11 July 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

ULLAS Programme

GS 2: Governance, Education and Social Justice

Why in news: Uttarakhand became India's sixth fully literate state under NEP 2020 through the ULLAS programme.

Core idea: ULLAS means Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aligned with the National Education Policy 2020.

• The scheme targets adults aged 15 years and above who missed formal schooling.

• It focuses on functional literacy, numeracy, life skills, vocational skills and lifelong learning.

• The nodal ministry is the Ministry of Education.

• Implementation period: 2022 to 2027.

• Learning support is provided through DIKSHA, the ULLAS Mobile App and regional language learning material.

• The scheme encourages volunteerism, social responsibility and community participation.

Prelims points to remember

• Target: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for 5 crore adult learners by 2027.

• Annual target: 1 crore learners per year.

• OTLAS is used for online teaching, learning and assessment.

• Main components: FLN, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills and Continuing Education.

Mains linkage

• Useful for questions on adult education, inclusive education, social empowerment and NEP 2020.

• It links literacy with employability, digital inclusion and informed citizenship.

Remember: ULLAS is not only about reading and writing; it is about making adults functionally independent in society.

PACTS: India-Australia Partnership

GS 2: International Relations and Security Cooperation

Why in news: India and Australia launched the Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains to deepen cooperation in cyber security, critical technologies, resilient supply chains, digital resilience and defence research.

Core idea: PACTS is a new bilateral cooperation framework between India and Australia.

• It replaces the 2020 Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation.

• It will be overseen by India's Deputy National Security Advisor and Australia's Deputy Secretary, International and Security Group.

• The partnership reflects the growing strategic importance of technology, cyber security and trusted supply chains in the Indo-Pacific.

Prelims points to remember

• Five pillars: Supply Chain Resilience, Critical Technology, Cyber Security, Digital Resilience and Defence Research Collaboration.

• Supply chain pillar: led by India's National Security Council Secretariat.

• Critical technology pillar covers AI, space, telecom, biotechnology and advanced materials.

• Cyber security pillar is led by the Cyber Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs.

• Digital resilience pillar will promote secure and inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific.

• Defence research collaboration involves DRDO and Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group.

Mains linkage

• Use it as an example of India-Australia strategic convergence in the Indo-Pacific.

• It also fits questions on technology diplomacy, cyber security, supply chain resilience and Quad-linked cooperation.

Remember: PACTS = cyber + critical tech + supply chains + DPI + defence research.

GS Paper 3

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)

GS 3: Agriculture and Inclusive Growth

Why in news: The Government of India highlighted the progress made under SMAM in expanding farm mechanization.

Core idea: SMAM was launched in 2014-15 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

• It is implemented under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

• The nodal ministry is the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.

• The main idea is to "reach the unreached" by giving small and underserved farmers access to modern farm machinery.

• Priority groups include small and marginal farmers, women farmers, SCs, STs, FPOs, SHGs and rural entrepreneurs.

• The scheme reduces drudgery, improves productivity and lowers cultivation costs.

Prelims points to remember

• Custom Hiring Centres provide farm machinery on rent so that small farmers do not need to buy expensive machines.

• Hi-tech hubs provide advanced equipment such as precision farming tools and high-value machinery.

• Financial assistance is provided for machinery purchase, CHCs and hi-tech equipment hubs.

• The scheme gives special focus to areas with low farm power availability and low mechanization.

• It also supports testing and certification of farm machinery.

Mains linkage

• Useful for questions on doubling farmers' income, reducing input cost, agricultural productivity and inclusive rural development.

• CHCs can be used as an example of shared economy in agriculture.

Remember: SMAM solves the problem of costly machines by making mechanization available on rent through Custom Hiring Centres.

Mitrephora rashmiae

GS 3: Environment and Biodiversity

Why in news: Researchers from Mumbai's Thackeray Wildlife Foundation discovered a new flowering tree species in Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Core idea: Mitrephora rashmiae is a newly discovered flowering tree species from the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot.

• It belongs to the custard apple family, Annonaceae.

• It is only the second species of the genus Mitrephora recorded from the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot.

• It is scientifically important because it is the first known Mitrephora species to bear both male and bisexual flowers on the same tree.

• The tree has pale yellow flowers with purple stripes.

• Its inner petals form a dome-shaped floral structure, which helps distinguish it from other species.

Prelims points to remember

• Location: Upper Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh.

• Known from only one wild specimen: a seven-metre-tall tree beside a stream in a degraded forest patch.

• Conservation status: Data Deficient, because only one individual has been found and more population data is not available.

Mains linkage

• Useful for biodiversity, taxonomy, Eastern Himalayan ecosystem and conservation challenges.

• Shows why degraded forest patches can still hold rare and scientifically valuable species.

Remember: One tree, one new species, one strong reminder that the Eastern Himalayas are still under-explored.

Drishti-10 Starliner UAV

GS 3: Defence and Internal Security

Why in news: The Indian Navy ordered a Board of Inquiry after a Drishti-10 Starliner UAV crashed near Dharampur village in Gujarat's Porbandar district during a routine training sortie.

Core idea: Drishti-10 Starliner is an advanced indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

• It is a variant of Israel's Hermes 900 UAV platform.

• It is manufactured by Adani Defence and Aerospace at Hyderabad under a technology transfer agreement with Elbit Systems of Israel.

• It is designed mainly for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions.

• It strengthens maritime security, border surveillance and strategic reconnaissance.

Prelims points to remember

• It is a MALE class UAV: Medium Altitude Long Endurance.

• It can remain airborne for up to 36 hours.

• Payload capacity: up to 450 kg.

• Payloads may include electro-optical sensors, infrared sensors, radars, communication equipment and intelligence systems.

• It has NATO STANAG 4671 airworthiness certification.

• It supports autonomous operations and SATCOM, enabling Beyond Line of Sight control.

Mains linkage

• Can be used in answers on maritime surveillance, border security, ISR capability, disaster management and indigenous defence manufacturing.

• The crash also highlights the importance of safety, airworthiness and operational accountability in advanced military platforms.

Remember: Drishti-10 is important because it gives long-endurance eyes in the sky for India's maritime and border security.