1st April 2026

Explanation - It is an initiative led by the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Zero Waste, with support from UN-Habitat and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). It highlights cities demonstrating ambitious and innovative approaches to reducing waste, advancing circular economy solutions, and building more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban systems. It aims to — Recognise city leadership and innovation. Promote exchange of good practices and lessons learned. Inspire other cities to accelerate their transition toward zero waste. Support implementation of circular economy approaches at the local level.

Explanation - It is an initiative led by the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Zero Waste, with support from UN-Habitat and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). It highlights cities demonstrating ambitious and innovative approaches to reducing waste, advancing circular economy solutions, and building more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban systems. It aims to — Recognise city leadership and innovation. Promote exchange of good practices and lessons learned. Inspire other cities to accelerate their transition toward zero waste. Support implementation of circular economy approaches at the local level.

Explanation - India's proposal to include Great Indian Bustard, Asian Elephant and Bengal Florican in Appendix I of UN Convention on migratory species was unanimously accepted at the ongoing thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) in Gandhinagar. APPENDIX I - Under this convention, migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I and Parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals, conserving or restoring the places where they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them. APPENDIX II - Migratory species that need conservation and management or would significantly benefit from international co-operation are listed in Appendix II of the Convention.

Explanation - Agray - Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft is the fourth of eight Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft. It is indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. It is a reincarnation of the erstwhile INS Agray, the fourth of the 1241 PE Class of Patrol Vessels, decommissioned in 2017. The ASW SWCs have been designed and constructed by GRSE in compliance with the classification standards of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). Features of Agray - Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft — Propulsion: Waterjet propulsion — the largest Indian naval warships to use this technology. Armament: It is equipped with state-of-the-art Lightweight Torpedoes, Indigenous Rocket Launchers and shallow water SONAR, enabling effective detection. Sensors: Advanced shallow water SONAR systems. Significance — The induction of the ship will further augment the Indian Navy's anti-submarine and mine-warfare capabilities, as well as coastal surveillance.

Explanation - The Centre has doubled the allocation of funds under the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) for financial year 2024-25. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that Left Wing Extremism will be "completely eradicated" in the country before March 2026. The revised allocation of ₹1,000 crore from the central government, up from ₹500 crore, will require an additional ₹500 crore from the states, making the total funds for the project around ₹1,500 crore for the year. The scheme is expected to boost socio-economic development and support security needs in these regions. Since its inception, 1,347 road projects covering over 12,227 km have been sanctioned, with nearly 9,259 km of roads completed. As a separate vertical under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), it is aimed at providing all-weather road connectivity with culverts and cross-drainage structures in 44 worst-affected LWE districts and adjoining districts in 9 states. Under the scheme, the Centre and states share the expenditure in 60:40 ratio — same as under PMGSY.