US launched Section 301 investigations into the manufacturing policies of 16 major trading partners, including the EU, China and India, to address unfair trade practices.

• This Section 301 investigation – under Trade Act 1974 – culminates in Special 301 Report published annually by the Office of the US Trade Representative. 
• This report identifies countries that are considered by the US as not providing adequate and effective protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) or fair and equitable market access to IP rights holders from the US.
• Categories: It designates countries as “priority foreign country”, “priority watch list”, and “watch list”.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) directed milk producers who are not members of dairy cooperative societies to obtain mandatory registration or a licence before commencing or continuing their food business operation.

About FSSAI

• It is statutory body established under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as per provisions contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
• Functions: Laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
• Composition: It consists of a Chairperson and 22 members out of which one-third are women.
• Initiatives: Eat Right India, RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil), Food Fortification etc.

The Lok Sabha Speaker clarified that Article 105 of the Constitution places freedom of speech within the framework of parliamentary rules.

About Article 105

• It defines the powers, privileges, and immunities of the Parliament and its members and committees.
• Key provisions:
  • Freedom of speech in Parliament: No Member of Parliament shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in Parliament or any committee.
  • No person shall be so liable inrespect of the publication by or under the authority of either House of Parliament of any report, paper, votes or proceedings.
  • Other powers and privileges are to be defined by Parliament by law, or to follow those that existed at the time of the 44th Amendment in 1978.
  • Eligibility: persons entitled to speak and take part in parliamentary proceedings, e.g. MPs, Attorney General of India, etc.

Astrophysicists have identified magnetar as the cause behind an extremely bright supernova.

About Supernova

• Supernovae are bright violent explosions that take place during the final stages of the death of a supermassive star.

About Magnetar

• Magnetars are neutron stars having very high magnetic fields which are billions of times stronger than the strongest magnets we have on Earth.
  • Neutron Stars: These are the dead remnants of stars, composed entirely of neutrons. 
    • They’re so heavy and dense that the electrons and protons which make up atoms have been crushed together into neutrons.

The Indian Army launched a major bridge project in Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu.

About Operation Sagar Bandhu

• Launched: In November 2025 to provide urgent Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) support to Sri Lanka in the immediate aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Ditwah.
• Guided by: India’s Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR.

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), has received global recognition at the Mobile World Congress 2026 for “FraudPro”.

About FraudPro

• Overview: It is an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) driven fraud detection platform aimed at securing telecom ecosystems against identity-based fraud. 
• Applications: Enables telecom operators to proactively detect fraudulent mobile connections in the network and prevent misuse of telecom resources. 
• It is deployed by the Department of Telecommunication in India as part of Digital Intelligence Platform and Sancharsaathi portal.