🚨 Prelim 2027 The Hindu, IE Microtheme: "Space Programs, India" Repeated 12 times in the UPSC Prelims

With reference to the Australe Basin recently reported on the Moon, which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) It was identified from its distinct outer rim using high resolution surface imaging.
(b) It was confirmed from mineralogical data gathered by Chandrayaan 1, a first for a concealed lunar basin.
(c) Its basalts are higher in calcium and lower in magnesium than the majority of lunar basalts.
(d) It lies along the northwestern hemisphere of the Moon and is younger than every known lunar basin.

Microtheme-based Current Affairs? DM me @Nishapan

https://youtu.be/kme6ZSH6Z3M?si=FCRnhttetU0I7oh6

Rohit Sir explains how a structured mentorship system can transform UPSC 2028 preparation through microthemes, weekly accountability, answer writing, PYQ-based learning, and continuous course correction.

He highlights the importance of starting answer writing from day one, building one-page notes, completing basic resources, and gradually moving towards Prelims and Mains-focused preparation.

The video explains how UAP uses microthemes and PYQs to identify high-priority areas, track preparation through a “heat map,” and personalize the pace for every aspirant.

With senior mentors, regular tests, feedback, and structured modules, the focus remains on maintaining momentum, identifying gaps, and staying aligned with UPSC’s changing demands.

16 September 2026 UPSC Daily Briefing

Top 5

1. Merchants to pay 0.4% fee on UPI payments over Rs 2,000
Microtheme: Digital Payments,Digital Infrastructure. 1 questions in Mains, 13 questions in Prelims

2. Meta to share child safety reports with govt. directly
Microtheme: Cyber Security. 7 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

3. Govt. to ease MSME, start-up entry into R&D in defence
Microtheme: Defence. 1 questions in Mains, 27 questions in Prelims

4. VB-G RAM G scheme trails MGNREGS by 9% in August
Microtheme: Govt. Programs. 3 questions in Mains, 22 questions in Prelims

5. Sugar rush, chip price surge: RBI rate hike looms as price pressures spread
Microtheme: Inflation. 0 questions in Mains, 14 questions in Prelims

Rest of the news

Economics
1. [Op-ed] Decoding India's GDP base revision
Microtheme: National Income Accounting(GDP). 3 questions in Mains, 11 questions in Prelims

2. DFCs: the backbone of India's logistics revolution
Microtheme: Infrastructure Sector. 1 questions in Mains, 17 questions in Prelims

Governance
3. SIR: deletions have increased in Phase 3 States/UT
Microtheme: RPAxElectoral Reforms. 4 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

International Relations
4. [Op-ed] After BRICS, it's time to navigate the realities of great power rivalries
Microtheme: GroupingsXRegional. 5 questions in Mains, 25 questions in Prelims

5. [Op-ed] Saudi Arabia is facing a two-strait dilemma
Microtheme: Choke Points,Connectivity Projects,Pipelines. 0 questions in Mains, 9 questions in Prelims

6. Why India's stance on WTO plurilateral deals may be shifting
Microtheme: WTO. 4 questions in Mains, 3 questions in Prelims

Geography and Disaster Management
7. [Op-ed] Don't let borders blind us to Himalayan risks
Microtheme: Disaster Preparedness and Resilience. 4 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

Science and Technology
8. [Explainer] US's orbital weapons: The limits of global pacts governing space militarisation
Microtheme: Space ProgramsXIntl. 2 questions in Mains, 10 questions in Prelims

9. [Editorial] AI cooperation
Microtheme: AI. 1 questions in Mains, 3 questions in Prelims

10. [Op-ed] China’s open AI advantage may not last forever
Microtheme: Emerging TechXIT. 3 questions in Mains, 14 questions in Prelims

Read these on www.civilsdaily.com

🚨 Prelim 2027 The Hindu, IE Microtheme: "Infrastructure Sector" Repeated 17 times in the UPSC Prelims

With reference to India's Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) and allied infrastructure programmes, which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor runs from Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).
(b) A Dedicated Freight Corridor is track reserved for goods trains, permitting double stack container operation.
(c) PM GatiShakti is a highway development programme implemented by the National Highways Authority of India.
(d) Sagarmala is confined to India's major ports and excludes non major ports from its scope.

Microtheme-based Current Affairs? DM me @Nishapan

🚨 Prelim 2027 The Hindu, IE Microtheme: "Government Programmes" Repeated 17 times in the UPSC Prelims

Consider the following statements regarding the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), known as VB G RAM G:
1. Workers registered under the earlier rural employment guarantee law were migrated to it only after completing electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) verification.
2. States may issue area specific notifications of peak agricultural periods for districts, blocks or gram panchayats.

Microtheme-based Current Affairs? DM me @Nishapan

17 September 2026 UPSC Daily Briefing

Top 5

1. Social security net widens: Govt nod for raising EPFO wage ceiling to Rs 25,000
Microtheme: Labour Reform. 1 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

2. SIR deletions: elector numbers in 1/3 of Delhi below poll turnout
Microtheme: RPAxElectoral Reforms. 4 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

3. [Op-ed] Mining amendment is unfair to States
Microtheme: Case Laws. 3 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

4. Centre bans Pak-based Shahzad Bhatti terror network under UAPA
Microtheme: Organized Crime and Terrorism. 10 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

5. India remains at 131st rank in global gender parity index
Microtheme: International Reports,Indices. 0 questions in Mains, 17 questions in Prelims

Rest of the news

Polity and Constitution

1. [Op-ed] Let's curb misuse of a legal relic that elevates the mob over the individual
Microtheme: Constitutional Morality. 4 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

International Relations

2. [Explainer] The 1991 treaty violated by Pak ship that collided with Indian vessel
Microtheme: BilateralXNeighbourhood. 6 questions in Mains, 1 questions in Prelims

3. [Editorial] Currency conundrum
Microtheme: GroupingsXRegional. 5 questions in Mains, 25 questions in Prelims

4. 'Has no legal basis': India rejects Pakistan-China 'boundary commission'
Microtheme: Geo-politics affecting India's Interest. 7 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

Environment

6. [Editorial] Hog in the limelight
Microtheme: SpeciesXThreats and Conservation efforts. 0 questions in Mains, 11 questions in Prelims

7. What lies beyond India's E20 push
Microtheme: Biofertilizers/Fuels. 0 questions in Mains, 13 questions in Prelims

Geography and Disaster Management

8. 'Census Town' definition is outdated: Ministry to panel
Microtheme: Census. 0 questions in Mains, 8 questions in Prelims

Agriculture

9. Rs 2.5 cr as carbon credits: In a first, farmers reap harvest of good practices
Microtheme: Climate Change. 4 questions in Mains, 11 questions in Prelims

Science and Technology

10. Banks can't use force to seize vehicles over loan default: SC
Microtheme: Banking Regulations. 0 questions in Mains, 17 questions in Prelims

Read these on www.civilsdaily.com

🚨 Prelim 2027 The Hindu, IE Microtheme: "SpeciesXThreats and Conservation efforts" Repeated 11 times in the UPSC Prelims

With reference to the pygmy hog, which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) It is naturally distributed in the tropical evergreen forests of the Western Ghats.
(b) It is the only living species of its genus and the smallest wild member of the pig family.
(c) Its last surviving natural population is confined to Kaziranga National Park.
(d) It feeds and breeds in open, short grazed grassland rather than in tall dense cover.

Microtheme-based Current Affairs? DM me @Nishapan

🚨 Prelim 2027 The Hindu, IE Microtheme: "Biofertilizers/Fuels" Repeated 13 times in the UPSC Prelims

Consider the following statements regarding ethanol blending in petrol in India:
I. E20 petrol consists of 20 percent anhydrous ethanol blended with motor gasoline.
II. Ethanol releases less energy per litre burnt than pure gasoline.
III. The National Policy on Biofuels permits surplus rice and maize to be used as feedstock for ethanol.
IV. Second generation ethanol is produced from sugarcane juice and molasses.

Microtheme-based Current Affairs? DM me @Nishapan

18 September 2026 UPSC Daily Briefing

Top 5

1. [Op-ed] Does the BRICS summit signify a shift for Indian foreign policy?
Microtheme: GroupingsXRegional. 5 questions in Mains, 25 questions in Prelims

2. [Explainer] Russia sanctions Bill: Tool for Trump, worry for India
Microtheme: Energy Security. 3 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

3. PM pitches India as trusted base for chip manufacturing
Microtheme: Manufacturing Sector. 5 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

4. [Explainer] How melting glaciers could 'put 20% of GDP at risk'
Microtheme: Cryosphere,Glacier Melting. 4 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

5. [Op-ed] For AI governance, hard laws and strong guardrails
Microtheme: AI. 1 questions in Mains, 3 questions in Prelims

Rest of the news

Economics

1. Who has to pay MDR on UPI and who stands to gain the most?
Microtheme: Banking Regulations. 0 questions in Mains, 17 questions in Prelims

2. India softens EU steel import curbs hit, secures 80% exports
Microtheme: Trade. 1 questions in Mains, 19 questions in Prelims

Economic Indicators, MPC
3. After US Fed and others, will RBI also raise interest rates in Oct?
Microtheme: RBIxFunctions. 1 questions in Mains, 17 questions in Prelims

Polity and Constitution

Bills, Acts and Policies
4. What is the Uniform Civil Code debate?
Microtheme: DPSP. 1 questions in Mains, 13 questions in Prelims

Court Judgements
5. Supreme Court asks Tamil Nadu to comply with order to identify land for Navodaya schools
Microtheme: Federal System. 10 questions in Mains, 4 questions in Prelims

Constitutional and Non-Const Bodies
6. Ahead of Bengal bypolls, TMC name, symbol are frozen by EC
Microtheme: Party System. 2 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

Governance

7. Missing in EC affidavit on SIR in Bengal: Break-up of appeals for name inclusion
Microtheme: RPAxElectoral Reforms. 4 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

Reports, Indices and Surveys
8. PAC pulls up Railways over gaps in amenities despite promises
Microtheme: ParliamentXCommittees. 4 questions in Mains, 6 questions in Prelims

International Relations

9. [Op-ed] A war room for India in an age of sanctions
Microtheme: Geo-politics affecting India's Interest. 7 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

Places in News
10. [Prelims Entities] How Yemen's Houthis rose from a small mountain militia to major regional force
Microtheme: Choke Points,Connectivity Projects,Pipelines. 0 questions in Mains, 9 questions in Prelims

Internal Security

11. [Editorial] New fault lines
Microtheme: North East Insurgency. 2 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

Environment

12. [Explainer] Orangutans in Odisha: The laws governing animal trade and repatriation
Microtheme: International Org,TreatiesXEnvironment. 0 questions in Mains, 28 questions in Prelims

Places in News
13. [Prelims Entities] These two cheetahs aren't related — but at Kuno, they have become inseparable
Microtheme: National Parks. 0 questions in Mains, 22 questions in Prelims

Science and Technology

14. Private participation not at the cost of ISRO's capabilities: Staff in fresh note
Microtheme: Space ProgramsXIND. 6 questions in Mains, 12 questions in Prelims

15. Stem cell therapy for autism only in approved clinical trials: Centre
Microtheme: Medical and Health Technologies. 3 questions in Mains, 0 questions in Prelims

Read these on www.civilsdaily.com

🚨 Prelim 2027 The Hindu, IE Microtheme: "Banking Regulations" Repeated 17 times in the UPSC Prelims

With reference to the framework for levying a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) It is a charge collected directly from the consumer by the UPI application at the moment of payment.

(b) It is borne by the merchant out of its receipts and shared among the banks and payment processors carrying the transaction.

(c) It applies uniformly to every UPI transaction, including transfers between two individuals.

(d) Its entire proceeds accrue to the merchant's bank, since that bank manages the merchant relationship.

Microtheme-based Current Affairs? DM me @Nishapan

🚨 Prelim 2027 The Hindu, IE Microtheme: "International Org,TreatiesXEnvironment" Repeated 28 times in the UPSC Prelims

With reference to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and its application in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) The Convention prohibits all international trade in the species carried in its appendices.

(b) A species in Appendix I may move across borders only under permit and for non commercial purposes such as research and recognised breeding programmes.

(c) A party that confiscates a trafficked specimen is obliged under the Convention to repatriate it to the country of origin.

(d) Species listed in the Convention's appendices fall outside the schedules of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Microtheme-based Current Affairs? DM me @Nishapan