{"id":70795,"date":"2026-04-03T18:23:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T12:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=70795"},"modified":"2026-04-03T18:26:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T12:56:43","slug":"news-in-short-03-04-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/03-04-2026\/news-in-short-03-04-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 03-04-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Raja Ravi Varma<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/ Art and Culture<\/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 painting Yashoda and Krishna by Raja Ravi Varma was sold for \u20b9167.2 crore at an auction conducted by Saffronart, setting a record for Indian art.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The painting was created in the 1890s during the peak of Raja Ravi Varma\u2019s artistic career.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Raja Ravi Varma<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Raja Ravi Varma (1848\u20131906) was born in<strong> Kilimanoor, in present-day Kerala.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He is regarded as a<strong> pioneer of modern Indian art<\/strong> for introducing <strong>European academic realism into Indian themes.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He worked under royal patronage, particularly of the <strong>Travancore royal family.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Contributions &amp; Legacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Humanising the Divine:<\/strong> He was among the first Indian artists to <strong>depict Hindu gods and goddesses in realistic human form<\/strong>, with anatomical accuracy and emotional expression.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Democratization of Art: <\/strong>In <strong>1894<\/strong>, he established the <strong>Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithographic Press in Bombay<\/strong> (later shifted to Malavli near Lonavala).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The press produced <strong>oleographs<\/strong> (colour lithographs) of Hindu deities like Lakshmi and Saraswati.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Famous Artworks:<\/strong> Hamsa Damayanti, Shakuntala, Jatayu Vadham, Lady in the Moonlight etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/entertainment\/art\/raja-ravi-varma-painting-sells-creates-record\/article70814744.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Kar Saathi<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An AI-enabled digital chatbot platform launched by the Income Tax Department to provide 24\u00d77 guidance on direct tax matters under the new Income Tax Act, 2025 framework.\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>It provides round-the-clock assistance for queries related to ITR filing, tax provisions, forms, notices, deductions, refunds, and compliance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It brings all direct tax-related resources such as forms, challans, e-payment, e-verification, and FAQs under one platform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supports taxpayer grievance resolution and compliance queries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Part of India&#8217;s broader push toward AI-driven digital governance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facilitates smooth transition to the Income Tax Act, 2025.<\/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>E20 Petrol<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I<strong>n Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has officially mandated the nationwide rollout of <strong>E20 petrol at all fuel stations from April 1, 2025.<\/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>It marks a significant milestone in <strong>India&#8217;s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme<\/strong>, which originally targeted 20% blending by 2030 but was advanced to 2025 under the <strong>revised National Biofuel Policy (2022).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The mandate is being implemented jointly by the <strong>Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ethanol used in the blend is a <strong>biofuel derived from agricultural feedstocks primarily sugarcane<\/strong>, maize, damaged food grains, and surplus rice. It is produced through fermentation and distillation of these crops, making it a renewable and domestically sourced energy input.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E20 petrol carries a <strong>higher octane rating of approximately 95 RON compared to 91\u201392 RON of regular petrol <\/strong>\u2014 meaning smoother engine combustion and better anti-knock performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Energy Security:<\/strong> Reduces crude oil import dependence, India imports over 85% of its oil needs, making it highly vulnerable to global price shocks and supply disruptions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agriculture Linkage: <\/strong>Creates sustained demand for ethanol-producing crops, direct income support to sugarcane and maize farmers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Climate Commitments: <\/strong>Biofuel blending reduces net lifecycle carbon emissions, aligned with India&#8217;s NDC targets under the Paris Agreement.<\/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>India&#8217;s Push for Piped Natural Gas<\/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>India is accelerating the expansion of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections to reduce import dependence, improve energy security, and transition towards a cleaner fuel mix.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Types of Gases<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG):\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Composition:<\/strong> Propane and Butane.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>State &amp; Storage: <\/strong>Stored as a liquid under moderate pressure in cylinders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Usage: <\/strong>Domestic cooking, water heating, and small-scale industrial applications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Characteristic: <\/strong>Heavier than air; collects on the ground if leaked.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Piped Natural Gas (PNG):<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Composition: <\/strong>Primarily Methane.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>State &amp; Storage:<\/strong> Delivered as a gas through underground pipelines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Usage: <\/strong>Residential kitchens, commercial cooking, and industries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Characteristic<\/strong>: Continuous supply; no need for cylinder storage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Compressed Natural Gas (CNG):<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Composition:<\/strong> Primarily Methane.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>State &amp; Storage:<\/strong> Compressed to high pressure (200-250 bar) in tanks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Usage:<\/strong> Vehicles (cars, buses, autos) and low-pressure industrial burners.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Characteristic:<\/strong> Cleaner burning than petrol\/diesel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG):\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Composition: <\/strong>Primarily Methane.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>State &amp; Storage: <\/strong>Cooled to roughly \u2013160\u00b0C to become a liquid for transport.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Usage:<\/strong> Transporting natural gas over long distances by sea, power generation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Characteristic:<\/strong> Volume is reduced by 600 times, making it easy to store in bulk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India&#8217;s Shift Towards PNG<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reducing Import Dependence:<\/strong> India imports nearly 60% of its LPG requirement, with a large share coming from West Asia and supply routes like Strait of Hormuz are geopolitically vulnerable.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In contrast, LNG can be sourced from multiple global suppliers, enhancing diversification.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic Efficiency:<\/strong> PNG eliminates logistics costs associated with cylinder transportation and storage.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pricing can be more stable compared to LPG, which is sensitive to global oil prices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Environmental Benefits:<\/strong> Natural gas burns cleaner than LPG, producing fewer pollutants and greenhouse gases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/why-is-india-pushing-piped-gas-now-explained\/article70811225.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India\u2019s Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Disaster Management<\/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 India Meteorological Department (IMD) received the National Award for e-Governance 2025 for its indigenously developed Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (MHEW-DSS).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is MHEW-DSS?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Launched in 2024<\/strong>, it is a digital platform that automates decision-making in critical weather forecasting processes and provides forecast and warning services to the public, government, and non-government agencies, as well as specific stakeholders.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Developed under <strong>Mission Mausam<\/strong>, the system has automated 90% of weather data processing and improved forecast accuracy by 30%, while reducing preparation time from six hours to three.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It integrates real-time data from satellites, radars, and ground and upper air-based sensors into a centralized GIS-enabled platform, replacing outdated manual workflows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"bbcdd5\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" style=\"--dominant-color: #bbcdd5;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"445\" height=\"324\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-22.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"has-transparency wp-image-70796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-22.png 445w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-22-300x218.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\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>Do you Know?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>IMD was established in 1875 and completed 150 years of service in 2025.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>IMD functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India is a Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for the North Indian Ocean, responsible for cyclone tracking and naming.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mission Mausam<\/strong> is the overarching framework under which MHEW-DSS was developed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015\u20132030<\/strong> is a <strong>non-binding international agreement <\/strong>adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is the primary global framework guiding how nations reduce disaster risk, build resilience, and protect development gains from natural and human-induced hazards over the 15-year period from 2015 to 2030.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The painting Yashoda and Krishna by Raja Ravi Varma was sold for \u20b9167.2 crore at an auction conducted by Saffronart, setting a record for Indian art. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About Raja Ravi Varma <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Raja Ravi Varma (1848\u20131906) was born in Kilimanoor, in present-day Kerala. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> He is regarded as a pioneer of modern Indian art for introducing European academic realism into Indian themes. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> He worked under royal patronage, particularly of the Travancore royal family. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/03-04-2026\/news-in-short-03-04-2026 \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"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-70795","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\/70795","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\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70795"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70795\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70800,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70795\/revisions\/70800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}