10 July 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

1. Changpa Community

News: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh announced measures to improve the livelihood of the indigenous Changpa pastoral community.

Why it matters: The topic is important for questions on tribal communities, pastoralism, Pashmina economy, and Himalayan culture.

About the community: The Changpas are a semi-nomadic pastoral community living in the Changthang region of the Trans-Himalayas. They are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe in India and mainly follow Buddhism.

• They have traditionally reared Pashmina or Cashmere goats for centuries.

• They are known for producing some of the finest Pashmina wool in the world.

• Their seasonal migration helps them survive the harsh climate of the high-altitude cold desert.

Livelihood: Their life is closely linked with livestock and wool production.

• Rearing Pashmina goats.

• Sheep and yak pastoralism.

• Production of high-quality Pashmina wool.

Two traditional groups: Changpas are usually divided into nomadic and settled groups.

• Phalpa: Nomadic Changpas who migrate seasonally with livestock.

• Fangpa: Changpas who live permanently in fixed locations.

Traditional dwellings: They live in conical yak-skin tents called Reboo. A Reboo usually contains the family deity and a picture of the spiritual leader, commonly the Dalai Lama.

Festivals and rituals: Their cultural life includes important purification rituals and lunar festivals.

• Jyabten: A purification ritual in which food offerings are made to Padmasambhava.

• Tangpe Chona: A major festival celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

Prelims Recall: Changthang region; Pashmina goats; Reboo tents; Phalpa and Fangpa; Jyabten and Tangpe Chona

2. Guwahati Declaration

News: BRICS nations adopted the Guwahati Declaration to strengthen cooperation against illicit drug trafficking and related transnational organised crime.

About the declaration: The declaration was adopted at the BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies Meeting held in Guwahati under India's BRICS Chairship 2026.

• Theme of India's BRICS Chairship 2026: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.

• The declaration focuses on coordinated action against drug trafficking and organised crime networks.

Participating countries: Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia and the United Arab Emirates participated in the meeting.

Key provisions: The declaration focuses on three major areas.

• International cooperation: BRICS countries agreed to improve cooperation against illicit drug trafficking and transnational organised crime.

• Information sharing: It supports timely exchange of information, intelligence and best practices, in line with national laws and international obligations.

• Use of technology: It encourages digital tools, innovative technologies and data-driven methods for law enforcement, regulation, detection and disruption of drug networks.

• Demand reduction: It highlights prevention of substance abuse, promotion of healthy lifestyles and people-centred strategies.

• Focus groups: Special attention has been given to children, young people and other vulnerable sections.

Prelims Recall: BRICS anti-drug cooperation; adopted in Guwahati; India BRICS Chairship 2026; technology-led enforcement; demand reduction

3. Himalayan Pangolin (Manis aurita)

News: Researchers have revalidated the Himalayan pangolin as a distinct living species, separate from the Chinese pangolin.

About the species: The Himalayan pangolin is a pangolin species native to the Himalayan region. Its scientific name is Manis aurita.

• It was earlier treated as a population of the Chinese pangolin, Manis pentadactyla.

• Recent research confirms it as a separate extant species.

• Genetic studies suggest a demographic contraction around the 14th century, coinciding with the Little Ice Age in the Himalayan region.

Features: The Himalayan pangolin differs from the Chinese pangolin in size, skull structure and sensory adaptations.

• It is larger in body size and skull than the Chinese pangolin.

• It has smaller ears and a shorter, broader nasal bone.

• It has an enlarged olfactory bulb and turbinals, giving it a strong sense of smell.

• Its body is covered with protective keratin scales, like other pangolins.

Distribution: Its confirmed range is restricted to the southern Himalayan foothills, including Nepal, South Tibet and Northeast India, including Assam.

Diet: It is myrmecophagous, which means it mainly feeds on ants and termites. It uses its strong smell and long sticky tongue to locate and capture prey.

Prelims Recall: Manis aurita; distinct from Chinese pangolin; southern Himalayan foothills; ants and termites; keratin scales

4. Kwar Hydroelectric Project

News: Heavy rainfall triggered a major landslide near the under-construction 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Project in Kishtwar district.

About the project: Kwar Hydroelectric Project is a 540 MW run-of-the-river hydropower project on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district.

• The underground powerhouse will have four generating units of 135 MW each.

• The project involves construction of a 109-metre-high dam across the Chenab River.

• Expected annual electricity generation is 1,975 million units.

Developer and ownership: It is being developed by Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited, a joint venture of NHPC Limited and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation.

• NHPC Limited: 51% equity.

• Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation: 49% equity.

What is a Run-of-the-River project? A Run-of-the-River project generates electricity by using the natural flow of a river, with little or no large-scale storage.

• Water is diverted through tunnels or channels to run turbines and is then returned to the river.

• Compared to large storage dams, such projects usually need smaller reservoirs and cause relatively less submergence.

• Their power generation depends strongly on seasonal river flows.

Prelims Recall: Kwar - Chenab River; Kishtwar district; 540 MW; Run-of-the-River; CVPPL

5. Astra Mk 1 Missile

News: India and Indonesia strengthened their strategic defence partnership through a deal for the supply of Astra Mk 1 air-to-air missiles.

About Astra Mk 1: Astra Mk 1 is an indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

• It is designed for use by both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.

• It is meant to engage aerial targets beyond visual range.

Main features: The missile combines long-range engagement, high speed and advanced guidance.

• Range: 80 to 110 km.

• Maximum altitude: 20 km.

• Speed: Mach 4.5, around 4.5 times the speed of sound.

• Astra Mk 2, the advanced variant, has an enhanced range of about 200 km.

Guidance system: It uses a multi-stage guidance system for accurate target engagement.

• Inertial navigation guidance.

• Mid-course guidance updates.

• Terminal active radar homing.

Propulsion and platforms: It is powered by a single-pulse smokeless solid-fuel rocket motor.

• Integrated with Sukhoi Su-30MKI.

• Planned integration with HAL Tejas Mk 1 and Dassault Rafale.

Prelims Recall: Astra Mk 1; BVRAAM; DRDO; 80-110 km range; Mach 4.5; active radar homing