Tag Archives: UPSC Current Affairs

GS3 – Science & Technology Context : New research using the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) on the Subaru Telescope (Hawaii) has offered insights into the distribution of matter in the universe. The researchers arrived at a Sigma 8 (S8) value of 0.747, which is consistent with earlier astronomical surveys. What is …

GS2 – Social Sector Context: A recent analysis by the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) has brought to light serious gaps in access to suitable antibiotics for treating drug-resistant infections in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including India. Study Findings Scope of the Study: The research focused on …

GS2 – Polity Context: India has not appointed a Deputy Speaker for both the 17th and 18th Lok Sabha sessions, despite constitutional provisions requiring it. Constitutional Provision Article 93 of the Constitution mandates the election of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha “as soon as …

GS1 – Geography Context:   Indian scientists have successfully charted the plasma movements within the Sun’s Near-Surface Shear Layer. About NSSL The Near-Surface Shear Layer is a turbulent zone extending roughly 35,000 km beneath the Sun’s visible surface, where a significant drop in plasma rotational speed with increasing depth is …

GS3 – S&T Context: Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. About the Ax-4 Mission Organizer: Axiom Space (U.S.-based private space company), in collaboration with NASA. Launch Vehicle: SpaceX …

GS-3: Indian Economy Key Points: SEBI accuses Pranav Adani, a director in multiple Adani Group companies and Gautam Adani’s nephew, of insider trading linked to the 2021 SB Energy Holdings acquisition by Adani Green Energy. Allegations state Pranav traded using unpublished price-sensitive information (UPSI) before the deal’s announcement, violating insider …

GS-3: Science and Technology Key Points: Indian-origin scientist Nikhilesh Natraj and the UCSF team developed a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) enabling a paralyzed individual to control a robotic arm through imagined movements. The system operated reliably for months with minimal recalibration, a significant advancement in assistive technology. Sensors detect neural signals …

GS-2: Polity and Governance Key Points: India’s parliamentary oversight has weakened due to limited scrutiny by committees and the executive evading accountability. Standing Committees meet infrequently, lack follow-through, and their recommendations rarely influence policy. The article calls for “Maximum Accountability” alongside “Maximum Governance.” Proposes reforms like mandatory discussions of committee …

GS-2: International Relations Key Points: On April 30, Ukraine and the U.S. signed an agreement granting U.S. access to Ukraine’s untapped critical mineral reserves. The U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund will fund extraction, with Ukraine receiving 50% of revenues. The deal lacks explicit U.S. security commitments, increasing Ukraine’s vulnerability in its …

GS-2: International Relations Key Points: The article explores a major reconfiguration of the global order, moving from U.S.-dominated unipolarity post-Cold War to a multipolar framework. The rise of China and India, coupled with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, drives this transition. Post-World War II global institutions struggle to adapt to these changes. …

GS-1: Urbanization – Urban Safety Infrastructure Key Points: A tragic fire in a Kolkata hotel in the crowded Burrabazar area claimed 14 lives and injured 13, revealing deficiencies in urban fire safety and response. The six-storey building had only one staircase and no alternative exits, breaching fire safety regulations. A …

GS-1: Indian Society Key Points: Experts highlight that compiling a definitive list of castes and communities will be the primary hurdle for caste enumeration in the upcoming Census. India lacks a current, comprehensive caste database beyond constitutional SC, ST, and OBC lists. The 1931 Census, the last to fully enumerate …

GS-2: Centre-State Dynamics Key Points: The Centre has ordered Punjab to release 4,500 cusecs of water from Bhakra Dam to Haryana for eight days to address urgent water demands. Decision made under the Union Home Secretary’s leadership, involving officials from Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Punjab’s government has resisted, labeling the …

GS-3: Infrastructure  Key Points: PM Modi inaugurated the ₹8,800-crore Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport in Kerala, marking India’s first specialized container transshipment facility. Developed through a PPP model by Adani Ports in collaboration with the Kerala government. Modi stressed that port-driven development will be pivotal for India’s maritime and economic advancement …

PRELIMS BITS Context: The Indian Navy recently conducted a successful test of the MR-SAM air defence missile system aboard the INS Surat warship in the Arabian Sea. INS Surat is the fourth and final ship in the P15B Guided Missile Destroyer Project. Key Features: MR-SAM: A quick-response, high-speed, vertically launched …

GS 1 – HISTORY Context: The Vachana Mantapa project was launched in Kalaburagi during Basava Jayanti in 2025. Biography: Basaveshwara, also referred to as Bhakti Bhandari (treasurer of devotion), was an Indian philosopher, poet, and social reformer. Birth and Early Life: He was born in 1131 AD in Bagevadi, now …

GS 3 – DEFENCE Context: Fifty years after the Vietnam War (1955-1975), millions of Vietnamese continue to suffer from the devastating effects of Agent Orange. This toxic herbicide was sprayed by U.S. forces to destroy forests and food crops that provided cover and sustenance to North Vietnamese and Viet Cong …

GS3 – Environment Context: A recent study has linked daily exposure to phthalates, particularly di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), to approximately 350,000 deaths worldwide due to heart disease in 2018. India accounted for the highest number of these deaths (103,587), followed by China and Indonesia. What Are Phthalates? Phthalates are chemicals commonly …

GS3 – Environment Context: UNESCO has included 16 new sites from 11 countries in its Global Geoparks Network. Notably, North Korea has joined for the first time, and Saudi Arabia introduced two new geoparks. In 2025, UNESCO celebrated the 10th anniversary of its International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme, a key …

PRELIMS BITS – MAPS Context: Pakistan has temporarily suspended its Green Pakistan Initiative, which includes the development of six strategic canals, most notably the Cholistan Canal, intended to irrigate the Cholistan Desert. The Cholistan Desert, locally known as Rohi, is located in the southern region of Punjab, Pakistan. It borders …