UPSC Current Affairs 04 July 2026

• High-Altitude Pass: Situated at a staggering elevation of 4,310 metres (14,140 feet) in the Eastern Himalayas.
• Geopolitical Border: Positioned on the crossroads of the India–China border, explicitly connecting the East Sikkim district with China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
• Proximity: Located roughly 54 to 56 kilometres east of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.
• Mountain Range: It is a key geographical feature of the Dongkya Range of the Himalayas.

• Silk Road Offshoot: The pass forms a crucial offshoot of the historic Old Silk Route, which historically connected Lhasa (Tibet) to the plains of Bengal.
• The 1962 War: Completely sealed off by India following the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
• The 1967 Clashes: Witnessed major military skirmishes between Indian and Chinese armies in September 1967, resulting in a permanent War Memorial on the Indian side to honour fallen martyrs.
• The 2006 Reopening: Officially reopened for limited bilateral border trade in 2006 after 44 years of diplomatic closure.

• Trilateral Trade Post: It is one of the three open trading border posts between India and China. The other two are Shipki La (Himachal Pradesh) and Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand).
• Military Consultations: Serves as one of the officially agreed Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) stations for flag meets and diplomatic interactions between the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
• Chumbi Valley Watch: It sits close to the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor ("Chicken's Neck") and overlooks the heavily monitored Chumbi Valley.

• Permit Restrictions: It is located in a protected border zone. Only Indian citizens are permitted to visit. Foreign nationals cannot visit.
• Obtaining a Pass: You cannot apply online. Protected Area Permits (PAP) must be obtained a day in advance through registered tour operators in Gangtok.
• Operating Schedule: The pass is open for tourists from Wednesday to Sunday. It remains completely closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Extreme Weather: Temperatures plunge as low as -25°C to -27°C during peak winter months. Thick woollen garments and oxygen supplies are often advised due to thin high-altitude air.

• Constitutional Basis: Established by the President of India under Article 280 of the Constitution.
• Commission Leadership: Chaired by prominent economist Dr. Arvind Panagariya, the former Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog.
• Operational Tenure: Formulated to govern financial distributions for a 5-year block from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031.
• Primary Objective: Mandated to divide tax revenues equitably between the Union Government and individual States.

• Status Quo Retained: States preserve a 41% share of the divisible pool of central taxes.
• Divisible Pool Criteria: Calculated after stripping away collection costs, central cesses, and surcharges.
• Grand Bargain Proposal: Suggested merging central cesses into shareable taxes to expand state fiscal bandwidth.

Criteria Parameter	Assigned Weight	Formula Structural Changes
Income Distance	42.5%	Measures gap from the average per capita GSDP of the top three states.
Population	17.5%	Relying strictly on the 2011 Census data to assess financial load.
Demographic Performance	10.0%	Rewards lower population growth rates recorded between 1971 and 2011.
Forest & Ecology	10.0%	Expanded to credit changes in open forest covers alongside dense regions.
Area	10.0%	Kept fully identical to the parameters set by the 15th FC.
Contribution to GDP	10.0%	Brand new metric replacing the old "tax effort" parameter to reward growth.

• Rural Growth Funding: Rural local body allocations grew by 84% compared to the previous commission.
• Split Framework: Grants are strictly distributed as 80% Basic Grants and 20% Performance Grants.
• Tied vs Untied Split: Basic funds are split 50:50 between unrestricted use and targeted water/sanitation programs.
• Urban Innovation Inclusions: Introduced an Urbanisation Premium and targeted Special Infrastructure Components for waste management.
• Hard Compliance Clauses: States must verify local body audits and timely set up State Finance Commissions to tap funds.

• Deficit Containment Targets: Directed the Centre to hit a 3.5% fiscal deficit by 2030-31.
• State Deficit Ceilings: Capped individual state fiscal deficits rigidly at 3% of GSDP.
• Ban on Hidden Debts: Demanded a full halt to off-budget borrowings, forcing total inclusion in state budgets.
• Subsidy Rationalisation: Cautioned states against poorly targeted, unconditional cash transfers and misclassified accounts.
• Disinvestment Directives: Advised states to shut down 308 inactive State Public Sector Enterprises (SPSEs).

• Scientific Name: Ficus benghalensis, belonging to the Moraceae (fig) family.
• Growth Habit: Known as a "strangler fig" because it grows from seeds deposited on host trees, eventually sending down roots that overtake the original host.
• Prop Roots: Characterised by aerial roots that hang from branches, strike the ground, and thicken into auxiliary trunks to support the massive canopy.

• National Tree: Adopted as the National Tree of India in 1950 due to its immense canopy, long life, and deep cultural roots.
• Symbolism: Represents longevity, immortality, eternal life, and the unity of India’s vast cultural diversity.

• Keystone Species: Serves as a vital ecological hub, producing massive fig crops that sustain hundreds of species of birds, bats, primates, and insects.
• Soil Protection: Its massive, extensive root network locks the earth in place, significantly preventing soil erosion.
• Microclimate Control: Its expansive canopy provides natural shade, decreases local temperatures, and filters air pollution.

• Sacred Tree: Deeply revered in Hinduism and Buddhism; often associated with Lord Vishnu and worshipped during festivals like Vat Purnima.
• Village Center: Traditionally served as the focal point for village Panchayats, business discussions, and community assemblies.
• Medicinal Value: Used extensively in traditional medicine (Ayurveda) to manage disorders like diabetes, dysentery, and skin ulcers.

• Status: A statutory body established under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
• Inception: Officially constituted on 31st January 1992.
• Headquarters: Located in New Delhi.
• Current Leadership: Smt. Vijaya K. Rahatkar serves as the current Chairperson.
• Composition: Consists of a Chairperson, five members (with expertise in law/management), and a Member Secretary. All are appointed by the Central Government.

• Safeguard Review: Evaluates the constitutional and legal protections available to women in India.
• Policy Advice: Advises the Union and State governments on legislative changes and policies affecting women.
• Suo-Moto Cognizance: Possesses the power to initiate investigations on its own (suo-moto) in cases of extreme rights violations.
• Civil Court Powers: Enjoys the powers of a civil court while investigating complaints, allowing it to summon witnesses and look over public records.
• Custodial Inspections: Regularly inspects jails, remand homes, and shelter houses where women are kept to ensure safe conditions.

• Law Enforcement: Successfully recommended updates to the Dowry Prohibition Act, Domestic Violence Act, and gender-centric clauses in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
• PoSH Awareness Workshops: Conducts specialized training for Internal Committees on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) in government departments and universities.
• ‘She is a Change Maker’: A running project focused on improving the political and leadership skills of grassroots women representatives.

• No Enforcement Powers: Its recommendations are purely advisory; it cannot directly punish violators or enforce its final rulings.
• Financial Dependency: Functions primarily via grants released by the Central Government, which limits standalone budget allocations.
• Political Appointments: Critics highlight that since members are directly chosen by the ruling government, it risks political interference.

• The Pathogen: MVD is a severe, highly fatal disease caused by the Marburg virus, a member of the Filoviridae family.
• Ebola Kinship: It belongs to the exact same viral family as the Ebola virus and causes clinically similar symptoms.
• Extreme Fatality: It is exceptionally lethal, carrying a historic case fatality rate (CFR) ranging between 24% and 88% depending on the strain and infrastructure.
• Historical Origins: First identified in 1967 after simultaneous lab outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt (Germany) and Belgrade (Serbia) linked to African green monkeys imported from Uganda.

• Natural Reservoir: The Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) acts as the natural host for the virus.
• Animal-to-Human Spillover: Humans contract the virus through prolonged exposure to bat-infested caves or mines, or contact with bat excretions.
• Human-to-Human Contact: Spreads quickly between people through direct contact of broken skin or mucous membranes with infected blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids.
• Contaminated Objects: Can be transmitted by touching bedding, clothing, or medical surfaces soiled with an infected person's fluids.
• Risky Burial Practices: Direct handling of the deceased during traditional burial rituals is a major driver of community spread.

• Incubation Period: The time from infection to the onset of symptoms ranges from 2 to 21 days.
• Sudden Onset: The disease hits abruptly with a high fever, crushing headache, severe muscle aches, and profound fatigue.
• Gastrointestinal Phase: Severe watery diarrhea, intense abdominal pain, cramping, and severe nausea typically manifest by the third day.
• Hemorrhagic Phase: Between days 5 and 7, patients develop severe bleeding tendencies, including vomiting blood or bleeding from the nose, gums, and vagina.
• Fatal Collapse: In terminal cases, severe blood loss combined with multi-organ failure leads to shock and death, usually between 8 and 9 days after symptoms begin.

• No Approved Vaccine: There are no regulatory-approved vaccines commercially available to prevent MVD.
• No Specific Cure: No proven antiviral treatment exists yet to wipe out the infection.
• Supportive Care Saves Lives: Early supportive clinical care—such as intensive intravenous or oral rehydration, oxygen maintenance, and symptom management—significantly improves survival rates.
• Strict Isolation protocols: Healthcare workers must strictly use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and absolute isolation protocols to halt hospital-wide transmission.

• Sacred Jyotirlinga: It is one of the 12 highly revered Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva across India.
• The Holy Trinity: Unlike all other Jyotirlingas that embody only Shiva, the Trimbakeshwar lingam features a rare three-faced form representing Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Mahesh (Shiva).
• River Origin: The temple sits at the foothills of the Brahmagiri Hills, which serves as the physical origin point of the sacred Godavari River.
• Kushavarta Kund: The temple complex houses the Kushavarta pond, the symbolic source where the Godavari river re-emerges, making a holy dip here essential for visiting pilgrims.

• 18th Century Reconstruction: While the site has thousands of years of scriptural history, the current stone structure was commissioned by the Maratha ruler Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb Peshwa) in the 1740s over an older ruined site.
• Hemadpanthi Style: The temple is constructed entirely out of local black basalt stone, representing classic Hemadpanthi/Maratha architecture.
• The Pandava Crown: The main deity is adorned with a legendary jewelled crown embedded with diamonds and emeralds, historically displayed to the public every Monday evening.

• Exclusivity of Pujas: According to texts like the Skanda Purana, specialized Vedic rituals such as Narayan Nagbali (to resolve Pitru Dosh) and Kaal Sarp Yog Puja can only be properly performed at this temple.
• Tamrapatradhari Guruji: The rituals are executed exclusively by a hereditary, localized group of pandits known as the Trimbakeshwar Purohit Sangh.

• Multi-Stage Build: It is a multi-stage, seven-storey-tall launch vehicle standing approximately 20 metres tall.
• All-Carbon Composite: The structural body is built entirely out of carbon-composite materials, making it exceptionally lightweight yet strong.
• Thrust Capacity: The propulsion system generates 1,200 kN of peak thrust.

• Solid Boosters: The first three stages use high-thrust solid-fuel rocket motors (including the Kalam-250 engine) for robust initial lift.
• Liquid Upper Stage: The fourth stage functions as a hypergolic liquid stage using a cluster of four Raman engines.
• 3D-Printed Engines: Features in-house 3D-printed liquid engines that reduce vehicle weight by 50% and accelerate production time by 80%.

• Payload Capacity: Designed to lift up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 260 kg into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
• Target Mission Coordinates: Mission Aagaman aims to place a mix of domestic and international test satellites into a 450 km orbit at a 60-degree inclination.
• Multi-Satellite Insertion: Uniquely optimized to handle commercial small-satellite markets by deploying multiple satellites simultaneously into different positions.

• Ramanujan Mission Computer: Equipped with an advanced onboard intelligence system that enables the rocket to make autonomous in-flight decisions without human intervention.
• Ultra-Low-Shock Systems: Utilises advanced pneumatic separation systems to ensure fragile satellite payloads face minimal structural vibration during deployment.
• 24-Hour Assembly: Designed for mass production and structural simplicity, allowing the rocket to be fully assembled and ready for launch within 24 hours from any compatible site.

• Breaking the State Monopoly: For decades, orbital space access was restricted to ISRO; this marks the transition into a flourishing, multi-player commercial ecosystem.
• Preceded by Vikram-S: This is a direct scale-up from Skyroot's Vikram-S flight in November 2022, which was India’s first sub-orbital private launch.
• Global Space Share: The mission powers India's official objective to aggressively expand its global commercial launch share and build a $44 billion domestic space economy by 2033.

• Host & Location: Hosted by ISRO in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
• Dates: Held from 23 to 24 June 2026.
• Overarching Theme: Guided by India’s broader BRICS theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability".
• Key Representatives: Attended by 26 senior delegates from the member space agencies, alongside India's Union Minister of State for Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, and ISRO Chairman, Dr. V. Narayanan.

• BRICS Space Economy: India's framework aims to tie space technology to commercial opportunities, linking government goals with private aerospace start-ups.
• Satellite Constellation Expansion: Delegations fast-tracked amendments to include new member countries into the existing BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation (RSSC) agreement.
• Space Sustainability: A major focus was placed on debris-free missions, sharing domestic regulatory frameworks, and guaranteeing long-term safety in orbit.
• Disaster & Climate Monitoring: Member states consolidated workflows to share satellite data for real-time applications in disaster management, agriculture, and climate change monitoring.
• Proposed BRICS Space Council: The leaders reviewed the Terms of Reference to set up a dedicated Space Council for structured, long-term multi-lateral governance.

• IN-SPACe Platform: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) hosted private space-tech enterprises and start-ups during the event.
• Industry Visits: Delegates participated in curated industry visits to witness India's rapidly growing commercial space manufacturing ecosystem firsthand.

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