Overview The week of 20‑26 March 2026 saw several high‑impact developments across social indicators, industrial policy, water security, and international trade – all of which are directly relevant for UPSC preparation. Key Developments World Happiness Report 2026 – Finland remains #1 for the ninth year; India moves up to 116th with a life‑evaluation score of 4.536. Supreme Court judgment (17 Mar) – Extends maternity leave to all adoptive mothers, irrespective of the child’s age. Export RELIEF Scheme – Financial and logistical support for consignments to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc. BHAVYA approval – Up to ₹1 cr per acre, 25 % external‑infrastructure support. Jal Jeevan Mission extension – Funding of ₹1.51 lakh cr to 2028; digital mapping framework “Sujalam Bharat”. Supreme Court OBC creamy‑layer ruling – Income alone cannot determine creamy‑layer status; ensures parity between government and private/PSU employees. International cooperation – India submits its first National Report on the Nagoya Protocol ; opposes WTO e‑transmission moratorium at MC14. Science & Technology – AI‑driven tool Gandiva helps solve a decade‑old murder; CSIR‑NCL develops DME fuel technology; LIGO tender remains unawarded. Important Facts World Happiness Report : 79 countries improved happiness despite geopolitical tensions; Nordic nations dominate the top‑10. Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (amended by the Code on Social Security, 2020) now grants 12 weeks leave to any adoptive mother, removing the previous three‑month age limit. RELIEF Scheme : Targets exporters to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Yemen; implementation through Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC). BHAVYA : 100 industrial parks of 100‑1,000 acres each; 25 % of external‑infrastructure cost covered; partnership model Centre‑State‑Private. Jal Jeevan Mission : Aims for universal rural tap water; “Sujalam Bharat” will assign a unique Sujal Gaon/Service Area ID to every village. OBC creamy‑layer ruling : Income‑based exclusion of PSU/private employees deemed discriminatory under Articles 14, 15, 16. Nagoya Protocol NR1 : Covers 1 Nov 2017 – 31 Dec 2025; aligns with Target 13 of India’s NBSAP – Access and Benefit‑Sharing. WTO e‑transmission moratorium : India opposes extension, citing loss of ~₹1 billion tax revenue and bias towards developed‑country tech giants. DME technology : Uses a novel catalyst to convert methanol to DME efficiently; can be blended with LPG without major modifications. Forest Survey of India – Anavaran : Alerts halted since Nov 2025, reducing near‑real‑time deforestation monitoring. UPSC Relevance GS 2 (Polity) – Supreme Court interpretation of maternity benefits; OBC creamy‑layer jurisprudence. GS 3 (Economy & Environment) – Export RELIEF scheme, BHAVYA industrial parks, Jal Jeevan Mission funding, DME fuel as clean‑energy alternative, WTO trade negotiations. GS 1 (History & Geography) – World Happiness rankings as a measure of human development; International Days (Sparrow, Forest, Water) for cultural‑environmental awareness. GS 4 (Ethics) – Balancing digital trade benefits against revenue loss; social media impact on youth well‑being highlighted in the Happiness Report. Way Forward / What Aspirants Should Focus On 1. Track the evolution of social‑indicator indices (Happiness, SDG) and their policy implications. 2. Understand the legal basis for expanding maternity benefits and its impact on gender equity in the workplace. 3. Analyse the export‑relief measures as a case study of government response to external shocks (West Asia conflict). 4. Memorise key figures: ₹497 crore (RELIEF), ₹33,660 crore (BHAVYA), ₹1.51 lakh crore (Jal Jeevan Mission). 5. Review international agreements – Nagoya Protocol and WTO e‑transmission moratorium – for their strategic relevance to India’s biodiversity and digital trade policies. 6. Keep abreast of emerging technologies (AI‑driven NATGRID, DME fuel, LIGO) as examples of India’s scientific capabilities and policy challenges.