GS–1 | PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY / CLIMATE CHANGE 1. Thwaites Glacier (Antarctica) Subtopic:  Polar Geography, Ice Shelves & Sea-Level Rise Value Addition: Located in West Antarctica , east of Mount Murphy , along the Walgreen Coast of Marie Byrd Land . Drains into Pine Island Bay , part of the Amundsen Sea . Commonly called the “Doomsday Glacier”  due to its destabilising potential. Named after Fredrik T. Thwaites , American glaciologist. Physical Scale: Width: ~ 120 km  (widest gl

GS–1 | PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 1. Mayon Volcano (Philippines) Subtopic:  Stratovolcanoes, Plate Tectonics & Volcanic Hazards Value Addition: Location:  Albay province, Luzon Island , Philippines. Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire , formed due to subduction-related volcanism . Classified as an active stratovolcano  with alternating layers of lava and ash. Known as the “world’s most perfect volcanic cone”  due to its near-symmetrical shape. Height:  ~2,462 m above sea level; base cir

GS–1 | INDIAN GEOGRAPHY & CULTURAL LANDSCAPE 1. Sagar Island (Gangasagar) Subtopic:  Deltaic Geography, Pilgrimage Centres & Infrastructure Value Addition: News Context: Foundation stone laid for a 5-km bridge over the Muriganga River , connecting Sagar Island to the mainland. Location: Situated in the Ganga delta region , West Bengal. Around 100 km south of Kolkata . Part of South 24 Parganas district . Physical Geography: Lies at the mouth of the Hooghly River , a major dis

GS–1 | WORLD GEOGRAPHY & INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT 1. Liechtenstein Subtopic:  European Political Geography & Trade Relations Value Addition: News Context: Visit by India’s Commerce & Industry Minister to facilitate implementation of the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) . Political Geography: Only country in Europe that is doubly landlocked  (landlocked by landlocked countries). Not a member of the European Union . Boundaries: Austria: north and east Swi

GS–1 | PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY / VOLCANOLOGY 1. Popocatépetl Volcano Subtopic:  Stratovolcanoes, Plate Tectonics & Volcanic Hazards Value Addition: Meaning of Name: “Popocatépetl” means “Smoking Mountain”  in the Aztec Nahuatl language, indicating persistent activity. Location: Central Mexico, about 72 km southeast of Mexico City . Lies along the border of México and Puebla states . Geological Setting: Part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt . Formed due to subduction of the Cocos

GS–2 | GOVERNANCE & SPORTS ADMINISTRATION 1. National Sports Governance Act, 2025 Subtopic:  Sports Governance, Institutional Reforms & Accountability Value Addition: News Context: Select provisions of the Act notified; partial implementation effective from 1 January 2026 . Core Objective: Bring uniform governance standards, transparency, and accountability  in Indian sports administration. Institutional Architecture: Establishes the National Sports Board  as the apex regulat

GS–1 | ANCIENT HISTORY & BUDDHIST STUDIES 1. Piprahwa Relics Subtopic:  Buddhist Archaeology & Cultural Heritage Value Addition: Discovery: Unearthed in 1898  by British engineer William Claxton Peppé . Location: Found at Piprahwa , Uttar Pradesh, close to the India–Nepal border . Archaeological Context: Retrieved from an ancient Buddhist stupa . Historical Identification: Site is widely associated with ancient Kapilavastu , where Gautama Buddha spent his early life . Religio

GS–1 | MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 1. Rani Velu Nachiyar Subtopic:  Early Anti-Colonial Resistance & Women Leadership Value Addition: Historical Identity:  Rani Velu Nachiyar (born 1730) was the queen of Sivaganga , Tamil Nadu, and among the earliest Indian rulers to resist British colonial expansion . Early Life:  Born as the princess of Ramnad (Ramanathapuram) ; received royal education. Military Training: Skilled in horse riding, archery, warfare . Trained in traditional martial

GS–1 | WORLD GEOGRAPHY 1. Bulgaria joins the Eurozone Subtopic:  European Economic Integration & Political Geography Value Addition: News Context:  Bulgaria adopted the euro  as its official currency on 1 January , becoming the 21st member  of the Eurozone. Geographical Location: Situated in Southeast Europe  on the Balkan Peninsula . Boundaries: North: Romania South: Greece, Turkey West: North Macedonia, Serbia East: Black Sea coastline Capital:  Sofia. Physical Geography: M

GS–1 | ART & CULTURE / RELIGIOUS GEOGRAPHY 1. Makaravilakku Festival Subtopic:  Pilgrimage Traditions & Regional Religious Culture Value Addition: Location:  Celebrated at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple , Kerala. Timing: Observed on the first day of Makara Masam  in the Malayalam calendar. Coincides with Makara Sankranti , marking the sun’s northward movement (Uttarayan). Religious Importance: One of the most sacred phases of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season . Draws millions o

GS–1 | GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT 1. Kolleru Lake Subtopic:  Wetlands, River Systems & Avian Biodiversity Value Addition: Geographical Setting: Located in Andhra Pradesh , near Eluru . Lies in the inter-deltaic plain of Krishna and Godavari rivers . Hydrological Role: Acts as a natural flood-balancing reservoir  for both river systems. Area & Seasonal Variation: Normal spread: ~ 308 sq km . Peak flood extent: up to 954 sq km . Physical Nature: Shallow freshwater lake . Largest f

GS–1 | POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY / INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 1. Republic of Somaliland Subtopic:  De facto States & Horn of Africa Geopolitics Value Addition: Location:  Horn of Africa, a strategic corridor linking Africa, the Middle East, and the Red Sea trade route . Borders: North-west: Djibouti South & West: Ethiopia East: Somalia and Puntland region Coastline:  Long frontage along the Gulf of Aden , close to Bab-el-Mandeb chokepoint. Colonial Past:  British protectorate in the lat

GS–1 | MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 1. Shaheed Udham Singh Subtopic:  Revolutionary Nationalism & Anti-Colonial Resistance Value Addition: Birth:  1899, Sangrur district, Punjab (undivided India). Historical Context:  Grew up during intense colonial repression in Punjab. Jallianwala Bagh Retribution: Assassinated Michael O’Dwyer  (former Lt. Governor of Punjab) in London, 1940 . Act symbolised delayed but deliberate revolutionary justice. Revolutionary Identity: Adopted the name “Ra

GS–1 | INDIAN CULTURE & LANGUAGE 1. Santhali Language Subtopic:  Tribal Languages, Scripts & Constitutional Recognition Value Addition: News Context: For the first time , the Constitution of India  has been officially translated into Santhali  by the Ministry of Law and Justice. Cultural Significance: Release coincided with the birth centenary (1925–2025)  of the Ol Chiki script . Script Origin: Ol Chiki  developed in 1925  by Pandit Raghunath Murmu . One of the few indigenou

GS–1 | ART & CULTURE / TRIBAL STUDIES 1. Paliyar Tribe Subtopic:  Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) & Indigenous Culture Value Addition: Community Identity:  Indigenous tribal group inhabiting the hilly regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala , especially along the Western Ghats . Alternative Names: Paliyans Pazhaiyarares Panaiyars (local name due to Palani hills habitat) Historical Distribution: Dindigul district Sirumalai Hills Palani Hills Language: Speak a Tamil-rela

GS–1 | GEOGRAPHY / PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 1. Kavachi Volcano Subtopic:  Submarine Volcanism & Plate Tectonics Value Addition: Type:  Shallow submarine volcano , one of the few active undersea volcanoes visible from the surface. Location:  South Pacific Ocean, south of Vangunu Island , Solomon Islands. Tectonic Setting:  Lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire , associated with intense subduction-related volcanism. Activity Pattern: Erupting intermittently and unpredictably since 1939 .

GS–2 | INTERNAL SECURITY & MARITIME GOVERNANCE 1. Creation of the Bureau of Port Security (BPS) Subtopic:  Port Security, Maritime Governance & Institutional Reform Value Addition: Nature:  Proposed statutory body  to strengthen port and maritime security. Legal Basis:  Constituted under Section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 . Administrative Control:  Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Purpose: Provide a unified, legally empowered framework  for port and ship

GS–3 | DEFENCE & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Exercise DESERT CYCLONE–II Subtopic:  Joint Military Exercises & Defence Diplomacy Value Addition: Type:  Second edition of India–UAE joint military exercise. Location:  Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Duration:  18 December – 30 December 2025. Indian Contingent: 45 personnel from a Mechanised Infantry Regiment battalion . UAE Contingent: Personnel of similar strength from 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion . Core Aim: Enhance intero

GS–2 | POLITY & RURAL GOVERNANCE 1. Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill, 2025 Subtopic:  Rural Employment Guarantee & Decentralised Development Value Addition: Full name: Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 . Introduced in Lok Sabha  to replace MGNREGA, 2005 . Employment Guarantee Enhanced: 125 days per rural household per year (earlier 100 days). State Flexibility: States may temporarily suspend work (up to 60 days ) during peak sowing/harv

GS–1 | ART & CULTURE 1. Twinning Agreement: Petra (Jordan) & Ellora Caves (India) Subtopic:  UNESCO World Heritage & Cultural Diplomacy Value Addition: News Context:  India and Jordan signed a UNESCO heritage twinning agreement  between Ellora Caves  and Petra . Purpose of Twinning: Knowledge exchange on conservation techniques Joint promotion of heritage tourism Cultural diplomacy through shared architectural legacy Ellora Caves (India): Location: Charanandri Hills, Maharash