News In Shorts: 18 March 2026

Force Majeure

Context: Amid the Iran–United States–Israel conflict (2026), Gulf nations invoked force majeure on energy exports due to war-induced disruptions.

About Force Majeure

• Force majeure is a legal clause in contracts that allows parties to suspend or terminate obligations when extraordinary, uncontrollable events prevent performance without liability.
• Origin: The term originates from French, meaning “superior force,” and is widely used in international trade, insurance, and commercial contracts.
• Conditions for Invocation
• • Events are beyond human control (war, natural disasters, government actions).
  • The event is unforeseeable and unavoidable.
  • It makes contractual performance impossible, not merely difficult.
  • There is no reasonable alternative to fulfil obligations.

Significance in the Present Context

• Energy Supply Disruptions: Gulf countries like Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait halted oil and gas exports due to risks around the Strait of Hormuz.
• Global Market Impact: Supply shocks triggered price volatility, with oil prices surging amid uncertainty.
• Domino Effect: Buyers and downstream companies also invoke force majeure, disrupting global supply chains.
• Economic Implications: Leads to inflationary pressures, energy insecurity, and increased reliance on strategic reserves.

Force majeure, though a contractual tool, has become a critical factor linking geopolitical conflicts with global economic stability.

Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025

Context: Sahitya Akademi announced the 2025 awards across 24 languages, recognising outstanding literary works.

About Sahitya Akademi Award

• The Sahitya Akademi Award is India’s premier literary honour, recognising outstanding books of literary merit in languages recognised by the Akademi.
• Origin: Instituted in 1954, the award aims to promote Indian literature and foster cultural unity through linguistic diversity.
• Organised By: It is conferred annually by the Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters, functioning under the Ministry of Culture.
• Eligibility and Categories: Awards are given only to India Citizen who has published work across 24 Indian languages in genres such as Poetry, Novel, Short Stories, Essays, Literary Criticism, Autobiography and Memoir.
  • They are awarded for  22 languages recognized under the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution plus English and Rajasthani
  • Awards were finalised by independent juries for each language.
  • Each award carries a copper plaque, shawl, and ₹1 lakh prize.

Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025

• A total of 24 authors were awarded across recognised languages.
• Categories included 8 poetry, 6 short stories, 4 novels, 2 essays, 1 literary criticism, 1 autobiography, and 2 memoirs.
• Prominent Awardees
  • Navtej Sarna (English, Crimson Spring – Novel)
  • Mamta Kalia (Hindi, Jeete Jee Allahabad – Memoir)
  • Sa. Tamilselvan (Tamil, Literary Criticism)
• Significance
  • Reflects India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
  • Encourages regional literature and new voices.
  • Strengthens literary traditions and national integration.

Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Context: A faunal survey by the Zoological Survey of India has discovered 9 new species in Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.

• The study recorded a total of 977 species across 21 faunal groups, highlighting the sanctuary as a major biodiversity hotspot.
• Out of these, 511 species are vertebrates, including bird species, reptiles, mammals, amphibians, and fish species.
• 466 species are invertebrates including butterflies, spiders, land snails, and aquatic insects, reflecting a healthy and balanced ecosystem.

About the Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Tamil Nadu in the southern Western Ghats.
  • It is part of the Srivilliputhur–Megamalai Tiger Reserve, notified in 2021.
• Ecosystem: The sanctuary includes diverse habitats such as montane shola forests, grasslands, and tropical evergreen forests.
• Biodiversity: It supports rich biodiversity, including numerous species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates.
• The region exhibits high endemism, with many species unique to the Western Ghats ecosystem.
• The sanctuary plays a key role in watershed protection, ecological balance, and climate regulation.

New Species discovered in Megamalai

• These species mainly belong to lesser-known invertebrate groups, indicating underexplored biodiversity.
• Key examples include a jumping spider, mayflies, a damselfly, bark lice, and cockroach species.
• Some species are endemic to the Megamalai–Periyar region, showing high regional uniqueness.
• Many discovered species act as bio-indicators, helping assess water quality and ecosystem health.

Honey Bee Attacks

Context: Rising incidents of honey bee attacks across India, including fatalities, have prompted Uttar Pradesh to consider classifying such attacks as a state-notified disaster.

About Honey Bee Attack

• Honey bees attack mainly as a defensive response to protect their hive, triggered by disturbance or perceived threat rather than unprovoked aggression.
• Key Species Involved: The primary species involved is Apis dorsata, which builds large open hives and forms highly defensive colonies.
• Common Triggers: Include loud noise, throwing objects, drones, fire, smoke, and close human proximity, especially while trekking or near forts.
• Sensitivity to Smells: Bees are also sensitive to strong smells like perfumes, lotions, and oils, which can attract and agitate them.
• Health Risks: A swarm attack is dangerous because multiple stings can cause toxic shock, and in some individuals may trigger Anaphylaxis, which can be fatal.

Apis dorsata (Giant Rock Bee)

• Apis dorsata is a species of wild honey bee commonly found in South and Southeast Asia.
• Nesting Behaviour: It builds large, single, open-air hives on cliffs, tall trees, and structures like forts and buildings.
• Colony Size: Colonies are very large (up to ~60,000 bees), making their swarms highly powerful.
• Defensive Nature: The species is highly defensive and aggressive when disturbed, quickly mobilising large numbers of bees.
• Ecological Importance: They play an important role in pollination and ecosystem balance, but pose risks when their hives are disturbed.

Dimethyl Ether (DME)

Context: Scientists at CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory developed indigenous DME technology, aiming to scale production amid LPG shortages in India.

About Dimethyl Ether (DME)

• Dimethyl Ether (DME) is a clean-burning synthetic fuel considered a viable alternative to LPG and diesel.
• Chemical Properties
  • Chemical formula: CH₃OCH₃ (simplest ether).
  • Produced mainly via dehydration of methanol.
  • Burns with low emissions—minimal soot, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx),, and particulate matter.
  • Has high cetane number with efficient combustion.
    • Higher Cetane number means shorter ignition delay, faster ignition, and smoother operation.
  • Can be stored and transported similarly to LPG under moderate pressure.
• Applications
  • Used as a cooking fuel substitute for LPG.
  • Alternative fuel in diesel engines and power generation.
  • Acts as a propellant in aerosols and in industrial applications.

Significance of Scaling DME Production

• Energy Security: Reduces dependence on imported LPG, especially during supply disruptions.
• Environmental Benefits: Supports clean energy transition with lower emissions.
• Industrial Growth: Promotes indigenous technology and manufacturing ecosystem, enabling large-scale commercial deployment.

Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden

Context: Recently, Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah inaugurated Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar, marking the start of spring tourism.

About Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden

• The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is the largest tulip garden in Asia, showcasing millions of flowers annually.
  • It was established in 2007 to boost tourism and floriculture in Kashmir.
  • Tulip varieties are largely sourced from the Netherlands.
• The Tulip Festival is an annual celebration organized by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir at the Garden.
• Location: Situated at the foothills of the Zabarwan Range, overlooking the Dal Lake  in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir.
• Features
  • Spread over ~74 acres with 1.8 million tulips.
  • Hosts 70–75 tulip varieties along with hyacinths, daffodils, muscari, ranunculus.
  • Bloom lasts 3–4 weeks during spring.
  • Includes Tulip Festival, online booking, and improved amenities.
• Significance
  • Marks the beginning of spring tourism season in Kashmir.
  • Enhances eco-tourism, local economy, and employment.
  • Promotes Kashmir as a global floriculture destination.

About Tulips (Tulipa gesneriana)

• Tulips belong to genus Tulipa under the Liliaceae family and are popular ornamental flowering plants.
• Native Habitat
  • Native to Central Asia (Pamir, Hindu Kush, Tian Shan regions).
  • Later spread to Persia, Ottoman Empire, and Europe.
• Growing Conditions
  • Require cold dormancy (2–9°C) followed by cool spring.
  • Prefer well-drained sandy loam soil; sensitive to waterlogging.
• Key Features
  • Cup/star-shaped flowers with six tepals.
  • Wide color range.
  • Grow from bulbs planted in autumn, bloom in spring, and become dormant in summer.

USCIRF

Context: India rejected the latest report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), calling it biased and based on selective narratives.

• The 2026 Annual USCIRF Report has once again recommended that India be designated as a “Country of Particular Concern”.

About USCIRF

• USCIRF is an independent U.S. federal body that monitors religious freedom globally.
• It was created in 1998 under the International Religious Freedom Act.
• Annual Reports: Publishes annual reports assessing religious freedom conditions worldwide.
• Parameter of Evaluation
  • Severity of Violations: Whether religious freedom violations are systematic, ongoing, and egregious, including violence, imprisonment, torture, or discrimination.
  • State Involvement or Tolerance: Violations are committed by the state or tolerated/ignored by authorities.
  • Legal and Policy Framework: Domestic laws restrict religious freedom and their alignment with international human rights standards.
  • Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB): Protection of freedom to practice, change, and propagate religion as per Article 18 of UDHR.
  • Treatment of Minorities: Extent of discrimination or protection provided to religious minorities in public and private spheres.
  • Trend Over Time: Religious freedom conditions are improving or deteriorating based on consistent patterns over time.
• Recommends classification of countries as:
  • Countries of Particular Concern (CPC): Designated for countries where systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom are observed.
  • Special Watch List (SWL): Includes countries where serious violations of religious freedom exist but do not meet the CPC threshold.
• Independent Body: Established by the U.S. Congress; functions independently of the State Department.
  • Mandate based on international human rights standards, including Article 18 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
    • Article 18 of the UDHR guarantees everyone the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
• Non-Binding Recommendations: Provides policy recommendations to the U.S. President, Secretary of State, and Congress.
  • Its recommendations are advisory and non-binding.

Key Concerns Raised by India

• Biased and Selective Reporting: India argues USCIRF relies on questionable sources and ideological narratives, not objective facts.
• Selective Targeting of India: Repeated focus on India seen as motivated criticism, undermining USCIRF’s credibility.
• Ignoring Diaspora Issues: India highlights attacks on Indian diaspora and Hindu temples in the U.S., which receive inadequate attention.

Cuba

Context: Amid a nationwide blackout triggered by U.S. oil blockade, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested “taking Cuba,” intensifying geopolitical tensions.

About Cuba

• Introduction: Cuba, with capital Havana, is the largest island nation in the Caribbean and part of the Greater Antilles archipelago.
• Location: Cuba is located in the northern Caribbean, at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.
• Borders (Maritime): Cuba shares maritime boundaries with the United States, Mexico, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Haiti.
• Archipelagic Structure: Cuba comprises the main island, Isla de la Juventud, and over 4,000 smaller islands and cays.
• Relief & Mountains: Cuba features plains and hills with mountain ranges like Sierra Maestra, hosting its highest peak Pico Turquino.
• Climate: Cuba experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, influenced by maritime conditions and prone to hurricanes.
• Vegetation & Land Use: Fertile plains support agriculture, while forests and mangroves dominate coastal and mountainous regions.
• Water Bodies: Major rivers include the Cauto River and Toa River, supporting irrigation and ecosystems.
• Resources: Cuba is rich in minerals like cobalt, nickel, iron ore, petroleum, and has significant agricultural and forest resources.
• Geopolitical Importance: Cuba’s proximity to the United States and location near key sea lanes makes it a critical geopolitical and maritime hub in the Caribbean.

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