Category: UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS

What is Panama disease?

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 …

Healthy Coral Reef Discovered Near Kalpeni Island in Lakshadweep

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 …

DRDO conducts successful qualification test for Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute

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 …

Southern Indian Ocean Freshening Signals Major Climate Shift

A recent scientific study has revealed that the Southern Indian Ocean off the southwest coast of Australia, one of the saltiest oceanic regions globally, has witnessed a 30% reduction in salty seawater over the past six decades.This marks the fastest increase in freshwater recorded anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. The findings were published on February 3 in the journal Nature Climate Change. Role of the Indo-Pacific Freshwater Pool The region Read More …

Kerala Declares Tidal Flooding a State-Specific Disaster

In a first-of-its-kind decision in Kerala, the State government has declared flooding caused by tidal rise along its coastline as a State-specific disaster, enabling affected coastal communities to receive financial assistance similar to that provided under disaster relief norms. What the Decision Means Victims of tidal flooding will now be eligible for compensation under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)-type assistance framework. This marks the first time any Indian state Read More …

India Unveils Three Sovereign AI Models at India AI Impact Summit 2026

India on 18 February 2026 unveiled three sovereign artificial intelligence models at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, marking a major step toward building indigenous AI capabilities and strengthening digital sovereignty. The models were developed by Sarvam AI, Gnani.ai, and an IIT Bombay-led consortium under the BharatGen initiative. 1. Sarvam AI’s ‘Vikram’ LLM Sarvam AI showcased a 30-billion-parameter Large Language Model named Vikram, inspired by space pioneer Vikram Read More …

BHASHINI Launches ‘VoicERA’ Voice AI Stack at India AI Impact Summit 2026

The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD), under Digital India Corporation and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, launched VoicERA, an open-source end-to-end Voice AI stack, at the India AI Impact Summit. The solution was showcased at the BHASHINI Pavilion and EkStep Pavilion at Bharat Mandapam. What is VoicERA? VoicERA is an open-source Voice AI stack deployed on the BHASHINI National Language Infrastructure. It creates a national execution layer for: Read More …

International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026

The Indian Navy successfully conducted the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 off the coast of Visakhapatnam on 18 February 2026, bringing together naval forces from 74 countries in a grand display of maritime cooperation and capability. What is an International Fleet Review? An International Fleet Review is a ceremonial and operational gathering of naval ships from multiple countries, usually reviewed by the head of state or senior dignitaries.It promotes: Key Read More …

FCI, WFP Sign MoU for Supply of Rice to Support Global Food Aid

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the World Food Programme (WFP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 18 February 2026 to supply rice for global humanitarian operations aimed at combating hunger. Key Highlights of the MoU The agreement will support WFP’s humanitarian food assistance programmes worldwide. About the Organisations Food Corporation of India (FCI): World Food Programme (WFP): Significance of the Agreement Source: PIB

NHAI Monetises Highway Assets Worth ₹6,220 Crore Through NHIT

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has accepted an offer of ₹6,220.90 crore from National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT) for monetising two National Highway stretches covering 310.35 km across Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. This move is part of the government’s asset monetisation strategy to unlock value from operational infrastructure. About NHIT NHIT is an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) sponsored by NHAI. NHIT currently has 700+ investors and a market Read More …

37 Rajya Sabha Seats to Go for Biennial Elections in April 2026

The Election Commission of India has announced that biennial elections will be conducted to fill 37 seats in the Rajya Sabha, as the terms of members from 10 States are set to expire in April 2026. About Rajya Sabha Rajya Sabha, also known as the Council of States, is the Upper House of Parliament of India. The Vice-President of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha, and the Read More …

Loggerhead Turtles

A recent research paper published in Animals has revealed worrying impacts of climate change on the strong-jawed loggerhead turtles, showing changes in their nesting patterns, reproduction rates, and physical size. About Loggerhead Turtles Loggerhead turtles (Loggerhead sea turtle) are named after their exceptionally large heads that house powerful jaw muscles. These omnivorous marine reptiles feed on hard-shelled prey like whelks and conch. Study Location and Duration The research tracked loggerhead Read More …

What is Snowball Earth?

A new scientific study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters has uncovered evidence that shorter climate cycles continued to operate even during one of Earth’s most extreme climatic phases — the “Snowball Earth” episodes, when the planet was almost entirely frozen. What is Snowball Earth? Geologists use the term Snowball Earth to describe periods in Earth’s history when global ice sheets extended from the poles to near the equator, Read More …

Drones Power Governance, Agriculture and Defence in India

Drone usage in India is expanding rapidly across land and property surveys, precision agriculture, infrastructure inspection, disaster management, railway and highway monitoring, and defence operations. This growth reflects the emergence of a strong ecosystem of manufacturers, software developers, and component suppliers. Government Policy Boost The Government of India has accelerated drone adoption through liberalised regulations and digital platforms, including: These reforms have reduced compliance burdens and encouraged innovation in the Read More …

Union Health Ministry Launches SAHI and BODH

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare launched two major digital health initiatives—SAHI and BODH—on February 17 during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held in New Delhi. These initiatives aim to promote safe, ethical, and effective use of artificial intelligence in healthcare across India. SAHI: Strategy for AI in Healthcare SAHI (Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India) has been designed as a comprehensive framework to guide Read More …