Current Affairs - National

Soundala village in the Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra has officially declared itself caste-free by adopting the principle “Amchi jaat manav,” meaning “my caste is humanity.” The decision was unanimously approved by the gram sabha, reflecting collective agreement among the villagers. This historic move positions Soundala as Maharashtra’s and possibly India’s first caste-free village. The initiative represents a progressive step toward eliminating caste-based discrimination and promoting social equality. By prioritising humanity over caste identity, the village sets an inspiring example for broader societal reform and unity across communities.

Indira Gandhi International Airport secured the 5th position among the busiest airports in the Asia Pacific region in 2025, based on OAG data measuring one-way departing seat capacity. The airport recorded 46.18 million seats, marking a significant rise from its 9th rank in 2019. This growth reflects India’s expanding domestic aviation market, increasing middle-class travel demand, and improved airport infrastructure. A major contributor to this surge has been IndiGo, whose aggressive route expansion and fleet growth have boosted overall seat capacity and strengthened Delhi’s standing in regional aviation rankings.

The National Highway Quality Monitoring Portal is being developed to digitise the quality monitoring process. It will upload test reports generated by the Mobile Quality Control Vans and feature real-time GPS tracking of these vans. This system ensures transparency in inspections, prevents misuse, and allows officials to remotely monitor van movements and quality checks. The goal is to make the entire quality assurance system more accountable and data-driven for maintaining National Highway standards.

The new 3mm crab species, Galathea balasubramaniani, was discovered in Lakshadweep, specifically in the Agatti reefs. The discovery was made by researchers from the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Kochi. This tiny reef-dwelling squat lobster was named after T. Balasubramanian and plays an important ecological role in recycling organic matter within coral reef ecosystems. Its identification was confirmed through detailed DNA and morphological analysis. The finding underscores the rich yet under-explored marine biodiversity of Lakshadweep and highlights the importance of continued scientific research and conservation efforts in fragile reef habitats.

Mumbai has been selected to host The Earthshot Prize 2026, a prestigious global environmental award founded by Prince William. The announcement was made during the city’s first Mumbai Climate Week, highlighting India’s expanding leadership in climate action and sustainable innovation. The Earthshot Prize recognizes five global innovators annually, awarding each £1 million to scale transformative solutions addressing climate change, biodiversity, air pollution, ocean restoration, and waste reduction. Hosting the event underscores Mumbai’s growing role as a hub for climate dialogue and green investment, while reinforcing India’s commitment to achieving long-term environmental and sustainability goals.