US President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled India-based Essar Group's plans to build a massive steel plant in Iowa, with an investment of $15 billion.

#CA2026

TN Seshan (then CEC) vs UOI : Seshan challenged the validity of the CEC & Other ECS (Condition of Service) Amendment Ordinance that amended the 1991 Act. It stipulated the panel would be comprised of two election commissioners, apart from the CEC. The SC dismissed Seshan's petition. The decision is halled as having upheld the multi-member composition of ECI.

--> ECI and others vs Dr Subramanian Swamy : The ECI filed an appeal with then CEC TN Seshan against a Madras HC order directing him to refrain from deciding a disqualification petition filed by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy against then Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa. She, however, alleged that Seshan was biased towards Swamy. The SC held in her favour and restrained Seshan from deciding the matter.

--> Anoop Baranwal vs UOI , 2023
In 2015, lawyer Anoop Baranwal filed a petition challenging the process of appointing CECs and ECs.
A five-judge SC bench laid down the law on appointment of CEC and ECs by directing a committee headed by the PM and comprising the CJI and Lok Sabha LOP to appoint the CEC and ECs till Parliament promulgates a law.

#GS2mains

Routes Asia 2027 : Routes Asia is the region's dedicated route-development forum, where airline network planners and airport commercial teams negotiate new services face-to-face. The 23rd edition runs 16–18 March 2027 at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre in New Delhi, hosted by the Airports Authority of India.

OpenAI cancels launch of newest AI model ASTRA 6.1

Prof. (Dr.) Ram Bachan Rai, Deputy Chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council since July 2024, has taken charge as Acting Chairman after the resignation of Chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh.

Article 184 —> if the office of Chairman of a State Legislative Council falls vacant, the Deputy Chairman performs the Chairman’s duties; Article 182 provides for the offices of Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council.

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#POLITY

‘Angan Ka Milan’ —> Bihar’s state-wide nutrition campaign launched by CM from Phulwarisharif High School, Patna, to strengthen Anganwadi-based nutrition and child-care services.

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100 year upsc PIB

Bihar’s Science, Technology & Technical Education Department signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with Google LLC (Limited Liability Company) to train government-school teachers in AI and promote effective use of digital and AI tools in education.

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Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri became Morocco’s first woman Prime Minister in September 2026; she was appointed by King Mohammed VI after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won the most seats in parliamentary elections.

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#APPOINTMENT

Paraquat Dichloride: India has prohibited its registration under the Insecticides Act, 1968; this highly toxic herbicide is linked to Parkinson’s disease, lung and kidney damage, and has no known antidote.

Interlink: https://t.me/bpscweb/44714

#CA2026

SpaceX’s Starship, the world’s largest fully reusable launch vehicle under development, reached orbit for the first time on its 14th test flight and deployed 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites.

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#SPACE

J&K: Article 370 to Union Territory
1. Article 370, placed in Part XXI of the Constitution, provided special constitutional arrangements for Jammu & Kashmir and was intended as a temporary provision.
2. Jammu & Kashmir acceded to India through the Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh on 26 October 1947; initially, Parliament’s legislative competence was principally linked to Defence, External Affairs and Communications.
3. Article 35A was inserted through the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, issued under Article 370; it protected laws defining J&K’s permanent residents and their special rights/privileges.
4. The Delhi Agreement, 1952 between the Union government and J&K leadership further defined the constitutional relationship between J&K and the Union.
5. On 5 August 2019, Presidential constitutional orders altered the operation of Article 370; the Supreme Court in 2023 upheld the validity of the cessation of its operative effect.
6. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 bifurcated the former State into UT of Jammu & Kashmir with a legislature and UT of Ladakh without a legislature.
7. Ladakh is administered under Article 239 through a Lieutenant Governor, while the J&K UT has a Legislative Assembly under the 2019 Act.
8. The former J&K Legislative Council was abolished under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

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Gandak River

1. Shaligram (ammonite fossils ) found in Kali Gandaki , a tributary of Gandak River

2. Gandak aka Narayani in Nepal

3. Gandak joins Ganga near Hajipur in Vaishali

4. Major Tributaries: Daraudi, Seti, Madi, Marsyandi, and Budhi Gandaki.

—> Form 6: Application for inclusion of name in the electoral roll. Used when you are a new voter or want to add your name to the electoral roll.

--> Form 7: Application for deletion of a name from the electoral roll. Used when there is a duplicate, deceased, or other reasons for deletion.

--> Form 8: Application for correction of particulars entered in the electoral roll. Used to update your details such as name, address, or other information.

EPIC - electors photo identity card
10 digit alpha numeric code
Also known e-EPIC - no editable PDF.

The electors’ Photo Identity Cards were finally introduced in 1993. The Election Commission launched the Electronic Electoral Photo Identity Card (e-EPIC) in 2021.
An Electronic Electoral Photo Identity Card (E-EPIC) is a non-editable, secure PDF version of the voter identity card. It has a secure QR code with an image and demographics like serial number, part number, and others. E-EPIC can be downloaded on a mobile or computer and digitally stored.

Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA): Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is the ex-officio Chairman, while former Chief Secretary and 1984-batch retired IAS officer Deepak Kumar has been appointed Vice-Chairman, succeeding Uday Kant Mishra.

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