Daily Current Affairs - 28 March 2026

Today's current affairs highlight critical advancements and challenges across various sectors. From a novel approach to climate accounting to strategic naval operations, and from assessing global food security risks to pioneering private space technology, these developments shape India's and the world's trajectory in addressing complex issues like climate change, energy independence, and technological innovation.

Radiative Forcing Based Accounting

Traditionally, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions are measured in Carbon Dioxide (CO2) equivalents. However, this method faces a challenge: it provides a reference to CO2 but ignores the varying lifespans of different GHGs in the atmosphere. For instance, CO2 can persist for centuries, while Methane (CH4) dissipates within decades. To address this, "Environmental Research Letters" has launched a new framework called Radiative Forcing Based Accounting. Its primary purpose is to study the impact of Global Warming Gases in climate change more comprehensively and individually.

Concept of Radiative Forcing

Radiative Forcing measures the effect of an increase in GHG quantity on the Earth's atmosphere. It considers both the intensity and duration of warming caused by different gases separately, offering a more nuanced understanding of their climate impact.

Features and Benefits

1. Actual Warming Potential: Provides a more accurate assessment of a GHG's warming impact.

2. Measurement: Quantified in watts per square meter (W/m²), offering a precise metric.

3. Life Cycle Differentiation: Explicitly considers the lifetime differences of gases, distinguishing between short-lived and long-lived pollutants.

4. Effective Policy Making: Enables the creation of more precise and effective climate policies due to better, gas-specific data.

5. Carbon Market Efficiency: Improves accuracy in carbon markets and the trading of carbon credits, fostering better mitigation strategies.

6. Targeted Solutions: Allows for scientific models to target specific gases causing high greenhouse effects, rather than solely referencing CO2.

7. Climate-Precise Accounting: Leads to more climate-precise accounting, aligning efforts with actual warming effects.

Advantages & Policy Implications

This framework offers significant advantages, including identifying opportunities for quick wins (e.g., tackling methane, which has a shorter atmospheric life for rapid impact). It facilitates fair carbon markets and transparent support for sectors like agriculture and industry, making climate policy-making more equitable and effective.

Operation Urja

Operation Urja (Security) was launched to provide protection to energy-carrying vessels navigating through the Strait of Hormuz amidst regional crises. Its objective is for Indian Naval Ships to escort these vessels, ensuring their safe passage to India.

Strategic Importance for India

This operation is critical for India's energy security, as a significant portion of its energy supply traverses this region. It also plays a vital role in the protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs), safeguarding essential maritime trade routes.

Significance of the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is a global chokepoint, with approximately 20% of the world's petroleum and a significant amount of LNG trade passing through it.

• Geography:

• To its North lies Iran.

• To its South is the tip of Oman.

• To its West is the Persian Gulf.

• To its East is the Gulf of Oman.
  Iran asserts its sovereign rights over the strait. Due to the region's importance, India is actively pursuing various strategies to ensure its energy security.

IIED Food Security Index

Developed by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), this index utilizes the Global Food Security Index to assess "climate food climate risk" on food systems. The core idea is that climate change profoundly impacts agricultural practices and productivity, directly affecting food availability and accessibility. This comprehensive assessment covers 162 countries.

Four Pillars of the Index

The index evaluates food security across four critical dimensions:

1. Availability

2. Accessibility

3. Utilization (including nutrition)

4. Sustainability (and systemic vulnerabilities)

Key Findings & Scenarios

The index analyzes challenges under various temperature increase scenarios (1.5°C, 2°C, 4°C), referencing IPCC reports and the Paris Climate Change Agreement. A key finding is the projection of increased inequalities, with poorer countries, particularly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, facing the highest risk. Approximately 59% of the global population is already at risk due to current global warming scenarios. Climate shocks also pose significant challenges to economic growth and GDP.

Concerns for India

India faces significant concerns, with a low baseline score of 5.31 in the index, falling below the global average. This is attributed to structural weaknesses such as fragmented agriculture (dominated by small and marginal farmers) and income inequality.

At 1.5°C warming, India's score is projected to drop to 4.96, increasing population vulnerability. Further warming would further degrade this score. The impacts include reduced crop yields, increased food unaffordability, and a shift from quality nutrition to basic sustenance. The index highlights India's weak system resilience due to a lack of focus on sustainability and consistency in its food systems. This serves as an important alert, emphasizing the threat to food security posed by rising temperatures. The recommended action is a transition to climate-resilient agricultural practices and the establishment of an equitable food system to prevent a future of "have and have-not" divides.

Ignite Engine & Agnikul Cosmos

Agnikul Cosmos, a Chennai-based startup, has developed the "Ignite Engine," a 3D-printed semi-cryogenic booster engine for rockets used in satellite launch vehicles. This represents a significant milestone in space propulsion technology for India.

Key Features and Technology

• 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing: This advanced manufacturing technique combines plastics, metals, and ceramics. It enables rapid manufacturing (e.g., a single engine in one week) and results in a single-piece structure, eliminating the need for assembling multiple components. This significantly reduces manufacturing complexity, time, and costs.

• Semi-Cryogenic Booster: The Ignite Engine uses liquid oxygen (LOX) as an oxidizer and kerosene as fuel. A key advantage is that it does not require sub-zero temperatures for operation, making it easier to handle compared to fully cryogenic engines. This engine is designed to boost launch vehicles like Agnibaan.

• Material: The engine utilizes Inconel, a superalloy made of nickel and chromium, renowned for its exceptional thermal resilience and structural strength under extreme conditions.

• Electrically Driven Pump: This feature ensures both efficiency and control during engine operation.

Applications & Advantages

The Ignite Engine is ideal for small satellite launch vehicles like Agnibaan. Its underlying technology enables rapid and affordable satellite launches, providing an on-demand service capability due to the quick manufacturing process.

Agnikul Cosmos - Contributions

Agnikul Cosmos was founded in 2017 under the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development at IIT Madras. It is led by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM, and Satyanarayana Chakravarthy. Its key innovations include:

1. Agnibaan Launch Vehicle: A small rocket capable of launching satellites up to 100 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on demand.

2. 3D Printing Engine Technology (Agnilet): The core technology behind the Ignite engine.

3. Private Launchpad Dhanush: India's first private launchpad, located at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, also developed by Agnikul Cosmos.

4. Semi-Cryogenic Propulsion Breakthrough: The technology driving the Ignite engine, successfully demonstrated in the Sortie mission of 2024.