Current Affairs — 6 June 2026

1. India Needs Innovative Strategies to Eliminate Tuberculosis

Core Context & Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily spread through respiratory droplets. It remains the world's deadliest infectious disease — killing more people annually than any other pathogen. India carries a disproportionate share of the global TB burden, with incidence hovering between 200–300 cases per 100,000 population in low- and middle-income countries. To formally declare elimination, incidence must fall to just 10–20 cases per 100,000 — an enormous gap.

TB presents in two major forms. Pulmonary TB (PTB) attacks the lungs and drives airborne transmission. Extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) silently invades lymph nodes, the spine, brain, or kidneys — far harder to diagnose via standard sputum tests, causing severe morbidity and often being missed entirely.

Latest Developments

ICMR's landmark PreVenTB Phase III clinical trial, conducted across 18 sites with 12,700 household contacts, has yielded game-changing results. Two indigenous vaccines — VPM1002 and Immuvac — were found to provide:

• VPM1002: 50.4% efficacy against EPTB overall, and 64.6% protection specifically for children aged 6–14 years.

• This is the first globally significant evidence of vaccine protection against extrapulmonary TB.

Unlike past trials that focused solely on pulmonary outcomes, the PreVenTB trial evaluated a multi-pathway approach, breaking the "one-size-fits-all" paradigm of prior vaccine development.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) — India's comprehensive national TB tracking and drug distribution programme.

• TrueNat: India's indigenous molecular diagnostic test for TB deployed nationally even before WHO pre-qualification.

• VPM1002: Recombinant BCG-based vaccine candidate.

• Immuvac: Heat-killed Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) vaccine.

• WHO End TB Strategy: Targets a 90% reduction in TB deaths and 80% reduction in incidence globally.

• Nikshay Poshan Yojana: Provides nutritional support (₹500/month) to TB patients.

• BCG vaccine: The only existing commercially approved TB vaccine — effective only for infants.

2. The Power of Mangroves Over Seawalls

Core Context & Background

Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) is a nature-centric climate strategy that uses biodiversity and ecosystem services — mangroves, seagrass meadows, coral reefs — as dynamic, self-sustaining buffers against climate hazards. This contrasts sharply with "grey infrastructure" (concrete seawalls, groynes), which tends to displace rather than absorb wave energy.

India manages an ecologically fragile 11,000-km coastline that is home to approximately 250 million people. Yet, over the past decade, coastal states spent ₹2,641 crore on hard engineering solutions while the National Coastal Mission's green budget was slashed from ₹195 crore (2022–23) to just ₹50 crore (2024–25).

Latest Developments

Cyclone Dana's landfall near Bhitarkanika (Odisha) once again demonstrated the superior resilience of mangrove ecosystems. Key facts:

• Mangroves break incoming wave energy through their dense aerial root networks.

• They trap sediment at the root base, helping coastlines naturally rise with sea levels.

• Research confirms India is a global "hotspot" for coastal EbA — mangroves protect more people per hectare in India than almost anywhere else.

• In the Sundarbans, over 18,000 women successfully restored 4,600 hectares of mangroves, which blunted the destruction from Cyclones Amphan and Yaas.

• Mangroves are superior blue carbon sinks — sequestering CO₂ at rates far higher than terrestrial tropical forests.

The flagship MISHTI programme (targeting 540 sq. km of mangrove restoration) is currently framed as a conservation programme rather than a core climate adaptation strategy — a policy framing gap that weakens its effectiveness.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• EbA (Ecosystem-based Adaptation): Uses biodiversity to help communities adapt to climate change.

• MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes): National mangrove restoration programme.

• Blue Carbon: Carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses, tidal marshes).

• National Coastal Mission: India's key programme for coastal management.

• Montreux Record: List of Ramsar sites under ecological threat.

• Cyclone Dana: Named by Qatar; landfall at Bhitarkanika, Odisha — noted for testing natural buffers.

• Central Asian Flyway: Migration route passing through India.

3. India's GDP Growth Estimated at 7.7% in FY 2025–26

Core Context & Background

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth measures the annual increase in the total value of goods and services produced within a country. MoSPI (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) releases GDP estimates at multiple intervals — Advance Estimates, Revised Estimates, and Provisional Estimates.

Latest Developments

MoSPI's Provisional Estimates of National Income reveal:

• Overall GDP growth: 7.7% in FY 2025–26 (higher than the 7.6% estimated in February 2026).

• Q4 FY 2025–26 growth: 7.8%, surpassing earlier projections.

• Manufacturing sector: Grew 7%.

• Trade, transport, hotels, communication and related services: 11% growth — highest among sectors.

• Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE): 7% growth — indicating stronger household demand.

• Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF): 8.2% — reflecting improved investment.

• Agriculture: Moderated to 3%, reflecting sector-specific divergence.

The strong performance is particularly significant against the backdrop of global geopolitical tensions, validating the resilience of India's domestic consumption-led growth model.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• MoSPI: Nodal agency for statistical estimates.

• GDP vs. GVA: GDP = GVA + Taxes on Products – Subsidies on Products.

• PFCE (Private Final Consumption Expenditure): Household spending on goods and services — the largest component of demand-side GDP.

• GFCF (Gross Fixed Capital Formation): Investment in fixed assets — key indicator of capital formation.

• GDP Deflator: Used to convert nominal GDP to real GDP.

• India's GDP target for Viksit Bharat 2047: Achieving developed-country status.

4. India's 100th Ramsar Site — Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary

Core Context & Background

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty adopted on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. It came into force in 1975, and India became a contracting party on February 1, 1982. World Wetlands Day is observed on February 2 annually.

A Ramsar site is designated when a wetland satisfies at least one of nine international scientific criteria — such as supporting large waterbird populations, threatened ecosystems, or serving as a critical habitat for endangered species.

Latest Developments

The Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (also known as Surha Tal) in Ballia district, eastern Uttar Pradesh, has been designated India's 100th Ramsar site. Key facts:

• It is an oxbow lake (perennial, rain-fed) formed when the Ganges River shifted its course centuries ago.

• Declared a wildlife sanctuary by the Government of Uttar Pradesh in 1991 as Surha Tal Bird Sanctuary, later renamed in honour of Jai Prakash Narayan (independence activist and political leader of the Total Revolution movement).

• Situated in the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains.

• Functions as a critical habitat for indigenous fish and a vital wintering/stopover station for migratory birds on the Central Asian Flyway.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• Ramsar Convention: 1971, Ramsar (Iran), Caspian Sea shore.

• India's 1st Ramsar site: Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) — both designated in 1981.

• Ramsar's Montreux Record: Sites under threat.

• India has the highest number of Ramsar sites in Asia.

• Oxbow lake: Formed when a river meander is cut off from the main stream, creating a U-shaped lake.

• Central Asian Flyway: One of the major migratory bird routes passing through India.

• Wise Use Principle: Core principle of Ramsar — sustainable use without ecological damage.

5. The Jan Samarth Portal — 4th Anniversary

Core Context & Background

Jan Samarth Portal is India's first unified single-window digital loan platform, launched on June 6, 2022. It directly links government loan schemes to beneficiaries and financial institutions, removing procedural delays and middlemen.

Latest Developments

On its 4th anniversary, the Ministry of Finance highlighted the portal's role in expanding financial inclusion. Key features:

• Available in 8 languages: English, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada.

• Hosts 16 Credit-linked Central Government Schemes across 8 sectors:

• Business Activity Loans: PMEGP, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), PM SVANidhi, START.

• Livelihood Loans: DAY-NRLM.

• Agriculture Loans: Kisan Credit Card (KCC), KCC-Fisheries.

• Agri Infrastructure: Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), ACABC.

• Renewable Energy: Rooftop Solar financing.

• Home Loans: Urban Housing for EWS, LIG, MIG categories.

• Credit Guarantee: ECLGS 5.0 (Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme).

• Financing on e-NWR: e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi (EKUN).

• Intelligent eligibility matching, automated in-principle approvals, and real-time database verification.

• Assisted Mode for citizens lacking digital literacy — Bank Business Correspondents submit on their behalf.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure): India's model of open, interoperable digital systems — UPI, Aadhaar, DigiLocker.

• PMEGP: Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme — for micro-enterprises.

• PM Mudra Yojana: Micro-loans up to ₹10 lakh (Shishu, Kishore, Tarun categories).

• PM SVANidhi: Micro-credit scheme for urban street vendors.

• KCC (Kisan Credit Card): Short-term credit for agricultural needs.

• AIF (Agriculture Infrastructure Fund): Long-term financing for post-harvest agri infrastructure.

• ECLGS: Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme — relief for businesses post-pandemic.

6. Panchayat Advancement Index Wins Gold at National e-Governance Awards 2026

Core Context & Background

The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) is India's first data-driven, analytics-based performance evaluation framework for Gram Panchayats (rural local bodies). It is developed and managed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

The National Awards for e-Governance have been awarded annually since 2003 by DARPG (Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances), in coordination with MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology).

Latest Developments

PAI won the Gold Award at the National Awards for e-Governance 2026 under Category VII — Digital Transformation through Data Analytics. Key features of PAI 2.0:

• Evaluates over 6 lakh Gram Panchayats across India.

• Processes 150+ indicators and 230+ distinct data points.

• Aligned to nine themes of Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs): poverty-free, healthy, child-friendly, water-sufficient, clean and green, self-sufficient infrastructure, socially secured, good governance, and women-friendly villages.

• Classifies Gram Panchayats into five tiered performance categories for targeted intervention.

• The 2026 awards were themed "Viksit Bharat 2047: AI-Enabled, Data-Driven and Secure Digital Governance."

• Gold Award carries a cash incentive of ₹10 lakh for further R&D scaling.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992: Gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

• Article 243G: Powers and functions of Panchayats; 11th Schedule lists 29 subjects.

• DARPG: Under Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

• Competitive Federalism: Policy of ranking states/ULBs on performance metrics.

• LSDGs (Localised SDGs): Adapting the 17 SDGs to rural governance contexts.

• Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP): Annual planning document linked to SDG themes.

7. G-Sec Market Reform and FPI Facilitation

Core Context & Background

Government Securities (G-Secs) are debt instruments issued by the Central Government to borrow money from the market. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) are foreign entities investing in Indian financial markets. A deep G-Sec market is critical for long-term sovereign debt, infrastructure financing, and currency stability.

Latest Developments

The Ministry of Finance announced three major reform packages:

Pillar 1 — Equity Investment for Individual Foreigners (PROIs):

• Amendment to FEMA (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules, 2019.

• Individual Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs) can now invest directly in listed equities via the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) — previously limited to NRIs and OCIs.

• Single-company ceiling doubled: 5% → 10%.

• Aggregate cap expanded: 10% → 24%.

Pillar 2 — G-Sec Debt Market Reform:

• Expansion of the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) to include ultra-long-term 15, 30, and 40-year G-Secs and Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs).

• Permanent scrapping of three core restrictions: short-term investment limit, concentration limit, and security-wise limit.

• Macro-caps retained: 6% of total Central G-Secs, 2% for State Government Securities (SGSs).

• Merger of 'General' and 'Long-term' investment sub-buckets into a single unified pool.

Pillar 3 — Income Tax Exemption:

• Complete zero-tax exemption on any interest or capital gains earned by FPIs on G-Sec investments.

• Effective from April 1, 2026.

• Extended to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) as well.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• G-Secs: Debt instruments by Central Government; risk-free as backed by sovereign guarantee.

• FAR (Fully Accessible Route): Permits unrestricted FPI investment in specific G-Sec categories.

• FPI vs. FDI: FPI = portfolio investment (equity/debt markets); FDI = direct investment in businesses.

• Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs): G-Secs earmarked for green projects.

• Bank for International Settlements (BIS): Basel-based international financial institution that serves central banks.

• Yield Curve: Graph of bond yields versus maturity periods; long-end reforms establish a longer-term sovereign curve.

• FEMA: Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

8. Natural Gas Discovery in Andaman — Vijayapuram-3

Core Context & Background

India's energy security strategy involves expanding domestic hydrocarbon production to reduce import dependence. The Andaman offshore region has been identified as a prospective hydrocarbon basin, with exploratory drilling initiated by Oil India Limited (OIL) — a Maharatna public sector enterprise.

Latest Developments

Oil India Limited (OIL) confirmed natural gas at its third exploratory well, Vijayapuram-3 (Location: OAEB), in the Andaman shallow offshore block on June 5, 2026:

• Located ~15 km off the eastern coast of the Andaman Islands.

• Drilled at a marine water depth of 355 metres, to an exploration depth of over 1,900 metres into Eocene geological formations.

• Post-perforation, reservoir pressure pushed gas naturally to the surface without mechanical assistance — confirming a commercially viable active hydrocarbon system.

• OIL has collected 600 sq. km of 3D seismic data from the block.

• The previous confirmation in this block was at Vijayapuram-2 (OAEA) on September 26, 2025. Two out of three wells drilled have now confirmed hydrocarbon reserves.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• OIL (Oil India Limited): Maharatna public sector enterprise under MoPNG; second-largest government-owned oil company.

• Andaman Microplate: Smaller tectonic plate in the Indian Ocean region associated with hydrocarbon potential.

• Eocene Geological Era: Epoch of the Cenozoic Era (~56–34 million years ago); associated with significant hydrocarbon accumulation.

• OALP (Open Acreage Licensing Policy): India's policy for hydrocarbon block licensing.

• Seismic Survey (3D): Uses sound waves to map subsurface geological structures.

• FAR (Fully Accessible Route for G-Secs) vs. FAR (Fully Accessible Route for hydrocarbon exploration) — note the distinction.

• India's energy dependence: India imports ~85% of its crude oil — domestic discoveries reduce this vulnerability.

9. Gilgit-Baltistan — India's Diplomatic Protest

Core Context & Background

Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is a mountainous frontier region in the northernmost portion of undivided Kashmir. Historically, it was part of the Princely State of Jammu & Kashmir. In October 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to India. However, a military coup by Major William Brown (British commander of Gilgit Scouts) on November 1, 1947, handed control to Pakistan, which formalised its administration under the Karachi Agreement (1949).

GB borders Afghanistan (Wakhan Corridor), China (Xinjiang), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, and India's UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. It covers 72,496 sq. km and serves as the gateway for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) via the Karakoram Highway.

Latest Developments

India lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Pakistan over its plans to conduct General Elections to the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly:

• India's position: GB is an integral part of J&K per the 1947 Instrument of Accession; any electoral exercise there is illegitimate.

• India opposes any move to alter the region's constitutional status or demographics.

• Pakistan's position: It has deliberately avoided full provincial integration to maintain the UN-backed plebiscite narrative on Kashmir; CPEC makes GB strategically indispensable.

Key geographical features:

• Convergence of three great mountain chains: Karakoram, Hindu Kush, and Western Himalayas.

• Home to five of the world's fourteen 8,000-metre peaks, including K2 (8,611 m) — the world's second-highest.

• The Deosai Plateau: Second-highest alpine plateau in the world after Tibet; refuge for the endangered Himalayan brown bear.

• Major glaciers: Baltoro, Biafo, Batura — among the largest outside polar regions.

• The Indus River is the primary aquatic artery, fed by Shyok, Shigar, Gilgit, and Hunza tributaries.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• Instrument of Accession: Legal document signed by Maharaja Hari Singh on October 26, 1947, merging J&K with India.

• Gilgit Agency: British-controlled territory leased from the Maharaja in 1889.

• Karachi Agreement, 1949: Transfer of GB administration from Azad Kashmir government to Pakistan's federal government.

• CPEC: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor — part of China's Belt and Road Initiative; passes through GB.

• Karakoram Highway: Connects Pakistan with China through GB; one of the world's highest paved roads.

• K2: Located in the Karakoram range; 8,611 m; second-highest peak in the world (highest is Mt. Everest at 8,849 m).

• Wakhan Corridor: A narrow strip of Afghan territory bordering GB to the north.

• Deosai National Park: Located in southeastern Baltistan; average altitude 4,115 m; habitat of Himalayan brown bear.