UPSC Current Affairs 12 September 2026

• Birth: Born as Vinayak Narahari Bhave on September 11, 1895, in Gagode village, Maharashtra.
• Spiritual Successor: He is widely revered as the spiritual successor of Mahatma Gandhi and a prominent champion of human rights and non-violence.
• Asceticism: Highly inspired by the Bhagavad Gita, he abandoned formal college education early on to join Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram in 1916.
• Linguist: He was a brilliant scholar who mastered several languages, including Marathi, Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu, English, and Gujarati.
• Passing: He passed away on November 15, 1982.

• First Individual Satyagrahi: In 1940, Mahatma Gandhi personally chose Vinoba Bhave to be the very first participant in the Individual Satyagraha movement against British rule, ahead of Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Anti-British Activism: He strongly advocated for the Non-Cooperation Movement and the use of Swadeshi goods.
• Imprisonments: He was jailed multiple times during the 1920s, 30s, and 40s for his active participation in non-violent resistance.

• Bhoodan Movement (1951): Also known as the Bloodless Revolution, Bhave launched this voluntary land reform movement from Pochampally, Telangana. He walked from village to village to persuade wealthy landlords to voluntarily donate a percentage of their land to landless Dalits and poor farmers.
• Gramdan Movement: Following Bhoodan, he encouraged entire villages to pool their land under a cooperative system for collective welfare.
• Sarvodaya Philosophy: He championed 'Sarvodaya', which translates to "progress or welfare for all," focusing heavily on uplifting rural communities and marginalized sections of society.
• Brahma Vidya Mandir (1959): He founded this ashram to establish a small, self-sufficient community entirely managed by women, promoting female empowerment and sustainable agriculture.

• Gita Pravachane (Talks on the Gita): While imprisoned in Dhulia jail in 1932, he gave 18 profound lectures on the Bhagavad Gita. These were published and later translated into 23 different languages.
• Geetai: He translated the Bhagavad Gita into Marathi verse to make it easily accessible to the common person.

• Ramon Magsaysay Award (1958): He became the first international and Indian recipient of this prestigious award, recognized for his exceptional community leadership.
• Bharat Ratna (1983): He was posthumously honoured with India's highest civilian award for his massive humanitarian contributions.

• Swami Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Datta on 12 January 1863 in Kolkata.
• He became a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
• His philosophical outlook was shaped by:
  • Vedanta.
  • Advaita philosophy.
  • Universal spiritualism.
  • Service to humanity.
  • Religious pluralism.
• He founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897, based on the ideals of spiritual development and social service.
• His participation in the Parliament of Religions helped present Indian philosophical traditions to the Western world.

• Date & Location: Delivered on September 11, 1893, at the Permanent Memorial Art Palace (now the Art Institute of Chicago).
• The Iconic Opening: He began with the legendary phrase, "Sisters and Brothers of America!"
• Instant Mass Impact: Those five opening words triggered a two-to-three-minute standing ovation from an audience of roughly 7,000 people.
• Representation: At just 30 years old, he represented Hinduism as an official delegate from India.

• Universal Acceptance: He emphasized that Hinduism teaches not just tolerance, but the acceptance of all religions as true paths.
• Condemnation of Sectarianism: He openly called for an end to fanaticism, bigotry, and religious violence.
• India’s Refuge Ethos: He proudly highlighted that India historically sheltered persecuted refugees of all faiths, including the Israelites and Zoroastrians.
• Oneness of Religions: He used the metaphor of different streams mingling in the same ocean to describe how all spiritual paths lead to the same divine reality.

• Bab el-Mandeb Chokepoint: Mocha sits just north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This narrow maritime gateway links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal, handling a massive portion of global energy and commercial shipping.
• Iran's Geopolitical Leverage: Security analysts note that this takeover establishes a dual-chokepoint advantage for Iran and its proxies. Iran maintains significant influence over the Strait of Hormuz on one side of the Arabian Peninsula, while the Houthis now firmly overlook the Bab el-Mandeb on the other.
• Disruption to Trade: Houthi control over Mocha gives the group a direct vantage point to disrupt international merchant ships, threatening global supply chains, food security, and energy prices.

• The Origin of "Mocha" Coffee: Long before becoming a war zone, the town was Arabia’s chief coffee-exporting center between the 15th and 17th centuries. The popular chocolate-coffee beverage "mocha" derives its name directly from this port.
• Port Decline: The historical port eventually declined due to shifting empires and the silting up of its harbour, leading the British to develop nearby Aden in 1839.
• Modern Status: The modern infrastructure was rebuilt in 1955. Prior to the recent Houthi offensive, it functioned as a vital commercial, logistical, and military hub for the Yemeni government.

• The UNESCO International Literacy Prizes are in the news because six outstanding literacy initiatives from Colombia, Lebanon, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, and Thailand were officially awarded the prestigious honour.
• The awards ceremony took place during the global celebration of International Literacy Day (September 8–9, 2026) in Chiapas, Mexico

• Origin: The prizes have been awarded annually since 1967 (60th anniversary) to reward excellence and innovation in the field of literacy. Over 500 projects worldwide have been recognized since inception.
• Objective: They aim to promote literacy as a foundation for lifelong learning, social equity, and sustainable development.
• Eligibility: Individuals, government bodies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can apply if their programs show measurable impacts.
• Structure: The prizes consist of six annual awards divided equally across two distinct categories:

• Sponsor & Focus: Supported by the Republic of Korea since 1989, focusing on mother-tongue and multilingual literacy.
• Reward: Medal, diploma, and US$ 30,000 per laureate.

• Sponsor & Focus: Supported by China since 2005, emphasizing functional literacy and technological environments for rural adults and out-of-school youth.
• Reward: Medal, diploma, and US$ 30,000 per laureate.

• Lebanon ('Alsama Project'): Confucius Prize winner for accelerated education compressing 12 years into six for displaced refugee youth.
• Mexico ('Chiapas Puede'): Recognized for bilingual instruction combining study circles and digital tools.
• Thailand & Nigeria: Honoured for multilingual disaster/climate training ('Language for Life') and solar-powered 'Literacy Hubs' in conflict zones, respectively.

• Geographical Coordinates: It is situated in the Gooty town of the Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, India.
• Elevation: The stronghold is positioned atop a massive, steep granite hill structure rising over 680 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level.
• Nomenclature Origins: Originally named Gautamapura after Rishi Gautama, it transitioned to Gadha (meaning fort) and Gutti, before being anglicized to Gooty.

• Early Origins: The earliest inscriptions on the fortification walls date back to the 7th century, originating during the Chalukyas of Badami era.
• The Sovereign Wheel: It served as a vital base during the Vijayanagara Empire. An inscription from the period of co-founder Bukkaraya I refers to Gooty as the "wheel of sovereignty" and the "King of Forts".
• Multi-Dynasty Control: Over the centuries, control of the fort shifted from the Vijayanagara rulers to the Qutb Shahi dynasty, the Mughal Empire, and later the Marathas.
• Siege & Colonial Rule: In the 18th century, Haider Ali of Mysore seized the fort from Maratha general Murari Rao by cutting off its water supply. It finally fell to the British East India Company, where administrator Thomas Munro used parts of it as a prison.

• Shell-Shaped Design: The fort features a unique conch or shell-shaped layout, comprising 15 smaller interconnected forts featuring 14 distinct gateways.
• Hindu-Islamic Amalgamation: The architecture is a structural blend of Hindu and Islamic styles, utilizing locally quarried granite blocks bound by fine stone, mortar, and lime.
• Ingenious Water Management: To survive prolonged enemy sieges, builders excavated 108 strategic wells and reservoirs directly into the rock clefts to harvest seasonal rainwater.
• Key Structures Inside:
  • Morari Rao's Seat: A polished limestone pavilion perched on the edge of a 300-meter cliff that offers a panoramic view of the town.
  • The Citadel: Positioned on the highest westernmost peak, housing an ancient granary, a gunpowder magazine, and ruins of a palace.
  • Religious Harmony: The complex features multiple ancient shrines—including the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nageswara Swami Temple, and Ramaswamy Temple—alongside an Islamic Dargah.
• Protection Status: The site is declared a centrally protected monument of national importance under the stewardship of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

• Location: The coal block spans approximately 5,000 acres within the biodiversity-rich Hasdeo Arand region of Chhattisgarh, out of which over 4,000 acres consist of dense forest land.
• Initial Exclusion (July 2023): The block was originally offered under the 7th tranche in 2023 but was withdrawn following a request from the Chhattisgarh government to exclude areas overlapping with the Lemru Elephant Corridor.
• State Approval (December 2025): The timeline changed when the Chhattisgarh government sent a letter on December 11, 2025, stating that the block is outside the elephant corridor and requesting its inclusion in upcoming auctions.
• Boundary Revision: Following the state's nod, the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL) revised the boundaries to strictly excise the influence zone of the Lemru Elephant Corridor, creating the "Tara (Revised)" block.
• Auction Outcome: The revamped block received high market interest with 9 bids. It was successfully allocated at a revenue share of 37.50%.
• Projected Economic Benefits: According to the Ministry of Coal, the mine is expected to generate over ₹1,200 crore in annual revenue for the state and create employment for more than 8,000 people.

• Forest Destruction: Activists claim that mining operations will lead to the clear-felling of over 10 lakh (1 million) trees in a contiguous, ancient forest canopy.
• Human-Elephant Conflict: Though the administrative boundary removes the direct corridor area, critics argue that mining all around the Lemru Elephant Reserve will disrupt migration paths and worsen structural wildlife attrition.
• Local Resistance: Local Gram Sabhas (village councils) have actively opposed mining in this specific pocket for nearly 15 years, raising issues regarding legal tribal consent laws.

• Dual-Theatre Format: For the first time in the history of the exercise, the drills are being conducted across two drastically different environments in a single edition.
• Phase 1 (Desert Warfare): Training started at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges near Bikaner, Rajasthan.
• Phase 2 (High-Altitude Warfare): The troops will transition to Auli, Uttarakhand, to practice extreme high-altitude combat skills.
• US Arctic Troops in India: The US Army has deployed its Arctic-trained soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division (based in Alaska) to adapt to India's high-altitude mountainous landscape.
• Advanced Weaponry Integration: The US Army's 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force (3MDTF) is participating to digitally integrate long-range precision fires and rocket systems with Indian defences.
• Counter-Drone Systems: For the first time under this framework, the US Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (MLIDS) is being deployed to counter modern aerial battlefield threats.

• Bilateral Initiative: It is the largest joint running military training and defence cooperation endeavour between India and the United States.
• Historical Timeline: The exercise started in 2002 at a basic platoon exchange level and was formalized as an annual event in 2004.
• Hosting Rotation: The event is hosted alternately by India and the United States every year.
• Command Structure: Joint planning is handled at the Brigade level, while execution and field drills occur at the Battalion level.

• Interoperability: Enhancing bilateral readiness, tactical synergy, and the ability of both armies to operate together seamlessly.
• Specialized Warfare: Sharing expertise in complex domains like mountain warfare, desert manoeuvres, electronic warfare, and unmanned aerial systems.
• Global Mandates: Engineering joint capabilities for United Nations peacekeeping operations and foreign humanitarian disaster relief efforts.

• Strongest Defence Tie: India and the US conduct more military exercises together than with any other partner (spanning other drills like Malabar, Tiger Triumph, and Cope India).
• Geopolitical Signal: The ongoing 2026 exercise reinforces the resilience of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, highlighting unified defence alignment irrespective of external global economic or trade pressures.

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