World Press Freedom Index 2026--> India's rank 157

#CA2026
#RANK

Whitley Award= Green Oscar

Link:- https://m.thewire.in/article/environment/green-oscars-two-indian-women-conservationists-among-six-whitley-award-winners-for-2026

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#AWARD

PRELIMS:- #CA2026
Traditional satellites
• Use either Optical OR SAR
• Optical —> fails in cloud/dark
• SAR —> works always but less clear images

Drishti (New)
• Optical + SAR together (same satellite)
• Same place + same time imaging (synchronised)

Working of Drishti
• Optical —> sunlight-based image
• SAR —> microwave-based (penetrates clouds)
• Output —> combined (fused) image

Benefit of Drishti
• All-weather + day-night observation
• No time gap error
• More accurate & reliable data
• Will provide continuous, accurate Earth observation (no weather limitation)
• Use —> disaster, defence, agriculture


MAINS:- #GS2mains
• India’s private space ecosystem led by IN-SPACe (regulation) and NSIL (commercialisation) is enabling startups like GalaxEye to develop advanced technologies such as Opto-SAR satellites.
• This complements ISRO by boosting innovation, reducing dependency, and strengthening India’s strategic and geospatial capabilities.

#SPACE
#CA2026
👇🏻👇🏻

CHANAKYA Drone Swarm
• Indigenous AI-driven swarm autonomy framework (L&T)
• Not a drone —> acts as “digital brain” for UAV swarm
• Shift: Remote-controlled UAVs —> Autonomous systems

Working Mechanism
• Decentralised architecture (no central command node)
• Local data processing —> less dependence on satellite links
• Drones share data & self-organise in real-time

Key Functional Features:
• Autonomous brain: minimal human input
• Role assignment: scout / jammer / decoy / striker

Operational Strengths:
• Compressed kill-chain —> faster “sensor-to-shooter” loop
• Resilience: works even if drones are destroyed/jammed
• Self-reconfiguration of swarm instantly

Strategic Utility:
• Border dominance (LoC & LAC)
• Persistent surveillance in difficult terrain
• Reduces risk to soldiers

Strategic Shift:
• Change in India’s military DNA
• Reduces dependence on foreign tech
• Enhances private sector role in defence

Relate:- https://t.me/bpscweb/33074

Link: https://t.me/bpscweb/43223

#CA2026

100 day Nasha Mukt J&K campaign—> led by L-G Manoj Sinha

#CA2026
#CAMPAIGN

Cell Broadcast

#CA2026

SHANTI Act & Civil Nuclear Sector
• SHANTI: Enables private sector entry into India’s civil nuclear power sector (earlier dominated by govt entities).

DAE (Department of Atomic Energy): Retains nodal authority under the Act.

AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board):
• Gets enhanced statutory role (earlier dependent on DAE for budget/admin).
• Now—>more independent regulator.

Key Issue:
• Conflict of interest —> DAE controls entire supply chain (R&D —> fuel —> waste).
• Demand for separation of regulator & operator roles.

Administrative Division (likely):
• Imported tech reactors (LWR/PWR) —> Ministry of Power oversight
• Indigenous PHWR reactors —> remain under DAE

Liability Clause:
• Key supplier liability provision diluted/omitted —> reduces risk for foreign vendors
• Linked to earlier concerns under Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010

Current Nuclear Status (India):
• Installed capacity ≈ 8.7 GWe (~1.6% of total power)
• Target: 100 GW by 2047
• ~6600 MWe under construction

South Coast Railway (SCoR) = India’s 18th railway zone, HQ Visakhapatnam, formed by carving high freight-rich coastal divisions from ECoR and SCR.

Key Divisions:
• Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Guntakal

Why important:
• Covers coastal + mineral-rich belt —> high freight potential
• Linked to major ports (Vizag)

Controversy:
• Odisha opposes —> loss of freight-rich areas from ECoR
• ECoR earns >90% revenue from freight --> reason for Odisha’s opposition
• Issue linked to inter-state resource and revenue sharing

#CA2026

Semaglutide (GLP-1 drugs):
• Semaglutide —> a GLP-1 receptor agonist used for Type-2 Diabetes + obesity (weight loss).
• Works by —> ↑ insulin secretion, ↓ glucagon, slows gastric emptying —> appetite suppression.

Drug Class & Examples:
• GLP-1 analogues: Semaglutide, Liraglutide, Tirzepatide (dual GIP + GLP-1)

Prelims Traps:
• Not for Type-1 diabetes
• Not a fat burner —> acts hormonally

Link: https://t.me/civils_web/12555

#CA2026