Daily Current Affairs 25 March 2026: SC Ruling on Conversion, 6th-Gen Jets and Project TeraFab

Daily Current Affairs 25 March 2026 delves into significant current affairs, including the Supreme Court’s ruling on the SC/ST Act regarding religious conversion and India’s pursuit of Sixth-Generation fighter jet technology. It also covers violations of international humanitarian law, initiatives promoting tribal culture and economy, global water conservation efforts on World Water Day, and Project TeraFab’s ambitious goal in AI chip manufacturing.

Supreme Court on SC/ST Act and Religious Conversion

The Supreme Court of India recently addressed a case concerning an individual who, after converting from the Scheduled Caste (SC) to Christianity, sought protection under the SC/ST Atrocities Act 1989 due to alleged caste-based atrocities.

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The Court referenced the Constitutional Scheduled Caste Order 1950, Clause 3, which explicitly states that only individuals following Hinduism, Sikhism (added in 1956), and Buddhism (added in 1990) are recognized as Scheduled Castes for statutory protections.

The Supreme Court held that Christianity does not inherently include a caste system. Therefore, an individual who has converted to Christianity cannot claim protection under the SC/ST Atrocities Act 1989. This ruling aligns with a previous decision by the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

Sixth-Generation Fighter Program

India is aiming to develop Sixth-Generation Fighter Jets, but currently lacks full domestic capability. Consequently, it is exploring international collaborations, specifically considering the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

Key Features of Sixth-Generation Fighter Jets:

• Exceptional Stealth capability, making detection extremely difficult.
• Significant integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for enhanced operations.
• Deployment of Advanced Weapons, such as laser weapons for high-beam attacks.
• Utilization of drones, often referred to as “loyal wingmen,” for support and autonomous operations.
• Advanced Stealth Sensors for enhanced detection avoidance and neutralizing enemy attacks.
• Use of Direct High Energy Weapons, including laser beams.

Global Landscape of Sixth-Generation Fighter Development:

• USA: Developing the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft for the Air Force (to replace the F-22 Raptor) and an F/A-XX Naval version (to replace the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet).
• China: Progressing with its J-XX Hulong Fire Dragon program.
• India: Currently focused on developing its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation jet, while seeking international engagement for sixth-generation capabilities.

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Programs India is Exploring:

Global Combat Air Program (GCAP)

• Collaborating Nations: UK, Italy, and Japan.
• Target: First fighter jet induction by 2035.
• Approach: Utilizes a “System of Systems” integration, connecting various fighter jets, drones, and data networks to create a centralized, integrated combat system.
• Technologies: Includes loyal wingman drones, AI sensors fusion, and next-generation weapons like high-energy lasers.

Future Combat Air System (FCAS)

• Collaborating Nations: France, Germany, and Spain (a European program).
• Technologies: Focuses on next-generation fighter jet development, a combat cloud integrating AI, remote carriers (drones), and advanced propulsion systems for extended endurance and high-speed operations.

Benefits for India from Collaboration:

• Technological Advancement: Access to advanced technological know-how.
• Local Production Capability: Development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
• Stealth Capability: Crucial for countering potential threats, particularly from China.
• Industrial Benefits: Promotion and growth of local industries.

“No Quarter, No Mercy” and International Law

A recent statement by the US Secretary of Defence advocating “no quarter, no mercy for enemies” in the conflict with Iran raises significant international concerns. This principle implies that enemy combatants, even if wounded, disarmed, or surrendering, would not be spared. Such a stance directly contradicts international humanitarian law.

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International Conventions on Treatment of Combatants:

• The Hague Regulations 1907, Article 23(d): Explicitly forbids “declaring that no quarter will be given.” This means denying any sparing of life to combatants.
• Geneva Conventions, Additional Protocol I, Article 40: States that “No one shall be ordered to kill, wound or capture an adversary who is recognized or should be recognized as hors de combat.” This applies to combatants who have clearly expressed an intention to surrender or are unable to defend themselves.
• Rome Statute (International Criminal Court), Article 8: Declaring that “no quarter will be given” is classified as a war crime. This applies to both international and non-international armed conflicts.

Consequences of a “No Quarter” Policy:

Such a policy undermines fundamental humanitarianism and the established protections for Prisoners of War (POWs). It can lead to more brutal conflicts and a disregard for the lives of those no longer capable of fighting, escalating violence and suffering.

Bharat Tribes Fest

The Bharat Tribes Fest was organized by TRIFED and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in New Delhi from March 18-30, 2026.

Purpose:

The festival aims to provide international exposure to the traditions of tribal communities, showcasing their food, handicrafts, arts, and culture. It seeks to promote tribal entrepreneurship and facilitate the economic empowerment of these communities.

Key Features:

• Large-scale participation: Featured over 200 curated stalls, 78 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, and 310 master tribal artisans showcasing their skills.
• Cultural and Culinary Focus: Emphasized tribal cuisine with the theme “Forest to Plate,” highlighting the nutritional value of tribal foods. Approximately 120 cuisines participated.
• Artistic Showcase: Included vibrant performances of tribal dance and music by around 400 artisans.

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Featured Initiative: RIJA (Revival of Indigenous Skills and Artisans)

• Goal: To integrate traditional tribal textiles, such as Eri Silk, Kotpad Cotton, and Dongaria Embroidery, into global fashion trends, thereby creating economic opportunities.

World Water Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently urged citizens to conserve water, emphasizing its critical importance for sustainability.

• Date: Celebrated annually on March 22.
• Main Focus: Conservation and sustainable utilization of fresh water resources globally.
• Origin: The concept was first highlighted during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Summit, in 1992. It was formally recognized as World Water Day by the UN General Assembly in 1993.
• Objectives: To raise awareness about global water challenges, including water scarcity, pollution, and inadequate sanitation infrastructure. It also promotes efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by 2030.
• 2024 Theme: “Water and Gender.” This theme emphasizes inclusive growth and the crucial role of women in water management and distribution.
• Slogan: “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows.”
• Significance: It raises awareness about water crises, promotes sustainable water practices, encourages community participation, and fosters global cooperation for effective water governance.

Ningol Won Initiative

The Ningol Won Initiative is a program launched by the Manipur Government.

• Meaning of “Ningol”: In Manipuri society, “Ningol” refers to married women, who are often seen as responsible managers of household and community resources. The initiative aims to leverage their role to conserve forest resources.
• Launch Date: It was launched on March 21, 2026, coinciding with the International Day of Forests.
• Purpose: To promote Forest and Biodiversity Conservation in Manipur.
• Context: Manipur’s forest area constitutes 74% of its total land. Many tribal communities depend on these forests for their livelihood, making forest conservation crucial for their economic security and well-being.
• Challenges Addressed: The initiative seeks to tackle critical issues such as poppy cultivation (which leads to drug-related problems), rampant forest fires, and illegal extraction/mining of resources.
• Future Plan: To implement the program across all 16 districts of Manipur, aiming for sustainable resource management, exploring cultivation of oil crops (e.g., palm oil) for economic benefit, and promoting sustainable use of bamboo.

International Day of Forests:

• Date: Celebrated annually on March 21.
• Recognition: Declared by the UN General Assembly in 2012.
• 2024 Theme: “Forests and Economies.”

Project TeraFab

Project TeraFab is an initiative led by Elon Musk, a collaboration between his companies Tesla and SpaceX.

• Purpose: To address the global shortage of AI-based integrated chips (ICs), driven by increasing demand and limited manufacturing capacity.
• Location: An advanced technology fabrication unit launched in Austin, Texas.
• Naming Origin: The name “TeraFab” comes from its ambitious target: to produce AI chips capable of achieving one terawatt (TW) of computing capacity. (Tera refers to a trillion, and watt is a unit of power/capacity).
• Current Market Scenario: The current market for AI chips is largely dominated by a few key players like TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) and Samsung. Project TeraFab aims to reduce global dependency on these manufacturers.
• Future Vision:

• Earth-based projects: Initial focus on developing chips for 10-20 gigawatts of computing capacity.

• Space exploration: A long-term target of one terawatt computing capacity for advanced space exploration endeavors, including for future Mars missions and other deep space operations.

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