UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs Articles

• Legislation:

  • The Protection of Antiques and Art Treasures Act (1972) will be strictly enforced to ensure that all antiques and art pieces, whether public or private, must be registered with designated officers in the State.

• Official Announcements:

  • N.R. Banerjee, Director of Antiquities, emphasized the necessity of registration for antiques during an inauguration event at the A

Summary of Scientific Contributions by Albrecht Kossel

1. Background:

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

2. Career:

   • Worked as an assistant to Felix Hoppe-Seyler, later contributing significantly at the Universities of Marburg and

Budget Allocation for Space Research:

• Total Allocation: ₹13,416.20 crore for the Department of Space for the fiscal year 2026-27.
• Focus Areas:
  • Deep-space exploration and astrophysics.
  • Construction of two advanced telescopes:
    • National Large Optical-Infrared Telescope (30-m).
    • National Large Solar Telescope near Pangong Lake, Ladakh.
  • Development of **

India-Malaysia Bilateral Relations Summary (February 2026)

1. Strengthened Ties:
   • India and Malaysia have agreed to expand cooperation in key sectors: trade, investment, defence, energy, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductors.
   • Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted a commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region during discussions with Malaysian Prime Ministe

Tiger Dispersal Events in India: Key Facts and Implications

1. Recent Incidents:

   • A Royal Bengal Tiger traveled approximately 650 km from Tadoba Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, to East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, spotted on National Highway 16.
   • The tiger was tranquilized and captured near agricultural fields in Kurmapuram village after multiple sightings.

2. **Conservation Ef

Global Climate Governance Notes

1. Current Framework:

   • Governance resembles two "hop-on, hop-off" frameworks: CMP (Kyoto Protocol) and CMA (Paris Agreement) lacking a direction.
   • Political interests often overshadow global climate urgency, leading to ineffective negotiations at Conferences of the Parties (COP).

2. Political Dynamics:

   • Politics largely manages expectations

Chhari-Dhandh Wetland Conservation Reserve - Summary Notes

Ramsar Site Designation

• Designation Date: January 31, 2026.
• Location: Kachchh district, Gujarat, India.
• Significance: 5th Ramsar Site in Gujarat and the first in the Kachchh region, marking a milestone in India's wetland conservation efforts.

Importance of Chhari-Dhandh

• Ecosystem Type: Unique wetland

Summary of Adivasi Resistance and Historical Context in Jharkhand

Historical Significance

• The event commemorated on February 2 marks the Battle of Serengsia (1837), a pivotal moment of resistance against British colonization in the Kolhan region, primarily involving the Ho Adivasis.
• Adivasi activists argue the chosen date for commemoration is historically inaccurate. They emphasize th

Summary of Iran-U.S. Negotiations on Uranium Enrichment

1. Context of the Talks:

   • Discussions took place in Oman, specifically in Muscat, regarding Iran's uranium enrichment program and related diplomatic relations with the United States.

2. Uranium Enrichment:

   • Iran rejected U.S. requests to halt uranium enrichment on its territory.
   • Iran is open to discussing the "level

Summary Notes: Control of Buddha Gaya Temple

1. Historical Context:

   • The agitation for Buddhist control over the Buddha Gaya temple began in 1891. This historical effort highlights the long-standing desire of the Buddhist community to gain authority over significant religious sites.

2. Committee and Meetings:

   • A meeting was held on 3rd February at **Olcott Memorial Ha

Summary of Key Points on ASI and Keezhadi Excavations

Context:

• Conflict has emerged between the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and K Amarnath Ramakrishna, the archaeologist who directed excavations at Keezhadi in Tamil Nadu.

Excavation Findings:

• Excavations from 2014-2016 uncovered evidence of an urban settlement from the Sangam era, including:
  • Brick structures
  • Dra

Summary of Key Points on the Expiry of the New START Treaty

Context

• Date of Expiry: February 5, 2026.
• Significance: Marks the end of over five decades of bilateral nuclear arms control agreements between the US and Russia, raising concerns for global peace and security.

International Response

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: Called it a "grave moment" highli

Summary of Key Points from Environmental Justice in India

Constitutional References

• Article 21: Right to a clean and healthy environment.
• Article 48A: Mandates the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife.
• Article 14: Ensures the right to equality before the law and prohibits discrimination.

Judicial Judgments

• **M.C. Mehta

• Avian Influenza (H5N1): Confirmed in crow samples collected from Adyar, Tamil Nadu. The virus was detected by the ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal, on January 21, 2026.

• Date of Communication: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying communicated these findings on January 22, 2026, to Tamil Nadu's Chief Secretary.

• Action Required: Implement

Cheetah Conservation and Potential Reintroduction in Saudi Arabia

1. Species Overview:
   • Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the world's fastest terrestrial mammal, once widespread across Africa and parts of Asia, but now extinct in 91% of its historical range.
   • The Asiatic cheetah (A. j. venaticus) is critically endangered, with approximately 50 individuals remaining in the wild, prima

Budget for Carbon Capture Technology

Government Budget Allocation and Objectives

• Budgetary Outlay: ₹20,000 crore allocated for the development of CCUS technologies over the next five years.
• Objective: To support technologies aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of critical industries in India, contributing towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

**Overview of

Summary of India-U.S. Trade Deal

Trade Agreements and Economic Impact:

• India has successfully concluded significant free trade agreements (FTAs) with multiple partners, including the U.S., EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand, EFTA, Oman, and UAE.
• The new trade architecture facilitates faster and more predictable movements for trade, enhancing India's global competitiveness.

**Trade Deal

• Background Context:

  • Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.

• Recent Developments:

  • Talks between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ladakh civil society leaders were inconclusive after more than three months of hiatus.
  • The Leh Apex Body (LAB) proposed demands for Statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of

Summary: US-Iran Relations and Implications for Global Oil Markets

Key Facts & Figures

• US-Iran Dialogue: Talks are set to occur in Oman regarding Iran's nuclear program amidst escalating tensions.
• Geopolitical Context: A potential military conflict in Iran could disrupt up to 20% of global oil and LNG supplies by blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
• **Oil Price Sensitivi

Summary of Developments in Antimicrobial Resistance Detection

Scientific Innovation

• Research Institute: Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad.
• Study: Published in Nature Communications, focused on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detection in urban sewage.

Key Findings

• Sample Analysis: The study analyzed sewage from 381 sites acr

Historical Context and Education Statistics (Madras Presidency, 1872)

• Mission Initiation: The Free Church of Scotland Mission established several schools in the Madras Presidency, beginning 35 years before 1872.

• School Closures: Several schools were shut down due to mounting debts, notably stating that in 1866, the Triplicane Boys and Girls Schools closed.

• *Enrollment Data

Summary of India-US Trade Deal and Economic Impact

1. Trade Agreement Overview:

• A new India-US trade deal has reduced tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50%, effective immediately.
• The effective import duty could decrease to between 12-16%, from the previous 35-36% due to concessions on sectors like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products.

**2. Bene

Raptor Assessment in Tiruchi: Key Highlights

Overview of the Assessment:

• Conducted by: Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
• Date: Conducted over a weekend.
• First-time Exercise: This was the first statewide raptor assessment by the Forest Department.
• Teams Involved: Included field-level Forest Department officials, volunteers, and college students.

Geographical Focus:

• R

Summary of Key Points: Connemara Public Library Transformation

• Location: Connemara Public Library, Government Museum campus, Egmore.

• Renovation Cost: ₹4.58 crore invested for restoration and development.

• Key Features:

  • Introduction of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) section with hands-on activities:
    • Gyroscope.
    • Periodic table.