Current Affairs - International

The first bust of Mahatma Gandhi in the U.S. state of Montana was unveiled at the Mike Mansfield Centre at the University of Montana in Missoula on March 4, 2026. The statue was presented as a gift by the Government of India and symbolises Gandhi’s philosophy of peace, non-violence, and moral leadership. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, India’s Consul General in Seattle Prakash Gupta, and several other dignitaries. The installation highlights the growing cultural and diplomatic ties between India and the United States, particularly at the state level, and emphasises the role of educational institutions in promoting international understanding and cooperation.

India will host the Bharat Steel 2026 summit in New Delhi beginning on April 16, 2026. The two-day international event will bring together leaders from the global steel, mining, technology, and trading sectors to discuss the development of the next-generation steel ecosystem. The summit aims to strengthen collaboration between policymakers and industry leaders while promoting sustainable and green steel production. It will also highlight technological innovation and encourage global investment in the steel sector. As one of the world’s largest steel producers, India aims to use this summit as a platform to enhance its position in the global steel market and promote environmentally responsible industrial growth.

Indonesia has announced a new policy to restrict access to several social media platforms for minors under the age of 16. The initiative will begin on March 28, 2026, and will be implemented by the country’s Communications and Digital Ministry. The regulation targets major platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, Roblox, and YouTube, with a phased process of account deactivations for underage users. The move was introduced after the government declared a digital emergency to address issues such as cyberbullying, pornography, online fraud, and addiction caused by algorithm-driven content. The policy will initially operate through ministerial guidelines before permanent legislation establishing a minimum age requirement is introduced.

Japan achieved a significant medical breakthrough by approving the world’s first commercial therapies derived from induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells. One treatment, called Amchepry and developed by Sumitomo Pharma, focuses on Parkinson’s disease by transplanting stem-cell precursors into the brain to replace dopamine-producing cells that are lost in patients. Another therapy named ReHeart, developed by the startup Cuorips, uses heart muscle sheets to promote the formation of new blood vessels and improve heart function in patients with heart failure. These innovations build on the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of scientist Shinya Yamanaka in 2012, and both therapies are expected to become available to patients by Summer 2026.

UNICEF partnered with NITI Aayog to improve nutrition and health outcomes in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks across India. The collaboration focuses on strengthening maternal and child nutrition, improving Anganwadi services, and enhancing health systems in underserved regions. The partnership also aims to promote multi-stakeholder engagement involving government agencies, private sector organisations, and local communities. Through this initiative, UNICEF will leverage its IMPAct4Nutrition platform to mobilise businesses and channel Corporate Social Responsibility funds toward nutrition programmes. The initiative supports the broader goals of the Aspirational Districts Programme, which seeks to improve socio-economic indicators in India’s most underdeveloped districts through better governance, monitoring, and service delivery.