Current Affairs - National

The Union Ministry of Power is planning to mandate that all new air conditioners in India operate within a restricted temperature range of 20°C to 28°C. This measure is intended to reduce overall energy consumption and promote more sustainable use of cooling systems, especially during peak summer months. By setting 20°C as the minimum limit, the government aims to balance comfort and energy efficiency. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to improve energy conservation nationwide, which includes support for battery storage infrastructure and a substantial viability gap funding mechanism to boost clean energy investments.

INS Guldar, a 1,120-ton Landing Ship Tank that served the Indian Navy until January 2024, is being converted into India’s first submerged naval museum off the coast of Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. The ₹46.91 crore project is backed by the Union Ministry of Tourism and aims to foster marine conservation, eco-tourism, and preserve naval heritage. By intentionally scuttling the vessel near Nivati Rocks, the initiative will also help create an artificial coral reef, promoting marine biodiversity and sustainable tourism. This project is a part of India’s larger efforts under the Blue Economy framework and supports environmentally conscious development.

In the Global Gender Gap Index 2025 released by the World Economic Forum, India has slipped to the 131st position out of 148 countries. This marks a decline of two spots from the previous year and reflects the ongoing challenges India faces in achieving gender parity. With a parity score of just 64.1%, India remains among the lowest-ranked countries in South Asia. In comparison, Bangladesh led the region at 24th place, followed by countries like Nepal (125), Sri Lanka (130), Bhutan (119), Maldives (138), and Pakistan (148), highlighting regional disparities in gender equality progress.

The Lokpal of India, an independent statutory body established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, adopted the new motto "Empower Citizens, Expose Corruption" to strengthen its public outreach and visibility. This body is responsible for investigating corruption allegations against public officials, including high-ranking functionaries. The motto reflects its commitment to transparency and citizen empowerment, replacing the previous one as part of efforts to reinforce its role in combating corruption and ensuring accountability in governance. The Lokpal represents a key institutional mechanism for upholding integrity in India's administrative framework.

Bengaluru has recently earned the title of India’s ‘Leopard Capital’ after a comprehensive year-long survey by the Holématthi Nature Foundation revealed an estimated 80–85 wild leopards living on the city’s outskirts. This surpasses Mumbai’s leopard population of 54 and highlights Bengaluru’s unique ecological setting as a major metropolitan area coexisting with apex predators. The survey covered areas like Bannerghatta National Park and adjacent forested zones, using over 250 camera traps across 282 sq km. The findings emphasize the city's rich biodiversity and the urgent need for sustainable conservation strategies to ensure long-term leopard-human coexistence in urban fringe habitats.