UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs Articles

Dr. Parasuraman Lived Experience Writing Award

• Institutions Involved: The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health, The Banyan, Aaldamara Foundation.

• Purpose of the Award:

  • To support and promote writing from individuals with lived experiences of mental health issues, focusing on diverse perspectives within India.
  • Established in memory of Dr. Parasuraman, former di

Key Points on Jammu and Kashmir's Current Status and Future Directions

Constitutional References:

• Article 370: Abrogated in August 2019, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Post-abrogation, the focus is on integration and development.

Economic and Social Development:

• Focus Areas: Emphasis on building universities, supporting entrepreneurship, and invest

Summary of Key Facts on Blue-Violet Flower Bloom in Kudremukh:

1. Location: Kudremukh region, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, part of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. Phenomenon: A rare blue-violet flower, resembling Neelakurinji, has bloomed along trekking trails, adding to the natural beauty of the area.

3. Blooming History:

   • Significant blooming ob

• International Commitments: India ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1968.

• Concerns from U.N. CERD: In its first review since 2007, the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed "grave concern" regarding:

  • Violence Against Minorities: Reports of law enforcement using violence agains

Water Resource Management in India - Key Highlights

1. State Policies on Treated Wastewater:

   • Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand recently implemented policies for treated wastewater reuse.
   • Policies are outcome of extensive consultations and are tailored to geographical diversity, addressing specific needs of hill communities and plains.

2. Principles Embedded in Policies:

Summary of Key Points from the Water Ministry Summit Announcement

1. Event Overview:

   • The Ministry of Jal Shakti will host its first departmental summit on September 1-2, 2026, in New Delhi, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan.
   • This summit aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of cooperative federalism and aims to achieve a "Water-Secure India" by 2047.

2. Objectives:

   • T

Exam-Focused Notes on Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallamkali Inauguration

Event Overview:

• Inauguration: Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallamkali on the River Pamba.
• Date: August 30, 2026.
• Official Inaugurator: Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan.

Cultural Significance:

• Symbolism: The festival represents Keralam’s rich cultural heritage, devotion, and timeless traditions.

Summary of Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS) in India

Overview

• iFMS: Integrated Fertilizer Management System, a digital platform aimed at revolutionizing fertilizer management in India.
• Users: Over 14 crore Aadhaar-linked farmers, 2.5 lakh retailers, managing approximately 7 crore metric tons of fertilizer sales annually.
• Annual Subsidy: Approximately ₹2 la

Overview of Higher Education in India (2014-2024)

Key Policies and Frameworks:

• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Aims for a holistic and multidisciplinary education system, enhancing access and inclusion in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education.

Statistical Highlights:

1. Expansion of Institutions:

India-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Negotiations

Overview:

• The CEPA negotiations between India and Chile have progressed to the next stage, with a meeting held in Santiago, Chile on August 26, 2026, between India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal and Chile's Under-Secretary for International Economic Relations, Paula Estévez Weinstein.

Key Objectives:

Summary of India-Uzbekistan Agreements and Initiatives

Key Agreements Signed:

1. Cultural Exchange Program (2026-30): Aims to enhance cultural ties between India and Uzbekistan.
2. Conservation of Ancient Buddhist Sites: MoU signed for the preservation and restoration of sites in Termez, Uzbekistan.
3. Archives Cooperation: MoU between India's National Archives and Uzbekistan

• Intelligence Agencies: Vikram Sood, former secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), emphasized the collaboration between R&AW and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) as crucial for India's defense and offense in geopolitics. This underlines the importance of intelligence in national security strategies.

• Geopolitical Context: Sood discussed the rapid developments in global politics

Key Highlights from the 43rd International Symposium on Economic Crime

Constitutional and Legal Framework

• Judicial Response: The Chief Justice of India (CJI) emphasized the proactive role of the Indian judiciary in addressing economic crimes, referencing the Supreme Court's recent suo motu cognizance of the "digital arrest" scam.
• Legislation: Key laws mentioned include:
  • *

Summary of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Situation

Current Status:

• Power Supply: The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has lost its off-site power for over a week, relying on emergency diesel generators.
• Diesel Supply: The facility has only a ten-day supply of diesel fuel on-site. The last delivery to its off-site storage occurred approximately six months prior, though rece

Climate Change and Natural Disasters in the Himalayan Region: Exam-Focused Notes

1. End-Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (EGLOFs):

   • EGLOFs are a significant cause of natural disasters in the Himalayan regions, contributing to extensive destruction and humanitarian crises.

2. Environmental Concerns:

   • Rising temperatures and melting glaciers are increasing vulnerability in the Hima

Summary of Key Facts and Developments in Darbhanga, Bihar

Historical Context

• Pond Count Decline: Darbhanga, once known as the ‘city of ponds’ with over 350 ponds until 1969, now has fewer than 100 remaining.
• Groundwater Crisis: The depleting groundwater levels have led to difficulties for residents in accessing water, particularly during summer months.

Current Situation

Exam-Focused Notes on the Historical Significance of 'Vande Mataram' at Osmania University

Historical Context:

• The incident revolves around the singing of "Vande Mataram" at Osmania University (OU) during the late 1930s, a period marked by significant nationalistic fervor against the Nizam's government in Hyderabad.
• The Nizam's government viewed the song as a threat to its authority,

Summary of Nepal-China Border Disaster (August 2026)

Natural Disaster Overview:

• Event: On August 26, 2026, a significant seismic event near the Nepal-China border initially registered as a 4.4-magnitude earthquake but was later determined to be a glacial collapse, leading to a landslide equivalent to a 5.2 magnitude.
• Impact:
  • Casualties: Approximately 579 people confi

• Literature and History: Su. Venkatesan, a Sahitya Akademi award-winning writer and MP, argues that literature, when intertwined with history, has a profound impact on society. He emphasizes that historical narratives can resonate more powerfully through literary forms than through straightforward history writing.

• Notable Works:

  • Kaval Kottam: Venkatesan’s debut novel, which won

Exam-Focused Notes on Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme

Overview

• Scheme Name: Per Drop More Crop (PDMC).
• Objective: Improve water use efficiency and agricultural productivity through drip and sprinkler irrigation.
• Target Area: Coverage of over 11.5 million hectares by July 2026, which is approximately 8.11% of India's net sown area.

Constitutional and Policy Framew

Summary of Recent Flash Flood Disaster in Nepal

Incident Overview:

• Date of Incident: August 28, 2026.
• Flash floods in Nepal resulted from an ice-rock avalanche in Tibet, leading to significant casualties.
• Casualties: At least 389 fatalities recorded, with over 300 Indians missing.
• Extensive damage noted along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors, impacting settlements and infras

Summary Notes on the Nepal-Tibet Border Flash Floods

Incident Overview:

• Date of Incident: August 26, 2026
• Location: Nepal-Tibet border, affecting a pilgrimage route to Manasa Sarovara near Mount Kailash.

Key Facts:

• Pilgrims from Karnataka, India, including a 50-year-old man named Mallinath Kolkundi and his son-in-law Sangamesh, were involved in the incident while traveling with

Himalayan Disaster – Key Highlights:

• Geographic Context: The disaster was primarily driven by two factors:

  • Mountainous Terrain: The steep slopes of the Himalayas facilitated rapid water movement downstream during flooding events.
  • Weather Phenomenon: Intense cloudbursts and glacier melt in the higher Himalayan ranges contributed to sudden and severe flooding.

• **Impact

• Incident Overview: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of the reported deaths of at least 60 newborns at Malda Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal during the first three weeks of August 2026.

• Details of Deaths: Reports indicate that on a single day, ten newborns died in the hospital. Among the deceased, 44 were referred to the hospital due to dete