News 1 :Guindy Children’s Park Closed After Outbreak of Avian Flu
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Park Closure: The Guindy Children’s Park in Chennai has been closed to the public following an outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1). Nearly 40 birds have died at the facility since March 13, 2026 .
- First Deaths: The first deaths were reported on the night of March 13, when 30 birds—24 night herons and six pelicans—died at the Vedanthangal Aviary within the park .
- Subsequent Deaths: On March 14, a painted stork and a grey heron died; on March 15, two pelicans and a painted stork died. No further deaths have been reported after March 15 .
- Laboratory Confirmation: Samples sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal—a national laboratory under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research—confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus on March 19 .
- Park Closure Date: The park was closed from March 20 as a precautionary measure following test results .
- Wider Context: The outbreak comes amid a wider avian influenza alert in Chennai and surrounding areas. Over the past two months, several crows have been found dead across neighbourhoods such as Adyar, Velachery, and Thiruvanmiyur .
Prelims 360
What is Avian Influenza?
- A viral infection caused by Influenza A viruses.
- Primarily affects birds—especially poultry (chicken, duck, turkey).
- Certain strains can infect humans and mammals (zoonotic).
2. Types / Subtypes
Defined by two surface proteins:
- H = Hemagglutinin (18 types)
- N = Neuraminidase (11 types)
High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
- Highly fatal in birds
- Examples: H5N1, H5N8, H7N9
Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI)
- Mild disease
- Examples: H9N2
3. Why Avian Flu in News? (Important for prelims)
- Recurring H5N1 outbreaks in India & globally.
- Rising mammalian infections (cattle, seals, foxes).
- Concern about human transmission (zoonotic spillover).
- Impact on poultry industry + trade restrictions.
4. Transmission
- Birds → Birds
- Birds → Humans (close contact with infected birds, droppings, secretions)
- Human → Human transmission is extremely rare
- Virus survives in:
- cold water for long periods
- bird droppings
5. Symptoms
In Birds:
- Sudden death
- Swelling of head
- Cyanosis of comb/wattles
- Drop in egg production
In Humans (rare):
- Fever, cough
- Pneumonia
- Acute respiratory distress
- High mortality for H5N1 (~50%)
Nodal Ministry:
Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAHD)
Key Institutions:
- National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal
- National reference lab for avian influenza.
- National Action Plan for Prevention, Control & Containment of Avian Influenza (NAP-AI)
- Lays guidelines for surveillance, culling, disposal, biosafety.
- Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) – monitors human cases.
News 2 :Govt. Hikes Price of Premium Petrol, Industrial Diesel as Crude Costs Soar
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Price Hike Announced: Indian Oil-Marketing Companies (OMCs) on Friday increased the price of premium variant of petrol (XP-95) by approximately ₹2-3 per litre and industrial diesel by ₹22 per litre .
- New Prices: IndianOil’s premium petrol XP-95 rose from ₹99.87 to ₹101.89 per litre. Industrial diesel was revised upward from ₹87.67 to ₹109.59 per litre .
- Regular Fuel Unchanged: The government assured that prices of regular grades of petrol and diesel remain unchanged. Premium petrol accounts for only about 5% of overall petrol sales , and the hike is expected to have “minimal impact on overall consumption” .
- Crude Price Surge: India’s crude oil basket is averaging $117.09 per barrel this month (March 2026), while Brent crude futures were trading at $108.1 per barrel on Friday .
- OMCs’ Past Behaviour: A previous analysis by The Hindu found that OMCs did not lower prices of any form of petrol or diesel over the past two-and-a-half years, even when oil prices fell to an average of $64 per barrel .
- Government’s Rationale: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that the hike would not impact the common man, as premium fuel represents only 2-4% of daily petrol sales .
- Opposition Criticism: The Congress party criticized the hike, stating that “while people are already troubled by the gas shortage, now they will also be made to pay on petrol” .
Prelims 360
PREMIUM PETROL (Branded Petrol)
Also called XP95, Power, Speed, XtraPremium depending on OMC (IOC/BPCL/HPCL).
What is Premium Petrol?
- Normal petrol + additives (detergents, friction-reducers, antioxidants).
- Higher octane rating:
- Regular Petrol: 91 Octane
- Premium Petrol: 95–97 Octane (XP95 / Speed 97)
Why Higher Octane?
- Prevents knocking in high-compression engines.
- Improves engine efficiency in modern cars/bikes.
Is Premium Petrol Cleaner?
- No change in sulphur content or base fuel composition.
- Same BS-VI standards.
- Added detergents may reduce deposit formation.
Price Regulation
- Premium petrol is NOT price-controlled by the government.
- OMCs decide prices → market-linked and more expensive than regular petrol.
Do all vehicles need Premium Petrol?
- Not required for regular commuter vehicles.
- Useful for turbocharged, high-compression, or luxury engines.
Prelims Pointers
- Higher octane = resistance to auto-ignition.
- Premium petrol in India still conforms to BS-VI standards.
- Branded fuels are marketing variants, not a different fuel class.
2) INDUSTRIAL DIESEL (ID)
Used mainly for industrial/commercial purposes, not retail.
What is Industrial Diesel?
- Low sulphur diesel meant for:
- Factories
- Mining
- Construction
- Railways (non-traction)
- DG (Diesel Generator) sets
- Cost is slightly lower or higher depending on taxes & bulk contracts.
Difference: Retail Diesel vs Industrial Diesel
| Feature | Retail Diesel | Industrial Diesel |
| Users | Vehicles | Industries, DG sets |
| Taxes | State VAT + dealer commission | Bulk pricing; sometimes lower taxes |
| Sale | Fuel stations | Bulk supply via OMCs |
| Sulphur standards | BS-VI (<10 ppm S) | Also BS-VI compliant when used for stationary engines |
Why Industries Prefer Industrial Diesel?
- Bulk purchase = contract price
- Guaranteed supply
- No dealer commission
- Can be delivered to storage tanks inside industry
News 3 :Core Sectors’ Pace of Growth Halves to 2.3% in February
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Sharp Slowdown: Growth in India’s eight core sectors slowed to a three-month low of 2.3% in February 2026, halving from 4.7% in January 2026 (revised from earlier estimates). This slowdown occurred even before the full impact of the West Asia crisis .
- Broad-Based Deceleration: The slowdown was “relatively broad-based,” with only two sectors—cement and steel—registering year-on-year growth above 3.5% .
- Sectoral Performance:
- Cement: 9.3% (four-month low; ended three-month streak of double-digit growth)
- Steel: 7.2% (three-month low)
- Crude Oil: Contracted 5.2% (sixth consecutive month)
- Natural Gas: Contracted 5.0% (20th consecutive month)
- Refinery Products: Contracted 1.0% (six of 11 months in FY26 in contraction)
- Fertilizers: 3.4% (five-month low)
- Compounding Factors: The data shows domestic production of oil, gas, and petroleum products had been shrinking for months prior to the West Asia conflict, making the current supply constraints even more challenging .
- Expert View: Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist at ICRA, noted that the “sequential halving in year-on-year growth from 4.7% in January was relatively broad-based” .
Prelims 360
What are Core Sectors?
- The Eight Core Industries represent critical sectors of the Indian economy.
- Together, they account for 40.27% weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
2. List of the 8 Core Sectors (in order of weight)
| Rank | Core Sector | Weight in IIP (%) |
| 1 | Refinery Products | 28.04 |
| 2 | Electricity | 19.85 |
| 3 | Steel | 17.92 |
| 4 | Coal | 10.33 |
| 5 | Crude Oil | 8.98 |
| 6 | Natural Gas | 6.88 |
| 7 | Cement | 5.37 |
| 8 | Fertilizers | 2.63 |
🔸 Total Share = 40.27% of IIP
3. Why Called “Core”?
These sectors:
- Support infrastructure
- Supply essential raw materials
- Have multiplier effects on manufacturing & services
UPSC often asks which sectors are part of core industries.
4. Released By
- Office of Economic Adviser (OEA)
- Under Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Frequency: Monthly
Published as:
📌 Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI)
5. Base Year
- 2011–12 (same as IIP base year)
7. Not Part of Core Sectors (UPSC traps)
- Agriculture
- Automobiles
- Textiles
- Pharmaceuticals
- IT sector
- Banking & Finance
- Gems & Jewellery
- Railways
- Consumer goods
