In the backdrop of the United States-Israel war on Iran, Gulf countries, including Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, have declared force majeure on gas exports.
About Force Majeure
• The phrase comes from French and means “superior force.”
• It is a clause in a contract excuses a party from performing its obligations when unforeseen events beyond its control (e.g., natural diaster etc.) render performance impossible or impracticable.
Trade between India and China will commence from June 1 through the Shipki La Pass in Himachal Pradesh.
• Trade through the pass was disrupted following the Doklam standoff and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In 2025, India and China agreed to re-open border trade through the three designated trading points, namely Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand), Shipki-La Pass and Nathu-La Pass (Sikkim).
o Lipulekh Pass is located close to the tri-junction of India, China (Tibet) and Nepal.
About Shipki La Pass
• It connects India and Tibet (China).
• It was earlier known as Pema La, or Shared Pass.
• The Sutlej River enters India at Shipki La.
As per reports, the Union government has initiated airwave spectrum allocation for ‘vehicle-to-everything’ or V2X technology.
About V2X Technology
• It enables vehicles to communicate with each other (V2V), with other road users such as pedestrians and cyclists (V2P), and with roadside infrastructure (V2I).
• Benefits: Enhanced Road Safety (e.g., helps vehicles see vulnerable road users), Improved Traffic Efficiency, etc
In the recent Iran conflict, several strategically important energy infrastructure sites—such as oil reserves and export facilities—have been attacked.
Key Places
• The South Pars gas field, located off Iran’s southern coast.
o It is part of a massive gas reserve shared with Qatar’s North Dome gas field, together forming the largest natural gas reservoir in the world.
• Ras Laffan Industrial City (Qatar)- home to the world’s largest LNG export plant.
• Shah gas field (Abu Dhabi)-home to the world’s largest ultra-sour gas operation.
o Sour gas is natural gas containing significant amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)
Article Sources
1 sourceIsrael reportedly struck Iranian targets in the Caspian Sea for the first time.
About Caspian Sea
• Actually a saltwater lake, the Caspian Sea is the largest inland body of water on Earth.
• Located in central Eurasia, it is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Iran.
• It is renowned for its substantial petroleum and natural gas reserves.
• Key rivers draining into Caspian Sea: Volga, Emba, Ural
• Biodiversity: world's largest spawning grounds of sturgeon, home to the only marine mammal that lives in the Sea, the endemic Caspian Seal.
Convention held to mark the centenary year of the Mahad Satyagraha.
About Mahad Satyagraha
• Date & Place: Started on 20 March 1927 at Chavdar Tale (Tank), Mahad (Maharashtra).
• It was a non-violent protest led by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, aimed to secure the right of untouchables to access public drinking water, which was denied due to caste discrimination.
• Symbolic acts like drinking water from the public tanks and burning of the Manusmriti were performed, rejecting the caste system.
• Key leaders: Anandrao Chitre, Bapu Sahastrabuddhe, Sambhaji Gaikwad, Ramchandra More.
• After a decade of litigation, in 1937 the Bombay High Court upheld the right of untouchables to use the public tank.
The Election Commission has extended the facility of postal ballot voting to electors above 85 years of age and Persons with Disabilities.
About Postal Ballot
• Allows voters to cast their votes on an electronically received postal ballot, avoiding the need to visit polling stations physically.
o The voter must print it, mark their choice manually, and return it by physical post.
• Legal Framework: Governed by Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and Representation of People Act, 1951.
• Eligibility: Service voters, special voters, absentee voters (seniors above 85, persons with disabilities, etc.) those under preventive detention, and election duty personnel.
o Service Voters include Members of the Armed Forces, central armed police forces, government servants posted abroad etc.
o Special voters include the President, Vice President, Governors, Cabinet Ministers, etc. and their spouses.
The World Happiness Report 2026 was published with the theme ‘Happiness and Social Media’, highlighting the "concerning" decline in youth happiness, linking it to usage of social media.
About World Happiness Report 2026
• Published by: The Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
• Top 3 ranked countries: Finland, Iceland, Denmark.
• Bottom 3 ranked countries: Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Malawi
• India ranked 116th of 147 countries, a slight improvement from 118th in 2025 and 126th in 2024.
