29 September 2026
DR Congo has recorded 8,067 Ebola cases and 3,901 deaths, a fatality rate of 48.4 per cent, according to the report of the DRC's public health institute published on 28 September 2026 and carried by Al Jazeera. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, was declared on 15 May 2026. The World Health Organization's outbreak notice of 10 September, with data as of 7 September, recorded 6,778 confirmed cases and 3,269 deaths and called it the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in DR Congo. WHO says the outbreak is far from over. The United States announced a further $267 million against a global target of $2 billion.
Cases reported (DRC report, 28 Sep):
8,067
Deaths (DRC report, 28 Sep):
3,901
Fatality rate:
48.4 per cent
Virus:
Bundibugyo
Why it matters for exams: Disease outbreaks and WHO notices are common in health and current-affairs papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
29 September 2026
Russian strikes killed eight people across Ukraine on 27 September 2026, with attacks on Sumy, Odesa region, Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia region. On 28 September a guided Russian aerial bomb hit an apartment block in Kharkiv, injuring at least 22 people, Mayor Ihor Terekov said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia used over 2,200 attack drones, 1,630 aerial bombs and 38 missiles in the past week. He said the drone attacks did not fit Russian claims of preparing for de-escalation. Local reports said Ukrainian drones struck the Pavlovskaya oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar region.
Killed on 27 September:
8
Attack drones in past week:
Over 2,200
Aerial bombs in past week:
1,630
Missiles in past week:
38
Why it matters for exams: The Russia-Ukraine war remains a core international-affairs topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body which sets standards, and develops and promotes policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
Its Forty Recommendations and Nine Special Recommendations provide a complete set of counter-measures against money laundering, covering the criminal justice system and law enforcement, the financial system and its regulation, and international co-operation.
India became a member of the FATF in 2010.
The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) is a member of the Egmont Group, an international organization for stimulating co-operation among Financial Intelligence Units. India became member of the Egmont Group in May, 2007.
The Department of Revenue records that FIU-IND has signed bilateral Memorandum of Understanding with fifteen countries, including Mauritius, Philippines, Brazil, Malaysia, Russia, Australia, Canada, USA and Japan.
India's FATF membership:
India became a member of the FATF in 2010
Egmont Group membership:
May, 2007
FATF standards:
Forty Recommendations and Nine Special Recommendations
FIU-IND bilateral MoUs:
fifteen countries
Why it matters for exams: FATF and Egmont Group membership years are standard one-mark questions in economy and internal security sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
Background
The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) was launched by the Prime Minister of India during the United Nations Climate Action Summit on the 23rd September, 2019, at New York.
On 28th August, 2019, the Cabinet had approved the setting up of CDRI with its Secretariat in New Delhi along with a support of Rs. 480 crore to CDRI.
The Union Cabinet later approved the categorization of CDRI as an 'International Organization' and the signing of the Headquarters Agreement with CDRI, granting it the exemptions, immunities and privileges contemplated under the United Nations (Privileges & Immunities) Act, 1947.
At the time of that approval, thirty-one (31) Countries, six (06) International Organizations and two (02) private sector organizations had joined as members of CDRI.
CDRI is a global partnership of National Governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, academic and knowledge institutions that aims to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks.
Launched at:
United Nations Climate Action Summit, New York
Launch date:
23rd September, 2019
Cabinet approval for setting up:
28th August, 2019
Government support:
Rs. 480 crore
Membership at categorisation:
thirty-one (31) Countries, six (06) International Organizations and two (02) private sector organizations
Why it matters for exams: CDRI is one of two major global initiatives launched by India, and its launch venue, Secretariat city and corpus are frequently asked.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
India is one of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
India signed the Convention in 1982.
During 1982 to 2013, a total of 26 sites were added to India's list of Ramsar sites.
During 2014 to 2022, the country added 49 new wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change marked the 75th year of Independence by announcing 75 Ramsar Sites in the country.
Convention signed:
Ramsar, Iran, in 1971
India signed:
1982
Sites added 1982 to 2013:
26 sites
Wetlands added 2014 to 2022:
49 new wetlands
Why it matters for exams: The year and place of the Ramsar Convention and the year India joined it are repeatedly asked in environment sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
UN Peacekeeping began in 1948 with the establishment of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in the Middle East to monitor ceasefires.
Since the 1950s, India has sent over 290,000 peacekeepers to more than 50 missions worldwide, making it the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping efforts.
Over 5,000 Indian peacekeepers are currently deployed in 9 active missions, and nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice.
UN peacekeepers are known as Blue Helmets. In 1947, the UN decided on this colour because blue symbolizes peace, while red is often linked to war.
In 2023, India received the UN's highest peacekeeping honour, the Dag Hammarskjold Medal, posthumously awarded to Indian peacekeepers Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi and civilian UN worker Shaber Taher Ali for their sacrifice in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mission failures in Rwanda and Bosnia prompted reforms, leading to the Brahimi Report (2000), which emphasized robust mandates and better resources.
The Centre of United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi conducts India's peacekeeping training and capacity-building programmes.
Peacekeepers sent by India:
over 290,000 peacekeepers
Missions served in:
more than 50 missions worldwide
Currently deployed:
over 5,000 Indian peacekeepers in 9 active missions
Indian peacekeepers lost:
nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers
First peacekeeping mission:
UNTSO, 1948
Why it matters for exams: India's peacekeeping numbers, the first mission UNTSO and the Blue Helmets nickname are recurring objective questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international environmental treaty for protection of the Ozone Layer by phasing out the production and consumption of man-made chemicals referred to as ozone depleting substances (ODS).
India became a Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on 19 June 1992 and has since ratified the amendments to the Protocol.
The Kigali Amendment was agreed at the 28th Meeting of the Parties (MOP) held in October 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, which added hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to the list of controlled substances and approved a timeline for their gradual reduction by 80-85 per cent by the late 2040s.
The Union Cabinet approved ratification of the Kigali Amendment by India, with a national strategy for HFC phase down to be developed after consultation with industry stakeholders by 2023.
India will complete its phase down of HFCs in 4 steps from 2032 onwards with cumulative reduction of 10% in 2032, 20% in 2037, 30% in 2042 and 85% in 2047.
The HFC phase down is expected to prevent the emission of up to 105 million tonne of carbondioxide equivalent of greenhouse gases, helping to avoid up to 0.5 degree Celsius of global temperature rise by 2100.
India became a Party:
19 June 1992
Kigali Amendment agreed:
28th Meeting of the Parties, October 2016, Kigali, Rwanda
India's phase down steps:
10% in 2032, 20% in 2037, 30% in 2042 and 85% in 2047
Emissions avoided:
105 million tonne of carbondioxide equivalent
Warming avoided:
0.5 degree Celsius by 2100
Why it matters for exams: The year India joined the Montreal Protocol, the Kigali venue and India's four-step HFC phase down schedule are standard environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Global Hunger Index report is prepared by 'Welthungerhilfe' and 'Concern Worldwide'.
The Global Hunger Index is based on four indicators - Undernourishment, Child Stunting, Child Wasting and Child Mortality.
In the Global Hunger Index 2021 report, India's score was 27.5 and India was ranked 101 among 116 countries.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations is the data source agency for the indicator 'Prevalence of Undernourishment'.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha, the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, stated that out of the four indicators only one, undernourishment, is directly related to hunger, and that Stunting and Wasting are outcomes of complex interactions of various other factors like sanitation, genetics, environment and utilisation of food intake.
The reply also noted that as per the National Family Health Survey, Child Stunting fell from 38.4% (NFHS-4, 2015-16) to 35.5% (NFHS-5, 2019-21) and Child Wasting from 21.0% to 19.3% over the same surveys.
Published by:
'Welthungerhilfe' and 'Concern Worldwide'
Indicators:
Undernourishment, Child Stunting, Child Wasting and Child Mortality
India in GHI 2021:
score 27.5, ranked 101 among 116 countries
Undernourishment data source:
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
Why it matters for exams: The publishers of the Global Hunger Index and its four indicators are among the most frequently asked index questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The World Heritage Convention is an international agreement created by UNESCO in 1972 and adopted by its member countries to protect important cultural and natural sites.
India became part of this Convention in November 1977.
As of October 2024, there are 1,223 World Heritage Sites across 196 countries, comprising 952 cultural, 231 natural and 40 mixed sites.
India's journey on the List began in 1983 with the listing of Agra Fort, followed by the Taj Mahal, Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves.
In July 2024, 'Moidams: The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty' from Assam was inscribed as a cultural property, and the Ministry of Culture recorded 43 World Heritage Sites for India at that point with 62 more on UNESCO's Tentative List.
The Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, hosted the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Delhi from 21st to 31st July 2024, attended by nearly 2900 international and national delegates from more than 140 countries.
Convention created:
by UNESCO in 1972
India joined:
November 1977
Sites worldwide:
1,223 sites across 196 countries (952 cultural, 231 natural, 40 mixed)
India's first inscriptions:
Agra Fort in 1983, then Taj Mahal, Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves
46th World Heritage Committee:
Delhi, 21st to 31st July 2024
Why it matters for exams: The 1972 Convention year, India's November 1977 accession and the 1983 first inscriptions are staple culture-section facts.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Ministry of Culture has informed Parliament that there are 44 World Heritage Properties in the country.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertakes conservation and maintenance of 3,686 monuments, including 27 World Heritage properties, along with the provision of amenities for tourists such as drinking water, toilet blocks, pathways and landscaping for protected monuments and sites under the ASI's jurisdiction.
The Government has sent two proposals to the World Heritage Centre for consideration for inclusion in the World Heritage List: Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath (2025-26) and JingkiengJri / Lyu Charai Cultural Landscape (2026-27).
Conservation and maintenance of these monuments and sites is a continuous process, carried out based on the needs of the monuments and the availability of resources.
World Heritage Properties in India:
44 World Heritage Properties
Monuments maintained by ASI:
3,686 monuments
World Heritage properties under ASI:
27 World Heritage properties
Pending proposals:
Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath (2025-26); JingkiengJri / Lyu Charai Cultural Landscape (2026-27)
Why it matters for exams: The current count of India's World Heritage Properties and the ASI's monument numbers are directly asked in culture and governance sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was hosted by India at the India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, from 2nd to 13th September 2019.
It witnessed widespread participation from over 9000 participants from across the globe.
Country parties agreed to make the Sustainable Development Goal target of achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030 a national target for action.
Through the Delhi Declaration, ministers expressed support for new initiatives or coalitions aiming to improve human health and well-being, the health of ecosystems, and to advance peace and security.
The Union Environment Minister committed to provide effective leadership to the UNCCD during India's two-year tenure of Presidentship, and called for synergy between all three Rio Conventions.
COP14 ended after 11 days of meetings, 11 high-level, 30 committee and over 170 stakeholder meetings, 145 side-events and 44 exhibitions.
Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw is the Executive Secretary of UNCCD.
Venue:
India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida
Dates:
2nd to 13th September 2019
Participants:
over 9000 participants
Key outcome:
Delhi Declaration; land degradation neutrality by 2030 as a national target
UNCCD Executive Secretary:
Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw
Why it matters for exams: UNCCD COP14's venue, dates, the Delhi Declaration and India's two-year Presidency are frequently asked together.
Kerala PSCUPSC