Skip to main content

Daily Current Affairs 6 March 2026: Top 10 News from The Hindu, Indian Express for UPSC


 

Top 10 News from The Hindu, Indian Express   Sandalwood, Salem Sago, Ottawa Convention & PRASAD Scheme


1. Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album)

4

Why in News

  • The Union Budget 2026 emphasized reviving India’s sandalwood industry.

  • Reports indicate increasing illegal smuggling of sandalwood.

  • India was historically the largest producer of sandalwood, but production has declined in recent decades.

Key Facts

  • Scientific name: Santalum album

  • Commonly known as Indian Sandalwood (Chandan).

  • One of the most valuable and expensive woods globally due to its fragrance and medicinal properties.

  • The tree produces sandalwood oil, widely used in perfumery and medicine.

Distribution

Native or found in:

  • India

  • China

  • Indonesia

  • Philippines

  • Australia

Although called Indian sandalwood, the species is not restricted only to India.

Major Producing Regions in India

Traditional production hubs include:

  • Karnataka (largest producer historically)

  • Tamil Nadu

  • Andhra Pradesh

Other states with cultivation initiatives:

  • Telangana

  • Madhya Pradesh

  • Maharashtra

  • Gujarat

  • Bihar

Economic Importance

Sandalwood has high commercial value because of its diverse uses:

Religious Uses

  • Temple rituals

  • Sacred paste used in Hindu religious ceremonies

  • Idol carving and temple decorations

Industrial Uses

  • Perfumes and fragrance industry

  • Essential oils

  • Incense sticks (agarbatti)

  • Luxury handicrafts and furniture

Medicinal Uses

  • Ayurvedic medicines

  • Anti-inflammatory properties

  • Antiseptic uses

Conservation Status

  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

Major Threats

  • Illegal logging and smuggling

  • Sandalwood spike disease

  • Overexploitation and habitat degradation

Global Market

Major producers:

  • India

  • Australia

Major consumers/importers:

  • USA

  • China

  • Japan

  • Domestic Indian market

2. Red Sanders (Red Sandalwood)

4

Key Facts

  • Scientific name: Pterocarpus santalinus

  • Known as Red Sanders / Red Sandalwood (Lal Chandan).

Distribution

  • Endemic to India

  • Occurs mainly in the Eastern Ghats region.

Primary location:

  • Andhra Pradesh

Also found in:

  • Northern Tamil Nadu

Characteristics

  • Produces deep red colored timber.

  • Extremely dense and durable wood.

  • Highly valued in international markets.

Major Uses

  • Luxury furniture

  • Traditional medicines

  • Musical instruments

  • Decorative carvings

Conservation Status

  • IUCN Status: Endangered

Major Threats

  • Illegal logging

  • International smuggling networks

  • Habitat degradation

Exam Important Comparison

FeatureIndian SandalwoodRed Sanders
Scientific nameSantalum albumPterocarpus santalinus
DistributionSeveral countriesEndemic to India
Major regionsKarnataka, Tamil NaduEastern Ghats
IUCN StatusVulnerableEndangered

3. Portuguese Introduced Crops in India

Historical Context

  • Portuguese were the first European traders to establish colonies in India.

  • They introduced many important crops from the Americas to India.

Major Crops Introduced by Portuguese

Important for UPSC Prelims:

  • Cashew

  • Papaya

  • Pineapple

  • Tobacco

  • Chilli

  • Tomato

  • Potato

  • Maize

  • Groundnut

  • Tapioca (Cassava)

Important Prelims Trap

  • Guava was introduced via Spanish trade routes, not Portuguese.

4. Salem Sago (GI Tag Product)

4

Why in News

  • First export of Salem Sago to Canada facilitated by APEDA.

Key Facts

  • GI Tag awarded: 2023

  • Origin: Salem district, Tamil Nadu

What is Sago?

  • A starch-based food product commonly called Sabudana in India.

Raw Material

Produced from:

  • Tapioca roots

  • Also known as Cassava

Uses

Food Industry

  • Sabudana khichdi

  • Sabudana kheer

  • Fasting foods

Industrial Uses

  • Paper industry (binding agent)

  • Textile industry (stiffening)

  • Pharmaceutical capsules

  • Cosmetics industry

Related Crop: Tapioca / Cassava

Key points:

  • Introduced by Portuguese

  • Major cultivation in India:

    • Tamil Nadu

    • Kerala

    • Andhra Pradesh

5. Ottawa Convention (Mine Ban Treaty)

Why in News

  • Poland recently withdrew from the Ottawa Convention due to security concerns related to Russia.

About Ottawa Convention

Also called:

  • Mine Ban Treaty

Objective

To eliminate anti-personnel landmines worldwide.

The treaty bans:

  • Use of landmines

  • Production

  • Stockpiling

  • Transfer

Timeline

  • Adopted: 1997

  • Entered into force: 1999

Membership

  • 164 countries are State Parties.

Countries Not Party

Important for UPSC:

  • India

  • China

  • United States

  • Russia

  • Pakistan

  • South Korea

Reason Some Countries Avoid Membership

Security concerns along conflict borders.

Examples:

  • India–Pakistan border

  • Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

6. Kol Wetlands (Kerala)

4

Why in News

  • Scientists discovered four new pygmy grasshopper species in these wetlands.

Location

  • Kerala

  • Districts:

    • Thrissur

    • Malappuram

Ramsar Status

  • Declared Ramsar Site in 2002.

Meaning of Kol

  • In Malayalam, Kol means “bumper crop”.

Ecological Importance

  • Major agricultural wetland

  • Supports paddy cultivation

  • Important for migratory birds

Bird Migration

  • Located along the Central Asian Flyway.

Newly Recorded Grasshopper Genera

Important for UPSC:

  • Thoradonta

  • Tetrix

  • Hedotettix

UPSC frequently asks insect classification questions.

7. PRASAD Scheme

Full Form

Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive

Launch

  • 2014-15

Implementing Ministry

  • Ministry of Tourism

Type of Scheme

  • Central Sector Scheme

(100% funding by the Central Government)

Objective

Develop infrastructure around important pilgrimage sites.

Infrastructure Development Includes

  • Roads and connectivity

  • Drinking water facilities

  • Sanitation and toilets

  • Tourist waiting halls

  • Signboards and tourist information systems

  • Heritage conservation

Funding Sources

  • Central government

  • CSR contributions

  • Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)

8. Swadesh Darshan Scheme

Ministry

  • Ministry of Tourism

Type

  • Central Sector Scheme

Objective

Develop thematic tourism circuits across India.

Examples of Circuits

  • Buddhist circuit

  • Himalayan circuit

  • Coastal circuit

  • Eco-tourism circuit

Difference from PRASAD

FeaturePRASAD SchemeSwadesh Darshan
FocusPilgrimage tourismTourism circuits
AreaTemple infrastructureRegional tourism development

9. Fishing Cat


Why in News

  • First scientific survey in Kaziranga National Park recorded a healthy population.

Scientific Name

  • Prionailurus viverrinus

Unique Feature

  • Only wild cat species adapted for hunting in wetlands.

Special Adaptations

  • Excellent swimmer

  • Hunts fish underwater

  • Semi-aquatic behavior

  • Strong muscular body

Habitat

Found mainly in:

  • Wetlands

  • Mangrove forests

  • Swamps

  • Marshlands

  • River floodplains

Global Distribution

Occurs in:

  • India

  • Sri Lanka

  • Bangladesh

  • Pakistan

  • Thailand

  • Malaysia

  • Indonesia

Distribution in India

  • Sundarbans mangroves

  • Ganga-Brahmaputra floodplains

  • Himalayan foothills

  • Western Ghats wetlands

  • Assam wetlands (Kaziranga)

State Animal

  • West Bengal

Conservation Status

  • IUCN: Vulnerable

  • Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I

  • CITES: Appendix II

Ecological Importance

  • Indicator species of healthy wetland ecosystems.

Quick Prelims Revision

IUCN Status

  • Indian Sandalwood → Vulnerable

  • Red Sanders → Endangered

  • Fishing Cat → Vulnerable

GI Tag

  • Salem Sago → Tamil Nadu

Ramsar Site

  • Kol Wetlands → Kerala

Convention

  • Ottawa Convention → Ban on anti-personnel landmines

Schemes

  • PRASAD → Pilgrimage tourism

  • Swadesh Darshan → Tourism circuits

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Current Affairs from The Hindu – 18 March 2026 PDF: LPG Crisis, NMDC, Iron Ore & HSV (UPSC Prelims Notes)

 The Hindu – 18 March 2026  1. Electrification of Cooking (LPG Crisis & Energy Security) 4 Background India is heavily dependent on energy imports: Crude oil → ~88% import dependent LPG → ~60% import dependent LPG imports largely come from West Asia (Persian Gulf region). Geopolitical tensions (e.g., Strait of Hormuz disruptions) threaten supply chains. Importance for UPSC Links with: Energy security Climate change commitments Fiscal burden (subsidies) Current geopolitical developments Key Facts Annual LPG import cost → ~$26.4 billion LPG connections → ~332 million ~37% households still rely on biomass fuels LPG vs Electric Cooking Efficiency: LPG → 40–55% Electric (Induction) → 85–90% Monthly Cost: LPG → ₹900–1100 Electric → ₹620–640 Advantages of Electric Cooking Reduces import dependency Enhances energy security Supports renewable energy use Eliminates indoor air pollution Safer (no open flame) Challenges Peak electricity demand (morning/evening) Grid stress (India peak...
Post a Comment
Read more

Daily Current Affairs – 7 March 2026 | The Hindu Analysis for UPSC: Minuteman III Missile, Gravity Bombs, Mark-48 Torpedo & Finland

  UPSC Current Affairs Notes The Hindu Analysis – 7 March 2026 1. Minuteman III Missile (USA) Background The Minuteman III (LGM-30G) is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) developed and operated by the United States Air Force . It forms a crucial component of the United States' nuclear deterrence strategy . First deployed in 1970 during the Cold War as part of the strategic competition between the USA and the Soviet Union . It is a land-based nuclear missile system , stored in underground silos across several US states. Key Features of Minuteman III Type: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Launch Platform: Underground silo-based launch system Developer: Douglas Aircraft Company (later part of Boeing) Range: Approximately 9,600 km – 13,000 km Speed: Around Mach 23 (about 23 times the speed of sound) Payload: Capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads Guidance: Inertial guidance system Why is it called a “Doo...
Post a Comment
Read more

UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Notes – 23 February 2026 The Hindu news paper

 UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Notes – 23 February 2026 The Hindu news paper  1. India–Brazil Relations – Key Developments India and Brazil are strengthening bilateral relations through trade, minerals cooperation, and renewable energy partnerships. Basic Facts Diplomatic relations established in 1948 . Brazil is India’s largest trading partner in Latin America . Current bilateral trade: around $12–13 billion . Target set by both countries: $20–30 billion trade by 2030 . Why Brazil is Important for India Both are major democracies of the Global South . Both support multilateralism and reform of global institutions. Important partners in: BRICS G20 IBSA Dialogue Forum WTO negotiations. Recent Agreements Signed Critical Minerals Cooperation Brazil has rich deposits of iron ore, rare earth elements , nickel, and bauxite. These minerals are essential for EV batteries, semiconductors, solar panels, electronics, and defence equipme...
Post a Comment
Read more