UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs Articles

Summary of Local Governance and Decentralization in India

1. Constitutional Framework:

• 73rd and 74th Amendments: Established local self-governance through panchayats and municipalities, intended to empower local bodies as true units of self-government.

2. Current Issues in Decentralization:

• Despite existing constitutional provisions, local bodies often lack the real pow

Summary of Key Points Related to the Proposal for Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats:

Protests by Farmers:

• Farmers from Hosanagara taluk, Shivamogga district, are protesting against the draft notification for declaring large parts of the Western Ghats an ESA.
• The protest march of about nine kilometers highlights demands for a physical survey of land to exclude hum

• Healthcare Vulnerability: Over 40 crore Indians are reportedly caught in a healthcare gap, constituting more than a quarter of the population. This group is too wealthy to rely on government subsidies yet not financially secure enough to afford rising private healthcare costs.

• Parliamentary Report: A report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, titled ‘

Summary of ISRO's GSLV-F17 Launch

1. Event Overview:

   • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSLV-F17 rocket, which carries the EOS-05 satellite.
   • This marks India's first imaging satellite to be placed in geosynchronous orbit.

2. Significance of the Launch:

   • The launch is celebrated as a moment of national pride and reflects India's excel

Geothermal Energy in India: Key Facts and Developments

Overview of Geothermal Energy

• Definition: Geothermal energy is derived from the Earth's internal heat, considered a renewable and low-carbon energy source.
• Significance: Provides a continuous and reliable source of energy, unlike solar and wind, which are weather-dependent.

National Policy on Geothermal Energy

• **O

Summary of the Prime Minister's Participation at the SCO Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

1. Event Overview:

   • Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, marking the 25th anniversary of the grouping.
   • The summit addressed the economic impacts resulting from the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.

2. **SCO and BRICS

• Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court emphasized the critical role of elementary school teachers in the development of children and the future of the nation during a hearing on September 3, 2026.

• Constitutional Reference: Education for children aged 6 to 14 years is recognized as a fundamental right under Article 21A of the Constitution, which mandates free and compulsory elementary

• Discovery of Artifacts: Sixteen bronze idols and 17 puja utensils valued at Rs. 1 crore recovered from an underground vault in Kalyanasundarar Temple, Nallur, Thanjavur district.

• Authorities Involved: Search conducted by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and State Directorate of Archaeology, led by Dr. R. Nagaswami.

• Historical Context: The items had been

• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): The BIS is a national standards body that formulates and enforces standards for products in India.

• BIS Act 2016: The gold articles were seized for violating provisions of this Act, which mandates that certain products must meet specified quality standards and bear the necessary certification.

• Seizure Details:

  • Location: Ambattur, Chennai.

Summary of Biotechnology Collaboration

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU):

• Parties Involved: Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) and National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad.
• Purpose: Strengthen collaboration in biotechnology skill development.

Key Highlights:

• FABA Finishing School Programme:
  • Focuses on providing hands-on training

Decentralized Grain Storage Scheme in Cooperative Sector - Key Facts and Insights

Overview

• Scheme Launch: Initiated in May 2023 under the Ministry of Cooperation.
• Objective: To enhance storage, processing, procurement, and distribution systems via Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
• Target: Improve food security and reduce grain wastage.

Capacity and Imp

Summary of Key Facts and Data on Pichavaram Mangrove Ecosystem

Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services

• Total Economic Value (TEV): ₹2,485.38 crore (approx. $289 million).
• Value per hectare: ₹1.83 crore.
• Breakdown of Economic Value:
  • Provisioning services (Fish, Crab, Shrimp): ₹3.47 crore
  • Coastal protection function: ₹147.17 crore
  • Nutrient cycling: ₹10.53 cro

Summary of Events in Rangoon Regarding Slavery Emancipation

1. Geographical Context:

   • The Hukawng Valley has recently seen the successful emancipation of slaves.
   • An upcoming expedition is planned for a region referred to as "the triangle," located between the Malikha and Nmaikha rivers, north of their confluence with the Irrawaddy River.

2. Slavery Context:

   • The triangle

Summary of the Workshop on Film Preservation and Restoration

Organizers and Dates:

• Organized by: National Film Development Corporation - National Film Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI) in collaboration with the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.
• Dates: October 5-15, 2026 (excluding weekends).

Workshop Focus:

• The workshop is dedicated to the preservation, ar

Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026

Overview:

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched the 'Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026' to promote excellence in adopting sustainable green practices in national highway projects.

Purpose:

• The awards aim to recognize best practices in green and plantation management along national highways, enhancing healthy plantat

Key Highlights on Green Shipping Initiatives in India

Government Initiatives and Policies

• Minister Involvement: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized the need for India's ports to rapidly prepare for green fuels as part of the transition to low-carbon maritime trade.
• Green Shipping Corridor: India aims to establish a zero-emission shipping corridor as a significant ste

Joint Statement Highlights: India-Belgium Relations

1. Historical Context:

   • India and Belgium share deep historical ties, notably during World War I when thousands of Indian soldiers fought in Belgium.

2. Strategic Partnership:

   • Recent developments have expanded cooperation from traditional sectors to strategic areas such as defense and clean energy.
   • Collaboration inclu

Summary of India-China Boundary Negotiations and Relevant Agreements

Context

• On August 25, 2026, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi conducted the 25th round of discussions regarding the India-China boundary issue in Beijing.

Key Outcomes

1. Eight Points of Outcomes and Consensus:
   • Document includes a commitment to advance discussions

Summary Notes on India-France Textile and Fashion Cooperation

1. Strategic Partnership:

• India Textile Trade Federation (BTTF) and Première Vision SA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 2, 2026, at the Première Vision exhibition in Paris.
• Aim: Strengthen India's participation in the global fashion and textile ecosystem through a multi-year institutional partne

Summary of Indigenous Precision-Strike Capability Development

Key Development:

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted a drop trial of the Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), named Khagantak-243.
• This achievement marks a significant milestone in enhancing India’s indigenous precision-strike capabilities.

Importance of the Trial:

• The trial aligns with the government’s vision

Summary of Meeting on GLOF and Avalanche Preparedness in Himalayan Regions

Date and Participants:

• A review meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary, Govind Mohan, took place in New Delhi.
• Participants included Chief Secretaries from Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and representatives from State Disaster Management Authorities, Ministry of

Key Highlights and Facts

Legislative and Economic Developments

• Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026
  • Recently passed by the U.S. Senate, imposing sanctions specifically on Russia and Iran.
  • Authorizes tariffs up to 100% on countries among the largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas that continue purchases post-enactment.

India’s

Summary of Key Points

Global Climate Goals and Warming Limits

• The UNEP has outlined an "overshoot, peak and decline" pathway to address global warming, acknowledging that breaching the 1.5°C limit set by the 2015 Paris Agreement is now unavoidable.
• The report, titled "Limiting Overshoot," asserts global warming will surpass 1.5°C in the near future, with projections i

Defence Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) Review Highlights

1. Ministerial Review:

   • On September 1, 2026, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conducted a performance review of all 16 defence PSUs.
   • Calls made for reducing import dependence, enhancing R&D capabilities, and ensuring the timely delivery of major projects.

2. Performance Metrics:

   • Defence PSUs collectively c