UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs Articles

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath

1. UNESCO Recognition:
   • Sarnath designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea.
   • This marks India's 45th site on the World Heritage list.
   • Sarnath recognized for its cultural heritage, architectural excellence, regional identity, and historical

Summary of Forest Fires in France and Spain

Evacuations

• Total Evacuations: Over 166,000 people have been evacuated.
  • Southwestern France: 141,000 people.
  • Madrid Region, Spain: 25,000 people, including over 1,200 elderly and disabled individuals.

Areas Affected

• Bordeaux, France: Wildfires threaten the Cap Ferret peninsula; around 44,000 people fled this ar

Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Program (SVEP)

Overview:

• Objective: Promote rural economies through entrepreneurship by supporting non-agricultural businesses via training, finance, mentoring, and community-led institutional collaboration.
• Launch Year: 2016, as a sub-scheme of the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

Key Achieve

Buxa Tiger Reserve - Tiger Reintroduction Initiative

Facts and Figures:

• Location: Buxa Tiger Reserve, Dooars area, North Bengal, near Bhutan border.
• Established: 1983; it is the 15th Tiger Reserve in India.
• Area: 760.87 km²; dimensions: length of 50 km (west to east) and 35 km (north to south).
• Biodiversity:
  • Mammals: 68 species
  • Reptiles: 41 species
  • Bir

BRICS Digital Health and Responsible AI Dialogue Highlights

Key Facts and Figures:

• Digital Health Records: Over 940 million Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) IDs and over 1 billion linked digital health records in India to enhance the digital health framework.
• Panel Discussion: Focused on interoperable data infrastructure and responsible AI to strengthen

Summary of Key Points on Corruption in India

Corruption's Impact on Governance and Society

• Corruption significantly affects elections, government stability, and public protests (e.g., NEET paper leak protests).
• It is a pervasive issue, affecting access to services from the lowest to the highest public offices.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

• *Right to Information (RTI) Act

Exam-Focused Notes on Corruption, Elections, and Digitalisation in India

• Corruption's Impact on Governance: Corruption has historically influenced elections, led to government changes, and sparked significant protests in India.

• Right to Information (RTI) Act:

  • Promulgated in 2005, the RTI Act aims to ensure transparency in government operations.
  • Article 19 of the Indian

• Conflict Dynamics: The Houthis (Ansar Allah), aligned with Iran, have escalated their involvement in the Yemen conflict by imposing a blockade on Saudi Arabia following the breakdown of a ceasefire. The ceasefire was in place despite the Houthis controlling significant population centers including the capital, Sana’a.

• Key Date: July 13, 2026, marked a turning point when the airport in

Summary of Climate Change Impact on Senior Citizens in India

Key Findings:

1. Vulnerable Groups:

   • Senior citizens are identified as a particularly vulnerable demographic affected by climate change.
   • Factors like economic ability, age, and gender significantly influence the level of impact from climate-related shocks and stresses.

2. Health Impacts:

   • Climate change c

Key Highlights from the 21st East Asia Summit

International Maritime Security

• Maritime Safety: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized that global maritime channels must remain safe and unimpeded, aligning with international law.
• Regional Stability: India advocates for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts in the Gulf region and Myanmar amidst evolving global

Summary of India-Romania Business Forum Address by President Droupadi Murmu

Date and Event: President Droupadi Murmu addressed the India-Romania Business Forum in Bucharest on July 24, 2026.

Key Highlights:

1. Strategic Partnership:
   • Romania is positioned as a natural and significant partner for India due to its strategic location, skilled workforce, and strong integration

Kargil Vijay Diwas - Key Highlights

• Date of Commemoration: Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed on July 26 annually to honor India's victory in the Kargil War of 1999.

• Purpose: The day serves to remember the valor of armed forces personnel who exhibited exceptional courage and dedication in defending India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

• Tribute to Martyrs: Th

National Family Health Survey - 6 (NFHS-6) Highlights

1. Institutional Deliveries: Increased from 88.6% (NFHS-5) to 90.6% (NFHS-6).
2. Antenatal Care (ANC) Coverage: Rose from 92.6% to 95.9%. The proportion of mothers receiving at least four ANC visits increased from 58.5% to 65.2%.
3. Skilled Birth Attendance: Increased from 89.4% to 91.3%.
4. Contraceptive Use Rate: Increase

Summary of Key Facts and Developments Related to the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project and Protests in Madhya Pradesh

1. Protest Details:
   • Activist Amit Bhatnagar led an 18-day hunger strike against the Ken-Betwa river linking project, advocating for better rehabilitation of affected individuals.
   • The project amounts to ₹44,000 crore and has been a focal point of protests by tribal

Flood Situation in Assam - Key Facts and Updates

1. Impact of Floods:

   • Over 7.21 lakh individuals affected.
   • Death toll: 47 reported fatalities.
   • Affected districts: Fluctuating between 10 and 16; most severely hit: Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat.
   • 883 villages submerged; 24,124 people in 103 relief camps.

2. Recent Developments:

   • In

Summary of Relevant Information:

1. U.S. Tariffs Imposition:

• The U.S. imposed a 10% tariff on goods purchased from India and 16 other countries due to concerns regarding forced labor in production.
• Tariffs apply to a total of 60 countries under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, announced by U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer.

**2. Background

Summary of India's Space Launch Program Developments (July 2023 - June 2026)

Achievements in Space Launches:

1. Total Missions: 12 launch vehicle missions and 11 national satellites launched, along with 9 satellites for international clients.
2. Chandrayaan-3: India became the first country to achieve a soft landing near the Moon's south pole.
3. Aditya-L1: First solar observa

Exam-Focused Notes on NEET Protest and Education System in India

Context of the Protest:

• Location: Jantar Mantar
• Demand: Resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for accountability over the NEET exam paper leak.
• Government Response: Commitment to strict action against those responsible; successful conduct of NEET retest emphasized.

*Educational Challenges:

Geopolitical Threats and Maritime Security in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb

1. Background Context:
   • Recent tensions stem from Iran's engagement with the Houthis in Yemen regarding potential closure of the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb if attacked by the U.S.
   • The Strait of Bab el-Mandeb is crucial as it constitutes a significant trade route, with implications for one-third of India's trad

Exam-Focused Summary on Teesta Stage-VI Hydro Electric Project Incident

Project Overview

• Project Name: Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project
• Capacity: 500 MW
• Location: Namchi district, Sikkim, India

Incident Details

• Date of Explosion: July 20, 2026
• Casualties: At least 15 workers killed
• Context: Explosion suspected due to flammable gas (methane)

• Freedom Fighter Tribute: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan paid floral tributes to Thiru Subramania Siva on his death anniversary at the Vice President's residence (Uprashtrapati Bhawan).

• Historical Context: Thiru Subramania Siva was a significant figure in the Indian independence movement from the small town of Vattalagundu in Tamil Nadu. His efforts were instrumental in rallying pe

Summary of Aerosol Study and Its Implications for Climate Change

Key Findings from the Study

• Aerosol Types Identified: Seven types of aerosols were classified:

  1. Pure Dust (PD)
  2. Dust-Dominant Mixture (DDM)
  3. Pollution-Dominant Mixture (PDM)
  4. Weakly Absorbing (VWA)
  5. Moderately Absorbing (MA)
  6. Strongly Absorbing (SA)

• Geographical Distribution:

  • **Sou

• Authority in Dharma: The Vedas are considered the ultimate authority for understanding dharma, with additional relevance given to other sacred texts, indicating a complex hierarchy of spiritual literature.

• Types of Sacred Texts:

  • Vedas: Composed of revelations to ancient sages, regarded as foundational texts.
  • Smriti Texts: Include works like Parasara Smrti and Yajnaval

Cauvery Water Management Authority Meeting Overview

Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA):

• Apex body for monitoring compliance with Supreme Court directives regarding Cauvery water distribution.

Rainfall and Storage Situation:

• Karnataka Rainfall Deficit:

  • Overall: ~35%
  • Kodagu Region (key catchment area): ~45%

• Reservoir Storage as of now:

  • Combined s