{"id":68823,"date":"2026-03-12T20:55:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T15:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=68823"},"modified":"2026-03-12T21:06:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T15:36:18","slug":"news-in-short-12-03-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/12-03-2026\/news-in-short-12-03-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 12-03-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Savitribai Phule<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Personality in News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to Savitribai Phule on her death anniversary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Savitribai Phule (1831 &#8211; 1897)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Born <\/strong>in Naigaon village of Maharashtra\u2019s Satara district.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 1840, at the age of nine, she married <strong>Jyotirao Phule<\/strong>, who was just 13 at the time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Formally recognised as <strong>India\u2019s first female teacher<\/strong>. In 1848, the couple established the <strong>country&#8217;s first school for girls<\/strong> in Bhidewada, Pune.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In <strong>1863<\/strong>, Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai began Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha, <strong>India\u2019s first home dedicated to prohibiting infanticide<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>She also advocated inter-caste marriages, widow remarriage, and eradication of child marriage, sati, and dowry systems, among other social issues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 1873, the Phule\u2019s set up the <strong>Satyashodhak Samaj (\u2018Truth-seekers\u2019 society\u2019)<\/strong>, a platform open to all, irrespective of their caste, religion or class hierarchies, with the sole aim of bringing social equity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Literary works:<\/strong> Kavya Phule (Poetry\u2019s Blossoms) in 1854 and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar (The Ocean of Pure Gems), in 1892.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2237331&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Kurumba Painting<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/ Culture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Kurumba art tradition<\/strong> is facing the threat of extinction due to <strong>declining practitioners.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Kurumba paintings trace back over 3,000 years, linked to rock art sites like Ezhuthupaarai in Tamil Nadu&#8217;s Nilgiris; they were practiced by the <strong>Kurumba tribe.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Kurumba tribe is classified as a <strong>Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Originally they were painted over the house walls, temple walls or during festivals and artists derive natural pigments from forest sources like tree resins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These folk paintings illustrate rituals, festivals, honey hunting, nature, animals, and daily community activities using simple linear motifs, dots, lines, and geometric patterns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/kurumba-artists-tradition-kotagiri-tamil-nadu-10577004\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Fiscal Health Index 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Polity and Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NITI Aayog has released the <strong>second annual edition of Fiscal Health Index (FHI 2026.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Highlights of FHI 2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Overall State Rankings:\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Odisha remains the top-performing state, further improving its fiscal score.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Goa and Jharkhand also feature among the Achiever states.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gujarat and Maharashtra continue to remain in the top five.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Haryana shows a notable improvement by gaining three ranks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>States Showing Recovery:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bihar, Karnataka, and Telangana demonstrate moderate improvement in fiscal performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low-Performing States:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Punjab, West Bengal, and Kerala continue to remain at the bottom of the rankings, reflecting persistent fiscal stress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>NE and Himalayan States:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Evaluated separately for the first time, Arunachal Pradesh tops as Achiever (strong revenue growth), followed by Uttarakhand;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Himachal Pradesh and Manipur lag due to weak own-revenues (&lt;5% GSDP) and fiscal stress from high committed expenditures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Policy Recommendations:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Priorities include boosting own-tax capacity (e.g., property, excise reforms), elevating capex to 5%+ GSDP, enhancing public financial management via digitization, and curbing off-budget borrowings to ensure debt sustainability below 25-30% GSDP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fiscal Health Index<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>FHI initiative assesses the <strong>fiscal health of states in India.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sub Indices:<\/strong> Quality of Expenditure, Revenue Mobilisation, Fiscal Prudence, Debt Index, and Debt Sustainability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data for the index is sourced from the <strong>Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e6e6e7\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e6e6e7;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"174\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-1.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-68830\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-1.webp 585w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-1-300x89.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238302&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>National Shipping Board (NSB)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The government held a high-level interaction with the National Shipping Board (NSB) to address emerging challenges in India\u2019s shipping sector amid evolving global geopolitical dynamics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About National Shipping Board (NSB)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is India&#8217;s apex advisory body on shipping and maritime matters, constituted under Section 23 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It works under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its primary role is to advise the central government on shipping policies and maritime development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its chairperson is appointed by the Central Government.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: PIB<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>International Energy Agency Releases 400 Million Barrels of Emergency Oil<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has agreed to release 400 million barrels of emergency oil reserves, the largest coordinated release in its history.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Global emergency reserves:<\/strong> IEA member countries collectively hold <strong>1.2 billion barrels<\/strong> of public emergency oil reserves and<strong> 600 million barrels<\/strong> of industry stocks held under government obligation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These reserves were established in <strong>1974 <\/strong>after the <strong>1973 Arab Oil Embargo<\/strong> to protect countries against sudden oil supply disruptions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>IEA members have coordinated oil <strong>releases five times <\/strong>earlier:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gulf War (1990\u20131991)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hurricane Katrina in 2005<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Libyan Civil War (2011)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Twice after the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>International Energy Agency (IEA)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The International Energy Agency (IEA)<strong> was set up in the wake of the 1973-1974 oil crisis <\/strong>to help industrialised countries respond to major oil shocks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Headquarters: Paris, France.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Members:<\/strong> The IEA is made up of <strong>32 Member countries <\/strong>including the United States, Canada, Turkey, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea etc.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Association Countries: <\/strong>India, China, Indonesia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Criteria for membership: <\/strong>A candidate country to the IEA <strong>must be a member country of the OECD.<\/strong> In addition, it must demonstrate several requirements. These are:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Crude oil and\/or product reserves equivalent to <strong>90 days<\/strong> of the previous year\u2019s net imports,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A demand restraint programme to reduce national oil consumption by up to <strong>10%,<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Legislation and organisation to operate the<strong>Coordinated Emergency Response Measures (CERM)<\/strong> on a national basis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/world\/iea-record-oil-reserve-release-strait-of-hormuz-crisis-energy-prices-10577113\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Black Rain in Tehran<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of \u201cblack rain\u201d and toxic air pollution in Tehran, following attacks on oil facilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is \u201cBlack Rain\u201d?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cBlack rain\u201d refers to<strong> rainfall contaminated with soot, ash, oil particles, and chemical pollutants <\/strong>that are released into the atmosphere after large fires or explosions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instead of<strong> clear water droplets<\/strong>, the rain carries <strong>dark, oily particles,<\/strong> giving it a <strong>black or grey appearance.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Such rain usually occurs when <strong>massive fires release pollutants into the air and rainfall absorbs these particles <\/strong>before reaching the ground.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Historically, similar phenomena were observed after the <strong>Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945,<\/strong> when radioactive soot and debris mixed with rainwater.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/withdrawing-life-supporting-care-all-about-procedure-hurdles-around-passive-euthanasia-10576938\/?ref=infinite\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Kisan Credit Card (KCC)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Kisan Credit Card (KCC)<\/strong> provides timely, affordable, and collateral-free credit to farmers, including small, marginal, tenant farmers and SHGs\/JLGs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Kisan Credit Card (KCC)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme,<\/strong> introduced in <strong>1998<\/strong>, was designed to simplify and expedite farmers\u2019 access to short-term institutional credit for crop production.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It provides working capital and investment credit for allied activities and covers post-harvest and marketing expenses, thereby offering comprehensive financial support to enhance farm incomes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS),<\/strong> the loan limit has been enhanced to Rs. 5 lakh, with collateral-free credit raised to Rs. 2 lakh per borrower.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"98bed1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"540\" height=\"408\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-67.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-68825\" style=\"--dominant-color: #98bed1; width:397px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-67.png 540w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-67-300x227.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Eligible Beneficiaries of KCC:<\/strong> It extends coverage to:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>individual farmers and joint borrowers who are owner-cultivators,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tenant farmers, oral lessees, and sharecroppers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In addition, the scheme also includes Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), including groups formed by tenant farmers and sharecroppers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"bfd4df\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"554\" height=\"294\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-66.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-68824\" style=\"--dominant-color: #bfd4df; width:452px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-66.png 554w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-66-300x159.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 554px) 100vw, 554px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238004&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1#:~:text=The%20Kisan%20Credit%20Card%20(KCC,Rs.%202%20lakh%20per%20borrower.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to Savitribai Phule on her death anniversary. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About Savitribai Phule (1831 &#8211; 1897) <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Born in Naigaon village of Maharashtra\u2019s Satara district. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> In 1840, at the age of nine, she married Jyotirao Phule, who was just 13 at the time. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Formally recognised as India\u2019s first female teacher. In 1848, the couple established the country&#8217;s first school for girls in Bhidewada, Pune. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/12-03-2026\/news-in-short-12-03-2026 \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68823"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68833,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68823\/revisions\/68833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}