CURRENT AFFAIRS DESTINATION FOR UPSC & STATE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATIONS
The Indian Navy has assumed the Chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) from the Royal Thai Navy, marking India’s return to the helm after 16 years. India had earlier held the inaugural Chairmanship from 2008 to 2010, and now leads the forum again as it has grown into a key platform for maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. 9th IONS Conclave at Visakhapatnam The 9th Conclave of Read More …
The Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has revised the base year of India’s Merchandise Trade Indices from 2012–13 to 2022–23 (2022–23 = 100) to reflect major structural changes in the economy and evolving trade patterns. What Are Merchandise Trade Indices? Merchandise Trade Indices measure changes in the unit values (prices) of India’s exports and imports over time.They help track price Read More …
Archaeologists have digitally uncovered the long-lost ancient city of Charax Spasinou in the deserts of Iraq, revealing what experts believe was one of the final ambitious settlements linked to Alexander the Great. A Strategic Ancient Trade Hub Founded around 324 BCE, Charax Spasinou was located near the junction of major waterways along the Tigris River, making it a key trade centre connecting Mesopotamia with Persia and the Indian Ocean world. Read More …
India will host the prestigious The Earthshot Prize in Mumbai this November, marking the first time the global environmental award ceremony will be held in the country. The announcement was made during the ongoing Mumbai Climate Week, highlighting India’s growing role in global climate and sustainability efforts. About the Earthshot Prize Founded in 2020 by Prince William, the Prince of Wales, the Earthshot Prize aims to inspire urgent and innovative Read More …
Alphabet Inc., the parent of Google, has issued ultra-long-term debt known as century bonds, with maturities stretching into the 22nd century—financial instruments designed to outlast most of today’s workforce. Key Highlights What Are Century Bonds? Century bonds are rare debt securities with 100-year maturities, allowing issuers to lock in funding for generations.They are more commonly issued by governments or large institutions than corporations. Typical investors include pension funds and insurers Read More …
Recent research on the White-throated sparrow has highlighted how complex genetic systems in nature can shape a spectrum of social and reproductive roles, going beyond the traditional idea of just two sexes. About the Bird The white-throated sparrow is a small North American songbird identified by: It breeds in forests of the northeastern United States and Canada and migrates to the southeastern U.S. during winter. The “Four Sexes” Phenomenon The Read More …
The mid-February tradition of observing birds from balconies, campuses, wetlands and village tanks has grown into one of India’s most dependable citizen-science exercises through the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Global Participation The GBBC is coordinated worldwide by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in partnership with the National Audubon Society and other organisations. India has been part of the global effort since the initiative expanded worldwide in 2013. Key Highlights Read More …
India has formally joined the Pax Silica group, a U.S.-led initiative aimed at building resilient supply chains for electronics and critical minerals. The move was announced during the India AI Impact Summit. Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw signed the accession document along with Jacob Helberg, Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment from the United States. Member Countries Other signatories to Pax Silica include: Read More …
At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, tech giant Google announced a $15-billion investment over five years to expand digital connectivity between India and United States of America. The initiative, called America-India Connect, aims to strengthen global data infrastructure and support AI-driven growth. New Subsea Gateway in Vizag As part of the project, a new international subsea cable gateway will be established in Visakhapatnam (Vizag), boosting India’s global internet connectivity Read More …
Archaeologists studying the Bhirrana site in Haryana have found evidence suggesting that the Indus Valley Civilisation may date back nearly 8,000 years, much earlier than the previously accepted timeline of around 2600 BC. The research used radiocarbon dating of pottery fragments and animal remains to establish earlier human settlement. Older Than Egyptian Dynasties? If confirmed, the findings indicate that the Harappan civilisation could predate the dynasties of Ancient Egypt, which Read More …
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, enabled the export of 0.5 metric tonnes of GI-tagged Salem Sago from Salem to Canada. This marks the first export shipment directly handled by the GI Authorised User, SAGOSERVE, since the product received its GI tag in March 2023. About Salem Sago Sago, commonly called sabudana, is widely used as a staple food Read More …
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 19 February 2026. The summit aims to position India as a global leader in Artificial Intelligence and promote responsible AI development. India’s M.A.N.A.V. Vision for AI During the event, the Prime Minister unveiled India’s M.A.N.A.V. Vision for AI governance, outlining five guiding principles: He said the vision will help ensure AI benefits Read More …
Fusarium wilt, also known as Panama disease, is a destructive soil-borne fungal disease that severely affects banana crops worldwide, especially the widely cultivated Cavendish variety. Because most exported bananas are of a single variety, Cavendish, low genetic diversity makes plantations highly vulnerable. Major Scientific Breakthrough Researchers Andrew Chen and Elizabeth Aitken from The University of Queensland have identified a genomic region responsible for resistance to Fusarium wilt Sub-Tropical Race 4 Read More …
Researchers have identified a vibrant and healthy coral reef in the northeast of Kalpeni Island in the Lakshadweep Archipelago.The reef was documented during a marine biodiversity survey conducted by Research and Environmental Education Foundation with support from Baranna Dives. (Source: DTE) It was one of 24 reefs recorded during the field study. Significance of the Discovery At a time when coral reefs globally are under stress due to climate change Read More …
India’s human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan achieved a crucial milestone with the successful qualification-level load test of the Drogue Parachute on February 18, 2026. The test was conducted at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of Defence Research and Development Organisation located at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh. Institutions Involved The test was jointly conducted by multiple Indian space and defence organisations: This collaboration highlights strong inter-agency coordination between space Read More …