UPSC Current Affairs
India's Act East Expansion, Regional Antivenom Needs, and Gaganyaan Safety Tests
10 stories · about 3 min read · quiz and Mains question at the end
Prime Minister Bolsters Act East Policy with Three-Nation Tour
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that his upcoming visits to Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand are designed to significantly strengthen India's Act East Policy. These visits to key partners in the Eastern and Southern Indian Ocean regions aim to deepen strategic cooperation and maritime security.
Scientists Call for Region-Specific Antivenom in India
Experts have highlighted that India's reliance on a single polyvalent antivenom is insufficient due to the heterogeneity in snake venom across different states. To improve survival rates, the country needs region-specific formulations and more geographically representative venom pools for production.
SOLVE Platform to Ensure Safety of Gaganyaan Astronauts
ISRO is utilizing the Solid Motor based SOLVE platform to test the deceleration and safety systems for the Gaganyaan mission. These tests are critical for ensuring that the crew module can safely land back on Earth after its orbital mission.
Advocacy for Making Cancer a Notifiable Disease in India
Public health advocates are pushing for cancer to be declared a notifiable disease at the national level. This move would mandate all healthcare providers to report every cancer case to the government, enabling better data collection, resource allocation, and policy formulation.
Eastern India and MP Lead in New GI Registrations
Recent data shows that Eastern India is leading in Geographical Indication (GI) registrations, with the DPIIT Chair at WBNUJS helping West Bengal and Jharkhand secure multiple tags. Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of registrations for the 2025-2026 period.
El Niño Prompts Shift to Direct Seeded Rice (DSR)
Due to the challenges posed by El Niño on monsoon patterns, many Indian farmers are turning to Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) as a water-saving alternative to traditional transplanting. DSR helps mitigate the impact of poor rainfall on agricultural output and rural incomes.
Strategic Retention Shift in the Agniveer Scheme
The government is considering increasing the retention percentage of Agniveers to ensure more experienced manpower within the armed forces. The move aims to address concerns regarding the training time required for complex new defense platforms.
Netanyahu Highlights India as a Major Strategic Ally
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu countered statements about limited global support by highlighting India as a significant friend. He noted that India, with its 1.4 billion people, provides tremendous support to Israel, reinforcing the depth of the India-Israel strategic partnership.
Services PMI Hits 17-Month Low Amid Softening Demand
India's services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dropped to a 17-month low of 57.4 in June 2026. While the sector is still expanding (above 50), the loss of momentum indicates more challenging market conditions and weaker domestic demand.
Supreme Court Warns Against Fabricated AI Precedents
The Supreme Court of India expressed grave concern over the potential use of Generative AI to fabricate judicial precedents in courtrooms. The court observed that submitting AI-generated false cases amounts to criminal misconduct and subverts the justice system.
Daily News Quiz
Test your knowledge about today's current affairs with 15 questions.