31 MARCH 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

GS Paper-1: Geography

⭐ Honshu Island

⭐ Why in News

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake recently occurred off the eastern coast of Honshu,

Japan’s largest island.

⭐ Identity and Location

• Honshu (historically called Akitsushima) is the largest of Japan’s four main islands.

• Located between:

• Pacific Ocean (east)

• Sea of Japan (west)

• It is the 7th largest island in the world.

⭐ Major Cities

• Hosts several major Japanese cities, including:

• Tokyo

• Osaka

• Hiroshima

• Nagoya

• Kyoto

• Yokohama

⭐ Physical Features

• Mount Fuji (on Honshu) is the highest peak in Japan.

• Lake Biwa, also on Honshu, is the largest freshwater lake in Japan.

GS Paper-1: Society / Culture

⭐ Sonowal Kacharis

⭐ Why in News

A recent study has identified 39 plant species used by the Sonowal Kachari community

for treating ailments such as fever, cough, kidney stones, and skin diseases.

⭐ Identity and Distribution

• An indigenous community of northeastern India.

• Predominantly found in Assam, where they are:

• The third-largest plains tribe

• Among the oldest tribal groups

• Smaller populations are present in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

⭐ Legal Status

• Recognised as a Scheduled Tribe (Plains)

in Assam.

⭐ Ethnic Origin

• Belong to the Mongoloid ethnic group.

⭐ Language

• Linguistically part of the Tibeto-Burman language family.

• Assamese is the primary language.

• Many members also speak Hindi for wider communication.

GS Paper-3: Environment / Industry

⭐ Waste Foundry Sand

⭐ Why in News

The Institute of Indian Foundrymen and CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CRRI)

have collaborated to promote the use of waste foundry sand in road construction.

⭐ Definition and Source

• Waste foundry sand is a byproduct generated during metal casting processes (both

ferrous and non-ferrous).

⭐ Composition

• Primarily made up of high-quality silica sand.

⭐ Characteristics

• Its physical and chemical properties vary depending on:

• Type of casting process

• Nature of the industry

⭐ Classification of Foundry Sand

➤Basis

• Classified based on the type of binder used in casting.

➤Types of Binder Systems

Two main categories:

➤Clay-Bonded Sand (Green Sand)

• Made from natural materials blended together.

• Contains:

• 85–95% silica sand

• 4–10% bentonite clay (acts as binder)