UPSC Current Affairs 12 May 2026

• 75th Anniversary (Amrut Mahotsav): The event commemorates May 11, 1951, when India’s first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, inaugurated the restored temple.
• Millennium of Faith (1026–2026): The year 2026 also marks 1,000 years since the first major recorded attack on the temple by Mahmud of Ghazni in January 1026.
• National Pride: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the temple, describing Somnath as a symbol of "Bharat’s unconquerable spirit" and its ability to rise from ruin to renewal.

• Kumbhabhishekam Ceremony: PM Modi performed the Kumbhabhishekam ritual atop the 155-foot-high shikhara (spire) using holy water from 11 sacred pilgrimage sites.
• IAF Airshow: For the first time in history, the Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team performed a spectacular show over the temple complex.
• Commemorative Releases: The Prime Minister released a ₹75 commemorative coin and a special postal stamp to mark the occasion.
• Somnath Swabhiman Parv: The Mahotsav is part of a year-long national commemoration celebrating the temple's enduring legacy of resilience.

• First Jyotirlinga: Somnath is the first of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Reconstruction Effort: After Independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel initiated the temple's modern reconstruction to reclaim India’s cultural heritage.
• Architectural Style: The current temple is built in the Māru-Gurjara (Solanki) style of architecture.
• Resilience: The shrine has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times throughout history, serving as a testament that "the power of creation is greater than the power of destruction".

• Operating Principle: ACVs move on a cushion of air generated by lift fans, which is contained by a flexible "skirt." This allows them to hover above the surface.
• Amphibious Nature: They are uniquely capable of traveling over water, land, mudflats, sandbanks, and marshy terrain—areas where traditional ships cannot reach.

• Manufacturer: Chowgule & Company Private Limited, Goa.
• Design Basis: Developed in collaboration with Griffon Hoverwork (UK) but tailored with Indian expertise.
• Local Content: Built with nearly 50% indigenous material.
• Cost: The contract for the six vessels is valued at approximately ₹387.44 crore.

• Surveillance: High-speed coastal patrolling and reconnaissance in shallow or marshy waters.
• Interception: Day and night interdiction of suspect vessels or smuggling activities.
• Search and Rescue (SAR): Rapid assistance to ships in distress and life-saving missions at sea.
• Strategic Mobility: Enhancing the ability of security forces to move across diverse coastal terrains without specialized docks.

• Full Form: Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation.
• Primary Objective: To translate agricultural advancements into tangible public health outcomes by linking farming practices directly with nutritional needs.

• Biofortified Crops: Promoting crop varieties naturally rich in iron, zinc, and protein to combat "hidden hunger".
• Clinical Validation: ICMR will conduct clinical trials to scientifically validate the health benefits of the 200+ biofortified varieties developed by ICAR.
• One Health Approach: Integrating human, animal, and environmental health to prepare for zoonotic threats.
• Targeting Lifestyle Diseases: Developing dietary solutions to address the rising epidemic of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
• Farmer Well-being: Reducing occupational health risks for agricultural workers, such as exposure to hazardous chemicals and pesticides.

• Implementation: The mission will be a "mission-mode" programme where ICMR and ICAR will jointly bear expenses without requiring separate external funding at this stage.

• SeHAT (Defence): An older teleconsultation service (Services e-Health Assistance and Teleconsultation) for military personnel and veterans.
• AB-PMJAY SEHAT (J&K): A health insurance scheme providing ₹5 lakh coverage to all residents of Jammu & Kashmir.

• What it is: An independent, non-governmental international organisation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, founded in 1947.
• Membership: Comprised of 170+ national standards bodies; India is represented by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
• Core Function: Brings together global experts to develop voluntary, consensus-based international standards that ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of products and services.

• ISO 9000: Quality Management.
• ISO 14000: Environmental Management.
• ISO 27000: Information Security.
• ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety.

• Climate Action: New amendments now make it mandatory for organisations to consider climate change risks within their management systems.
• Harmonized Structure: Standards are being aligned to a common structure (formerly Annex SL) to make it easier for businesses to integrate multiple certifications.
• Digitalization & Ethics: Increased focus on data-driven governance, organizational resilience, and ethical practices in the digital age.

• Primary Objective: To explore 16 Psyche, a rare asteroid located in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is believed to be the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet (protoplanet).
• Launch Details: Launched on October 13, 2023, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre.
• Solar-Electric Propulsion: The spacecraft is the first interplanetary mission to use Hall-effect thrusters, which use solar power to accelerate xenon gas for propulsion.

• Multispectral Imager: To provide high-resolution images and map the asteroid's surface.
• Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer: To determine the elemental composition of the asteroid.
• Magnetometer: To search for evidence of an ancient magnetic field.
• Gravity Science: Uses the radio telecommunications system to measure the asteroid's mass and gravity field.

• Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC): A pioneering laser-based communication technology demonstration. It successfully tested record-breaking data rates (including streaming a "cat video") from millions of miles away to prove high-bandwidth communication for future Mars missions.

• August 2029: Expected arrival and capture by the asteroid's gravity.
• 2029–2031: Two-year orbital mission to map and study the asteroid's composition and history.

• Operational Milestone: The Warangal Park (built within the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park) has already attracted ₹3,862 crore in investments and is expected to generate nearly 1 lakh jobs.
• Progress in Other States:

• Maharashtra: The PM MITRA Park in Amravati completed its first phase of infrastructure development in March 2026, covering 1,020 acres.
• Madhya Pradesh: Work is rapidly progressing on the Dhar PM MITRA Park, which is set to be the largest among the seven proposed sites.

• Budget 2026-27 Announcement: The Union Budget 2026-27 introduced a new “Challenge Mode” approach for setting up future Mega Textile Parks to ensure competitive and quick implementation.

• Vision (5F Formula): The mission follows the Prime Minister's vision of Farm to Fibre; Fibre to Factory; Factory to Fashion; Fashion to Foreign.
• Objective: To integrate the entire textile value chain (spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing, and garmenting) at a single location to reduce logistics costs and improve global competitiveness.

1. Tamil Nadu (Virudhunagar)
2. Telangana (Warangal)
3. Gujarat (Navsari)
4. Karnataka (Kalaburagi)
5. Madhya Pradesh (Dhar)
6. Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow)
7. Maharashtra (Amravati).

• Implementation Model: Developed through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) owned by the Central and State Governments in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

• Development Capital Support (DCS): Up to ₹500 crore for Greenfield parks and ₹200 crore for Brownfield parks.
• Competitive Incentive Support (CIS): Up to ₹300 crore per park to incentivize the early establishment of manufacturing units.

• Investment Goal: Aims to attract approximately ₹70,000 crore in total investments.
• Employment: Projected to create 20 lakh direct and indirect jobs across the seven parks.
• Infrastructure: Each park includes an incubation centre, common processing house, common effluent treatment plant (CETP) with Zero Liquid Discharge, and reliable power/water supply.

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): The most common and serious form, affecting multiple organs.
• Cutaneous Lupus: Primarily affects the skin, often causing rashes or lesions.
• Drug-Induced Lupus: Triggered by specific prescription medications; symptoms usually disappear when the drug is stopped.
• Neonatal Lupus: A rare condition affecting infants of women with lupus.

• Butterfly Rash: A signature red rash across the cheeks and bridge of the nose.
• Joint Issues: Pain, stiffness, and swelling, often worse in the morning.
• Extreme Fatigue: Debilitating exhaustion that does not improve with rest.
• Photosensitivity: Sensitivity to sunlight that can trigger skin lesions or internal "flares".

• Diagnosis: Often called the "Great Imitator" because its symptoms mimic other diseases. Diagnosis typically involves a combination of medical history, physical exams, and blood tests like the Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) test.
• Demographics: 90% of cases occur in women, typically diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45.

• Medications: Anti-inflammatories, antimalarials (like hydroxychloroquine), and immunosuppressants.
• Lifestyle: Sun protection, stress management, regular exercise, and a balanced diet.

• Stands for Mercado Común del Sur (Southern Common Market).
• Founded in 1991 by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay via the Asunción Treaty to promote free trade and economic integration.

• Full members: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia (joined fully in July 2024).
• Suspended: Venezuela (indefinitely since 2016).
• Associate members: Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Panama (joined December 2024).

• Operates as a customs union and free-trade area, with ambitions to evolve into a common market like the EU.
• Population: Over 285 million; combined GDP: Nearly $3 trillion, making it the world's fifth-largest economic bloc.
• Headquarters: Montevideo, Uruguay.

• Early success: Intra-bloc trade grew tenfold in the 1990s.
• Challenges: Internal fractures (Paraguay's 2012 suspension), failure to fully integrate, and democracy concerns.
• Recent focus: Trade deals with EU and India to enhance competitiveness amid global uncertainty.

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