09 June 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

GS 1 (Modern Indian History)

Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali

News:

The Executive Council of Barkatullah University has proposed renaming the

university, bringing Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali back into public discussion.

Early Life

• Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali was born on 7 July 1854 in Bhopal.

• He emerged as one of the prominent nationalist leaders who worked for India’s

freedom from abroad.

Scholar and Intellectual

• He was a renowned scholar of Arabic, Persian, and Urdu.

• He also mastered several foreign languages, including German, French, and

Japanese.

• His linguistic skills enabled him to spread nationalist ideas across different

countries.

Identity and Legacy

• Barkatullah was known as a journalist, Islamic scholar, revolutionary nationalist,

and anti-colonial activist.

• He dedicated much of his life to mobilizing international support against British

rule in India.

Role in India’s Freedom Struggle

Association with India House

• He maintained close links with Indian revolutionaries associated with India

House in London.

• India House served as an important centre for nationalist and revolutionary

activities outside India.

GS 3 (Environment & Biodiversity)

Indopottia himalayensis

News:

Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India

(BSI) have identified a new moss species and named it Indopottia himalayensis.

About Indopottia himalayensis

• It is a newly discovered moss species found in the high-altitude forests of the

Western Himalayas in Uttarakhand.

• The discovery is significant because it represents only the third known species

of the genus Indopottia worldwide.

Global Distribution of the Genus

• The genus Indopottia has a very limited global distribution.

• One previously known species occurs in the Western Ghats of India.

• Another species is found in the mountainous regions of Thailand.

• The discovery in the Himalayas expands the known geographical range of the

genus.

Naming

• The species has been named Indopottia himalayensis after the Himalayan

region, where it was discovered.

Habitat

• It is a completely terrestrial moss species.

• The moss grows on soil-covered rocks in high-altitude forest ecosystems.

• It thrives in cool and moist mountain environments.

GS 3 (Environment & Biodiversity)

Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica)

News:

A rare sighting of the Indian Giant Squirrel was recently reported from a forest area in

Balodabazar–Bhatapara district of Chhattisgarh.

About the Indian Giant Squirrel

• The Indian Giant Squirrel, also known as the Giant Malabar Squirrel, is a large,

brightly coloured tree squirrel endemic to India.

• It is among the largest squirrel species in the world and is known for its

striking multi-coloured fur.

Habitat and Distribution

• The species is mainly found in the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and parts of

the Satpura Range.

• It inhabits elevations ranging from approximately 180 metres to 2,300 metres

above sea level.

• Preferred habitats include:

• Tropical deciduous forests

• Semi-evergreen forests

• Evergreen forests

• Woodland ecosystems

Behaviour and Adaptations

• It is a highly arboreal species, spending most of its life in the forest canopy.

• The squirrel rarely comes to the ground and moves efficiently through

treetops.

• It can leap between branches over distances of up to six metres, showcasing

remarkable agility.