Current Affairs - National

L&T Energy Hydrocarbon Onshore secured a major contract from Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd (BCGCL) to establish a Coal-to-Ammonium-Nitrate facility in Odisha. The project aims to convert high-ash domestic coal into ammonium nitrate with a planned production capacity of 2,000 tonnes per day. This initiative supports India’s broader goal of achieving 100 million tonnes of coal gasification capacity by 2030 under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The project is expected to reduce import dependence and promote the production of value-added products such as ammonia, methanol, and synthetic natural gas while strengthening India’s industrial and energy sectors.

India was ranked 157th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The country received a global score of 31.96 in the annual assessment. The index evaluates press freedom conditions across nations using factors such as political context, legal framework, economic conditions, sociocultural environment, and journalist safety. Published annually since 2002, the index highlights the operational environment for media organisations and journalists worldwide. Norway secured the top position in the 2026 rankings, while Eritrea ranked last. RSF, headquartered in Paris, France, is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting freedom of information and journalists’ rights globally.

The Andhra Pradesh government extended the Ragi Java nutrition programme for government school students until April 2029 through an agreement signed with the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. The programme provides a daily nutritious drink made from ragi flour and jaggery, both supplied free of cost by the trust. It currently benefits more than 30 lakh students studying in nearly 44,000 government schools across the state. The initiative aims to improve children’s health, energy levels, attentiveness in classrooms, and school attendance. The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, founded in 1972, has been actively supporting welfare and educational initiatives in Andhra Pradesh.

Hazaribag in Jharkhand was officially designated as India’s first and only pearl farming cluster on May 3, 2026. The project focuses on developing pearl cultivation through dedicated pond clusters in the Daurwa-Kundwa area and integrating pearl culture around cage culture operations in the Tilaiya reservoir. The initiative aims to empower women by involving self-help groups (SHGs) and establishing an all-women Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) for cultivation and management activities. Supported under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the project uses modern aquaculture technologies and direct market linkages to strengthen freshwater pearl farming and rural livelihoods in the region.

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) was established in 1963 with the objective of professionalising India’s foreign trade management and supporting export-oriented research and policy development. Over the years, it has grown into a premier institution under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, contributing significantly to international business education and research. Its establishment marked an important step in strengthening India’s global trade capabilities during a period when the country was expanding its economic engagement with the world. The institute continues to play a vital role in shaping skilled professionals in international trade and business domains.