IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Analysis
Archives
(PRELIMS Focus)
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI): Securing India’s Mobile Device Ecosystem
Science & Technology
Why in News?
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has highlighted the growing security concerns associated with IMEI tampering and misuse amid India’s expanding mobile ecosystem. India had 1,204.01 million active wireless mobile subscribers in July 2026. Tampered IMEIs can make devices difficult to identify and create challenges for network security, law enforcement and consumer protection.
What is IMEI?
- IMEI: International Mobile Equipment Identity.
- It is a unique 15-digit number used to identify a mobile device on a telecom network.
- The first 8 digits constitute the Type Allocation Code (TAC), which identifies the device model/type.
- GSMA oversees global allocation of TACs to manufacturers/brand owners.
- Manufacturers assign individual IMEIs to devices.
- A dual-SIM phone generally has two IMEI numbers, one for each SIM slot.
- Users can check their IMEI by dialling *#06#.
IMEI Ecosystem in India
Under the Government’s framework:
- Manufacturers and importers of applicable telecom devices must register IMEIs through the Device Setu–Indian Counterfeited Device Restriction (ICDR) portal.
- Resellers/retailers must ensure devices have valid and untampered IMEIs.
- Used-device sellers should verify IMEIs against the government database of tampered/blacklisted devices.
Legal & Security Framework
The Telecommunications Act, 2023 prohibits tampering with telecommunication identifiers under Section 42(3)(c). Obtaining SIMs or telecom identifiers through fraud, cheating or impersonation is also prohibited.
Violations can attract up to 3 years’ imprisonment, ₹50 lakh fine, or both; specified offences are cognizable and non-bailable.
The Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) uses IMEI-based identification to help block and trace lost or stolen mobile phones, including when the SIM card is changed.
Sources:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2313715®=48&lang=1
Great Cormorant: Rare Leucistic Individual Spotted in Hyderabad
Environment & Ecology
Why in News?
A rare leucistic Great Cormorant was recently spotted at Ameenpur Lake near BHEL, Hyderabad, Telangana. The bird displayed unusually pale/almost white plumage compared with the normal dark plumage of other Great Cormorants around it. The sighting was documented on 19 September 2026.
About Great Cormorant
- Scientific name: Phalacrocorax carbo
- Family: Phalacrocoracidae
- Order: Pelecaniformes
- It is a large fish-eating waterbird with a long neck, strong hooked bill and powerful diving ability.
- Habitat includes freshwater lakes, rivers, reservoirs, estuaries and coastal waters.
- It has a very wide geographical distribution across parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and North America.
- IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC).
What is Leucism?
Leucism is a pigmentation abnormality in which an animal has reduced pigmentation, resulting in partially or almost completely white/pale feathers.
Leucism ≠ Albinism
| Leucism | Albinism |
|---|---|
| Reduced pigmentation in feathers/skin | Absence or severe reduction of melanin |
| May affect only some or most feathers | Typically affects pigmentation throughout the body |
| Eyes generally retain normal colour | Eyes may appear reddish/pink due to lack of pigment |
The Ameenpur bird was therefore not a separate white species, but a Great Cormorant exhibiting an unusual pigmentation condition.
Ameenpur Lake
- Located near Hyderabad, Telangana.
- A freshwater urban wetland supporting resident and migratory birds.
- The sighting highlights the importance of urban wetlands as habitats for aquatic biodiversity.
Sources:
https://telanganatoday.com/rare-leucistic-great-cormorant-spotted-at-ameenpur-lake-in-hyderabad
Oxyserphus narendrani: New Parasitic Wasp from Assam
Environment & Ecology
Why in News?
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of parasitic wasp, Oxyserphus narendrani, in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Assam. It represents the first official record of the genus Oxyserphus in the Oriental biogeographic region.
Key Features
- Scientific name: Oxyserphus narendrani
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Family: Proctotrupidae
- Size: Only about 3.3 mm long.
- Appearance: Black head, brownish-black body and distinctive yellow legs.
- It was collected using a yellow pan trap in November 2024.
- Microscopic examination revealed diagnostic features distinguishing it from related species.
How is it Distinguished?
The species possesses:
- A single horizontal groove on the side of its thorax.
- A relatively short ovipositor sheath—the structure associated with egg-laying.
- A distinct wing spot.
These characteristics distinguish it from the Australian Oxyserphus sulcatus, which has multiple radiating grooves on the thorax.
Why is the Discovery Important?
Members of Oxyserphus are extremely rare in insect collections and are generally associated with high-altitude habitats. The discovery of O. narendrani in the lowland forest ecosystem of Assam therefore expands knowledge of the genus’s geographical and ecological distribution.
The group is considered a “dark taxon”—a poorly studied group whose actual species diversity is believed to be much greater than currently documented.
The species was named in honour of Dr T. C. Narendran, recognised for his contributions to the taxonomy of parasitic wasps in India.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
- Location: Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, Assam.
- Rivers: Brahmaputra and Lohit to the north; Dibru River to the south.
- Ecosystems include semi-evergreen and deciduous forests, grasslands and canebrakes.
- Originally established partly to conserve the habitat of the White-winged Wood Duck.
Sources:
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO): India’s Central Drug Regulatory Authority
Science & Technology
Why in News?
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) issued an advisory on 21 September 2026 calling for the rational and responsible use of NSAIDs (painkillers) and antibiotics. It highlighted risks such as renal complications, adverse drug reactions and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The advisory reiterated that most NSAIDs fall under Schedule H, while most antibiotics are under Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, and should not be sold at retail without a prescription from a Registered Medical Practitioner.
What is CDSCO?
- CDSCO: Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.
- It functions under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Headed by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
- It is India’s central authority for regulating the quality of drugs marketed in the country.
Major Functions
Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, CDSCO is responsible for several central regulatory functions, including:
- Approval of new drugs and clinical trials
- Regulation of imported drugs
- Laying down drug standards
- Coordination with State Drug Control Organisations
- Approval/licensing of specified categories such as vaccines, sera, blood and blood products
- Regulation of certain categories of medical devices
- Pharmacovigilance
- Banning of drugs/cosmetics where required.
Important distinction: Regulation of manufacture, sale and distribution of drugs is primarily a State responsibility, while CDSCO performs specified central functions and coordinates with State authorities.
Schedules H, H1 & X
| Schedule | Broad significance |
|---|---|
| H | Prescription medicines; retail sale requires prescription |
| H1 | Certain higher-risk drugs, including many antibiotics; prescription + additional record requirements |
| X | Certain drugs subject to stricter controls |
The CDSCO advisory specifically stressed that antibiotics should not be self-medicated, particularly for conditions such as most uncomplicated viral infections where antibiotics are not clinically indicated.
Sources:
National Single Window System (NSWS): Digital Gateway for Business Approvals
Economy
Why in News?
The National Single Window System (NSWS) completed five years in September 2026. Launched on 22 September 2021, it is being implemented by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry to simplify business approvals through a common digital platform.
What is NSWS?
NSWS is a digital platform that helps investors identify, apply for and track regulatory approvals required for setting up and operating businesses in India. It integrates approvals of Central Ministries/Departments, State Governments and regulatory authorities while allowing existing departmental systems to continue functioning.
Key Features
- Know Your Approvals (KYA): Identifies approvals applicable to a proposed business based on its activities.
- Common Registration Form: Information entered once can be reused across applications.
- Applicant Dashboard: Application submission, status tracking and response to departmental queries.
- Centralised Document Repository: One-time upload and reuse of documents.
- E-Communication Module: Online communication between applicants and authorities.
- State Registration Form: Provides access to integrated State Single Window Systems.
Current Coverage
As of 21 September 2026, NSWS provides access to 327+ Central approvals and 3,452 State approvals across 34 States/UTs. It has onboarded more than 5.69 lakh business entities.
Other recent developments include integration of the Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal (FIFP) and complete transaction-level integration of PESO’s 74 licensing modules.
Significance
NSWS promotes Ease of Doing Business by reducing duplication, paperwork and compliance burden while improving transparency through online processing and real-time tracking. Importantly, NSWS does not itself grant every approval; applications are electronically forwarded to the concerned Ministry/Department or State authority for processing.
Sources:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2313670®=48&lang=1
Exercise Tarang Shakti-26: India’s Multinational Air Exercise
Defence & Security
Why in News?
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is hosting the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti-26 from 26 September to 12 October 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan, with adjoining air bases also involved. Around 40 countries are expected to participate, including direct participants and observers.
Key Facts
- Conducted by: Indian Air Force (IAF)
- Edition: 2nd
- Venue: Jodhpur, Rajasthan
- Dates: 26 September–12 October 2026
- Nature: Multinational air exercise
- First edition: 2024, conducted in two phases at Sulur (Tamil Nadu) and Jodhpur (Rajasthan).
- Direct participation with air assets: India, Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Sri Lanka, UAE and the United States. Around 32 countries are expected to participate as observers.
Aircraft & Operational Training
Indian aircraft participating include:
- Rafale
- Su-30MKI
- Tejas
- MiG-29
- Mirage-2000
- Jaguar
Foreign platforms include US F-35, French Rafale, UAE F-16 and Bangladesh’s C-130J, among others.
The exercise will involve:
- Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and Within Visual Range (WVR) combat
- Air mobility operations
- Dynamic targeting
- Air-to-air refuelling
- Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR)
- Operations against modern air-to-air and surface-to-air weapons
- Multinational tactical missions and interoperability drills.
Objectives
The three broad objectives identified for Tarang Shakti-26 are:
- Operational learning
- Greater interoperability
- Stronger partnerships
It provides participating air forces an opportunity to exchange operational practices, test tactics and improve coordination during complex multinational air operations.
Sources:
Emi Koussi Volcano: Sahara’s Highest Peak and Ancient Salt Lake
Geography
Why in News?
A 2024 astronaut photograph from the International Space Station (ISS) has highlighted a striking white salt deposit at the summit of Emi Koussi, often mistaken for snow. The photograph has drawn attention to the volcano’s unusual volcanic and palaeohydrological features.
Key Facts
- Location: Northern Chad, at the southeastern end of the Tibesti Mountains in the central Sahara.
- Elevation: 3,415 m, making it the highest peak in the Sahara and the highest mountain in Chad.
- Type: Large shield volcano, specifically a pyroclastic shield volcano.
- Volcanic status: Considered extinct; its last eruption is unknown and there are no historical eruption records.
- Calderas: It contains nested calderas, including the Era Kohor crater/caldera.
- Salt deposit: Era Kohor contains a white crust of natron, a mixture of sodium carbonate decahydrate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate. It represents the dried remains of an ancient lake.
- The summit region also contains lava domes, cinder cones, maars and lava flows.
Palaeoclimate Significance
The dry channels on Emi Koussi indicate that the Sahara was considerably wetter in the past. Research suggests that around 7,000 years ago, the Tibesti region received rainfall at least 10 times higher than today, partly due to moist air masses from the Mediterranean.
Sources:
(MAINS Focus)
Delhi's Infra-Governance Problem: Regulating PGs and Coaching Institutes
GS II – Governance / GS I – Urbanisation
Urban Planning, Building Safety, and Regulatory Reform
Introduction
Every year, news of an infrastructural disaster in Delhi taking precious student lives sends shockwaves across the nation. Investigations into enforcement of building bye-laws, suspension of officials, and arrest of landlords gain momentum—then slowly settle down until the next tragedy. It is Satya Niketan now; it was a flooded basement in Rajinder Nagar two years ago. Delhi houses millions of students who migrate to the city for premier institutes or competitive exam preparation. This influx has created a sprawling ecosystem of largely unregulated Paying Guest (PG) accommodations and coaching centres. PGs have transformed from an extra room rented for cash to full-blown commercial establishments. Several coaching centres operate in buildings marked as residential—changing the use-type from residential to partly or wholly commercial, ideally subjecting them to a different set of safety norms.
The Regulatory Gap
The Hybrid Establishment Problem
- PGs as Commercial Establishments: No longer just extra rooms; full-scale commercial operations.
- Coaching Centres in Residential Buildings: Change use-type; should attract commercial safety norms.
- Enforcement Gap: Municipal laws govern residential and commercial buildings separately but cannot identify/accommodate these hybrid establishments.
- Non-Applicability: Regulations for schools and college hostels do not directly apply.
Fragmented Regulatory Framework
- Master Plan of Delhi (MPD): Does not specifically mention PGs.
- Unified Building Bye-Laws (UBBL): Recognises coaching centres as educational buildings, but development controls are not applicable to them.
- Ministry of Education Guidelines (2024): Lack teeth; cover only broad infrastructural requirements.
- Result: Mismatch between law on paper and on-ground reality in student-focused areas—Rajinder Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, Satya Niketan.
The Road Ahead: Two Gaps to Solve
Gap 1: Absence of Substantive Safety Standards
- Recognition: DDA and MCD must acknowledge coaching centres and PGs as a separate category of land-use.
- Specific Standards: Prescribe requirements for mixed-use educational buildings:
- Protection against fire hazards
- Safe exits
- Minimum floor area per person
- Maximum capacity of a mixed-use building
- Registration: Individuals opening a PG or coaching centre may register the building in this separate category.
Gap 2: Lack of Routine Enforcement
- Caution: Blanket minimum standards with little recourse may encourage rent-seeking and bypassing through illegal means.
- Support: Enforcement mechanism must provide support to building owners for compliance.
- Proposed Process:
- Building Safety Task Force/District-Level Committee: Representatives from urban local bodies; State oversight.
- Periodic Audit: Of mixed-use educational buildings.
- Compliance Resolution Plan: Highlight gaps; whether they can be addressed; immediate shutdown if alarming.
- Annual Reports: To State government—number of buildings shut down and rehabilitated.
Conclusion
Delhi’s regulatory framework—MPD, UBBL, and 2024 coaching centre guidelines—creates an odd mismatch between law on paper and on-ground reality. PGs and coaching institutes need to be recognised as a separate category of mixed-use educational buildings under municipal and urban local body regulations. Specific safety standards—fire protection, safe exits, minimum floor area, maximum capacity—must be developed. Enforcement must be enabled through a building safety task force, periodic audits, compliance resolution plans, and annual reports. It is time to re-evaluate urban governance models and regulatory infrastructure—preferably before the next headline of an infrastructural disaster devouring young lives.
Practice Question
- Delhi’s regulatory framework fails to account for the hybrid nature of PGs and coaching institutes, creating a significant enforcement gap that costs student lives. Critically examine the regulatory gaps and suggest a comprehensive framework for mixed-use educational buildings in Delhi. (250 words, 15 marks)
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/delhis-infra-governance-problem/article71501270.ece
How and Why the UN General Assembly is Gaining Prominence
GS II – International Relations
United Nations, Multilateralism, and Global Governance
Introduction
As world leaders attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), there is a chorus of criticism about the organisation’s failures—inability to sanction Israel, condemn the US bombing of Iran, or respond to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The veto system of the UN Security Council (UNSC), by which the five permanent members can bypass oversight, has paralysed the Council since the end of the Cold War. Yet, despite these limitations, the UNGA is steadily rising in prominence as a place where politics doesn’t always trump policy. Given the paralysis of the UNSC and shifting dynamics across the Global North and South, small and middle powers are gaining ground.
The UNGA’s Unique Structure and Role
Equal Representation
- 193 Member States: Each with an equal vote.
- Even Playing Field: Lobbying for votes is intense; horse-trading shifts dynamics on crucial questions.
- Global South Majority: Since 1960, Global South states have held a numerical majority, setting the agenda and playing a pivotal role.
Collective Agency of the Global South
- Formations: Afro-Asian bloc, Group of Seventy-Seven (G77).
- Power: Moulding economic and social development system; pushing human rights agenda.
- Example: Costa Rica led the proposal to create the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1965); role officially created in 1993.
Barometer of International Opinion
- Dual Function: Reflects views of majority of member states and global public opinion.
- Recent Example: Resolutions condemning Israel’s military campaign in Gaza; unprecedented votes in favour reflected political will and wider public outrage.
Bypassing the Security Council
“Uniting for Peace” Mechanism (Resolution 377, 1950)
- Origin: November 1950, during the Korean War; UNSC paralysed.
- Mechanism: Bypasses the Security Council when deadlocked; allows debate in UNGA.
- Powers: UNGA can make recommendations for action, including sanctions and even use of force.
- Invocation (2022-2023): Three times for Ukraine; demonstrated support and criticism of Russia’s violation of sovereignty.
Liechtenstein Initiative (2022)
- Trigger: Automatically convenes UNGA when a P5 member uses their veto.
- Timeline: Within 10 days; debate the vetoed issue.
- Accountability: Veto-wielding power must explain its position and justify the veto.
- Purpose: Creates accountability; allows UNSC to be circumvented in humanitarian catastrophes.
Growing Trend
- Moving Debates: Peace and security debates moving from UNSC to UNGA.
- Global South Agency: Long history of initiatives by smaller states to defy great powers.
Significance and Way Forward
Why the UNGA Matters
- Forum for Quiet Diplomacy: Not merely a bully pulpit.
- Measure of Achievements: Development and human rights.
- Pathway to Fairer World: Most likely to be carved out of this space.
Challenges
- Great Power Pressures: UNGA not devoid of pressures.
- Implementation: Resolutions are non-binding; enforcement remains a challenge.
- Reform: UNSC reform remains elusive.
Way Forward
- Strengthen UNGA: Enhance its role in accountability and emergency response.
- Support Initiatives: Liechtenstein Initiative, Uniting for Peace.
- Global South Solidarity: Continue collective agency on pressing issues.
- UNSC Reform: Push for reform to reflect contemporary realities.
Conclusion
The UN General Assembly is gaining prominence as the Security Council remains paralysed by vetoes. With 193 member states each having an equal vote, the UNGA provides a space for collective responses to global crises. The “Uniting for Peace” mechanism and the Liechtenstein Initiative allow debates to bypass the UNSC when it is deadlocked. The Global South has historically used the UNGA to shift the needle on development, human rights, and decolonisation. Far more than a bully pulpit, the UNGA chamber is the world’s leading forum for quiet diplomacy. Looking ahead, the broken pathway towards a fairer world is most likely to be carved out of this space.
Practice Question
- The paralysis of the UN Security Council and emerging multipolarity are shifting political weight to the UN General Assembly. Critically examine the factors contributing to the UNGA’s rising prominence and its potential to shape global governance. (250 words, 15 marks)
