08 July 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

UPSC GS 2

UDISE+ 2025-26 and PGI 2.0

News: The Ministry of Education released UDISE+ 2025-26 and PGI 2.0, showing lower dropout rates, stronger teacher availability and improved infrastructure, while also underlining the need to improve retention at higher classes.

About

• UDISE+ stands for Unified District Information System for Education Plus.

• It is the Government of India’s official digital database for school education and is maintained by the Ministry of Education.

• Schools submit information through their active UDISE+ codes, creating a nationwide data system for school education.

• The platform captures real-time information on school infrastructure, enrolment, teachers, facilities, amenities and the overall learning environment.

About PGI 2.0

• The Performance Grading Index 2.0 is a framework used to assess the performance of States and Union Territories in school education.

• It evaluates six domains: Learning Outcomes, Access, Infrastructure and Facilities, Equity, Governance Process, and Teacher Education and Training.

• States and UTs are placed in a 10-tier grading system, making inter-state comparison easier.

Key Findings: UDISE+ 2025-26

• Dropout rate declined at the preparatory level from 2.3% to 1.8% and at the secondary level from 8.2% to 7.0%.

• The highest secondary-level dropout rates were reported in Ladakh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka.

• Improvement is linked to expansion of secondary schools, better access, targeted interventions and a more supportive school environment.

• Retention improved at the middle level from 82.8% to 83.7%, and at the secondary level from 47.2% to 51.9%.

• A key concern remains that only about half of Class I students reach Class XII, showing persistent attrition at higher stages.

• Secondary-level Gross Enrolment Ratio increased from 68.5% to 71.7%.

• Teacher strength crossed 1.02 crore for the first time, with women forming 54.9% of the teaching workforce.

• Pupil-Teacher Ratios remain below the NEP target of 30:1: foundational 10:1, preparatory 12:1, middle 17:1 and secondary 21:1.

• Zero-enrolment schools fell by 29% to 5,663, while single-teacher schools declined by 3% to 100,843.

• Girls formed 48.4% of total enrolment, marginally higher than the previous year.

• Computer availability rose to 69.9%, and internet connectivity improved to 67.4%.

• Basic amenities show strong coverage: safe drinking water 99.5%, girls’ toilets 98.5%, boys’ toilets 97.2%, and grid electricity 95%.

• Playground availability declined from 83% to 81.9%, which remains a concern for holistic schooling.

• Schools with disability-friendly ramps and handrails increased from 54.9% to 58.2%.

• Minority students account for over 20% of total enrolment; within this, Muslims form 79.4%, Christians 10.1%, Sikhs 7.1%, Buddhists 2.0%, Jains 1.3% and Parsis 0.1%.

• Social composition of enrolment: OBC 44.9%, General 27.5%, SC 17.7% and ST 10.0%.

Key Findings: PGI 2.0

• No State or Union Territory reached any of the top three grades covering the 71%-100% score range.

• Chandigarh was the only UT to secure the Uttam-3 grade.

• Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Kerala and Punjab were placed in Prachesta-1.

• Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Odisha and Lakshadweep were placed in Prachesta-2.

• Most other states fall under Prachesta-3 and Akanshi-1 categories.

• The Akanshi category includes Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya.

• Domain leaders include Punjab in Learning Outcomes, Kerala and Puducherry in Access, Kerala and Lakshadweep in Teacher Education and Training, and Tamil Nadu in Equity.

• Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha and Uttarakhand showed a decline.

• The gap between the highest score, Chandigarh at 766.0, and the lowest score, Meghalaya at 525.7, narrowed to 31.4%, down from 51% in 2017-18.

Why It Matters

• UDISE+ provides the data foundation for evidence-based school education policy.

• PGI 2.0 helps identify regional gaps and areas requiring targeted intervention.

• Improved retention and infrastructure indicate progress, but higher-stage attrition remains a serious concern.

UPSC GS 2

India-Costa Rica Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO)

News: India and Costa Rica held their first virtual JETCO meeting to strengthen bilateral trade, investment and regulatory cooperation.

About

• JETCO stands for Joint Economic and Trade Committee.

• It is a bilateral institutional mechanism created under an MoU on Economic Cooperation.

• It provides a formal platform for improving economic and commercial engagement between two countries.

Key Highlights

• India-Costa Rica bilateral merchandise trade reached USD 391 million in 2025-26.

• Both sides reviewed trade and investment relations, regulatory systems and possible steps to deepen economic cooperation.

• The meeting identified cooperation in standards, certification, food safety, pharmaceutical regulation and export certification.

• India highlighted collaboration opportunities in pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, manufacturing and innovation.

• Costa Rica shared its experience in Central American regional trade integration.

Objectives of JETCO

• Review bilateral trade and investment relations.

• Identify new sectors for cooperation.

• Resolve trade-related bottlenecks and regulatory issues.

• Promote business, regulatory and institutional cooperation.

• Improve market access and investment opportunities.

Significance for India

• Strengthens India’s engagement with Latin America.

• Helps reduce non-tariff barriers through regulatory cooperation.

• Promotes high-value collaboration in pharmaceuticals, digital technology, manufacturing and innovation.

• Builds a structured dialogue mechanism for a long-term economic partnership.

UPSC GS 2 / GS 3

Modified UDAN Scheme

News: The Prime Minister inaugurated the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport and launched the Modified UDAN Scheme to deepen regional air connectivity.

About

• Modified UDAN is the next phase of aviation-led regional development in India.

• It has been launched with a total outlay of Rs 28,840 crore for the next 10 years.

• The scheme focuses on developing 100 aerodromes from existing unserved airstrips, with over Rs 12,000 crore allocated for regional aviation infrastructure.

• More than Rs 2,500 crore has been earmarked for Operations and Maintenance support to make new regional airports financially viable in the initial years.

• It provides Rs 3,661 crore for 200 modern helipads and Rs 10,043 crore as Viability Gap Funding for airlines operating regional routes.

• The scheme promotes indigenously developed aircraft and helicopters such as HAL Dhruv and HAL Dornier Do-228 for remote and underserved regions.

About UDAN

• UDAN stands for Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik.

• It is the Regional Connectivity Scheme launched in October 2016 to connect unserved and underserved airports.

• The first UDAN flight was launched on 27 April 2017 between Shimla and Delhi.

Objectives

• Improve regional connectivity, especially across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

• Make air travel affordable for ordinary citizens.

• Promote balanced regional development.

• Use underutilised and unused airport infrastructure.

• Provide an air alternative where train journeys usually take 10-18 hours.

• Revive airports that have runways but no scheduled commercial flights.

Key Features

• Airlines are selected through competitive bidding.

• Viability Gap Funding is provided on commercially less viable regional routes.

• Airports Authority of India waives airport charges for UDAN flights.

• State Governments provide services such as security, electricity and firefighting free of cost.

• Around 50% of seats are offered at a capped fare of about Rs 2,500 per hour of flight.

• Special focus is placed on remote, hilly, island and difficult-to-access regions.

Funding and Implementation

• The scheme was initially funded through an RCS levy on flights operating on major routes.

• The levy was used to subsidise airlines serving regional routes.

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation implements UDAN through the Airports Authority of India.

• AAI is responsible for bidding, monitoring and disbursing Viability Gap Funding.

Phase-wise Evolution

• UDAN 1.0 awarded 128 regional routes and started with Delhi-Shimla operations.

• UDAN 2.0 expanded to the North-East, hill states and islands, and introduced helicopter services.

• UDAN 3.0 focused on tourism routes, seaplane operations and select international connectivity.

• UDAN 4.0 expanded to remote regions and water aerodromes while permitting longer stage lengths.

• UDAN 5.0 onwards relaxed viability norms, increased stage length and introduced specialised initiatives such as Krishi UDAN and Sagarmala Seaplane Services.

UPSC GS 3

Giant African Snail (Lissachatina fulica)

News: The invasive Giant African Snail is spreading rapidly across Tirunavaya, including school campuses, creating concerns for agriculture, biodiversity and public health.

About

• The Giant African Snail is a common name used for several large African land snails, with Lissachatina fulica being the most destructive species.

• It is recognised as one of the world’s worst invasive alien species.

• Its native region is East Africa.

Habitat and Distribution

• It thrives in warm tropical climates with high humidity and mild temperatures throughout the year.

• It is found in agricultural fields, coastal areas, wetlands, forests, plantations, riparian zones, scrublands and urban areas.

Food Habits

• It feeds on more than 500 species of agricultural crops and ornamental plants.

• Adult snails mainly consume decaying organic matter, garbage, fallen fruits and animal manure.

Key Features

• It is hermaphroditic, meaning it has both male and female reproductive organs.

• Adults have a large, elongated and cone-shaped shell.

• The shell is usually 50-100 mm long, but may grow up to 200 mm.

• The shell is typically light brown with dark brown vertical stripes.

Health Impact

• It can carry the rat lungworm parasite.

• This parasite can cause eosinophilic meningitis in humans.

• Infection may occur through accidental ingestion of contaminated snails, slime or improperly washed vegetables.

Ecological and Agricultural Impact

• It damages crops and horticultural plants.

• It threatens native biodiversity by competing with indigenous snail species.

• It can cause significant agricultural losses.

• It may act as a carrier of plant pathogens and parasites.

UPSC GS 3

Canscora agni

News: Researchers discovered a new flowering plant species, Canscora agni, in the fire-prone savannas of western India.

About

• Canscora agni is a newly identified flowering plant species discovered on Sus Hill.

• The discovery highlights the ecological importance of fire-maintained savanna ecosystems in western India.

• The word agni means fire in several Indian languages, including Marathi, reflecting the plant’s association with fire-prone habitats.

Habitat

• It occurs in fire-prone savannas of western India.

• These ancient savannas depend on periodic natural fires.

• Fire removes excessive woody growth, maintains open grassland ecosystems, and promotes native grasses and specialised dwarf plants such as Canscora agni.

Key Features

• It is a small dwarf herb with white flowers.

• It has distinctive winged stems.

• Its maximum height is around 10 cm.

How It Differs from Canscora alata

• Canscora agni grows only up to 10 cm, while Canscora alata can reach 60 cm.

• It has fewer and shorter leaves, reaching up to 11 mm.

• It has uneven wing-like stem structures, broader below the flowers and narrower lower down.

• It has minute glandular hairs on its leaves.

• It possesses a shorter ovary and reticulate, web-like veins on the broad wings of the calyx.

Conservation Concern

• Although not formally assessed, researchers have suggested Critically Endangered status.

• The species is known only from one very small location.

• Its habitat is extremely restricted.

UPSC GS 3

Micromonospora shyamaprasadii

News: Scientists at Raiganj University discovered a new bacterial species, Micromonospora shyamaprasadii, from West Bengal.

About

• Micromonospora shyamaprasadii is a newly identified bacterial species discovered in West Bengal.

• It was isolated from the mulberry rhizosphere, the biologically active soil zone around mulberry roots.

• It has been named in honour of Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary.

• Preliminary studies show that it produces bioactive compounds capable of inhibiting harmful bacteria, indicating possible antibiotic potential.

About the Genus Micromonospora

• Micromonospora belongs to the Micromonosporaceae family.

• Members of this genus are generally Gram-positive, spore-forming and aerobic.

• They are found in coastal and marine sediments, peat swamp forests, plant rhizospheres and soil microbial communities.

• They often form beneficial associations with roots of crops such as rice, wheat, legumes and mulberry.

Importance

• Micromonospora species are known for producing antibiotics.

• They also produce industrially useful enzymes and other bioactive compounds.

• They contribute to plant growth promotion and soil nutrient cycling.

• They support sustainable agriculture through beneficial root-microbe interactions.

UPSC GS 3

Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

News: Spiti’s Seabuckthorn has recently received the Geographical Indication tag.

About

• Seabuckthorn is an important plant of the Trans-Himalayan region.

• It is popularly called the Wonder Plant, Ladakh Gold, Golden Bush and Gold Mine of the Cold Desert.

• It belongs to the family Elaeagnaceae.

Distribution

• Seabuckthorn is naturally distributed across Europe and Asia.

• In India, it grows above the tree line in the Himalayan region, particularly in cold desert areas such as Ladakh and Spiti Valley.

• It is commonly found in dry, high-altitude regions.

Key Features

• It produces small orange or yellow berries.

• The berries are sour but extremely rich in vitamin C, antioxidants and essential nutrients.

• A distinctive feature is that berries remain attached to the shrub through winter even under sub-zero temperatures.

Climate and Soil Requirements

• It is a temperate crop suited to cold climates.

• It can tolerate temperatures from -43°C to 40°C.

• Shrubs generally grow 0.5-6 metres tall, and occasionally up to 10 metres.

• It is commonly found in dry sandy soils, hillsides, valleys and riverbeds.

• It is salt tolerant and requires full sunlight for best growth.

Ecological Importance

• Its extensive root system can fix atmospheric nitrogen.

• It helps control soil erosion and reclaim degraded land.

• It stabilises fragile mountain slopes.

• It improves wildlife habitats and functions as shelterbelts and windbreaks in temperate regions.

Economic Importance

• Its berries are used in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and health beverages.

• It supports livelihoods of communities living in Himalayan cold deserts.

UPSC GS 3

Sirsa Kinnow

News: Sirsa Kinnow has received the Geographical Indication tag, with the GI Registry in Chennai issuing the certificate of registration.

About

• Sirsa Kinnow is a variety of Kinnow grown in Sirsa district of Haryana.

• It has become Haryana’s first fruit to receive a GI tag.

• The recognition acknowledges the unique quality and reputation of Kinnow produced in the Sirsa region.

What is Kinnow?

• Kinnow is a hybrid citrus fruit.

• It is a cross between King (Citrus nobilis) and Willow Leaf Mandarin (Citrus deliciosa).

• The hybrid was developed in 1915 by Howard B. Frost at the University of California Citrus Experiment Station.

Key Features

• It is round, large and has golden-orange skin similar to an orange.

• It has a sweet-tangy flavour.

• It has high juice content, making it suitable for juice extraction and pulp processing.

• It is rich in vitamin C, calcium and potassium.

• It contains around 0.2-0.3% pectin, which may help lower cholesterol and has potential anti-cancer properties.

• Its peel contains essential oil used in the cosmetics industry.

Distribution and Climate

• Kinnow is widely cultivated in North India.

• Punjab has the largest share of Kinnow cultivation and popularly calls it the King of Fruits.

• Other major producing states include Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

• It is well adapted to subtropical climates and can tolerate temperatures from 0°C in winter to 40°C in summer.