Current Affairs 18 April 2026
National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary
- It is a protected area established in 1979.
- Location: Located on the Chambal River near the tri-point of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
- Important species: Gharial (critically endangered), Crocodiles, Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle, Ganges river dolphin.
About the 131st Amendment Bill
- Increases the strength of the Lok Sabha: From the existing 543 members to 850 members (815 from states and 35 from UTs).
- Amend Article 334A: Allow implementation of one-third women’s reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies immediately after delimitation.
- It was introduced through 106th Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam).
- Amend Article 82: Bill proposes to delete the third provision of Article 82, which mandates that the next delimitation exercise shall be undertaken based on the first Census conducted after the year 2026.
- This will enable delimitation to be carried out using Census data available before the 2026–27 Census.
About Delimitation Bill 2026
- It aimed to repeal and replace the Delimitation Act, 2002.
- Delimitation Commission (DC): Union Government to constitute the DC, which will be chaired by a person who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court.
- It specified that the delimitation would be based on the latest published census at the time of the Commission’s formation, meaning the 2011 census would be used.
- The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 extends similar changes to Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir
RBM Scheme:
- Launched: In 2014 as a Central Sector Scheme.
- Objectives: (Refer infographic).
- Administered by: Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- Geographical Scope and Priority Areas: strategically important and water-rich but underdeveloped regions, particularly North Eastern Region and Indus Basin in Jammu & Kashmir / Ladakh.
- These basins are prioritised due to their importance in National water security, Cross-border water management, Flood control and erosion management and Ecological stability.
- Institutional Structure: two broad components-
- The Brahmaputra Board: for basin-level planning and flood management in the North Eastern Region.
- Investigation of Water Resources Development Scheme (IWRDS): implemented through
- Central Water Commission (CWC): undertakes surveys, investigations, and preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for water resource projects such as Indus, Brahmaputra basins.
- National Water Development Agency (NWDA): focuses on water resource planning at the national level, particularly under the Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) programme.
Dung Beetle
- They are terrestrial insects that feed on the feces of large herbivores.
- Navigation: Certain dung beetles navigate at night using the Milky Way, moving in straight lines while rolling dung balls.
- They rely on polarised light patterns and the diffuse glow of the night sky rather than individual stars.
NMEDT
- It is a statutory trust set up to boost mineral exploration in India, especially for deep-seated and critical minerals.
- Established: under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
- Objective: Accelerate and strengthen mineral exploration.
- Funding Mechanism: a levy equivalent to 3% of the royalty paid by holders of mining leases .
- Governance structure
- Governing Body: Headed by Union Minister of Mines.
- Executive Committee: Headed by Secretary, Ministry of Mines.
Scarborough Shoal
- It is a disputed atoll in the SCS, claimed by both China and the Philippines as part of their territory.
- Strategic importance: Located along major sea lanes with rich fishing grounds and potential resources.
- Other disputed islands in the SCS: Paracel, Spratly Island, etc.
RELIEF Scheme
- It is a time-bound intervention under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
- Objective: Help Indian exporters deal with high freight costs, rising insurance premiums and war related export risks.
- Nodal and Implementing Agency: ECGC Ltd. (Formerly Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd.), wholly owned by Government of India (Ministry of Commerce & Industry).
- Key Features
- MSME-Focused Assistance: Ensuring reimbursement support for High logistics costs and surcharges.
- Export Cycle Coverage: For End-to-end support for shipment planning, Insurance etc.