News in Shorts: 28 February 2026

INS Anjadip

Context: The Indian Navy commissioned INS Anjadip at Chennai to enhance coastal anti-submarine warfare and littoral security capabilities.

About INS Anjadip

• INS Anjadip is an indigenously designed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) named after Anjadip Island built to detect, track, and neutralise enemy submarines in coastal waters.
  • It is part of an eight-vessel ASW project aimed at bolstering India’s maritime defence in the littoral zone.

Features of INS Anjadip

• Indigenous Design and Construction: INS Anjadip has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) with over 80% indigenous content, reflecting India’s growing self-reliance in naval shipbuilding and defence electronics.
• Platform Specifications: The vessel is 77 metres long with an approximate displacement of 1,400 tonnes and can achieve a top speed of 25 knots, making it suitable for rapid response in coastal and shallow waters.
• Advanced ASW Sensors and Weapons: It is equipped with the Hull Mounted Sonar ‘Abhay’, modern shallow-water sonar systems, lightweight torpedoes, and indigenously designed anti-submarine rockets for effective detection and neutralisation of underwater threats.
• Multi-Role Operational Capability: Beyond anti-submarine warfare, the ship features an advanced Combat Management System and can undertake coastal surveillance, Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Search & Rescue (SAR) missions.

Significance

INS Anjadip strengthens India’s coastal defence architecture, reflects progress toward ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence manufacturing, and supports the Navy’s vision of becoming a 200-plus ship force by 2035.

About Anjadip Island

• Anjadip Island is located off the coast of Karwar in the Arabian Sea and forms part of Goa.
• The island holds historical importance as Vasco da Gama claimed it for the Portuguese crown in 1498 during his first voyage to India.
• Significance: Its strategic location in the Arabian Sea underscores maritime importance, symbolising India’s historical and contemporary naval legacy.

India’s First Amorphous Metal Manufacturing Unit

Context: Japan-based Proterial will invest USD 80 million to establish India’s first amorphous metal manufacturing unit at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh.

About the Amorphous Metal Manufacturing Unit

• Proterial will set up the country’s first amorphous metal material plant in Sri City, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, to meet rising domestic demand for high-efficiency transformer materials.
• Key Features of the Unit
  • Phase-I capacity of 30,000 tonnes annually with total  capacity to reach 1 lakh tonnes.
  • Production is expected to begin by the end of 2026.
  • Established under the Government of India’s PLI Scheme for Specialty Steel.
• Significance: The project will reduce India’s 100% import dependence with current demand of 60,000–70,000 tonnes annually
  • It will boost transformer efficiency, promote self-reliance in specialty steel, and generate regional employment and infrastructure growth.

About Amorphous Metal

• Amorphous metal is a non-crystalline electrical-grade steel used primarily in power transformers to enhance energy efficiency.
• Features
  • Possesses a disordered atomic structure unlike conventional crystalline steel.
  • Offers significantly lower core losses compared to traditional silicon steel.
  • Can improve transformer efficiency by up to 60% and reduce standby power losses by nearly one-third.
• Applications
  • Power distribution transformers
  • Energy-efficient electrical equipment
  • Grid modernisation and renewable energy integration

Meningococcal Disease

Context: Meghalaya issued a health advisory after two Agniveer trainees in Shillong died of suspected meningococcal infection, prompting surveillance and preventive measures.

About Meningococcal disease

• Meningococcal disease is a severe and rapidly progressing bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis.
• It can lead to meningitis , an infection of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord or meningococcemia (bloodstream infection). 
  • It is known for its sudden onset and high fatality rate if not treated promptly.
• Transmission: The infection spreads through respiratory droplets and close personal contact, such as coughing, sneezing, or sharing utensils.
  • It is more common in crowded settings like hostels, military barracks, and training centres.
  • Close contacts of infected individuals are at higher risk, necessitating contact tracing and prophylactic measures.
• Impact on Health: Meningococcal disease progresses rapidly and may cause:
  • High fever and severe headache
  • Stiff neck and vomiting
  • Non-blanching purpuric rash
  • Circulatory collapse, shock, and multi-organ failure in advanced stages
• Fatality: Without urgent antibiotic treatment, it can result in death within hours. 
• Prolonged impact: Survivors may suffer long-term complications such as neurological damage or limb loss.
• Prevention
  • Vaccination (effective against major serogroups)
  • Early detection and immediate antibiotic therapy
  • Avoiding crowded places during outbreaks
  • Practising respiratory hygiene and frequent handwashing

Prompt public health surveillance and isolation of close contacts are critical to controlling outbreaks.

Digital Food Currency Pilot

Context: India launched a CBDC-based digital food currency pilot in Puducherry to deliver PMGKAY subsidies through programmable e₹ wallets.

About Digital Food Currency Pilot

• The Government has introduced a pilot using Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to distribute food subsidies under PMGKAY through digital rupee (e₹) wallets.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is a major food security welfare scheme in India, launched in March 2020 to provide free food grains (5kg per person/month) to over 80 crore poor and vulnerable citizens.
• Objective: The initiative aims to enhance transparency, reduce leakages, and ensure purpose-bound utilisation of food subsidies via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• Key Features
  • Subsidy credited as programmable digital coupons (e₹) generated by the Reserve Bank of India.
  • Redeemable only for foodgrains at Fair Price Shops and authorised outlets.
  • Integrated with the JAM (Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile) framework.
  • Accessible to smartphone and feature phone users.
  • Enables beneficiaries to locate authorised shops digitally.
• Significance: The reform strengthens India’s Public Distribution System (PDS), improves targeting efficiency, supports nutritional security (including millets), and promotes digital financial inclusion for over 80 crore PMGKAY beneficiaries.

Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) – e-Rupee

• A Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is the digital form of sovereign currency issued and regulated by a central bank, unlike volatile and decentralised cryptocurrencies.
• Launch: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched the Digital Rupee (e₹) in 2022 through pilot programs.
  • The wholesale segment (e₹-W) began on November 1, 2022, while the retail segment (e₹-R) was launched on December 1, 2022.
• Key Features
  • Legal tender with central bank backing.
  • Available for P2P and P2M transactions via bank-issued digital wallets.
  • Supports offline functionality in low-connectivity areas.
  • Programmable for targeted payments such as subsidies and coupons.

Significance

CBDC enhances payment efficiency, reduces transaction costs, strengthens financial inclusion, and supports secure, transparent government transfers.

Rajasthan Scraps Two-Child Norm for Local Body Elections

Context: The Rajasthan Cabinet has scrapped the two-child norm for contesting Panchayati Raj and municipal elections ahead of local body polls.

• This norm was first introduced in 1995 under the administration of former Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as a population control measure.
• Candidates with more than two children can now contest Panchayat and municipal elections.
• To implement this, the state cabinet has approved amendments to the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act (1994) and the Rajasthan Municipalities Act (2009)  proposing the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and Rajasthan Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Why was this rule scrapped?

Government’s rationale

•  Changing Socio-Political Conditions: 
  • The original goal of the two-child norm was to encourage smaller families.However, the state now views the provision as outdated given changing socio-political conditions.
• Widen Pool of Eligible Candidates: Officials believe its removal will widen the pool of eligible candidates and boost participation in grassroots democracy

Pros

• Supporters see it as a step toward inclusive political participation.
• Promotes inclusive grassroots democracy under 73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendments (Part IX & IX-A of the Constitution of India).

Cons

• Critics argue it could undermine population control efforts and fail to address underlying issues such as candidate competence.
• If implemented before elections, it may raise concerns about political expediency

Japanese Macaque

Context: A viral story about an abandoned baby Japanese macaque highlighted the species’ complex social bonds and maternal dependence.

About Japanese Macaque

• The Japanese macaque, also called the Snow Monkey, is a species of Old World monkey belonging to the family Cercopithecidae.
• Features: It has thick brown-grey fur, a red face, and a short tail, enabling survival in cold climates.
• Unique Adaptation: It is famous for soaking in natural hot springs in Japan to withstand sub-zero temperatures, making it the northernmost-living non-human primate.
• IUCN Status: It is classified as Least Concern, although some regional populations face habitat pressures.

Other Important Macaque Species

• Rhesus Macaque: The Rhesus macaque is widely distributed across North India and Southeast Asia, highly adaptable to urban areas, and listed as Least Concern.
• Lion-tailed Macaque: The Lion-tailed macaque is endemic to the Western Ghats, recognised by its silver mane, and classified as Endangered under IUCN due to habitat fragmentation.
• Crested Black Macaque: The Crested black macaque is native to Sulawesi, Indonesia, distinguished by its crest of hair, and is Critically Endangered under IUCN because of severe habitat loss.
• Barbary Macaque: The Barbary macaque inhabits North Africa and Gibraltar, is the only macaque found outside Asia, and is listed as Endangered.

Macaques are gregarious primates with strong maternal bonding, and infants depend heavily on physical contact for emotional security.

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