{"id":70155,"date":"2026-03-26T18:23:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T12:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=70155"},"modified":"2026-03-26T18:28:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T12:58:15","slug":"news-in-short-26-03-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/26-03-2026\/news-in-short-26-03-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 26-03-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>LPG Shortages Spur Biogas Revival<\/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>As the shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, parts of India are turning to alternative cooking fuels amid tightening liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies.\u00a0<\/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>States such as Kerala, Gujarat and Maharashtra<\/strong> are increasingly adopting biogas and other local energy options as the fuel crunch ripples through households and commercial kitchens.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Biogas <\/strong>is a clean fuel produced through anaerobic digestion of a variety of organic wastes: animal, agricultural, domestic, and industrial.Use organic waste, animal dung, or sewage to produce electricity.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Biogas consists of methane, carbon dioxide, and traces of other gases such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen sulphide.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The methane content of biogas is appreciably high, at 60%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Significance: <\/strong>It is a renewable and dispatchable source of energy (unlike solar\/wind).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Helps in waste management and provides additional income to farmers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduces dependence on coal and lowers net greenhouse gas emissions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India\u2019s LPG Import<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India consumes around <strong>31 million tonne (mt) of LPG annually, <\/strong>while domestic production stands at only<strong> 13 mt.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Imports have risen sharply<\/strong>, from about 6 mt in FY12 to roughly 21 mt by FY25, meeting more than <strong>93% of the growth in consumption.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Over the same period, L<strong>PG consumers increased from 14.86 crore (148.6 million) in 2015 to 33.05 crore<\/strong> (330.5 million) in 2025, largely due to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India imports <strong>around 65% of its LPG, mostly from West Asia,<\/strong> leaving it vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/energy\/lpg-shortages-spur-biogas-revival-and-alternative-fuels-across-parts-of-india\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DTE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration &amp; Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/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>The Union Cabinet has approved the <strong>continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration &amp; Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme<\/strong> beyond March 31, for a period of five years, till 2031.<\/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>The IVFRT platform seeks to<strong> interlink and optimize functions<\/strong> related to immigration, visa issuance and registration of foreigners in India.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was first approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in <strong>2010 <\/strong>with <strong>project duration till 2014.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The scheme will<strong> modernize the immigration and visa ecosystem<\/strong> through adoption of emerging technologies for seamless and secure passenger movement.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>IVFRT system has enabled a <strong>100% contactless and faceless visa process<\/strong> leading to <strong>faster visa processing times with 91.24% of e-Visa applications <\/strong>having been cleared within 72 hours during the past five years.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Average passenger clearance time at Immigration Posts has also been reduced to 2.5-3 minutes from the conventional 5-6 minutes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/union-cabinet-approves-extension-of-immigration-visa-foreigners-registration-amp-tracking-scheme-for-5-years\/article70783822.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>PRISM-SG Portal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/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 PRISM-SG Portal was recently launched to improve coordination in highway and railway infrastructure projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is PRISM-SG?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PRISM-SG stands for Portal for Rail-Road Inspection &amp; Stages Management \u2013 Steel Girders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is a digital platform that streamlines approval and inspection processes for bridge construction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Specifically covers construction of:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Road Over Bridges (ROBs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Railway Bridges<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The portal brings all key players onto a single platform like road owning departments, Indian Railways, contractors etc.<\/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>Revamped UDAN Scheme Strengthening Regional Air Connectivity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Infrastructure<\/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 Union Cabinet has approved the <strong>modified version of the UDAN Scheme<\/strong> with a total outlay of <strong>\u20b928,840 crore.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The scheme will be implemented over a 10-year period from <strong>FY 2026\u201327 to FY 2035\u201336<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About UDAN Scheme<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik)<\/strong> is a regional connectivity scheme launched in <strong>2016 <\/strong>to make air travel affordable and widespread.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The scheme <strong>aims to connect unserved and underserved airports<\/strong> across India through subsidised fares and financial incentives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It operates on a market-based mechanism where airlines bid for routes supported by <strong>Viability Gap Funding (VGF).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As of February 2026, a total of <strong>663 routes<\/strong> have been operationalised across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes, with over <strong>3.41 lakh<\/strong> flights carrying more than <strong>162.47 lakh passengers.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Features of the Modified UDAN Scheme<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The government plans to develop <strong>100 new airports<\/strong> from existing unserved airstrips, with a capital outlay of <strong>\u20b912,159 crore<\/strong> over the next eight years.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To address sustainability concerns, <strong>operational and maintenance support will be extended for up to three years <\/strong>for regional aerodromes, with a total estimated cost of <strong>\u20b92,577 crore<\/strong> covering around <strong>441 facilities.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In addition, <strong>200 modern helipads<\/strong> will be developed at a cost of <strong>\u20b93,661 crore, <\/strong>targeting remote, hilly, island and aspirational regions to improve last-mile connectivity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ddnews.gov.in\/en\/government-clears-revamped-udan-scheme-with-%E2%82%B928840-crore-outlay-to-boost-regional-connectivity\/#:~:text=To%20address%2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DD News<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Antimatter<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Science and Technology<\/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>Scientists at CERN have successfully conducted the first-ever road transport of <strong>antiprotons<\/strong>, marking a breakthrough in <strong>antimatter research<\/strong> and experimental physics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Antimatter?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Antimatter is a term referring to material <strong>composed of antiparticles<\/strong> (such as positrons and antiprotons) that possess the same mass as ordinary matter but opposite electric charge and magnetic moment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Composition: <\/strong>Anti-atoms are formed by <strong>antiprotons and antineutrons in the nucleus<\/strong> with orbiting <strong>positrons (anti-electrons).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Interaction:<\/strong> While matter and antimatter are physically similar, they cannot coexist. Their contact results in <strong>intense annihilation<\/strong>, creating gamma rays.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"112229\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-146.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-70156\" style=\"--dominant-color: #112229; width:410px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-146.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-146-300x150.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\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>About CERN&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>CERN (the European Council for Nuclear Research) is the <strong>world&#8217;s largest particle physics laboratory<\/strong>, located on the <strong>Franco-Swiss border near Geneva.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Founded in 1954<\/strong>, it uses complex accelerators, including the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), to study the fundamental constituents of matter,\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Discoveries:<\/strong> Higgs boson (2012), W and Z bosons (1983) and created the first anti-hydrogen atoms (1995).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/scientists-at-cern-took-some-antiprotons-out-for-a-spin-in-a-never-tried-before-test-drive\/article70779923.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Saraswati Samman 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: Miscellaneous<\/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>Bengali Novel Hara Parbati Katha by Author Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay has been selected for Saraswati Samman, 2025.<\/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>The Saraswati Samman, instituted by the <strong>K.K. Birla Foundation<\/strong> in 1991, is an annual award given to outstanding literary work written in any Indian language by an Indian citizen and published during the <strong>last 10 years<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The awardee will be given <strong>15 lakh rupees<\/strong>, a citation and a plaque.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsonair.gov.in\/bengali-novel-hara-parbati-katha-by-author-ramkumar-mukhopadhyay-selected-for-saraswati-samman\/#:~:text=Bengali%20Novel%20Hara%20Parbati%20Katha%20by%20Author%20Ramkumar%20Mukhopadhyay%20has,Samman%2C%20instituted%20by%20the%20K.K.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AIR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> As the shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, parts of India are turning to alternative cooking fuels amid tightening liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> States such as Kerala, Gujarat and Maharashtra are increasingly adopting biogas and other local energy options as the fuel crunch ripples through households and commercial kitchens. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Biogas is a clean fuel produced through anaerobic digestion of a variety of organic wastes: animal, agricultural, domestic, and industrial.Use organic waste, animal dung, or sewage to produce electricity. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/26-03-2026\/news-in-short-26-03-2026 \" 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-70155","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\/70155","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=70155"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70161,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70155\/revisions\/70161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}