News In Short 02-03-2026

Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur

Syllabus: GS1/History 

In News

• The Prime Minister  addressed the 350th Martyrdom Year (Shaheedi Samagam) of Guru Tegh Bahadur, paying tribute to his sacrifice and highlighting India’s legacy of bravery, harmony, and social unity.

Guru Tegh Bahadur 

• He was born in 1621 in Amritsar to Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru.
• Originally named Tyag Mal for his ascetic nature, he was trained in scriptures and martial arts. 
• At age 13, his bravery in battle earned him the name “Tegh Bahadur” (Brave of the Sword).
• He spent years in meditation at Bakala before being recognized as the ninth Sikh Guru in 1664, after being identified by the trader Makhan Shah.
• His son, Guru Gobind Singh, later honored him as one who gave his head but not his faith, cementing his legacy as “Hind di Chadar” — the protector of India’s conscience and dharma.

Contributions 

• He founded Chak Nanki (now Anandpur Sahib) and travelled widely across North and East India, spreading spiritual teachings that emphasized fearlessness (nirbhau), equality, and devotion to one God. 
• His message resonated widely during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, a period marked by religious tensions and forced conversions.
• When Kashmiri Brahmins sought his protection against persecution, Guru Tegh Bahadur stood up for their religious freedom, challenging Mughal authority. 

Death 

• He was arrested in Delhi and, after refusing to convert to Islam, was publicly executed in 1675 at Chandni Chowk along with his companions. 
• His martyrdom is remembered as a supreme sacrifice for religious liberty.

Source  :PIB

Controller General of Accounts (CGA)

Syllabus: GS2/Governance 

In News

• The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) launched the Government Bank Dashboard and the Government Bank Manual to  strengthen the governance and efficiency of banks handling government transactions.

Controller General of Accounts of India (CGA)

• It is under  the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
• It is the Principal Accounting Adviser to Government of India and is responsible for establishing and maintaining a technically sound Management Accounting System.

• The CGA prepares monthly and annual analyses of government expenditure, revenues, borrowings, and key fiscal indicators. 
• It submits the Annual Appropriation Accounts (Civil) and Union Finance Accounts to Parliament under Article 150 of the Constitution, along with an M.I.S Report titled ‘Accounts at a Glance’ is prepared and circulated to Hon’ble Members of Parliament.

Source : PIB

Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance; GS3/Defence

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review the evolving situation in West Asia.

About Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)

• It is the apex decision-making body in India responsible for matters related to national security and defence.
• It is chaired by the Prime Minister, it typically includes key ministers such as the Home Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister, and External Affairs Minister.
• The National Security Advisor (NSA) acts as a secretary-level coordinator for issues within its purview.

Key Functions of the CCS

• Defence and Security: Addresses internal and external security challenges, including military strategies and intelligence operations.
• Foreign Affairs: Deals with diplomatic policies and international security collaborations.
• Nuclear and Space Policy: Oversees critical decisions related to nuclear energy and space exploration.
• Major Appointments: Approves high-level appointments in defence and intelligence agencies.

Source: AIR

Coconut Promotion Scheme

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy; Agriculture

Context

• The 2026-27 Union budget announced a ‘Coconut Promotion Scheme’.

About

• Aim: Improving productivity by rejuvenating old, non-productive gardens with high yielding coconut varieties and establishing new plantations along the coast. 
• The Coconut Development Board (CDB) is already implementing a similar scheme, which has helped rejuvenate old gardens and expanded cultivation into non-traditional areas, including in parts of Gujarat, Assam, and other non-peninsular regions.

Coconut Production

• India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coconuts. 
• Type of Plant: Coconut is a perennial plantation crop and a monocotyledonous palm belonging to the family Arecaceae.
  • Coconut is native to the Indo-Pacific region, with its origin commonly traced to Southeast Asia.
• Climatic Requirements: Coconut requires a warm and humid tropical climate for optimal growth. It grows best in regions with temperatures ranging between 25°C and 30°C and requires high and evenly distributed rainfall.
• Soil Requirements: Coconut thrives in well-drained sandy loam, alluvial, laterite, and coastal soils.
• Distribution in India: It predominantly grows in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Goa, and West Bengal.
  • India is the world’s largest producer of coconuts, supporting livelihoods of nearly 30 million people, including around 10 million farmers.

Source: TH

Bureau of Energy Efficiency Commemorates 25th Foundation Day

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• The 25th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was celebrated at the India Habitat Centre.

About

• The Government of India has set up the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in 2002 under the provision of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. 
• Mission: To assist in developing policies and strategies with a thrust on self-regulation and market principles with the primary objective of reducing energy intensity of the Indian economy. 
• This will be achieved with active participation of all stakeholders, resulting in accelerated and sustained adoption of energy efficiency in all sectors.

Major Programs & Initiatives

• Standards & Labelling (S&L) Scheme: Provides star-rating labels on appliances (e.g., refrigerators, ACs) to inform consumers about energy efficiency and savings potential.
• Perform, Achieve & Trade (PAT): A market-based mechanism under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) that incentivizes large energy-intensive industries to meet efficiency targets.
• Energy Conservation Building Codes (ECBC): Guidelines for efficient building design.
• Assistance in Deploying Energy Efficient Technologies in Industries and Establishments (ADEETIE) Scheme: Assists MSMEs in adopting energy-efficient technologies with technical and financial support.
• National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA): Annual recognition for exemplary energy efficiency achievements.

Source: PIB

Rice fortification Scheme Suspended

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• The Government of India has decided to temporarily discontinue rice fortification under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and other welfare schemes after a review of its implementation.

Rice fortification 

• It is a process of adding micronutrients like iron, folic acid and vitamin B12
• It is an effective, preventive and cost-efficient complementary strategy to address the nutrition problem within a short period.
• Several technologies—coating, dusting, and extrusion—are used to fortify rice with micronutrients, with extrusion considered the most suitable for India.
  • In the extrusion method, dry rice flour is mixed with micronutrient premix and water, then processed through a twin-screw extruder with heating zones to produce fortified rice kernels (FRKs) that closely resemble regular milled rice. 
• Rice fortification is a cost-effective and culturally suitable way to address micronutrient deficiencies in countries like India, where rice is widely consumed. Costs depend on factors such as industry capacity, supply chains, regulations, and programme scale.

Latest Suspension 

• A study conducted by IIT Kharagpur found that the shelf life and stability of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) and Fortified Rice (FR) are significantly affected by factors such as moisture, temperature, storage conditions, humidity, and packaging. 
• Prolonged storage (2–3 years), combined with handling practices, leads to micronutrient loss, reducing the intended nutritional benefits.

Source : PIB