Current Affairs 29 May 2026

1. SARTHAK-PDS Scheme

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the SARTHAK-PDS (Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS) with an outlay of ₹25,530 crore for the period 2026–31. It is an umbrella scheme that integrates two earlier schemes — the Assistance for intra-State movement and FPS dealer margin under NFSA, and the SMART-PDS initiative.

The scheme aims to modernise India's Public Distribution System (PDS) using cutting-edge technologies including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain, and Natural Language Processing (NLP). The core objectives include reducing leakages and diversion of food grains (a 2024 report found 28% of grains never reach intended beneficiaries), strengthening last-mile delivery, building a citizen-centric interoperable PDS architecture, and establishing State Command and Control Centres for real-time monitoring.

India's PDS operates under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, which legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidised food grains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Currently, around 81.35 crore beneficiaries are covered based on Census 2011 data. Key related schemes include One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC), Mera Ration 2.0, and the Anna Mitra App.

Prelims Pointers: NFSA 2013 | TPDS | ONORC | e-PoS devices | FCI | Fair Price Shops | CCEA | Buffer Stock | Antyodaya Anna Yojana (35 kg/month) | Priority Households (5 kg/person/month).

2. Illegal Sand Mining in National Chambal Sanctuary

The Supreme Court recently expressed strong concern over rampant illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary and directed the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan — the three States across which the sanctuary spans — to undertake strict enforcement action.

The National Chambal Sanctuary, declared a protected area in 1978–79, covers nearly 5,400 sq. km along the Chambal River. It is home to critically endangered Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus, IUCN: Critically Endangered, protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972), Endangered Gangetic River Dolphins (India's National Aquatic Animal), Red-crowned Roofed Turtles, Indian Skimmers, and Mugger Crocodiles.

Illegal sand mining is primarily regulated under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (sand is a minor mineral and hence a State subject). Key judicial interventions include the 'No DSR, No Sand-Mining' rule (State of UP v. Gaurav Kumar, 2025) and the Deepak Kumar v. State of Haryana (2012) ruling mandating environmental clearance even for sub-5 hectare sites. The judiciary relies on the Public Trust Doctrine (M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, 1996) and Precautionary Principle (Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. UoI, 1996).

Prelims Pointers: Gharial — Schedule I, Critically Endangered | Gangetic Dolphin — National Aquatic Animal, Endangered | Chambal spans UP-MP-Rajasthan | MMDR Act 1957 | EIA Notification 2006 | Mining Surveillance System.

3. Bundibugyo Virus Outbreak — PHEIC Declaration

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) — the highest-level alert under the International Health Regulations (IHR). This declaration underscores the global concern because there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific therapeutic available for the Bundibugyo strain.

The Bundibugyo virus belongs to the Orthoebolavirus genus and causes Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). It is a zoonotic pathogen with fruit bats as the likely natural reservoir. Human transmission occurs through direct contact with infected wildlife or bodily fluids of infected persons. The incubation period is 2 to 21 days, and past outbreaks (2007, 2012) recorded fatality rates between 30% and 50%. Diagnosis is challenging as symptoms closely resemble malaria and other febrile illnesses.

There are four Orthoebolavirus species that infect humans: Ebola virus, Sudan virus, Bundibugyo virus, and Taï Forest virus. For Ebola virus specifically, approved vaccines include Ervebo, Zabdeno, and Mvabea, and WHO-approved monoclonal antibody therapies include Ansuvimab and Inmazeb. No equivalent treatments exist for Bundibugyo.

Prelims Pointers: PHEIC — highest WHO alert under IHR | Bundibugyo — no vaccine/treatment | Ebola first identified in 1976 (DRC) | Fruit bats — natural reservoir | Approved Ebola vaccines: Ervebo, Zabdeno, Mvabea.

4. 150 Years of Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS)

The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) commemorated 150 years of its establishment in 2026. Founded in 1876 by Dr. Mahendralal Sircar, it is widely regarded as the first research institution in Asia established by Indians for the cultivation of modern science. Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar and Kesab Chandra Sen were among the original trustees.

IACS is renowned for its association with leading scientists — Jagadish Chandra Bose, Meghnad Saha, S.N. Bose, and most notably Sir C.V. Raman, who carried out his seminal work on the Raman Effect at IACS. The Raman Effect — the inelastic scattering of light by molecules, resulting in a shift in wavelength and energy of scattered photons — earned Raman the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, India's first Nobel Prize in Science.

On the occasion, the government inaugurated an indigenously built Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) system for the fabrication of India's first amorphous silicon solar cell, and a centre called RETINA (Research Entrepreneurship for Translation, Innovation and NAvigation).

Prelims Pointers: IACS founded 1876 by Dr. Mahendralal Sircar | Raman Effect — Nobel 1930 | First Nobel in Science for India | PECVD system | RETINA centre.

5. Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)

A task force constituted by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) recommended that India's critical sectors undertake a phased adoption of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) — also known as quantum-resistant cryptography — to counter future threats posed by powerful quantum computers.

The concern stems from the fact that current digital security relies heavily on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), whose mathematical foundations can be broken by quantum computers using Shor's Algorithm. The proposed migration timeline for Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) sectors is: begin transition by 2027, migrate priority systems by 2028, and achieve full adoption by 2029.

PQC refers to cryptographic algorithms secure against quantum computers. Unlike Quantum Cryptography (e.g., Quantum Key Distribution), PQC uses mathematical problems believed to be hard even for quantum machines. The main approaches include Lattice-Based Cryptography (most promising), Code-Based Cryptography, Multivariate Polynomial Cryptography, and Hash-Based Cryptography.

Prelims Pointers: PQC ≠ Quantum Cryptography | Shor's Algorithm — breaks RSA/ECC | DST task force | CII sectors | Lattice-Based Cryptography — most promising | Full migration by 2029.

6. New Tree Species — Humboldtia nairiana (Kerala)

Researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) discovered a new evergreen tree species, Humboldtia nairiana, in the riparian forests of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala's southern Western Ghats.

This medium-sized tree (5–8 metres tall) belongs to the genus Humboldtia and family Fabaceae. It is strictly endemic to Kerala and presently known only from the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve at around 300 metres elevation. Critically, the known wild population is extremely fragile — habitat spread is less than 2 sq. km and fewer than 10 mature trees are known, making it immediately vulnerable to extinction.

The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is located in the southern Western Ghats, spread across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2016 and includes Shendurney, Peppara, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuaries and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.

Prelims Pointers: Humboldtia nairiana — family Fabaceae | Agasthyamala BR — UNESCO 2016 | Western Ghats | JNTBGRI | Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary | Fewer than 10 mature trees.

7. Science Behind Gold's Resistance to Rusting

A recent scientific study explained why gold remains largely resistant to oxidation at the atomic level. The research showed that gold's surface undergoes a process called surface reconstruction, where outer atoms rearrange into tightly packed hexagonal patterns on surfaces like Au(100) and Au(110). This unique arrangement lowers surface energy, preventing oxygen molecules from splitting into atoms — the necessary first step for oxidation.

Gold is a dense, yellow precious metal that occurs naturally as a pure, native metal. While gold is used as a catalyst in oxidation reactions, it does not itself get oxidised under normal conditions. Key applications span jewellery, electronics (excellent electrical conductor), finance (safe-haven asset, central bank reserves), medicine, aerospace (radiation reflection coatings), and catalysis (gold nanoparticles).

Prelims Pointers: Surface reconstruction — Au(100), Au(110) | Gold = native metal | Gold nanoparticles as catalysts | Central bank gold reserves | ETFs.

8. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code — 10-Year Journey

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) completed 10 years of implementation. Enacted in 2016, IBC was a landmark reform that consolidated multiple insolvency-related laws in India and established a time-bound, market-linked resolution mechanism. It created the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) as the regulator and introduced the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) as the adjudicating authority.

Over the decade, IBC has significantly improved credit recovery rates, reduced non-performing assets (NPAs) in the banking system, and strengthened creditor rights. However, delays in resolution beyond the stipulated 330-day timeline remain a persistent operational challenge.

Prelims Pointers: IBC enacted 2016 | IBBI — regulator | NCLT — adjudicating authority | 330-day resolution timeline | Reduces NPAs | Creditor rights.

9. India–Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue

India and Singapore held their bilateral Defence Policy Dialogue with a focus on Artificial Intelligence in defence, cyber security cooperation, and Indo-Pacific strategic alignment. Singapore is a key ASEAN partner for India under the Act East Policy. The dialogue reinforces India's growing defence and technological partnerships in Southeast Asia, a critical theatre in the evolving Indo-Pacific security architecture.

Prelims Pointers: India-Singapore bilateral | Act East Policy | ASEAN | Indo-Pacific | AI in defence | Cyber security diplomacy.

10. Other Key Developments

Nirbhay Raho Initiative: A government initiative aimed at enhancing safety for women in rural areas of India. It focuses on community-level awareness, legal literacy, and institutional support structures to empower rural women against violence and harassment.

Chandrayaan-2 Lunar Ice Discovery: The Dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) instrument aboard Chandrayaan-2's orbiter has confirmed the presence of subsurface water ice near the lunar south pole. This finding has profound implications for future lunar missions and potential resource utilisation under NASA's Artemis programme and ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 follow-ups.

NeSDA 2025: The National e-Governance Services Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) 2025 evaluates State Governments and Union Territories on their digital governance service delivery. It covers dimensions such as accessibility, ease of use, information and content, and integrated service delivery.

Abraham Accords: The Abraham Accords (2020) refer to the normalisation agreements between Israel and several Arab nations — UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco — brokered by the United States. They continue to hold geopolitical relevance in the context of Middle East diplomacy and India's bilateral relationships in the region.

Canada–India Trade and Investment Forum: The forum facilitates structured bilateral dialogue on trade and investment opportunities between India and Canada, amidst evolving diplomatic ties and significant Indian diaspora presence in Canada.

Gujarat's Salaya Port: Salaya Port in Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district is a notable port on India's western coast. It falls under the broader Gujarat Maritime Board's jurisdiction and is relevant to India's port-led development strategy and the Sagarmala Programme.