News in Shorts: 05 March 2026

Breast Cancer Genomics Study by IIT Madras

Context: Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology Madras have conducted one of the largest breast cancer genomics studies in India.

• The findings were published in the international oncology journal BMC Cancer.
• The research analysed germline DNA samples of 479 breast cancer patients from the National Cancer Tissue Biobank at IIT Madras.
• The dataset is now included in the Bharat Cancer Genome Atlas, India’s first open-source cancer genome database.

Major Findings of the Study

• Overall Inherited Risk: 24.6% of patients carried at least one pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant (disease-causing genetic change linked to higher cancer risk).
• BRCA Genes Contribution: Only 8.35% had variants in BRCA1 or BRCA2, the genes most commonly tested worldwide.
• Beyond BRCA: A larger share (11.9%) had variants in HRR (Homologous Recombination Repair) pathway genes. 
  • Overall, 67% of positive findings were in non-BRCA genes (e.g., MLH1, NF1, TP53, RB1).
• Population-Specific Variants: Several pathogenic variants were enriched in Indian/South Asian populations. 
  • Some variants common in other regions (like Quebec, Poland, China) were absent in this Indian cohort, highlighting ethnic differences.
• These results show that the inherited genetic landscape of breast cancer in India is more diverse and complex than previously understood, with most risks outside the standard BRCA focus.

About BReast CAncer (BRCA) Genes

• BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that produce tumor suppressor proteins. 
• These proteins help repair damaged DNA and play a critical role in maintaining genetic stability in cells. 
• When either of these genes is mutated, DNA damage may not be repaired properly, leading to an increased risk of cancer.

Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026

Context: Union Minister of Communications of India led India’s engagement at MWC 2026 in Barcelona(Spain), outlining a vision for affordable, intelligent connectivity.

Mobile World Congress (MWC)

• Origin & Organizer: Hosted by GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) annually in Barcelona, Spain.
• 2026 Theme: “The IQ Era”, focusing on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with connectivity.
• Significance: World’s largest gathering for the mobile industry, attracting ~2,900 exhibitors to discuss smarter networks and societal impact.
• Key Outcomes of MWC(2026) :   
  • Key sessions: Addressed “Breaking the Cost Barrier” and “Built for What’s Next,” emphasizing AI-driven, cloud-native, and human-centric networks.
  • Bharat Pavilion: Inaugurated to showcase India’s expanding telecom manufacturing capabilities and innovation ecosystem. 
    • 40 Indian companies in 5G, optical transport, Satcom, and semiconductors participated.
  • Strategic Launches: Unveiled the TJ1600-D3 Hyper-scalable DCI Platform (Tejas Networks) and the IMC 2026 Curtain Raiser (New Delhi, Oct 2026).

Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC)

• Introduction: Set up by the Government of India under the ambit of Foreign Trade Policy.
• Objective: To promote and develop the export of indigenous telecom equipment and services.
• Role: 
  • Facilitates member companies and works with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to create end-to-end global telecom solutions.
  • Organised the participation of India’s telecom innovators at MWC 2026.

Operation Sankalp

Context: Indian warships under Operation Sankalp are on standby for potential humanitarian operations following the recent escalation of West Asian tensions.

• Strategic Deployment: Two Indian Navy ships (a frigate and a destroyer) are currently positioned in the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman.
  • For e.g. : INS Surat is presently in Bahrain as part of a regional maritime security engagement.
• Significance: Anti-piracy operations, safety of merchant vessels and  Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations .
• CCS Review: To review the conflict’s impact, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) recently met for a high-level assessment.

Operation Sankalp

• Origin: Launched in June 2019 
• Objective: To safeguard Indian-flagged vessels and ensure the safe passage of commercial shipping through the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz.
• Significance: Demonstrates India’s role as a “Net Security Provider” in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The Gulf of Oman

• The Gulf of Oman, northwest arm of the Arabian Sea, lies between the eastern portion of the Arabian Peninsula (Oman) and Iran.
• It is 560 km long and connects with the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.
• It offers the only entrance from the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean into the Persian Gulf.

MoD Inks ₹5,083 Crore Defence Contracts

Context: The Ministry of Defence signed contracts for Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Indian Coast Guard)and Shtil missiles( Indian Navy).

ALH Mk-III (Maritime Role)

• Acquisition: Contract worth ₹2,901 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category.
• Features : 
  • An advanced twin-engine, multi-role, new-generation helicopter 
  • Capable of missions from both shore-based airfields and ships at sea.
• Significance: 
  • Enhances Indian Coast Guard (ICG) capabilities in protecting artificial islands, offshore installations, and the marine environment.
  • Reinforces commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make-in-India initiative.

Vertical Launch – Shtil Missiles

• It is a naval, ship-based medium-range air defence system.
• It is derived from the Buk Missile System family
• Origin: Valued at Rs 2,182 crore ;signed with JSC Rosoboronexport, Russian Federation.
• Features: Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch 
• Importance: 
  • Strengthen the layered air defence architecture of the Indian Navy’s frontline warships.
  • Provides a rapid-reaction, all-weather engagement capability against diverse aerial threats.

Thirumangai Alvar Bronze Sculpture

Context: In March 2026, the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, returned a 16th-century bronze idol of Thirumangai Alvar to India after provenance research confirmed its origin in a Tamil Nadu temple.

About Thirumangai Alvar Bronze Sculpture

• The sculpture is a 16th-century Chola-style bronze idol representing the Vaishnavite saint Thirumangai Alvar, originally worshipped in Soundararaja Perumal Temple, Tamil Nadu.
  • It was returned to India to restore its religious and cultural significance as a temple icon.
• Origin: Archival photographs from 1957 preserved at the Institut Français de Pondichéry and École française d’Extrême‑Orient (IFP-EFEO) confirmed the sculpture’s original location.
  • The statue had been acquired by the Ashmolean Museum in 1967 through the private collection of J.R. Belmont.
• Features
  • Material: Cast in bronze using the traditional lost-wax (cire perdue) technique common in South Indian temple art.
  • Posture: Typically depicts the saint standing in devotional posture, often with folded hands or symbolic attributes.
  • Iconography: Shows ornaments, traditional attire, and expressive facial features typical of medieval Tamil Vaishnavite sculptures.
  • Religious Role: Used as a processional deity (utsava murti) during temple festivals and rituals.

About Thirumangai Alvar

• Thirumangai Alvar was one of the twelve Alvars, Tamil poet-saints devoted to Vishnu in the Sri Vaishnavism tradition.
• Early Life: Believed to have lived between the 8th–9th centuries CE in Tamil Nadu.
  • Initially a local chieftain or warrior, he later transformed into a devout saint after embracing Vaishnavite devotion.
• Contributions: Authored several hymns included in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the sacred Tamil devotional canon of Vaishnavism.
  • His poetry celebrates Vishnu temples (Divya Desams) across South India.
• Significance: Played a key role in popularising Bhakti (devotional) traditions in Tamil society.

Claude AI System

Context: The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has entered a public dispute with AI company Anthropic, developer of the Claude AI system. 

• The DoD warned it could label Anthropic a “supply chain risk,” which may discourage companies working with the U.S. government from using Anthropic’s products.

About Claude

• Claude is an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot developed by the company Anthropic.
• It is based on Large Language Models (LLMs) and is designed to assist users in tasks such as text generation, coding, analysis, and problem-solving.

Key Features

• AI Coding Assistance: Through its tool Claude Code, it helps developers create, edit, and optimise software code.
• Large Language Model Based: Uses powerful LLMs to understand and generate human-like text and programming instructions.
• Tool Development: Can assist in building and modifying software tools when connected to relevant software libraries.
• Applications in Organisations: Used by companies and institutions for automation, research, and software development tasks.

Advantages

• Highly capable in automating coding tasks and software development.
• Allows users to generate, refine, and iterate complex code efficiently.

Applications

• Software Development: Automates coding tasks, debugging, and documentation.
• Research and Data Analysis: Assists researchers in analysing reports, summarising literature, and generating insights.
• Enterprise and Business Use: Used for customer support, workflow automation, and knowledge management.
• Defence and High-Technology Sectors: AI tools like Claude can potentially help in rapid software iteration for complex technological systems, though such use involves strict security considerations.

Total Lunar Eclipse

Context: On 3 March 2026, a Total Lunar Eclipse was visible across India and several regions worldwide, as confirmed by the India Meteorological Department.

About lunar eclipse

• A lunar eclipse occurs when the Lunar Eclipse happens during a full moon, when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align in a straight line (syzygy).
  • In this alignment, Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon and blocking direct sunlight.
• Earth’s shadow has two parts:
  • Umbra: Dark inner region where sunlight is completely blocked.
  • Penumbra: Outer region where sunlight is partially blocked.
• When the Moon passes through these shadow regions, different types of lunar eclipses occur.

Types of Lunar Eclipses

• Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: Occurs when the Moon passes only through Earth’s penumbra, causing a faint dimming that is often difficult to observe with the naked eye.
• Partial Lunar Eclipse: Occurs when only a part of the Moon enters the umbra, leading to a visible dark shadow covering a portion of the lunar surface.
• Total Lunar Eclipse: Occurs when the entire Moon passes into Earth’s umbra, producing a dramatic darkening and often turning the Moon reddish, popularly known as a Blood Moon.

Significance

• Astronomical Importance: Helps scientists study Earth’s atmosphere and light scattering effects.
• Observation Safety: Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to observe with the naked eye.
• Blood Moon Phenomenon: The reddish colour occurs due to Rayleigh Scattering, where Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths while bending longer red wavelengths toward the Moon.
• Educational Value: Provides an opportunity for public engagement and awareness about celestial mechanics and Earth–Moon–Sun alignment.

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