12 Oct 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

2026 El Niño Peak and Drought in India

Why in News: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says the 2026 El Niño could be among the strongest since at least 1950 and is expected to peak in December 2026. Maharashtra has declared drought in 265 talukas after a weak monsoon.

What WMO Said

• Near-100% likelihood that El Niño will persist through February 2027.

• Central-eastern equatorial Pacific sea-surface temperature anomaly is forecast at about +3.7°C for October-December.

• The source states this would exceed the 2015-16 record of +2.6°C.

• Expected effects include above-normal global temperatures, altered rainfall and greater risk of droughts and floods.

El Niño in Brief

• El Niño is the warm phase of ENSO; the phases are Neutral, El Niño and La Niña.

• It is the unusual warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.

• It weakens or shifts the Walker Circulation, encouraging sinking air over India and generally weakening the southwest monsoon.

• The source cross-references Super El Niño as ONI >= +2.0°C.

Drought Situation in the Source

• The all-India monsoon in 2026 ended about 13% below normal and was reported as the fourth-lowest since 2001.

• Maharashtra recorded about an 18% statewide deficit and declared 265 talukas drought-affected under Trigger-1.

• Solapur, Beed, Hingoli and Jalna are identified among the worst-affected districts.

• Karnataka was the first State to declare drought in 2026, covering 177 taluks.

• Drought is declared by States using the Manual for Drought Management, 2016, updated in 2020.

Memory Lock

• El Niño = warm ENSO phase.

• Peak expected = December 2026.

• Source forecast = ~+3.7°C SST anomaly for Oct-Dec.

• Maharashtra drought = 265 talukas under Trigger-1.

• Drought declaration = State responsibility.

Fund

Legal Basis

Funding / Role

NDRF

Section 46, Disaster Management Act, 2005

Centre; tops up States in severe disasters

SDRF

Section 48, Disaster Management Act, 2005

Centre : State = 75:25; 90:10 for NE & Himalayan States

AGRICULTURE & AIR POLLUTION

2. Stubble Burning

Why in News: With winter approaching, paddy-stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is again threatening air quality in Delhi-NCR.

Why Farmers Burn

• The gap between paddy harvest and wheat sowing is only about 2-3 weeks.

• Combine harvesters leave tall stubble, while mechanical clearance costs more.

• Punjab's Preservation of Subsoil Water Act, 2009 delayed paddy transplanting to conserve groundwater, shifting harvest into the calm and cold October-November period.

What It Releases

• Emissions include CO, CO2, methane (CH4), N2O, NOx, volatile organic compounds, ozone-forming gases, PM2.5/PM10 and carcinogens.

• Heat also kills beneficial soil microbes and burns organic matter and nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur.

Memory Lock

• Main driver = very short paddy-to-wheat sowing window.

• Air impact = gases + particulate matter + carcinogens.

• Soil impact = microbial and nutrient loss.

• Solutions = in-situ + ex-situ + policy.

Approach

Examples from Source

In-situ

Happy Seeder, Super Seeder, Super SMS, mulching, PUSA decomposer (IARI microbial spray)

Ex-situ

2G bio-ethanol, CBG, biomass power, pellets for thermal co-firing, packaging / board

Policy

Crop Residue Management Scheme (2018), CAQM directions, crop diversification away from paddy

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & CARBON MARKETS

3. BEE 'Designated Consumer' Criteria

Why in News: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) notified energy-use thresholds that determine when an industrial unit becomes a 'Designated Consumer' under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.

What is a Designated Consumer?

• A Designated Consumer is an energy-intensive unit whose annual energy use crosses the prescribed threshold for its sector.

• Such units must appoint an energy manager, conduct energy audits and meet efficiency targets.

• Thresholds are measured in toe - tonnes of oil equivalent per year. The source distinguishes toe from mtoe, which means million toe.

PAT and Carbon Credit Trading

• Designated Consumers were covered by the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme launched in 2012.

• PAT enabled trading of Energy Saving Certificates.

• The source notes that these units are now moving towards emission-intensity targets under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme.