UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 31-03-2026

One Liners 31-03-2026

History, Art and Culture

Abhilekh Patal Portal

• It is a digital archival platform which serves as a gateway to India’s historical legacy.
• Developed by – National Archives of India (NAI) under Ministry of Culture.
• Meaning – Abhilekh (records of ancient times) and Patal (platform), and also stands for Portal for Access to Archives & Learning.
• Objectives – To digitally preserve and provide easy access to India’s archival heritage.
• To make records easily accessible worldwide
• To help researchers, students, and learners explore India’s history through original documents

Geography

Moon

International Relations and Issues

Strait of Hormuz

Two Indian LPG carriers (BW Tyr & BW Elm) crossed theStrait of Hormuz amidtensions in West Asia, alongside a Pakistan-bound oil tanker.

• Location – A strategic, narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
• Bordered by – Iran to the north and Oman/UAE to the south, making it one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints.
• Trade – Approximately 20–25% of global oil trade passes through this strait, making it vital for global energy security.

India’s Energy Dependence

• Crude Oil Dependence
  • India imports ~85% of its crude oil.
  • Major suppliers – Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar.
• Strategic Vulnerability
  • Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz directly affect supply.
  • Consequences – Higher fuel prices, inflationary pressures, and widening current account deficit.
• LPG Significance
  • LPG is essential for household energy needs.
  • Critical for welfare programs like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which provides clean cooking fuel to low-income families.

Economy

MoU for Multilingual Pension Services

• MoU between – Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) under MeitY and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
• Aim – To overcome language barriers, reach first-time savers, and expand financial inclusion.
• Key Points – Integration of BHASHINI translation APIs, multilingual AI models, and voice-enabled technologies into PFRDA systems.
• Support for all 22 languages in the 8^th Schedule of the Constitution, ensuring inclusivity for pension subscribers.

Agriculture

Licensed Cultivation of Opium in India

Specific regions in Madhya Pradesh (Malwa) and Rajasthan (Mewar) engage in legal opium cultivation regulated by stringent government licensing.

• Location – Approximately 85% of India’s legal opium production originates from districts such as Mandsaur, Neemuch, Ratlam, and Chittorgarh.
• Controlled by – Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) under the Ministry of Finance.
• Farmers requirement – Annual licences and must meet Minimum Qualifying Yield (MQY) norms.
• Two types of cultivation – Opium gum extraction and Concentrate of Poppy Straw (CPS) system.

Rise in Sugarcane Arrears

Parliamentary panel flagged a 32-fold increase in sugarcane arrears.

• Sugarcane Pricing Framework
  • Governed by – Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) set by the Centre and State Advised Price (SAP) set by the states.
  • Mills is legally required to pay farmers within 14 days of procurement.
• Causes of Rising Arrears
  • Excess sugar production (~300–330 million tonnes) – It creates a supply glut, leading to lower market prices and reduced mill profitability, which in turn delays payments to farmers.
  • Ethanol blending diversion – It remains insufficient to absorb surplus.
  • External factors – Fall in exports, global price fluctuations, policy delays.

Environment

Satpura Tiger Reserve

A female tiger was poisoned to death near Satpura Tiger Reserve with 5 arrests made in connection to the case.

• Located in – Madhya Pradesh, part of the Satpura–Maikal landscape, known for rich biodiversity.
• Comprises of – Satpura National Park, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, and Pachmarhi Sanctuary.
• Protected under – Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which prohibits hunting and trade of endangered species like tigers (Schedule I species).
• India’s tiger conservation is guided by Project Tiger (1973) and managed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Great Indian Bustard

Science

Carbon Capture using Basalt Rocks

Scientists in Saudi Arabia (Jizan region) demonstrated a new method of injecting CO₂ into basalt rocks using recirculated water.

• Carbon Capture via Basalt
  • Basalt rocks react with CO₂ to form stable carbonate minerals.
  • Ensures permanent storage of captured carbon.
• Water Efficiency
  • Use of recirculating water systems drastically reduces consumption.
  • More sustainable compared to conventional CCS (Carbon Capture & Storage) methods.
• Rapid Mineralisation
  • Demonstrates feasibility of mineralisation within months.
  • A major improvement over traditional processes that take decades.