UPSC Daily Current Affairs Capsule – 24 June 2026
Most Important Topics for Prelims + Mains
1. Climate Change and Rising Cost of Living in India
GS-3: Environment | Economy | Climate Change
Why Important?
Climate change is no longer only an environmental issue; it is directly affecting inflation, electricity bills, water availability, healthcare expenditure, and livelihoods.
Key Points
Food Inflation
- Food has 45.86% weightage in CPI.
- Extreme heat and erratic monsoons reduce crop yields.
- 2023 rainfall deficit of 6% reduced pulses and oilseed sowing.
- Retail prices increased by 6–15%.
Energy Costs
- India’s power demand reached 270.8 GW (May 2026).
- Increased use of ACs and cooling devices.
- Higher coal imports and tariffs raise electricity bills.
Water Scarcity
- Groundwater depletion due to irregular rainfall.
- Growth of expensive private tanker economy.
- Worst impact on slums, Dalits, Adivasis, and poor households.
Health Expenditure
- Increase in heat-related illnesses.
- Rising vector-borne diseases.
- Higher Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE).
World Bank Warning
- Climate change may reduce India’s GDP by 2.8% by 2050.
- Most vulnerable states:
- Chhattisgarh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Rajasthan
- Uttar Pradesh
- Maharashtra
Issues in Current Framework
- Heatwaves are not notified disasters under DMA 2005.
- PMFBY often misses localized crop damage.
- PM-KISAN support not linked to inflation.
- Heat Action Plans lack legal backing and dedicated funding.
Important State Initiatives
| State | Initiative |
|---|---|
| Telangana | Cool Roof Policy (2023-28) |
| Tamil Nadu | Heatwave declared state-specific disaster |
| Rajasthan | Net-zero cooling stations |
| Kerala | Village-level heat planning |
| Maharashtra | Multi-sectoral heat early warning system |
Way Forward
- Climate Resilience & Adaptation Act
- National Climate Adaptation Authority
- Green Budgeting
- Climate-sensitive inflation management
- Right to Thermal Comfort under Article 21
Prelims Facts
- India’s Net Zero Target: 2070
- ICAP: India Cooling Action Plan
- Heatwaves not classified as National Disaster
Mains Value Addition
Quote: Climate change acts as a “regressive tax” on the poor.
2. India’s Emerging Technology Ecosystem
GS-3: Science & Technology
Why Important?
India is transitioning from a technology consumer to a technology creator.
Digital India Achievements
| Indicator | 2014 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Connections | 25.15 crore | 102.86 crore |
| Broadband Connections | 6.1 crore | 99.56 crore |
| Data Cost/GB | ₹269 | ₹8–10 |
| Monthly Data Usage | 61 MB | 24 GB |
5G Achievement
- Coverage in 99.9% districts
Important Missions
National Supercomputing Mission (2015)
- Outlay: ₹4,500 crore
- 38 Supercomputers
- 47 Petaflops capacity
- PARAM Rudra Series
Semicon India Programme
- ₹76,000 crore
- 12 approved projects
- Investment: ₹1.64 lakh crore
India Semiconductor Mission 2.0
- Budget 2026-27
- ₹1,000 crore initial allocation
National Quantum Mission
- ₹6,003.65 crore
- Approved in 2023
- India’s first Quantum Valley:
- Amaravati
IndiaAI Mission
- ₹10,300 crore+
- 38,000 GPUs
- AI Kosh:
- 12,115 datasets
- 306 AI models
MeghRaj Cloud
- Indigenous Government Cloud Platform
National Blockchain Framework
- Launched: 2021
- Outlay: ₹64.76 crore
Biotechnology
- Bioeconomy:
- $150 Billion (2023)
- $190 Billion (2026)
Research & Innovation
ANRF
(Anusandhan National Research Foundation)
Programs:
- MAHA
- PAIR
- ATRI
RDI Scheme
- ₹1 lakh crore corpus
- Approved in 2025
Chips to Startup (C2S)
- Target:
- 85,000 semiconductor professionals
Global Rankings
Global Innovation Index
- 2015: Rank 81
- 2025: Rank 38
GCC Ecosystem
- 2,100+ GCCs
- 23.6 lakh employees
Bharat 6G Alliance
- Established: 2023
Pax Silica
- Coalition for semiconductor and AI security
- India joined in 2026
Mains Value Addition
India is emerging as a trusted technology partner through:
- AI
- Quantum Computing
- Semiconductors
- DPI (India Stack)
3. PM-KISAN – 23rd Installment Released
GS-2 | Agriculture
Key Facts
- Launch: 2019
- Central Sector Scheme
Financial Assistance
- ₹6,000 annually
- Three installments of ₹2,000 each
Latest Release
- ₹18,880 crore released
- Beneficiaries:
- 9.44 crore farmers
- 2.18 crore women farmers
Budget 2026-27
- ₹60,000 crore allocation
Total Disbursement
- ₹4.46 lakh crore+
Kisan-eMitra
AI-powered chatbot
Developed with:
- EkStep Foundation
- BHASHINI
Languages:
- 11 Indian languages
Prelims Fact
PM-KISAN is a Central Sector Scheme, not Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
4. Western Ghats Set for Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) Notification
GS-3 Environment
Background
Gadgil Committee (2011)
- Protection of entire Western Ghats
Kasturirangan Committee (2013)
- Differentiated:
- Natural landscapes
- Cultural landscapes
Proposed ESA Area
- Over 56,000 sq km
States Covered
- Gujarat
- Maharashtra
- Goa
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
Restricted Activities
❌ Mining
❌ Quarrying
❌ Thermal Power Plants
❌ Red Category Industries
❌ Large Construction Projects
Allowed Activities
✅ Organic Farming
✅ Rainwater Harvesting
✅ Sustainable Livelihoods
Significance
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Global Biodiversity Hotspot
- Water Tower of Peninsular India
Prelims Trap
ESA ≠ ESZ
ESA
- Large ecologically fragile landscapes
ESZ
- Buffer around Protected Areas
5. BRICS National Security Advisers Meeting
GS-2 IR
Hosted By
India (BRICS Chair 2026)
Theme
“Non-Traditional Security Challenges”
Focus Areas
- Cybersecurity
- Terrorism
- Artificial Intelligence
- Technology Governance
India’s BRICS Theme 2026
“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”
Important Fact
India has chaired BRICS:
- 2012
- 2016
- 2021
- 2026
6. India–Israel Defence Relations
GS-2 IR
Important Defence Systems from Israel
- Heron Drone
- Searcher Drone
- Phalcon AWACS
- SPYDER Air Defence System
Major Joint Project
Barak-8 (MRSAM)
Developed by:
- DRDO
- Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
Used by:
- Army
- Navy
- Air Force
Other Cooperation
- Blue Flag Exercise
- Counter-terrorism technologies
- Defence manufacturing
7. Padma Awards 2026
GS-1 Culture
Categories
- Bharat Ratna (Highest)
- Padma Vibhushan
- Padma Bhushan
- Padma Shri
Padma Vibhushan
- Justice K.T. Thomas
- P. Narayanan
Padma Bhushan
- Mammootty
- Vijay Amritraj
- Alka Yagnik
- Shibu Soren (Posthumous)
Padma Shri
- Rohit Sharma
- Savita Punia
- R. Madhavan
8. Dolphin Conservation in Gujarat
GS-3 Environment
Survey Findings
- 680+ dolphins recorded
- Major habitat:
- Gulf of Kutch
Species
Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin
- IUCN: Endangered
- WPA 1972: Schedule I
- CITES Appendix I
Bottlenose Dolphin
- Common: Least Concern
- Indo-Pacific: Near Threatened
- CITES Appendix II
Threats
- Pollution
- Fishing nets
- Underwater noise
- Vessel traffic
- Habitat degradation
Prelims Fact
India’s National Aquatic Animal = Gangetic River Dolphin, not Bottlenose Dolphin.
Prelims Revision Box (One-Liners)
✅ Net Zero Target – 2070
✅ PM-KISAN – ₹6000/year
✅ Quantum Valley – Amaravati
✅ 5G Coverage – 99.9% districts
✅ IndiaAI Mission – ₹10,300 crore+
✅ National Quantum Mission – ₹6003.65 crore
✅ Semicon India – ₹76,000 crore
✅ Western Ghats ESA – 56,000 sq km
✅ BRICS Theme 2026 – Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation & Sustainability
✅ Gulf of Kutch – Key Dolphin Habitat
✅ Heatwaves not notified under DMA 2005
✅ ESA notified under Environment Protection Act, 1986
UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Climate change is increasingly becoming an economic crisis rather than merely an environmental challenge. Discuss.
- India’s emerging technology ecosystem reflects a shift from technology consumer to technology creator. Examine.
- Discuss the ecological significance of the Western Ghats and challenges in ESA notification.
