UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs Articles

Summary of Nuclear-Powered Submarine INS Aridaman Induction

Key Facts

• Date of Induction: INS Aridaman commissioned on 4 April 2026.
• Type: Third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) in India.
• Weight: 7,000 tons.
• Missile Capacity: Eight vertical launching system tubes, capable of holding K-15 and K-4 SLBMs:
  • K-15 SLBM: Range over 700 km.
  • **K-

Summary of Key Information on Childhood Cancer and Statistics in India

1. Global Context and Statistics:
   • Cancer is the 8th leading cause of death among children globally, with 3.77 lakh new cases and 1.44 lakh deaths reported in 2023.
   • India ranks as the 10th leading cause of death among children specifically, with approximately 17,000 child cancer deaths in

Summary Notes on Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation and Conservation Efforts in Andhra Pradesh

Background

• Location: Affected areas are in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, encroaching into Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
• Issue: Increased conflicts between humans (farmers) and wild Asian elephants due to habitat fragmentation.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

• **Wild

• Cultural Significance: The cherry blossoms (sakura) in Japan represent a deep cultural heritage associated with the practice of hanami (flower viewing). This tradition promotes an appreciation for the transient beauty of nature.

• Economic Impact: The cherry blossom season fuels a $9-billion tourism industry in Japan, attracting millions of visitors and locals to parks and gardens durin

Global Energy Crisis Overview

Historical Context of Energy Shocks

• Significant Energy Shocks:
  • 1970s: Yom Kippur War
  • 1979: Iranian Revolution
  • 1990-91: Iraq's invasion of Kuwait
  • 2022: Russia's invasion of Ukraine
  • Current Crisis: Triggered by American-Israeli strikes on Iran, disrupting oil and gas flows, signifying a more profound transition in global energy sy

Summary of Key Points on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India

1. Government Declaration:

   • Home Minister Amit Shah declared India as "Naxal-free" in the Lok Sabha.
   • This declaration follows a three-year intensive operation against Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

2. Operational Statistics:

   • Surrenders: 4,839 Maoists surrendered.
   • Arrests: 2,218 Maoists were arrested.

Summary of Legal Perspectives on Live-in Relationships in India:

1. Judicial Rulings:
   • Allahabad High Court:
     • A single bench ruled that live-in relationships involving a married person and a third party are illegitimate unless a divorce is sought.
     • Conversely, a division bench allowed live-in relationships between a married man and an adult woman, distinguishing betwee

NASA's Artemis II Mission Overview

Launch Details:

• Launch Date: April 2, 2026
• Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center, Florida, from Launch Complex 39B
• Time of Liftoff: 6:35 p.m. EDT (2224 GMT)
• Vehicle: Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft

Crew Composition:

• Astronauts:
  • Reid Wiseman (Commander)
  • Victor Glover (Pilot)

International Relations and Security in West Asia: Key Points

1. Context of Conflict:

   • The ongoing military operations led by the USA and Israel against Iran have entered their second month.
   • There are differing perspectives in Washington, D.C., and Tel Aviv regarding objectives and the timeline for military engagement.

2. Strait of Hormuz:

   • Iran’s aggressive military p

Summary of Key Points on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and Muslim Personal Law (MPL)

Constitutional References

• Article 44: Emphasizes the State's duty to secure for all citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India, indicating that UCC remains a policy matter.
• Article 14: Ensures equality before the law and prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, c

Summary of Enhanced Air Defence Capabilities

Contract Details:

• Date Signed: March 31, 2026
• Amount: ₹1,950 crore
• Contractor: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
• Category: Buy (Indian–Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)
• Purpose: Procurement of two mountain radars for the Indian Air Force.

Development and Manufacturing:

• The Mountain Radar syst

Constitutional References

• Article 81 of the Indian Constitution: Mandates that the distribution of seats among States in Parliament and State Legislatures should be based on population, maintaining a consistent ratio across States as much as practicable.
• 84th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002: Extended the freeze on the number of seats in Parliament and State Legislatures from 200

• Philosophical Framework: Advaita Vedanta, established by Sri Adi Sankaracharya, emphasizes non-duality. It posits that the ultimate reality, Brahman, is singular, infinite, formless, and beyond attributes.

• Key Concepts:

  • Brahman: The ultimate reality, identified with the self (Atman).
  • Atman: The individual self, which is not separate from Brahman but is fundamentally on

Key Facts and Contributions of Bibha Chowdhuri:

1. Background:

• Born in 1913 in Kolkata, India.
• From a progressive family that valued education for women.

2. Educational Achievements:

• 1936: Completed MSc in Physics from Calcutta University – reportedly the only woman in her class, one of the first Indian women with a postgraduate degree in Physics.
• 1945: Earned her

Summary of Key Points on Biologics and Regulatory Framework in India

1. Clinical Trials and Historical Context:

• Northwick Park Tragedy (2006): Six participants suffered multiple organ failure during a phase I trial of theralizumab, showcasing risks in human drug testing that animal models may not predict.

2. Biologics and Biopharma SHAKTI Strategy:

• Biologics: Large,

Summary of Facts, Data, and Policies on Jungle Cats in India

Habitat and Distribution:

• Jungle cats (Felis chaus) inhabit diverse ecosystems across Asia, including grasslands, wetlands, deserts, and agro-pastoral lands, with significant populations in India and Nepal.
• They prefer warm, semi-arid regions, avoiding dense forests and urbanized landscapes.

Conservation Status:

• The

Summary of Key Facts and Data on Child and Adolescent Mental Health in India

1. Mental Health Crisis:
   • Increasing prevalence of mental health challenges among children and adolescents in India; between 7% to 10% of adolescents have diagnosable mental health conditions, with 5% to 7% of children having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
   • Early childhood emotio

Economic Survey Summary (2025-26)

Agricultural Growth:

• Average annual growth rate (AAGR) in agriculture and allied sectors: 4.4% (last five years at constant prices).
• Q2 2025-26 growth: 3.5% (1 percentage point below the average).
• Decadal growth (2015-16 to 2024-25): 4.45%, the highest compared to previous decades.
  • Livestock: 7.1% growth
  • Fishing and a

Summary of Key Points on Pesticides and Environmental Impact

Global Context on Pesticides

• Applied Toxicity (TAT) Contributors: India, China, Brazil, and the U.S. account for approximately 70% of global TAT from pesticides used in agriculture.
• Target Species Affected: TAT poses significant risks to non-target species, including pollinators, aquatic plants, invertebrates, fish,

Summary of India's Carbon Dioxide Emissions in 2025

Key Findings:

• Emissions Growth: India's CO2 emissions grew by 0.7% in 2025, marking the slowest rate in over two decades, excluding the impact of COVID-19 in 2020.
• Sector Analysis:
  • Power Sector: Emissions in this sector fell by 3.8%. The decline is attributed to:
    • A reduction in the consumption of imported coal

Key Contributions of Albrecht Kossel in Molecular Biology

1. Scientific Background:

   • Birth: September 16, 1853, Rostock, Germany.
   • Education: Studied medicine at Universities: Strasbourg, Rostock, and Berlin; trained under Felix Hoppe-Seyler.

2. Research Focus:

   • Discovered 'nuclein' (now known as nucleic acids) in 1869.
   • Demonstrated heredity is controlled by specific

Summary of New Butterfly Species Discovery in Arunachal Pradesh

• Species Name: Euthalia zubeengargi
• Common Name Proposal: Basar Duke
• Location: Leparada district, Arunachal Pradesh, India
• Researchers: Roshan Upadhaya (RIMT University, Punjab) and Kalesh Sadasivan (Travancore Natural History Society)
• Publication: Findings published in Entomon, a quarterly journal by

Summary of Conservation Initiative for Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

1. Conservation Efforts:

• A Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chick was hatched in Kutch, Gujarat, as part of a novel conservation initiative named "jumpstart."
• This initiative is notable for being the first inter-state collaboration in India aimed at GIB conservation.

2. Transportation of Egg:

• A captive-bred GI

Summary of India's Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and Climate Actions

Key Targets of the Updated NDC:

• 60% Non-Fossil Capacity by 2035: Aim for 60% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources.
• 47% Reduction in Emissions Intensity: Compared to 2005 levels.
• Carbon Sink Increase: Targeting a carbon sink of 3.5 to 4 billion tonnes of CO₂ equiv