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

GS–1 | HISTORY 1. Emperor Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II (Suvaran Maran) Subtopic: Early Medieval South Indian Polity Value Addition: Also known by the title Shatrubhayankar (one who instilled fear in enemies). Belonged to the Mutharaiyar dynasty , which functioned as feudatories under the Pallavas . Reign period: 705–745 AD . Territorial control over central Tamil Nadu . Capital: Tiruchirappalli. Known for: Stable administration Consolidation of territorial authority Cultural

GS–2 | GOVERNANCE 1. Sujalam Bharat App Subtopic: Digital Governance in Rural Drinking Water Value Addition: Launched to strengthen rural drinking water governance under the Jal Jeevan Mission . Developed with technical support from BISAG-N (geo-informatics expertise). Core features: Advanced geo-referencing of rural water assets. Continuous monitoring of water supply infrastructure. Unified digital platform integrating: Water sources Asset inventories Scheme designs Oper

GS–1 | ART & CULTURE 1. Boreendo (Sindh Folk Instrument) – UNESCO ICH Subtopic: Intangible Cultural Heritage & Ancient Music Traditions Value Addition: Boreendo (also called Bhorindo ) is a 5,000-year-old wind instrument from the Sindh region of Pakistan. Archaeological roots traced to Mohenjo-daro (Indus Valley Civilisation) . Material & Design: Hollow spherical structure made of clay. Sun-dried first, then kiln-fired for durability. Equipped with sound holes; newer versio

GS–1 | ART & CULTURE 1. Deepavali added to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List Subtopic: Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Value Addition: Inscribed during the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee , held at Red Fort, New Delhi (first time India hosted the session). India now has 16 elements on UNESCO’s ICH list. Celebrated on Kartik Amavasya (Oct–Nov); five-day festival. Key components: Dhanteras – prosperity, metal purchases Naraka Chaturdashi – remova

GS–1 | GEOGRAPHY 1. BENIN – Coup Attempt & Country Profile Subtopic: West African Geography + Political Context Value Addition: Location: West Africa; area ~112,622 sq km. Borders: NE → Niger E → Nigeria W → Togo NW → Burkina Faso Coastline: Narrow southern frontage on Bight of Benin (Gulf of Guinea) . Drainage: Niger River drains the NE. Major internal rivers: Mono, Couffo, Ouémé . Capital: Porto-Novo (constitutional). Largest City / Administrative Capital: Cotonou. Po