Posts
Index of Services Production: What India’s New Trial Series Measures
Why in News? On 31 August 2026, MoSPI released the trial Index of Services Production for June 2026, covering 19 service sub-sectors on a 2024-25 base. The release presents 19 separate sub-sector indices, rather than one headline composite measure for the entire services economy. Compared with June 2025, 18 sub-sectors recorded positive growth and 8…
Keep Reading →Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031: Ornamental Fisheries for Island Livelihoods
Why in News? The Department of Fisheries released the Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031 Strategic Action Plan for Ornamental Fisheries Development at Agatti, Lakshadweep, on 31 August 2026, marking a policy release rather than completed implementation. The release establishes a strategic direction; it does not show that the proposed interventions, livelihood gains or conservation outcomes have…
Keep Reading →How Mustard Self-Incompatibility Can Support Hybrid Breeding
Why in News? An IIT Gandhinagar and ICAR-DRMR study reported on 31 August 2026 that four genes help regulate self-pollen rejection in toria and yellow sarson mustard. The researchers characterised SRK, FER1, MLPK and ARC1 in two cultivated forms of Brassica rapa using sequencing, structural prediction, pollination tests and temporary gene suppression. Toria behaved as…
Keep Reading →INS Nipun: Deep-Sea Diving and Submarine-Rescue Support
Why in News? The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun, the second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel, at Mumbai on 31 August 2026 for deep-sea diving, underwater intervention and submarine-rescue support. INS Nipun was formally commissioned after its delivery to the Navy on 30 July 2026 and now enters service under the Western Naval Command. The vessel…
Keep Reading →Machine-Learning Materials Screening: New Candidates for CO2 Conversion
Why in News? On 31 August 2026, PIB reported that IIT Gandhinagar researchers computationally identified three high-entropy MBenes as promising candidates for electrochemical CO2-to-CO conversion. The study screened 56 equiatomic five-metal compositions, narrowed them to 18 viable candidates and identified three with favourable computed reaction profiles. The three candidates are CrNbZrMoTiB5, MoZrHfNbCrB5 and MoZrHfTaCrB5, all…
Keep Reading →Nepalganj Road-Bahraich Broad-Gauge Upgrade
Why in News? On 31 August 2026, Indian Railways inaugurated the completed broad-gauge conversion and electrification of the Nepalganj Road-Nanpara-Bahraich section and extended four existing train services to Nepalganj Road. The completed Indian section is 56.15 km long and runs through Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh. The former metre-gauge section, originally built in 1886, has…
Keep Reading →India’s Q1 GDP: Reading Growth Under Double Deflation
Why in News? On 31 August, MoSPI's provisional quarterly estimate placed India's real GDP growth at 7.8% for April-June 2026-27 under the national-accounts series with base year 2022-23. Nominal GDP, measured at current prices, grew by 10.3% over the same quarter of the previous financial year. Real GVA, which tracks value added by producers before…
Keep Reading →Adopt Policies for Reuse of Treated Water
Why in News? The recently notified treated wastewater reuse policies of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand demonstrate how water governance can be adapted to local geography, settlement patterns and sectoral needs. UPSC Relevance: GS-2: Government policies and urban governance; GS-3: Water conservation, pollution, climate resilience and sustainable urbanisationPrelims: AMRUT, National Framework on Safe Reuse of Treated…
Keep Reading →Aditya-L1 detects Possible Precursors to Solar Flares
Why in News? Scientists analysing observations from India’s Aditya-L1 mission have identified small, short-lived brightenings in the Sun’s atmosphere several hours before the eruption of major solar flares. These events could improve the understanding and forecasting of hazardous space weather. UPSC Relevance: GS-3 Science and Technology: Astronomy and Space Technology Prelims: Aditya-L1, Solar flares, Coronal mass…
Keep Reading →Rani Avantibai Lodhi: Icon of the Revolt of 1857
Why in News? The Defence Minister of India paid tribute to Rani Avantibai Lodhi by unveiling her statue, lauding her courage, patriotism, and supreme sacrifice during the 1857 War of Independence, which marked a glorious chapter in India's history. UPSC Relevance: GS-1 History and Culture: Personalities in News; Women freedom fighters Prelims: Rani Avantibai Lodhi, Battle…
Keep Reading →OBC Creamy layer and the Income Test
Why in News? The Supreme Court has agreed to consider constituting a Bench to hear the Centre’s request for clarification regarding its March 11, 2026 judgment in Union of India v. Rohith Nathan. The case concerns whether parental salary can be counted when applying the income test to exclude the creamy layer among Other Backwards…
Keep Reading →India and Uzbekistan agree on Uranium Deal
Why in News? India and Uzbekistan have elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and set a target of increasing annual bilateral trade from over $1 billion to $5 billion by 2030. Eleven agreements were concluded across uranium supply, critical minerals, digital payments, defence, tourism and cultural conservation. UPSC Relevance: GS-2 International Relations: India…
Keep Reading →