07 Aug 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

Lesotho

World Geography | Southern Africa | India-Lesotho relations

WHY IN NEWS:

India and Lesotho reviewed bilateral relations at the sixth India-Lesotho Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation (JBCC) meeting in New Delhi.

IN ONE LINE:

Lesotho is a landlocked, high-altitude country in southern Africa that is completely surrounded by South Africa.

Location: what makes Lesotho unusual?

• Lesotho lies in southern Africa and is entirely surrounded by South Africa.

• This makes it the largest sovereign enclave in the world.

• It is one of only three sovereign enclaves; the other two are San Marino and Vatican City.

• Capital and largest city: Maseru.

Relief and elevation

• The landscape is dominated by highlands, including plateaus, hills and mountains.

• More than 80% of the country lies above 1,800 metres.

• Lesotho is the only independent country in the world located entirely above 1,400 metres in elevation.

• It lies in the Maloti Mountains, which explains its nickname, "The Mountain Kingdom."

• Highest peak: Thabana Ntlenyana (3,482 m), the highest peak in Lesotho and southern Africa.

Rivers and climate

• The Orange River, also called the Senqu River, originates in the Lesotho Highlands.

• The Caledon River forms part of Lesotho's western border with South Africa and is an important tributary of the Senqu (Orange) River.

• Climate: temperate, with cold, dry winters and hot, wet summers.

Political system

• Lesotho is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

MEMORY LOCK: Southern Africa | enclave inside South Africa | Maseru | >80% above 1,800 m | entirely above 1,400 m | Maloti Mountains | Thabana Ntlenyana | Orange/Senqu River

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. Why is Lesotho described as a sovereign enclave?

2. Which river originates in the Lesotho Highlands?

3. What elevation-related fact makes Lesotho globally distinctive?

MSME Sustainable ZED Certification Scheme

Industry | MSMEs | Quality manufacturing | Sustainability

WHY IN NEWS:

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is promoting quality-driven and environmentally sustainable manufacturing through the MSME Sustainable (Zero Defect, Zero Effect - ZED) Certification Scheme.

IN ONE LINE:

ZED helps MSMEs improve product quality and manufacturing while reducing their environmental footprint through progressively higher certification levels.

What does ZED seek to achieve?

• Improve product quality and manufacturing processes.

• Promote environmentally sustainable production.

• Increase the global competitiveness of Indian MSMEs.

• Encourage Zero Defect and Zero Effect manufacturing practices.

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME).

Certification pathway

• MSMEs can progress through three certification levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

• The graded structure allows enterprises to improve quality and sustainability standards step by step.

Financial support: remember the numbers

• Since 11 November 2023, women-owned MSMEs receive a 100% subsidy on the cost of ZED certification.

• Up to 75% assistance is available for testing, system or product certification, subject to a maximum of Rs 50,000.

• Up to Rs 2 lakh is available for consultancy and handholding support.

• Up to Rs 3 lakh is available for cleaner technologies, pollution-control measures and Zero Effect solutions.

State-level integration

• The scheme has been integrated into the industrial policies of 22 States and Union Territories.

• These States and UTs also provide additional incentives to ZED-certified MSMEs.

MEMORY LOCK: Zero Defect + Zero Effect | MSME Ministry | Bronze-Silver-Gold | women-owned: 100% subsidy | 75% up to Rs 50,000 | Rs 2 lakh consultancy | Rs 3 lakh cleaner technology | 22 States/UTs

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. What do the two parts of the term ZED stand for?

2. What are the three certification levels under the scheme?

3. What is the maximum support available for adopting cleaner technologies and Zero Effect solutions?

Indigenous African Swine Fever Vaccine

Animal Health | Biotechnology | Veterinary disease control

WHY IN NEWS: India has developed its first indigenous MA-104 cell line-based live attenuated vaccine against African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) Genotype II.

IN ONE LINE: The vaccine was developed by ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal, to protect pigs against ASFV Genotype II using a widely available MA-104 cell line.

The vaccine: core facts

• Developed by: ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal.

• Type: live attenuated vaccine based on the MA-104 cell line.

• Target: African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) Genotype II.

• Using the widely available MA-104 cell line reduces dependence on proprietary manufacturing platforms and supports large-scale, cost-effective production.

Validation and dosage

• The vaccine has completed laboratory testing and field validation for safety, efficacy, genetic stability, sterility, purity, immunogenicity and virulence reversion.

• It is recommended for healthy pigs above eight weeks of age.

• A booster dose is recommended after 14 days.

African Swine Fever: know the disease

• ASF is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic pigs and wild boar.

• It is caused by African Swine Fever Virus, a DNA virus belonging to the family Asfarviridae.

• Major signs include high fever and haemorrhages; mortality can approach 100%.

• ASF does not infect humans or other livestock species.

India and international status

• India reported its first ASF outbreak in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in January 2020.

• The disease has since spread to several States and Union Territories.

• ASF is listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and is covered under the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

• Member countries are required to notify WOAH about ASF outbreaks.

Treatment and prevention

• No specific treatment is available for ASF.

• Prevention relies on strict biosecurity, culling of infected animals and vaccination where approved and available.

MEMORY LOCK: ICAR-NIHSAD Bhopal | MA-104 | live attenuated | ASFV Genotype II | pigs + wild boar | DNA virus: Asfarviridae | not a human disease | India first outbreak: Jan 2020 | WOAH listed

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. Which institute developed India's indigenous ASF vaccine?

2. What type of virus causes African Swine Fever?

3. Does ASF infect humans, and what is the main prevention approach?

Closing Auction Session (CAS)

Capital Markets | SEBI | Price discovery

WHY IN NEWS:

SEBI introduced the Closing Auction Session for eligible Futures & Options stocks, replacing the earlier closing-price methodology for these securities.

IN ONE LINE:

CAS is an auction-based mechanism that determines one equilibrium price as the official closing price of eligible F&O stocks.

Regulatory profile

• Introduced by: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

• Implemented by: National Stock Exchange (NSE) and BSE.

• Effective from: 3 August 2026.

• Initially, CAS applies only to stocks with listed Futures & Options contracts.

Why introduce CAS?

• Improve price discovery and transparency.

• Facilitate execution of large orders.

• Make the closing price better reflect overall market demand and supply.

How CAS works: follow the clock

• 3:15 PM: the auction session begins for eligible F&O stocks.

• A reference price is calculated using the Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) of trades executed during the last 30 minutes of the Continuous Trading Session (CTS).

• Buy and sell orders are collected during the auction without immediate execution.

• The order-entry window closes at a random time between 3:28 PM and 3:30 PM to discourage last-second order placement.

• The exchange identifies a single equilibrium price at which the maximum number of shares can be traded.

• All eligible orders are executed at that equilibrium price, which becomes the official closing price for the day.

What about other securities?

• Securities not covered by CAS continue to use the existing VWAP-based closing-price methodology.

MEMORY LOCK: SEBI | NSE + BSE | effective 3 Aug 2026 | eligible F&O stocks | starts 3:15 PM | random close 3:28-3:30 PM | single equilibrium price | non-CAS securities keep VWAP method

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. What is the purpose of the Closing Auction Session?

2. Why does the order-entry window close at a random time?

3. How is the final official closing price determined under CAS?