14 MARCH 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

GS Paper-1: Geography (World Geography)

⭐ Mozambique

⭐ Why in the News

India recently sent 500 metric tonnes of rice to Mozambique to assist the country after severe flooding impacted several central and southern provinces.

⭐ Location

• Mozambique is a country situated in Southern Africa.

• It lies within both the Southern Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere.

⭐ Bordering Countries

• Zimbabwe lies to the west of Mozambique.

• Eswatini and South Africa are located to the south and southwest.

• Zambia and Malawi lie to the northwest, while Tanzania borders the country to the north.

⭐ Water Bodies

• Mozambique has an extensive coastline along the Indian Ocean on its eastern side.

• The Mozambique Channel separates the country from island territories such as Madagascar, Comoros, and Mayotte.

⭐ Capital City

• The capital of Mozambique is Maputo.

⭐ Climate

• Most parts of the country experience a warm tropical climate.

⭐ Major Rivers

• The Zambezi River is the largest river flowing through Mozambique.

• Other significant rivers include the Limpopo, Licungo, Lurio, and Rovuma rivers.

⭐ Major Lakes

• Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa, is the most prominent lake associated with Mozambique.

⭐ Highest Peak

• Mount Binga is the highest mountain peak in Mozambique.

⭐ Natural Resources

• The country possesses important natural resources such as natural gas and coal.

• Other resources include mineral sands, hydropower potential, and possible oil reserves.

GS Paper-1: Indian Art & Culture

⭐ Kurumba Painting

⭐ Why in the News

Recent reports indicate that the traditional Kurumba painting art form is facing the risk of extinction, raising concerns about the preservation of this indigenous tribal heritage.

⭐ Nature of the Art Form

• Kurumba painting is an ancient tribal art tradition believed to be over 3,000 years old.

• It originated among the Kurumba tribal community, which resides in parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.

⭐ Historical Background

• Traditionally, these paintings were created on rock surfaces and inside caves in the high-altitude regions of the Nilgiri Hills.

⭐ Raw Materials and Tools Used

• Kurumba paintings are made using natural pigments obtained from forest resources.

• Yellow-brown and black pigments are extracted from the resin of the Vengai tree, while green pigments are produced from crushed leaves.

• Artists traditionally apply colours using fine twigs, bamboo sticks, or brushes made from natural fibres.

⭐ Surfaces Used for Painting

• The artworks are commonly created on walls, cloth pieces, and handmade paper.

⭐ Colours Used

• The paintings rely mainly on natural colours, including:

• Green derived from leaves

• Red and white obtained from soil

• Black extracted from tree bark

• In traditional practice, colours are sometimes applied with cloth on walls coated with cow dung.

⭐ Artistic Style

• Kurumba paintings feature simple and linear patterns, often formed using dots, lines, and geometric shapes.

• The artwork frequently depicts huts, animals, and scenes from everyday community life.

GS Paper-3: Science & Technology (Space)

⭐ Asteroid 2024 YR4

⭐ Why in the News

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has clarified that Asteroid 2024 YR4 does not pose any threat of colliding with the Moon in 2032, addressing earlier concerns regarding a possible impact.

⭐ Classification

• Asteroid 2024 YR4 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids.

• Asteroids in this category typically have orbits that intersect Earth’s orbital path, although they spend a significant portion of their orbit farther from the planet.

⭐ Origin

• Scientific observations indicate that the asteroid is a solid rocky body.

• It is believed to have originated from an asteroid family within the Main Asteroid Belt, located between Mars and Jupiter.

⭐ Discovery

• The asteroid was identified in 2024 using the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope facility located in Chile.

⭐ Naming Convention

• In the asteroid’s designation, the letter “Y” indicates that it was discovered during the second half of December.

• The code “R4” signifies that it was the 117th asteroid recorded during that specific discovery period.

⭐ Key Features

• Nature of the Asteroid: It is categorized as a near-Earth asteroid (NEA).

• Size: The asteroid is estimated to have a diameter ranging between approximately 53 and 67 metres (about 174–220 feet).

• Orbital Period: It completes one orbit around the Sun in about 4.01 years, which is roughly 1,468 days.

• Rotation Period: The asteroid rotates rapidly and completes one full rotation in about 19.46 minutes.

• Composition: It is most likely an S-type asteroid, meaning it is primarily composed of silicate minerals along with nickel and iron.