News In Short 11-06-2026

Birsa Munda

Syllabus: GS1/ Modern History

Context

• PM Modi paid tributes to Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda Ji on his martyrdom day.

About

• Birsa Munda was born on 15th November 1875 in Ulihatu of the erstwhile Bengal Presidency (present day Jharkhand) .
  • He was a legendary Indian tribal freedom fighter, religious leader, and folk hero from the Munda tribe. 
• Birsait religion: He founded a new religion called “Birsait“ and declared himself as God’s messenger. He believed in One God. 
  • People of Munda and Oraon community joined the sect and challenged British conversion activities of tribals.
  • He was referred to as  ‘Dharti Abba or Father of Earth’ by his followers.
• Munda Rebellion: It was the tribal movement led by Birsa Munda against the oppressions of the British Raj and local exploiters (Dikus).
  • It is also referred to as ‘Ulgulan’ or the ‘Great Tumult’.
  • In 1900 he was arrested in Jamkopai forest and passed away in custody (due to cholera).
  • Outcome: The British government introduced the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act in 1908, to prohibit the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals (Dikus).
• Janjatiya Gaurav Divas: Observed on November 15 since 2021 to honor his legacy.

Source: PIB

Hindu Kush Himalaya

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography

Context

• The HKH Monsoon Outlook 2026, projects below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region during the 2026 monsoon season.

Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)

• The HKH mountains extend around 3,500 km over eight countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
• These mountains are also called the “water towers of Asia” because they are the origins of 10 crucial river systems on the continent — Amu Darya, Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween, Mekong, Yangtse, Yellow river, and Tarim.
• These river basins provide water to almost one-fourth of the world’s population and are a significant freshwater source for 240 million people in the HKH region.

Source: IE

Coal Exchange Rules, 2026

Syllabus: GS3/ Energy

Context

• The Ministry of Coal has notified the Coal Exchange Rules, 2026, paving the way for the establishment of Coal Exchanges in the country to enable transparent and market-driven coal trading.

What is a Coal Exchange?

• A Coal Exchange is an electronic marketplace where coal producers, consumers, traders, and other participants can buy and sell coal through transparent trading mechanisms.
• It facilitates efficient price discovery based on market demand and supply conditions.

Key Features of the Coal Exchange Rules, 2026

• Market-Based Trading: The framework shifts coal marketing from the traditional one-to-many model (producer to multiple consumers) to a many-to-many trading model.
• Price Discovery: Coal prices will be determined through market forces rather than administrative allocations.
• Regulatory Oversight: The Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) is the nodal authority tasked with registering and overseeing these exchanges.
• Exchange Registration: Entities operating an exchange must be incorporated as a company in India with a minimum net worth of ₹50 crore. Registrations are granted for 25 years.
• Transition Timeline: Pre-existing electronic coal trading platforms must transition and register as a Coal Exchange within six months of the first registered exchange’s commencement.
• Demutualization: The ownership and management do not hold any trading rights in the exchange.

Source: AIR

Dark Patterns

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• According to a report, Indian consumers are losing an estimated ₹25,000 crore to ₹28,000 crore annually due to dark patterns, across online marketplaces.

About

• Dark patterns are user interface or user experience designs that manipulate, pressure, or mislead people into making choices they might not otherwise make.
• The term ‘dark patterns’ was coined by Harry Brignull in 2010.
• It encompasses a wide range of manipulative practices such as drip pricing, disguised advertising, bait and click, choice manipulation, false urgency and privacy concerns. 
• Dark patterns can:
  • Undermine informed consent.
  • Reduce user autonomy.
  • Lead to unintended purchases or data sharing.
  • Erode trust in products and companies.

India’s Laws Related to Dark Patterns

• Consumer Protection Act, 2019 & CCPA Guidelines, 2023: The Consumer Protection Act empowers the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to curb unfair trade practices.
  • The CCPA’s Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023 explicitly prohibit deceptive practices such as false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, and subscription traps.
• Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020: Require transparency in pricing, advertisements, and terms of sale, and prohibit misleading practices on e-commerce platforms.
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: Mandates free, informed, and unambiguous user consent for data processing, thereby discouraging dark patterns that manipulate users into sharing personal data.

Source: TH

Digital Arrest

Syllabus: GS3/Cybercrime

Context

• As per the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Indians have lost around ₹52,976 crore to cyber-enabled frauds over the past six years, with nearly 8% of the losses linked to “digital arrest” scams.

About

• A digital arrest refers to a cyber scam where fraudsters use fake video calls, forged IDs, and official-looking websites to falsely accuse individuals of crimes and coerce them into paying money.
  • Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, deepfakes and synthetic identities are likely to make such frauds more convincing and difficult to detect in the future.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) have issued public advisories.

Source: TH

New Rule Requires Fish Survival Test for Caustic Soda Industry Wastewater

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• Wastewater from caustic soda plants using membrane cell technology will now have to pass a laboratory-based fish survival test under new environmental standards notified by the Union government. 

About

• The new standards apply to standalone caustic soda plants that use membrane cell technology.
  • Membrane cell technology uses a special membrane to control the chemical process and is considered less polluting than older mercury-based processes.
• The rules say at least 90% of fish must survive after 96 hours in 100% wastewater during laboratory-based bioassay testing.
  • The standards also set limits for pH, chloride, suspended solids, dissolved solids, water use and wastewater generation.
• Experts say enforcement will be key, as bioassay testing requires specialised laboratories, trained staff and regular independent monitoring.

Caustic soda

• Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, is one of India’s most widely used industrial chemicals. 
• It is used in industries such as soap, detergents, paper, textiles, aluminium, petrochemicals and water purification.
• India has about 32 to 37 caustic soda plants, with annual production of more than five million metric tonnes. 
• But the industry can also pose environmental risks because its wastewater is often highly alkaline and saline. It may contain chlorine, hydrochloric acid and high levels of dissolved solids.

Source: DTE