Legal Current Affairs for 6 March 2026

Primary Nuclear Fuel: Uranium is the main fuel used in nuclear reactors for electricity generation.
India plans to increase nuclear power capacity from about 9 GW currently to 100 GW by 2047.
Nuclear energy provides a reliable, low-carbon power source that supports India’s clean energy transition. Long-term uranium contracts ensure a stable supply for upcoming nuclear reactors.
Need for Uranium Imports: Indian uranium ore contains 0.02%–0.45% uranium, much lower than the global average of 1–2%. India consumes 1,500–2,000 tonnes of uranium per year.
Annual demand may rise to about 5,400 tonnes with the expansion of nuclear power capacity.
Some Canadian mines have ore grades as high as 15%, making them far more efficient.
Due to lower ore quality, domestic uranium extraction is more expensive than imports.
Over 70% of India’s uranium requirements are currently met through imports.

About: The SAR Convention is an international agreement adopted in 1979 under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to ensure that people in distress at sea receive prompt rescue assistance.
Key Features:
Global Search and Rescue System: Divides the world’s oceans into Search and Rescue (SAR) regions, with each coastal state responsible for coordinating rescue operations in its area.
Obligation to Rescue: Requires ships and coastal states to assist persons in distress at sea, regardless of nationality or status.
Coordination Mechanism: Establishes Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs) to organise and manage search and rescue operations.
International Cooperation: Encourages cooperation between neighbouring countries for swift rescue and evacuation.
India and SAR:
India is a signatory to the SAR, 1979, ratified in 2001. In India, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) coordinates rescue operations in the Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR), with the Director General ICG serving as the National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority (NMSARCA).
The ICG also operates INDSAR, a voluntary ship reporting system that helps track vessels and respond quickly to maritime distress situations.

About: A torpedo is a self-propelled underwater missile designed to destroy ships or submarines. Unlike naval mines, torpedoes actively travel through water, track targets, and detonate at the most destructive point, often beneath a ship’s hull.
Evolution of Torpedoes:
Early Origins: The term “torpedo” originally referred to underwater explosive devices and naval mines.
During the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), inventor Robert Fulton experimented with underwater explosive charges inspired by the electric ray fish.
Spar Torpedoes: Early naval forces used spar torpedoes, where an explosive was mounted on a pole and rammed into enemy ships.
These weapons were effective but extremely dangerous for attacking crews.
Modern Torpedo Invention: In 1866, engineer Robert Whitehead developed the first self-propelled torpedo. Powered by compressed air and equipped with automatic depth control, it could travel underwater independently and strike enemy ships from a distance.
This invention transformed torpedoes into true underwater guided weapons.

About: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a screening tool used to estimate body fat based on height and weight, helping categorize individuals into weight status categories.
Calculation Method: BMI is calculated using the formula weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters (BMI = weight (kg) ÷ [height (m)]²).
BMI Classifications (WHO Standards):
Adult BMI: The standard categories for adults (20+ years) are Underweight (<18.5), Healthy/Normal (18.5-24.9), Overweight (25.0-29.9), and Obesity (≥30.0). Obesity is subdivided into Class I (30.0-34.9), Class II (35.0-39.9), and Class III (≥40.0) indicating very high risk.
Children and Adolescents: For those under 20 years, BMI is interpreted using age- and sex-specific percentiles. It is Underweight (<5th percentile), Healthy weight (5th to <85th percentile), Overweight (85th to <95th percentile), Obesity (≥95th percentile), and Severe obesity (≥120% of 95th percentile or BMI ≥35).

Observed on 3rd March with the theme “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods”, commemorating the adoption of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The day was officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 20th December 2013 during its 68th session, declaring 3rd March as World Wildlife Day.
Conservation of Medicinal Plants in India
Plant Diversity in India: India, a mega-biodiverse nation, possesses 7% of global biodiversity with 45,000 plant species, of which 15,000 are medicinal plants and about 8,000 species are used in Indian systems of medicine (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani) and folk medicines.
Nearly 70% of India’s medicinal plants are found in the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Himalayas, and Aravalli range.
Conservation Approaches: India employs in-situ conservation through 115 Medicinal Plants Conservation Areas (MPCAs) in natural habitats, and ex-situ conservation at the National Seed Gene Bank, New Delhi.

The IAEA was established in 1957 within the United Nations system, following US President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” speech (1953) at the UN General Assembly.
The IAEA Statute was approved by 81 countries in 1956, with India as a founding member. As of December 2025, the agency has 181 member states.
The organization operates as the world’s “Atoms for Peace” agency, tasked with promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy while preventing its diversion for military purposes.
Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, IAEA functions as the global nuclear watchdog, conducting nuclear safeguards, inspections, and promoting nuclear safety and peaceful applications in energy, medicine, and agriculture.