11 Aug 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

Mount Bromo

World Geography | Volcanoes | Indonesia

WHY IN NEWS: Indonesia deployed aircraft and hundreds of firefighters to control a major wildfire in Mount Bromo National Park.

IN ONE LINE: Mount Bromo is an active cinder-cone volcano on Java, situated within the Sandsea Caldera of the larger Tengger volcanic complex and surrounded by the famous “Sea of Sand”.

Where is Mount Bromo?

• Mount Bromo is located on the island of Java in Indonesia.

• It is a small but active volcanic cinder cone and one of Indonesia’s best-known volcanoes and tourist attractions.

The volcanic setting - remember the nesting

• Mount Bromo lies inside the Sandsea (Laut Pasir) Caldera.

• The Sandsea Caldera itself forms part of the larger Tengger Caldera volcanic complex.

• The surrounding landscape is made up of broad volcanic-ash plains known as the “Sea of Sand”.

MEMORY LOCK: Java, Indonesia | active cinder cone | Sandsea/Laut Pasir Caldera | larger Tengger Caldera complex | volcanic ash plains = “Sea of Sand”

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. On which Indonesian island is Mount Bromo located?

2. What type of volcano is Mount Bromo?

3. How are Mount Bromo, Sandsea Caldera and Tengger Caldera related?

S.H.I.N.E. Initiative

Science outreach | School students | ICMR

WHY IN NEWS: The Department of Health Research-Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is organising the second edition of S.H.I.N.E. on 11-12 August 2026 across 83 locations in India.

IN ONE LINE: S.H.I.N.E. - Science, Health and Innovation for NextGen Explorer - is ICMR’s annual nationwide outreach programme that gives Classes 9-12 students hands-on exposure to biomedical research, science and public health.

What is S.H.I.N.E.?

• S.H.I.N.E. stands for Science, Health and Innovation for NextGen Explorer.

• ICMR launched it in August 2025 as an annual nationwide student-outreach initiative.

• Its objective is to ignite scientific curiosity, encourage innovation and inspire students to consider careers in biomedical research, science and public health.

Who can participate?

• The programme targets students of Classes 9-12 from government, government-aided and private schools across India.

• It supports the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and the Prime Minister’s call for students to spend “One Day as a Scientist”.

What do students actually experience?

• Hands-on scientific exposure through laboratory visits, research exhibitions, poster presentations, video screenings and live demonstrations.

• Direct interaction with ICMR scientists and researchers to understand ongoing work in health and medical research.

• The 2026 edition expands nationwide outreach to 83 locations and encourages students to explore careers in science, innovation, healthcare and research.

MEMORY LOCK: S.H.I.N.E. = Science, Health and Innovation for NextGen Explorer | ICMR | launched Aug 2025 | annual | Classes 9-12 | 11-12 Aug 2026 | 83 locations | “One Day as a Scientist” | Viksit Bharat 2047

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. Expand S.H.I.N.E. and name the organisation that launched it.

2. Which classes are covered by the initiative?

3. What forms of hands-on exposure does the programme provide?

4. How many locations are covered in the 2026 edition?

CPGRAMS

Governance | Grievance redressal | Digital public infrastructure

WHY IN NEWS: CPGRAMS has emerged as one of the world’s largest digital public-grievance redressal platforms.

IN ONE LINE: CPGRAMS is the Government of India’s flagship 24x7 online grievance-redress platform, monitored by DARPG, that connects Central and State/UT systems, supports 22 Scheduled Languages plus English, and provides tracking, feedback and appeals.

What is CPGRAMS?

• The Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) is the Government of India’s flagship online grievance-redressal platform.

• It combines technology, accountability and citizen participation and serves as a common platform for grievances related to public services and government departments.

• It is developed and monitored by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

How does it make grievance redressal easier?

• 24x7 access through a single online portal.

• “One Nation-One Portal” connectivity with Central Ministries and Departments, State Governments and Union Territories.

• Citizens can submit grievances in 22 Scheduled Languages in addition to English.

• Every grievance receives a unique registration number for online status tracking.

Resolution, feedback and appeal

• Grievances are to be resolved promptly, with a maximum time limit of 21 days.

• If the complainant is dissatisfied, an appeal can be filed through the platform and the appeal status can also be tracked using the grievance registration number.

• Citizens can rate the quality of resolution after closure. A “Poor” rating automatically enables the option to file an appeal.

• By integrating central and state-level grievance systems, CPGRAMS strengthens digital and inclusive governance.

MEMORY LOCK: CPGRAMS | DARPG | Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions | 24x7 | One Nation-One Portal | 22 Scheduled Languages + English | unique registration number | max 21 days | feedback + appeal | “Poor” rating enables appeal

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. Which department develops and monitors CPGRAMS?

2. What does “One Nation-One Portal” mean in this context?

3. What is the maximum resolution time mentioned in the source?

4. What happens if a closed grievance is rated “Poor”?

Everest Engine

Space technology | Private sector | Rocket propulsion

WHY IN NEWS: Astrobase Space Technologies unveiled Everest, an 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) rocket engine aimed at reusable orbital launch systems.

IN ONE LINE: Everest is India’s first privately developed high-thrust FFSC rocket engine: an 800 kN methalox engine designed for reusable medium-lift launch vehicles and high-cadence orbital launches.

Everest at a glance

• It is an 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion rocket engine developed by Bengaluru-based Astrobase Space Technologies.

• It is described as India’s first privately developed high-thrust FFSC rocket engine.

• It is designed for reusable medium-lift launch vehicles and supports precision thrust control, faster launch turnaround and improved launch economics.

Propellant and performance

• The engine uses Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Methane (LCH4), together known as methalox.

• It is designed to generate approximately 800 kilonewtons of thrust in vacuum.

• Its architecture is reusable, high-efficiency and suitable for high-cadence orbital launches, with lower maintenance requirements than many traditional rocket engines.

• Methalox offers cleaner combustion and better reusability than kerosene-based systems.

How does Full-Flow Staged Combustion work?

• In conventional rocket engines, only part of the propellant is burned to power turbopumps.

• In an FFSC engine, both fuel and oxidiser pass through separate pre-burners before entering the main combustion chamber.

• Fuel-rich and oxygen-rich gases drive their respective turbopumps and then enter the main chamber for complete combustion.

Why FFSC matters

• Higher combustion efficiency and the ability to operate at very high chamber pressures.

• Reduced thermal and mechanical stress on engine components.

• Improved reliability, reusability and overall engine performance.

MEMORY LOCK: Everest | Astrobase, Bengaluru | 800 kN | FFSC | India’s first privately developed high-thrust FFSC engine | reusable medium-lift | LOX + LCH4 = methalox | separate fuel-rich + oxygen-rich pre-burners | high efficiency + reusability

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. Who developed the Everest engine and what is its thrust?

2. What is methalox?

3. What distinguishes FFSC from a conventional rocket-engine cycle?

4. Why is FFSC useful for reusable launch systems?