UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs Articles

Economic and Investment Insights: RBI Study Summary

• Overall Project Sanctioning:
  • In the fiscal year 2025-26, banks and financial institutions sanctioned projects totaling Rs 4.4 lakh crore, up from Rs 3.7 lakh crore in 2024-25, indicating a 19% increase.
  • Maharashtra became the largest destination, sanctioning projects worth Rs 88,880 crore (20.2%); Gujarat follow

Summary of India's Energy Transformation

Key Achievements and Data

• Renewable Energy Capacity: Over the past 12 years, India has increased its renewable energy (RE) capacity to over 200 GW, with RE now comprising nearly 45% of the total installed electricity capacity.
• Clean Energy Growth: India is recognized as one of the fastest-growing renewable energy markets global

Drought Situation in Maharashtra and India

Current Conditions:

• Drought Declaration: Maharashtra has declared a drought in approximately 75% of its tehsils, with possible impacts worse than the 1972 famine.
• Rainfall Deficit: India reports rainfall 11.9% below the historical average for the monsoon season (June 1 - September 27).
• Affected Regions: 23 out of 36 meteorologi

Exam-Focused Notes

US-China Relations and Global Geopolitics:

• Rapprochement: In 2026, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President engaged in two meetings focusing on reshaping geopolitics and geoeconomics, potentially impacting global order.
• Containment Strategy Pause: The US has paused its containment strategy towards China, recognizing the mutual interest in addressing

Summary of Key Developments: US-Iran Tensions

International Relations and Security:

• The standoff between the United States and Iran intensified over recent military and diplomatic engagements, particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for oil exports.
• Iran claimed to have seized a second U.S. underwater drone, the Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish, ass

Key Highlights on Maritime Safety and International Relations

1. International Maritime Concerns:
   • India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar addressed the 81st United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing the impact of conflicts on nations uninvolved in them.
   • Jaishankar noted that innocent nations are often the most affected, despite having little influence on conflic

Electoral Roll Purge and Concerns in India

Background

• The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar faces allegations over unilateral changes to voter registration processes, raising alarms about administrative overreach in the electoral system.
• An investigative report exposes objections from two Election Commissioners regarding alterations to new voter registration forms and m

Summary of Initiatives for Victim Rights in Bihar

Key Initiatives:

1. Victim Rights Centre (VRC):
   • Inauguration: First VRC in Bihar, inaugurated by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on September 26, 2026.
   • Purpose: Acts as a single window mechanism to assist victims of crimes, facilitating access to justice and support services like compensation, legal assistan

Summary of Key Points: India and the UN

1. India's Position and Challenges at the UN
   • As a rising power, India seeks to increase its influence within the UN amidst declining authority and functioning of the organization.
   • The UN Security Council's effectiveness is questioned, particularly due to the use of veto powers by permanent members, limiting its ability to enforce inter

Summary: Karnataka's Rejection of Kasturirangan Report on Western Ghats

1. Legislative Action:

   • Date: September 22, Karnataka Legislature unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the K. Kasturirangan Committee report on the Western Ghats.

2. Background of the Report:

   • The seventh draft by the Ministry of Environment, Ecology, and Climate Change was published on July 27, to d

Exam-Focused Notes on Drought in Maharashtra

Historical Context

• Drought Incidence: Maharashtra has experienced at least 15 droughts from 1960 to 2026, with the 1972 drought being unprecedented.
• Impact of 1972 Drought: Affected 75-80% of Maharashtra's population (approximately 1.8-2 crore people). Key regions impacted included Marathwada and Vidarbha.
• **Historical Population

Summary of Drought Situation in Maharashtra

1. Drought Declaration:

   • Maharashtra government declared drought in approximately 265 of its 358 tehsils (about 74% of the state).
   • A rainfall deficit of 18% recorded in the state, compared to a national average deficit of 13%.

2. Rainfall Distribution:

   • Significant regional variation in rainfall, with Marathwada and Vidarbha

• Constitutional Context

  • Article 324(2): Allows Parliament to regulate the appointment of the Election Commission of India (ECI), but no law was made for 70 years.
  • Basic Structure Doctrine: Free and fair elections are critical for democracy and are protected under this doctrine.

• Judicial Developments

  • Mohinder Singh Gill Case (1978): Established principles regarding the ind

Poompuhar Underwater Excavations – Key Highlights

1. Archaeological Findings:
   • Recent underwater excavations by Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) and Indian Maritime University at Poompuhar revealed significant artifacts:
     • A West Asian “torpedo jar” fragment (diameter: 30-35 cm) for transporting liquid cargo (wine, olive oil).
     • More than 250 ceramic fragme

India's Nuclear Doctrine & Strategic Environment

1. Current Status of Nuclear Doctrine:

   • India’s nuclear doctrine has been stable since its operationalization in 2003, based on principles of credible minimum deterrence and a declared No First Use (NFU) posture.
   • It's stated that nuclear retaliation is an option following a major biological or chemical attack on India.

2. **Histor

Summary of Key Points from the QUAD-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission

1. Mission Overview:

   • The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Shaunak departed from Chennai for Perth, Australia as part of the QUAD-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission.
   • The mission includes professional exchanges and maritime interoperability among India, Australia, Japan, and the USA.

2. Participants:

   • Six officers, d

Summary of Key Points

Profiles and Contributions

• Nagaraja Prakasam: Angel investor, fund advisor, and mentor with a focus on social enterprises, particularly in rural technology and appropriate technology.
• Mentoring Initiatives: First resident mentor at NSRCEL, IIM-Bangalore; involved with IIT-Madras Rural Technology Business Incubator and IIM-Ahmedabad’s Centre for Innov

Exam-Focused Notes on Ayurvedic and Environmental Initiative in Aravalli

Initiative Overview:

• A collaborative project between Akhil Bharatiya Ayurveda Sansthan (AIIA), New Delhi, and 132 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Eco Rajput.
• Objective: Planting of 10,000 Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) plants and scientific monitoring in the Terriers Herbal Garden, Bhatti

Key Highlights:

International Relations

• Bilateral Talks: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at the White House for discussions with US President Donald Trump. Xi emphasized the need for cooperation, promoting the notion that both nations should be partners rather than rivals.
• Topics of Discussion: The talks encompassed trade relations, the situation in Iran and Taiwan, and

Jammu & Kashmir High Court Ruling on Preventive Detention

Case Overview

• Parties Involved: Mohd. Yousuf (detained) vs. District Magistrate of Poonch (detention authority).
• Date of Detention: April 2026.
• Legal Framework: Preventive detention under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA).

Key Legal Points

• Preventive Detention vs. Ordinary Criminal Law:

Summary of Agnikul Cosmos Project

Objective:
Development of a next-generation reusable launch vehicle (RLV) named AgniBaan, advancing technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to TRL 8.

Financial Support:

• ₹200 crore allocated by the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• Funding through optionally convertible debentur

Summary of India-France Cooperation in the Electrical Sector

Key Facts and Discussions:

1. Meeting Participants:
   • Indian side: Pankaj Agrawal (Secretary of Power), officials from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of External Affairs, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), NTPC Limited, and NPCIL.
   • French side: Bernard Fontana (Chairman and CEO of EDF) and officials from the Frenc

Summary of Key Points from Article: Political Parties and Electoral Finance in India

1. Constitutional Framework:

   • Political parties are mentioned under the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
   • They exist as "associations" under Article 19, which guarantees the right to form associations.

2. Electoral Finance Context:

   • Recent investigations highlight issues within

Exam-Focused Notes on Plastic Waste Management in India

Key Concepts and Initiatives

1. Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM):

   • Launched on October 2, 2014, aims to improve waste management systems in India.
   • Focuses on collection, segregation, and recovery of waste.

2. Single-Use Plastic Ban:

   • Effective from July 1, 2022, bans identified single-use plastic items acro