 days (proximity pricing lost)
• Dollar risk – rupee depreciation increases cost
• U.S. monetary policy affects rupee-dollar exchange rate

Way Forward:

• Strengthen local production
• Build more strategic reserves
• Diversify supply chains

Static Link:

• LPG: Liquefied Petroleum Gas – propane + butane mix
• Strait of Hormuz – key chokepoint for LPG trade

11. Polymer Banknotes – Government Approval

News Context: Government approved introduction of 1 billion polymer banknotes of ₹10 and ₹20 for field trials.

Key Facts:

• RBI sent proposal under Section 25 of RBI Act, 1934
• Procurement at initial stage
• Exact timeline not fixed

Static Link:

• Section 25 RBI Act, 1934: RBI has sole right to issue banknotes
• Paper vs Polymer: Polymer more durable, cleaner, harder to counterfeit

12. Net Direct Tax Collection – Data

Key Data (April 1 – August 10):

Static Link:

• STT: Securities Transaction Tax – levied on stock market transactions
• CBDT: Central Board of Direct Taxes

13. Equity Mutual Fund Inflows – Data

Key Data:

Equity Category Wise:

Static Link: SIP = Systematic Investment Plan

14. SBI Dollar Bond Issue

News Context: SBI returning to public dollar bond market after nearly a year.

Key Facts:

• Expected issue size: $500 million
• Through SBI’s London branch
• Initial price guidance: ~120 bps over U.S. Treasuries

Static Link: Masala Bonds vs Dollar Bonds – SBI raises funds through dollar-denominated bonds.

15. Fitch Retains India’s Rating

News Context: Fitch retained India’s sovereign credit rating at BBB- for 20th consecutive year.

Reason: Strong economy despite West Asia energy shock

Static Link: Fitch is one of the “Big Three” credit rating agencies (S&P, Moody’s, Fitch)

🌐 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

16. Syria’s Bashar al-Assad Sentenced to Death

News Context: Syrian court sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia.

Key Facts:

• Convicted of: Premeditated murder, torture leading to death, deprivation of liberty
• Classified as: Crimes against humanity and war crimes
• Also sentenced: Assad’s brother Maher, former Defence Minister Fahd al-Freij
• Only defendant in court: Atif Najib (Assad’s cousin) – also sentenced to death

Background:

• Assad fled to Moscow in December 2024
• Syria’s civil war killed over 500,000 people

Static Link: International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ) – different roles

17. Taliban Banned 2.4 Million Afghan Girls from School

News Context: UNESCO reported Taliban barred 2.4 million Afghan girls from secondary education since 2021.

Key Fact: Afghanistan is the only country where girls and women are formally banned from secondary and higher education

Static Link:

• UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• Afghanistan is a member of UNESCO

18. Colombia Earthquake Toll

Key Data:

Static Link: Colombia is on the Pacific Ring of Fire

19. Türkiye Approves Pardon-like Bill for PKK Militants

News Context: Turkish Parliament approved legislation for conditional pardon for Kurdish militants.

Key Facts:

• Vote: 468-88 in favour
• Will come into effect after PKK fully disarms

Static Link:

• PKK: Kurdistan Workers’ Party – designated as terrorist by Turkey, U.S., EU
• Türkiye is a NATO member

20. NASA Invites ISRO to Join Moon Base Programme

News Context: NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme.

Key Facts:

• Formal invitation at 9th India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (SJWG) meeting
• Programme aims to establish humanity’s first outpost near South Pole of the moon

Background:

• Joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission – launched last year
• Aligns with February 2025 Joint Leaders’ Statement (Modi-Trump)

Static Link:

• Outer Space Treaty, 1967 – India is signatory
• Moon Agreement, 1979 – India has not ratified

🌍 GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT

21. Ganga Floodplain – Construction Restrictions Eased

News Context: Centre eased restrictions on construction along Ganga floodplain.

Key Changes:

• Removed clause declaring Ganga floodplain as “construction-free zone”
• Adopted stratified regulation with three zones:
  1. Active zone – floods every 5 years (restricted)
  2. Regulatory zone – moderate flooding (5-25 years) – construction permitted with clearances
  3. Warning zone – severe flooding (25-100 years) – construction permitted with clearances

Authority: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) – under Jal Shakti Ministry

Background: 2016 River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order

Static Link:

• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) – registered society under Societies Registration Act
• Ganga is India’s longest river (2,525 km)

22. Zanskar Glaciers – Slowing Down

News Context: Study in The Cryosphere reports glaciers in Zanskar region (Ladakh) moving more slowly.

Key Data:

Mechanism:

• Glacier thinning reduces driving stress
• Causes slower flow
• Slowdown = continued shrinkage more likely

Importance of Zanskar Glaciers:

• Receive snowfall from mid-latitude westerly disturbances
• Natural reservoirs – supply meltwater to Indus basin
• Support rivers, agriculture, communities in arid Ladakh

Similar slowdowns reported in:

• European Alps
• Alaska
• Canadian Arctic
• Andes
• Tibetan plateau

Static Link:

• Zanskar – region in Ladakh
• Indus River – originates in Tibet, flows through Ladakh
• Glacier melt contributes to Indus basin flows during dry summer months

23. Aravali High-Powered Committee – Activists’ Concerns

News Context: Aravali Virasat Jan Abhiyaan (AVJA) claimed HPC did not visit mining-affected villages.

Key Facts:

• Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee (HPC) on Aravalis
• Deadline to submit report: August 31
• Covers 5 States: Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat

AVJA’s Demand:

• Extend deadline
• Visit all districts
• Conduct meaningful consultations

Static Link:

• Aravali Range – oldest fold mountain range in India
• Runs through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Gujarat

🔬 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

24. Deepak Dhar Wins Dirac Medal

News Context: Theoretical physicist Deepak Dhar awarded Dirac Medal.

Key Facts:

Abelian Sandpile Model:

• Mathematical version of sandpile idea
• ‘Abelian’ = no matter sequence of topples, pile settles into same final shape
• Applications: Earthquakes, forest fires, neural networks, financial markets

Biography:

• Born: 1951 (Pratapgarh, UP)
• Education: Allahabad University → IIT-Kanpur → Caltech (PhD, 1978)
• Teaching assistant to: Richard Feynman
• Career: TIFR Mumbai → IISER Pune → ICTS Bengaluru
• Awards: Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (1991), Padma Bhushan (2023), Boltzmann Medal (2022)

Dirac Medal:

• Established: 1985
• Awarded to physicists who have made outstanding contributions but not received top honours (Nobel, Fields, Wolf)
• Past recipients: Edward Witten, Stephen Hawking, Leonard Susskind
• ICTP founded by: Abdus Salam (Pakistani physicist, Nobel laureate)

Static Link:

• ICTP: International Centre for Theoretical Physics – Trieste, Italy
• Boltzmann Medal – considered most prestigious prize in statistical physics

25. EV Transition – Vehicle Retrofitting

News Context: Article on need for vehicle retrofitting in India’s EV transition.

Key Data:

Circular Economy Hierarchy:

1. Reduce – resource consumption
2. Reuse – existing assets (retrofitting)
3. Recycle – when genuinely end-of-life

Retrofitting:

• Replacing ICE with electric powertrain
• Retains structurally sound vehicle
• Extends asset life

Vehicle Hierarchy Approach:

1. Safe, compliant, efficient → continue operation
2. Ageing, polluting but structurally sound → retrofit
3. Compromised safety, structural degradation → scrappage/recycling

Static Link:

• Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Rules, 2021
• Environment Protection (End of Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

26. AI in Banking – RBI Governor’s Caution

News Context: RBI Governor warned against erosion of human judgment and accountability in banks due to AI.

Key Points:

• “The model deciding” can never be acceptable answer
• Meaningful human oversight must remain design principle
• Banks must set up board-approved AI governance policies

Static Link: RBI – central bank of India

27. Railways to Deploy AI Cameras at Level Crossings

News Context: Indian Railways set to deploy AI-powered surveillance cameras at non-interlocked level crossing gates.

Non-interlocked Level Crossing:

• Gateman responsible for closing/locking gate
• Station Master relies on gateman’s confirmation

Static Link: Indian Railways is under Ministry of Railways

🏅 SPORTS (Current Affairs)

28. Afghanistan Qualifies for 2027 World Cup

News Context: Afghanistan secured automatic qualification for 2027 ICC World Cup.

Key Facts:

• Top 8 teams (excluding co-hosts) qualify directly
• Co-hosts: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia
• Afghanistan joins: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh

West Indies:

• Ranked 10th – will go through qualifiers for third successive edition

Static Link: ICC World Cup is ODI cricket’s premier tournament

29. Durand Cup – NEUFC Qualifies for Quarterfinals

News Context: NorthEast United FC qualified for quarterfinals with all-win record.

Static Link: Durand Cup – Asia’s oldest football tournament (started 1888)

📌 STATIC CORNER – ESSENTIAL ARTICLES & DATA

🎯 PRELIMS PRACTICE MCQs

Q1. The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) functions under which constitutional provision?
(a) Article 256
(b) Article 262
(c) Article 263
(d) Article 280

✅ Answer: (b)

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the FCRA:

1. FCRA stands for Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act
2. It was enacted in 2010
3. It regulates foreign contributions to individuals, associations, and companies in India

Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: (d)

Q3. The Dirac Medal is awarded by which institution?
(a) CERN
(b) ICTP
(c) UNESCO
(d) World Academy of Sciences

✅ Answer: (b) – International Centre for Theoretical Physics (Trieste, Italy)

Q4. Which of the following is NOT a co-host of the 2027 ICC World Cup?
(a) South Africa
(b) Zimbabwe
(c) Namibia
(d) West Indies

✅ Answer: (d) – West Indies are not co-hosts

Q5. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is under which Ministry?
(a) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(b) Ministry of Jal Shakti
(c) Ministry of Water Resources
(d) Ministry of Agriculture

✅ Answer: (b)

Q6. The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was last amended in:
(a) 2015
(b) 2018
(c) 2020
(d) 2022

✅ Answer: (b)

Q7. India’s current LPG imports from the U.S. constitute approximately:
(a) 35%
(b) 50%
(c) 67%
(d) 80%

✅ Answer: (c)

Q8. The government has approved polymer banknotes of which denominations for field trials?
(a) ₹10 and ₹20
(b) ₹20 and ₹50
(c) ₹50 and ₹100
(d) ₹10 and ₹50

✅ Answer: (a)

Q9. Which Indian physicist won the Dirac Medal in 2026?
(a) Ashoke Sen
(b) Deepak Dhar
(c) Abhay Ashtekar
(d) Rajesh Gopakumar

✅ Answer: (b)

Q10. The Zanskar region, where glaciers are slowing down, is located in:
(a) Himachal Pradesh
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Ladakh
(d) Sikkim

✅ Answer: (c)

📌 Contact For JHARKHAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (JPSC) Notes : Polity , Economics,History, Geography Science & Technology, Public Administration