The Centre notified the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026.

• The Act creates a unified legal framework to regulate the recruitment, deputation, promotion, and conditions of service for officers in five CAPFs (CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP, SSB). 

About CAPF 

• They are seven-Armed Police Organisations operating under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
  • While the Assam Rifles functions administratively under the MHA, its operational control lies with the Ministry of Defence.
• CAPFs include Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB).
• They are headed by DGP rank officers.

India and Bhutan signed Tariff Protocol of Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project. 

About Project

• 1020 MW Run of the river project on Punatsangchhu river.
  • Origin: The rivers Phochhu and Mochhu confluence to form the Punatsangchhu river in Bhutan.
  • It flows southerly to enter the Indian plains of West Bengal and is a tributary of Brahmaputra river.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has updated the Red List of Threatened Species of certain Antarctic species.

Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)

• IUCN Status: Endangered (earlier Near Threatened).
• Reason: Climate Change
• Characteristics: Largest of the 18 penguin species, excellent insulation in the form of layers of scale-like feathers, large reserves of energy-giving body fat.

Fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella)

• IUCN Status: Endangered (earlier Least Concern)
• Reason: Climate Change
• Characteristics: Smallest seals; Closely related to sea lions, they are able to walk on all fours; breed on land; have a thick coat for warmth (unlike other seals with fat layers).

About Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina)

• IUCN Status: Vulnerable (earlier Least Concern)
• Reason: Bird flu (Avian Influenza).
• Characteristics: Largest seals on the planet, the largest mammals on Earth apart from whales; have a thick layer of blubber. 

Researchers developed a humidity-responsive neuromorphic sensor to enable smart environmental monitoring systems. 

About Neuromorphic Sensor

• It mimics response of the brain to environmental changes, primarily humidity. 
  • They emulate the biological neural systems by integrating sensing, memory, and processing into a single device.
• Significance: Providing Neuromorphic sensors  to perform sensing and signal processing simultaneously in single device reduces energy consumption and data-processing requirements compared to conventional electronics.

Kandla Port Advances Methanol Bunkering marking step toward Green Maritime Transition.

• Methanol bunkering is the process of transferring Methanol fuel to a ship from a bunkering facility. 
• Kandla Port (also called Deendayal Port), located in Gujarat's Kutch district, was the first major port developed in India after Independence.

About Methanol (CH₃OH)

• Methanol is water-soluble and readily biodegradable, and is the simplest member of a group of organic chemicals called alcohols.
• Also known as wood alcohol, as an engine fuel, methanol has chemical and physical fuel properties similar to ethanol.
• Uses: Chemical building block for production of paints, carpets, fabrics, building materials, and health and pharmaceutical products.

Scientists at SKUAST-Kashmir achieved controlled cultivation of rare morel mushrooms earlier limited to wild Himalayan forests.

About Morchella Mushroom

• Edible fungi genus distinguished by a honeycomb-like cap.
• Properties: Earthy flavor, high protein, antioxidants, and therapeutic medicinal properties.
• Difficult to cultivate due to complex life cycle and specific ecological conditions.
• Regional Names: Gucchi/Kanaguchhi/Kangaech/Chhatri.
• Distribution: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand (Northern Western Himalaya).
  • It grows in high-altitude temperate forests during the short spring season.

Over 100 children have died in a recent Bangladesh measles outbreak.

About Measles

• Nature: Highly contagious RNA virus (genus Morbillivirus); spreads via airborne droplets, remains infectious for hours.
• Symptoms: High fever, runny nose, conjunctivitis, characteristic Koplik spots (white mouth lesions), rashes etc.
• Complications: Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, and blindness.
• Prevention: Safe, effective two-dose MMR vaccine (a combination vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella).
• India has set a goal of eliminating Measles and Rubella by 2026.