Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 30th April 2026

Easter Island:

A groundbreaking study suggests that the ancient Rongorongo script of Easter Island could be independently developed and predates the arrival of Europeans on the island.

• It is a Chilean dependency in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
• It is the easternmost outpost of the Polynesian island world.
• Named Rapa Nui by its earliest residents, it is one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world.
• It was discovered by Europeans on Easter Sunday (1722) by Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen. Hence the name “Easter Island”.
• It faces a tropical rainforest climate.
• The island comprises three extinct volcanoes, namely Terevaka, Poike, and Rano Kau.
• The island has no permanent rivers but contains three crater lakes, namely Rano Aroi, Rano Raraku, and Rano Kau.
• It is known for its iconic Moai statues, carved by the indigenous Rapa Nui people.
• UNESCO named Easter Island a World Heritage Site and major parts of the island have been protected under the Rapa Nui National Park.
• Moai Statues Rapa Nui is famous for its large statues called moai.
• They are shaped like large human heads and erected on stone pedestals.
• They are famous for their carved heads and “Pukao,” a hat-like covering made from a soft red stone.
• They were carved in volcanic stone at quarries and then moved to their current locations across the island.
• Scholars believe the Rapa Nui people built the moai between the 13th and the 16th centuries and represented their revered ancestors.
• Rongorongo is a writing system that comprises carved symbols, known as glyphs, on wooden tablets and artefacts discovered in Easter Island.
• Rongorongo differs from other scripts in that it has not yet been deciphered.
• Rongorongo was noted for the first time in 1864 when it was observed by Europeans.
• Rongorongo looks very different from the European writing This has led some experts to believe it may have developed locally by the inhabitants.

Sacred Groves:

The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) recently initiated a pilot restoration programme for sacred groves in collaboration with the local Biodiversity Management Committees.

• A sacred grove comprises patches of natural vegetation – from a few trees to several acres – that are dedicated to local deities or tree spirits.
• These spaces are protected by local communities because of their religious beliefs and traditional rituals that run through several generations.
• These are some of the most valuable, primitive practices of nature conservation.
• They act as repositories of biodiversity, sheltering rare plant and animal species.
• Hunting and deforestation are usually prohibited, while sustainable activities such as honey collection or gathering deadwood are permitted.
• The total number of sacred groves in India is more than 1,00,000. These groves are found all over the country with local names and associated deities.
• They are particularly found in regions like:
  • The Western Ghats
  • The Himalayas
  • The northeastern hill tracts
  • Central India
• Regional Names for Sacred Groves:
  • Dev Van in Himachal Pradesh
  • Bugyal or Dev Van in Uttarakhand
  • Than and Madaico in Assam
  • Matagudi, Devgudi, or Sarana in Chhattisgarh
  • Jaherthan or Sarana in Jharkhand
  • Devarakadu in Karnataka
  • Kavu or Sarpa Kavu in Kerala
  • Kovilkaadu in Tamil Nadu
  • Devrai or Devgudi in Maharashtra
  • Law Kyntang or Asong Khosi in Meghalaya
  • Orans in Rajasthan.
  • Jahera or Thakuramma in Odisha

Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary:

Forest officials recently arrested four suspected poachers from the Baliguda forest division of the Kotgarh wildlife sanctuary in Kandhamal.

• Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• It is located in the Kandhamal district of Odisha.
• It’s classified as a moist deciduous forest in the Eastern Highlands.
• The sanctuary is home to some tribal settlements, including Kutia Kondh and Desia Kondh.The sanctuary’s principal vegetation is dense, damp deciduous forests with meadows.
• Sal, Piasal, Sisoo, Kendu, Gamhar, Asan, Kusum, Harida, Bahada, Amala, Mango, Tamarind, Mahua, Jackfruit, Randhan, Kangada, Jamun, Salapo, Bheru, Arjun, Char, Dhaura, and Kochila are among the prevalent flora.
• Many rare and endangered medicinal plants exist, including Abutilon Indicum, Cissus quadrangularis, Crateva Magna, Cycas sphaerica, etc.
• Tigers, elephants, Gaur, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, Peafowl, Red jungle fowl, Blackbuck, Leopard, Sloth bear, Chital, and various bird and reptile species, including rare species like Forsten’s cat snake (Boiga forsteni), can all be found in this sanctuary.
• The sanctuary’s major attraction is the Chousingha, or four-horned antelope.

Canine Distemper:

A tigress and her four cubs died in Kanha Tiger Reserve recently, prompting concerns over a Canine Distemper Virus outbreak.

• It is a contagious and serious disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV).
• The virus attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs and has a very high mortality rate.
• All dogs are at risk of canine distemper. Those at particular risk include puppies younger than four months and dogs that have not been vaccinated against CDV.
• CDV is a worldwide multi-host pathogen and is increasingly found in wildlife species, including carnivores, large felids, marine mammals, and non-human primates.
• It is spread through direct contact or airborne exposure.
• The virus does not last long in the environment and can be destroyed by most disinfectants.
• However, the distemper-infected dogs can shed the virus for up to several months.
• Once a dog is infected, the virus quickly spreads throughout the entire body and significantly weakens the immune system, leaving them susceptible to secondary infections.
• There is no cure, and no antiviral drugs have been approved to combat the infection.
• The best way to prevent canine distemper is through vaccination.

National Company Law Tribunal:

The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of delays by National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) benches in approving resolution plans under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

• It is a quasi-judicial authority incorporated for dealing with corporate disputes that are of civil nature arising under the Companies Act, 2013.
• It was constituted on 1 June 2016 under the Companies Act, 2013.
• It was established based on the recommendation of the Balakrishna Eradi committee on law relating to the insolvency and the winding up of companies.
• It shall consist of a President and such number of Judicial and Technical Members as may be required.
• Decisions of the tribunal may be appealed to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, the decisions of which may further be appealed to the Supreme Court of India on a point of law.
• Powers of National Company Law Tribunal
• It is guided by the principles of natural justice, subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any rules that are made by the Central Government.
• It can enforce any order that it gives in the same manner as a court would enforce it.
• It has the power to scrutinize its own orders.
• It has the power to regulate their own procedure.
• It is the adjudicating authority for the insolvency resolution process of companies and limited liability partnerships under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.

International Labour Day 2026:

Every year, International Labour Day, also known as May Day, is celebrated on May 1 across the world.

• International Labour Day, also known as May Day, is observed annually on May 1 to honor the dedication and contributions of workers across the globe.
• It is a memorial to the labor movement’s struggles and victories.
• The origins of ILD trace back to the late 19th century when 400,000 workers across the USA organised a peaceful strike in Chicago on 1st May 1886.
• They were protesting to demand an eight-hour workday.
• Unfortunately, the strike turned violent, and several unarmed workers were killed by the police.
• It came to be known as the Haymarket Affair and was a turning point in the struggle for workers’ rights.
• This turning point stimulated trade unions and socialist federations across Europe to declare May 1 an international day of workers’ solidarity, formally approved in 1889 at the Paris meeting of the Second International.
• In India, the first Labour Day celebration was held in Chennai (then Madras) in 1923 by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.
• Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar, the leader, raised the red flag for the first time in India and demanded that the government declare May 1 a national holiday to recognise workers’ rights.
• The day usually involves parades, union gatherings, and celebrations that emphasize employee rights.
• May Day 2026 Theme: This year, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) selected the theme for May Day 2026 as: “Ensuring a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment.

Peacock Tarantula:

A scientific survey to assess the Peacock Tarantula has begun Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh.

• It is one of the rarest and most visually striking spiders in the world, famous for its metallic blue coloration.
• It is also known as the Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula, named after the region where it was first discovered.
• The spider has a distinctive bright blue body with yellow and white markings, forming geometric patterns on its legs and abdomen
• In its natural habitat, it is an arboreal species, meaning it lives on trees, occupying tree holes, bark crevices, and elevated surfaces.
• It is endemic to India, primarily found in parts of Andhra Pradesh.
• It is a nocturnal hunter, remaining hidden during the day and becoming active at night.
• It is an active predator that does not rely on webs but instead uses speed and venom to capture prey such as insects and small animals.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN: Critically Endangered
• Threats: The main threats it faces come from habitat loss due to logging, firewood collection, and forest degradation.
• Ecological Role: It plays an important ecological role by controlling insect populations and supporting biodiversity.

Italy: Bilateral military cooperation

India and Italy unveiled a bilateral military cooperation plan 2026-27 outlining the military engagements between the armed forces of both the countries.

• It is located in South-central Europe on the Apennine Peninsula.
• It shares its border with Switzerland and Austria in the north, Slovenia in the northeast and France in the northwest.
• It is bordered by the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Sea of Sicily in the south, the Ionian Sea in the southeast, the Ligurian Sea, and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the southwest.
• Capital City: Rome
• Geographical Features of Italy:
  • Terrain: It is mostly rugged and mountainous and has some plains, coastal lowlands.
  • Major Rivers: Po (It is Italy’s longest river) and Adige
  • Highest Point: Mont Blanc
  • Volcano: Italy is volcanic in origin, and a few of its many volcanoes are active, including Sicily’s Mt. Etna, Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands.
  • Natural Resources: Coal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves.

UN Secretary-General:

The election process for the next UN Secretary-General is officially underway, with four candidates recently completing informal, interactive dialogues before the General Assembly.The Secretary-General is defined by the UN Charter as the Chief Administrative Officer of the United Nations. The role was established with the founding of the UN 80 years ago to oversee the Secretariat and act as the organization’s face and voice.While the UN Charter leaves the term discretionary, a strong custom has existed since 1981 where incumbents limit themselves to two five-year terms.The next Secretary-General is scheduled to take office on January 1, 2027. Candidates are typically high-ranking public figures, such as former heads of state or leaders of major international agencies. For the current cycle, candidates include former President.

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation:

New research indicates the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could weaken by up to 59% by 2100, far more severely than previous estimates of 15%.The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a vast system of ocean currents that acts as a massive, invisible conveyor belt for the planet. It is a critical component of Earth’s climate system, responsible for moving heat and regulating temperatures across the globe.
This system is primarily located in the Atlantic Ocean, spanning from the tropical regions to the freezing Arctic waters near Greenland.

The circulation is driven by differences in water temperature and salt levels (density):

• Surface Flow: Warm, salty water from the tropics flows north toward Greenland.
• Cooling and Sinking: As it reaches the Arctic, the water cools, becomes denser, and sinks several kilometers into the deep ocean.
• Deep Flow: This cold water drifts back south as a deep-water current.
• Rising: Eventually, the water rises back to the surface to warm up and restart the thousand-year loop.