{"id":71795,"date":"2026-04-17T21:45:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T16:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=71795"},"modified":"2026-04-17T21:47:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T16:17:59","slug":"news-in-short-17-04-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/17-04-2026\/news-in-short-17-04-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 17-04-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Chandra Shekhar<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/History&nbsp;<\/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 Prime Minister paid tribute to former <strong>PM Chandra Shekhar<\/strong> on his birth anniversary, marking his <strong>100th birth year.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chandra Shekhar (1927\u20132007)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Birth<\/strong>: Chandra Shekhar was born on 17 April 1927 in Ibrahimpatti village, Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, in a farmer\u2019s family.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Education<\/strong>: He completed a Master\u2019s degree in Political Science from Allahabad University (1950\u201351).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Early political involvement:<\/strong> He Joined the Socialist Movement during student life and worked closely with Acharya Narendra Dev.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He held key positions in the Praja Socialist Party at district and state levels in Uttar Pradesh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rise in politics (1950s\u201360s):<\/strong> He Became Secretary\/General Secretary in the Uttar Pradesh Praja Socialist Party. Elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1962.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shift to Congress: <\/strong>He<strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Joined the Indian National Congress in 1965 and became General Secretary of the Congress Parliamentary Party in 1967.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Political ideology &amp; reputation:<\/strong> He was Known as a \u201cYoung Turk\u201d leader for strong ideology, integrity, and opposition to monopoly power and vested interests.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He supported the politics of social change over personality-based politics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He was Influenced by and closely associated with Jayaprakash Narayan during the 1970s opposition movement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Journalism &amp; writing:<\/strong>\u00a0 He Founded and edited Young Indian (1969), a weekly publication. Wrote Meri Jail Diary and Dynamics of Social Change.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Emergency period (1975\u201377):<\/strong> He was Arrested under (Maintenance of Internal Security Act)MISA during the Emergency despite being in the ruling party; Young Indian was shut down during this time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social work initiatives: <\/strong>He established around 15 Bharat Yatra Centres across India for training social and political workers.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He undertook a 4260 km walk from Kanyakumari to Rajghat (New Delhi) to connect with people and understand grassroots issues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parliamentary career:<\/strong> Member of Parliament for most of the period from 1962 onward, except 1984\u20131989. In 1989, won elections from Ballia and Maharajganj (later vacated one seat).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chandra Shekhar served as Prime Minister of India from 10 November 1990 to 21 June 1991.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :PIB<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Marine Heatwaves<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Physical Geography<\/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>Tropical cyclones passing over<strong> marine heatwaves (MHWs) <\/strong>cause 60% more billion-dollar disasters through rapid intensification, warns a new study.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Are Marine Heatwaves?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A Marine Heatwave (MHW) is a prolonged period of anomalously high ocean surface temperatures in a specific region. They are characterised by two key parameters:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Duration: Lasting anywhere from several days to several months.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Intensity: Measured as a deviation from the long-term seasonal average, known as a temperature anomaly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Drivers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Climate Change:<\/strong> Oceans absorb 90%+ of excess atmospheric heat, raising baseline temperatures<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ocean Currents: <\/strong>Warm water pools shift into cooler regions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Atmospheric Systems: <\/strong>\u00a0High-pressure systems like the North Pacific High trap surface heat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>El Ni\u00f1o:<\/strong>\u00a0 Elevates Pacific sea surface temperatures, triggering the largest recorded MHWs.<\/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>Memory Price Inflation (Memflation)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy&nbsp;<\/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>Gartner&#8217;s 2026 global semiconductor revenue forecast of $1.3 trillion cited <strong>memflation<\/strong> as a key driver of the industry&#8217;s third consecutive year of double-digit growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Memflation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inflation refers to a general rise in the overall prices of goods and services in an economy over time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Memflation refers to a structural economic trend where prices of semiconductor memory rise rapidly and persistently over time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source :<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_international\/issues\/180576\/OPS\/G23FQR6P7.1+GR3FRUMRO.1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Amazon Rainforests<\/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>A recent study shows that consecutive droughts in<strong> 2023\u20132024 pushed<\/strong> <strong>Amazon rainforest moisture <\/strong>and biomass to their lowest levels in over three decades, indicating severe ecological stress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Amazon Rainforest<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Amazon Rainforest lies within the<strong> Amazon River Basin.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Amazon River is the <strong>world&#8217;s largest river by discharge volume <\/strong>and the second-longest river globally, after the Nile. It originates in the Peruvian Andes and drains into the Atlantic Ocean.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Major Tributaries: <\/strong>Rio Negro, Madeira, and Xingu<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Watershed Coverage:<\/strong> Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Bolivia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The forest <strong>stretches across 9 countries<\/strong>, with approximately 60% of its cover located in Brazil. The remaining forest is distributed across Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Amazon is one of the richest biodiversity hotspots on Earth, hosting approximately 10% of all known wildlife species.<\/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>Kerala Botanist\u2019s Innovation in Tackling Invasive Species<\/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>N. Alim Yusuf, a botanist from Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences, has received the <strong>World Wide Fund for Nature National Award<\/strong> for developing an application to <strong>detect invasive plant species in Kerala.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Innovation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The application, <strong>Neophyte ID<\/strong>, is an AI-powered mobile tool that enables users to identify invasive plant species by capturing images.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is built using the advanced machine learning model<strong> YOLOv11<\/strong>, which allows real-time object detection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The app can <strong>identify nearly 100 invasive plant species <\/strong>found in Kerala.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is available in <strong>Malayalam and English,<\/strong> making it accessible to local communities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It integrates <strong>geospatial tracking<\/strong> to map the <strong>spread of invasive species, <\/strong>aiding scientific research and policy intervention.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are Invasive Species?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Invasive alien species are <strong>non-native plants or organisms <\/strong>that spread rapidly and disrupt local ecosystems. They often outcompete native species, leading to <strong>biodiversity loss and ecological imbalance.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The characteristics of\u00a0 invasive alien species are:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rapid reproduction and growth,\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High dispersal ability,\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Phenotypic plasticity (ability to adapt physiologically to new conditions), and\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ability to survive on various food types and in a wide range of environmental conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Example: <\/strong>Senna spectabilis, Lantana camara, Eupatorium and Dolichandra unguis-cati.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/kerala\/botanist-wins-wwf-award-for-invasive-plants-detection-app\/article70869969.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Shahtoosh Wool<\/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>A Delhi court has convicted a Jaipur-based art gallery owner for attempting to illegally export Shahtoosh shawls.<\/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>Shahtoosh Wool is derived from the hair of the <strong>Tibetan Antelope<\/strong>, also known as <strong>Chiru. <\/strong>The animal is killed to obtain the wool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trade in Shahtoosh is strictly prohibited in India and has also been banned globally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Chiru is a <strong>medium-sized bovid<\/strong> endemic to the high-altitude alpine steppes of the <strong>Tibetan Plateau (3,250\u20135,500m).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Habitat:<\/strong> They inhabit the arid, cold grasslands of Tibet, Qinghai, and Xinjiang in China, with a small population in <strong>Ladakh (Changthang belt), India.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Appearance:<\/strong> They have a pale fawn to a <strong>reddish-brown coat<\/strong> with a white belly. Males have black markings on their faces and legs, which are absent in females.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Conservation Status:<\/strong> It is currently classified as <strong>Near Threatened (NT)<\/strong> on the IUCN Red List. It has been listed under\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Appendix I (prohibiting international trade) of <strong>Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) since 1975.<\/strong><\/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=\"ba9b67\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"664\" height=\"475\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-97.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-71796\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ba9b67; width:377px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-97.png 664w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-97-300x215.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 664px) 100vw, 664px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ddnews.gov.in\/en\/shahtoosh-trader-convicted-after-17-year-probe-in-landmark-wildlife-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DD News&nbsp;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Mythos AI Model<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Science &amp; 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>Anthropic has announced Mythos, its most advanced AI model, so powerful at detecting cybersecurity vulnerabilities that it will not be released publicly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Mythos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Developed by Anthropic, creators of the <strong>Claude LLM family<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Builds on earlier models like <strong>Opus<\/strong>, which detected bugs missed by human reviewers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focuses specifically on <strong>cybersecurity and vulnerability detection<\/strong>, beyond general coding tasks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capable of identifying <strong>previously undetected bugs in legacy software systems<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Access restricted to a <strong>consortium of 40+ companies<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do you know<\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project Glasswing<\/strong> is a defensive cybersecurity initiative by Anthropic, in partnership with Microsoft, Apple, and Cisco, aimed at identifying and patching vulnerabilities before malicious exploitation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/technology\/what-is-anthropics-claude-mythos-model\/article70851776.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Operation Numkhor<\/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>Operation Numkhor, a nationwide crackdown on vehicle smuggling and forged registration rackets, is likely to be discussed in the upcoming Indo\u2013Bhutan Joint Customs Group meeting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Operation Numkhor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Launched by the <strong>Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi<\/strong> in September 2025.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Targets the <strong>smuggling of premium second-hand vehicles via Bhutan<\/strong> and the use of forged registration documents, allegedly involving Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) officials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Involves <strong>state-wide raids and seizures<\/strong> across multiple states.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/kerala\/operation-numkhor-to-figure-in-indo-bhutan-customs-meeting\/article70868918.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> In News <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The Prime Minister paid tribute to former PM Chandra Shekhar on his birth anniversary, marking his 100th birth year. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> Chandra Shekhar (1927\u20132007) <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The Prime Minister paid tribute to former PM Chandra Shekhar on his birth anniversary, marking his 100th birth year. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Birth: Chandra Shekhar was born on 17 April 1927 in Ibrahimpatti village, Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, in a farmer\u2019s family. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Education: He completed a Master\u2019s degree in Political Science from Allahabad University (1950\u201351). <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/17-04-2026\/news-in-short-17-04-2026 \" 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-71795","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\/71795","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=71795"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71795\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71800,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71795\/revisions\/71800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}