UPSC Daily Current Affairs | One Liners 24-08-2026

One Liners 24-08-2026

History, Art and Culture

Hero Stone Inscription – Fifth Century

Hero stone inscription from the Fifth Century unearthed at Malayadipatti, Tenkasi.

• Discovery – Found in brick well with steps dating to Sangam period.
• Details – Measures 1m × 0.30m; script transitional from Tamil‑Brahmi to Vattezhuthu.
• Inscription – Four lines: Karukkan, Sulagan, Nannang, Kodiyan; erected in memory of Nannang Kodiyan, son of Karukkan Sulagan.
• Context – Sangam/post‑Sangam hero stones lacked warrior depictions; similar finds at Pulimankombai, Aappanur, Mallikapuram.

Geography

India’s First Soil Texture Map 

NBSS & LUP develops India’s first soil texture map.

• Organisation – National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning (Nagpur, ICAR).
• Features – Prepared using field studies, remote sensing, satellite imagery, AI.
• Benefit – Helps farmers identify best crops for specific plots, supports region‑specific policies, crop planning, land‑use strategies.
• Significance – Crucial for small farms, varied soil characteristics, terrain suitability.

Polity & Governance

New Panel on Gorkhaland

New panel on Gorkhaland will draft political solution.

• Gorkhaland Issue – A long-standing demand by the Gorkha community for a separate state or autonomous region carved out of the northern, hilly areas of West Bengal (primarily Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Terai, and Dooars).
• Decision – Committee led by Singh to consult stakeholders, draft constitutional permanent solution for Hills.
• Assurance – Home minister promised constitutional solution, adequate funding; Bengal government firm against state division.

International Relations and Issues

BRICS Sports Ministers Meeting – Visakhapatnam

BRICS Sports Ministers adopt Joint Declaration at Visakhapatnam Meeting.

• Event – Meeting held under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• Focus – Cooperation in youth development, inclusion, sports technology, cultural exchange.
• Outcome – Proposal for BRICS Working Group on Sports Technology (AI, sports science, digital transformation, athlete performance).
• Initiatives – Sports Manufacturing Conclave (Udaipur, Nov 2026); Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games (Ahmedabad, Oct 2026).

7.5 Trillion Cubic Feet Gas Reserve – Iran

Iran discovers over 7.5 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas reserves Ssouthern Fars province.

• Discovery – 7.5 tcf natural gas, with 5.7 tcf recoverable, plus gas condensates worth billions.
• Significance – Equal to 15 years of production from one South Pars phase.

8^th BRICS OPST Meeting – Goa

8th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Ocean Polar Science and Technology (OPST) held in Goa under India’s Presidency.

• Event – Organised by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• Participants – Delegations from Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, UAE.
• Focus – Scientific cooperation, knowledge exchange, capacity building, collaborative research in ocean & polar science.
• Deliberations – Coastal resilience, Global Ocean Observing System, joint polar biodiversity study, Antarctic expedition, youth researcher training.

Economy

1,800 km LPG Pipeline Network

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) authorises about 1,800 km LPG pipeline.

• Scope – Pipelines across Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Goa.
• Projects – Cherlapally–Nagpur (556 km), Jhansi–Sitarganj (611 km), Shikrapur–Goa & Hubli (633 km).
• Developer – GAIL (India) Limited to execute projects.
• Impact – Expands LPG network by 24% (7,700 km to 9,500 km).
• Benefits – Cuts LPG truck movement, improves road safety, lowers logistics cost, reduces congestion and carbon emissons.

Science

AK‑203 Sher Rifle

India’s first indigenised AK‑203 ‘Sher’ rifle successfully made and test‑fired.

• Produced at – Korwa ordnance factory, Amethi by Indo‑Russian Rifles Pvt Ltd (IRRPL).
• Indigenisation – Built with 100% Indian components and input materials; true end‑to‑end localisation.
• Testing – Successfully fired, including burst firing; prototypes to be handed to Army trials.
• Production – Target rate: one rifle every 100 seconds; delivery of 6 lakh rifles advanced by one year.
• Features – Modern 7.62x39mm, 700 rounds/min, 800m range; superior to INSAS in lethality, ergonomics, reliability.

Miscellaneous

Sale of Analogue Paneer – Himachal Pradesh

Himachal bans sale of ‘analogue paneer’ as genuine dairy paneer.

• Order – Issued by Food Safety Commissioner Ashish Singhmar under FSS Act 2006, effective for one year.
• Action – Prohibits manufacture, storage, distribution, sale of non‑dairy paneer passed off as genuine.
• Findings – Market surveillance found adulteration, misbranding, use of vegetable oils without labels or invoices.
• Applies to restaurants, hotels, cloud kitchens, dhabas, caterers; non‑dairy alternatives must be declared.

National Space Day 2026

India celebrates National Space Day on August 23 to honor Chandrayaan‑3 success.

• Event – Announced by Prime Minister at ISRO HQ Bengaluru (Aug 26, 2023).
• Theme – “Towards Viksit Bharat – Innovating, Collaborating and Aspiring to Global Space Leadership”
• Milestone – Chandrayaan‑3 Vikram lander soft‑landed near Moon’s south pole (Aug 23, 2023).
• Significance – India became first nation at lunar south pole, fourth globally to achieve soft landing.
• Impact – Mission deployed Pragyan rover, benefits science and mankind.
• Celebration – National Space Day (NSpD) observed annually; includes India Space Week, events, competitions, engagement programs.