{"id":69330,"date":"2026-03-18T18:29:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T12:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=69330"},"modified":"2026-03-18T18:31:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T13:01:27","slug":"news-in-short-18-03-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/18-03-2026\/news-in-short-18-03-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 18-03-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Gajapati Inscription in Guntur<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/ Medieval India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A medieval inscription linked to the <strong>Gajapati Dynasty<\/strong> has been discovered at the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Findings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The inscription is engraved on a stone pillar in the temple mandapa.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It mentions <strong>Kumaraguru Mahapatra<\/strong>, an officer serving under Purushottama Deva in the 15th century CE.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The record indicates that the idol of Lord Narasimha and the mandapa pillars were relocated from Kondaveedu Fort following invasions in the region.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The inscription was originally dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna of Kondaveedu but was later shifted to the Guntur temple.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It also refers to temple rituals such as milk offerings and mentions the management of cows by local communities.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The findings reflect the practice of <strong>Hari-Hara worship<\/strong>, indicating a syncretic tradition combining Shaiva and Vaishnava beliefs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>Gajapati Dynasty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Gajapati Dynasty was a powerful medieval kingdom that originated in <strong>Odisha<\/strong> and flourished during the 15th\u201316th centuries.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was founded by<strong> Kapilendra Deva<\/strong> after the decline of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At its peak, the empire extended from parts of present-day West Bengal to Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, with its capital at <strong>Kataka<\/strong> (modern-day Cuttack).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Gajapati rulers were known for their patronage of art, architecture, and literature, and they maintained continuous rivalry with the <strong>Vijayanagara Empire<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"9fc9b8\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"463\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-105.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-69334\" style=\"--dominant-color: #9fc9b8; width:352px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-105.png 500w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-105-300x278.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.deccanchronicle.com\/southern-states\/andhra-pradesh\/15th-century-odisha-rulers-inscriptions-found-in-guntur-temple-1943676\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DC<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Ladakh Magmatic Arc<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/ Geography<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology have recently decoded the evolution of the Ladakh Magmatic Arc (LMA) in the North-West Himalaya.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Ladakh Magmatic Arc is a belt of igneous rocks located in the Trans-Himalayan region of India (mainly Ladakh).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It represents a long-extinct volcanic arc system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The present-day Ladakh region once lay above the Neo-Tethys Ocean. Beneath this ocean, the oceanic crust of the Indian Plate was moving towards the Eurasian Plate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The denser oceanic plate subducted (sank) beneath the Eurasian Plate. This process led to melting of mantle material, formation of magma &amp; rise of magma to form volcanic arcs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Adoptive Mothers Get Equal Maternity Rights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Supreme Court of India held that all female employees adopting children are entitled to <strong>12 weeks<\/strong> of paid maternity leave, regardless of the child&#8217;s age.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Background<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The legal framework governing maternity benefits in India originates from the <strong>Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 <\/strong>and<strong> <\/strong>through the <strong>2017 Amendment<\/strong> for the first time, adoptive and commissioning mothers were granted <strong>12 weeks of maternity leave.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, a restrictive condition was introduced that maternity leave was available only if the adopted child was <strong>below 3 months of age.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This provision was later incorporated into the <strong>Code on Social Security, 2020 under Section 60(4).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Supreme court ruling<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Concern: <\/strong>India\u2019s adoption process, governed by <strong>Central Adoption Resource Authority guidelines<\/strong>, rarely permits adoption of children below three months.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As a result, <strong>most adoptive mothers were effectively denied maternity benefits<\/strong>, rendering the provision largely illusory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The court ruled that<\/strong> age-based classification was discriminatory and <strong>violative of Articles 14 and 21<\/strong> of the Constitution, emphasising that adoption is an equally valid pathway to parenthood and cannot be treated differently from biological childbirth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/india-news\/sc-strikes-down-3-month-cap-on-maternity-leave-for-adoptive-mothers-101773734274115.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>HT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Cholesterol and Cancer Metastasis Link<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A recent study has identified a novel link between cholesterol accumulation in the nuclear membrane and increased cancer metastasis, especially in Melanoma.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What is Melanoma and Metastasis<\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Melanoma is an aggressive <strong>skin cancer<\/strong> originating in melanocytes (melanin-producing cells).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Metastasis<\/strong> refers to the spread of cancer cells from the primary site to distant organs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cancer progression involves<\/strong> uncontrolled cell division, evasion of immune destruction, ability to invade and spread to other tissues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Role of Cholesterol in Nuclear Structure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cholesterol accumulation in the nuclear envelope leads to<strong> increased nuclear deformability,<\/strong> making the nucleus more \u201csquishy\u201d in nature.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This increased deformability enhances the <strong>ability of cancer cells to pass through<\/strong> tight tissue spaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lamin B Receptor (LBR)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>LBR is a protein<\/strong> located in the <strong>inner nuclear membrane<\/strong> that performs dual functions.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It helps in <strong>anchoring DNA<\/strong> to the nuclear structure, thereby maintaining nuclear organization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It also plays a role in<strong> promoting cholesterol synthesis<\/strong> within the cell.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Overexpression of LBR<\/strong> in cancer cells leads to <strong>increased cholesterol levels<\/strong> in the nuclear membrane.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In contrast, <strong>reduction of LBR strengthens the nuclear envelope<\/strong> and reduces its deformability.<\/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<p><strong>What is Cholesterol?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cholesterol is a <strong>fat-like (lipid) substance<\/strong> that is essential for the normal functioning of the human body. It is a key structural component of cell membranes and required for the synthesis of:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hormones such as steroids (e.g., estrogen and testosterone).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vitamin D.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bile acids, which aid in digestion of fats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The body produces most of its cholesterol in the <strong>liver,<\/strong> while a smaller portion is obtained from <strong>dietary sources<\/strong> such as animal-based foods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cholesterol is transported in the blood through lipoproteins, mainly:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), <\/strong>often termed \u201cbad cholesterol\u201d due to its role in plaque formation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)<\/strong>, known as \u201cgood cholesterol\u201d as it helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>While cholesterol is essential, excessive levels, especially of LDL, can lead to health issues such as cardiovascular diseases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/cholesterol-makes-cells-nuclei-squishy-helping-melanoma-spread\/article70751193.ece#:~:text=When%20cholesterol%20l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India Leads Global Coconut Production<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India is the world\u2019s largest producer of coconuts contributing to 30.37% of the Global coconut production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Type of Plant:<\/strong> Coconut is a perennial plantation crop and a <strong>monocotyledonous palm<\/strong> belonging to the family <strong>Arecaceae.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coconut is native to the <strong>Indo-Pacific region<\/strong>, with its origin commonly traced to <strong>Southeast Asia.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Climatic Requirements: <\/strong>Coconut requires a warm and humid tropical climate for optimal growth. It grows best in regions with temperatures ranging between 25\u00b0C and 30\u00b0C and requires high and evenly distributed rainfall.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Soil Requirements:<\/strong> Coconut thrives in <strong>well-drained sandy loam, alluvial, laterite, <\/strong>and coastal soils.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Distribution in India: <\/strong>It predominantly grows in<strong> Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Goa, and West Bengal.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Do you know<\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Coconut Promotion Scheme (Budget 2026\u201327):<\/strong> Aims to boost production by replanting old trees with improved varieties.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The initiative is part of a broader \u20b9350 crore allocation for high-value agriculture, which includes coconut, cashew, and cocoa.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2241416&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>Dimethyl Ether (DME)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Science and Tech<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Scientists at the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory have developed indigenous technology to produce Dimethyl Ether (DME) as an alternative to LPG amid supply disruptions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dimethyl Ether (DME<\/strong><strong>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>DME is a <strong>colourless, clean-burning gas<\/strong> produced from <strong>biomass, methanol, or fossil fuels<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Features:<\/strong> Emits significantly lower <strong>soot, NOx, SOx, and particulate matter<\/strong> than conventional fuels and offers <strong>thermal efficiency <\/strong>comparable to LPG.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regulation &amp; Adoption:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recognized under the <strong>National Policy on Biofuels, 2018<\/strong> as an alternative fuel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bureau of Indian Standards permits use under <strong>IS 18698:2024<\/strong>, allowing up to <strong>20% blending with LPG<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Up to <strong>8% blending requires no modification<\/strong> in existing LPG infrastructure like cylinders, regulators, or burners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic Impact:<\/strong> Replacing <strong>8% LPG with DME<\/strong> can save about <strong>\u20b99,500 crore annually<\/strong> in foreign exchange.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Other Uses:<\/strong> Can be used as an <strong>automotive fuel (diesel substitute)<\/strong> and as an <strong>aerosol propellant replacing CFCs<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/economictimes.indiatimes.com\/news\/india\/pune-based-scientists-develop-synthetic-gas-that-can-become-an-alternative-to-lpg\/articleshow\/129607597.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ET<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>China\u2019s New \u2018ethnic unity\u2019 Law<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: Miscellaneous<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>China\u2019s top legislative body adopted a law for securing \u201c<strong>unity and harmony\u201d among the country\u2019s ethnic groups.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Objective:<\/strong> Outlawing discrimination and promoting inter-community marriages, it also seeks to punish acts that undermine ethnic unity and create ethnic division.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It further advocates for <strong>Mandarin <\/strong>as the <strong>nation\u2019s common language and script.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It speaks of a <strong>common historical \u201cheroic\u201d struggle<\/strong> to save the nation and <strong>\u201cjointly resisting foreign aggression,\u201d<\/strong> referencing colonial control over parts of Imperial China in the 19th century.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It further recognises the<strong> Communist Party of China as \u201cthe vanguard\u201d<\/strong> of the working class and of the Chinese people.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No organisation or individual may interfere with the freedom of marriage<\/strong> on grounds such as ethnic identity, customs, or religious beliefs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What is China\u2019s Ethnic Composition?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>China recognises 56 ethnic groups, including the Hans, the Uyghurs (primarily in the northwestern region of Xinjiang), the Tibetans, the Manchus and the Mongols.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Han Chinese constitute over <strong>90% of the total population.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Hans are also the largest group in Taiwan, which China claims as its own region, and in Hong Kong, which is China\u2019s Special Administrative Region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: IE<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> A medieval inscription linked to the Gajapati Dynasty has been discovered at the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> Key Findings <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The inscription is engraved on a stone pillar in the temple mandapa.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> It mentions Kumaraguru Mahapatra, an officer serving under Purushottama Deva in the 15th century CE.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The record indicates that the idol of Lord Narasimha and the mandapa pillars were relocated from Kondaveedu Fort following invasions in the region. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/18-03-2026\/news-in-short-18-03-2026 \" 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-69330","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\/69330","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=69330"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69330\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69337,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69330\/revisions\/69337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}