The Union Health Ministry stated that India has no reported Ebola cases and the current risk remains minimal, while closely monitoring the outbreak in Central Africa.
Key Highlights
The outbreak involves Ebola Virus Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.
Affected regions include:
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Uganda
Measures Taken by India
Enhanced surveillance at airports and ports
Monitoring of international travellers from affected regions
Isolation and quarantine preparedness
Coordination with relevant ministries and agencies
Agencies Involved
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP)
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
About Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
Severe viral haemorrhagic fever affecting humans and primates.
Spread through:
Direct contact with infected bodily fluids
Contaminated surfaces
Infected animals
Symptoms
Fever
Weakness
Bleeding
Organ failure in severe cases
What is PHEIC?
A Public Health Emergency of International Concern is declared by WHO under the International Health Regulations (IHR) when an outbreak:
Poses international public health risk
Requires coordinated global response
[2015] Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently? (a) Syria and Jordan (b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia (c) Philippines and Papua New Guinea (d) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam
A global medical consensus led by Monash University renamed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) to better reflect its multisystem nature.
What is PMOS?
PMOS is a hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive disorder affecting women of reproductive age.
It involves:
Excess androgen production
Irregular ovulation
Metabolic dysfunction
Psychological and skin-related symptoms
Full Form of PMOS
Polyendocrine: Multiple hormonal systems affected
Metabolic: Linked with diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance
Ovarian: Reproductive involvement
Syndrome: Group of symptoms
Why Was PCOS Renamed?
The term “PCOS” focused mainly on ovaries and “cysts”.
Experts noted that the condition also involves:
Hormonal imbalance
Metabolic disorders
Endocrine complications
Major Features of PMOS
Metabolic Features
Obesity
Type 2 diabetes
Dyslipidemia
Hypertension
Fatty liver disease (MASLD)
Reproductive Features
Irregular periods
Infertility
Ovulation problems
Pregnancy complications
Psychological Features
Depression
Anxiety
Eating disorders
Dermatological Features
Acne
Facial hair growth
Hair thinning
Importance for India
Estimated prevalence in India: 16% to 18%
Indians have higher risk of:
Diabetes
Heart disease
Insulin resistance
[2024] Which one of the following is synthesised in human body that dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow [A] Nitric oxide [B] Nitrous oxide [C] Nitrogen dioxide [D] Nitrogen pentoxide
India successfully conducted the flight-trial of an advanced Agni missile equipped with a Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) system on May 8, 2026. The test was carried out from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island.
What is a Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV)?
MIRV technology allows:
A single ballistic missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads
Each warhead to strike different targets independently
How MIRV Works
Step 1: Missile Launch: A ballistic missile is launched carrying multiple warheads.
Step 2: Mid-course Phase: After reaching space or upper atmosphere:
The missile releases several re-entry vehicles
Step 3: Independent Targeting: Each warhead:
Follows a separate trajectory
Hits a different target
[2026] Consider the following statements 1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their fights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of fight. 2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [A] 1 only [B] 2 only [C] Both 1 and 2 [D] Neither 1 nor 2
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the actively cooled scramjet combustor of a new hypersonic cruise missile at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test facility in Hyderabad.
Key Achievement
DRDO achieved: 1,200 second runtime of the scramjet combustor
Previous successful test: 700 plus seconds in January 2026
About Hypersonic Cruise Missile
Missile capable of travelling at:
More than Mach 5
Over five times the speed of sound
Approximate speed:
Above 6,100 km per hour
What is a Scramjet Engine?
Full Form: Supersonic Combustion Ramjet
Air breathing engine using:
Supersonic airflow during combustion
Operates efficiently at hypersonic speeds (Speed:5 Mach)
Uses atmospheric oxygen instead of carrying oxidiser
Suitable for:
Hypersonic missiles
Advanced aerospace systems
Countries Developing Hypersonic Technology
India
United States
Russia
China
[UPSC 2009] In the context of Indian defence, consider the following statements: 1. The Shourya missile flies with a speed of more than 8 Mach. 2. The range of Shourya missile is more than 1600 km. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) were recognised by the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records for constructing the first roadblock section using technical textile geocell made from end of life plastic.
About Geocell
A three dimensional cellular confinement system used in geotechnical engineering
Designed to improve:
Soil stability
Load bearing capacity
Structural reinforcement
Structure of Geocell
Consists of interconnected honeycomb shaped cells
Made from geosynthetic materials such as:
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Polyester
Working Mechanism
Cells are expanded on site to form a mattress like layer
Filled with materials such as: Soil, Sand, Aggregate, and Clay
After compaction:
The geocell integrates with underlying soil
Creates a reinforced and stable structure
[2020] In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint? 1. Copper slag 2. Cold mix asphalt technology 3. Geotextiles Hot mix asphalt technology 4. Portland cement Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1, 2 and 3 only b) 2, 3 and 4 only c) 4 and 5 only d) 1 and 5 only
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon system off the coast of Odisha on May 7, 2026.
About TARA (Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation)
It is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system
Purpose: Converts unguided warheads into precision guided weapons
Developed By
Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad
Along with other DRDO laboratories
Key Features
Glide Weapon System: Uses aerodynamic lift to glide towards targets after launch
Enhances:
Accuracy
Lethality
Operational range
Low Cost Technology: Utilises state of the art low cost systems
[2023] Consider the following statements 1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their fights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of fight. 2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [A] 1 only [B] 2 only [C] Both 1 and 2 [D] Neither 1 nor 2
Researchers in Europe have developed a synthetic metamaterial capable of physically learning and changing shape in response to external conditions. The findings were published in the journal Nature Physics.
About Metamaterials
Special engineered materials whose properties depend on:
Internal structure
Physical arrangement
Not just chemical composition
Can exhibit unusual properties not found in natural materials
Key Features of the New Material
Built as a chain of connected robotic units
Each unit contains:
Motor
Angle sensor
Microcontroller
Capable of:
Learning shapes
Forgetting previous configurations
Adapting to new external conditions
[2023] Consider the following actions: 1. Detection of car crash/collision which results in the deployment of airbags almost instantaneously 2. Detection of accidental free fall of a laptop towards the ground which results in the immediate turning off of the hard drive 3. Detection of the tilt of the smart- phone which results in the rotation of display between portrait and landscape mode In how many of the above actions is the function of accelerometer required? [A] Only one [B] Only two [C] All three [D] None
Health authorities in South Africa detected the Andes strain of hantavirus in passengers linked to a cruise ship outbreak off Cape Verde. The Andes virus is notable because it can spread from human to human in rare cases.
About Hantavirus
A group of viruses mainly spread by:
Rodents
Humans may become infected through:
Contact with rodent urine, saliva, or droppings
Contaminated air particles
Andes Virus
A specific strain of hantavirus
Found mainly in:
Argentina
Chile
Symptoms of Hantavirus Infection
Fever
Muscle pain
Fatigue
Respiratory distress in severe cases
[2015] Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently? (a) Syria and Jordan (b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia (c) Philippines and Papua New Guinea (d) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam
New imagery from the NISAR satellite has shown that Mexico City is sinking at an alarming rate of nearly 25 cm per year, mainly due to excessive groundwater extraction.
What is Land Subsidence
Gradual sinking or settling of the Earth’s surface
Commonly caused by:
Excessive groundwater withdrawal
Mining
Natural geological processes
Why is Mexico City Sinking
Built on an ancient lake bed
Heavy extraction of groundwater from aquifers
Rapid urbanisation and infrastructure load
Shrinking aquifers causing ground compaction
About NISAR Satellite
NASA and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) joint mission
Full Form: NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar
Features of NISAR
Uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
Can detect surface changes in real time
Works in:
Day and night
All weather conditions
[2019] For the measurement/ estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used? 1. Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location 2. Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location 3. Land surface temperatures of a specific location Select the correct answer using the code given below. [A] 1 only [B] 2 and 3 only [C] 3 only [D] 1, 2 and 3
PYQ Relevance[UPSC 2024] Social media and encrypting messaging services pose a serious security challenge. What measures have been adopted at various levels to address the security implications of social media? Also suggest any other remedies to address the problem.Linkage: The PYQ captures the article’s concern regarding technology-driven surveillance, data control, and threats to civil liberties, now amplified by AI systems. It highlights the broader issue of balancing technological innovation with regulation and democratic accountability, central to the article’s argument.
Mentor’s Comment
The article highlights a critical structural shift in global governance: the concentration of power in AI corporations without commensurate democratic oversight. It raises concerns about militarisation, surveillance, erosion of accountability, and weakening of constitutional safeguards, making it highly relevant for GS Paper II (governance, rights) and GS Paper III (technology, security).
Is AI Concentrating Power in Private Corporations at the Cost of Democracy?
Corporate Dominance: Centralises decision-making in firms like OpenAI, Anthropic, Palantir; reduces state oversight.
Soft Power Erosion: Weakens democratic persuasion; replaces it with algorithmic influence over societies.
Policy Vacuum: Lacks binding global frameworks; relies on voluntary corporate ethics.
How is AI Transforming Warfare and Raising Ethical Concerns?
Algorithmic Warfare: Enables automated targeting and surveillance operations.
Civilian Risk: Increases collateral damage due to data biases and automation errors.
Example: Palantir’s Maven system used in U.S. operations in Iran; reported deaths of 175-180 civilians.
Palantir’s Maven Smart System (MSS) is an AI-enabled command-and-control platform that accelerates military decision-making by integrating satellite imagery, drone feeds, and sensor data into a single interface.
Ethical Gap: Absence of accountability for AI-led decisions in conflict zones.
Does AI-Driven Surveillance Threaten Civil Liberties?
Mass Surveillance: Expands profiling capabilities through data aggregation.
Example: In 2025, police in India used 2,700 AI-enhanced CCTV cameras to monitor crowd density, behavioral patterns, and cross-border movements at the Maha Kumbh festival, highlighting the expansion of pervasive, automated tracking in public spaces.
Predictive Policing: Normalises algorithmic bias in law enforcement.
Tracking and Targeted Surveillance: Use of AI tools by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for tracking individuals.
Privacy Erosion: Weakens safeguards; data collected without adequate consent frameworks.
Are Self-Regulatory Frameworks by AI Firms Adequate?
AI represents a structural shift in power comparable to industrial revolutions but with deeper implications for democracy and sovereignty. Effective governance requires binding regulations, global cooperation, and reassertion of democratic control over technology to prevent concentration of unchecked power.
