KAS Current Affairs

KAS Current Affairs: Current Affairs is the living pulse of the KPSC syllabus. It is not a standalone subject to be memorized in isolation; rather, it is a dynamic thread that weaves together History, Economy, Polity, and Ethics across both the Preliminary and Main stages. In the context of the upcoming examinations, transitioning from simply “reading the news” to “studying the syllabus through the news” is the critical shift that separates a serious aspirant from a casual reader.

The “Syllabus-First” Philosophy
By following a current affairs pattern strictly mapped to the KPSC syllabus, you ensure that every hour spent reading the newspaper is an hour spent building your exam rank.

Preliminary Examination

Paper-I: Current Events of National and International Importance

Paper-II: Current Events of State Importance and Important Government Schemes and Programs

Main Examination

Paper-I: Essays

Essay – 1: Topic of International/National Importance

Essay-2: Topic of State importance/Local Importance

Paper-II: General Studies 1

GST collection grew by 11.6%
Context: In a year where the GST rate rationalisation threw up a huge challenge, data shared by the Commercial Taxes Department shows that a total of ₹1.58 lakh crore was collected as GST in the State, a growth of 11.6% from 2024-2025.

• In a year where the GST rate rationalisation threw up a huge challenge for the State to mop up resources, Karnataka received ₹87,256 crore as part of the SGST, and the SGST portion of the IGST settlement during 2025-2026, about 5% more than 2024-2025 when the settlement was ₹82,808 crore.
• Data shared by the Commercial Taxes Department shows that a total of ₹1.58 lakh crore was collected as GST in the State, a growth of 11.6% over the collection in 2024-2025. Collection in Karnataka is the second highest in the country after Maharashtra where the GST collection stood at ₹3.61 lakh crore during 2025-2026.
• Of the total collection of ₹1.58 lakh crore, ₹40,621 crore was CGST, ₹50,245 crore was SGST, and ₹67,351 crore was IGST.
• The State government had estimated the revenue loss at about ₹10,000 crore owing to GST rate rationalisation in 2025-2026, and is estimating a revenue loss of about ₹15,000 crore in 2026-27.

Paper-III: General Studies 2

Exclusion from rolls doesn’t repeal voting rights forever, says SC
Context: The rights of West Bengal voters purged from the electoral rolls during the special intensive revision (SIR), and unable to make it to any of the supplementary lists ahead of the Assembly election, cannot be “washed away forever”, the Supreme Court said.

• A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant made the observation in the context of 19 tribunals constituted by the Election Commission of India (EC) to hear appeals of persons excluded from the electoral roll. Justice Joymalya Bagchi, on the Bench, said the adjudication and appellate processes of the SIR exercise must be taken to its logical conclusion, and anything less would lead to an “extremely oppressive” situation.
• The Bench also highlighted a Calcutta High Court communication saying nearly 47 lakh of a total 60 lakh claims under adjudication had already been disposed of and the remaining would be cleared by April 7. The appellate hearings would ensure justice for those excluded incorrectly, CJI Kant said.

Bill to establish Amaravati as sole capital of A.P. gets Lok Sabha nod
Context: The Lok Sabha passed a Bill to recognise Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh, with the principal Opposition party Congress extending support to the legislation. The YSR Congress Party – which had earlier proposed a three-capital plan for the State – walked out in protest.

• The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by a voice vote after a nearly two-hour debate. It will now be sent to the Rajya Sabha, and then to the President for assent.
• Once enacted, it will give statutory backing to Amaravati as the State’s capital with effect from June 2, 2024, effectively foreclosing any future attempt to alter the decision.
• Initiating the discussion, Congress member Manickam Tagore said his party supported the Bill but reiterated the demand for special category status for the State.
• Supporting the legislation, BJP member C.M. Ramesh said it was perhaps the first instance of Parliament enacting a law to formally declare a specific location as a State capital.
• The YSRCP, however, opposed the measure, arguing that the interests of farmers who had parted with land for the project remained unaddressed.

CAPF Bill passed by Rajya Sabha after Opposition walkout
Context: The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, which was passed in the Rajya Sabha, will further strengthen the security system of the country, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said, while replying to the debate on the legislation.

• The Opposition walked out after Mr. Rai’s speech, alleging that the government had not addressed any concerns about the Bill raised by their MPs and senior officers of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
• Mr. Rai maintained that the Bill was an important step in resolving several inconsistencies in CAPF service rules, cadre management, and appointment-related issues, among others, to boost the efficiency and morale of the forces.
• “The Bill aims to create an umbrella structure for resolving several such anomalies and streamlining its structure for better coordination and implementation,” Mr. Rai said, while maintaining that the Bill is not against the federal structure.
• Soon after Mr. Rai’s speech, Opposition Leader Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated the demand that the Bill should be referred to a select committee of Parliament. He alleged that Mr. Rai had not addressed the core issues raised by the Opposition on the institutionalisation of deputation, adverse impact on morale and career progression, lack of consultation and representation, and lack of concern for judicial direction.
• Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) MP Fauzia Khan said the Bill was judicial invasion wearing the clothes of law.
• “Imagine joining one of these forces as an Assistant Commandant, young, ready to serve, 16 years have passed, you have fought insurgents, you have earned your promotion, and yet you have not received it,” Ms. Khan said.

NSCN-K seeks ‘religious conversion’, Arunachal govt. tells UAPA tribunal
Context: The Arunachal Pradesh government told an Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) tribunal recently that the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), a banned outfit which seeks the merger of Naga-dominated areas in India and Myanmar, wants to “convert people to Christianity” in order to have a “homogenous society for a common cause”.

• A UAPA tribunal on March 19 upheld a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification of September 22, 2025 to declare the NSCN-K an unlawful association under the UAPA, 1967 for another five years. The group was involved in the June 4, 2015 ambush of an Army convoy in Manipur in which 18 Army personnel were killed.
• In its deposition, the Arunachal Pradesh government said other than the forceful conversion of locals to Christianity, the group intends to “bring all the sub-tribes under one banner Tangsang-Naga” and “this is indicative of a deeper conspiracy to create homogenous demographic structure”.
• The outfit is active in the Tirap, Changlang and Longding (TCL) districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The State government did not depose on these lines before the tribunal that was set up in 2015, when the outfit was banned first.
• It added that the group indulges in unlawful interference in electoral process, drug trafficking and has established hideouts/camps in the three districts to attack/ambush security force personnel.
• Named after its leader S.S. Khaplang, who died in Myanmar in 2017, the NSCN-K was formed in January 1990 after a split from the parent group, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, in 1988. The latter is now known as the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and has been in peace talks with the government since 1997. The National Investigation Agency had declared a reward of ₹17 lakh for Khaplang’s arrest for executing the ambush on the Army convoy. The NSCN-K was initially banned for five years in 2020, extended for another five years in 2025.
• The Ministry informed the tribunal that in the past five years, NSCN-K factions were involved in 29 incidents of violence, in which 18 deaths and injuries to 16 security personnel and civilians occurred; 71 cases were registered with chargesheets filed in 56 cases and 35 cadres were prosecuted or convicted. Eighty-five cadres were arrested, 69 cadres surrendered and 51 other criminal activities, including kidnappings, were reported.
• The Ministry submitted that the group reportedly has an approximate strength of 400-500 cadres in Myanmar, including 50-75 Indian Naga cadres.

LS passes Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill 2026
Context: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, by voice vote, aiming to decriminalise minor offences across various laws and further promote ease of doing business and living.

• The Bill proposes to amend 784 provisions of 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries. It seeks to decriminalise 717 provisions and amend 67 provisions to facilitate ease of living.
• It also seeks to rationalise more than 1,000 offences, removing outdated and redundant provisions, thereby improving the overall regulatory environment. Replying to the debate on the Bill, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said it will help people and MSMEs. Amendments moved by Congress member K. Kavya were rejected by voice vote.

Paper-IV: General Studies 3

Karnataka seeks public feedback on draft policy for students’ digital use
Context: The Karnataka Health Department has opened its draft policy on responsible digital use among students for public feedback, inviting objections and suggestions until April 15. The draft policy was released last week.

• Prepared in collaboration with the NIMHANS and other stakeholders, the draft policy is aimed at tackling growing concerns over excessive and unsafe use of digital devices among schoolchildren. Students, parents, and the general public can submit their responses via email to dd6mhkar@gmail.com and ddehospital-​hfws@karnataka.gov.in.
• Addressing presspersons on Wednesday, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “The public is increasingly aware of the negative effects of mobile phones on health and education, including anxiety, cyberbullying, sleeplessness and social isolation. You may also notice that family members are speaking less with each other because of mobile phone use.
• It is disturbing our social structure.” “While we have learnt how to use technology, we have not adequately understood its adverse effects, including digital addiction and its impact on the mind,” the Minister said, emphasising that the policy stresses training parents and teachers to help reduce excessive mobile phone use among children.

One in four

• The draft highlights that nearly one in four adolescents shows signs of problematic internet use, linking excessive screen time to mental health concerns such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, poor academic performance, and social isolation, along with risks like cyberbullying and online exploitation.
• The framework promotes digital well-being, emotional resilience, and responsible technology use.

Training of teachers

• “Schools will be required to frame their own digital use guidelines, including setting limits on recreational screen time – recommended at no more than one hour a day – addressing cyber misconduct, and ensuring access to counselling support.
• Teachers will be trained to identify early signs of digital distress and guide students to appropriate services,” the Minister said.
• The policy urges them to enforce screen-time rules, create device-free spaces at home, and model responsible digital behaviour, while schools are expected to strengthen engagement with families, he said.

NASA begins fuelling rocket for first lunar trip in 50 years
Context: NASA began fuelling its moon rocket for humanity’s first lunar trip in more than half a century, aiming for an evening lift-off with four astronauts.

• Tensions were high as hydrogen fuel started flowing into the rocket hours ahead of the planned launch. Dangerous hydrogen leaks erupted during a countdown test earlier this year, forcing a lengthy flight delay.
• The launch team needs to load more than 2.6 million litres into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket on the pad before the Artemis II crew can board.
• “It is time to fly,” commander Reid Wiseman said on the eve of launch via X. Favourable weather was forecast.
• Three Americans and one Canadian will fly around the moon without stopping or even orbiting — then head straight back for a Pacific splashdown. They will set a new distance record for the farthest humans have travelled from Earth as they zoom some 6,400 km beyond the moon and then hang a U-turn.
• Astronauts last flew to the moon during Apollo 17 in 1972.

Paper-V: General Studies 4