News of The Day – 10th March 2026

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) withdrew a Class 8 social science chapter after criticism for allegedly misrepresenting the judiciary.
• The Supreme Court of India expressed concern that textbook content could undermine public confidence in the judicial system.
• NCERT issued an unconditional apology and ordered revision of the chapter.
• Highlights the role of textbooks in shaping civic education and the need for academic neutrality.
• Also raises questions about curriculum oversight under the **National Education Policy 2020.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• The Indian Armed Forces have expanded opportunities for women across combat support and leadership roles.
• Key milestones include permanent commission for women officers after the Secretary, Ministry of Defence vs Babita Puniya (2020) Supreme Court judgment.
• Women are now inducted into streams such as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force and warship officers in the Indian Navy.
• The National Defence Academy opened entry for women cadets from 2021.
• Reforms aim to promote gender equality and operational effectiveness.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• The Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India, stressed improving gender diversity in the higher judiciary.
• Women constitute roughly 14–15% of High Court judges and an even smaller proportion in the Supreme Court.
• Appointments to higher courts occur through the Collegium System in India, where senior judges recommend names.
• CJI urged High Court collegiums to recommend more women at the entry stage to widen the “pipeline.”
• Gender diversity strengthens representativeness and judicial legitimacy.

(GS-3: Environment)

• A bird survey in Silent Valley National Park documented 192 bird species, highlighting its ecological richness.
• The park lies in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.
• Notable species include endemic birds like the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon and Malabar Grey Hornbill.
• Silent Valley protects one of the last tracts of tropical evergreen forests in India.
• Conservation success followed the historic Silent Valley Movement which halted a hydroelectric project in the 1980s.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• Scientists reported the formation of “dark oxygen” in deep ocean regions without sunlight.
• The discovery occurred in the Pacific Ocean at depths of around 4,000 m.
• Oxygen may be generated through electrochemical reactions involving polymetallic nodules on the seabed.
• Challenges the assumption that oxygen production occurs only through Photosynthesis.
• Could reshape understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and potential life-supporting environments.

• Northern India is witnessing early heatwave-like conditions due to several climatic factors.
• Weak western disturbances and clear skies allow intense solar heating.
• Reduced winter rainfall and low soil moisture accelerate land warming.
• Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of Heatwaves.
• The India Meteorological Department classifies heatwaves when temperatures exceed normal thresholds for consecutive days.

(GS-3: Security / Military Strategy)

• A War of Attrition is a strategy aimed at exhausting an enemy’s resources, manpower and morale over time.
• Rather than quick decisive battles, the focus is on gradual weakening of the opponent. • Classic examples include trench warfare during World War I.
• Modern conflicts may involve prolonged artillery strikes, economic pressure, and supply disruptions.
• Seen in contemporary geopolitical conflicts where neither side achieves rapid victory.

• Basant Utsav is the spring festival celebrated at Santiniketan.
• Popularised by Rabindranath Tagore as part of the cultural traditions of Visva‑Bharati University.
• Inspired partly by cultural exchanges with the royal court of Tripura, which patronised Tagore’s work.
• Celebrations include music, dance, poetry and colours similar to Holi.
• Symbolises harmony between nature, art and seasonal change.

(GS-2: International Relation)

• The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• Established in 1946 to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Meets annually at United Nations Headquarters.
• Reviews global progress on women’s rights and implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
• Governments, UN agencies and civil society participate in the session.

• Exercise Dharma Guardian is a bilateral army exercise between India and Japan.
• Conducted between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self‑Defense Force.
• Focus areas: counter-terrorism operations, urban warfare and tactical coordination.
• Enhances interoperability under the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
• Reflects growing defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

• Exercise Lamitiye is a joint military exercise between India and Seychelles.
• Conducted by the Indian Army and the Seychelles Defence Forces.
• Focus areas include counter-insurgency operations and joint tactical drills.
• Strengthens India’s security cooperation with island nations in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) maritime policy.