Daily Current Affairs- 1st April 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 1st April 2026

INS Sanshodhak: India's Indigenous Survey Vessel Strengthens Maritime Capabilities

In the News: INS Sanshodhak — the fourth and final Survey Vessel (Large) — was delivered to the Indian Navy by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata. This delivery completes the four-ship survey vessel project, originally contracted in October 2018, and marks a significant step in India's indigenous defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Key Points:

• Historic Triple Delivery by GRSE: For the first time in its history, GRSE simultaneously delivered three major naval platforms on March 30, 2026 — INS Dunagiri (Project 17A stealth frigate), INS Sanshodhak (Survey Vessel Large), and INS Agray (Anti-Submarine Warfare shallow watercraft). With this achievement, GRSE has now built a total of 118 warships, including 80 for the Indian Navy.
• About INS Sanshodhak: INS Sanshodhak is the fourth and final vessel in the Survey Vessel (Large) class, completing a significant naval programme. The 110-metre vessel displaces approximately 3,400 tonnes and is capable of speeds over 18 knots. It was designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built to classification standards set by the Indian Register of Shipping.
• Preceding Ships in the Class: The four Survey Vessels (Large) delivered under this project are INS Sandhayak (commissioned February 2024), INS Nirdeshak (December 2024), INS Ikshak (November 2025), and INS Sanshodhak (March 2026).
• Primary Capabilities: INS Sanshodhak is designed for both coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys, collection of oceanographic and geophysical data, seabed and underwater terrain mapping, and identification of safe navigation routes to support port and harbour development.
• Advanced Equipment Onboard: The vessel is equipped with Data Acquisition and Processing Systems, an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), a DGPS long-range positioning system, and Digital Side Scan Sonar — enabling comprehensive underwater survey operations.
• Multi-Role Capability: Beyond hydrographic surveys, INS Sanshodhak can also support helicopter operations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions, oceanographic research, environmental monitoring, and limited combat roles — making it a versatile dual-use platform.
• About INS Agray (also delivered the same day): INS Agray is an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) shallow watercraft designed for coastal defence operations. With approximately 88% indigenous content, it is equipped with lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, and a 30 mm naval gun. Its shallow draught and waterjet propulsion system enhance manoeuvrability in littoral (coastal) waters.

Indian Navy Inducts Indigenous Stealth Frigate ‘Dunagiri’ Under Project 17A

In the News: The Indian Navy received the indigenous stealth frigate Dunagiri from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata. The warship is the fifth vessel of the Nilgiri-class frigate programme under Project 17A and marks a significant milestone in India's defence indigenisation under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Key Points:

• About INS Dunagiri: Dunagiri is a next-generation multi-mission stealth frigate and the fifth ship of the Nilgiri-class under Project 17A. It is the second Project 17A vessel to be built at GRSE (the other ships are being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai). The ship is named after the earlier INS Dunagiri, a Leander-class frigate that served the Indian Navy from 1977 to 2010.
• Project 17A — Overview: Project 17A is the follow-on programme to the Shivalik-class frigates (Project 17) and represents a significant technological upgrade in stealth, firepower, automation, and survivability. The frigates are designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built using an Integrated Construction approach, which reduces build time and improves efficiency.
• Construction Achievement: Dunagiri was built in approximately 80 months, compared to 93 months for the lead ship of the class — reflecting improved efficiency in indigenous warship construction. The delivery of Dunagiri marks the fifth Project 17A induction in the last 16 months.
• Weapons and Sensor Systems: INS Dunagiri is equipped with BrahMos supersonic surface-to-surface cruise missiles, MF-STAR (Multi-Function Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar) for advanced surveillance, MRSAM (Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile) system for air defence, a 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM), Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities including rockets and torpedoes.
• Propulsion: The ship is powered by a CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) propulsion system, enabling efficient speed management and operational flexibility.
• Indigenous Content and MSMEs: Project 17A has an indigenous content of approximately 75%, and has involved more than 200 MSMEs, making it a landmark programme for India's defence manufacturing ecosystem and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

New Solid Waste Management Rules 2026

In the News: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, superseding the SWM Rules, 2016. The rules, issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, came into full effect from April 1, 2026. They integrate the principles of Circular Economy and Extended Producer Responsibility, with a focus on efficient waste segregation and management.

Key Points:

• Background: The SWM Rules, 2026 replace the earlier Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. They are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and are built on three core principles — Circular Economy, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and the Polluter Pays Principle.
• Mandatory Four-Stream Segregation: Waste segregation at source has been made compulsory under the new rules, with waste to be divided into four streams — Wet Waste (kitchen waste, vegetables, fruit peels, meat, flowers — to be composted or processed via bio-methanation), Dry Waste (plastic, paper, metal, glass, wood, rubber — to be sent to Material Recovery Facilities for recycling), Sanitary Waste (used diapers, sanitary towels, tampons, condoms — to be securely wrapped and stored separately), and Special Care Waste (paint cans, bulbs, mercury thermometers, medicines — to be collected by authorised agencies or deposited at designated centres).
• Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs): The rules clearly define Bulk Waste Generators as entities with a floor area of 20,000 sq. m. or more, water consumption of 40,000 litres per day or more, or solid waste generation of 100 kg per day or more. These include government departments, local bodies, PSUs, institutions, commercial establishments, and residential societies. BWGs must ensure their waste is collected, transported, and processed in an environmentally sound manner. They account for nearly 30% of total solid waste generation.
• Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility (EBWGR): A new accountability framework — EBWGR — has been introduced, requiring bulk waste generators to process wet waste on-site wherever feasible. Where on-site processing is not possible, they must obtain an EBWGR certificate. User fees may also be levied on waste generators by local bodies.
• Environmental Compensation — Polluter Pays Principle: The rules provide for levy of environmental compensation for non-compliance, including operating without registration, false reporting, submission of forged documents, or improper waste management practices. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will prepare guidelines; State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) will levy the compensation.
• Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF): RDF is defined as fuel produced from municipal solid waste with high calorific value, primarily comprising non-recyclable plastic, paper, and textiles. Industrial units — including cement plants and waste-to-energy plants — that currently use solid fuel are mandated to replace it with RDF. The substitution rate will increase from 5% currently to 15% over a six-year period.

FCRA Amendment Bill 2026

In the News: The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, on behalf of Home Minister Amit Shah. The Bill has sparked significant controversy, particularly in Kerala, ahead of the state's April 9 Assembly elections. The Union government deferred discussion on the Bill on April 2, 2026, citing legislative priorities.

Key Points:

• What is FCRA? The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act was first enacted in 1976 during the Emergency to prevent foreign powers from interfering in India's affairs through independent organisations. It was re-enacted in 2010 under the UPA government to consolidate laws on foreign fund utilisation and prohibit activities detrimental to national interest. The Act has since been amended three times — in 2016, 2018, and 2020. Currently, approximately 16,000 associations are registered under the Act and receive around ₹22,000 crore annually.
• Key Proposal — Designated Authority: The central amendment proposes the creation of a "designated authority," appointed by the Central government, to take over, supervise, and manage the foreign contributions and assets of an association whose FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or has otherwise ceased. This replaces Section 15 of the existing Act.
• When Registration Ceases: An FCRA registration certificate is deemed to have ceased if no renewal application was made, renewal was denied, or renewal was not obtained before expiry. The designated authority steps in to manage assets in all such cases.
• Places of Worship: Clause 16A(7) specifically addresses places of worship, allowing the designated authority to entrust their management to a prescribed person, with the requirement that the religious character of such places must be maintained.
• Opposition Concerns: Opposition parties have raised concerns that the Bill could disproportionately affect minority institutions, particularly Christian organisations. Key objections include the risk of asset takeover due to procedural delays in renewal processing, rather than genuine violations. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said it would leave charitable and community welfare organisations at the mercy of the Central government. Congress's K C Venugopal compared it to the Wakf Amendment Act.  
• Kerala Factor: The controversy gained particular traction in Kerala, which votes on April 9, 2026. Christians constitute the second-largest minority in the state with over 61 lakh people (as per 2011 Census), making them a significant voter base. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to PM Modi urging reconsideration, citing concerns from religious institutions. Both the ruling LDF and Opposition Congress in Kerala have opposed the Bill. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India stated the Bill "threatens the operational survival of Minorities and civil society organizations."
• Bill Deferred: BJP's Kerala state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated the Bill should first be explained to those it impacts before being passed, and the government agreed to defer discussion — a decision framed as being based on legislative priorities, not politics.

WTO 14th Ministerial Conference Concludes: India Focuses on Reforms, Fisheries and Agriculture

In the News: The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC-14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded in Yaoundé, Cameroon. India's delegation was led by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal, who actively shaped discussions on WTO reforms, fisheries subsidies, e-commerce, and agriculture, advocating for a fair, inclusive, and development-oriented global trading system.

Key Points:

• Conference Overview: MC-14 brought together Trade Ministers and senior representatives from across WTO membership. Key agenda items included WTO Reform, Fisheries Subsidies, Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement, E-Commerce, Agriculture, and LDC (Least Developed Countries) issues. Unresolved discussions on WTO Reform, E-Commerce, TRIPS Non-Violation and Situation Complaints, and the LDC package will continue in Geneva.
• Key Outcomes: Ministers agreed to continue negotiations on fisheries subsidies, with recommendations expected at MC-15. Two decisions were adopted: one on integrating small economies into the multilateral trading system, and another on strengthening SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) and TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) agreement implementation.
• India on WTO Reforms: India emphasized that consensus-based decision-making is the bedrock of WTO's legitimacy and that no member should be bound by rules it has not agreed to. India called for a transparent, inclusive, and member-driven reform process, prioritizing long-pending issues like food security, Public Stockholding (PSH), Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM), and Cotton, while also highlighting the dysfunction of the WTO dispute settlement system.
• Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement: India opposed the incorporation of the IFD Agreement into the WTO framework as an Annex 4 agreement, arguing it risks eroding WTO's foundational principles and functional limits. India called for comprehensive discussions under the WTO Reform Agenda before any such integration.
• Development & LDC Issues: India supported the extension of the moratorium on Non-Violation and Situation Complaints (NVSC) under the TRIPS Agreement. India also called for technology transfer to help developing and LDC members enhance their participation in international trade, and emphasized that Special & Differential Treatment (S&DT) must not be diluted or reconceived in the name of reform.
• About WTO Ministerial Conference: The WTO Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the World Trade Organization, held every two years. It sets global trade rules, negotiates international agreements, and addresses disputes and policy issues.