Daily Current Affairs- 10th April 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 10th April 2026

Operation HimSetu: Army Completes High Risk Rescue in 48 Hours Near India-China Border

In the News: The Indian Army successfully concluded Operation HimSetu, a high-risk rescue mission in North Sikkim undertaken after massive landslides and the collapse of a bridge near Lachen disrupted all connectivity in the region. The entire evacuation was completed within 48 hours, with over 1,400 stranded tourists and local residents rescued safely near the India-China border.

Key Points:

• Operation Overview: Operation HimSetu was launched by the Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army under its Eastern Command to evacuate civilians stranded in North Sikkim following landslides, heavy snowfall, and a sudden bridge collapse near Lachen, close to the India-China border.
• Scale of Rescue: The operation successfully evacuated 1,321 tourists and 84 local residents — totalling over 1,400 individuals — in a completely incident-free manner. Special buses and vehicles transported evacuees from Tarum Chu via Chungthang to Gangtok.
• Trigger for the Crisis: Relentless snowfall and massive landslides caused the collapse of a newly constructed bridge near Tarum Chu in the Lachen region. The bridge had been inaugurated just two months prior, in February 2026, underscoring the extreme fragility of infrastructure in high-altitude Himalayan terrain. Road connectivity to the Lachen area was completely severed as a result.
• Inter-Agency Coordination: The operation was carried out in close coordination with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the civil administration, which worked simultaneously on snow clearance, road restoration, and repair of damaged connectivity in the region.

President Droupadi Murmu Notifies Central Armed Police Forces Act, 2026

In the News: The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026 was officially notified by the Government of India after receiving the assent of President Droupadi Murmu. The legislation was subsequently published in the Official Gazette and seeks to establish a comprehensive and uniform administrative framework governing India's major paramilitary forces.

Key Points:

• Act Notified: The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026 has come into force following Presidential assent. It aims to bring consistency and efficiency to the recruitment, service conditions, and operational administration of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
• Forces Covered: The Act applies to five major CAPFs — the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
• Scope of the Act: The legislation governs Group A General Duty officers and other personnel across the covered forces. It standardises recruitment processes, harmonises service conditions and career progression, and aligns operational protocols across different forces.
• IPS Deputation Provisions: A significant feature of the Act is the formalisation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer deputation to senior leadership roles in CAPFs. The Act mandates that at least 50 per cent of Inspector General-rank posts and a minimum of 67 per cent of Additional Director General-rank posts be filled through IPS deputation, all posts of Special Director General (SDG) and Director General (DG) will be filled exclusively through deputation.
• Supreme Court Context: Prior to this legislation, the Supreme Court of India had directed the government to gradually reduce IPS deputation in CAPFs and promote cadre officers from within these forces to senior leadership positions, emphasising fair career growth for CAPF officers. The new Act is likely to dilute or override this judicial direction by restoring a stronger legal basis for IPS control.

Vantara University Launched for Wildlife and Veterinary Sciences

In the News: Vantara announced the launch of the world's first integrated global university dedicated to wildlife conservation and veterinary sciences. Located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the foundation ceremony of Vantara University was conducted in accordance with Hindu traditions and brought together representatives from academia, science, conservation, and public life.

Key Points:

• World's First of Its Kind: Vantara University is the world's first integrated global university exclusively dedicated to wildlife conservation and veterinary sciences, marking a landmark moment in conservation education and animal welfare.
• Location and Establishment: The university is situated in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and is founded by Vantara, the global wildlife conservation organisation led by Anant Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries.
• Vision and Inspiration: The university is inspired by the ethos of ancient Nalanda University and the Sanskrit principle Ā no bhadrāḥ kratavo yantu viśvataḥ — meaning "let noble thoughts come to us from all directions." It aims to nurture a generation of professionals committed to protecting biodiversity through compassion, knowledge, and skill.
• Academic Programmes: Vantara University will offer undergraduate, postgraduate, fellowship, and specialised programmes across disciplines including wildlife medicine and surgery, animal nutrition, behavioural sciences, genetics, epidemiology, conservation policy, and naturalistic animal care environment design.
• One Health Approach: The curriculum integrates the One Health framework, which recognises the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health, making it a holistic and globally relevant model of education.

Preeti Saran Re-Elected as UN Committee Head in India’s ECOSOC Sweep

In the News: India secured unopposed victories in four elections to bodies under the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), with all results declared by acclamation at the UN headquarters. The highlight was the re-election of former senior diplomat Preeti Saran to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in her personal capacity.

Key Points:

• Clean Sweep at ECOSOC: India won all four contested positions without opposition, reflecting strong and unanimous international support. The elections were conducted by acclamation, signifying broad global confidence in India's diplomatic standing.
• Four Bodies Secured: India gained representation in the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), the Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations, and the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC).
• Preeti Saran Re-elected to CESCR: Veteran diplomat Preeti Saran is re-elected to the CESCR in her individual expert capacity, not as a government representative. She is currently chairing CESCR sessions , and her re-election underscores India's intellectual and diplomatic credibility in the human rights space.
• Preeti Saran's Profile: Saran brings a distinguished 36-year career in the Indian Foreign Service. She served as Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs and as India's Ambassador to Vietnam, with diplomatic postings in Geneva, Moscow, Cairo, Dhaka, and Toronto.
• About ECOSOC: Established under the UN Charter in 1945, ECOSOC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. It coordinates the organisation's economic, social, humanitarian, and cultural activities. It has 54 member states elected for three-year terms by the General Assembly, with decisions taken by simple majority. Its headquarters is in New York, USA.

What Is NHAI’s ‘Arogya Van’ Initiative? Medicinal Trees to Line India’s Highways

In the News: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced the launch of the 'Arogya Van' initiative, a thematic medicinal tree plantation drive on vacant land parcels along national highways, aimed at enhancing biodiversity and promoting awareness of traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda.

Key Points:

• Initiative Overview: NHAI has launched 'Arogya Van', a shift from conventional greening drives to a thematic, knowledge-driven plantation model focusing on medicinal tree species with ecological, educational, and cultural value along national highways.
• First Phase Plan: In the first phase, an action plan covers 17 land parcels spanning 62.8 hectares, where approximately 67,462 medicinal trees will be planted across national highway projects in states including Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh.
• Species Selected: Around 36 tree species with established medicinal properties have been identified for plantation, including Neem (antibacterial), Amla (Vitamin C and immunity), Jamun (diabetes management), Imli/Tamarind (digestive benefits), Gular, Maulsari, and Lemon, selected based on adaptability to respective agro-climatic zones.
• Strategic Locations: Priority will be given to land parcels near toll plazas, wayside amenities, interchanges, cloverleaf junctions, and other prominent highway stretches to maximise public visibility, awareness, and outreach.
• Future Expansion: Approximately 188 hectares of additional vacant land have been identified for plantation during the forthcoming monsoon season, chosen to ensure higher plant survival rates and long-term sustainability.
• Ecological Benefits: The medicinal plantations will support pollinators such as bees and butterflies, provide shelter to birds and small fauna, create micro-habitats, improve soil quality, and strengthen overall ecosystem resilience along highways.