News In Short 07-03-2026

U.S. Waiver Allows India to Purchase Russian Oil Amid West Asian Crisis

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations, GS3/ Economy

Context

• India has received a 30-day waiver from the United States Department of the Treasury allowing Indian refiners to purchase crude oil from Russia.

Why Was the Waiver Was Granted?

• Escalating hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have disrupted oil production and transportation in West Asia.
• Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime chokepoint through which over 55% of India’s oil imports passes.
• Several major oil installations have been affected, including;
  • The Ras Tanura Refinery operated by Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia.
  • The Rumaila Oil Field in Iraq, one of the world’s largest oil fields.

India’s Oil Import Trends

• India remains over 85% dependent on crude oil imports for its energy needs.
• Imports from Russia:
  • In January 2026, India’s crude oil imports from Russia dropped to approximately 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd). Russia’s share in India’s total oil imports fell to 19.3%–21.2%.
• Increasing U.S. Oil Imports: 
  • India imported $11.6 billion worth of crude oil from the U.S. in the period April 2025 to January 2026. This represents a 32% increase compared with the same period in the previous financial year.
  • The U.S. share in India’s crude imports rose from 5.7% to 8%.

Source: TH

Existing Agreements do not bind India to support American Defence Operations

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• India has denied reports that it assisted the United States in targeting an Iranian vessel near Sri Lankan waters.

About

• The vessel was returning home after participating in the multilateral naval exercise ‘Milan’ hosted by India.
• India has clarified that existing India-U.S. communication and logistics agreements do not automatically apply to such situations.

India – US Defence Ties

• Defence ties have transformed from transactional to a Major Defense Partnership (2016).
• Guided by mechanisms such as:
  • 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
  • Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) (2012)
  • Military Cooperation Group (MCG)
• India is designated as “Major Defense Partner” and given Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) status (2018), easing high-tech exports.
• India has signed all four major foundational agreements with the U.S.:
  • General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002 and the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016. 
  • COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) signed in 2018 to secure communications & interoperability.
  • Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA 2020) for Geo-spatial intelligence & satellite data for precision targeting.
• Military Exercises: 
  • Yudh Abhyas: Land forces.
  • Malabar: Naval quadrilateral with US, India, Japan, Australia.
  • Cope India: Air exercise.
  • Tiger Triumph: Tri-service HADR exercise.
  • Vajra Prahar: Special forces.
• The deals, pursued under emergency procurement powers, allow the armed forces to bypass the long procurement process for contracts, with a maximum ceiling of Rs 300 crore under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route.

Source: TH

Essential Commodities Act Invoked 

Syllabus: GS2/Governance 

In News

• The Centre invoked the Essential Commodities Act  in response to the oil crisis following Israel-U.S. strikes on Iran.
  • Centre directed  oil refining companies to prioritize LPG production using propane and butane streams, supply it exclusively to domestic consumers, and not use these streams for other petrochemical products. 

Essential Commodities Act, 1955

• It has been a tool used by the government through the years to offset rising food prices, prevent hoarding and maintain food security.
• The list of essential commodities includes drugs and medicines, fertilizers, foodstuffs (including edible oils), hank yarn, petroleum and petroleum products, raw jute and jute textiles, and various types of seeds such as those for fruits, vegetables, and cattle fodder.
• The 2020 amendment to the Essential Commodities Act limited the Centre’s powers to regulate key food items only under extraordinary circumstances and
  • It allowed stock limits on agricultural produce only if prices rose sharply—100% for horticultural goods and 50% for non-perishable foodstuffs.

Source :TH

US F-1 Visas for Indian Students Drop 69%

Syllabus: GS2/IR

In News

• In 2025, F-1 visa issuances to Indian students fell by 69% in June-July (12,776 visas) compared to 41,336 in 2024.
  • The decline followed a pause on student visa interviews, stricter social media screening, and additional vetting requirements introduced from May 2025.

About F-1 visa

• The F-1 visa permits foreign students to study full-time in the U.S. at SEVP-certified academic institutions or language programs, enrolled in courses leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate, with schools authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students.
• It has long served as a key talent pipeline for the US. Created under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, it allows students to remain temporarily in the US after graduation. 
• This route has helped American universities and technology firms attract global talent, particularly from India and China.

Source :IE

What is a Megamaser?

Syllabus: GS3/Space

Context

• Astronomers reported finding the most distant hydroxyl maser using the MeerKAT telescope.

About

• A hydroxyl megamaser is an extremely powerful natural microwave/radio-wave emitter in space produced by hydroxyl (OH) molecules in distant galaxies. 
  • It is similar to a laser, but instead of visible light it emits microwaves or radio waves.
• MASER: Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
  • It is the microwave/radio equivalent of a laser.
  • Occurs naturally in space when molecules amplify radio signals.
• Hydroxyl (OH) Molecule: It consists of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom. It is found in giant molecular gas clouds in galaxies.

How Hydroxyl Megamasers Form

• Galaxy collisions or mergers occur that trigger intense star formation, feeding of supermassive black holes, and release of large infrared radiation.
  • Infrared energy excites hydroxyl (OH) molecules to a high-energy state.
  • When the molecules return to a lower energy level, they emit amplified radio waves.
  • This creates an extremely bright maser signal.

Scientific Importance

• Astronomers use megamasers as cosmic beacons because radio waves penetrate cosmic dust, revealing hidden regions of galaxies.
  • Help study galaxy mergers and starburst activity.
  • Allow measurement of galaxy motion and distance.
  • Improve understanding of cosmic evolution.

Source: TH

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The 57th Raising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was observed recently. 

About the CISF

• It is a paramilitary force that came into existence in the year 1969 under the CISF Act, 1968. 
• It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is responsible for providing security to various critical infrastructure installations and industries including the Department of Space, the Department of Atomic Energy, Parliament complex, the Airports, the Delhi Metro, the ports across the country. 
• Presently, CISF is also providing security to the protected persons classified as Z Plus, Z, X, Y.
• CISF is the only force with a customized and dedicated fire wing.

Source: PIB

Minuteman III

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, the United States conducted a test launch of a Minuteman III missile.

About Minuteman III 

• It is nicknamed as ‘doomsday’ missile, and is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
• It reaches a top speed of Mach 23, or roughly 28,400 kilometres per hour, and can travel over 9,600 kilometres.
• Developed by Boeing in the 1950s to bolster American homeland protection, the Minuteman III is stored and launched from a silo, a fortified underground bunker designed to protect the missile from enemy attacks.
• Notably, a Minuteman III has never been fired in actual combat, making the weapon one of the most powerful things on Earth that has never actually been used in war.

Do you know? 

• The Minuteman III was originally supposed to be replaced in the 2030s, but delays with the new Sentinel ICBM have led officials to consider keeping it in service potentially until 2050.

Source: IT