DPIIT (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) notifies Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 to strengthen supply chains and facilitate industry compliance by easing the rules.

• The Order allows eligible companies to temporarily source 10 QCO-covered products (such as toys, footwear) from otherwise ineligible manufacturers, provided they comply with Indian Standards.

About QCOs

• Issued: By the Central Government through various Line Ministries under the BIS Act, 2016.
• Impact: It converts voluntary BIS certification into mandatory certification for particular products.
  • Once a QCO is issued and comes into effect, no one can manufacture, import, sell, or store the covered products in India without a valid BIS Licence or Certificate of Conformity (CoC).

Government banned 16 FDC drugs, including certain antibiotic combinations and herbal dermatological creams, like aloe vera as their benefits lack scientific justification.

About FDC

• Meaning: Refers to products containing two or more active ingredients used for a particular indication(s). (Drugs & Cosmetics Rule, 1945)
  • Active Ingredient is biologically active component of a drug product (tablet, capsule, cream, injectable) that produces the intended effects.
• As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, the FDCs are considered as New Drugs and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) issues approval.
• FDCs are commonly prescribed for conditions ranging from infections to pain and skin ailments. 

The government has operationalised Jan Vishwas Act, 2026 reforms under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

About the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026

• Background: Builds on Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 
• Decriminalization: Replaces imprisonment with civil penalties for over 1,000 minor offences to promote trust-based governance.
• Adjudication Framework: Establishes dedicated Adjudicating Authorities and internal Appeal Mechanisms 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• Several outdated colonial-era laws and offences are omitted. 

India launched 'Operation Amistad' to aid earthquake-stricken Venezuela. 

About Operation Amistad

• It is India's Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief mission.
  • "Amistad" means "friendship" in Spanish.
• Witness deployment of Two Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft carrying a field hospital unit and more than 35 tonnes of relief supplies. 
• Other similar Operations  by India: Maitri (Nepal), Dost (Turkiye and Syria), Karuna (Myanmar), Sadbhav (Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam), Search and Rescue Operation (Nepal), Brahma (Myanmar), etc. 

India, along with 34 other countries, signed a US-led ‘Joint Statement on AI Opportunity’ at the second Pax Silica Summit in Washington, D.C.

• It supports a pro-growth, pro-innovation approach to artificial intelligence while promoting trusted technology partnerships and resilient supply chains.

Pax Silica Initiative

• Launched: In 2025 by the US as a strategic alliance and non-binding declaration focused on securing global supply chains for artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and critical rare-earth minerals. 
  • India joined it in 2026.

• Core Objectives: 
  • Reduce coercive dependencies on single nation (primarily China); 
  • Partner to secure global tech supply chains, address AI supply chain opportunities and vulnerabilities, and explore joint investment;
  • Protect sensitive technologies and build trusted digital infrastructure.

Israel, Lebanon, and the US have inked a trilateral accord to de-escalate border tensions after months of violence between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.

Key Highlights

• Core strategy:  Dismantling Hezbollah, enabling Lebanon to reclaim territory occupied by Israeli forces during their conflict with militant group.
• Lebanese sovereignty: Pursuant to disarmament of groups like Hezbollah, Israel declares that it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon.
• Creation of a trilateral Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L): facilitated by United States, allowing two sides to implement this Framework.
• Humanitarian assistance: USA pledged an immediate $100 million in humanitarian assistance in coordination with the U.N.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026 under the FSSA, 2006. 

• Retailers and other non-manufacturing food businesses are now exempt from mandatory record-keeping and stock rotation practices (First In First Out -FIFO).

 About FSSA, 2006

• It consolidates the laws relating to food in India.
• Establishes FSSAI: Creates the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as the apex food regulator.
• Key Provisions: Science-based standards for food; Regulation of food business; Ensuring food safety for human consumption; Consumer protection by preventing unsafe and adulterated food, etc.

Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry issued a draft notification proposing amendments to Rule 31 of Drugs Rules, 1945 revising the residual shelf life of imported drugs to minimum of 12 months at time of import. 

• 1945 rules were enacted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

About Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940

• Aims to regulate the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs. 
• Provides for Drugs Technical Advisory Board; Central Drugs Laboratory; and Drugs Consultative Committee constituted by the Central Government. 
• Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO): Central Drug Authority for discharging functions assigned to Central Government under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. 

Chief Justice of India observed that roots of equality lie in Kautilya's Arthashastra, rather than the Magna Carta (1215).

About Kautilya's Arthashastra

• Composition: Around 321 BCE, 
• It is the oldest and most exhaustive treatise on statecraft and on issues of diplomacy, war, peace, intelligence, security, and political economy.
• Key features:
  • Bureaucratic Structure: The King sat at the apex of the organizational pyramid, supported by subordinate levels of officers such as Mahamatya, Amatyas, and Adhyakshas (superintendents).
  • Welfare State: The state aimed to promote Yogakshema, the successful accomplishment of objectives and peaceful enjoyment of prosperity for its people.

Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister inaugurated the restored Muzhiyan Kulam, a more than 400-year-old historic pond. 

About Muzhiyan Kulam

• Location: Two-acre pond, located near Thavalakuppam at Pooranankuppam in Puducherry.
• Period: Dates to Pallava period. 
• Key Features: 
  • Traditionally served as source of drinking water and irrigation for the village. 
  • Also has four natural spring-fed wells.
  • Restoration was inspired by Naangu Mozhi system which is an ancient traditional engineering systems in South India for rainwater management and groundwater recharge architecture. 
    • It features a primary tank (kulam) fed by or interconnected to four distinct wells (mozhi) via underground chambers.