Today's 5 stories
Polity and governanceIndian Express, Page 3GS2Must read
The Punjab Cabinet has passed a resolution asking the Centre to put on hold the appointment of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Indian Express reported on 7 September 2026. The State says the Centre went ahead without obtaining its views, in violation of the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), the executive document that sets out the steps for appointing High Court judges. Justice Mishra had been the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court since June 2026. The Supreme Court Collegium recommended him on 6 August and the Centre notified the appointment on 5 September. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann wrote to the President, the Prime Minister and the Punjab Governor, enclosing the Cabinet resolution.
Prelims facts
- Article 217(1) requires the President to consult the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the State before appointing a High Court judge, and also the High Court's Chief Justice for judges other than the Chief Justice.
- For a common High Court, Article 231 makes the reference to the Governor in Article 217 mean the Governors of all the States over which the court has jurisdiction.
- Under the collegium system, a High Court Chief Justice is recommended by the CJI and the two senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, and the MoP's policy is to appoint Chief Justices from outside the State.
- Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, Acting Chief Justice since June 2026, was recommended on 6 August and notified as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 5 September 2026.
- Article 223 lets the President appoint an Acting Chief Justice when the office of Chief Justice of a High Court is vacant.
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Environment and geographyThe Hindu, Page 10GS2GS3Must read
The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), the nodal ministry for the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA), has said that the Act and its rules contain no provision for obtaining the consent of the gram sabha (the village assembly of all adult members) for Stage-II forest clearance, The Hindu reported on 7 September 2026. The Ministry also said that questions of gram sabha consent for forest clearance do not fall within its purview, even though it administers the FRA. The communication was made to the Union Ministry of Power, amid delays in power projects that have been attributed to the requirement of consent from every affected gram sabha.
Prelims facts
- The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, nodal ministry for the Forest Rights Act, 2006, says the Act and its rules contain no provision for gram sabha consent for Stage-II forest clearance.
- Parliament's Committee on Public Undertakings recommended 'qualified super-majority consent' of 70 to 75% of affected gram sabhas for large hydropower projects of national importance.
- Under Section 6 of the FRA, the gram sabha is the authority to initiate the process of determining individual and community forest rights.
- Section 4(5) of the FRA bars eviction of forest dwellers until the recognition and verification of their rights is complete.
- In the Niyamgiri case (2013), the Supreme Court left it to gram sabhas to decide whether mining would affect their rights.
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EconomyThe Hindu, Page 8GS3Must read
A decade after India adopted flexible inflation targeting (FIT), an analysis in The Hindu on 7 September 2026 asks whether the framework suits the Indian economy. Under Section 45ZA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, inserted in 2016, the Centre sets an inflation target in consultation with the RBI once every five years. The target has been 4% consumer price inflation, with a tolerance band of 2 percentage points on either side, since 2016, and it has been retained for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031. The RBI's six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets the repo rate, the rate at which the RBI lends overnight to banks, to steer demand and expectations towards this target.
Prelims facts
- Section 45ZA of the RBI Act, 1934 empowers the Centre, in consultation with the RBI, to set the inflation target once every five years; it is 4% CPI inflation with a band of 2% to 6%, retained for April 2026 to March 2031.
- The Monetary Policy Committee has six members: three from the RBI including the Governor, who chairs it with a casting vote, and three external members appointed by the Centre for four years.
- The RBI is deemed to have failed if average inflation stays above the upper band or below the lower band for three consecutive quarters; it then reports to the Centre, as it did in November 2022.
- The Hindu analysis argues India's Phillips curve is almost flat because around 92% of workers lack bargaining power, weakening the link between output and inflation.
- In the CPI series with base year 2024, food and beverages carry a weight of 36.75%, down from 45.86% in the 2012 series.
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Society, justice and ethicsThe Hindu, Page 14GS2GS3
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated that Bhutan has eliminated dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem, making it the first country in WHO's South-East Asia Region to do so, The Hindu reported on 7 September 2026. The validation was given on 4 September 2026. Bhutan recorded its last human death from rabies in June 2023. According to the report, WHO validation requires a country to show no human deaths from dog-transmitted rabies for at least two years, along with the capacity to prevent the disease from returning.
Prelims facts
- WHO validated on 4 September 2026 that Bhutan has eliminated dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem, the first country in WHO's South-East Asia Region to do so.
- Bhutan's last human rabies death was recorded in June 2023; its strategy followed a One Health approach with mass dog vaccination and dog population management.
- Rabies kills an estimated 59,000 people a year worldwide, and India accounts for about 36% of these deaths.
- The 'Zero by 30' plan (2018) aims to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030; India's NAPRE, launched on 28 September 2021, has the same goal.
- Rabies is caused by a virus of the genus Lyssavirus and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but is preventable with prompt post-exposure prophylaxis.
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Society, justice and ethicsIndian Express, Page 13GS1
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is documenting more than 10,000 artefacts from Rajghat in Varanasi that were excavated decades ago and have remained in storage for about 70 years, the Indian Express reported on 7 September 2026. The finds include pottery estimated to be about 3,000 years old, a human skeleton being examined for the first time, seals, punch-marked coins, ivory and iron objects and terracotta figurines. DNA analysis of the skeleton is expected to throw light on the age, ancestry and way of life of the site's early inhabitants.
Prelims facts
- Rajghat, at the confluence of the Ganga and the Varuna in Varanasi, is identified as the site of the capital of the ancient Kashi Janapada.
- BHU excavated Rajghat between 1957 and 1969; re-excavations in the early 2000s dated its oldest layers to about 800 BCE, before Northern Black Polished Ware.
- Kashi was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas listed in Buddhist texts such as the Anguttara Nikaya; it was later absorbed by Kosala and then Magadha.
- Northern Black Polished Ware (c. 700 to 200 BCE) is the pottery associated with the second urbanisation of the Ganga plain.
- Punch-marked coins, mostly silver and known as karshapanas, are India's earliest coins, issued from around the 6th century BCE.
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Every other article worth knowing
The Hindu
India says its UN map vote does not endorse any depiction of J&K and Ladakh boundaries
The Hindu, Page 12GS2Prelims
The Ministry of External Affairs said India's September 4, 2026 vote for a UN General Assembly resolution on correcting map distortions does not endorse any specific map or depiction of national boundaries. India said UN-backed world maps must show Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as per its official cartographic position, and spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said misleading depictions of India's sovereign territory remain unacceptable.
Prelims facts
- The resolution was sponsored by Togo on behalf of the African Group.
- It addresses distortions in the Mercator projection and promotes equal-area projections such as the Equal Earth projection.
- The resolution is non-binding and does not alter international borders or the legal status of any territory.
Mains angle
Sovereignty and cartography: India backed the principle of cartographic accuracy at the UN while guarding its official depiction of J&K and Ladakh, an example of balancing multilateral positions with territorial integrity.
Source summary
Supreme Court judge's letters allege misconduct by Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice
The Hindu, Page 6EditorialGS2Prelims
In letters dated August 2, 10 and 17 to the Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta alleged misconduct by Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, including victimisation of judges, maladministration, improper case shifting and nepotism in Permanent Lok Adalat appointments. The CJI reportedly said allegations are not findings and must go through established institutional mechanisms. The article argues the case exposes weak accountability: the Collegium's lack of transparency and the inadequacy of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
Prelims facts
- The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended Justice Sanjay Agrawal as the new Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
- Justice Sharma was transferred to the Patna High Court in 2022, and the Collegium rejected his request for repatriation to Rajasthan in 2023.
- The article cites Articles 124(4) and 217(1)(b) and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 in discussing how judicial misconduct is addressed.
Mains angle
Judicial accountability: gaps in mechanisms for misconduct and the problem of High Courts run by Acting Chief Justices for long periods; the cases of Justices V. Ramaswami and Yashwant Varma show uneven institutional responses.
Source summary
India to host 18th BRICS Summit; article sets out a 'POWER' agenda for cooperation
The Hindu, Page 6OpinionGS2Prelims
India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026, with the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", during its fourth BRICS chairship, which began on January 1, 2026. The author frames cooperation as "POWER": Principle (upholding the UN Charter), Openness (a WTO-centred multilateral trading system), Win-Win (SDG implementation and macroeconomic coordination), Engine (global growth) and Responsibility (peace and development).
Prelims facts
- BRICS has expanded to 11 full members, with Indonesia joining in early 2025.
- BRICS accounts for nearly half the world's population and about 30% of global economic output.
- The author says BRICS is projected to grow nearly three times faster than the G-7 by 2028.
Source summary
ISRO launches EOS-05, India's first geosynchronous earth-imaging satellite
The Hindu, Page 6EditorialGS3Prelims
ISRO launched EOS-05 (GISAT-1A), India's first geosynchronous earth-imaging satellite, on GSLV-F17 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on September 4, 2026. From about 36,000 km it can observe fixed locations continuously, helping monitor floods, cyclones and forest fires and assess land use. The editorial notes it is ISRO's first successful launch of 2026 and restores confidence in the indigenous cryogenic upper stage after its 2021 failure.
Prelims facts
- EOS-05 weighs 2,367 kg and was placed in a sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which onboard thrusters will take it to its final position.
- EOS-05 will provide frequent imaging of broad geographical areas, complementing low-Earth orbit satellites that offer finer detail but less frequent revisits.
- The launch follows consecutive PSLV failures in May last year and in January 2026.
Source summary
Unconditional cash transfers for women carry political costs, article argues
The Hindu, Page 7OpinionGS2GS3Prelims
Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) schemes, mostly aimed at women, have become a major electoral strategy in States since 2020, such as Tamil Nadu's Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, West Bengal's Lakshmir Bhandar and Karnataka's Gruha Lakshmi Yojana. The article argues they carry political costs because of inclusion and exclusion errors, with perceived targeting errors adding to actual ones, and notes that some governments that ran them faced electoral defeats.
Prelims facts
- States are projected to spend about $18 billion on UCTs in 2025-26.
- UCTs for women are meant to partly advance Sustainable Development Goal 5.4.
- Tamil Nadu's scheme drew widespread complaints when fiscal limits narrowed eligibility despite promises of universal coverage.
Mains angle
Welfare design: the trade-off between targeted efficiency and broad inclusion, the freebies and fiscal space debate, and the case for conditional transfers and incentive-linked schemes such as the Midday Meal Scheme.
Source summary
Why headline unemployment numbers mislead in India's largely informal economy
The Hindu, Page 7OpinionGS3Prelims
The Periodic Labour Force Survey showed unemployment at a four-month low of 5.1% in July for people aged 15 and above, driven largely by seasonal demand for farm labour. The article argues headline rates say little when about 90% of the workforce is informal, since the Current Weekly Status measure does not adequately capture a largely informal job market, and falling unemployment may reflect distress entry into low-productivity jobs.
Prelims facts
- The ILO defines the unemployed as those without work, available for work and actively seeking it.
- The revamped PLFS, enhanced from January 2025, provides monthly estimates for rural and urban areas.
- The Current Weekly Status approach measures a person's activity over the preceding seven days.
Mains angle
Quality of employment data: fragmented databases, circular migration and informality limit headline numbers; a rising Labour Force Participation Rate is a positive sign, but recovery needs investment and stable, high-productivity jobs.
Source summary
AYUSH enters India's trade pacts and health diplomacy as experts seek credible standards
The Hindu, Page 12GS2Prelims
India is building traditional medicine into its health diplomacy through trade pacts and medical tourism. The India-Oman CEPA and the India-New Zealand FTA, operationalised in June 2026, include traditional medicine provisions, and the India-EU FTA, signed in January 2026, lets AYUSH practitioners use Indian qualifications in EU countries without existing regulatory frameworks. Experts say success abroad needs credible standards, evidence, regulation and practitioner quality.
Prelims facts
- The AYUSH visa, introduced in 2023, brought 3,375 foreign nationals to India for AYUSH treatment between January 2023 and December 2025.
- Foreign medical arrivals in India rose from 1.83 lakh in 2020 to 6.44 lakh in 2024.
- The AYUSH Fellowship Scheme supports 260 students from 32 countries studying AYUSH in Indian institutions.
Mains angle
Soft power and health diplomacy: placing AYUSH in trade agreements and medical tourism widens India's reach, but lasting credibility depends on evidence and regulation.
Source summary
India and China hold first Corps Commander-level talks in Arunachal Pradesh
The Hindu, Page 1GS2GS3Prelims
India and China held their first Corps Commander-level talks in the Eastern Sector, at the Vacha-Damai Border Personnel Meeting Point in Arunachal Pradesh, extending such dialogue beyond the Chushul-Moldo meeting point, where such meetings were previously held. Lt Gen Girish Kalia of 3 Corps (Spear Corps) led the Indian side. The talks came amid reported Chinese activity and alleged incursions at Taksing in Upper Subansiri district, ahead of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Prelims facts
- 3 Corps is headquartered at Rangapahar in Nagaland, and 4 Corps is based in Tezpur.
- Recent engagements include the 36th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination and the 25th round of Special Representatives talks in Beijing, attended by NSA Ajit Doval.
- The Special Representatives talks produced agreement on two more Border Personnel Meeting Points, one in the Eastern Sector and another in the Central Sector, and on new hotlines.
Source summary
Sharpest images of the Sun's surface reveal small, violent plasma whirlpools
The Hindu, Page IIGS3Prelims
The NSF Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) has captured the highest-resolution images yet of the Sun's surface, revealing small, violent plasma whirlpools at the boundaries of convection cells. The vortices, 25 to 170 km long and rotating at 1.6 to 2.8 km/s, form and vanish within seconds. Scientists think they distort and braid magnetic field lines, which may help explain solar flares and the coronal heating problem. The study was published in Nature on August 5.
Prelims facts
- DKIST's 4-metre mirror allowed imaging at a resolution of 19 km.
- Convection cells (granules) on the photosphere can be up to 2,000 km wide.
- Magneto-hydrodynamic simulations indicate the whirlpools extend 100 to 400 km below the photosphere.
Mains angle
Space science: small-scale magnetic processes on the Sun bear on why the corona is millions of degrees hotter than the Sun's surface, and on the origin of solar flares.
Source summary
The Indian Express
UN endorses Equal Earth map projection to replace the Mercator map
Indian Express, Page 2GS1GS2Prelims
On September 4, 2026, the UN endorsed the Equal Earth projection through a non-binding resolution titled "Correct the Map", passed with 164 votes in favour, one against (the United States) and six abstentions. Togo, on behalf of the African Union, spearheaded the move to correct how the Mercator map, in use since the 16th century, distorts Africa's size. The resolution encourages governments and educational institutions to adopt the more accurate representation.
Prelims facts
- The Equal Earth projection, developed in 2018, is a pseudocylindrical equal-area map that preserves the relative sizes of continents.
- Africa is 14 times larger than Greenland, which an equal-area projection shows accurately.
- No flat map can perfectly represent the Earth's three-dimensional surface.
Mains angle
Geography and global perception: the resolution shows how map projections shape views of Africa and the Global South, and how the African Union used the UN to push for corrective representation.
Source summary
ISRO tells staff private sector growth expands the space ecosystem without shrinking its role
Indian Express, Page 3GS3Prelims
Responding to concerns raised by its employee associations over privatisation, ISRO said private sector participation is meant to expand the space ecosystem and multiply capability, not reduce its role as India's principal institution for advanced space research. ISRO will focus on frontier technologies, advanced R&D, human spaceflight and deep-space missions, while private firms take up mature and routinely manufactured systems.
Prelims facts
- India's space economy is valued at about $8.4 billion, with a target of $44 billion by 2033.
- India aims to set up the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and undertake a crewed mission to the Moon by 2040.
- The Indian Space Policy 2023 and a progressive FDI policy are meant to foster a larger space ecosystem.
Mains angle
Space sector reform: the division of labour between ISRO and private industry, and the need for private capital, industrial capacity and entrepreneurs to grow the space economy.
Source summary
Amit Shah outlines a four-pillar roadmap for a drug-free India by 2029
Indian Express, Page 7GS3Prelims
Union Home Minister Amit Shah outlined a three-year roadmap for a drug-free India by 2029, with 2026 to 2029 as a mission-mode phase with set goals, timelines and ministerial accountability. The strategy targets supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction through four pillars: intelligence-based enforcement, precursor control, demand and harm reduction, and capacity building.
Prelims facts
- Drug seizures rose from 26 lakh kg in 2004 to 2014 to over 1.19 crore kg in 2014 to 2026.
- A four-tier NCORD (Narco Coordination Centre) mechanism was set up to improve coordination among agencies.
- Dedicated anti-narcotics task forces have been set up in all States and Union Territories.
Source summary
Collegium turns to Supreme Court vacancies after all High Courts get regular Chief Justices
Indian Express, Page 8GS2Prelims
After eight recent appointments, all 25 High Courts now have regular Chief Justices, and the Supreme Court Collegium will next take up four vacancies in the Supreme Court, which has 34 judges against its increased sanctioned strength. Gender representation and succession to the office of the Chief Justice of India are key considerations.
Prelims facts
- The Supreme Court's sanctioned strength was increased in May by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026.
- CJI Surya Kant, who took office on November 24 last year, retires on February 9, 2027, and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma retires on November 29.
- Justice B V Nagaratna is the only woman judge in the Supreme Court and is a member of the five-member Collegium.
Source summary
New GDP data sparks debate over MoSPI's methodology and trust in official statistics
Indian Express, Page 11OpinionGS3Prelims
Former finance secretary Subhash Garg alleged that the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) overstated growth in the new GDP data for 2026-27. MoSPI defended its methodology, calling a comparison of 2026-27 data on the new base with 2025-26 data on the old system "apples to oranges", and said using the new base and methodology for both years gives real growth of 7.8%. The article argues the dispute reflects a wider trust deficit in official data.
Prelims facts
- Unlisted firms and the informal economy together account for nearly 45% of the economy, making quarterly GDP hard to estimate.
- MoSPI said value-added deflators can rise less than the Consumer Price Index or the Wholesale Price Index, and can occasionally be negative.
Mains angle
Credibility of official statistics: past disputes, such as 2016-17 GDP during demonetisation, a delayed Census and the withdrawn 2017 consumption survey, feed distrust; the article calls for releasing full "Sources and Methods" documentation.
Source summary
Private banks take nearly half of $130 billion FCNR(B) deposit inflows
Indian Express, Page 12GS3Prelims
Banks raised about $130 billion through the special FCNR(B) deposit scheme for non-resident Indians, meant to bolster forex reserves and stabilise the rupee. Private banks took the largest share, $61 billion (46.9%), followed by public sector banks with $37 billion (28.5%) and foreign banks with $32 billion (24.6%). The inflows eased pressure on the rupee and pushed the rupee liquidity surplus to Rs 10.3 lakh crore by September 3.
Prelims facts
- The special FCNR(B) scheme closed on August 31, and banks have until September 11 to use the RBI's dollar swap facility.
- The RBI is using Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auctions to absorb the excess liquidity.
Mains angle
External sector management: using NRI deposit schemes and swap windows to support the rupee, and the domestic liquidity effects the RBI must then manage.
Source summary
Banking system liquidity surplus climbs to a four-year high of Rs 10.3 lakh crore
Indian Express, Page 12GS3Prelims
The banking system's liquidity surplus reached about Rs 10.3 lakh crore on September 3, a four-year high, driven by foreign-currency inflows, including through the RBI's dollar-rupee forex swap facility, which drew $136.377 billion. August's daily average surplus was Rs 3.67 lakh crore, more than three times July's. The surplus pushes overnight money-market rates down, complicating monetary policy, with headline inflation projected to peak at 5.9% in Q3 of 2026-27.
Prelims facts
- FCNR(B) deposits of $127.226 billion added to liquidity because they are exempt from Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio requirements.
- Without intervention, core liquidity could reach Rs 13 to 14 lakh crore by the end of December.
- Options before the RBI include a temporary increase in the Cash Reserve Ratio or an Incremental CRR.
Mains angle
Monetary policy transmission: surplus liquidity weakens the policy rate signal; seasonal currency demand during festivals and maturing RBI short dollar positions in forward markets may partly offset it.
Source summary
Canada seeks to rebuild ties with India through trade, energy and security cooperation
Indian Express, Page 14GS2Prelims
Canada is seeking to rebuild trust with India after a period of strained ties, with the government under PM Carney taking a pragmatic approach focused on economic ties and security cooperation. Steps include listing the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity, fast-tracking talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to double bilateral trade by 2030, and offering India oil, natural gas, LPG, nuclear technology and critical minerals.
Prelims facts
- 18 of India's 24 nuclear reactors are based on Canadian CANDU reactor technology.
- Canada aims to export 50 million tonnes of natural gas by 2030.
- This CANDU base is seen as a foundation for future nuclear energy collaboration, including on Small Modular Reactors.
Mains angle
India-Canada relations: a reset built on economic and energy complementarity, with Canada acknowledging India's concerns over the political space given to separatist elements.
Source summary
Press Information Bureau
Vibrant Villages Programme: developing border villages as strategic assets
PIBGovernment releaseGS2GS3Prelims
The Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) aims to turn border villages into strategic assets by improving roads, electricity, telecom, health, education and livelihoods, treating them as "first villages" rather than remote outposts. With a combined outlay of Rs 11,639 crore covering over 2,616 villages, it seeks to tackle isolation and out-migration while strengthening border security. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal ministry.
Prelims facts
- VVP-I, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rs 4,800 crore for the northern borders, was launched in April 2023 at Kibithoo, Arunachal Pradesh, covering 4 States and 1 UT.
- VVP-II, a Central Sector Scheme of Rs 6,839 crore for other international land borders, was approved in April 2025 and launched in February 2026 at Nathanpur, Assam, covering 15 States and 2 UTs.
- Implementation uses Village Action Plans and convergence of schemes.
Source summary
16th National Meet of State Biodiversity Boards held in Chandigarh
PIBGovernment releaseGS3Prelims
The National Biodiversity Authority held the 16th National Meet of State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils in Chandigarh, focused on effective implementation of India's biodiversity governance framework. States and UTs were urged to align their rules with the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023, and emphasis was placed on making 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees functional and People's Biodiversity Registers dynamic planning instruments.
Prelims facts
- India has submitted its 7th report to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
- Over Rs 200 crore has been distributed as Access and Benefit Sharing funds.
- The legal framework includes the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 and the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024.
Mains angle
Biodiversity governance: functional Biodiversity Management Committees and People's Biodiversity Registers carry national law to the local level, while India's updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2030 is aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Source summary
International Vulture Awareness Day: Pinjore breeding centre adds vultures for reintroduction
PIBGovernment releaseGS3Prelims
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav led International Vulture Awareness Day 2026 events in Panchkula, Haryana, and opened a national workshop titled "From Crisis to Recovery: Conserving India's Vultures". The Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC) at Pinjore bred 35 chicks and contributed 87 vultures for reintroduction in 2025-26. India's vultures have been hit since the 1990s by veterinary painkillers and food chain disruption.
Prelims facts
- India is home to nine vulture species.
- JCBC Pinjore focuses on breeding White-rumped, Long-billed and Slender-billed Vultures.
- Conservation strategies include Vulture Safe Zones, vulture-safe veterinary practices and safe food availability.
Mains angle
Species recovery: conservation breeding and reintroduction, together with vulture-safe veterinary practices, show how a crashed scavenger population can be restored.
Source summary