{"id":72800,"date":"2026-05-01T21:37:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T16:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=72800"},"modified":"2026-05-01T21:43:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T16:13:14","slug":"news-in-short-01-05-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/01-05-2026\/news-in-short-01-05-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 01-05-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Election of UN Secretary-General<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/International Organizations<\/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 election of the <strong>next UN Secretary-General is underway.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Secretary-General as the UN<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Secretary-General is the <strong>UN\u2019s Chief Administrative Officer,<\/strong> who oversees the work of the UN Secretariat and fulfills any other functions entrusted by the <strong>organisation\u2019s principal organs<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Secretary-General also has the mandate<strong> to bring to the Security Council\u2019s attention any issue that threatens global peace and security.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He is often described as the<strong> world\u2019s \u201cchief diplomat,<\/strong> speaking as the world\u2019s conscience on issues, ranging from the arms race in space and climate change to persistent inequality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Elections:\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Secretary-General is appointed by the <strong>General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This means that the <strong>Permanent Members of the Security Council<\/strong> &#8211; China, France, Russia, the U.K., and the U.S. have a significant say in who gets elected.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>While the term of a Secretary-General is technically \u201cdiscretionary,\u201d incumbents have, since 1981, voluntarily<strong> limited themselves to two terms<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By custom, the <strong>post rotates among five regions of the world:<\/strong> Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/international\/how-is-the-next-un-chief-being-chosen-explained\/article70924504.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>EU Mercosur Trade Deal\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR<\/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>European Union (EU) and MERCOSUR<\/strong> are implementing a long-negotiated <strong>free trade agreement<\/strong>, provisionally applied from May 1, despite political and legal challenges.<\/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>MERCOSUR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is the <strong>Southern Common Market<\/strong> which\u00a0 was formed in 1991 with the objective of free movement of goods, services, capital and people and it became a customs union in January 1995.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its members are<strong> Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Venezuela\u00a0 joined in 2012 <\/strong>but its membership was <strong>suspended in 2017.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Protocol of Accession of <strong>Bolivia <\/strong>to Mercosur was signed by all of the States Parties in 2015.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Instrument of Ratification was delivered by Bolivia in July 2024 and has a term of up to 4 years to incorporate the normative acquis of the bloc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>EU -MERCOSUR Trade Agreement&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mercosur will eliminate duties on<strong> 91% of EU goods<\/strong> (currently facing tariffs as high as 35% on cars and 14\u201320% on machinery). The EU will <strong>eliminate duties on 92% of Mercosur goods.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It provides<strong> immediate tariff cuts on key goods <\/strong>like cars, pharmaceuticals, and agri-food products, creating new export opportunities for EU industries, farmers, and service providers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For agriculture, it is expected to significantly increase EU agri-food exports, with early tariff reductions on products like wine, olive oil, and spirits.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It also strengthens protection for 344 EU geographical indications, ensuring authenticity of regional products.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supporters<\/strong>: Germany and Spain say that\u00a0 the agreement will help compensate for the hit from the U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s tariffs and reduce reliance on China for critical minerals.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Critics<\/strong>: France and other critics argue it will increase imports of cheap beef and sugar and undercut domestic farmers, and environmentalists say it will increase rainforest destruction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India-Mercosur PTA<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u00a0India currently has a limited <strong>Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Mercosur <\/strong>(covering only 450 items). The EU deal might push India to expedite its own <strong>&#8220;Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement&#8221; (CEPA)<\/strong> with the bloc.<\/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>Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA)<\/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>Securities and Exchange Board of India has operationalised the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA) to enhance transparency and investor protection in financial markets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Institutional Framework<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The framework for PaRRVA was issued by <strong>SEBI in April 2025<\/strong>, laying down the regulatory structure and operational guidelines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CARE Ratings Limited<\/strong> has been recognised as the <strong>first PaRRVA entity,<\/strong> responsible for verifying performance data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Stock Exchange of India Limited<\/strong> will function as the PaRRVA Data Centre (PDC), providing the necessary infrastructure for data handling and processing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is PaRRVA?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PaRRVA is a <strong>SEBI-regulated verification mechanism<\/strong> designed to:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Authenticate past risk and return performance of market intermediaries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Standardise the methodology for presenting returns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide credible, comparable, and transparent data to investors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mandatory Enrolment and Compliance:<\/strong> Investment advisers and research analysts must enrol with PaRRVA within <strong>three months,<\/strong> and after a<strong> two-year transition period<\/strong>, only PaRRVA-verified performance data can be used in public communication.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Significance: <\/strong>Investors gain <strong>access to verified and trustworthy information, <\/strong>reducing risks associated with misinformation and mis-selling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use in Advertisements:<\/strong> Market intermediaries are permitted to use PaRRVA-verified performance metrics in advertisements, ensuring that promotional claims are credible and compliant with SEBI regulations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsonair.gov.in\/sebi-operationalises-parrva-to-boost-transparency-and-investor-protection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AIR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Prosopis juliflora<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/S&amp;T<\/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>Prosopis juliflora,<\/strong> which has for decades threatened biodiversity in Kutch\u2019s Banni grasslands, will be turned into methanol.<\/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>Prosopis juliflora <\/strong>has been ranked as one of the \u201c<strong>top 100 invasive species in the world\u201d.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It may soon be harnessed for the <strong>production of green methanol and fuel for ocean-going ships.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The plant was first introduced by the <strong>British in the 1920s to \u2018green\u2019 Delhi<\/strong> and by the Gujarat forest department in 1961 to halt the encroaching salt desert in the Rann.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This weed is to become the feedstock for<strong> India\u2019s first green methanol production plant, designed to fuel ocean-going ships.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/indias-first-green-methanol-plant-to-turn-kutch-weed-into-marine-fuel\/article70925310.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Human Genome Decoder Died<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Science and Technology&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><strong>J. Craig Venter<\/strong>, a key scientist in <strong>decoding the human genome<\/strong>, passed away at 79.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Human Genome<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Human Genome<\/strong> is the <strong>complete set of DNA<\/strong> found in the nucleus of every human cell, carrying the <strong>genetic instructions<\/strong> needed for growth, development, and functioning.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It consists of abou<strong>t 3.05 billion base pairs formed by four chemical bases<\/strong>\u2014adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G)\u2014which pair specifically (A with T, and C with G).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Genome sequencing<\/strong> is the process of determining the exact order of these base pairs.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Genome sequencing is widely used in<strong> medicine and public health to detect genetic disorders<\/strong>, identify disease risks (including many single-gene conditions like cystic fibrosis and thalassemia), and support prenatal screening. It also enables emerging technologies such as <strong>CRISPR-based gene editing<\/strong>, liquid biopsies for early cancer detection, and large-scale population studies using AI to better understand disease causes and treatments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In infectious disease control, sequencing helps <strong>track pathogens and mutations.<\/strong> During the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid sequencing of the virus\u2019s genome allowed scientists to understand transmission, develop diagnostic tests, monitor new variants, and support vaccine development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Human Genome Project<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The<strong> Human Genome Project, launched in 1990<\/strong>, first produced a near-complete human genome sequence in 2003, and a fully refined version was released in 2023 with about 0.3% remaining uncertainty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u00a0 was a major international scientific initiative aimed at mapping and sequencing the entire human genome.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By 2003, it had produced a<strong> sequence covering over 90% of the genome<\/strong>, representing the most complete version possible with the technology of that time.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It also promoted open data sharing in science and helped strengthen ethical standards in biomedical research due to concerns about genetic information<\/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>Do you know?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The<strong> \u2018GENOMEINDIA\u2019, funded by the Department of Biotechnology of the Central Government <\/strong>has completed a whole genome sequencing (WGS) database of over 10,000 individuals representing all major population groups, across the country.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>GenomeIndia data represents Government of India&#8217;s commitment to scientific inquiry and is poised to reshape health and science in India and beyond, fostering sustainable development through democratizing and disseminating this national genetic resource knowledge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :IE<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)<\/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>An airline body representing carriers like IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet has urged the government to <strong>revise the pricing formula of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)<\/strong>, as global prices surge amid the West Asia crisis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Economics of ATF Pricing in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>ATF in India is priced based on<strong> Import Parity Pricing (IPP)<\/strong>. This means that even though a significant portion of ATF is produced domestically by Indian refineries, the price charged to airlines is<strong> linked to international benchmarks (primarily Arab Gulf prices).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ATF accounts for approx 40% of Indian airlines&#8217; operating expenses, significantly higher than the global average.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ATF remains outside GST, attracting high state VAT (up to 30%). Airlines cannot claim Input Tax Credit, leading to &#8220;tax cascading.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About ATF<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, is a high-performance petroleum distillate primarily used in gas-turbine engines.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Derived from the fractional distillation of crude oil, it is a colorless, kerosene-based fuel refined to meet stringent international safety and performance standards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>High volatility is accelerating the push for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to ensure long-term energy security.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SAF is chemically nearly identical to conventional jet fuel. It can be blended (currently up to 50%) and used in existing aircraft engines and airport infrastructure without any modifications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-economics\/atf-jet-fuel-price-surge-india-airlines-demand-pricing-change-10660923\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Report<\/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>The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Report (FY 2023\u201324) on National Panchayati Raj Day (24 April 2026).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Highlights<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>97.3% participation: <\/strong>Over 2.59 lakh Gram Panchayats across 33 States\/UTs participated by submitting validated data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>3,635 Panchayats<\/strong> classified as <em>Front Runners<\/em>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1.18 lakh Panchayats<\/strong> (\u224845.7%) fall under Performer category<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Top performing themes:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Poverty-free &amp; enhanced livelihoods<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Healthy Panchayats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About PAI 2.0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PAI 2.0 is India\u2019s first nationwide data-driven framework to assess Gram Panchayat performance, using 150 indicators and 230 data points.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is aligned with the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals and evaluates Panchayats across <strong>nine key areas including <\/strong>poverty, health, child welfare, water, environment, infrastructure, social justice, good governance, and women\u2019s empowerment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Based on their composite PAI scores, Gram Panchayats are classified into<strong> five performance categories <\/strong>\u2013 <strong>Achiever<\/strong> (A+: 90 and above),<strong> Front Runner<\/strong> (A: 75 to below 90), <strong>Performer<\/strong> (B : 60 to below 75), <strong>Aspirant <\/strong>(C: 40 to below 60), and<strong> Beginner <\/strong>(D: below 40) \u2013 enabling meaningful benchmarking, healthy competition, and targeted interventions at the grassroots level.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2256616&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The election of the next UN Secretary-General is underway.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> Secretary-General as the UN <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The Secretary-General is the UN\u2019s Chief Administrative Officer, who oversees the work of the UN Secretariat and fulfills any other functions entrusted by the organisation\u2019s principal organs.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The Secretary-General also has the mandate to bring to the Security Council\u2019s attention any issue that threatens global peace and security. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/01-05-2026\/news-in-short-01-05-2026\" 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-72800","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\/72800","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=72800"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72808,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72800\/revisions\/72808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}