06 July 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

GS 2 (Governance & Environment)

PaleoIndia Portal

News:

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recently

launched the PaleoIndia Portal, a national digital repository dedicated to documenting

and preserving India’s fossil heritage.

About PaleoIndia Portal

PaleoIndia Portal is a national digital platform designed to document, preserve, and

showcase India’s rich fossil heritage.

The portal integrates dynamic geological maps prepared by the Geological Survey

of India (GSI).

It documents fossil discoveries from all 28 States and 8 Union Territories.

The portal currently hosts information on over 5,000 fossil specimens, including:

◦ Mammals

◦ Reptiles

◦ Birds

◦ Fishes

◦ Amphibians

◦ Echinoderms

◦ Ichnofossils (trace fossils)

Key Features

Provides a centralized digital database of India’s palaeontological heritage.

Integrates interactive geological maps for easy visualization of fossil sites.

Facilitates scientific research, education, and conservation of fossil resources.

Promotes wider public access to India’s geological and evolutionary history.

Significance

Strengthens the documentation and conservation of India’s fossil wealth.

Encourages collaboration among scientific institutions and researchers.

Supports palaeontological research and biodiversity studies.

Creates greater public awareness about India’s prehistoric life and geological

heritage.

GS 1 (History & Culture)

Guru Ravidas

News:

The Prime Minister recently inaugurated Adampur Airport in

Punjab and renamed it after Guru Ravidas to honour the revered

Bhakti saint and social reformer on his birth anniversary.

About Guru Ravidas

Guru Ravidas (c. 1377–1527 CE) was a renowned Bhakti saint, poet, philosopher, and

social reformer.

He was one of the foremost leaders of the Bhakti Movement in medieval India.

He is also known as Raidas, Rohidas, and Ruhidas.

He was born at Sir Gobardhanpur, near Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

His birthplace is now revered as Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan.

His birth anniversary is celebrated as Ravidas Jayanti.

He is traditionally regarded as a disciple of Ramananda and a contemporary of Kabir.

He composed devotional poetry in local languages, making spiritual teachings accessibleto common people.

Forty-one hymns composed by Guru Ravidas are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.

His compositions are also included in the Panch Vani.

Philosophy and Teachings

Rejected the caste system and advocated equality, dignity, and social justice.

Envisioned an ideal society called Begumpura (“City Without Sorrow”), free from:

◦Suffering

◦Fear

◦Social discrimination

Opposed untouchability and all forms of social exclusion.

Emphasized spiritual freedom and equality of all human beings.

Advocated devotion to the Nirguna (formless) Supreme Being rather than Saguna (with

form) worship.

Mirabai is traditionally believed to have accepted Guru Ravidas as her spiritual guide.

Legacy

Guru Ravidas’s teachings form the foundation of the Ravidassia religion.

The community reveres Amrit Bani Guru Ravidass Ji as its holy scripture.

GS 1 (Geography)

Taal Volcano

News:

Taal Volcano in the Philippines recently witnessed a brief phreatomagmatic eruption, sending an ash plume nearly 450 metres above its crater due to the

interaction of magma with water.

About Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano is a stratovolcano located in Batangas Province, about 70 km south of

Manila.

It is classified as a complex volcano by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and

Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

Unlike a single volcanic cone, it consists of multiple craters, volcanic cones, and

stratovolcanoes.

Physical Features

It contains a large caldera formed by a series of prehistoric eruptions between 140,000

and 5,380 BCE.

The caldera is occupied by Taal Lake, covering nearly 265 sq. km with a depth of 100–

150 metres.

At the centre of the lake lies Volcano Island, spread over approximately 24 sq. km.

What is a Phreatomagmatic Eruption?

A phreatomagmatic eruption occurs when magma comes into contact with water,

resulting in a violent steam-driven explosion.

Water involved may include:

◦Groundwater

◦Surface water

◦Seawater

Significance

Taal Volcano is among the world’s most closely monitored volcanoes due to its high

eruption frequency.

Its eruptions pose significant risks to nearby settlements through ashfall, volcanic gases,

pyroclastic density currents, and earthquakes.

It is an important site for studying volcanic hazards and disaster management.

GS 3 (Environment & Biodiversity)

Transcaspian Marinka

News:

The Sangon clan of Arunachal Pradesh has recently launched a community-led initiative

to conserve the Transcaspian Marinka (Schizothorax pelzami), a Himalayan ray-finned

freshwater fish.

About Transcaspian Marinka

Transcaspian Marinka is a species of ray-finned freshwater fish.

Scientific Name: Schizothorax pelzami.

In Arunachal Pradesh, it is locally known as “Ngarsing” in the Nyishi language.

Distribution

The species is primarily found in:

Afghanistan

Turkmenistan

Iran

Habitat

Inhabits freshwater ecosystems, including:

◦Rivers

◦Streams

◦Springs

◦Qanats (traditional underground water channels)

Occupies a benthopelagic niche, living and feeding both near the bottom and within

the water column.

Significanceb

Serves as an important component of Himalayan freshwater biodiversity.

Community-led conservation initiatives, such as those undertaken by the Sangon

clan, play a crucial role in protecting indigenous aquatic species and maintaining river

ecosystems.

GS 2 (Governance & Rural Development)

SHE-LEAPS Platform

News:

The Government of India has launched the SHE-LEAPS Platform to strengthen women-led rural entrepreneurship and promote sustainable livelihoods through digital empowerment.

About SHE-LEAPS Platform

SHE-LEAPS stands for Self-Help Entrepreneur-Livelihoods and Enterprise

Application for Prosperity and Sustainability.

It was launched during the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan.

It is a digital platform designed to empower women associated with Self-Help

Groups (SHGs) by supporting enterprise creation, monitoring, and performance

tracking.

The platform aims to strengthen women-led rural enterprises and accelerate the

Lakhpati Didi Initiative through data-driven entrepreneurship.

The nationwide rollout will cover 34 States and Union Territories, supporting State

Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs).

Objectives

Promote entrepreneurship among women belonging to rural SHGs.

Facilitate the creation, growth, and sustainability of women-led rural enterprises.

Integrate rural producers with formal value chains and markets.

Enhance the financial inclusion and economic empowerment of SHG households.

Strengthen monitoring, enterprise management, and data-driven decision-making.

Significance

Encourages women-led economic development in rural India.

Supports the Government’s Lakhpati Didi initiative.

Promotes digital governance in the rural livelihoods sector.

Improves market access, enterprise management, and income generation for SHG

members.