News In Shorts 12 September 2026: ULLAS, H-1B Visa, ICC, SAWEN & More

12 Sep 2026

International Literacy Day 2026

Context: The two-day International Literacy Day 2026 celebrations concluded in New Delhi with the ULLAS Mela.

The event showcased India’s ongoing adult literacy movement under the ULLAS scheme.

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About Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS)

ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram is a national initiative launched by the Government of India to promote lifelong learning and bridge gaps in basic literacy and life skills among adults.
Objectives: To empower individuals aged 15 years and above with foundational literacy and numeracy, critical life skills, and continuing education, aligning with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020.
- Under NEP 2020, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) is defined as the essential ability to read with comprehension, write, and perform basic mathematical operations (addition, subtraction).
Scheme Type and Tenure: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented for the period 2022–2027.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education, through the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL)
Key Features
- Lifelong Learning: Promotes continuous education and knowledge-sharing across society.
- Digital and Financial Literacy: Enhances digital awareness and financial empowerment.
- Critical Life Skills: Provides training in legal literacy, civic awareness, and digital skills.
- Volunteer Incentives: Student volunteers receive academic credits, certificates, and recognition for participation.
Digital Platform: The ULLAS mobile application provides access to learning materials through the DIKSHA Portal, enabling flexible and inclusive adult education.

About International Literacy Day (ILD)

Background: It has been observed annually on 8 September, following UNESCO’s 1966 proclamation.
Theme for ILD 2026: “ Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity.”

Global Literacy Gap (2024 Data)

739 million youth and adults worldwide still lack basic literacy skills
4 in 10 children are not reaching minimum reading proficiency
272 million children and adolescents were out of school (2023)

H-1B Visa

Context: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed scrapping the discretionary 60-day grace period for certain foreign workers, including H-1B visa holders, after job loss.

About H-1B Visa

The H-1B visa is a temporary, non-immigrant visa that permits U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations requiring theoretical or technical expertise, particularly in STEM and Information Technology (IT).
Origin: The H-1B programme was introduced in 1990 to help U.S. employers address specialised skill shortages where suitably qualified domestic workers were unavailable.
Purpose: It enables U.S. companies to access specialised global talent while allowing skilled foreign professionals to work temporarily in the United States.
Key Features
- Validity: An H-1B visa is generally granted for up to six years, subject to applicable immigration rules.
- Annual Quota: The statutory cap is 65,000 new H-1B visas annually, with an additional 20,000 reserved for foreign nationals holding a U.S. master’s degree or higher.
- Employment-Based Status: H-1B status is linked to qualifying employment with a U.S. employer, although existing rules provide mechanisms for changing employers.
- Indian Dominance: Indian nationals have accounted for more than 70% of H-1B approvals annually since 2015, while China remains the second-largest beneficiary.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

Context: The ICC faces an institutional crisis as five countries announced withdrawals amid U.S. pressure and a leadership crisis following the removal of its chief prosecutor.

Key Concerns of Recent Developments

U.S. Pressure: The United States has intensified efforts against the ICC, including sanctions on ICC officials and pressure on member states to withdraw.
Member-State Withdrawals: Venezuela, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have announced plans to withdraw, raising concerns about the Court’s institutional legitimacy and effectiveness.
Leadership Crisis: The Assembly of States Parties removed Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan in July 2026 following disciplinary proceedings, creating additional institutional uncertainty.
Selective Justice Concerns: Some withdrawing countries have accused the ICC of selective justice and political bias, particularly regarding its historical focus on African situations.

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About International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the world’s first permanent international criminal court, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, and prosecutes individuals rather than states.
Origin: The Rome Statute was adopted on 17 July 1998 and entered into force on 1 July 2002 after 60 ratifications.
Members: The ICC has 125 States Parties.
- Major non-parties include India, United States, China, Russia and Israel.
Structure: The Court comprises the Presidency, Judicial Divisions, Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) and Registry, while the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) oversees administration and budgetary matters.
Key Jurisdiction
- Genocide – Intentional destruction of a protected national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
- Crimes Against Humanity – Widespread or systematic attacks against civilian populations.
- War Crimes – Serious violations of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts.
- Crime of Aggression – Certain acts of state aggression involving unlawful use of armed force.
- Complementarity: The ICC acts as a court of last resort, intervening when national judicial systems are unwilling or genuinely unable to prosecute serious international crimes.

South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN)

Context: South Asian countries adopted the Kathmandu Declaration to strengthen coordinated action against illegal wildlife trade and transnational wildlife crime.

It was adopted at the first General Assembly of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network, or SAWEN, held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

About South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN)

It is a regional intergovernmental mechanism established to strengthen cooperation among South Asian countries in preventing and combating illegal wildlife trade and wildlife-related organised crime.
Origin
- 2008: Environment Ministers of eight South Asian countries agreed at Jaipur, India, to establish a regional mechanism against illegal wildlife trafficking.
- January 2011: SAWEN was formally launched at a high-level meeting in Paro, Bhutan.
Members (8): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Secretariat: Its permanent Secretariat is located in Kathmandu, Nepal, hosted by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
Governing Structure: The General Assembly functions as the apex decision-making body, supported by an Executive Committee and Secretariat.
Key Components of Kathmandu Declaration
- Strengthening Intelligence Cooperation: Member countries agreed to enhance intelligence sharing and coordinated investigations to identify wildlife-trafficking networks operating across national borders.
- Tackling Financial Networks: The countries committed to using financial investigations, anti-money laundering measures and asset recovery mechanisms to disrupt the financial networks supporting illegal wildlife trade.
- Stronger Criminal Justice Response: Members agreed to strengthen prosecution and criminal justice responses, particularly against organised criminal groups involved in serious wildlife crimes.
SAWEN members supported regional and global efforts to recognise serious wildlife crime as a form of transnational organised crime, enabling stronger cross-border cooperation and enforcement.

National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) Lothal

Context: Phase 1A of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal has achieved 82% physical progress, with completion targeted for October 31, 2026.

About National Maritime Heritage Complex

The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is a major cultural and maritime heritage project being developed at Lothal, Gujarat, under the Sagarmala Programme to showcase India’s maritime history spanning over 5,000 years.
Key Features
- The complex is being developed over approximately 400 acres and adopts an “edutainment” approach combining education, heritage and tourism.
- It will include 14 thematic museum galleries, an open aquatic gallery, four theme parks, coastal State pavilions and a Maritime Research Institute (MRI).
- A 1:1 scale recreation of the ancient Harappan city and dockyard will provide visitors with an immersive representation of Lothal’s maritime civilization.
- The proposed Lighthouse Museum, being developed with the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), has the potential to become the world’s tallest lighthouse museum.
International Collaboration: Thirteen countries have signed MoUs with NMHC, including Portugal, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Thailand, Netherlands, Denmark, Oman, Israel, Germany, Republic of Korea, Italy, New Zealand and Singapore.
Future Expansion: Phase 1B and Phase 2 are proposed to include additional galleries, a 5D Dome Theatre, Museotel, Eco Resort, Coastal States Pavilion, Lighthouse Museum and Maritime Research Institute.

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About Lothal

Lothal is an important archaeological site of the Indus Valley Civilization in Gujarat that developed as a major centre of maritime trade around 2400 BCE.
Key Features
- Ancient Dockyard: Lothal contains one of the earliest known man-made dockyard structures, reflecting advanced maritime engineering and tidal-water management.
- Town Planning: The settlement was broadly divided into an acropolis and lower town, with planned streets, drainage and specialised platforms.
- Trade and Industry: Archaeological excavations have revealed warehouses, bead-making facilities and artefacts indicating long-distance trade.
- Maritime Connectivity: Lothal’s location and dock-related infrastructure enabled its integration into regional and overseas trade networks.

The NMHC seeks to transform Lothal into a global centre for maritime heritage, research, education and tourism, while strengthening India’s cultural and maritime diplomacy.

BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition

Context: The Bharat Innovates Exposition showcased 37 Indian deep-tech innovations at Bharat Mandapam during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

About Bharat Innovates 2026

Bharat Innovates (BI2026) is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Education (MoE) designed to connect India’s higher-education innovation ecosystem with global stakeholders.
Objective: To facilitate technology partnerships, investment, business linkages, international market access and collaboration between Indian innovators and global stakeholders.
Key Displays
- Advanced Energy: An advanced floating solar Photovoltaic (PV) platform designed for deployment on complex water bodies was showcased.
- Marine Robotics: A full-stack marine robotic platform was displayed for inspection of critical maritime infrastructure.
- Clean Mobility: A rare-earth-free electric powertrain demonstrated innovation aimed at reducing dependence on critical mineral inputs.
- AI-Enabled Healthcare: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled platforms for cervical cancer screening and foetal monitoring were among the showcased innovations.

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About Deep-Tech

Deep-tech refers to technology-driven innovation based on substantial scientific or engineering advances, often requiring intensive research and development (R&D).
Key Features
- Science-Intensive: Deep-tech innovations generally originate from advanced scientific research, laboratories and higher-education institutions.
- High R&D Requirement: They require significant R&D investment, specialised skills, infrastructure and intellectual property (IP) development.
- Longer Commercialisation Cycle: Deep-tech ventures often require patient capital and longer periods to translate laboratory research into commercially viable products.
- Strategic Applications: Deep-tech can strengthen capabilities in semiconductors, space, biotechnology, advanced computing, energy, healthcare and manufacturing.