UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 March 2026

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 March 2026 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents

GS Paper 3 :

• Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC)

Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC)

GS Paper 4:

• Supreme Court applies passive euthanasia framework for first time

Supreme Court applies passive euthanasia framework for first time

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

• Bug Bounty Programme

Bug Bounty Programme

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

• Kavach 4.0 System

Kavach 4.0 System

• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

• Nutrient Transporter Protein

Nutrient Transporter Protein

• The Essential Commodities Act (ECA)

The Essential Commodities Act (ECA)

• Black Rain

Black Rain

Mapping:

• Devon Island

Devon Island

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 March 2026

GS Paper 3 :

Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC)

Source: TH

Subject: Environment

Context: A recent study in Conservation Biology has revealed that Anti-Depredation Squads (ADS) in Assam, designed to reduce human-elephant conflict, are associated with a 200-300% increase in accidental elephant deaths.

About Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC)

What it is?

• Human-Wildlife Conflict refers to negative interactions between humans and wild animals, resulting in undesirable consequences for both. This includes loss of human life, livestock predation, and crop damage on one side, and retaliatory killing, habitat destruction, or accidental deaths of wildlife on the other.

Data & Statistics on Conflicts:

• Elephant Mortality: India loses approximately 100 elephants annually to non-natural causes like electrocution, train hits, and poaching.

• Human Toll: Over 500 people are killed annually in India due to encounters with elephants, primarily in states like Odisha, West Bengal, and Assam.

• Economic Impact: Millions of hectares of crops are damaged every year, often pushing marginal farmers into deep debt.

• Scale of Intervention: In Sonitpur alone, the presence of organized squads (ADS) was linked to 14 additional elephant deaths over 14 years compared to non-ADS areas.

Need for Balancing Human-Wildlife Conflict:

• Economic Security for Farmers: Conflicts often destroy the entire annual livelihood of rural families.

Example: In the Sonitpur tea gardens, elephants frequently range over croplands, necessitating organized guarding to prevent total financial ruin for villagers.

• Conservation of Keystone Species: Elephants are ecosystem engineers; their loss disrupts forest health.

Example: The 2-3x increase in accidental deaths in ADS-active villages threatens the long-term viability of Assam’s 5,000-strong elephant population.

• Psychological Well-being and Safety: Constant fear of wildlife attacks reduces the quality of life in fringe villages.

Example: The formation of ADSs was originally intended to give villagers safety in numbers, reducing the panic that leads to violent retaliatory killings.

• Maintaining Ecological Corridors: Balancing conflict ensures that traditional migratory paths remain functional.

Example: When elephants are frightened by ADS searchlights, they stray from safe corridors into dangerous linear infrastructure like railway tracks.

• Reducing State-Community Friction: Effective management mends the mistrust between the Forest Department and local communities.

Example: ADSs in Assam incentivized communities to cooperate with the Forest Department rather than resorting to illegal traps or poisoning.

Initiatives Taken So Far

• Anti-Depredation Squads (ADS): Community-led volunteer groups equipped with searchlights and firecrackers to drive away elephants.

• Project Elephant (1992): A central scheme providing financial and technical support to states for elephant management and corridor protection.

• Linear Infrastructure Guidelines: Measures like underpasses and overpasses on highways and railways to allow safe wildlife passage.

• Early Warning Systems (EWS): Use of SMS alerts, thermal sensors, and Elephant cells to track herd movement and alert villagers in real-time.

Challenges Associated:

• The Landscape of Fear: Aggressive deterrents can backfire by causing animals to lose caution.

Example: The study shows frightened elephants in Assam are more likely to fall into ditches or be hit by trains because they are distracted by pursuers.

• Fragmented Habitats: Developmental projects break continuous forests into small patches, forcing animals to cross human settlements.

Example: The loss of forest cover in Sonitpur over decades has forced elephants to range through tea plantations and banks of the Brahmaputra.

• Unsystematic Responses: Lack of training turns organized squads into local mobs.

Example: A 2019 Union Environment Ministry review noted that ADS operations often involve unsystematic firing, which reduces their effectiveness.

• Underreporting and Data Gaps: Actual conflict levels are often higher than official records due to poor department-community relations.

Example: The study had to adjust for underreporting bias because villagers often hide conflict details to avoid legal scrutiny.

• Seasonality of Conflict: Deterrents are often temporary, and animals eventually adapt to them (habituation).

Way Ahead

• Shift to Passive Deterrents: Move away from firecrackers toward non-threatening barriers like bee-fencing or chili-based deterrents.

• Rigorous Impact Evaluation: Adopt the study’s recommendation to pause the rapid expansion of ADSs until their mortality impact is statistically cleared in other states.

• Community-Led Insurance: Implement rapid crop-compensation schemes to reduce the urge to chase among farmers.

• Smart Infrastructure: Install sensor-based speed restrictors for trains in identified elephant corridors to prevent accidental deaths.

• Habitat Restoration: Prioritize the reforestation of lost corridors in priority landscapes like Sonitpur to keep elephants away from human habitations.

Conclusion:

The unexpected findings from Assam demonstrate that well-intentioned conservation strategies can inadvertently increase wildlife mortality if they rely on fear-based deterrence. Effective conflict management must transition from organized chasing to science-backed, passive co-existence strategies. Balancing the safety of rural communities with the preservation of India’s heritage animal requires a data-driven re-evaluation of current national guidelines.

Q. “Human–animal conflict reflects a breakdown in coexistence rather than conservation failure”. Discuss the statement. Examine ecological and socio-economic drivers of conflict. Suggest integrated mitigation strategies. (15 M)

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 March 2026 – GS Paper 4:

Supreme Court applies passive euthanasia framework for first time

Source: IE

Subject: Applied ethics

Context: The Supreme Court of India, for the first time, applied its passive euthanasia framework to allow the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for 32-year-old Harish Rana, who had been in a persistent vegetative state for 13 years.

About Supreme Court applies passive euthanasia framework for first time:

What is Euthanasia?

• Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering. It is often referred to as mercy killing, typically occurring in cases where a patient suffers from an incurable or terminal distress.

Types of Euthanasia:

• Active Euthanasia: Taking a specific action to cause death, such as administering a lethal injection. This remains illegal in India.

• Passive Euthanasia: Withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment (like ventilators or feeding tubes) to allow a patient to die naturally. This is legal in India under strict guidelines.

History of Euthanasia in India

• P. Rathinam Case (1994): The SC initially held that the Right to Life includes the Right to Die, effectively de-criminalizing suicide, though this was later overturned.

• Gian Kaur Case (1996): A Five-judge bench ruled that the Right to Life under Article 21 does not include the Right to Die, but it distinguished between dying unnaturally and dying with dignity.

• Aruna Shanbaug Case (2011): The landmark case of a nurse in a vegetative state for 42 years led the SC to legalize Passive Euthanasia in India for the first time, subject to High Court approval.

• Common Cause Case (2018): The SC recognized the Right to die with dignity as a fundamental right and legalized Living Wills (advance medical directives).

• 2023 Amendment: The SC simplified the 2018 guidelines, removing the requirement for a judicial magistrate’s countersignature on living wills to make the process more practical.

Need for Legislation on Euthanasia

• Clarity on Terminally Ill vs. Vegetative: Legislation is needed to define clear medical boundaries.

Example: The Delhi HC originally denied Harish Rana’s plea because he wasn’t terminally ill, despite being in a vegetative state for 13 years.

• Standardizing Medical Boards: A law would create a uniform protocol for Primary and Secondary medical boards.

Example: In the Rana case, the SC had to manually constitute these boards in 2025 due to a lack of a standing administrative mechanism.

• Protection for Medical Practitioners: Doctors need legal immunity when following a patient’s dignity-based choices.

Example: Under current rules, doctors fear criminal liability for abetment to suicide without a court-sanctioned framework.

• Rights of the Family: Legislation would formalize the role of next of kin in decision-making for incompetent patients.

Example: Harish Rana’s parents had to fight a multi-year legal battle to prove their son’s suffering outweighed the futility of his treatment.

• Simplifying Procedures: A statutory law would replace the cumbersome court-monitored process with a streamlined administrative one.

Example: The SC recently had to waive the mandatory 30-day consideration period for Rana to provide immediate relief, showing the current rules are too rigid.

Challenges in Implementation

• Risk of Misuse: Fear that elderly or disabled individuals might be coerced into euthanasia for property or financial gain.

Example: The SC continues to mandate Secondary Medical Boards with external nominees specifically to prevent family-driven foul play.

• Religious and Moral Objections: Many socio-religious groups view any form of euthanasia as an interference with the natural cycle of life.

Example: Public debates following the Common Cause judgement often highlight the conflict between sanctity of life and quality of life.

• Definition of Dignity: Dignity is subjective and hard to quantify in a legal statute.

Example: While the court called Rana’s condition pathetic, others might argue that as long as the brainstem functions, life remains.

• Access to Palliative Care: Euthanasia might become a default choice if quality end-of-life care is unavailable or unaffordable.

Example: The SC had to specifically order AIIMS Delhi to provide palliative care for Rana, highlighting that such facilities aren’t universally accessible.

• Inconsistency in Judicial Interpretation: Different High Courts often interpret passive euthanasia differently.

Example: The conflict between the Delhi HC’s rejection and the Supreme Court’s acceptance of the Rana petition shows a lack of judicial consensus.

Way Ahead

• Drafting the Medical Treatment of Terminally Ill Patients Bill: The government should prioritize a comprehensive statute as urged by the SC.

• Digital Living Will Registry: Create a national database for Advance Directives to ensure a person’s wishes are known instantly in emergencies.

• Expanding Palliative Care: Increase investment in hospice and end-of-life care to ensure euthanasia isn’t chosen simply due to a lack of pain management.

• Training Medical Professionals: Sensitize doctors on the legal and ethical nuances of the Common Cause framework.

• Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate citizens on the importance of Living Wills to reduce the burden on families and courts.

Conclusion:

The Supreme Court’s intervention in the Harish Rana case marks a transition from theoretical guidelines to the practical application of the right to die with dignity. However, relying on the judiciary for every individual case is unsustainable and creates immense emotional strain on families. A robust, compassionate central legislation is the only way to balance the sanctity of life with the necessity of a peaceful end.

Q. “The debate on euthanasia highlights the conflict between compassion and the ethical duty to preserve life”. Comment (10 M)

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 March 2026 – Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Bug Bounty Programme

Context: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched its first structured Bug Bounty Programme to strengthen the cybersecurity of the Aadhaar ecosystem.

About Bug Bounty Programme:

What it is?

• A Bug Bounty Programme is a cybersecurity initiative where organizations invite ethical hackers and security researchers to identify vulnerabilities in digital systems.

• Participants are rewarded for responsibly reporting security flaws before malicious actors can exploit them.

• To strengthen the security of digital platforms by proactively identifying vulnerabilities.

• To promote responsible disclosure of security flaws and enhance trust in digital infrastructure such as Aadhaar systems.

Key Features:

• Expert Participation: 20 experienced ethical hackers and cybersecurity researchers selected for the programme.

• Scope of Testing: Researchers will test key UIDAI digital assets including the UIDAI website, myAadhaar portal, and Secure QR Code application.

• Risk-Based Reward System: Vulnerabilities categorized as Critical, High, Medium, and Low, with rewards based on severity.

• Public–Private Collaboration: Implemented in partnership with ComOlho IT Private Limited, a cybersecurity solutions provider.

• Layered Security Approach: Complements existing security measures such as security audits, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and continuous monitoring.

Relevance in UPSC Examination

GS Paper III – Science & Technology

• Cybersecurity, digital infrastructure protection, ethical hacking, and vulnerability management.

GS Paper II – Governance

• Digital governance initiatives, Aadhaar ecosystem, and data protection in public service delivery.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 March 2026 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Kavach 4.0 System

Source: DD News

Subject: Science and Technology

Context: Union Railway Minister informed the Lok Sabha that Kavach 4.0 has been successfully commissioned across 1,452 route kilometers on the high-density Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors.

About Kavach 4.0 System:

What it is?

• Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) It is a state-of-the-art electronic safety system that prevents train collisions by automatically managing speed and braking if the loco pilot fails to do so.

Developed by: It was developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with the Indian industry.

Aim: The primary goal is to achieve Zero Accidents by preventing Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), controlling overspeeding, and ensuring safe train operations during adverse weather conditions like dense fog.

How it Works?

• The system operates through a network of RFID tags on tracks, on-board equipment in locomotives, and radio towers at stations.

• These components communicate in real-time to monitor the train’s location and speed. If the system detects a potential collision or a violation of speed limits, it automatically triggers the brakes without manual intervention.

Key Features of Kavach 4.0:

• Enhanced Precision: Improved location accuracy and better signal information handling, especially in complex and crowded railway yards.

• Direct Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Electronic Interlocking systems to receive real-time updates on track occupancy and signal status.

• Advanced Communication: Utilizes station-to-station communication via Optical Fibre Networks and UHF radio for uninterrupted connectivity.

• Automatic Braking: Automatically applies brakes if the loco pilot fails to respond to a red signal or exceeds the permitted speed limit.

• SOSR (Save Our Souls) Feature: Allows for the broadcast of emergency messages to all trains within a specific radius to prevent large-scale accidents during a crisis.

Significance:

• Contributes to the sharp decline in consequential train accidents (down nearly 90% since 2014) by eliminating human error.

• Enables trains to maintain higher speeds safely during low-visibility conditions (fog), reducing delays during winters.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

Source: TH

Subject: Government Schemes

Context: The Union Cabinet has officially approved the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) until 2028, shifting the program’s focus from mere infrastructure creation to sustained service delivery.

About Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM):

What it is?

• The Jal Jeevan Mission is a flagship central government initiative designed to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to all households in rural India.

Launched in: August 15, 2019.

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Aim: The primary objective is to ensure Har Ghar Jal (Water in Every Home) by providing 55 liters of water per person per day to every rural household through tap connections by the new deadline of December 2028.

Key Features of the Scheme:

• Service Delivery (JJM 2.0): Shifting focus from building pipes to ensuring a 24×7 utility-based service delivery approach through structural reforms and MoUs with States.

• Sujalam Bharat Digital Framework: Every village will be assigned a unique Sujal Gaon ID, digitally mapping the water supply from source to tap for better transparency and monitoring.

• Water Quality Monitoring: Heavy emphasis on regular testing of water samples using field test kits and a network of certified laboratories.

• Greywater Management: The mission includes the management of greywater (household wastewater) through soak pits and kitchen gardens to ensure sustainability.

• Convergence with Other Schemes: Integration with MGNREGS, SWACHH BHARAT MISSION (G), and 15th Finance Commission grants for water conservation and source strengthening.

Significance:

• Access to potable water significantly reduces the burden of water-borne diseases (like cholera and dysentery), particularly improving child health and nutrition.

• The decentralized approach (Paani Samitis) empowers villagers to manage their own water resources, fostering a sense of ownership.

Nutrient Transporter Protein

Source: TH

Subject: Science and Technology

Context: Scientists from ETH Zurich and the Technical University of Munich have engineered bacteria to produce designer proteins using artificial amino acids, enabling precise drug delivery and multifunctional therapeutic proteins.

About Nutrient Transporter Protein:

What it is?

• A nutrient transporter protein is a membrane protein that helps cells import nutrients such as peptides and amino acids across the cell membrane.

• In this research, scientists engineered an ABC transporter in bacteria (E. coli) to import peptides carrying artificial amino acids so that cells can build customised proteins.

• To enable cells to efficiently incorporate artificial amino acids into proteins, allowing the creation of designer proteins with new biological or chemical functions.

• This helps overcome the difficulty of transporting synthetic amino acids across the cell membrane.

How it Works?

• Scientists engineered an ABC transporter protein, which normally imports small peptides as nutrients.

• Artificial amino acids are hidden inside tripeptides or tetrapeptides (short chains of natural amino acids).

• The transporter carries these peptides into the cell.

• Once inside, cellular enzymes break the peptides apart, releasing the artificial amino acids.

• The ribosome then uses these amino acids to produce custom-designed proteins.

Key Features:

• Trojan Horse Strategy: Artificial amino acids are hidden inside natural peptide chains to bypass membrane barriers.

• Engineered ABC Transporter: Modified transporter can import up to 10× more artificial amino acids than natural versions.

• Directed Evolution: Scientists evolved the transporter protein to improve efficiency in crowded nutrient environments.

• Multi-functional Proteins: The system can insert two different artificial amino acids into a single protein.

• Compatibility with Standard Lab Conditions: Works efficiently even in common laboratory growth media.

Significance:

• Advanced Drug Delivery: Designer proteins can carry drugs to precise locations inside the body.

• Biotechnology Applications: Enables creation of proteins with novel chemical properties not found in nature.

• Synthetic Biology Breakthrough: Expands the genetic code beyond the natural 20 amino acids.

The Essential Commodities Act (ECA)

Source: IE

Subject: Government Schemes

Context: Amidst the West Asian crisis and supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the Centre has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to divert natural gas to priority sectors like households (PNG), transport (CNG), and LPG production.

About The Essential Commodities Act (ECA):

What it is?

• The ECA is a powerful legislative tool that allows the Central Government to regulate the production, supply, distribution, and pricing of specific commodities deemed essential to ensure they are available to the public at fair prices.

Came into existence in: The Act was enacted in 1955.

• Implemented by the Central Government with enforcement largely carried out by State Governments.

Aim: The primary objective is to protect consumers from artificial scarcities caused by hoarding and black marketing. It ensures the smooth supply of goods that are vital for everyday life, particularly during emergencies or market distortions.

Coverage:

The Act does not provide a fixed, permanent definition of an essential commodity. Instead, it maintains a list that the Centre can expand or shrink via notified orders. Currently, it includes:

• Foodstuffs: Including edible oils, seeds, pulses, and cereals (regulated under extraordinary conditions).

• Fuels: Coal and its derivatives, Petroleum, and Natural Gas.

• Agriculture: Cattle fodder, Raw Cotton, and Raw Jute.

• Healthcare: Drugs (medicines) and, during emergencies, items like masks and sanitizers.

• Industrial: Iron, steel, and automobile components.

Key Features:

• Stock Limits: The government can impose a ceiling on how much of a commodity a trader or individual can hold to prevent hoarding.

• Price Control: The Centre has the power to fix the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of any packaged essential commodity.

• Regulatory Flexibility: The Act was amended in 2020 to allow the regulation of agricultural food items only under extraordinary circumstances (e.g., war, famine, or 100% price rise in perishables).

• Enforcement: State governments are usually delegated powers to carry out raids, seizures of excess stock, and legal action against violators.

• Priority Allocation: As seen in the 2026 order, it allows the government to rank sectors to receive limited supplies during a crisis.

Significance:

• It acts as a safety net for the common man by keeping the prices of basic necessities stable during geopolitical or economic shocks.

Black Rain

Source: NDTV

Subject: Environment

Context: Following Israeli airstrikes on oil storage facilities in Tehran and Alborz (March 7–8), residents reported black rain — oily, pollutant-laden rainfall caused by smoke and toxic particles from burning oil mixing with rain clouds.

About Black Rain:

What it is?

Black rain is a form of environmental fallout where precipitation becomes heavily contaminated with soot, hydrocarbons, and other pollutants. Unlike normal rain, it is dark, oily, and carries a strong chemical odor, coating everything it touches in a layer of toxic residue.

How it Formed:

• Combustion: Israeli strikes ignited massive fires at the Tehran refinery and oil depots, releasing thick plumes of black smoke.

• Atmospheric Loading: Huge quantities of particulate matter (soot) and chemical vapors were pushed into the atmosphere.

• Coalescence: A weather pattern brought rain clouds over the city. As the rain fell through the smoke-saturated air, the water droplets absorbed the suspended particles and chemicals.

• Topographic Trap: Tehran’s surrounding mountains acted as a barrier, preventing the smoke from dispersing and forcing the pollutants to settle over the urban center.

Chemicals Involved:

• Toxic Hydrocarbons: Including Benzene (a known carcinogen).

• Sulfur Oxides (SOx) & Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Which react with water to form acid rain.

• Particulate Matter (Soot): Concentrated carbon particles.

• Forever Chemicals (PFAS): Likely released from industrial fire-retardant systems at the hit facilities.

Characteristics:

• Appearance: Oily, jet-black droplets that leave permanent or difficult-to-remove stains.

• Odor: A pervasive, bitter smell of burning petroleum and chemicals.

• Texture: Viscous and greasy to the touch compared to normal water.

• Reach: Capable of falling dozens of miles away from the actual site of the fire due to wind patterns.

Implications

• Health Hazards: Causes skin burns, eye irritation, and respiratory problems; prolonged exposure may lead to lung damage and cancers.

• Environmental Contamination: Toxic pollutants can contaminate soil and groundwater, entering the food chain through crops and livestock.

• Acid Rain Effects: Sulfur and nitrogen oxides can cause acidic rainfall, damaging buildings, infrastructure, and vegetation.

• Long-term Persistence: Presence of forever chemicals means environmental damage can persist for decades as they do not degrade naturally.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 March 2026 Mapping:

Devon Island

Source: TOI

Subject: Mapping

Context: NASA continues to use Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic as a primary Mars analogue site to test next-generation rovers, autonomous drones, and life-support systems.

About Devon Island:

What it is?

• Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island on Earth. Because of its extreme cold, dry climate, and barren landscape, it is used by scientists as a terrestrial analogue for the surface of Mars.

Located in: It is situated in the Arctic Archipelago within the territory of Nunavut, Canada. It lies well within the Arctic Circle.

Neighbouring Regions:

• North: Separated from Ellesmere Island by the Jones Sound.

• South: Separated from Somerset Island and Baffin Island by the Lancaster Sound.

• West: Cornwallis Island (home to the settlement of Resolute).

• East: Baffin Bay.

Geographic Features:

• Haughton Impact Crater: A massive 20-kilometre-wide crater formed roughly 39 million years ago. Its rocky, rubbly terrain and absence of vegetation make it a near-perfect visual and physical match for Martian craters.

• Polar Desert: The island receives very little precipitation and remains freezing year-round, resulting in a landscape devoid of trees or surface plants.

• Unique Terrain: Features include permafrost, underground ice, dried-up lakebeds, and deep canyons that mimic Martian valleys.

• Endolithic Habitats: The rocks within the Haughton Crater house microorganisms that live inside the stone to survive extreme UV radiation, a process known as endolithic colonisation.

Significance:

• It serves as a proving ground for equipment like deep-drilling systems and pressurized rovers that cannot be easily repaired once they leave Earth.

• By studying how tiny organisms survive in Devon’s frozen, sterile soil, NASA learns exactly where and how to search for signs of life on Mars.

• The extreme isolation and unforgiving environment help astronauts prepare for the mental challenges of long-duration space missions.

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