UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 01-08-2026

One Liners 01-08-2026

International Relations and Issues

Favara–UPI Corridor – Maldives and India

Recently, Maldives has launched real-time cross-border fund transfers to India.

• Launch – Real‑time cross‑border fund transfers via Favara (Maldives) + UPI (India).
• Mechanism – Transactions in Maldivian Rufiyaa will be credited in INR to UPI accounts.
• Partners – Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), RBI, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), Bank of Maldives, Maldives Islamic Bank.
• Scope – Family maintenance and gift remittances; person‑to‑person transfers via mobile apps.

Environment

Varayattumudy in Kerala’s Idukki

Varayattumudy (or Varayattumudi) in Kerala's Idukki district is emerging as an important refuge for the endangered Nilgiri tahr, one of the most iconic mammals of the Western Ghats.

• Varayattumudy lies within the Adimali forest division of Kerala's Idukki district.
• The region's steep cliffs, rocky crevices, and extensive montane grasslands provide ideal conditions for the Nilgiri tahr.
• Forest officials have reported a steady rise in the tahr population in the area owing to stronger conservation measures and reduced hunting pressure.

Nilgiri Tahr

• Scientific name- Nilgiritragus hylocrius.
• It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Conservation status- Endangered according to the IUCN Red List.
• Legal protection - Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The species inhabits high-altitude grasslands, shola forests, and rocky mountain slopes.
• Eravikulam National Park supports the largest surviving population of the species.

Karnataka's Neelam and Totapuri Mangoes

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first-ever air shipment of Karnataka's Neelam and Totapuri mangoes to the Maldives.

• The shipment consisted of one metric tonne of mangoes.
• The fruits were sourced from farmers belonging to a Farmer Producer Company (FPC) in Kolar district of Karnataka.
• The export was facilitated by APEDA under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the initiative would open up new international markets for farmers and strengthen India's fruit-export ecosystem.

Security

Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition – 2026

Recently Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries have established a maritime defence coalition.

• Launch – Saudi Arabia + 13 nations form alliance in Riyadh.
• Aim – To enhance maritime security, protecting freedom of navigation, securing international trade routes and energy supply lines.
• Focus – To safe guard hared maritime interests in Bab El-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden.
• Founding Members – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia and others.
• Headquarters – Saudi Arabia.
• Nature – Purely defensive, compliant with international law and sovereignty.

India’s Indigenous Diving Support Vessel – Nipun

Recently, India’s 2^nd diving support vessel was delivered to Navy.

• Builder – Hindustan Shipyard Ltd., delivered at Visakhapatnam.
• Type – Specialised DSV for deep‑sea dive operations and submarine rescue operations.
• Features – Advanced dynamic positioning, saturation diving systems and deployment gear for remotely operated vehicles.
• Role – Serves as mother ship for Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV).
• Legacy – Second indigenously built DSV after INS Nistar (2025).
• Indigenous Content – 75%, aligned with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Machilipatnam – ASW Warship

Recently, Indian Navy launched Machilipatnam Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercraft (ASW SWC).

• Launch – 7^th of 8 ASW SWC.
• Built by – Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
• Named after – Historic port city Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh) reflecting the city’s rich maritime heritage.
• Role – Coastal/littoral operations – underwater surveillance, anti‑submarine warfare, mine warfare, low‑intensity ops.
• Indigenous Content – >80%, aligned with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

India’s 1^st Dedicated Department of Military

Recently, India’s first‑ever dedicated academic and operational department for military medicine was inaugurated.

• Launch – Inaugurated at Command Hospital, Central Command, Lucknow.
• Under – Directorate General of Medical Services (Army).
• Focus – Combat medical readiness, battlefield trauma, psychiatry, environmental medicine, medical logistics.
• The facility will first start with academic programmes, then expand into Centres of Excellence for HADR and CBRNE defence.

HADR – Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief; CBRNE – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives.

• Future Plan – Centres of Excellence and Global Military Medicine Centre under Raksha Strategy Vision 2026‑30.
• Significance – Strengthens indigenous doctrines, AI‑enabled health monitoring, resilience and innovation in battlefield medicine.

Cosmos Bloom Diamond – Vikram‑1

Recently, for the 1^st time in the world, a lab-grown diamond jewel has made it to space.

• Jewel – the Cosmos Bloom Diamond; Lotus‑shaped, handcrafted in gold, set with 16.9 carats lab‑grown diamonds.
• Sent by – Cosmos Diamonds, A Bengaluru start-up
• Launch Vehicle – Aboard Skyroot’s Vikram‑1, India’s first private orbital rocket.

Science

Private R&D Spending in India: Crossing the 0.8% Milestone

India's expenditure on research and development (R&D) has crossed 0.8% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first time since 2010, marking an important step toward strengthening the country's innovation ecosystem.

• India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) has risen above 0.8% of GDP.

• The increase has been driven largely by higher investments from the private sector.
• Government initiatives such as the National Research Foundation (NRF) and production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes have encouraged greater industrial participation in research and innovation.
• Sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, information technology, semiconductors, space technology, and renewable energy have witnessed increased investment.

Index

Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026

Recently EPI 2026 was released.

• EPI – A data-driven global benchmark and serves as a vital analytical tool for evaluating national progress to achieving global sustainability targets, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement objectives
• Developed by – Institutes of Yale and Columbia University along with support from the McCall MacBain Foundation.
• Coverage – 177 nations, 47 indicators, 12 issue categories (climate change, ecosystem vitality, environmental public health).
• Top Rank – Estonia (1st, score 74.79); followed by Luxembourg, UK, Finland, Netherlands (Top 5 – All from Europe).
• India – 176^th (score 22.46), second lowest; severe air quality and biodiversity loss.