Daily Current Affairs (07 – Mar – 26)

Daily Current Affairs (07 – Mar – 26)

1. From Population Explosion to Population Stabilisation  –

• India has undergone a remarkable fertility transition over the last 25 years, with successive National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) revealing a shift from a high-fertility developing nation to one where most states have reached or fallen below the replacement level of 2.1. 
• This trend has effectively diffused the once-dominant “Population Bomb” thesis by Paul and Anne Ehrlich, which assumed rapid fertility would outpace economic growth and strain public services in India.

Summary 

• India has transitioned to sub-replacement fertility, with NFHS-5 reporting a TFR of 2.0, reflecting major demographic change.
• Drivers include female education, urbanisation, contraceptive access, and shifting social norms.
• While it offers a demographic dividend, challenges such as ageing population, workforce decline, and regional disparities require strategic policy responses.

What are the Key Facts Regarding the Transition in Fertility Rate in India?  

• Historical Context:India’s TFR (Total Fertility Rate) was consistently high in the 1950s–1970s, peaking near 6 children per woman in the early 1960s. The decline began steadily from the 1970s onwards due to family planning initiatives and socio-economic changes.
• By 2000, the TFR had fallen to approximately 3.5 children per woman, reflecting continued progress through the 1980s and 1990s.
• NFHS-5 Benchmark: The NFHS-5 (2019–21) reported a national TFR of 2.0, marking the first time India fell below the replacement level of 2.1 at the national level.
• Current Estimates (Mid-2020s): As of 2023–2025, India’s TFR is widely estimated to be around 1.9 births per woman, confirming a sustained period of sub-replacement fertility.
• Regional Variations Persist:Despite national achievement, significant variation remains. Southern states (like Kerala and Tamil Nadu) and urban areas have TFRs as low as 1.4–1.8, while some northern states (like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh) are still approaching replacement level.
• Future Projection: India’s population is expected to peak around 1.7–1.9 billion by the 2060s–2080s before stabilizing or slowly declining.

2. Balen Shah’s Rise Signals Political Shift in Nepal –

• Nepal’s political landscape appears poised for a major transformation as Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen Shah, has emerged as a strong contender for the country’s prime ministership following the latest general election trends. The 35-year-old Kathmandu mayor and former rapper represents a new generation of leadership challenging the dominance of traditional political elites. His rise has energised young voters and highlighted growing demand for political reform and transparent governance in the Himalayan nation.

Election Trends and Political Momentum

• Preliminary trends from Nepal’s recent general elections indicate strong performance by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which is reportedly leading in more than 100 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives. Shah himself is maintaining a significant lead in the Jhapa-5 constituency against veteran leader and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML).
• If the trend continues, Shah could become one of the youngest prime ministers in Nepal’s history, marking a dramatic shift from a political establishment largely dominated by leaders in their 60s and 70s.

3. GPS Spoofing Threatens Civilian Flights Amid US–Iran Electronic Warfare –

• Escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran have created a new aviation risk across the skies of the Persian Gulf and the United Arab Emirates. Commercial aircraft operating in the region are increasingly facing GPS spoofing incidents, where navigation systems receive manipulated signals that display false positions. The development has raised serious concerns among aviation authorities, as electronic warfare tools used in military operations begin affecting civilian air traffic.

Understanding the Threat of GPS Spoofing

• GPS spoofing is a sophisticated electronic attack that transmits fake satellite signals to deceive navigation systems. Unlike signal jamming, which simply blocks GPS reception, spoofing feeds incorrect data to aircraft instruments. As a result, pilots may see an entirely false location on their cockpit displays even though the aircraft remains on its intended route. In recent incidents near the UAE border, aircraft navigation systems indicated they had drifted into Iranian airspace despite actually flying in international air corridors.

4. Smriti Mandhana Becomes First Cricketer With Her Own Barbie Doll –

• Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana has achieved a unique milestone after becoming the first cricketer to receive her own Barbie doll. The announcement came ahead of International Women’s Day 2026 and has drawn attention from both the sports and pop-culture worlds. The honour recognises not only her achievements on the cricket field but also her influence as a role model for young girls aspiring to pursue professional sports.

A Unique Honour Ahead of International Women’s Day

• The Barbie doll dedicated to Smriti Mandhana has been created by Mattel as part of its initiative to celebrate trailblazing women across the world. The brand has long promoted the message that girls can pursue any career and has honoured notable figures in fields such as sports, science, arts and leadership. Mandhana’s inclusion marks the first time a cricketer has been immortalised through a Barbie doll, highlighting her growing global impact in women’s sport.

5. India’s Forex Reserves Hit Record $728.49 Billion –

• India’s foreign exchange reserves rose to a new all-time high of $728.49 billion during the week ended February 27, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The increase of $4.885 billion reflects a strong expansion in the country’s external financial buffer. The growth was largely driven by a sharp rise in the value of gold reserves, highlighting the role of bullion in strengthening India’s reserve assets.

Rise Driven by Higher Gold Holdings

• The most significant contributor to the increase in reserves was the surge in gold holdings. Gold reserves rose by $4.141 billion to reach $131.63 billion during the reporting week. The increase indicates a growing diversification of India’s reserve portfolio, with gold playing an important role in protecting the country against global financial volatility and currency fluctuations.

Foreign Currency Assets Also Increase

• Foreign Currency Assets (FCA), which form the largest component of India’s forex reserves, also recorded a moderate rise. They increased by $561 million to $573.125 billion. These assets include holdings in major global currencies such as the euro, pound sterling, and Japanese yen. Their value fluctuates due to movements in exchange rates against the US dollar.

MCQ Quiz

Q1. Recently, a pair of Dusky Eagle Owls was spotted in which state after 15 years ?

1. a) Uttarakhand
2. b) Himachal Pradesh
3. c) Haryana
4. d) Uttar Pradesh

Q2. Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state ?

1. a) Tamil Nadu
2. b) Karnataka
3. c) Odisha
4. d) Kerala

Q3. Shahed drones are unmanned aerial vehicles developed by which country ?

1. a) Iran
2. b) Israel
3. c) Russia
4. d) India

Q4. With reference to the Nordic countries, consider the following:

1. Finland
2. Sweden
3. Norway
4. Denmark
5. Iceland

Which of the above are considered Nordic countries ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1,3 and 4 only
3. c) 1, 2 ,3 and 4 only
4. d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation-

• The Nordic countries include:
• Finland
• Sweden
• Norway
• Denmark
• Iceland
• These countries cooperate through institutions like the Nordic Council.

Q5. With reference to the Raisina Dialogue 2026, consider the following statements:

• It is a multilateral conference hosted annually by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Observer Research Foundation.
• The 11th edition of the dialogue was held under the theme ‘Saṁskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement’.
• One of its thematic pillars, ‘Trade in the Time of Tariffs’, focuses specifically on the recovery and reinvention of global supply chains.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 and 3 only
3. c) 1 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation-

• The Raisina Dialogue has emerged as India’s premier conference ongeopolitics and geo-economics since its inception in 2016.
• Statement 1 is correct as it is organized by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). It serves as a flagship platform for discussing global strategic issues, similar to the Shangri-La Dialogue.
• Statement 2 is correct; the 2026 theme, “Saṁskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement”, reflects India’s vision of balancing national interests with global cooperation.
• Statement 3 is also correct as the 11th edition identified six thematic pillars, including “Trade in the Time of Tariffs”, which addresses the challenges of protectionism and the need for resilient economic recovery. The dialogue emphasizes India’s role as a “convening power”, bringing together diverse stakeholders like heads of state, military commanders, and tech leaders.
• The 2026 event saw participation from 110 countries, highlighting its growing global footprint. The conference is named after Raisina Hill, the seat of the Indian government, symbolizing its status as a core diplomatic exercise.