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16 topicsGS-1: 3GS-2: 2GS-3: 11
0/16 done
GS-1Editorial

1.China's Declining Birth Rate Crisis

Indian Express

What & Where

Demographic decline – sustained fertility fall causing population shrinkage and rapid ageing.

China – birth rate 5.63/1,000 (2025 est), “4-2-1” family pattern, post-OCP reversal still contracting.

India – TFR 2.0 (<2.1 replacement); south ageing fast, north still high-growth.

Quick Facts for MCQs

China: Structural Drivers

  • Education funnel; 70-80 % resources to elite schools inflating child-rearing cost.
  • Housing trap; 50-70 sqm flats + high price-to-income ratios deter larger families.
  • Healthcare privatization; out-of-pocket share jumped 20 %→60 %, raising parenting risk.

India: Demographic Dashboard

  • Youth surge; labour pool expansion critical before window closes around 2047.
  • Regional skew; north high fertility, south ageing demands differentiated policies.
  • Skill gap; only ~50 % graduates employable, necessitating large-scale re-skilling.

Policy Takeaways

  • Avoid coercion; prioritise voluntary family planning via education & health access.
  • Subsidize basics; affordable housing, schooling, healthcare to make second child feasible.
  • Dual track; elderly care systems for south, job creation & primary education push for north.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
China 2025 birth rate5.63 per 1,000 population
One-Child Policy revoked2016
China median age≈39 years
India median age28.2 years
India national TFR2.0
Bihar TFR3.0
Sikkim TFR1.1
Worker change 2020-2050India +144 mn ; China −239 mn
GS-1History

2.Sangtam Naga Community Pangolin Protection

The Hindu
Illustration for Sangtam Naga Community Pangolin Protection

What & Where

Sangtam Naga tribe; recognised Scheduled Tribe of Nagaland, India.

Core habitat: Kiphire & Tuensang districts, eastern Nagaland near Indo-Myanmar border.

Apex tribal body recently resolved to protect pangolins across its jurisdiction.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Community Governance

  • Village Councils possess customary authority over land, forests, social rules.
  • Apex body decisions binding; enable swift, community-wide policy adoption.
  • Clan system (Shuh) reinforces lineage accountability in enforcement.

Conservation Move

  • Pangolin listed Schedule I, WPA 1972; high trafficking risk via Indo-Myanmar route.
  • Community ban leverages customary law, stronger than external enforcement locally.
  • Sets precedent for indigenous-led species protection in Northeast hills.

Biodiversity & Ecology

  • Region supports dense subtropical forests, biodiversity hotspots, wildlife corridors.
  • Shifting cultivation mosaics create mixed habitats but heighten vulnerability to hunting.
  • Tribal stewardship critical for safeguarding threatened fauna along porous border.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Larger ethnic groupNaga
Key districtsKiphire, Tuensang
Border proximityIndia–Myanmar
Major clan groupingsSix (Shuh)
Dominant land-useShifting cultivation
Governance unitVillage Council + Apex Body
Recent resolution focusPangolin conservation
Resolution year2024
GS-1Mapping

3.Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Erosion

Economic Times
Illustration for Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Erosion

What & Where

Reynisfjara, black‐sand volcanic beach on Iceland’s south coast, 180 km southeast of Reykjavík

Formed by rapid cooling of basalt lava flows entering North Atlantic, yielding hexagonal columnar joints

Lies beside Vík í Mýrdal town, inside Katla UNESCO Global Geopark, facing high-energy Atlantic swells

Quick Facts for MCQs

Geological Formation

  • Columnar jointing creates hexagonal basalt pillars resembling organ pipes
  • Sea stacks originated as former headland segments isolated by wave erosion
  • Black sand grain size fine due to continuous mechanical pounding

Erosion Drivers

  • Easterly wind regime 2026 transported sand away, prevented replenishment
  • High-energy winter Atlantic swells enhanced scouring of foreshore
  • Cliff landslide under Reynisfjall further reduced sediment source

Safety Hazard

  • Sneaker waves travel far inland, unpredictable and lethal for visitors
  • Powerful long-period swells complicate coastal monitoring and warning systems

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Country / RegionSouthern Iceland, Nordic
Nearest townVík í Mýrdal
Geopark tagKatla UNESCO Global Geopark
Sand compositionPulverised basalt from Eyjafjallajökull & other volcanoes
Signature landformsReynisdrangar sea stacks, Hálsanefshellir basalt columns
Sneaker wave riskOne of Iceland’s most hazardous beaches
Prevailing normal windsSouth-westerlies
Feb 2026 anomalyPersistent strong easterlies pushing sand westward
Natural barrierReynisfjall mountain blocking sand return
Additional 2026 eventsBasalt cliff collapse, shoreline narrowing
GS-2Polity

4.Lok Sabha Speaker Removal Procedure

Indian Express

What & Where

Removal; Lok Sabha Speaker can be ousted by House resolution under Article 94(c) of Constitution

Venue; exclusive to Lok Sabha, motion regulated by Rules 200-203, 14-day written notice to Secretary-General

Effect; Speaker’s office vacates immediately on passage by effective majority of “then members”

Quick Facts for MCQs

Constitutional Basis

  • Article 94 lists exit routes: membership loss, resignation, House resolution
  • Provision absent for Rajya Sabha; Chairman handled under separate mechanism
  • Article 96 disqualifies Speaker from chairing debate on own removal

Procedural Safeguards

  • Specificity; charges must be clear, precise, non-defamatory, free of inferences
  • Discipline; debate confined strictly to listed charges, ensured by Rule 203
  • Drop clause; motion lapses immediately if <50 members back admission

Historical Record

  • 1954 G.V. Mavalankar, 1966 Hukam Singh, 1987 Balram Jakhar motions all defeated
  • Zero Speaker removals despite three attempts in seven decades
  • 2026 notice reportedly bears 100+ signatures yet still needs floor support

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Constitutional anchorArticle 94 (vacancy); Article 96 (presiding bar)
Notice periodMinimum 14 days
Minimum signatories on notice1 MP
Support for admission50 members must rise
Majority typeEffective majority (>½ of “then” strength)
Speaker voting rightOrdinary vote allowed; no casting vote
Governing RulesLok Sabha Rules 200-203
Vacancy after dissolutionSpeaker stays till new House meets unless removed
Past motions1954, 1966, 1987
Successful removalsZero till date

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following statements about the Speaker of Lok Sabha is not correct?

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2020PYQ 2

A member giving notice of a resolution for removal of Speaker, Lok Sabha should be addressed to the

GS-2SecurityQuick Bite

5.India Commands CTF-154 Maritime Training

Indian Express

What & Where

Combined Task Force-154 (CTF-154) — CMF’s specialised maritime-training formation, raised May 2023

Area of work spans Middle-East and adjoining international waters; planning hub at CMF HQ, Bahrain

Indian Navy assumed first-ever command, Feb 2026, marking expanded Indian role in cooperative naval security

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

  • Collaboration: Works with CTF-150, 151, 152, 153 for layered Gulf–Red Sea security
  • Mandate: Boosts maritime domain awareness, interdiction, rescue, counters piracy & trafficking
  • Command: Rotational leadership; India holds current tenure

Composition

  • Core-staff: Officers from Canada, Egypt, Jordan, Seychelles, Turkey, United States
  • Membership: Draws wider personnel from CMF’s 47 partner navies
  • Headquarters: Operational planning centred in Manama, Bahrain

Training & Exercises

  • Curriculum: Law of the Sea, boarding drills, SAR, leadership development
  • Exercises: Maritime Security Enhancement Training, Compass Rose, Northern/Southern Readiness serials
  • Beneficiaries: Regional navies gain skills against piracy, illegal trafficking, irregular migration

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Parent organisationCombined Maritime Forces (CMF)
CMF membership47 nations
CMF headquartersManama, Bahrain
CTF-154 purposeMaritime security training & capacity-building
Formation dateMay 2023
India’s command startFeb 2026

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, ESE_GS 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following countries did the Indian Navy participate in the U.S. Navy-led Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) military exercise, to demonstrate its maritime manoeuvres?

CDS_GK, ESE_GS 2023PYQ 2

The joint multinational maritime exercise named IBSAMAR is conducted by the Navies of which of the following countries?

GS-3Editorial

6.NITI Aayog Viksit Bharat Net-Zero Pathways

PIB

What & Where

NITI Aayog’s 11-report package models “Viksit Bharat & Net-Zero” pathways for India.

Core process: macro-energy modelling to scale GDP 8× by 2047 while eliminating net GHG by 2070.

Geography focus: pan-India, highlighting 150 coal districts and RE-rich, water-stressed western states.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Investment: USD 22.7 tn needed; foreign capital share must rise 17 %→42 % to bridge USD 6.5 tn gap
  • Macroshift: Consumption share slides to 52 %, investment climbs, tightening domestic liquidity risk
  • Trade: Fossil-fuel import fall offsets rising critical-mineral bill, improving resilience

Energy Transition

  • Electrification: EVs, heat pumps raise electricity share of final demand from 21 % to 60 %
  • Capacity: Solar-wind jump 164 GW→6,000 GW; nuclear 8 GW→300 GW; grid emission factor hits zero
  • Residual fossil: 14 % primary mix in 2070, managed via CCUS deployment

Critical Minerals

  • Demand: CETM volume up 51 %; copper & graphite form two-thirds; EV batteries drive 55 % demand
  • Dependence: Lithium, cobalt, nickel almost fully imported; polysilicon refining gap persists
  • Mitigation: Domestic exploration, KABIL overseas stakes, strict recycling/EPR for circularity

Social Concerns

  • Workforce: 17 m fossil-linked jobs vulnerable; DMF funds, Skill India, e-Shram to enable shifts
  • Districts: >150 coal districts flagged for just-transition support, social protection, reskilling
  • Buildings: 86 % 2070 floor-space unbuilt; passive design and super-efficient ACs vital against lock-in

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Target GDP 2047USD 30 trillion
Baseline GDP 2025USD 4.18 trillion
Cumulative Net-Zero investmentUSD 22.7 trillion
Yearly investment needUSD 500 bn (current 135 bn)
Financing gapUSD 6.5 trillion
Renewable capacity 2070>6,000 GW
Nuclear capacity 2070>300 GW
Electricity share final energy 207060 % (2025 = 21 %)
Fossil share primary mix 207014 % (2025 = 87 %)
Urban population 204751 % (2023 = 37 %)
Green energy jobs 20507 million
Fossil import saving 2070INR 9 trillion

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, GEO_GS 2025PYQ 1

India’s key climate targets include

CAPF_GAI, GEO_GS 2020PYQ 2

India has committed to reduce emission intensity of its GDP from 2005 levels by 33-35 per cent by the year:

GS-3Editorial

7.Power Distribution Sector Reforms Progress

The Hindu

What & Where

DISCOMs: State-owned/private utilities distributing electricity to end-users across India

AT&C loss: Percentage energy-and-revenue leakage between grid input, billing and collection

ACS-ARR gap: Rupee difference between average supply cost and realised tariff in State networks

Quick Facts for MCQs

Financial Turnaround

  • Profitability: Sector turned positive after decade of losses via subsidies and efficiency gains
  • Liquidity: Late Payment Surcharge rules cleared dues, strengthening payments to generators
  • Efficiency: Lower theft and better billing narrowed ACS-ARR gap

Government Schemes

  • UDAY: 75 % DISCOM debt shifted to states through low-interest bonds since 2015
  • RDSS: Performance-linked grants for loss reduction, smart meters, feeder upgrades till 2026
  • IPDS: Urban network strengthening to cut technical losses, improve reliability

Persistent Challenges

  • Subsidy Dependence: Free or underpriced farm power keeps finances fragile
  • Political Tariffs: Reluctance to hike rates sustains non-cost-reflective pricing
  • Unmetered Supply: Data gaps in agriculture obscure true consumption and subsidy needs

Reform Priorities

  • Cost-Reflective Tariff: Automatic fuel-cost pass-through urged to avoid new deficits
  • Direct Benefit Transfer: Targeted DBT subsidies proposed to ease DISCOM cash stress
  • Renewable Push: Solar pumps, decentralised generation to cut procurement cost and subsidies

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
FY 2024-25 Profit after Tax₹2,701 crore
FY 2013-14 Net loss₹67,962 crore
AT&C loss reduction22.62 % → 15.04 %
RDSS central outlay₹3,03,758 crore (FY22-26)
AT&C target under RDSS12–15 %
Legacy dues June 2022₹1,39,947 crore
Legacy dues January 2026₹4,927 crore

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2016PYQ 1

Which one of the following is a purpose of 'UDAY', a scheme of the Government?

GS1 2006PYQ 2

Consider the following statements:

GS-3Scheme

8.Advanced Chemistry Cell PLI Challenges

The Hindu

What & Where

ACC-PLI: Production-Linked Incentive to build Advanced Chemistry Cell (mainly Li-ion) factories in India.

Goal: 50 GWh battery capacity by 2026, ₹18,100 cr incentives via Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Scope: Domestic cathode–anode–electrolyte supply chain, cutting Chinese import dependence, boosting EV & storage adoption.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Implementation Status

  • Slippage: Zero incentive payout, production yet to start despite 30 GWh awards.
  • Delay: Only 1.4 GWh operational; remaining projects facing land, tech and funding bottlenecks.
  • Retrenchment: Some bidders scaling back expansion plans amid slower EV uptake.

Economic Angle

  • Import bill: High Li-ion reliance on China continues, negating strategic aim.
  • Cost curve: Incentive ≤₹2,000/kWh intended to lower battery pack price, currently unrealised.
  • Investment: Mandatory ₹1,100 cr per bidder slowing smaller domestic participation.

Employment Impact

  • Shortfall: 1,118 jobs vs promised 1 million underscores execution gap.
  • Skill-set: Battery chemistry, thermal management, recycling expertise presently scarce domestically.
  • Ripple: Ancillary sectors (copper foil, separators) yet to witness expected demand boom.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch month-yearOctober 2021
Administering ministryHeavy Industries
Scheme outlay₹18,100 crore
Target capacity50 GWh by 2026
Incentive rateUp to ₹2,000 per kWh sold
Minimum capex to bid₹1,100 crore
Domestic value add—Year 2≥25 %
Domestic value add—Year 5≥60 %
Capacity allotted30 GWh
Commissioned (Oct 2025)1.4 GWh
Under development8.6 GWh (delayed)
Jobs projected1.03 million
Jobs created1,118
Incentive disbursed₹0 of ₹2,900 crore target
GS-3Economy

9.APEDA 40th Anniversary Export Milestone

News on Air
Illustration for APEDA 40th Anniversary Export Milestone

What & Where

Statutory authority under Commerce & Industry Ministry for promoting export of agricultural and processed food products.

Constituted by APEDA Act 1985; operational since 13 Feb 1986, replacing Processed Food Export Promotion Council.

Pan-India mandate; links Indian farm produce with global markets and buyers.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Statutory mandate defines “scheduled products”, updated via Gazette to widen coverage.
  • Quality standards, inspection powers and packaging norms legally enforceable for exports.
  • Government assigns additional tasks like sugar import monitoring under existing Act provisions.

Functional Mandate

  • Export promotion through financial aid, market intelligence, branding and overseas fairs.
  • Ensures quality via standards fixation, meat plant inspection, laboratory certification.
  • Manages NPOP certification enabling compliant organic exports.

Economic Angle

  • APEDA facilitation helped agri-exports surpass US$ 50 billion, boosting forex inflow.
  • New market access initiatives translate into higher farmgate prices and rural income.
  • Support for value addition and modern packaging raises competitiveness of Indian produce.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Establishing ActAPEDA Act, 1985 (Act 2 of 1986)
Came into effect13 February 1986
Administrative ministryMinistry of Commerce & Industry
Replaced bodyProcessed Food Export Promotion Council
Core roleExport promotion, quality & market development
Exporter registryIssues RCMC for scheduled products
Organic oversightSecretariat of National Programme for Organic Production
Sugar oversightEntrusted to monitor sugar imports
Recent agri-export valueCrossed US$ 50 billion
Product scopeFruits, vegetables, basmati rice, meat, dairy, cereals, honey, guar gum, floriculture, herbal plants, cashew, beverages

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS, GS1 2015PYQ 1

In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the

ESE_GS, GS1 2026PYQ 2

Which organization is responsible for implementing the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)?

GS-3S&T

10.Novel Oral Polio Vaccine Type-2

WHO
Illustration for Novel Oral Polio Vaccine Type-2

What & Where

nOPV2 = next-gen oral polio vaccine for circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks.

Used in rapid outbreak-response campaigns across under-immunised countries; developed within Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Newly WHO-prequalified, unlocking UN procurement and wider global deployment.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Stability-enhanced Sabin strain redesign curbs seed-outbreak probability.
  • Multi-dose presentation optimises large-scale campaign logistics, reduces per-dose cost.
  • Prequalification tags vaccine inside WHO PQS supply chain norms.

Global Health Governance

  • WHO-PQ enables pooled purchase under PAHO Revolving Fund, Gavi support.
  • GPEI partners: WHO, UNICEF, CDC, Rotary, Gates Foundation steer development & rollout.
  • Additional manufacturer capacity raises supply resilience during simultaneous outbreaks.

Outbreak Control

  • Rapid nOPV2 deployment plugs immunity gaps in under-immunised clusters.
  • Lower reversion risk decreases need for repeated mop-up rounds.
  • Tool complements declining wild poliovirus cases, sustaining eradication momentum.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Vaccine classNovel Oral Polio Vaccine Type 2 (nOPV2)
Primary targetcVDPV2 transmission during outbreaks
Developer umbrellaGlobal Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)
Genetic traitMore stable, lower mutation risk than earlier OPVs
Age eligibilityAll age groups in outbreak settings
Vial size options20-dose & 50-dose multidose vials
Storage leewayFlexible cold-chain requirements for field use
WHO status (2024)Prequalified for safety, quality, efficacy
Procurement channelsUNICEF, other UN agencies post-PQ
Strategic aimAccelerate global polio eradication progress
GS-3S&T

11.Ladakh Large Solar and Optical Telescopes

Indian Express

What & Where

NLST — 2 m visible–NIR solar telescope coming up at Merak, Pangong Tso, eastern Ladakh

NLOT — 13.7 m segmented optical–NIR telescope to rise at Hanle, Indian Astronomical Observatory, Ladakh

HCT — existing 2.01 m Hanle telescope to be retro-fitted with 3.7 m segmented mirror

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Design segmentation leverages Thirty Meter Telescope know-how
  • Union Budget 2026-27 sanctioned both new builds plus HCT upgrade
  • CREST satellite link enables real-time remote operations

Scientific Objectives

  • Solar physics: magnetic fields, flares, CMEs for space-weather forecasting
  • Cosmic frontier: exoplanets, stellar evolution, supernovae, early-universe clues
  • Multi-messenger synergy with Aditya-L1, LIGO-India, Square Kilometre Array

Strategic Significance

  • Longitude gap filling allows round-the-clock global sky watch
  • High-quality indigenous data ensures scientific sovereignty for Indian researchers
  • Space-weather insights protect satellites, launch vehicles, power and communication grids

Global Collaboration

  • Preferential observation time for Global South scientists fosters equitable astronomy
  • Hanle Dark Sky Reserve enhances international appeal for joint programmes

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
NLST aperture2 m monolithic mirror
NLST spectrumVisible & near-infrared
NLST timelineOperational in 5–6 years
NLST siteMerak village, Pangong Tso
NLOT aperture13.7 m (90 hexagonal segments)
NLOT spectrumOptical–near infrared
NLOT timelineReady in about a decade
NLOT site altitude≈ 4,500 m, Hanle
HCT first light2000; remote-operated from CREST, Karnataka
HCT upgrade3.7 m segmented primary

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 1

Recently India commissioned its first liquid mirror telescope at

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2024PYQ 2

स्क्वायर (वर्ग) किलोमीटर एरे (SKA) परियोजना के संबंध में निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा/कौन-से कथन सही है/हैं ?

GS-3Environment

12.Women-Led Decentralised Renewable Energy Model

The Hindu

What & Where

Concept: Women-led decentralised renewable energy (DRE) where rural women design, own, operate small solar pumps, mini-grids, dryers

Core Tech: Low-capacity solar appliances driving productive use of energy (PURE) for agriculture, dairy, weaving, lighting

Geography: Pilots across Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan; spotlighted at India Distributed Renewable Energy Summit 2026

Quick Facts for MCQs

Socio-Economic Impact

  • Income: 90 % DRE users report higher earnings enabling SHGs to access formal credit
  • Time-poverty: Solar devices cut 3–4 hr daily fuelwood collection burden on rural women
  • Mobility: Solar streetlights in UP villages expanded evening SHG meetings and community events

Initiatives & Schemes

  • PM Surya Ghar: Community solar villages with women management mandates
  • Lakhpati Didi: Integrates DRE tools into SHG enterprises to create 3 crore six-figure earners
  • SoUL Project: IIT-Bombay trained Bihar women to assemble and service solar study lamps

Challenges

  • Capital: Solar bulk milk chiller costs up to ₹25 lakh; limited cheap green credit
  • Skills: Scarcity of local women technicians causes months-long downtime in Jharkhand installations
  • Patriarchy: Asset mortgages tough as women own only 13.9 % farmland limiting loan eligibility

Policy Way Forward

  • Ownership: Mandate women as primary or joint asset holders akin to Ujjwala cylinder model
  • Finance: Launch gender-focused FLDG and low-interest green credit lines for SHG energy ventures
  • Governance: Allow Panchayats to contract women collectives for Energy-as-a-Service from own-source revenues

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Women in Indian RE workforce11 % (global avg 32 %)
Potential GDP boost by women-energy parityUSD 2.9 trn by 2025-26
Premature deaths from indoor air pollution~2 lakh annually
Income rise after adopting DRE+33 % within one year
Solar silk-reeling earnings jump₹1,500 → ₹6,000 per month
Anjor Vision 2047 target5,000 women-led DRE units; 50,000 green jobs by 2030
PM Surya Ghar solar villages goal10,000 by 2030
Women land ownership (Agr Census)13.9 %

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1, NDA_GAT 2025PYQ 1

Consider the following statements about ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’ :

GS1, NDA_GAT 2025PYQ 2

Which one of the following statements about ‘REJUPAVE’ is correct?

GS-3Species

13.New Army Ant Species Discovery

DH
Illustration for New Army Ant Species Discovery

What & Where

Army ants = blind, nomadic, highly social predators executing coordinated mass raids.

New species Aenictus chittoorensis & A. lankamallensis found in Sri Venkateswara WLS, Southern Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh.

Occupy tropical forest floors; form temporary body-made nests called bivouacs.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Morphology & Behaviour

  • Mandibles sharp; sting present enables overpowering larger prey
  • Columns straight; thousands coordinate during mass raids
  • Bivouacs temporary nests built from interlocked bodies

Habitat & Distribution

  • Location Southern Eastern Ghats inside Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Forestfloor litter dense; high arthropod abundance essential
  • Records sparse; genus Aenictus under-studied in Peninsular India

Ecological Significance

  • Predation keystone; regulates arthropod community structure
  • Raids flush insects benefiting birds reptiles higher trophic levels
  • Activity enhances nutrient turnover sustaining forest biodiversity

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
GenusAenictus
Newly described speciesA. chittoorensis; A. lankamallensis
Discovery siteSri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary, Chittoor district
Physiological traitCompletely blind
Primary navigationPheromone trails
Nest typeTemporary bivouacs of interlocked bodies
Predatory styleLarge, synchronized column raids
Defensive/offensive toolsSharp mandibles + sting
Colony sizeThousands of workers
Ecological roleKeystone predator regulating arthropods
GS-3Security

14.India–Thailand Joint Air Combat Exercise

DD News
Illustration for India–Thailand Joint Air Combat Exercise

What & Where

Military exercises = structured training for readiness, interoperability, deterrence across services or nations.

India–Thailand bilateral air combat held over Indian Ocean Region; IAF operated from Andaman & Nicobar.

Exercise Vayushakti-26: biennial IAF fire-power demo at Pokhran Air-to-Ground Range, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

  • Maritime focus enhances Indo-Pacific deterrence, long-range strike coordination.
  • Builds IAF–RTAF interoperability for humanitarian and contingency ops.
  • Demonstrates full-spectrum capability, reinforcing regional balance.

Tech & Platforms

  • Fighters: Rafale, Tejas, Su-30MKI, Mirage-2000, Gripen, Jaguar, MiG-29.
  • Force-multipliers: IL-78 refueller, AWACS, RPAs, C-17, C-130J, Apache, Chinook, LCH.
  • Weaponry: Akash SAM, SpyDer, SRLM, Counter-UAS displayed in live-fire.

Policy & Initiative

  • Aligns with Act East Policy and Aatmanirbhar Bharat self-reliance drive.
  • Draws lessons from Operation Sindoor for precision strike doctrines.
  • Core values promoted: Achook (accurate), Abhedya (impenetrable), Sateek (precise).

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
India–Thailand drill typeIn-situ maritime air-combat exercise
Vayushakti-26 typeBiennial fire-power demonstration
Participants (India–Thailand)Indian Air Force & Royal Thai Air Force
Participants (Vayushakti)Indian Air Force only
Core policy driverAct East Policy
IOR operating baseAndaman & Nicobar Islands
Desert range locationPokhran, Rajasthan
Key fighter face-offSu-30MKI vs SAAB Gripen
Support assetsIL-78 tankers, IAF AWACS, Thai GCI
Indigenous weapons shownAkash, SpyDer, SRLM, Counter-UAS
Frequency (Vayushakti)Every two years
Demonstration phasesDay, dusk, night

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2023PYQ 1

The 16th edition of Indo-Nepal annual joint training exercise in jungle warfare and counter-terrorism operations was held in December 2022 at Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi. What is the name of this exercise?

CDS_GK, GS1 2024PYQ 2

Which of the following statements about 'Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023' are correct?

GS-3EnvironmentQuick Bite

15.Desert Dust Pathogens Reach Himalayas

PIB

What & Where

Transboundary desert dust from western India’s arid zones drifts to Eastern Himalayas, ferrying airborne bacteria.

Dual dynamics: horizontal long-range dust transport plus vertical uplift of polluted foothill air modifies high-altitude microbiome.

Route spans Indo-Gangetic Plain, depositing on cold, low-oxygen Himalayan hilltops.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Health Impact

  • Diseases: respiratory, skin, gastrointestinal spikes traced to pathogen-laden dust arrivals
  • Cold, hypoxic Himalayan environment heightens vulnerability of resident communities
  • Early-warning health modules recommended for mountain districts under national action plans

Transport Mechanism

  • Horizontal desert winds propel dust hundreds of kilometres across Indo-Gangetic Plain
  • Vertical up-valley winds loft local pollution, merging with incoming plumes aloft
  • Synergistic mixing reshapes bacterial community composition over 3–5 km elevations

Policy & Planning

  • First quantitative evidence enables transboundary dust–health advisory frameworks
  • Dataset supports real-time risk mapping and hospital preparedness in hill states
  • Aligns with Viksit Bharat 2047 objectives on preventive healthcare and environmental resilience

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Lead instituteBose Institute (DST autonomous)
Study span> 2 years continuous monitoring
Source regionWestern Indian deserts
Target regionEastern Himalayan hilltops
Transport mediumDesert dust plumes
Key carriersAirborne bacteria/pathogens
Noted ailmentsRespiratory, skin, gastrointestinal
Secondary uplift sourcePolluted air from Himalayan foothills
Vision linkageViksit Bharat @ 2047 health goals
GS-3EconomyQuick Bite

16.RBI Draft Rules on Recovery Agents

The Hindu

What & Where

RBI draft “Commercial Banks – Responsible Business Conduct” Second Amendment Directions, 2026 on recovery agents

Applicable to all Scheduled Commercial Banks & other RBI-regulated entities across India

Enters into force 1 July 2026

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Direction grounded in RBI’s supervisory mandate over responsible business conduct
  • Expands earlier fair-practice norms to explicitly cover recovery-agent engagement
  • Seeks to balance creditor rights with borrower protection

Institutional Mechanisms

  • Banks must craft policy detailing agent eligibility, due diligence, code of conduct, activity scope, evaluation
  • Compulsory dedicated channel for borrower complaints on recovery practices

Conduct Standards

  • Harassment ban covers borrowers, guarantors, relatives, friends, co-workers
  • False or misleading statements on debt size or consequences strictly prohibited
  • Contact outside prescribed hours or via anonymous numbers disallowed

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Guideline nameRBI (Commercial Banks – Responsible Business Conduct) Second Amendment Directions, 2026
Target entitiesBanks, NBFCs & other RBI-regulated lenders
Enforcement date1 July 2026
Prohibited practicesAbusive language, threats, excessive/anonymous calls, public humiliation
Definition of harsh methodsAny verbal, physical or reputational intimidation or false representation of debt
Mandatory bank actionsFormal recovery policy + dedicated grievance redress mechanism

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS, GS1 2024PYQ 1

To increase transparency and consumer awareness and handle customer complaints, a 'Centralised Receipt and Processing Centre' and an 'Integrated Ombudsman Scheme' have been set up. These two schemes are related to which one of the following institutions?

ESE_GS, GS1 2017PYQ 2

Which of the following statements best describes the term ‘Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A)’, recently seen in the news?

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