28 March 2026

1.     Great Salt Lake

Ø News:   Researchers from the University of Utah have found that freshwater penetrates and saturates the rock and sediment beneath the Great Salt Lake to depths of up to 13,000 feet.

Ø Location and Nature:

o  The Great Salt Lake is a saline lake situated in northern Utah in the United States.

o  It is the largest inland saltwater body in the Western Hemisphere and among the most saline inland water bodies globally.

Ø Hydrology and Water Sources

o  The lake is supplied by the Bear, Weber, and Jordan rivers.

o  It has no natural outlet, making it an endorheic basin.

Ø Size Variation:

o  The lake’s size changes significantly over time.

o  These fluctuations depend on evaporation rates and the volume of inflow from feeding rivers.

Ø High Salinity:

o  The salinity level is much higher than that of oceans.

o  This is because evaporation exceeds the amount of water entering the lake from rivers.

Ø Fauna:

o  The lake supports a variety of bird species.

o  Notable examples include the American avocet, Wilson’s phalarope, California gull, black-necked stilt, American white pelican, peregrine falcon, and marbled godwit.

2.     Tonga

Ø News:   A powerful earthquake of preliminary magnitude 7.6 has recently occurred near Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean.

Ø  Location and Composition:

o  Tonga is a sovereign island nation located in Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean.

o  It consists of an archipelago of 169 islands.

Ø Neighbouring Countries:

o  Fiji lies to the west of Tonga.

o  The Cook Islands are located to its east.

o  Samoa lies to the north.

Ø Island Groups:

o  Tongatapu lies in the southern part.

o  Ha‘apai is situated in the central region.

o  Vava‘u is located in the northern part.

Ø Capital City

o  The capital city of Tonga is Nukuʻalofa.

o  It is located on the northern coast of Tongatapu Island.

UPSC GS 2

3.     GlobE Network (Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities)

Ø News:   India recently hosted the 12th Steering Committee Meeting of the GlobE Network in New Delhi.

Ø  Nature of the Network:  The GlobE Network is an international platform that brings together specialised anti-corruption law enforcement agencies.

Ø Origin and Framework:

o  It was established under the Riyadh Initiative during Saudi Arabia’s G20 Presidency.

o  The network functions within the framework of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

Ø Members and Observers:

o  The network includes 135 member countries and around 250 participating authorities.

o  It also has 18 observers, including organisations such as Europol, the World Bank, and the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities.

Ø Steering Committee:

o  The network is guided by a steering committee.

o  This committee comprises one chairperson, one vice-chairperson, and 13 additional members.

o  It is responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership.

Ø India’s Representation:

o  In India, the Ministry of Home Affairs acts as the central authority for the network.

o  The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate serve as member agencies.

Ø Operational Cooperation:  The network supplements formal mutual legal assistance frameworks by enabling quicker and more flexible cooperation.

Ø Direct Engagement:

o  It facilitates direct interaction between enforcement agencies at the practitioner level.

o  This supports investigation, prosecution, and recovery of proceeds derived from corruption.

Ø Institutional Support:

o  The network is governed collectively by its members.

o  It is supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which serves as its secretariat.

4.     Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme

Ø News: The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking Scheme.

Ø  Nature of the Scheme:

o  The IVFRT platform is designed to integrate and streamline immigration, visa issuance, and foreigner registration processes in India.

o  It operates through a secure and technology-driven framework.

Ø Time Period:  The scheme has been approved for a period of five years from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031.

Ø Background:

o  The initiative was originally approved in 2010.

o  It has undergone multiple phases of expansion and extension over time.

Ø Legislative Context:

o  The latest approval has been granted in the context of the recently enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.

Ø Focus Areas: The scheme focuses on three key domains, namely adoption of emerging technologies, transformation of core infrastructure, and optimisation of technology-enabled service delivery.

Ø Adoption of Emerging Technologies:

o  It aims to modernise the immigration and visa ecosystem through advanced technologies.

o  These include mobile-based services and self-service kiosks to ensure smooth and secure passenger movement.

Ø Infrastructure Development:

o  The scheme provides for the upgradation and expansion of infrastructure at Immigration Check Posts, Foreigners Regional Registration Offices, and data centres.

o  This will help in building a resilient and scalable nationwide system.

Ø Service Delivery Optimisation:

o  It seeks to improve efficiency through unified digital platforms.

o  The initiative includes revamping core application architecture and strengthening network and deployment frameworks.

o  These measures are intended to enhance user experience and operational efficiency.

UPSC GS 3

5.     Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) Initiative

Ø News:   The Minister of State for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently informed the Lok Sabha about the Districts as Export Hubs Initiative.

Ø Launch and Purpose:  The initiative was launched in August 2019 with the aim of promoting balanced regional development across all districts in India.

Ø Core Objective:

o  The programme seeks to identify, brand, and promote products from each district.

o  It aims to enhance their market presence in both domestic and international markets.

Ø Implementing Authority:  The initiative is implemented by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Department of Commerce.

Ø Key Features of DEH Initiative:

o  Decentralised Export Promotion:  The initiative decentralises export promotion by involving districts as active participants in boosting exports of identified goods and services.

o  Identification of Export Potential:

§ Export potential has been identified in 734 districts across India.

§ These include sectors such as agriculture, toys, and products with geographical indication status.

o  District Export Action Plans:

§ Detailed District Export Action Plans are prepared for each district.

§ These plans identify supply chain bottlenecks and suggest targeted interventions to address existing gaps in export processes.

o  Support to Local Producers:

§ The initiative provides assistance to local exporters and manufacturers.

§ It helps them scale up production and connect with potential international buyers.

Ø Institutional Mechanism:

o  State and District Committees:

§ An institutional framework has been established in all States and Union Territories.

§ State Export Promotion Committees operate at the state level.

§ District Export Promotion Committees function at the district level to implement and monitor activities.

Ø Coverage of the Initiative:

o  Nationwide Coverage:

§ The programme covers all districts across the country.

§ It includes a wide range of products and services such as GI-tagged goods, agricultural clusters, and toy manufacturing clusters.