💥UPSC 2026, 2027, 2028 UAP Mentorship (March Batch) + Access XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF

Type: Prelims Only

  • Global Geological And Climatic Events

    Kavachi Volcano

    Why in the News?

    Scientists have reported rare underwater footage showing sharks living inside the crater of Kavachi volcano, near the Solomon Islands. This discovery challenges earlier assumptions about marine survival in extreme volcanic environments.

    About Kavachi Volcano

    • A shallow submarine volcano located in the South Pacific Ocean
    • Situated south of Vangunu Island in the Solomon Islands
    • Lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly tectonically active zone
    • Among the few active and visible undersea volcanoes in the world

    Volcanic Activity

    • Known for frequent but unpredictable eruptions
    • First documented eruptive activity in 1939
    • Has experienced multiple temporary island forming events

    Prelims Pointers

    • Type: Submarine volcano
    • Location: South Pacific Ocean
    • Tectonic setting: Pacific Ring of Fire
    • Key feature: Temporary island formation
    • Recent relevance: Sharks observed inside a volcanic crater

    [2024] Consider the following: 1. Pyroclastic debris 2. Ash and dust 3. Nitrogen compounds 4. Sulphur compounds. How many of the above are products of volcanic eruptions? 

    (a) Only one

    (b) Only two

    (c) Only three

    (d) All four 

  • Internal Security Architecture Shortcomings – Key Forces, NIA, IB, CCTNS, etc.

    Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

    Why in the News?

    The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, extended greetings to all personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal on its Raising Day.

    About Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

    • Formerly known as Special Service Bureau
    • Established: 15 March 1963
    • Background: Formed after the Sino Indian Conflict of 1962
    • Force Type: Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)
    • Administrative Control: Ministry of Home Affairs

    Mandate and Area of Responsibility

    • Guards India’s international borders with Nepal and Bhutan
    • Promotes border security awareness among border populations

    Roles and Functions

    • Prevents smuggling, illegal immigration, and transnational crimes
    • Checks unauthorised entry and exit along the border
    • Assists in border area development
      • Construction of schools, toilets, roads, and public infrastructure
    • Performs law and order duties, counter insurgency operations, and election duties
    • Participates in UN peacekeeping missions when assigned by the central government

    Prelims Pointers

    • Border responsibility: Nepal and Bhutan only
    • Under Ministry of Home Affairs, not Defence Ministry
    • Origin linked to 1962 Sino Indian War
    • Combines border guarding with community oriented development
    [2023] With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements: 

    1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government. 

    2. The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in maintenance of internal security. 

    3. To prevent infiltration on the international border/coastal areas, the Border Wing Home Guards Battalions have been raised in some States. 

    How many of the above statements are correct? 

    (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None

  • Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

    White Spot Disease

    Why in the News?

    • The Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying informed the Rajya Sabha about White Spot Disease

    About White Spot Disease

    Highly contagious viral disease
    • Affects crustaceans such as prawns, yabbies, and crabs
    • Causes mass mortality in shrimp aquaculture

    Causative Agent

    White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV)
    Double stranded DNA virus
    Genus: Whispovirus
    Family: Nimaviridae

    Host Range

    All decapod crustaceans belonging to order Decapoda
    • Includes prawns, shrimps, lobsters, and crabs
    • Occurs in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments

    Mode of Transmission

    Vertical transmission
    From infected brood stock to post larvae
    Horizontal transmission
    Through carrier animals
    By cannibalism of infected organisms

    Geographical Distribution

    • Reported from Bangladesh and eastward from India

    Among the following organisms, which one does not belong to the class of other three? (2014)

    (a) Crab 

    (b) Mite 

    (c) Scorpion 

    (d) Spider

  • New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

    Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary

    Why in the News?

    Forest Department officially recorded sightings of two Wild Dogs (Dholes) in Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary

    About Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary

    Location: Madhya Pradesh
    Connectivity: Linked through corridors with Ratapani Tiger Reserve
    Vegetation Type: Dry deciduous forests

    Dhole (Asiatic Wild Dog)

    Basic Facts
    Wild canid carnivorous species
    • Known for pack hunting behaviour

    Other Names
    • Indian wild dog, Whistling dog, Red wolf, Red dog and Mountain wolf

    Habitat
    • Dense forests, Scrub forests, Steppes, Mountains and Pine forests

    Distribution
    Central Asia
    Eastern Asia
    Southeast Asia
    • In India, stronghold in Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats

    Conservation Status
    IUCN Red List: Endangered
    CITES: Appendix II
    Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II

    Recently there was a proposal to translocate some of the lions from their natural habitat in Gujarat to which one of the following sites? (2017)

    (a) Corbett National Park 

    (b) Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary 

    (c) Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary 

    (d) Sariska National Park

  • Water Management – Institutional Reforms, Conservation Efforts, etc.

    Freshwater Sponge

    Why in the News?

    • Scientists from Bose Institute studied freshwater sponges from the Sundarban delta
    • Identified their potential role as bioindicators of toxic metal pollution

    About Freshwater Sponges

    • Among the earliest multicellular eukaryotes
    • Play a key role in maintaining aquatic ecosystem health
    • Found in clean streams, lakes, rivers, and estuarine systems
    • Grow on sturdy submerged objects
    • Are filter feeders, filtering large volumes of water
    • Obtain food from water flow through the body and symbiotic algae

    Physical Features

    • Often appear green in colour
    • Green colour due to symbiotic algae living within sponge tissues

    Reproduction

    Sexual reproduction
    Asexual reproduction by fragmentation
    • Formation of gemmules
    Tiny, resistant reproductive bodies
    Can survive unfavourable conditions
    Germinate later to form new sponges

    Ecological Role and Significance

    • Act as bioindicators of water quality
    • Absorb toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium
    • Useful in monitoring pollution levels in freshwater and estuarine ecosystems
    • Show potential for bioremediation of polluted water bodies

    Which one of the following is a filter feeder? (2021)

    (a) Catfish 

    (b) Octopus 

    (c) Oyster 

    (d) Pelican

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

    SabhaSaar Initiative

    Why in the News?

    Union Minister informed the Rajya Sabha about the SabhaSaar initiative

    About the Initiative

    AI enabled voice to text meeting summarisation tool
    • Launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj
    • Implemented across States and Union Territories
    • Adopted by Gram Panchayats for Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings
    • Operates on AI and cloud infrastructure
    • Provisioned through India AI Compute Portal
    • Part of the India AI Mission under MeitY

    Key Features

    Structured minutes of meetings from video and audio recordings
    • Ensures uniformity in Gram Sabha documentation
    • Upload via e GramSwaraj login credentials
    • Built on Bhashini platform
    Speech to text transcription, language translation, and automated summarisation
    • Supports Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, and English

    Significance

    • Strengthens grassroots governance
    • Improves transparency and accountability
    • Bridges language, literacy, and digital divides
    • Enables efficient rural administration and instant access to meeting insights

    Consider the following: (2022)

    1. Aarogya Setu 

    2. CoWIN 

    3. DigiLocker 

    4. DIKSHA 

    Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital platforms? 

    (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

    This 2022 PYQ demonstrates the UPSC’s interest in the underlying technology stack of government initiatives. SabhaSaar is “built on the Bhashini platform” and is “part of the India AI Mission under MeitY”.

  • Food Processing Industry: Issues and Developments

    Annatto

    Why in the news?

    • As informed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the CSIR–Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru has undertaken four Grant-in-Aid projects related to the study and development of annatto.

    What is Annatto?

    • Annatto is a natural food colouring and flavouring agent.
    • Obtained from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana).

    Origin & Botanical Facts

    • Scientific name: Bixa orellana
    • Native region: Tropical regions of the Americas
    • Plant type: Shrub/small tree
    • Usable part: Seed coating

    Key Chemical Constituents

    • Contains carotenoids (plant pigments)
      • Responsible for yellow-orange colour
    • Rich in:
      • Antioxidants
      • Tocotrienols (a form of Vitamin E)
      • Antimicrobial compounds

    Uses of Annatto

    Food Industry

    • Accounts for ~70% of natural food colours used globally
    With reference to ‘palm oil,’ consider the following statements: (2021)

    1. The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia. 

    2. Palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes. 

    3. Palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel. 

    Which of the statements given above are correct? 

    (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, and 3

  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-Africa

    PM Modi’s Visit to Ethiopia & Adwa Victory Monument

    Why in the news? 

    • Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid a wreath at the Adwa Victory Monument in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during his official visit in December 2025.

    Battle of Adwa (1896)  

    • Year: 1896
    • Between:
      • Ethiopian forces
      • Italian colonial army
    • Outcome:
      • Decisive Ethiopian victory
      • Ethiopia retained its sovereignty and independence
    • Historical Significance:
      • Symbol of African resistance to colonialism
      • One of the few instances where an African nation defeated a European colonial power during the Scramble for Africa

    Diplomatic & Strategic Significance

    • Reinforces India–Africa relations
    • Strengthens India–Ethiopia strategic partnership
    • Reflects India’s support for:
      • Sovereignty
      • Anti-colonial legacy
      • South–South cooperation

    Honour Conferred

    • PM Modi was awarded Ethiopia’s highest civilian honour:
      • Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia
    (2023) Consider the following pairs: Area of conflict mentioned in news : Country where it is located 1. Donbas : Syria 

    2. Kachin : Ethiopia 

    3. Tigray : North Yemen 

    How many of the above pairs are correctly matched? 

    (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None

  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-Middle East

    India–U.A.E. Joint Military Exercise Desert Cyclone II

    Why in the news?

    • An Indian Army contingent departed for the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) to participate in the 2nd edition of the joint military exercise “Desert Cyclone II”.
    • The exercise is being conducted at Abu Dhabi from December 18–30, 2025.

    Key Facts for Prelims

    • Name of Exercise: Desert Cyclone II
    • Edition: Second
    • Participating Countries:
      • India
      • United Arab Emirates
    • Location: Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
    • Duration: December 18–30, 2025

    Objectives of the Exercise

    • Enhance interoperability between Indian Army and U.A.E. Land Forces
    • Strengthen bilateral defence cooperation
    • Improve joint operational capabilities under a United Nations mandate
    Which of the following statements about ‘Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023’ are correct? (2024)

    1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh. 

    2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune). 

    3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation. 

    4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise. 

    Select the answer using the code given below: 

    (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 4 (c) 1 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4

  • Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries Sector – Pashudhan Sanjivani, E- Pashudhan Haat, etc

    Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)

    Why in the News?

    • In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying informed that ₹10,320 crore worth of loans have been sanctioned under AHIDF.

    About AHIDF

    • The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) is a Central Sector Scheme.
    • Total outlay: ₹15,000 crore
    • Announced under the Prime Minister’s Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package.
    • Objective: Boost investment in animal husbandry infrastructure.

    Implementing Agency

    • Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
    • Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying

    Eligible Beneficiaries

    • Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
    • Private companies
    • Individual entrepreneurs
    • Section 8 companies
    • Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

    Financial Assistance & Benefits

    • Margin money: Minimum 10% by beneficiary
    • Loan component: Up to 90% through scheduled banks
    • Interest subvention: 3% by Government of India
    • Repayment period: Maximum 8 years
      • Includes 2-year moratorium
    Consider the following statements about the Rashtriya Gokul Mission: (2025)

    I. It is important for the upliftment of rural poor as majority of low producing indigenous animals are with small and marginal farmers and landless labourers. 

    II. It was initiated to promote indigenous cattle and buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner. 

    Which of the statements given above is/ are correct? 

    (a) I only (b) II only (c) Both I and II (d) Neither I nor II