The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed stricter FCRA rules. 

Key Changes in FCRA Rules

• Activity-Based Regulation: Foreign funds restricted to approved activities under specified categories.
• Geography-Based Compliance: NGOs can operate only in declared States/UTs.
• Enhanced Transparency: Mandatory disclosure of social media accounts, websites, publications, and key functionaries.
• Religious activities: allowed, but proselytisation (religious conversion-related activities) explicitly prohibited.
• Other: 
  • Expanded ‘Key Functionary’ Definition (includes trustees, partners, governing body members, directors, etc.)
  • Foreign nationals as key functionaries generally ineligible for FCRA registration (except by government exemption).

About Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010 

• It regulates the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions and hospitality by individuals, associations, and NGOs.
• It aims to ensure that foreign funding does not adversely affect India's sovereignty, integrity, security, public interest, or democratic institutions.
• FCRA (Amendment) Act, 2020 strengthened regulation of foreign funding by banning sub-granting, reducing the administrative expense cap to 20%, and mandating a designated SBI account for foreign contributions.

RBI allows banks to lend against FCNR(B) (Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) deposits.

About FCNR(B) Deposit

• FCNR(B) (Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) Deposit is a term deposit account to maintain deposits in designated foreign currencies with Indian banks, insulating them from exchange rate risk. 
• Eligibility: Can be opened by NRIs/OCIs with authorised Indian banks. 
• Tenure: Term deposits with maturity ranging from 1 to 5 years.
• Repatriability: Both principal and interest are fully repatriable.
• Regulator: Governed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

President of India presents Padma Awards 2026. 

About Padma Awards

• One of the highest civilian awards of India, conferred in three categories:
  • Padma Vibhushan – Exceptional and distinguished service.
  • Padma Bhushan – Distinguished service of a high order.
  • Padma Shri – Distinguished service in any field.
    • Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country.
• History: Instituted as Padma Vibhushan in 1954 with three classes; reorganised in 1955 into Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
• Conferred annually, except during 1978–79 and 1993–97.
• Recognises achievements in diverse fields such as Art, Literature & Education, Science & Engineering, Medicine, Social Work, Public Affairs, Sports, Trade & Industry, etc.
• Not eligible: Government servants, including PSU employees, except doctors and scientists.

IMO, Oman announces plan to evacuate ships, 11,000 seafarers stranded in Persian Gulf

About IMO(HQ: London,UK)

• Genesis: Established in 1948 as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO); renamed International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1982.
• Membership: 176 Member States and 3 Associate Members. 
  • India became a member in 1959 and is a member of its Council in Category B 
• Status: Specialized agency of the United Nations.
• Role: Responsible for the safety, security, and environmental performance of international shipping.

Tamil Nadu will deploy India’s first 3D-printed artificial reef under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana.

About 3D-Printed Artificial Reefs

• It is a marine habitat restoration initiative aimed at improving biodiversity and fish habitats.
• Developed by: Tvasta (IIT Madras-incubated startup) in collaboration with ICAR-CMFRI.
• Key features: Complex geometries with crevices and folds, high porosity, species-specific habitat design, and no iron reinforcement.
• Significance: Supports coral and marine species recovery, strengthens coastal resilience, and enhances fish stocks for traditional fishing communities.

Grid India has proposed repurposing underutilised thermal power plants into synchronous condensers. It will improve grid stability amid rising renewable energy integration.

About SYNCON

• It is a freely spinning generator that does not produce electricity but supports grid stability.
• Significance: Helps stabilize grids with high solar and wind penetration where system inertia is declining.

Researchers have discovered a new genus and species of blind subterranean loach, Gitchak nakana in Assam.

About Gitchak nakana

Features

• Belongs to the family Cobitidae (loaches).
• Completely blind and lacks body pigmentation.
• Complete absence of the skull roof, with the brain covered only by skin.
• Long sensory barbels aiding navigation in darkness.
• Elongated branchiostegal rays and unique vertebral structure.

Habitat

• Found exclusively in a groundwater-fed open well in Goalpara district, Assam.
• It lives in an aquifer (groundwater system) rather than caves, making it a rare phreatobitic fish.

RBI revises process to onboard MSMEs on Trade Receivables Discounting System  (TReDS) platforms.

About TReDS

• It is an electronic platform designed to facilitate the financing of trade receivables of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• It enables MSME sellers to receive early payment for their invoices by getting them discounted through multiple financiers such as banks and NBFCs.
• The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has integrated TReDS as an additional payment mechanism to address delays in payments to MSME vendors.