Current Affairs — 8 July 2026

1. Guwahati Declaration — BRICS Against Drug Trafficking

Core Context: The BRICS grouping is an intergovernmental organisation of major emerging economies. Originally formed as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) in 2001 — a term coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill — South Africa joined in 2010. In 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE were inducted, followed by Indonesia in 2025, expanding the bloc to 11 members. Additionally, 10 countries became partner nations in 2025, including Malaysia, Vietnam, and Nigeria. India holds the BRICS Chairship for 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

Latest Development: At the conclusion of the two-day BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies Meeting held in Guwahati, Assam, member nations adopted the Guwahati Declaration. The participating countries included Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, and the UAE. The declaration aims to reinforce cooperation against illicit drug trafficking and related transnational organised crime.

Key Provisions of the Guwahati Declaration:

• Greater cooperation through the timely exchange of information, intelligence, and best practices
• Use of innovative technologies, digital tools, and data-driven approaches to improve law enforcement
• Strengthening of demand reduction efforts and promotion of healthy lifestyles
• Special focus on protecting vulnerable groups, especially children and youth

UPSC Relevance — Key Facts:

• BRICS collectively represents about 49.5% of the world’s population, ~40% of global GDP, and ~26% of global trade
• The BRICS grouping has no permanent secretariat; each member rotates the chairship annually
• Indonesia became the 11th full member in 2025, making BRICS truly a global South institution
• Guwahati, the largest city in Assam and Northeast India, is strategically significant due to its proximity to international borders

2. PM Modi Conferred Bintang Adipurna — Indonesia’s Highest Civilian Honour

Core Context: India and Indonesia share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two countries are connected through civilisational and cultural ties — reflected in the prevalence of Hindu-Buddhist heritage in Indonesia’s culture and art. Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic nation, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, and a founding member of ASEAN. It is also a G20 member.

Latest Development: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Bintang Adipurna — the First Class of the Star of the Republic of Indonesia — during his official visit to Jakarta. This is Indonesia’s highest civilian honour, awarded by the President of the Republic.

About Bintang Adipurna:

• The word ‘Bintang’ means ‘Star’ in Bahasa Indonesia
• It is awarded to individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the unity, continuity, and prosperity of Indonesia
• Foreign recipients are recognised as contributors to friendship and mutual respect between Indonesia and their home country
• The insignia features a shining gold star symbolising excellence and distinguished service
• At the centre of the star is the Garuda Pancasila — Indonesia’s national emblem representing the five principles (Pancasila) of the state
• The decoration is accompanied by a ceremonial sash in red and white — the national colours of Indonesia

UPSC Relevance — Key Facts:

• Pancasila is Indonesia’s founding philosophical doctrine comprising five principles: Belief in God, Humanitarianism, National Unity, Democracy, and Social Justice
• Garuda is a shared mythological figure in both Indian and Indonesian traditions
• India is a major development partner of Indonesia and both countries cooperate in defence, trade, and digital infrastructure
• Indonesia is strategically significant as it controls the Malacca Strait — one of the world’s busiest sea lanes

3. School Education Report — UDISE+ 2025-26 and PGI 2.0

Core Context: The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) is the Government of India’s official digital database for the school education sector, maintained by the Ministry of Education. It collates real-time data on school infrastructure, student enrolment, teacher metrics, and learning environment. The Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 was introduced to grade states and UTs across six domains: Learning Outcomes, Access, Infrastructure & Facilities, Equity, Governance Processes, and Teacher Education & Training.

Key Findings from UDISE+ 2025-26:

• The total number of school teachers crossed 1.02 crore for the first time, an increase of 8.3% over 2022-23
• Women account for 54.9% of the teaching workforce
• Dropout rate at the secondary level declined from 8.2% (2024-25) to 7.0% (2025-26)
• Preparatory level dropout rate improved from 2.3% to 1.8%
• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at the secondary level improved from 68.5% to 71.7%
• Student retention at the secondary level rose significantly from 47.2% to 51.9%
• Computer access in schools increased from 64.7% to 69.9%; internet from 63.5% to 67.4%
• Safe drinking water availability: 99.5%; Girls’ toilets: 98.5%; Grid electricity: 95%
• Girls account for 48.4% of total enrolment

PGI 2.0 Key Findings:

• No state or UT achieved any of the top three grades (71%-100%)
• Chandigarh achieved the 4th highest grade (‘Uttam-3’) — the only UT to do so
• Kerala and Punjab consistently featured among domain leaders in Learning Outcomes, Access, and Teacher Training
• States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and several northeastern states fall in the aspirational ‘Akanshi’ category
• The inter-state gap has narrowed from 51% in 2017-18 to 31.4% in 2025-26

UPSC Relevance — Key Facts:

• PGI is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims for a 30:1 Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) — now being met at all levels
• UDISE+ data feeds into PM POSHAN, PRABAND, and Vidyanjali Portals
• GER = (Students enrolled in a particular level / Total eligible population) × 100; it can exceed 100% due to over-age enrolment
• Despite improvements, only half of Class I students eventually reach Class XII — a structural challenge in Indian school education

4. Himalayan Pangolin — Confirmed as a Distinct Species

Core Context: Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammals. They are covered in hard, overlapping scales made of keratin and are the only known mammals with this feature. India is home to the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and is now confirmed to also host the Himalayan Pangolin (Manis aurita).

Latest Development: Researchers have revalidated and confirmed that the Himalayan Pangolin (Manis aurita) is a distinct extant species, separate from the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla). Previously, it was classified as a subspecies of the Chinese Pangolin.

Key Features of Himalayan Pangolin (Manis aurita):

• Significantly larger body size and skull compared to the Chinese Pangolin
• Paradoxically has markedly smaller ears and a shorter, broader nasal bone
• Has an enlarged olfactory bulb and turbinals, using its sense of smell to forage for ants and termites
• Underwent a demographic contraction around the 14th century, coinciding with the onset of the Little Ice Age in the Himalayan region

Distribution and Threats:

• Found in the southern Himalayan foothills — confirmed populations in Nepal, South Tibet, and Northeast India (including Assam)
• Faces threats from illegal wildlife trade; its scales are used in traditional medicine markets
• Also faces the internal threat of inbreeding due to population bottlenecks

UPSC Relevance — Key Facts:

• All eight species of pangolins are listed under Appendix I of CITES (the highest protection level)
• Indian Pangolin is Schedule I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• Pangolins play a crucial ecological role as natural pest controllers, consuming millions of ants and termites annually
• The Little Ice Age (approximately 14th to 19th century) was a period of global cooling that significantly affected Himalayan ecosystems

5. Kwar Hydroelectric Project — Landslide in Kishtwar

Core Context: Jammu and Kashmir is rich in hydroelectric potential, primarily from the Chenab, Jhelum, and their tributaries. The Chenab River originates in the Bara Lacha La pass in Himachal Pradesh and is one of the five rivers of the Punjab basin. It is a critical tributary under the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) signed between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank.

Latest Development: Heavy rainfall triggered a major landslide near the under-construction 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. Kishtwar is located in the Chenab valley and is known as a hydropower hub.

About Kwar Hydroelectric Project:

• Capacity: 540 MW (4 units of 135 MW each)
• Location: Chenab River, Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir
• Type: Run-of-River Scheme (power generation without large water storage)
• Expected annual generation: 1,975 million units (MU)
• Dam height: 109 metres
• Developer: Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Ltd. (CVPPL) — a joint venture between NHPC Ltd (51%) and J&K State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) (49%)

UPSC Relevance — Key Facts:

• NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) is a Miniratna Category-I CPSE under the Ministry of Power
• Run-of-river projects are considered more environmentally benign than storage-based dams as they cause less ecological disruption
• Kishtwar district hosts several under-construction hydroelectric projects including Pakal Dul (1,000 MW) and Kiru (624 MW)
• Landslides are a major concern in J&K due to fragile Himalayan geology, heavy monsoon rainfall, and seismic activity

6. Ram Temple Trust Governance — First CEO to Be Appointed

Core Context: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was established on 5 February 2020, pursuant to the Supreme Court’s historic November 2019 Ayodhya judgment. The Court directed the Government to set up a trust, to which the acquired land would be transferred. Unlike temples such as Tirupati (governed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Act) or Vaishno Devi (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act), the Ram Temple has no dedicated state legislation. It is a public religious trust created through executive action in implementation of a judicial mandate.

Latest Development: The Ram Temple Trust accepted the resignations of its General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, and simultaneously announced the appointment of its first Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This marks the biggest administrative restructuring of the Trust since its formation in 2020. The move follows a donation-theft controversy that exposed major governance gaps.

Key Governance Issues Exposed:

• Many temple staff were engaged in an ad hoc manner without appointment letters
• Six outsourced counting agents, officially hired by SBI, were actually recommended by Trust office-bearers themselves — a conflict of interest
• A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) existed but was not properly implemented
• A private internal audit in 2020 had already flagged the management as ‘highly unprofessional’
• The Trust’s governing deed and internal documents remain outside the public domain
• The Central Information Commission (CIC) ruled that the Trust does not qualify as a ‘public authority’ under the RTI Act

UPSC Relevance — Key Facts:

• The RTI Act, 2005 defines a ‘public authority’ as any authority constituted by or under the Constitution, by law made by Parliament or State Legislature, or by notification issued by the Central or State Government. The Ram Temple Trust was constituted by executive notification — its RTI status is contested.
• The Ayodhya land dispute judgment (2019) directed the Central Government to allocate 5 acres of alternate land to the Sunni Waqf Board
• The Ram Temple was consecrated (Prana Pratishtha) in January 2024 with PM Modi presiding over the ceremony
• The temple now receives approximately 1 lakh devotees daily

7. Egyptian Vulture — Disappearing from Southern India

Core Context: India has eight species of vultures, all of which have seen catastrophic population declines since the 1990s, primarily due to veterinary use of the anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac. Vultures are nature’s sanitation squad — their highly acidic stomach fluids destroy pathogens including those responsible for anthrax, tuberculosis, and rabies, preventing disease spread.

Latest Development: The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), once a familiar sight across temple towns, grazing lands, and rocky cliffs of Southern India, has almost completely disappeared from much of its former range.

About Egyptian Vulture:

• Scientific name: Neophron percnopterus
• One of the world’s smallest vultures
• Distribution: Southern Europe, North and Central Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent
• Habitat: Open, arid areas near human settlements with ample food sources
• Diet: Carrion, insects, small reptiles, amphibians, and mammal faeces
• Behaviour: Monogamous; migrates as pairs between breeding seasons; builds and constantly replenishes large nests
• IUCN Status: Endangered

Threats:

• Loss of habitat due to rapid urbanisation
• Decrease in food supply (fewer open carcasses as livestock practices change)
• Collision with electricity infrastructure
• Poisoning from agricultural chemicals and veterinary drugs

UPSC Relevance — Key Facts:

• India banned Diclofenac for veterinary use in 2006 after it was identified as the primary cause of the vulture population collapse
• The SAVE (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction) programme works across South Asia to conserve vultures
• Vulture restaurants (feeding stations) have been established in some states including Rajasthan and Assam to provide safe, drug-free food
• The Egyptian Vulture is also called ‘Pharaoh’s Chicken’ and has been revered in ancient Egyptian mythology

8. Char Kaman — Restoration of Hyderabad’s Qutb Shahi Gateways

Core Context: The Qutb Shahi dynasty ruled the Deccan sultanate of Golconda from 1518 to 1687. Founded by Sultan Quli Qutb Shah, it was one of the five Deccan Sultanates. Hyderabad was founded in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the dynasty. The Charminar (literally ‘four minarets’), built between 1589 and 1591, was the centrepiece of the new city.

Latest Development: The Telangana government has announced the restoration of the Char Kaman — four ornamental gateways surrounding the Charminar area in Hyderabad. Administrative sanction has been granted to invite tenders and appoint a consultant for the conservation work.

About Char Kaman:

• The four gateways were likely built around 1594, a few years after the Charminar itself
• They originally marked the entrances to the Qutb Shahi Palace complex and enclosed a royal garden
• The central square enclosed by the four arches was known as Jilau Khana (the royal vestibule)
• The freshwater fountain at the centre was called Char-Su-Ka-Houz or Gulzar Houz

The Four Gateways:

• Machli Kaman (North) — ‘Fish Arch’; tall enough for an elephant with a canopied litter to pass through
• Kali Kaman (East) — the ‘Black Arch’
• Sher-e-Batil ki Kaman (West) — ‘Gateway for the lion-hearted’ or ‘magic-breaker’
• Charminar Kaman (South)

UPSC Relevance — Key Facts:

• The Qutb Shahi dynasty was known for its distinct architectural style blending Persian, Pashtun, and Hindu elements
• Golconda Fort and the Qutb Shahi Tombs are on India’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• The Deccan Sultanates — Ahmadnagar, Berar, Bidar, Bijapur, and Golconda — were significant political entities in medieval Deccan history
• Heritage conservation projects can be funded under schemes like the National Culture Fund (NCF) or the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY)

9. Leucine — Amino Acid Protecting Mitochondrial Membranes

Core Context: Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. There are 20 amino acids in total, of which nine are essential amino acids — they cannot be synthesised by the human body and must be obtained through diet. The nine essential amino acids are: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Among these, isoleucine, leucine, and valine are known as Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) because of their branched molecular side chains.

Latest Development: New research has revealed that Leucine, a branched-chain amino acid, acts as a protective shield for outer mitochondrial membrane proteins by inhibiting their premature degradation. It does so by interacting with a protein called SEL1L, which is involved in recognising and removing damaged or misfolded proteins from the membrane.

About Leucine:

• Scientific role: Involved in muscle growth, tissue repair, and energy production
• BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine, valine) are critical for the proper construction and maintenance of the outer membrane of the mitochondrion
• Without adequate BCAAs, organs such as muscles, the nervous system, the heart, and the brain are adversely affected
• BCAAs are not synthesised in the body and must come from dietary sources such as eggs, meat, dairy, lentils, and nuts

UPSC Relevance — Key Facts:

• Mitochondria are known as the ‘powerhouse of the cell’; they produce ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) through cellular respiration
• Protein quality is determined by its amino acid profile — animal proteins are generally ‘complete’ (contain all essential amino acids) while many plant proteins are ‘incomplete’
• Malnutrition in India is partly linked to protein deficiency — the issue of ‘hidden hunger’; POSHAN Abhiyaan addresses multi-dimensional malnutrition
• SEL1L is an endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein involved in the quality control of membrane proteins — a finding relevant to neurodegenerative diseases research

10. Sudan Civil War — UNICEF Report on Child Casualties

Core Context: Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating civil war since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sudan is a Northeast African country bordering Egypt (north), Libya (northwest), Chad and the Central African Republic (west), South Sudan (south), and Ethiopia and Eritrea (east). It also has a maritime border with the Red Sea.

Latest Development: UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) reported that over 300 children were killed or wounded in Sudan’s civil war over a six-month period. The conflict has triggered one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with massive displacement and widespread food insecurity.

Key Geographical Facts about Sudan:

• Capital: Khartoum (located at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile)
• Highest point: Jabal Marrah
• Dominant geographical feature: The Nile River system, running south to north across the country
• Natural resources: Petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, silver, and gold
• Climate: Desert in the north, transitioning to tropical savannah in the south

UPSC Relevance — Key Facts:

• Sudan was the largest country in Africa by area before South Sudan’s independence in 2011 following a referendum
• The Darfur region in western Sudan has been the site of a major genocide (2003 onwards); former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in Darfur
• The RSF evolved from the notorious Janjaweed militias that were active during the Darfur crisis
• UNICEF is a UN programme headquartered in New York, established in 1946; it works to protect children’s rights globally
• The Red Sea is strategically significant as it connects the Suez Canal (and thus the Mediterranean) to the Indian Ocean via the Bab-el-Mandeb strait