UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 16-02-2026

One Liners 16-02-2026

History, Art and Culture

Vande Mataram

The Union government directed that Vande Mataram be played or sung before Jana Gana Mana at events.

Geography

Pennaiyar River System

The Supreme Court directed the union government to constitute within 1 month a tribunal to resolve the disputes.

• It is also known as South Pennar River, Dakshina Pinakini (Kannada), Thenpennai / Ponnaiyar / Pennaiyar (Tamil).
• Originated in – Nandi Hills, Chikkaballapura district, Karnataka.
• Course – Flows ~80 km south through Karnataka, enters Tamil Nadu, then southeast to the Bay of Bengal at Cuddalore.
• Length – 497 km and second longest river in Tamil Nadu.
• Basin – 2^nd largest interstate east-flowing basin, between Pennar and Cauvery basins.
• Tributaries – Chinnar, Markanda, Vaniar, Pamban.
• Floods – Heavy rains at source cause sudden, short-lived floods.
• Usage – Heavily dammed for irrigation in Tamil Nadu; major reservoirs at Krishnagiri and Sathanur.

Legal Framework

• Governing law – Inter-State River Waters Disputes Act (ISRWD), 1956.
• Constitutional basis – Article 262 of the Indian Constitution.
• It addresses disputes over the waters of inter-state rivers and river valleys.
• Parliament holds the authority to enact laws for adjudication of such disputes.
• The President has the power to refer matters either to the courts or to a tribunal.

Uttarakhand - Himalayan Peaks Tourism

Uttarakhand opened 83 Himalayan peaks, for mountaineering expeditions.

• Altitude range – 5,700 m – 7,756 m.
• Prominent peaks – Mount Kamet (7,756 m), Nanda Devi East, Chaukhamba, Trishul, Shivling, Satopanth, Changabang, Panchachuli, Neelkanth.
• Objective – To promote adventure tourism, create local jobs, encourage youth mountaineering, balance development with conservation.
• Fee waiver (Indians) – No charges for peak, camping, or environmental fees.
• Foreign mountaineers – State-level fees removed; only IMF fees apply.
• Digital access – Applications via Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System (online portal).

Social Issues

NAMASTE Scheme Data

• Released by – Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• Scheme – NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem).
• Profiling – 1.52 lakh waste-pickers validated across 35 States/UTs.
• Social Category Distribution –
  • SC – 60.3% (92,089)
  • OBC – 13.7% (20,954)
  • ST – 10.5% (16,047)
  • General – 10.7% (16,329)
  • Note – Delhi & Goa show majority in General category.
• Gender Profile –
  • Women – 48.7%
  • Men – 51.3%
  • Transgender – 0.007%
• Objectives –
  • Formal recognition of waste-pickers & sanitation workers.
  • Provision of protective equipment.
  • Elimination of deaths from hazardous cleaning.

International Relations and Issues

Arctic Sentry

• Launched by – NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
• Objective – To strengthen security in the Arctic region.
• Context – Announced after the Greenland claims issue involving the U.S.
• Nature – Builds on existing alliance members’ activities in the Arctic.
• Significance –
  • Underscores the Arctic’s rising strategic importance.
  • Responds to concerns over territorial claims and military activity.
  • Reinforces NATO’s operational presence in high‑latitude environments.

Environment

Turtle Trails

• Proposal – “Turtle Trails” announced in Union Budget for coastal areas of Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala.
• Species Focus – Endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.
• Phenomenon – Rare mass nesting (“arribada”), seen in India, Costa Rica, and a few other regions.
• Key Odisha sites – Gahirmatha (Kendrapara district) and Rushikulya mouth (Ganjam district).
• Conservationist concerns –
  • Mass nesting zones should remain undisturbed, free from human activity and artificial light.
  • Ecotourism risks harming ecosystems (e.g., Chilika Lake dolphins).
  • Announcement lacked expert consultation.
  • Priority should be conservation, not tourism.
• Impacts – Artificial lights and human presence distract turtles, disrupting nesting conditions.

Security

Decline in LWE-Affected Districts

• Key metrics (Significant reduction in 7 Years) - 
• LWE-affected districts – 126 (2018) → 8 (December 2025) = 93.6% reduction.
• Civilian deaths – 1,005 (2010) → 100 (2025) = 90% drop.
• 88% reduction in LWE violence from peak of 1,936 (2010).

Science

India’s 1^st “Musical Path”

India’s first “musical path” introduced on Mumbai’s Coastal Road; rumble strips play “Jai Ho” when vehicles drive at a set speed.

• Location – Dharamveer Swarajya Rakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road, Mumbai.
• Innovation – 1^st in India, 5^th globally.
• Mechanism – Specially designed rumble strips embedded in the northbound carriageway.
• Experience – At 60–80 kmph, friction produces sound waves forming the tune.
• Technology origin – Adapted from Hungarian innovation.
• Global precedent – Similar paths exist in Hungary, Japan, South Korea, and UAE.
• Safety alerts – Signboards placed 500m, 100m, and 60m before the stretch.
• Future plans – Maharashtra government suggested “Sangeet Marg” expansion; and proposed a pilot on Samruddhi Expressway.

Bodhan AI for Education

• Launch at – Bharat Bodhan AI Conclave.
• Vision – Embed AI in education to empower students and support teachers.
• Structure – Non‑profit organization under the Education Ministry.
• Core Project – To develop an open‑source Bharat EduAI Stack.
• Goal – To integrate AI across all levels of education.
• Objectives of EduAI Stack:
  • To ensure equity in education.
  • To deliver high‑quality learning.
  • To make education affordable.
  • To improve accessibility.
  • To serve as digital public infrastructure.