UPSC Current Affairs 23 July 2026

 
Contents
1. Bharat 6G Alliance
2. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
3. Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti
4. AEW&C MK-II programme
5. Maglev Trains
6. Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award
7. Batukeshwar Dutt
8. Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing Aircraft
 
 

 
Why in News?
The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) is in the news because the collaborative platform has officially expanded to 90 member organisations, and its specialized working group submitted the vital "Spectrum Roadmap for 6G in India" report.
 
About

• Collaborative Platform: An industry and academia-led body facilitated by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications.
• Stakeholder Network: It aggregates telecom service providers, device manufacturers, research institutes, standards bodies, and tech startups.
• Launch Date: It was officially launched on July 3, 2023, to realize the overarching "Bharat 6G Vision".

Primary Objectives

• Indigenous Innovation: To map out national requirements and design native 5G-Advanced and 6G technologies so India becomes a primary technology creator, rather than just a consumer.
• Patent Powerhouse: To secure at least 10% of global 6G patents by 2030.
• Global Synergy: To forge collaborative partnerships and sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with other major international bodies like the EU’s 6G-IA and North America's Next G Alliance.
• Bridging Digital Divides: To make future communication ultra-affordable, sustainable, and highly inclusive for rural connectivity.

Operational Structure (Working Groups)
The alliance functions via 7 dedicated working groups focusing on specialized technology components:

• 6G Core Technologies
• Spectrum Roadmap
• Application Use-Cases & Revenue Streams
• Devices and Components
• Green and Sustainability Infrastructure
• Industry and Academic Outreach
• Architectural Frameworks

Larger Economic & Technical Vision

• Trillion-Dollar Impact: The ongoing 6G implementation roadmap is projected to generate a USD 1.2 trillion impact on India's GDP by 2035.
• Testbeds & Labs: The government has approved over 115 R&D projects through the TTDF and established 100 university-level 5G labs to make the local academic ecosystem 6G-ready.
• The "New Delhi Declaration": Via B6GA, India spearheaded a multi-national joint declaration to treat 6G infrastructure as a trusted, secure, and globally affordable public good.

 
 
   
Why in News?
India is celebrating the 170th birth anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak on July 23 2026.
 
Identification & Early Life

• Real Name: Born as Keshav Gangadhar Tilak on July 23, 1856, in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
• Honorific Title: His followers conferred upon him the title "Lokmanya", which translates to "accepted by the people as their leader".
• Educational Foundation: He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Deccan College, Pune (1877) and a Law degree from Government Law College, Mumbai (1879).
• Passing Away: He died on August 1, 1920, in Bombay. His passing coincided with the launch of Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement.

Contributions to Education

• Vernacular Focus: Tilak believed that a mass national awakening required quality education rooted in local culture and languages.
• New English School: Co-founded the institution in Pune in 1880 alongside Gopal Ganesh Agarkar.
• Deccan Education Society: Established in 1884 to create a revolutionary network of schools.
• Fergusson College: Co-founded this historic higher education institution in Pune in 1885.

Political Ideology & Leadership

• The Extremist Leader: Joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1890. He rejected moderate "constitutional adjustments" and spearheaded the Extremist (Radical Nationalist) faction.
• Lal-Bal-Pal Triumvirate: Formed a historic political troika with Lala Lajpat Rai (Punjab) and Bipin Chandra Pal (Bengal) to push for assertive actions.
• The Iconic Slogan: Coined the immortal battle cry: “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!”
• Surat Split (1907): Led the ideological split inside the INC at the Surat session, separating the Extremists from the Moderates.
• Home Rule League: Founded the Indian Home Rule League in 1914 to demand self-government within the British Empire.
• Lucknow Pact (1916): Partnered with Mohammed Ali Jinnah to frame an agreement aimed at securing Hindu-Muslim joint political representation.

Journalism & Literary Works

• Fearless Newspapers: Used media to educate the masses on colonial exploitation through two primary weeklies:
  • Kesari (Published in Marathi)
  • The Mahratta (Published in English)
• Imprisonment & Sedition: Imprisoned multiple times for writing critical articles. Notably exiled to Mandalay Jail, Burma (1908–1914) for defending young anti-colonial revolutionaries.
• Major Literary Books: Written primarily while incarcerated:
  • Gita Rahasya (An exposition on the Bhagavad Gita)
  • The Arctic Home in the Vedas
  • The Orion

Social & Cultural Strategies

• Mass Mobilisation: Reshaped regional traditions into large-scale public celebrations to build community resistance against British bans on political gatherings.
• Ganesh Chaturthi (1893): Converted private household Ganesha worship into a massive public festival to unify different castes.
• Shivaji Jayanti (1895): Popularised the celebration of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to awaken regional and national self-respect.

• Father of Indian Unrest: Termed by British journalist Valentine Chirol in his book Indian Unrest.
• Maker of Modern India: An honorific title bestowed upon him posthumously by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Father of the Indian Revolution: Declared by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

 
 
   
Why in News?
Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, presented an operational update to the Rajya Sabha on July 22, 2026, highlighting the expansion of its farmer-centric pricing models and its successful pan-India cooperative network.
 
Establishment & Structure

• Origin: Approved by the Union Cabinet and registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002.
• Promoters: Formed via a joint equity framework by five major national bodies: IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NAFED, NDDB, and NCDC.
• Capital: Operates with an authorized share capital of ₹500 Crore and an initial paid-up capital of ₹250 Crore.
• Headquarters: Headquartered in New Delhi, functioning through a multi-state zonal organizational structure.

Key Objectives & Brand

• Single Brand Identity: Markets all its certified and packaged high-yielding seeds under the uniform single brand name 'Bharat Beej'.
• Indigenous Conservation: Targets the preservation, purification, and digital mapping of traditional Indian natural seed varieties.
• Import Reduction: Aims to lower India's dependence on foreign seed imports to move closer towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India).
• Export Ambitions: Positioned as an apex body to elevate domestic seed standards to meet international export requirements.

Network & Digital Delivery

• Cooperative Reach: Built a vast network of over 37,000-member cooperative societies alongside 480 registered dealer networks across the country.
• PACS Integration: Directs the seed multiplication process right down to the farmer's field level by linking Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
• Digital Helpline: Offers basic advisory support and grievance redressal to remote farmers through a dedicated WhatsApp helpline facility.

 
 
   
Why in News?
The AEW&C MK-II programme (Airborne Early Warning and Control) is a critical ₹19,000-crore defence initiative aimed at developing six next-generation indigenous "eyes in the sky" spy aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to drastically enhance long-range surveillance.
 
Aircraft and Platform

• Base Airframe: The system will utilize six former Air India commercial Airbus A321 twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft.
• Modifications: Airbus Defence & Space (the OEM) and AIESL will strip the aircraft, reinforce the structural airframe, and fit auxiliary fuel tanks to increase flight endurance.

Advanced Radar & Capabilities

• Primary Radar: Features an advanced Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar mounted dorsally on top of the fuselage.
• Angular Coverage: Combines a 240-degree primary dorsal radar with a nose-mounted radar antenna to provide a 300-degree field of view.
• Target Detection: Capable of detecting and tracking enemy aircraft, cruise missiles, stealth targets, and drone swarms at extended ranges exceeding 400 to 500 km.

Strategic & Operational Significance

• Addressing Shortfalls: The IAF currently operates a limited fleet of 6 early warning platforms (3 Russian IL-76 Phalcons and 3 Embraer Netra Mk-I jets). The IAF requires at least 18 platforms to monitor the northern and western borders continuously.
• Tactical Network Integration: The aircraft will seamlessly link with the IAF's Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS) for real-time data sharing and battlefield management.
• Lessons from Operations: Recent experiences during Operation Sindoor highlighted an urgent operational need for expanded airborne radar networks.

Indigenisation & Roles

• Nodal Laboratory: DRDO's Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) based in Bengaluru is leading the design and engineering.
• Private Sector First: The deal positions Adani Defence as the first private Indian company to spearhead such a complex airborne military mission system. The contract includes integrated logistics and maintenance (MRO) support for up to 30 years.
• Project Timeline: Flight testing and airworthiness certifications (via CEMILAC and DGAQA) are planned for the late 2020s, with final induction slated for 2032-2033.

 
 
   
Why in News?
Maglev trains are in recent global news because Japan has officially approved construction on the nine-year political deadlock over environmental concerns Shizuoka section of its 500 km/h Chuo Shinkansen line.
 
About

• Portmanteau: The word stands for Magnetic Levitation.
• No Wheels: It completely ditches traditional mechanical wheels, axles, and steel tracks.
• Frictionless Movement: Because the train completely floats above a specialized track (guideway), it encounters zero rolling friction.
• High Operational Speeds: It easily tops 400 km/h to 500 km/h in service. Japan’s experimental SCMAGLEV holds the absolute world record at 603 km/h.

How the Technology Works?

• Levitation (Lifting): It uses electromagnetic forces—which are vastly stronger than Earth's gravity—to lift heavy train bodies weighing 150 to 500 tonnes.
• Suspension Types:
  • Electromagnetic Suspension (EMS): Uses attractive forces to pull the train upward, maintaining a tiny hover gap of 10 mm (used in China's Shanghai Maglev).
  • Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS): Uses repulsive forces from superconducting magnets to push the train up to 100 mm off the track, offering higher stability (used in Japan's SCMAGLEV).
• Propulsion (Moving Forward): Alternating current (AC) runs through the track walls, creating shifting magnetic poles that continuously pull and push the train forward.

Major Advantages

• All-Weather Reliability: Since the vehicle hovers, operations are entirely unaffected by surface hazards like heavy snow, ice, or torrential rain.
• Zero Derailment Risk: The train structure physically wraps around or sits deeply within the guideway walls, making derailment virtually impossible even during massive earthquakes.
• Low Wear & Tear: No friction translates into an incredibly smooth ride for passengers and significantly less track degradation over decades of use.

Key Challenges & Disadvantages

• Extremely Capital Intensive: Precision engineering for magnets and coils makes infrastructure incredibly expensive.
• Zero Compatibility: Maglev trains cannot cross over or run on existing standard railway tracks or regular city platforms.
• Aerodynamic Drag: Traveling faster than 300 km/h creates heavy air resistance, meaning the trains require immense power consumption and hyper-aerodynamic "bird-beak" front noses to pass through the atmosphere efficiently.

 
 
   
Why in News?
The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award (TNNAA) is in the news because the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has officially opened online nominations for the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2025.
 
Details of the Award

• Highest Honour: It is the highest national recognition for outstanding achievements in adventure sports across India.
• Nodal Ministry: The accolade is managed and conferred annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Equivalency: The award carries a status equivalent to the prestigious Arjuna Award.
• Name Origin: Named in honour of Tenzing Norgay, one of the first two individuals to successfully summit Mount Everest in 1953 alongside Sir Edmund Hillary.
• Historical Background: Originally instituted by the Government of India in 1993 as the "National Adventure Awards," it was renamed in 2003 to commemorate the golden jubilee of Norgay's historic climb.

Objectives

• The application window opened on July 21, 2026, and will accept submissions through the official National Awards Portal until August 20, 2026.

• To formally recognize and reward exceptional individual accomplishments in adventure activities.
• To inspire and motivate young Indian citizens to build a spirit of endurance, risk-taking, cooperative teamwork, and quick reflexes under challenging conditions.
• To incentivize and provide greater opportunities for the youth to engage in adventure initiatives.

Award Components
Winners of the award receive a comprehensive prize bundle, which includes:

• A bronze statuette of Tenzing Norgay.
• A formal certificate of recognition.
• A ceremonial blazer along with a silken tie (or a saree).
• A cash prize component of ₹15 Lakh.

The Four Award Categories
The Ministry generally distributes one award per year under each of these distinct tracks:

• Land Adventure: Covers activities like mountaineering, trekking, and rock climbing.
• Water (Sea) Adventure: Focuses on accomplishments like long-distance open-water swimming, sailing, and surfing.
• Air Adventure: Highlights skydiving, paragliding, and related aerial sports.
• Lifetime Achievement: Reserved for veterans who have dedicated their entire careers to sustained excellence and the active promotion of adventure sports.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

• Target Window: For Land, Water, and Air tracks, the selection board strictly evaluates the candidate's performance and track record over the preceding three calendar years.
• Lifetime Track: For the Lifetime Achievement category, the selection committee reviews the individual's entire lifelong career.
• Mandatory Criteria: Candidates must showcase excellent performance, disciplined leadership qualities, and continuous growth in their chosen discipline.
• Verification: Applicants must submit their documentation online, compiling their year-by-year chronological milestones into a single, indexed PDF file.
• Endorsements: Applicants can back their forms with recommendations from state sports departments or recognized national adventure academies. Recommendations are completely mandatory for active personnel serving in the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force.

 
 
   
Why in News?
Batukeshwar Dutt is recently in the news because India recently observed his death anniversary on 20 July 2026.
 
Early Life and Associations

• Birth and Roots: He was born on November 18, 1910, in the Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal.
• Formative Years: He spent much of his youth in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, graduating from P.P.N. High School.
• Revolutionary Bond: In 1924, he met Bhagat Singh in Kanpur, developing a profound, lifelong friendship.
• Ideological Groups: Guided by Chandrashekhar Azad, he joined the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) and the Naujawan Bharat Sabha.
• Bomb-Making Expert: Within the HSRA, Dutt received specialised training and became an expert in manufacturing local explosives.

The Assembly Bombing Case (1929)

• The Historic Action: On April 8, 1929, Dutt and Bhagat Singh hurled two low-intensity, non-lethal bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly in New Delhi.
• The Target Context: The act was planned to protest repressive British legislation, specifically the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Disputes Bill.
• Famous Slogan: They scattered anti-imperialist pamphlets and popularized the iconic slogan, "Inquilab Zindabad!" (Long Live the Revolution!)
• Core Philosophy: Their distributed leaflets contained the famous line: "If the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud."
• Voluntary Arrest: Intent on not harming anyone, they threw the bombs into empty spaces and willingly courted arrest to use British courtrooms as a propaganda platform.

Incarceration and Hunger Strikes

• Life Sentence: While Bhagat Singh was later executed for a separate murder case, Dutt was sentenced to life imprisonment in June 1929.
• Cellular Jail Hardships: He was deported to the notorious Cellular Jail (Kala Pani) in the Andaman Islands, enduring severe torture and forced labour.
• Historic Hunger Strikes: Alongside Bhagat Singh, Dutt initiated a massive hunger strike in prison to protest the abusive treatment of Indian political prisoners.
• Prison Reforms: Their strike lasted for weeks, forcing the British administration to improve dietary, reading, and living standards for Indian inmates.

Later Freedom Struggle and Post-Independence

• Quit India Movement: After being released in 1938 due to a severe bout of tuberculosis, he quickly joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India Movement in 1942.
• Final Incarceration: The British government arrested him again, keeping him in Motihari Jail (Bihar) until 1945.
• Post-Independence Hardships: Following India's independence in 1947, Dutt lived a quiet life in Patna, Bihar, but tragically faced severe financial penury and public neglect.
• Demise: He developed bone cancer and passed away at AIIMS Delhi on July 20, 1965.
• Last Wish: Per his final request, he was cremated at Hussainiwala (Firozpur, Punjab), right next to his executed comrades Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.

 
 
   
Why in News?
Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft are in the news because India unveiled its first full-scale eVTOL prototype, the e200X (PT-01), developed by Chennai-based deep-tech startup The ePlane Company, incubated at IIT Madras.
 
Technology and Features

• Dual Flight Dynamics: The aircraft utilizes electric power to lift off vertically like a helicopter, then transitions to forward winged flight like a conventional aeroplane.
• Runway-Free Operations: By leveraging vertical thrust mechanisms, these vehicles operate entirely from compact urban pads or rooftops without traditional runways.
• Advanced Powertrains: Standard configurations run on high-voltage architectures (such as the e200X's 800V electric system) driving multiple localized electric motors and rotors.
• Performance Capabilities: Current generation commuter models target cruising speeds ranging between 160 km/h and 200 km/h, with localized range limits around 110–200 km.
• Digital Architecture: Many next-gen prototypes utilize high-performance embedded systems, like the NVIDIA IGX Thor computing platform, preparing for future autonomous configurations.

Major Benefits

• Zero Operational Emissions: Power entirely derived from batteries or hydrogen fuel cells yields zero direct carbon emissions during transit.
• Acoustic Reduction: Distributed electric propulsion makes eVTOLs significantly quieter than conventional fossil-fuelled helicopters.
• Urban Decongestion: Bypassing surface gridlock saves massive amounts of time on short-range city routes and airport transfers.
• Redundant Safety: The use of multiple independent motors ensures that if one fails, other rotors compensate to maintain stable flight.

Critical Challenges

• Battery Energy Density: Heavy weight-to-power ratios limit payload capacity and flight times, prompting research into hybrid-electric and chemical storage alternatives.
• Infrastructure Capital: Scaling up requires substantial initial funding to construct widespread urban vertiports, charging grids, and dedicated flight tracks.
• Air Traffic Complexity: Integrating hundreds of new low-altitude vehicles demands entirely new automated air traffic control technologies.
• Stringent Airworthiness Certification: Passing rigorous regulatory flight evaluations to guarantee public safety often delays commercialization timelines.

 
 
 
Question & Answer
 
Q1. The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) was officially launched to realize which vision?
a) Digital India Vision
b) Bharat 5G Vision
c) Bharat 6G Vision
d) National Broadband Mission

Answer: c) Bharat 6G Vision
 
 
Q2. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak founded which organization in 1914 to demand self-government within the British Empire?
a) Swaraj Party
b) Indian Home Rule League
c) Servants of India Society
d) Forward Bloc

Answer: b) Indian Home Rule League
 
 
Q3. The Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti markets its certified and packaged seeds under which single brand name?
a) Krishi Beej
b) Bharat Seeds
c) Bharat Beej
d) Rashtriya Beej

Answer: c) Bharat Beej
 
 
Q4. The AEW&C MK-II programme will be equipped with which type of radar as its primary surveillance system?
a) Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) Radar
b) Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based AESA Radar
c) Doppler Weather Radar
d) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

Answer: b) Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based AESA Radar
 
 
Q5. Which type of Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) suspension technology is used in Japan's SCMAGLEV trains?
a) Electromagnetic Suspension (EMS)
b) Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS)
c) Air Cushion Suspension
d) Hydrostatic Suspension

Answer: b) Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS)
 

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