News In Shorts 26 September 2026: OneSCD, SUHEP, EAS & Kallakkadal

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his birth anniversary.

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About Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya

• Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was an Indian politician and leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), the forerunner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 
• Early Life And Education
  • Born: 25 September 1916 at Nagla Chandraban, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Education: Studied in Sikar and Pilani before pursuing his B.A. at Sanatan Dharma College, Kanpur.
  • RSS Association: Joined the RSS in 1937 and later became a full-time Pracharak (full-time worker/organiser of the RSS). 
• Political Career
  • Bharatiya Jana Sangh: Played a key organizational role in its establishment in 1951.
  • Leadership: Served as its General Secretary, strengthening the party’s organisational structure and cadre base.
  • Presidency: Became President of the Jana Sangh in December 1967. His major contribution was building a disciplined cadre and expanding the party’s presence.
• Writings: 
  • Publishing: Established Rashtra Dharma Prakashan in Lucknow.
  • Publications: Associated with Rashtra Dharma, Panchjanya, and Swadesh.
• Death: He died on 11 February 1968.

Core Philosophy

• Integral Humanism
  • ‘Integral Humanism’ aimed to present an ‘Indigenous socio-economic model’ in which human beings are at the center of development.
  • Critique Of The “Economic Man”: Integral Humanism challenges the conception of human beings merely as “economic men” driven by material needs and economic self-interest.
  • Official Doctrine: Integral Humanism was adopted as the Jana Sangh’s official doctrine in 1965.
• Antyodaya: Antyodaya refers to the upliftment of the person at the lowest or most disadvantaged end of society.
  • It is closely associated with his broader conception of welfare-oriented and inclusive development.

OneSCD

Context: India co-hosted the launch of OneSCD on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York. 

About OneSCD

• OneSCD is a Global Partnership to Advance Equity and Transform Sickle Cell Care.
• Hosted by: It is co-hosted by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and India, along with other partners such as UNICEF and WHO.
• Purpose: It seeks to promote an equitable, coordinated, and sustainable global response to Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
  • The partnership focuses on ensuring timely diagnosis and quality care for people living with SCD.

About Sickle Cell Disease

• Genetic Blood Disorder: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
• Genetic Mutation: It is caused by a mutation in the HBB gene located on chromosome 11, resulting in the production of abnormal hemoglobin S (HbS).
• Sickle-Shaped RBCs: Under conditions such as low oxygen levels, red blood cells can become rigid, sticky, and sickle-shaped rather than their normal flexible, disc-like shape.
• Vaso-Occlusion and Anemia: Sickle-shaped cells can block small blood vessels and undergo premature destruction (hemolysis), leading to reduced blood flow, recurrent severe pain, and chronic anemia.
• Complications: SCD can cause infections, stroke, acute chest syndrome, organ damage, and other serious complications.
• Inheritance: SCD is inherited when a child receives the abnormal HBB gene from both parents.
  • A person who inherits the abnormal gene from only one parent generally has sickle cell trait. 
• Screening: Early diagnosis through newborn and population screening enables genetic counseling, preventive care, vaccination, monitoring, and timely treatment.

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India’s Approach

• National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission: Launched in 2023 with the goal of eliminating Sickle Cell Disease as a public health problem by 2047.
• Screening and Comprehensive Care: The Mission integrates population-scale screening, early diagnosis, counseling, treatment, and follow-up into public health systems.

Upper Subansiri Hydroelectric Project

Context: The Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) has recommended environmental clearance for the 1,605 MW Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project (SUHEP) in Arunachal Pradesh, subject to Stage-I forest clearance. 

About The Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project

• The Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project (SUHEP) is a proposed 1,605 MW run-of-the-river hydropower project on the Subansiri River in Arunachal Pradesh.
• River System: The Subansiri is a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River.
• Location: The project is planned near Menga, about 20 km from Daporijo, in the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Dam: The project envisages a 237-meter-high storage dam.
• Purpose: Power generation and flood moderation.
• Reservoir: The reservoir will have a surface area of about 22.2 sq km at Full Reservoir Level (FRL) and a length of about 50 km.

Major Concerns

• Forest and Biodiversity Impact: The project requires diversion of approximately 2,733 hectares of forest land and felling of around 1,35,733 trees.
  • Large-scale tree felling may affect forest structure, habitat continuity, biodiversity, wildlife movement and ecosystem services.
• Compensatory Afforestation Framework: Since Arunachal Pradesh has high forest cover, compensatory afforestation obligations can be fulfilled on suitable land in other states with lower forest cover.
  • For SUHEP, around 5,466 hectares of degraded forest land in Madhya Pradesh have been identified for compensatory afforestation.
  • Plantation outside the project area may not fully compensate for the local biodiversity, habitat, and ecosystem services lost due to forest diversion in Arunachal Pradesh.

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East Asia Summit (EAS)

Context: India participated in the 14th EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, where regional economic developments and ASEAN-India trade were discussed.

Key Outcomes of the Meet

• Regional Economic Outlook: Ministers exchanged views on regional and global economic developments, including the expected impact on trade and investment flows in 2027.
• Energy & Industrial Cooperation: The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) presented an integrated approach linking energy security, digital demand, industrial clusters and trade policies.
• AITIGA Review: India highlighted the ongoing review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to address trade asymmetries and facilitate greater trade flows.
  • India-ASEAN bilateral trade reached US$128.38 billion in 2025-26, accounting for 10.55% of India’s global trade.

About East Asia Summit

• The EAS is an ASEAN-led, leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation on strategic, political and economic issues affecting the region.
• Origin: The first EAS was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2005 with 16 participating countries.
  • The United States and Russia joined in 2011, expanding the strategic scope of the forum.
• Members: 19 Participating Countries
• 11 ASEAN members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
• 8 other participants: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.
• Objectives
  • Strategic Cooperation: The EAS promotes peace, stability and dialogue on regional strategic and security concerns.
  • Economic Cooperation: It facilitates cooperation in trade, finance, connectivity, sustainable development and economic integration.
  • Sectoral Cooperation: Major areas include climate and energy, health, education, disaster management, maritime cooperation, food security and poverty alleviation.
• Indo-Pacific Engagement: EAS provides India with an ASEAN-led platform to engage major Indo-Pacific powers on economic, strategic, maritime and regional issues.

Kallakkadal

Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)  issued a red alert along the Kerala coast, warning of high waves and possible Kallakkadal conditions.

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What is ‘Kallakkadal’?

• ‘Kallakkadal’ refers to sudden and powerful swell surges that cause unexpected coastal flooding, especially along parts of the Indian coastline, especially Kerala.
  • These swell surges, with periods ranging from 30 to 300 seconds, can substantially elevate coastal water levels. 
• Meaning of Kallakkadal: The term ‘Kallakkadal’ comes from Malayalam words Kallan (thief) and Kadal (sea), describing sudden “thief-like” sea waves that unexpectedly strike coastal areas.
• Cause: The phenomenon is mainly triggered by long-period ocean swells generated by distant storms in the southern Indian Ocean.
• Long-Distance Travel: These swells can travel nearly 10,000 kilometres before reaching the Indian coastline.
• Seasonality: Kallakkadal events are most common during the pre-monsoon season, particularly along the Kerala coast.
• Impact: The surges pose serious threats to fishing communities, coastal infrastructure, harbours and low-lying coastal regions.
• Scientific Cause: Scientists have linked Kallakkadal events to infragravity waves and wave shoaling processes in shallow coastal waters.
  • Infragravity Waves: Infragravity waves are low-frequency ocean waves generated through interactions among shorter surface waves in the open ocean.
  • Wave Shoaling: Wave shoaling is the process in which wave height increases as ocean waves move from deep waters to shallow coastal regions.
  • Coastal bathymetry, or underwater topography, further amplifies these surges and contributes to sudden coastal flooding.

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