16 May2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

GS Paper 1 – Geography

Agalega Islands

📰 Why in News

• The Agalega Islands are emerging as a significant part of India’s strategy to strengthen maritime presence and monitor vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean region.

📍 Location and Geography

• The Agalega Islands are a group of two islands situated in the Indian Ocean.

🌐 Surrounding Regions

• Seychelles lies to the north.

• Maldives, Diego Garcia, and the Chagos Islands are located towards the east.

• Madagascar, the Mozambique Channel, and the eastern coast of Africa lie to

the west.

🏛 Administrative Status

• Administratively, the islands are part of the Republic of Mauritius.

🏘 Important Settlement

• North Agalega contains the principal settlement known as Vingt Cinq.

🌴 Flora and Fauna

• Coconut is one of the major endemic plant species found on the islands.

• The Agalega Island Day Gecko is an important native species of the region.

GS Paper 1 – Geography & International Relations

Qom

📰 Why in News

• Qom is home to one of the largest Indian communities in Iran, with nearly

3,000–3,500 Indian nationals residing in the city.

📍 Location and Significance

🌐 Geographical Location

• Qom is the capital city of Qom Province located in north-central Iran.

• The city serves as an important link between Tehran and the central provinces

of Iran.

🕌 Religious Importance

• Qom is widely regarded as one of the foremost centres of Shia Islamic

theology and scholarship.

🕋 Emergence as a Religious Centre

📜 Historical Development

• Qom emerged as a major centre of Shia Islam during the 8th century CE.

• By the 17th century, it had developed into a prominent pilgrimage destination.

🏛 Major Religious Sites

• The city houses several important religious landmarks, including the Shrine of

Fatima Masumeh, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Iran.

GS Paper 3 – Economy & International Trade

Advance Authorisation Scheme

📰 Why in News

• The Government of India has recently imposed restrictions on the quantity of

gold that can be imported under the Advance Authorisation Scheme.

📘 About the Scheme

📌 Definition

• The Advance Authorisation Scheme allows duty-free import of inputs that are

physically incorporated into export products.

🏭 Inputs Permitted Under the Scheme

🧩 Production and Supporting Inputs

Apart from production inputs, the scheme also permits duty-free import of:

• Packaging materials

• Fuel

• Oil

• Catalysts used or consumed during the manufacturing process of export goods

💰 Duty Exemptions Available

🛃 Customs and Tax Benefits

Inputs imported under the scheme are exempt from several duties and taxes,

including:

• Basic Customs Duty

• Additional Customs Duty

• Education Cess

• Anti-Dumping Duty

• Safeguard Duty