Leopardus tilcayo - newly described wild cat species from Bolivia’s Yungas region; first living felid species named in over a century.
#CA2026
#DISCOVERY
#CA2026
#DISCOVERY
Bihar Police will establish Child Help Desks/Child Corners in every police station by 2 October 2026, in line with the Bihar Police Act, 2007 and NCPCR guidelines, for speedy grievance redressal and child protection.
#BIHARspecial
#BIHARspecial
Asteroid Mining
Why in News: Growing global race to exploit asteroids for water, rare/critical minerals and precious metals.
1. What is Asteroid Mining?
Extraction and processing of resources from asteroids, especially:
• Water/ice
• Iron, Nickel
• Rare-earth/critical minerals
• Platinum Group Metals (PGMs): Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Iridium
• Gold, Silver
2. Why Important?
• Water —> H₂ + O₂ —> rocket fuel + life-support
• Can enable in-space refuelling
• May reduce dependence on Earth-based mining
• Supports future Moon/Mars/deep-space missions
3. Important Asteroid Locations
• Main Asteroid Belt: between Mars and Jupiter
• Near-Earth Objects (NEOs): objects whose orbits bring them close to Earth
• Trojan asteroids: share a planet’s orbit near Lagrange points
4. Mining Challenges
• Microgravity: excavation can push spacecraft away
• Difficult anchoring and drilling
• Huge transport/processing cost
• Unknown actual mineral concentration
• Risk of space debris
• Environmental and planetary-protection concerns
6. Proposed Mining Technologies
• Laser-based extraction
• Anchoring systems
• Enclosed processing
• In-space refining/manufacturing
7. Legal Position
Outer Space Treaty, 1967:-
• Outer space is the province of all mankind
• Celestial bodies cannot be subjected to national appropriation
• Treaty does not clearly settle ownership of extracted resources
—>Countries with domestic space-resource frameworks include:
USA, Luxembourg, UAE and Japan
—>2029 - UN International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence, declared to coincide with the close Earth flyby of asteroid 99942 Apophis on 13 April 2029.
#GS2mains
#CA2026
#SPACE
Why in News: Growing global race to exploit asteroids for water, rare/critical minerals and precious metals.
1. What is Asteroid Mining?
Extraction and processing of resources from asteroids, especially:
• Water/ice
• Iron, Nickel
• Rare-earth/critical minerals
• Platinum Group Metals (PGMs): Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Iridium
• Gold, Silver
2. Why Important?
• Water —> H₂ + O₂ —> rocket fuel + life-support
• Can enable in-space refuelling
• May reduce dependence on Earth-based mining
• Supports future Moon/Mars/deep-space missions
3. Important Asteroid Locations
• Main Asteroid Belt: between Mars and Jupiter
• Near-Earth Objects (NEOs): objects whose orbits bring them close to Earth
• Trojan asteroids: share a planet’s orbit near Lagrange points
4. Mining Challenges
• Microgravity: excavation can push spacecraft away
• Difficult anchoring and drilling
• Huge transport/processing cost
• Unknown actual mineral concentration
• Risk of space debris
• Environmental and planetary-protection concerns
6. Proposed Mining Technologies
• Laser-based extraction
• Anchoring systems
• Enclosed processing
• In-space refining/manufacturing
7. Legal Position
Outer Space Treaty, 1967:-
• Outer space is the province of all mankind
• Celestial bodies cannot be subjected to national appropriation
• Treaty does not clearly settle ownership of extracted resources
—>Countries with domestic space-resource frameworks include:
USA, Luxembourg, UAE and Japan
—>2029 - UN International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence, declared to coincide with the close Earth flyby of asteroid 99942 Apophis on 13 April 2029.
#GS2mains
#CA2026
#SPACE
❤3
TMC Split (2026): ECI allotted:-
Mamata Banerjee faction —> “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” = Football Player symbol;
Ritabrata Banerjee faction —> “Democratic Trinamool Congress” = Envelope symbol.
#CA2026
Mamata Banerjee faction —> “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” = Football Player symbol;
Ritabrata Banerjee faction —> “Democratic Trinamool Congress” = Envelope symbol.
#CA2026
1. Brick Kiln OTS Scheme 2026: Bihar launched a One-Time Settlement scheme for about 6,000 brick-kiln operators to clear old mining-related dues.
2. Main relief: Operators paying the principal amount get a complete waiver of accumulated interest.
3. Scheme period: 21 September–20 December 2026.
4. DMF = District Mineral Foundation: A district-level fund used for the welfare and development of people and areas affected by mining.
5. Bihar DMF Rules 2026: Fund utilisation formula changed from 60:40 to 70:30.
6. New formula: 70% of DMF funds will be spent in the block where mining/quarrying takes place, while 30% will be used in other blocks of the same district.
7. Current mining update: Stone-mining zones have been auctioned in Nawada and Sheikhpura.
#BIHARspecial
2. Main relief: Operators paying the principal amount get a complete waiver of accumulated interest.
3. Scheme period: 21 September–20 December 2026.
4. DMF = District Mineral Foundation: A district-level fund used for the welfare and development of people and areas affected by mining.
5. Bihar DMF Rules 2026: Fund utilisation formula changed from 60:40 to 70:30.
6. New formula: 70% of DMF funds will be spent in the block where mining/quarrying takes place, while 30% will be used in other blocks of the same district.
7. Current mining update: Stone-mining zones have been auctioned in Nawada and Sheikhpura.
#BIHARspecial
Bihar Police launched a Community Policing Initiative to strengthen police–public coordination and ground-level intelligence for timely crime prevention; citizens such as teachers, doctors, traders and social groups will participate.
—>Community Policing: Police + community cooperation for crime prevention, intelligence sharing and public safety.
—>Moral Policing: Individuals/groups imposing their own moral norms on others, often without legal authority; e.g., Jamui girl harassment case (2026).
#BIHARspecial
—>Community Policing: Police + community cooperation for crime prevention, intelligence sharing and public safety.
—>Moral Policing: Individuals/groups imposing their own moral norms on others, often without legal authority; e.g., Jamui girl harassment case (2026).
#BIHARspecial
Justice Valluri Kameswar Rao took oath as the 49th Chief Justice of Patna High Court on 13 Sept 2026; oath administered by the Governor. He was earlier a judge of the Delhi High Court.
High Court Chief Justice:
• Article 217: HC judges, including the Chief Justice, are appointed by the President.
• Consultation for HC CJ: Chief Justice of India + Governor of the State.
• Article 219: Oath is administered by the Governor or a person appointed by him.
• Article 223: Acting Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President.
• Article 222: Transfer of HC judge —> President after consultation with CJI.
• Retirement age of HC judges: 62 years.
#BIHARspecial
High Court Chief Justice:
• Article 217: HC judges, including the Chief Justice, are appointed by the President.
• Consultation for HC CJ: Chief Justice of India + Governor of the State.
• Article 219: Oath is administered by the Governor or a person appointed by him.
• Article 223: Acting Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President.
• Article 222: Transfer of HC judge —> President after consultation with CJI.
• Retirement age of HC judges: 62 years.
#BIHARspecial
Arwal District Court
1. Arwal, carved out of Jehanabad as a separate district, will get a full-fledged district court/judgeship from 10 September 2026.
2. Till now, Arwal had a sub-divisional court headed by an Additional District Judge (ADJ) under the functional control of the Principal District & Sessions Judge, Jehanabad.
3. With this development, all 38 districts of Bihar will have their own district courts.
#BIHARspecial
1. Arwal, carved out of Jehanabad as a separate district, will get a full-fledged district court/judgeship from 10 September 2026.
2. Till now, Arwal had a sub-divisional court headed by an Additional District Judge (ADJ) under the functional control of the Principal District & Sessions Judge, Jehanabad.
3. With this development, all 38 districts of Bihar will have their own district courts.
#BIHARspecial
❤2
Bihar Development Summit 2026 was held at Ravindra Bhavan, Vasco da Gama, Goa, on the theme “Developed Bihar – Developed India 2047”; it was organised by Let’s Inspire Bihar (LIB) and highlighted citizen/diaspora participation in Bihar’s development.
#BIHARspecial
#BIHARspecial
❤2
EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
CBAM: EU mechanism that puts a carbon price on embedded emissions of specified imports, aimed at preventing carbon leakage; it complements the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
1. CBAM sectors —> remember: Cement, Iron & Steel, Aluminium, Fertilisers, Electricity and Hydrogen.
2. Timeline: Transitional phase 2023–25; definitive CBAM regime applicable from 1 January 2026.
3. India relevance: Important for Indian steel and aluminium exporters, as CBAM creates carbon-emission reporting/compliance and carbon-cost obligations for exports entering the EU.
Interlink: https://t.me/bpscweb/29832
https://t.me/bpscweb/27447
#CA2026
#ENVIRONMENT
CBAM: EU mechanism that puts a carbon price on embedded emissions of specified imports, aimed at preventing carbon leakage; it complements the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
1. CBAM sectors —> remember: Cement, Iron & Steel, Aluminium, Fertilisers, Electricity and Hydrogen.
2. Timeline: Transitional phase 2023–25; definitive CBAM regime applicable from 1 January 2026.
3. India relevance: Important for Indian steel and aluminium exporters, as CBAM creates carbon-emission reporting/compliance and carbon-cost obligations for exports entering the EU.
Interlink: https://t.me/bpscweb/29832
https://t.me/bpscweb/27447
#CA2026
#ENVIRONMENT
Senior Living & Loneliness
• Report: The Future of Ageing and Longevity Economy in India, 2026 - Colliers India.
• India’s 60+ population may rise from 149 million (10.5%) in 2022 to 347 million (20.8%) by 2050.
• HelpAge India Survey 2025: 47% respondents considered loneliness a serious concern.
• Drivers: ageing population, nuclear families, migration of children, health concerns and weakening traditional family support.
• Need: Elder care must go beyond housing/healthcare to community living, companionship, social interaction and wellness.
• Way forward: age-friendly communities, geriatric care, day-care/social centres, digital inclusion and community-based support.
Crux: Ageing population —> changing family structure —> social isolation —> need for community-based elderly care.
#GS2mains
• Report: The Future of Ageing and Longevity Economy in India, 2026 - Colliers India.
• India’s 60+ population may rise from 149 million (10.5%) in 2022 to 347 million (20.8%) by 2050.
• HelpAge India Survey 2025: 47% respondents considered loneliness a serious concern.
• Drivers: ageing population, nuclear families, migration of children, health concerns and weakening traditional family support.
• Need: Elder care must go beyond housing/healthcare to community living, companionship, social interaction and wellness.
• Way forward: age-friendly communities, geriatric care, day-care/social centres, digital inclusion and community-based support.
Crux: Ageing population —> changing family structure —> social isolation —> need for community-based elderly care.
#GS2mains