Daily Current Affairs- 4th March 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 4th March 2026

India Overtakes US in Childhood Obesity With 20 Million Children

In the News: The World Obesity Atlas 2026 has highlighted India’s rising childhood obesity burden and projected large increases by 2040.  The Atlas places India second only to China in the total number of school-age children living with high BMI, which puts India ahead of the United States on this absolute-count measure.  The Atlas projects that about 20 million Indian children could be living with obesity by 2040.  The Atlas also notes that the global target to halt the rise in childhood obesity is off-track for many countries, including India.

Key Pointers

• In 2025, about 14.9 million Indian children aged 5–9 years and about 26.4 million adolescents aged 10–19 years were living with overweight or obesity.
• The Atlas states that India has about 41 million school-age children (5–19 years) living with high BMI, and about 14 million children living with obesity alone.
• The Atlas estimates that by 2040, around 20 million Indian children could be living with obesity.
• The Atlas estimates that by 2040, around 56 million Indian children could be living with overweight or obesity combined.
• The Atlas projects that childhood disease indicators linked to high BMI in India will rise between 2025 and 2040, including increases in hypertension, hyperglycaemia, high triglycerides, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) among children aged 5–19 years.
• The Atlas notes that about 74% of Indian adolescents do not meet recommended physical activity levels.
• The Atlas reports that about 35.5% of school-age children receive school meals, and it reports sub-optimal breastfeeding among 32.6% of infants.

Adani Group Partners UNESCO For World Engineering Day 2026

In the News: The Adani Group has been named an official partner for World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (WED) 2026, which is delivered by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) under the auspices of UNESCO.  World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development is observed annually on 4 March, after being proclaimed by UNESCO in 2019.  The 2026 global celebration was held on 4 March 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia, and it was co-organised by WFEO and the Institution of Engineers Indonesia with UNESCO support.  The 2026 theme is “Smart engineering for sustainable future through innovation and digitalization.”

Key Pointers

• Adani’s release states that this is the first time an Indian organization has been chosen by WFEO for this official-partner role for WED.
• The partnership is linked, in Adani’s release, to the group’s clean-energy work and to the Khavda renewable energy project in Kutch, Gujarat.
• Adani’s release describes the Khavda project as the world’s largest renewable energy project, with a planned capacity of 30 GW by 2029.
• Adani’s release states that Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has operationalised over 7 GW of renewable energy capacity at Khavda so far.
• Adani’s release states that the Khavda site spans about 538 sq km, and it adds that the project is being delivered with support from multiple Adani companies, including Adani Energy Solutions and Adani New Industries.
• Adani’s release states that the project will use technologies such as bifacial solar PV modules, single-axis tracker systems, and an operations platform with AI and ML integration, along with waterless robotic cleaning systems for solar modules.
• UNESCO describes WED as a day that recognises engineers’ role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and sustainable infrastructure, and it links WED 2026 discussions to global trends such as AI for engineering applications.

Chile Eliminates Leprosy, First in Americas Verified by WHO

In the News: On 4 March 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO), together with PAHO, announced that Chile has been officially verified as having eliminated leprosy disease, making it the first country in the Americas to receive this verification.  WHO stated that Chile is the second country globally to be verified for the elimination of leprosy disease, after Jordan.  WHO noted that Chile has reported no locally acquired leprosy case for more than 30 years, with the last locally acquired case detected in 1993.  The verification followed a review by an independent expert panel convened by PAHO and WHO in 2025 at the request of Chile’s Ministry of Health.

Key Pointers

• WHO stated that Chile has not reported a locally acquired case of leprosy for more than 30 years, and it recorded the last locally acquired case as 1993.
• WHO stated that between 2012 and 2023, Chile reported 47 cases nationwide, and it stated that none of these cases were locally acquired.
• PAHO explained that elimination of leprosy is defined as zero new autochthonous cases for at least three consecutive years after having interrupted transmission for at least five years.
• WHO stated that leprosy remained a notifiable condition in Chile, supported by mandatory reporting, integrated surveillance, and continuous clinical readiness across the health system.
• WHO stated that Chile’s system uses primary care as the entry point for suspected cases with referral to specialised dermatology services for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, and it links clinician training to WHO’s Towards zero leprosy strategy.
• WHO stated that leprosy is fully curable with multidrug therapy (MDT), and it emphasised that early detection prevents complications such as disability.
• WHO stated that leprosy persists in over 120 countries with more than 200,000 new cases annually worldwide, even though verified elimination has been achieved in some countries.

Yellowstone’s Rare Echinus Geyser Erupts Again After Six Years

In the News: Echinus Geyser, located in Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, resumed eruptive activity in February 2026 after a long quiet phase.  The first eruption since December 2020 occurred on 7 February 2026, followed by additional eruptions in mid-February.  From 16 February 2026, eruptions began occurring at a high frequency, typically every 2 to 5 hours, drawing attention because Echinus is the world’s largest acidic geyser.

Key Pointers

• Echinus Geyser is the world’s largest acidic geyser and is situated in the Norris Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park.
• Echinus had a major active phase in 2017, during which eruptions occurred very consistently about every 2–3 hours from 18 October to 10 November 2017, and then the activity stopped abruptly.
• After the 2017 phase ended, Echinus produced only sporadic eruptions, including one in January 2018, one in January 2019, and two in December 2020.
• In early February 2026, the geyser first showed repeated surges (agitated water and increased outflow), and then returned to true eruptions.
• The first eruption after the long pause occurred on 7 February 2026, and further eruptions occurred on 9 February, 12 February, and 15 February 2026.
• Starting 16 February 2026, eruptions were observed every 2 to 5 hours, and each eruption typically lasted 2–3 minutes.
• The eruption jets reached about 6–10 metres (20–30 feet) in height during this renewed activity.
• After each eruption, the water level dropped significantly and generally took about one hour to return to normal levels.
• Echinus activity is tracked through a temperature monitoring system in its outflow channel, and eruptions are indicated by temperature spikes reaching about 70°C (158°F).
• Late February 2026 saw a pause in eruptions for a few days, and the geyser may have already started quietening again, consistent with its historically irregular behaviour.

Scotland Legalises Water Cremation: First UK Nation to Approve Alkaline Hydrolysis

In the News: The Hydrolysis (Scotland) (No. 1) Regulations 2026 provide the legal framework for hydrolysis as a method of disposal of human remains in Scotland.  These Regulations state that, subject to specified provisions, they come into force on 2 March 2026.  Scotland became the first part of the United Kingdom to legalise “water cremations” (hydrolysis/alkaline hydrolysis) through Regulations approved by the Scottish Parliament.

Key Pointers

• The Regulations are titled The Hydrolysis (Scotland) (No. 1) Regulations 2026 and they make provision regarding hydrolysis, described as a new form of disposal of human remains.
• The Regulations state that, subject to specified provisions, they come into force on 2 March 2026.
• The Regulations record that a draft instrument was laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament, using powers under the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016.
• The Regulations define hydrolysis as disposal of human remains in a chamber using hot water and potassium hydroxide, with or without sodium hydroxide, and they also cover any grinding or other processing of solid remains after removal from the chamber.
• The Regulations apply provisions in Part 2 of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 to hydrolysis, with modifications specified in the schedules.
• The Regulations include consequential changes so that hydrolysis is treated alongside burial/cremation in relevant legal contexts, including amendments referencing hydrolysis in other legislation.
• Scotland’s approval of hydrolysis is described as the most significant reform to Scottish funeral law since traditional cremation was introduced in 1902, and it is presented as an environmentally friendly alternative to burial or flame cremation.

Raisina Dialogue 2026: Global Leaders Gather in Delhi From 5th March

In the News: The 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue is being held from 5–7 March 2026 in New Delhi.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Dialogue on 5 March 2026, with Finland’s President Dr. Alexander Stubb joining the inaugural session as the Chief Guest and keynote speaker.  The 2026 theme is “Saṁskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement”, and the Dialogue is organised by Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs.

Key Pointers

• Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, held annually in New Delhi since 2016.
• The 11th Raisina Dialogue is scheduled for 5–7 March 2026, making it a three-day programme.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Dialogue on 5 March 2026.
• H.E. Dr. Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland, joins the inaugural session as the Chief Guest and delivers the keynote address.
• The Dialogue is organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• The 2026 theme is “Saṁskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement”.
• The programme is structured around six thematic pillars: Contested Frontiers, Repairing the Commons, White Whale: The Pursuit of Agenda 2030, The Eleventh Hour, Tomorrowland, and Trade in the Time of Tariffs.
• The Dialogue includes participation from 110 countries, including Ministers, former Heads of State/Government, Members of Parliament, Military Commanders, Captains of Industry, Technology Leaders, academics, journalists, think-tank experts, and youth.
• The official programme estimates around 2,700 in-person participants and notes that the proceedings are viewed widely on digital platforms.
• The MEA media advisory for Raisina Dialogue 2026 listed visiting dignitaries arriving in New Delhi around the event dates, including senior foreign affairs representatives from countries such as Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka.