News in Shorts: 09 May 2026

Geocells

Context: CSIR-Central Road Research Institute and Bharat Petroleum have received recognition for constructing the first roadblock section using technical textile geocells made from end-of-life plastic.

• The project demonstrates the scientific reuse of difficult-to-manage plastic waste in sustainable road infrastructure.
• The initiative supports circular economy goals, waste management, and resilient road construction.

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What are Geocells?

• Geocells are three-dimensional honeycomb-like cellular structures used to stabilise soil and strengthen ground surfaces.
• Function: They confine soil, sand, or aggregates within cells, improving load distribution and structural stability.
• Applications: Widely used in road construction, slope protection, erosion control, embankments, and retaining walls.
• Materials: Usually made from polymeric materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or recycled plastics, supporting sustainable infrastructure.
• Advantages: Provide better durability, reduced soil erosion, lower maintenance costs, and improved road life.

About Technical Textiles

• Technical textiles are specialised fabrics designed for functional performance and industrial applications rather than aesthetics.
• Applications: Used in sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, defence, transportation, and environmental protection.
• Features: Possess properties like high strength, durability, flexibility, filtration, insulation, and resistance to heat or chemicals.
• Infrastructure Use: Widely used in roads, bridges, embankments, geocells, geotextiles, and erosion control systems.
• Economic Significance: Considered a high-growth sector supporting Make in India, sustainable infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

Rusty-Spotted Cat

Context: For the first time in Delhi-NCR, a rusty-spotted cat with its kitten was photographed in Aravali Landscape in Faridabad, confirming breeding activity outside protected areas.

About the Rusty-Spotted Cat

• The Rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) is among the world’s smallest wild cat species.
• It is often called the “hummingbird of cats” due to its tiny size, agility, and fast movements.
• Distribution: Native to India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
  • Rusty-spotted cat has nearly 80% of its global population in India.
  • Distribution in India: The species is found across a wide range from Tamil Nadu to Jammu & Kashmir, including states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha.
• Habitat: Found in dry deciduous forests, scrublands, rocky areas, grasslands, and increasingly near human settlements.
• Physical Features: Short reddish-grey fur marked by rusty spots and a bushy tail.
• Behaviour: Mostly nocturnal and elusive, active during dusk and dawn, and difficult to document in the wild.
  • Despite its small size, it is known for high agility, aggressive hunting behaviour, and excellent tree-climbing skills. 
• Conservation Status: 
  • Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List;
  • Under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972;
  • Listed under CITES Appendix I (Indian population) and CITES Appendix II (Srilankan and Nepalese population). 
• Threats: Faces habitat loss due to urbanisation, agriculture expansion, quarrying, and industrial growth.

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TARA Glide Weapon System

Context: Defence Research and Development Organisation and Indian Air Force has successfully conducted the maiden trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon system.

About Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA)

• TARA is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system developed by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad along with other DRDO labs.
• Function: Converts conventional unguided aerial bombs into precision-guided weapons for accurate strikes on ground targets.
• Purpose: Enhances the range, accuracy, and lethality of low-cost aerial weapons against ground targets.
• Technology: Uses a modular range-extension kit to improve weapon range, accuracy, and lethality.
  • Modular Range-Extension Kit: It is an add-on system attached to a conventional bomb, missile, or artillery to increase its strike range and improve accuracy. 
• Significance: Enhances India’s self-reliance in advanced weapon systems and strengthens precision strike capability at lower cost.

What is a Glide Weapon System?

• A glide weapon system is a precision-guided aerial weapon that glides toward its target after being released from an aircraft.
• Unlike traditional bombs that fall directly under gravity, glide weapons can travel long distances and strike targets with greater accuracy. 
• Mechanism: It uses wings, guidance systems, and navigation technology instead of continuous propulsion like missiles.
• Use: They enable aircraft to strike targets from safer stand-off distances without entering heavily defended areas.

Somnath Amrit Parv

Context: Prime-Minister  will participate in the concluding ceremony of the Somnath Amrit Parv.

About Somnath Amrit Parv

• Somnath Amrit Parv commemorates 75 years of the reopening of the reconstructed Somnath Temple in 1951 and 1000 years since the first major attack in 1026 CE.
• Location: The celebrations are being held at Somnath Temple in Gujarat.
• Theme & Significance: The Parv highlights themes of faith, resilience, cultural continuity, and civilisational pride, symbolising India’s journey from destruction to renewal.
• Major Rituals & Events: Celebrations include Atirudra chanting, Maharudra Yagna, Omkar chanting, Shaurya Yatra, Kumbhabhishek rituals, cultural programmes, and special pujas. 
• The celebrations also promote the idea of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” — balancing heritage preservation with development. 

About Somnath Temple

• Location: Somnath Temple is located at Prabhas Patan on the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat.
• Religious Importance: It is among the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva mentioned in the Shiva Purana.
• Symbol of Resilience: The temple was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt over centuries, becoming a symbol of faith, cultural continuity, and civilisational resilience.
  • The first major recorded attack occurred in 1026 CE by Mahmud of Ghazni , after which the temple underwent multiple restorations.
• Reconstruction: After Independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel initiated its reconstruction, and it was inaugurated in 1951 by President Rajendra Prasad.
• Architecture: Built in the Kailash Mahameru Prasad style, the temple features a 150-foot shikhar, Arabian Sea-facing structure, and grand mandapas.
  • Kailash Mahameru Prasad Style: A distinctive Hindu temple architectural style associated with the Chaulukya/Solanki tradition that flourished mainly in Gujarat and western India.
  • Architectural School: It belongs to the broader Nagara style of North Indian temple architecture.

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Bilqan 1 (B1) Bridge

Context: The Bilqan 1 (B1) Bridge in Iran, has emerged as a symbol of Iranian resilience and self-reliance after it was damaged during April 2026 U.S.-Israeli military strikes.

About the Bilqan 1 Bridge

• Location: Situated in Karaj, Iran around 35 km southwest of Tehran.
• Regional Importance: Considered the tallest bridge in the Persian Gulf region and a key transport corridor.
  • It connects Tehran with northern and northwestern regions that have large Azeri populations. 
• Connectivity Role: Connects Tehran to Qazvin, Tabriz, the Caspian region, and trade routes toward Russia and Central Asia.
• Strategic Significance: Seen as critical civilian infrastructure supporting industry, logistics, and regional connectivity.
• Symbolic Importance: After the strike, the bridge became a symbol of national resistance, resilience, and reconstruction in Iranian public discourse.
• Reconstruction Efforts: Iranian authorities initiated rapid rebuilding efforts using local engineers and materials.

Cell Broadcast Technology

Context: Recently, smartphones across India displayed an “Extremely Severe Alert” with loud alarms and vibrations as part of a nationwide test of the SACHET emergency alert system using Cell Broadcast technology.

• India currently operates an SMS-based disaster alert system across all 36 States and Union Territories, through which over 134 billion alerts have been issued in more than 19 Indian languages.
• About SACHET: It is India’s Integrated Alert System, also known as the National Disaster Alert Platform, designed for the real-time dissemination of disaster and emergency warnings.

About Cell Broadcast (CB) Technology

• Definition: Cell Broadcast is a telecom technology used to send emergency messages simultaneously to all mobile phones connected to specific cell towers within a geographic area.
• Nodal Ministry:  Ministry of Communications
• Historical Development: The technology was developed in the early 1990s by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and first demonstrated in Paris in 1997.

Key Features of CB Technology

• Instant and Reliable Mass Communication
  • Messages are delivered simultaneously to millions of users within seconds.
  • Alerts bypass network congestion, ensuring communication even during emergencies.
• Strong Visibility and Attention Mechanism
  • Alert tones and vibrations can override silent, locked, or Do-Not-Disturb settings on many devices.
  • Pop-up notifications remain on the screen until acknowledged by the user.
  • Alerts can interrupt ongoing activities, including phone calls.
• Geographic and Linguistic Flexibility
  • Warnings can be targeted to specific regions or expanded nationwide depending on the threat.
  • Alerts can be issued in multiple languages based on user preferences.
• Privacy-Friendly and Accessible System
  • No personal data, phone numbers, or user location details are required.
  • Users do not need any app, registration, or subscription to receive alerts.
  • Alerts are received as long as the phone is switched on and emergency alerts are enabled.
• Use in High-Risk Emergencies
  • Due to its highly intrusive nature, the system is used selectively during major disasters such as earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, glacial lake outbursts, and dam breaks.

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Difference Between Cell Broadcast (CB) and SMS Alerts

• Communication and Delivery Mechanism: CB is a one-to-many technology that sends a single message simultaneously to all devices connected to specific cell towers.
  • SMS is a one-to-one system that sends individual messages to specific phone numbers.
• Geographic Targeting and Privacy: CB distributes alerts based on a subscriber’s location and connected tower without requiring phone numbers or device registration, making it more location-specific and privacy-friendly than SMS.
• Reach and Accessibility: CB can reach millions of users within seconds, including visitors and foreign tourists in the affected area, and can deliver alerts in multiple languages if enabled.
• Visibility and Urgency: Unlike conventional SMS alerts, CB warnings appear as loud, vibration-enabled pop-up notifications, making them immediate and difficult to ignore.

Working of Cell Broadcast Technology

• Routine Tower-to-Phone Communication: Cell towers continuously communicate with phones within their coverage area by transmitting technical information such as network identity and connection details, usually invisible to users.
• One-Way Cell Broadcast Technology: The technology enabling this one-way communication from towers to handsets is known as Cell Broadcast, which can also be used by government authorities to issue emergency alerts.
• Simultaneous and Area-Specific Alerts: A single message is broadcast from a mobile tower to all connected phones simultaneously instead of sending individual SMS messages, allowing fast, congestion-free and geographically targeted emergency warnings.

Countries Using Cell Broadcast-Based Emergency Alert Systems

• Japan was among the first adopters in 2007 through its J-Alert system for earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and missile threat.
• The United States introduced the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system in 2012.
• Several European Union countries adopted Cell Broadcast systems under the EU-Alert framework after a 2018 directive mandated public warning systems by 2022.
• South Korea, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand and Chile have also deployed nationwide broadcast-based alert systems for disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes and floods.

India Aircraft Leasing & Financing Summit 2.0

Context: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), along with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), organised the 2nd India Aircraft Leasing & Financing Summit (IALFS 2.0) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gujarat.

Key Highlights of the Summit

• India as an Aviation Finance Hub: India aims to emerge not only as a major aviation market but also as a global aviation financing and leasing hub.
• Rapid Expansion of Commercial Fleet: India’s commercial fleet is projected to reach 1,100 aircraft by 2027 and over 2,250 aircraft by 2035, with Indian airlines currently awaiting delivery of 1,640 aircraft.
• Leasing Market Opportunity: The projected fleet expansion creates an estimated United States Dollar (USD) 50 billion opportunity for India’s aircraft leasing ecosystem over the next decade.
• Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Act, 2025: The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects (PIAO) Act, 2025 was highlighted as a major reform.
  • PIAO was enacted to align India’s legal framework with the Cape Town Convention and strengthen aircraft repossession rights of lessors.
  • The Cape Town Convention, adopted in 2001, is an international treaty aimed at standardising rules related to leasing, financing, recovery, and repossession of high-value mobile assets, particularly aircraft.
• Government Support Measures: The Government announced multiple support measures for airlines:
  • Cap on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price increases at 25%
  • 25% reduction in landing and parking charges
  • ₹5,000 crore Credit Line Guarantee Scheme to support airline liquidity.
• Strengthening GIFT IFSC Ecosystem: Reforms such as tax holiday extension, single-window Information Technology (IT) system, and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) structures were highlighted to strengthen Gujarat International Finance Tec-City International Financial Services Centre (GIFT IFSC).
• MoU Between IFSCA and FICCI: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between IFSCA and FICCI to promote GIFT IFSC as a global aviation finance hub.

About GIFT City

• Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is India’s first operational greenfield smart city and International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), located in Gandhinagar–Ahmedabad , Gujarat.
  • Developed by the Government of Gujarat, it aims to emerge as a global hub for financial services, fintech and aviation finance.

GSVA Compilation Guidelines

Context: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the Uniform Guideline for Compilation of Gross State Value Added (GSVA) Estimates with Base Year 2022–23,  following the revision of India’s National Accounts base year from 2011–12 to 2022–23.

About GSVA

• Gross State Value Added (GSVA) measures the total value of goods and services produced within a State after deducting intermediate consumption. 
  • It forms the core component of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
  • GSDP = GSVA + Net Taxes on Products

Key Points on GSVA Compilation Guidelines

• Need for revision of the Base year:
  • Expanding Data Integration: Greater use of administrative records, surveys and sectoral databases for improved coverage and reliability.
  • Refining Methodologies: Updating estimation methods to capture emerging service sectors and unincorporated enterprises.
  • Alignment with National Aggregates: Ensuring consistency between state and national income estimates.
  • Standardising Practices: States and Union Territories will align their GSDP estimates with the new base year.
• Significance of GSDP:
  • GSDP is the primary indicator of the economic performance of States.
  • It helps assess sectoral growth, industrial output and regional development.
  • It supports fiscal planning, budgeting, tax collection and competitive federalism.
• Existing Coverage of GSDP Compilation: At present, 34 States/UTs are compiling GSDP estimates with base year 2011-12, except Lakshadweep and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (DNH&DD).
• Transition to the 2022–23 Series: MoSPI is making efforts to onboard all States/UTs under the new base year 2022–23 series.

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ISO International Subcommittee Meetings

Context: India hosted the 35th Plenary and Working Group meetings of ISO TC 20/SC 14 on “Space Systems and Operations” for the first time in New Delhi. 

• The meetings were organised by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

About ISO TC 20/SC 14

• About: ISO TC 20/SC 14 is a subcommittee under the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) dealing with standards for space systems and operations.
• Mandate: It develops global technical standards for the design, testing, operation, interoperability, and safety of space systems.
• Membership Structure: ISO has 177 members, with only one national standards body representing each country.

About International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

• The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international body that develops globally accepted standards.
• It was established in 1947 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
• ISO aims to ensure: Quality, Safety, Efficiency, Interoperability across industries.
  • It includes national standard-setting bodies from more than 160 countries.
• ISO standards cover sectors such as:
  • Technology,
  • Manufacturing,
  • Healthcare,
  • Food safety,
  • Environmental management.
• Important standards include:
  • ISO 9001 – Quality Management,
  • ISO 14001 – Environmental Management.
• In India, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) represents the country in ISO activities.

Significance for India

• Rising Global Role: Reflects India’s growing influence in global space governance and standard-setting.
• Boost to Private Sector: Helps Indian private space companies align with global standards, improving innovation, competitiveness, and access to international markets.

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