Current Affairs 29 August 2026

Mizoram Adopts ‘Ro Min Rel Sak Ang Che’ as Official State Song

The Mizoram Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted the Mizo patriotic and devotional song ‘Ro Min Rel Sak Ang Che’ as the official State song of Mizoram on 27 August 2026. The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Lalduhoma.

The song was composed in 1947 by renowned Mizo writer and composer Rokunga. Its title roughly means “Be Thou Our Counsellor”. Although the song had long been regarded as an unofficial State anthem, it did not have formal recognition until 2026.

NCW Forms Panel to Probe ‘Paro’ or ‘Molki’ Marriages in Haryana

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has constituted a five-member fact-finding team to examine the practice of ‘Paro’ or ‘Molki’ marriages in the Mewat region, particularly Nuh district of Haryana, following reports of possible trafficking and exploitation of women.

‘Paro’ or ‘Molki’ refers to a practice in which women, often belonging to economically vulnerable communities in other States, are brought through intermediaries and married to local men, allegedly involving monetary transactions. The NCW inquiry will determine the actual extent of the practice and examine allegations of resale, abuse and inter-State trafficking.

Andhra Pradesh Set to Emerge as India’s Third Major Subsea Cable Hub

Andhra Pradesh is set to emerge as a major international subsea cable gateway, adding geographical diversity to India’s existing major cable-landing hubs in Mumbai and Chennai. New submarine cable infrastructure associated with investments by Google, Microsoft and other technology and telecom companies is planned along the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Google’s America-India Connect initiative will establish a new international subsea gateway at Visakhapatnam. It includes new subsea connectivity from Visakhapatnam towards Singapore, Australia and South Africa, linking India with wider networks extending towards the Americas, Europe and other regions. Google says the infrastructure will make Visakhapatnam a major international subsea gateway and provide an alternative to the existing concentration of cable landings in Mumbai and Chennai.

Another major project is the India-Southeast Asia (I-2SEA) Submarine Cable System, being developed by a consortium comprising Lightstorm, Microsoft, Singtel and Tata Communications. The approximately 3,600-km cable will connect India with Malaysia and Singapore, with Indian landing points at Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh and South Chennai.

The new subsea infrastructure is strategically important because it will provide alternative international internet routes, greater network resilience and additional capacity for data centres and artificial intelligence workloads. Terrestrial fibre networks will further connect these landing stations with major data-centre hubs such as Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai.

Key Points for Exams:

• Andhra Pradesh is emerging as a third major international subsea gateway after Mumbai and Chennai.
• Major proposed hub: Visakhapatnam
• Google initiative: America-India Connect
• America-India Connect will establish an international subsea gateway at Visakhapatnam.

Salmonella Infections and Rising Antimicrobial Resistance in India

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that causes illnesses ranging from mild gastroenteritis to serious bloodstream infections. Typhoid and paratyphoid (enteric fever) are caused by Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi, respectively, while non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) commonly causes food-borne gastroenteritis.

A major concern in India is antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A 2026 study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, analysing S. Typhi isolates collected between 1977 and 2024, found that fluoroquinolone resistance peaked at 85% during 2015–19, although it subsequently declined. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and azithromycin remained comparatively low.

India Considers Strategic Fuel Programme for Crude Oil, LNG and LPG

-Important for Group 1 Mains Exams

India is considering a decade-long strategic fuel programme to strengthen energy security against prolonged supply disruptions. The proposal envisages adding about 28 million tonnes (MT) of crude-oil storage, 9 MT of LNG storage and 4 MT of LPG storage. The programme is still under consideration, so these figures should be treated as proposed targets rather than committed capacity.

India already operates 5.33 MT of underground strategic crude-oil storage under Phase I at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru and Padur, with actual storage of about 3.37 MT. A further 6.5 MT has been approved under Phase II at Chandikhol and Padur. India also has two underground LPG caverns at Visakhapatnam and Mangaluru with combined capacity of about 0.14 MT. However, India currently has no operational underground natural-gas storage facility.

The proposed 9 MT LNG reserve would correspond to roughly 56 days of projected LNG imports, not two months of India’s total gas consumption. LNG storage requires specialised cryogenic tanks at around –162°C, while underground gas storage involves regasifying LNG and injecting natural gas into depleted reservoirs or caverns.

The proposal also underlines that strategic storage alone cannot ensure energy security. India would need adequate shipping capacity, pipelines, regasification terminals, withdrawal systems and clear rules on ownership, financing, emergency release and replenishment. Strategic reserves are effective only when stored fuel can be moved quickly to consumers during a crisis.

Key Points for Exams:

• Proposed strategic fuel programme: 28 MT crude oil + 9 MT LNG + 4 MT LPG
• Total proposed additional storage: 41 MT
• Existing Phase-I Strategic Petroleum Reserve capacity: 5.33 MT
• Phase-I locations: Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru and Padur
• Phase-II approved crude capacity: 6.5 MT
• Phase-II locations: Chandikhol and Padur
• Existing underground LPG capacity: about 0.14 MT
• India currently has no operational underground natural-gas storage facility.
• Proposed 9 MT LNG reserve equals roughly 56 days of projected LNG imports.
• LNG is stored at around –162°C.

Mahatma Ayyankali: Pioneer of Social Justice in Kerala

Mahatma Ayyankali’s 163rd birth anniversary was observed on 28 August 2026. Ayyankali was born on 28 August 1863 at Venganoor in present-day Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala.

He emerged as an important social reformer who fought against caste discrimination and demanded education, freedom of movement, dignity and better working conditions for oppressed communities. In 1893, he undertook the famous Villuvandi Yatra (bullock-cart protest), challenging restrictions that prevented oppressed castes from using public roads.

Ayyankali founded the Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (SJPS) in 1907, which worked for education, social equality, freedom of movement and better conditions for agricultural labourers.

Key Points for Exams:

• Mahatma Ayyankali
• Birthplace: Venganoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
• Major movement: Villuvandi Yatra, 1893
• Founded: Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (SJPS)

‘Gnani Artha’ Sovereign AI Stack

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched ‘Gnani Artha’, a sovereign Artificial Intelligence (AI) stack developed by GNANI AI, at Uprashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on 28 August 2026. Gnani Artha comprises Evon 3.3 and Plexus. Evon 3.3 is a Large Language Model (LLM), while Plexus is a platform designed to connect AI capabilities with real-world work and institutions.

Q1. ‘Ro Min Rel Sak Ang Che’, recently adopted as an official State song, belongs to which State?
A. Nagaland
B. Mizoram
C. Manipur
D. Meghalaya

Q2. The ‘Paro’ or ‘Molki’ marriage practice, recently taken up for investigation by the National Commission for Women, is mainly associated with which region?
A. Malwa region of Punjab
B. Mewat region of Haryana
C. Marwar region of Rajasthan
D. Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh

Q3. Enteric fever is caused by which of the following bacteria?
A. Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi
B. Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae
C. Shigella dysenteriae and Clostridium botulinum
D. Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus

Q4. What is the total proposed additional strategic fuel storage capacity under India’s proposed strategic fuel programme?
A. 31 MT
B. 37 MT
C. 41 MT
D. 46 MT

Q5. Which city in Andhra Pradesh is set to emerge as a major international subsea cable gateway under Google’s America-India Connect initiative?
A. Kakinada
B. Visakhapatnam
C. Vijayawada
D. Nellore

Q6. Which of the following companies developed the ‘Gnani Artha’ sovereign AI stack?
A. Sarvam AI
B. GNANI AI
C. Krutrim AI
D. Zoho Corporation

Q7. Who led the famous Villuvandi Yatra (Bullock Cart Protest) in 1893 as part of the struggle against caste discrimination in Travancore?
A. Sree Narayana Guru
B. Mahatma Ayyankali
C. Chattampi Swamikal
D. Vakkom Moulavi