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GS 1 (Geography – Mapping) Mindanao Island News: A strong earthquake recently struck Mindanao, the southernmost major island of the Philippines. Location • Mindanao is situated in the southern part of the Philippine archipelago. • It is the second-largest island in the Philippines after Luzon. • It is also among the most populous islands in the world. Surrounding Water Bodies Mindanao is bordered by: • Sulu Sea to the west. • Philippine Sea to the east. • Celebes Sea to the s

GS 1 (Modern Indian History) Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali News: The Executive Council of Barkatullah University has proposed renaming the university, bringing Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali back into public discussion. Early Life • Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali was born on 7 July 1854 in Bhopal. • He emerged as one of the prominent nationalist leaders who worked for India’s freedom from abroad. Scholar and Intellectual • He was a renowned scholar of Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. • He

GS 1 (Geography – Grassland Ecosystems) Banni Grassland News: NTPC’s proposed solar power project in Gujarat’s Banni Grassland has triggered concerns regarding its possible ecological impact on one of Asia’s largest natural grassland ecosystems. Location • Banni Grassland is situated in the Kachchh (Kutch) district of Gujarat, along the northern boundary of the region. • It lies adjacent to the Great Rann of Kutch and represents a unique arid grassland landscape. Protected Ar

GS 2 (International Relations & Governance) United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) News: A total of 565 Indian peacekeepers, including 53 women personnel, were recently awarded the UN Medal of Honour for their service under UNMISS. About UNMISS • UNMISS was established on 9 July 2011 through UN Security Council Resolution 1996, coinciding with the independence of South Sudan. • It is one of the United Nations’ major peacekeeping missions in Africa. Mandate of UNMISS •

GS 2 (Governance / Land Reforms & Urban Development) Land Pooling & RFCTLARR Act, 2013 News: Rajasthan has announced its first-ever Land Pooling Scheme to facilitate land assembly for roads, public infrastructure, and planned urban development. What is Land Pooling? • Land Pooling (also known as Land Readjustment) is a mechanism where landowners voluntarily contribute their land to a development authority. • After infrastructure development, a smaller but more valuable and se

GS 2 (Governance, Judiciary & Health Policies) Right to Trauma Care News: In the SaveLIFE Foundation v. Union of India case, the Supreme Court held that access to trauma care is an essential component of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution. Supreme Court Directions: • All emergency helpline services should be integrated under the single emergency number 112. • The Court emphasized effective implementation of the PM RAHAT cashless treatment scheme for road a

GS 1 (Indian Society & Tribal Communities) Koraga Tribe News: The socio-economic challenges faced by the Koraga Tribe were highlighted in the UN-Habitat World Cities Report 2026, drawing attention tomissues of housing inequality and marginalisation. About the Tribe: • The Koraga are an indigenous tribal community primarily concentrated in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and the Kasaragod district of Kerala. • Smaller Koraga settlements are also found acr

GS 1 (Geography & Geology) Pyrite (Fool’s Gold) News: Geologists have recently identified a rare microscopic sunflower-shaped variety of pyrite within the lignite deposits of Gujarat. About Pyrite: • Pyrite is a naturally occurring iron sulphide mineral with the chemical formula FeS₂. • It is the most abundant sulphide mineral found on Earth. • The mineral is recognised by its brass-yellow colour and metallic sheen. • Its name originates from the Greek word “pyr”, meaning fir

GS 1 Indian Geography & Mineral Resources Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited (HGML) 📰 Why in News • Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited recently reported a rise of ₹633.34 crore in earnings during 2025–26, mainly due to increasing global gold prices. 📘 About Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited 🏛 Overview • Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited (HGML) is a Karnataka Government undertaking established in 1947. • It is the only producer of primary gold in India. • The company is engaged i

GS 2 Governance, Education & Employment Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee 📰 Why in News • NITI Aayog recently convened the first meeting of the High-Powered Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee. 📘 About the Committee 🏛 Formation • The proposal for setting up the committee was announced in the Union Budget 2026–27. 🎯 Objective • The committee aims to strengthen the linkage between education, skilling, employment, and entrepreneu

GS 1 Geography Bismarck Sea 📰 Why in News • A submarine volcanic eruption in the Bismarck Sea, located north of Papua New Guinea, has renewed global attention towards the limited mapping of Earth’s deep ocean floor. 🌊 Location 📍 Geographical Position • The Bismarck Sea forms part of the southwestern Pacific Ocean. 🧭 Boundaries 🌐 Surrounding Regions • The sea is bordered by: • The northeastern coast of Papua New Guinea to the southwest. • The Bismarck Archipelago extendin

GS 1 Indian Art & Culture Rupa Tarakasi 📰 Why in News • Recent restrictions on silver imports along with rising silver prices have negatively impacted the livelihoods of artisans engaged in the traditional Rupa Tarakasi craft in Cuttack. ✨ What is Rupa Tarakasi? 🪙 Definition • Rupa Tarakasi is a renowned silver filigree craft tradition practised in Cuttack, Odisha, which is popularly called the “Silver City of Odisha.” • It is famous for its delicate silver wirework and int

GS 3 Science & Technology / Space Science Blue Straggler Star 📰 Why in News • Researchers recently confirmed the world's first discovery of a Blue Straggler Star hosting a brown dwarf companion within an extremely compact binary system. 🌌 What are Blue Straggler Stars? ⭐ Definition • Blue Straggler Stars are unusually hot, blue, and massive stars that appear younger than other stars present in the same stellar cluster. • They follow an abnormal evolutionary path compared to

GS 1 Geography — Indian Geography (Lakes & Wetlands) Loktak Lake 📰 Why in News • Loktak Lake has recently attracted attention because of its distinctive floating circular islands known as phumdis. 📍 Location • Loktak Lake is situated in Manipur. 🌊 Size and Importance • Spanning nearly 287 square kilometres, it is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. 🌱 Unique Feature Phumdis • The lake is widely famous for its floating landforms called phumdis. 🪴 About Phumdis

GS Paper 1 – Places in News Odesa and Dnipro 📰 Why in News • Russia recently launched attacks on the Ukrainian cities of Odesa and Dnipro, while Ukraine carried out strikes in Russia’s Belgorod region near the Russia–Ukraine border. ⚓ About Odesa 📍 Location • Odesa is an important port city situated along the Black Sea coast in southern Ukraine. 🚢 Economic and Strategic Importance • The city serves as a major centre for: • Grain exports • International trade • Naval connec

GS Paper 1 – History & Culture Anaimangalam Copper Plates 📰 Why in News • The Netherlands recently returned the 11th-century Anaimangalam Copper Plates, also known as the Leiden Plates, to India during the Prime Minister’s visit. 📘 About the Copper Plates 📌 Definition • The Anaimangalam Copper Plates, popularly known as the Leiden Plates, are 11th-century inscriptions associated with the Chola Empire. ⚖ Composition • The collection consists of 21 copper plates weighing nea

GS Paper 3 – Economy Withholding Tax 📰 Why in News • To attract greater overseas investment, the Government of India is considering reducing the withholding tax rate from 20% to 5%. 📘 What is Withholding Tax? 📌 Definition • Withholding tax is a tax deducted at the source on income earned by foreign investors from Indian financial assets such as bonds. • The tax is collected before the payment is transferred to the recipient. ⚙ How Does Withholding Tax Work? 🔄 Mechanism •