The Levels and Trends in Child Mortality Report 2025 highlights that India has achieved a significant decline in its child mortality.

• The report is released by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME).

Key Findings related to India

• Under-five mortality rate reduced to 26.6 in 2024 from 127 in 1990, registering a sharp 79 % decline.
• Neonatal mortality rate had fallen to 17 in 2024.
• Infant mortality fell to 23.3. 
• This progress is achieved  due to 
  • Targeted, demand-driven initiatives such as Janani Suraksha Yojana and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram.
  • Universal Immunisation Programme, facility-based newborn care, and Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses etc.

Maharashtra assembly passed the Wildlife Protection (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2026 for better management of human-wildlife conflict.

• The proposed amendment will empower the state government to capture and relocate leopards from one area to another. 
  • The bill will come into effect only after receiving the President’s assent, as it proposes changes to a central law.
• The amendment pertains to provisions under Section 12 of the Wildlife Protection Act,1972

About Section 12 of WPA, 1972

• It empowers the Chief Wildlife Warden to grant permits allowing the hunting of wild animals for specific purposes such as scientific research, scientific management, etc.
  • Under scientific management, capture and relocation of any wild animal to an alternative suitable habitat can be allowed with prior permission from the central government.

NATO is deploying U.S. Patriot missile defence system to the southern province of Adana in Turkey.

About Patriot Missile Defence System

• PATRIOT is an acronym for Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target,
• It is a ground-based, mobile missile defense interceptor developed in the United States.
• It detects, tracks, and engages Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) cruise missiles, and short-range or tactical ballistic missiles.

The Indian Navy organised the second edition of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative

About IOS SAGAR

• Aim: Enables naval personnel from friendly foreign countries to train and sail together onboard an Indian Naval ship increasing interoperability.
• Participation: 16 Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) countries.
• It is aligned with India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
  • It also contributes to the broader MAHASAGAR framework (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions). 

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) extends ALMM Framework to Cover Solar Ingots and Wafers from June 1, 2028. 

Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) Framework

• Introduced by the MNRE in 2019 to ensure quality, reliability, and domestic sourcing of solar PV modules.
• It is a quality-and-reliability framework that ensures solar equipment used in the country’s solar projects meet the domestic manufacturing standards.
• It applies for projects awarded through competitive bidding under Sec 63, Electricity Act, 2003 and for net-metering or open-access projects.

Indian Navy is participating in ‘Sea Dragon 2026’ near Guam Island (US territory) in North Pacific Ocean.

About Exercise Sea Dragon 

• Annual  U.S. Navy-led multinational anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise.
• Brings together forces from Australia, Japan and New Zealand, towards enhancing coordination and combat readiness in undersea warfare.

Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Department of Commerce initiated anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of Ethyl Chloroformates (ECF) from China.

• ECF is colourless, volatile liquid with pungent odour widely used as intermediate in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. 
• It is an organic compound, classified as hazardous. 

About Anti-Dumping Duty

• Trade remedy that an importing country applies after an investigation that product of exporting country is causing material injury to domestic industry. 
  • If a product is exported at price lower than in home market, then it is said to be dumped. 
• Governed by Anti-Dumping Agreement of World Trade Organization (WTO).