06 February 2026 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

GS–1 | GEOPHYSICAL PHENOMENA

1. El Chichón Volcano (Mexico)

Subtopic: Volcanism, Tectonic Setting

Value Addition:

• Location: Stratovolcano in north-central Chiapas, southern Mexico; also called Chichonal.

• Volcanic Arc: Youngest volcano in the Chiapanecan volcanic arc (~150 km long).

• Tectonic Position:

  • Lies between the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and the Central American Volcanic Arc, making it tectonically complex.

• Volcanic Structure:

  • Composed of multiple lava domes and a tuff ring formed by explosive ash-rich eruptions.

• Activity Profile:

  • Among the most active volcanoes in Mexico.

  • Geological records show 12 major eruptions in the last 8,000 years.

• 1982 Catastrophic Eruption:

  • Largest natural disaster in modern Mexican history.

  • Characterised by high-sulphur, anhydrite-rich magma.

  • Generated intense pyroclastic flows and surges, destroying the summit dome.

• Crater Formation:

  • Created a ~1 km wide crater.

• Present Feature:

  • Crater hosts an acidic crater lake, a key indicator of ongoing magmatic and hydrothermal activity.

• Current Concern:

  • Unusual internal changes detected inside the crater, renewing eruption risk assessments.

Subject Analysis:

• High-yield GS-1 topic linking plate tectonics, volcanic hazards, and disaster management.

• Useful for prelims questions on stratovolcanoes and volcanic arcs.

GS–1 | WORLD GEOGRAPHY

2. Armenia

Subtopic: Physical Geography, Caucasus Region

Value Addition:

• Location: Landlocked country in the southern Caucasus region.

• Borders:

  • North: Georgia

  • East: Azerbaijan

  • Southeast: Iran

  • West: Turkey

• Capital: Yerevan, political and cultural centre.

• Terrain:

  • Dominated by the Lesser (Little) Caucasus Mountains.

• Soil Characteristics:

  • Volcanic origin soils rich in nitrogen, potash, and phosphates, supporting agriculture.

• Highest Peak:

  • Mount Aragats (4,090 m), an extinct volcanic mountain.

• Climate:

  • Highland continental climate with hot summers and cold winters.

• River Systems:

  • Aras, Hrazdan, Arpa, Vorotan rivers; crucial for irrigation and hydropower.

• Lakes:

  • Lake Sevan, largest lake, key ecological and economic asset.

• Natural Resources:

  • Limited reserves of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, and bauxite.

• Current Context:

  • High-level Indian defence delegation visit to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-1 relevance for world mapping, mountain systems, and geopolitical geography.

• Often asked through map-based prelims questions.

GS–3 | INFRASTRUCTURE & INTERNAL SECURITY

3. Project Himank

Subtopic: Strategic Infrastructure, Border Management

Value Addition:

• Executing Agency: Border Roads Organisation.

• Operational Since: 1985.

• Region: Ladakh, one of India’s most challenging high-altitude terrains.

• Core Objective:

  • Construction and maintenance of strategic road networks.

• Operational Identity:

  • Personnel known as “Mountain Tamers” due to extreme working conditions.

• Road Network:

  • Responsible for ~2,216 km of roads in Ladakh.

• Terrain Challenges:

  • High altitude, harsh climate, limited annual working window.

• Strategic Importance:

  • Ensures all-weather connectivity near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

• Engineering Achievements:

  • Built some of the world’s highest motorable roads:

    • Khardung La

    • Chang La

    • Tanglang La

    • Mig La (19,400 ft) – highest motorable road globally.

• Ecological Angle:

  • Rare snow leopard sighting shows coexistence of strategic infrastructure and wildlife conservation.

Subject Analysis:

• High-value GS-3 topic on border infrastructure, national security, and sustainable development.

GS–3 | SCIENCE & HEALTH

4. Myoglobin

Subtopic: Biomarkers, Cardiovascular Health

Value Addition:

• Nature:

  • Small oxygen-binding protein forming ~2% of muscle protein.

• Distribution:

  • Found in skeletal and cardiac muscles.

• Cellular Location:

  • Cytoplasm of cardiac myocytes and sarcoplasm of oxidative skeletal fibres.

• Molecular Structure:

  • Single polypeptide chain with one oxygen-binding site.

• Protein Family:

  • Member of the globin superfamily, related to hemoglobin.

• Comparison with Hemoglobin:

  • Hemoglobin has four chains and four oxygen-binding sites; myoglobin has one.

• Functions:

  • Facilitates oxygen transport within muscle cells.

  • Acts as an intracellular oxygen reservoir.

  • Breaks down nitric oxide to nitrate, enhancing mitochondrial respiration.

  • Contributes to antioxidant defence by reducing reactive oxygen species.

• Clinical Importance:

  • Presence in blood or urine is an early biomarker of muscle or cardiac damage.

• Recent Development:

  • Low-cost biosensor developed for early detection of heart attacks.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-3 relevance for biotechnology, medical diagnostics, and public health innovation.

GS–3 | DEFENCE & SECURITY COOPERATION

5. Exercise KHANJAR-XIII

Subtopic: Joint Military Exercises, Counter-Terrorism

Value Addition:

• Nature: Annual joint Special Forces exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan.

• Current Edition: 13th edition (2026).

• Origin:

  • First conducted in December 2011 at Nahan, India.

• Hosting Pattern:

  • Conducted alternately in India and Kyrgyzstan.

• Venue (2026):

  • Misamari, Sonitpur district, Assam.

• Duration: 14 days.

• Primary Objective:

  • Enhance interoperability, mutual trust, and operational coordination.

• Focus Areas:

  • Urban warfare.

  • Counter-terrorism operations under UN mandate.

• Training Modules:

  • Close-quarter battle.

  • Room intervention drills.

  • Hostage rescue simulations.

  • Coordinated tactical manoeuvres.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-3 topic linking defence diplomacy, counter-terrorism preparedness, and regional security cooperation.