The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 was recently passed in Lok sabha to foster trust-based governance. 

Key provisions 

• Decriminalization: replaces imprisonment with civil penalties for over 1,000 offences minor offences. 
  • E.g. up to Rs. 1 cr penalty for making national highway impassable instead of imprisonment. 
• Adjudication Mechanism: to resolve penalties outside the court system.
• Graduated response: warnings/advisories before fines for first or second time lapses.
  • Dynamic Monetary penalties: 10% increment every 3 years to create deterrence. 
• Several outdated colonial-era laws and offences are omitted. 

Recently, Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals ltd. and Mahanadi Coalfields ltd. signed an agreement for coal to Ammonium Nitrate Project.

About Ammonium Nitrate 

• Appearance: white, crystalline, water-soluble solid.
• Not found in nature: made by reacting ammonia with nitric acid.
• Explosive: it is deemed explosive under explosive act due to its use in IEDs (if more than 45%)
  • It is an actually an Oxidizer that supplies oxygen to accelerate combustion.
  • Fire by it is difficult to put out as it provides its own oxygen.
• Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989: list it as hazardous chemicals 
• Import: Requires prior permission for specific grades
• Regulated by: Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organization under DPIIT
• Hygroscopic Nature: absorbs moisture from the air, turning into "hard rock.
• Thermal Decomposition: Under High Heat it can explode releasing Nitrogen Dioxide (orange plume) 
• Applications : fertilizers, cold packs because its dissolution in water is endothermic, medical and industrial uses, etc.

Government notifies extension of RoSCTL Scheme up to 30th September 2026.

About the scheme 

• Launched: In 2019 by the Ministry of Textiles.
• Aim: to zero-rate textile exports by rebating all embedded State and Central taxes and levies, not covered under any other scheme.
• Mechanism: Rebates are issued as Duty Credit Scrips which can be sold or used to pay custom duty.
• Benefits: Flexibility, enhanced export competitiveness, cost reduction etc.

Recently, India amended Income Tax Rules, 2026, under Income Tax Act, 2025, to exclude  investments made before 1 April 2017,from GAAR 

• This removed ambiguity around grandfathering.
  • Grandfathering lets investments made before a specified date enjoy old tax rules despite later changes.

About GAAR (effective from April 2017)

• Introduced via Finance Act 2012.
• Aim to address aggressive tax avoidance.
• Recommended by Parthasarathi Shome Committee.
• Implementation: Tax authorities can trigger GAAR if an arrangement 
  • Lacks Commercial Substance
  • Shows Abuse of Law
  • Transactions between related parties doesn't reflect market prices.
  • creates rights that wouldn't normally exist
• GAAR applies only if annual tax benefit exceeds ₹3 crore.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has relaxed the criteria for Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) to retain their common election symbols under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) (Amendment) Order, 2026.

• Parties now only need to secure a 1% vote share in either of the last two elections (Lok Sabha or Assembly) to retain their symbol, whereas previously they had to achieve this mark in both elections.

About RUPP:

• Either newly registered parties or those which have not secured enough percentage of votes in the assembly or general elections to become a state party, 
  • Or, those which have never contested elections since being registered are considered unrecognised parties.
• Such parties don’t enjoy all the benefits extended to the recognised parties, such as free broadcast time, exclusive right to a reserved symbol, etc.

Lok Sabha clears Bill to make Amaravati sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.

About Amaravati and its Cultural Relevance:

• Ancient Capital: It served as the capital of the Satavahana dynasty (3rd century BCE).
• Major Buddhist Pilgrimage Site: 
  • It is believed to be the place where Gautam Buddha first taught the concept and teachings of “Kalachakra.”(Vajrayana Buddhism)
  • The Amaravati Stupa built in the 2nd century BCE is one of the oldest and most well-preserved Buddhist monuments with intricate carvings and sculptures depicting scenes from Buddha's life.
• Amareswara Temple: Built around the 5th century, this ancient Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva 
• Traditional Crafts: The local culture is celebrated through traditional handicrafts like the vibrant, wooden Kondapalli toys and exquisite Kalamkari textiles (hand-painted or block-printed fabrics).

Five lakes in the Kashmir Valley have been categorized as having "very high susceptibility" to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in a study. 

• These lakes are Bramsar, Chirsart, Nundkol, Gangabal and Bhagsar.

About Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs): 

• GLOF is a sudden, catastrophic release of meltwater from a glacial lake due to unstable natural dam (consisting of loose rock and sediment or glacial ice) failure.
• Types of Glacial Lakes:
  • Moraine-Dammed Lakes: Form behind ridges of loose rock and debris left by retreating glaciers.
  • Ice-Dammed Lakes: Form when an advancing or thickening glacier blocks meltwater from draining down a valley.

US expansion of oil and gas drilling could push the Rice Whale to extinction.

About Rice Whale

• Rice whales are members of the baleen whale family Balaenopteridae.
• Population: With likely fewer than 100 individuals remaining, Rice's whales are one of the rarest whales in the world. 
• Area: Recognised as a distinct species in 2021, Rice’s whale is usually found in a narrow area in the northeastern part of the Gulf of Mexico.
• IUCN Status: Endangered.
• Lifespan: Rice's whales are likely able to reproduce every 2 to 3 years, reach sexual maturity at age nine, and mate year-round. 

Qdenga vaccine received clearance from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for use among individuals aged 4 to 60 years against Dengue.

• Dengue is a viral infection, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.
• Dengue is caused by four closely related but distinct viruses, known as serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4).

About Qdenga Vaccine

• It is a live-attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine that protects against all four dengue strains (DENV-1, 2, 3, 4).
• Benefits: It does not require pre-vaccination screening to determine prior dengue infection.

The Strait of Hormuz closure has hit a large chunk of India's energy supply including both LNG and LPG.

About LNG

• LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) is primarily a natural gas (mainly methane). 
• It is cooled to below –160 degrees Celsius and cryogenically turned into a liquid for storage or ease of transportation.
• It is regasified into natural gas and used as PNG (piped natural gas) for households or CNG (compressed natural gas) for vehicles; also used in power generation & machinery operations.
• LNG (Natural Gas) is lighter than air: generally considered safer in open areas.

About LPG

• LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) primarily comprises propane and butane, a byproduct of the crude oil refining process. 
• Under relatively low temperatures or moderate pressure, LPG becomes a liquid, allowing it to be bottled in cylinders.
• LPG is heavier than air: If it leaks, it settles on the ground, creating a high fire risk.