Current Affairs 30 March 2026

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Takes Strong Anti-War Stand

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has emerged as a prominent global leader opposing recent conflicts, particularly the U.S.-Israel actions in Iran, citing violations of international law. Pedro Sánchez became the only European head of government to openly reject the war on Iran on principled grounds. He refused to allow U.S. military bases in Spain to be used for strikes, even at the cost of strained relations with the United States.

Rajasthan Wins National Award for Irrigation Census

Rajasthan has received a national award for the timely completion of the first census of major and medium irrigation projects in the state. The award was presented at the World Water Day Conclave organized by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.

• World Water Day is observed on March 22
• Ministry of Jal Shakti is the nodal ministry for water-related policies in India

Noida International Airport (Jewar) Inaugurated

The Prime Minister inaugurated Phase I of the Noida International Airport at Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, developed with an investment of approximately ₹11,200 crore.

Key Highlights:

The airport is expected to boost economic development in western Uttar Pradesh by improving connectivity for regions like Agra, Mathura, Meerut, and Ghaziabad. It will support farmers, small businesses, and industries by enabling faster access to global markets.

CAPF (General Administration) Bill, 2026

The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026 has generated significant controversy after being introduced in the Rajya Sabha.

What the Bill Proposes:

The Bill mandates reservation of senior posts in CAPFs for IPS officers on deputation:

• 50% of Inspector General (IG) posts
• At least 67% of Additional Director General (ADG) posts
• 100% of Special DG and DG posts

Background:

• The Bill comes after a Supreme Court of India judgment (May 2025), which directed reduction of IPS deputation in CAPFs and recognised CAPF officers as Organised Group A Services (OGAS).
• Despite this, the government continued IPS appointments and later introduced this Bill as a statutory measure.

What are CAPFs?

Central Armed Police Forces include:

• Border Security Force (BSF)
• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
• Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
• Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

These forces play a key role in border security, internal security, and law & order.

Why is there Opposition?

Retired CAPF officials and opposition leaders argue that:

• The Bill overrides Supreme Court directions
• It limits career growth of CAPF officers
• CAPF officers face promotion delays (up to 16 years)
• IPS officers get faster promotions and dominate top posts

Concerns also include rising stress, resignations, and morale issues within CAPFs.

Government’s Justification:

The government argues that:

• CAPFs operate in coordination with State police systems
• IPS officers ensure better Centre–State coordination
• Necessary for national security and administrative efficiency

New Butterfly Species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

A new species of butterfly has been discovered in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh’s Leparada district and named Euthalia zubeengargi in honour of Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg.

Key Highlights:

• The species has been given the common name “Basar Duke” and was discovered during field surveys conducted in 2025.
• It belongs to the genus Euthalia, which is commonly found in South and Southeast Asia and is known for butterflies with brown wings and pale markings.

Revised PM E-DRIVE Scheme

The Government of India has revised the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme, introducing new deadlines and price caps for electric vehicles eligible for incentives.

Key Highlights:

The scheme has a total outlay of ₹10,900 crore and aims to promote the adoption of electric vehicles in India.

Under the revised guidelines:

• Electric two-wheelers registered till July 31, 2026 will be eligible for incentives
• Electric three-wheelers (e-rickshaws and e-carts) registered till March 31, 2028 will qualify

To ensure targeted benefits, the government has introduced price caps:

• Maximum ex-factory price for e-two-wheelers: ₹1.5 lakh
• Maximum ex-factory price for e-three-wheelers: ₹2.5 lakh

The scheme is fund-limited, meaning total incentives will not exceed the allocated ₹10,900 crore.

IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) TTX 2026 Held in Kochi

The Indian Navy hosted the IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) TTX 2026 at the Maritime Warfare Centre, Southern Naval Command, Kochi.

• The exercise is conducted under the framework of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), which is a regional naval cooperation forum consisting of navies from countries bordering the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• IMEX TTX 2026 witnessed participation from several member countries, including Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Timor-Leste, along with officers from the Indian Navy.
• India has assumed the chairmanship of IONS for the 2026–2028 period.
• IONS = Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (regional naval forum)
• TTX = Tabletop Exercise (simulation-based exercise).
• IOR = Indian Ocean Region is strategically important for global trade routes