Current Affairs - National

Ensuring a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment was chosen as the theme for International Labour Day 2026 by the International Labour Organisation. This theme emphasises the importance of mental well-being, stress management, and supportive workplace conditions in modern employment settings. With evolving work environments and increasing psychological pressures, the focus extends beyond physical safety to include emotional and social health. The theme highlights the need for policies and practices that foster a balanced, inclusive, and respectful workplace, ensuring overall well-being and productivity of workers across different sectors globally.

21 types of disabilities are identified by the Prashast 2.0 app, which is designed to streamline the process of recognising and supporting children with special needs in schools. The app enables early detection at the school level and connects educators with specialists to ensure appropriate interventions. This aligns with the expanded list of disabilities recognised under the RPWD Act, 2016, which increased the number from 7 to 21. By integrating with the Samagra Shiksha initiative, the app helps provide targeted educational support, ensuring inclusivity and improved learning outcomes for affected students across various regions.

Five new districts were approved for the Union Territory of Ladakh, marking a significant step in administrative restructuring and regional governance. This expansion increased the total number of districts in Ladakh to seven, aiming to improve administrative efficiency and local development. The newly created districts were carved out of the existing Leh and Kargil districts, ensuring better accessibility to government services for residents in remote areas. This move reflects the government’s focus on decentralisation, enhanced governance, and balanced regional development in strategically important and geographically vast regions like Ladakh.

IIT Madras collaborated with Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) to carry out India’s first intra-city drone delivery trials in Bengaluru. The project was implemented under the FedEx SMART Centre in partnership with the start-up Amber Wings. The drone successfully covered a distance of around 39–42 km in just 21 minutes, significantly reducing delivery time compared to road transport. The trials included advanced safety features such as autonomous flight termination and anti-collision systems. This initiative demonstrates the growing potential of drone-based logistics in urban environments and highlights India’s progress in adopting cutting-edge transportation technologies.

The Union Cabinet approved the extension of PMGSY-III to ensure the continued development of rural road infrastructure across India. The revised timeline allows for the completion of roads and bridges in plain areas, as well as roads in hilly regions, by March 2028. This extension supports the scheme’s goal of improving rural connectivity, facilitating access to markets, schools, and healthcare facilities. With an increased financial outlay of ₹83,977 crore, the initiative emphasises reducing transportation costs and boosting economic activities in rural areas, while also addressing pending works sanctioned before March 2025.