Current Affairs 6 April 2026
Ports in India
- India has 14 major ports (12 operational) and around 200 non-major (minor) ports.
- Non-operational major ports: Vadhvan Port (Maharashtra) and Galathea Bay Port (Great Nicobar, Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
- Administration: Major ports are under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, while non-major ports are under State Maritime Boards/State Governments.
Satellite Internet
- Definition: Satellite internet refers to the internet service provided through satellites placed in Geostationary Orbits (GSO) or Non-Geostationary Orbits (NGSO).
- LEO and MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) are NGSO.
- Unlike land-based internet services such as fiber, cable, etc., it doesn’t rely on wires to transmit data. improving accessibility, deployment speed, and long-distance transmission.
- Infrastructure: It generally includes three segments:
- Space Segment: Includes network of several communication satellites.
- Ground segment: Includes satellite measurement and control networks, gateway stations, etc.
- User segment: Includes communication terminals used by users.
Babu Jagjivan Ram (1908-1986)
- Born in Shahabad District, now Bhojpur in Bihar, he is popularly known as Babuji.
- He was a national leader, a freedom fighter, a crusader of social justice, a champion of depressed classes, an outstanding Parliamentarian.
- Education: Banaras Hindu University and Calcutta University.
- Key Contributions:
- He founded the Akhil Bharatiya Ravidas Mahasabha in Calcutta, Khetihar Mazdoor Sabha for the agricultural labour and the All India Depressed Classes League.
- He participated in Civil Disobedience Movement, Satyagraha, Quit India Movement.
- He appeared before the Hammond Commission at Ranchi and demanded, for the first time, voting rights for the Dalits.
PFAS
- PFASs are a large group of synthetic chemicals characterized by partially or fully fluorinated carbon chains of varying lengths.
- Key subgroups (PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS) are listed as industrial POPs under the Stockholm Convention.
- PFASs are not easily degraded in the environment.
- Sources: Present in packaging, household items, etc.
- Persistent exposure to PFAS can lead to bioaccumulation in animal bodies.
- Health Risks: Linked to cancer, hormonal disruption, immune suppression, etc.
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and OPEC+
- In 1960, five countries namely- Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela established OPEC as a permanent intergovernmental organization.
- It aims to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its Member Countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets.
- Other members of OPEC include: Algeria, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, and United Arab Emirates.
- In 2016, the OPEC joined with 10 other producers to form OPEC+.
- Other than OPEC countries it has Russia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Malaysia, Oman, South Sudan, and Sudan.
- OPEC+ represents approximately 60% of world supply.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Initiative
- Launched in 2015 on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas to promote national unity by strengthening cultural and linguistic ties among States and UTs.
- Objective: To enhance mutual understanding and bonding between different regions through shared cultural experiences.
- Mechanism: States and UTs are paired for sustained engagement in language, culture, tourism, cuisine, sports and best practices.
- Approach: Follows a whole-of-government approach involving multiple ministries, institutions and communities.