UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 14-02-2026

One Liners 14-02-2026

Social Issues

PRIYA Trial – Pune Rural Intervention in Young Adolescents (2012-2025)

Follow-up to Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS, 1993).

PMNS Finding – Low vitamin B12 and high folate in mothers linked to higher risk of “diabesity” (insulin resistance, obesity) in children.
Hypothesis – Boosting B12 intake during adolescence may lower diabesity risk in the next generation.
Intervention – Adolescents received B12 and multi-micronutrient supplements.
Key Result – Supplementation improved neonatal ponderal index (weight-to-height ratio) and influenced gene expression in cord blood cells.
Mechanism: Higher B12 levels correlated with increased activity of genes encoding methylases—enzymes that regulate gene expression.
- B12 acts as a"regulator of regulators."
Concept – Supports the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory, where intrauterine environment shapes long-term health via epigenetics.
Recommendation – National health policy should include physiological doses of B12 along with iron and folic acid for adolescents and women of reproductive age.

Polity & Governance

Deputy Chief Minister

Sunetra Pawar, recently took oath as the new Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Constitutional status – Not a constitutional post; not mentioned in the Indian Constitution.
Appointment & Removal -
- Appointed by the Governor on the Chief Minister’s advice.
- Tenure depends entirely on the Chief Minister’s discretion.
Rank & Powers -
- Holds Cabinet Minister rank with equivalent pay and perks.
- Considered second in command in the State Council of Ministers.
- Influence depends on assigned portfolios; major financial decisions need CM’s approval.
Purpose -
- Used to ensure political stability, especially in coalition governments.
- Facilitates power-sharing and accommodates diverse political interests.
Prevalence (as of Jan 31, 2026):
- 16 states and 1 union territory have Deputy Chief Ministers.
- Andhra Pradesh has the most (5).

Economy

CHAKRA' Centre of Excellence (CoE)

Launched by – SBI.
Objective – To finance sunrise sectors like renewable energy, electric mobility, and green hydrogen, crucial for India's economic development.
Coverage –Renewable energy, advanced cell chemistry & battery storage, electric mobility, green hydrogen, semiconductors, decarbonization, smart infrastructure, and data centres.
Investment Potential – Projected capital investment of over ₹100 lakh crore by 2030.

Sunrise Industries

sun rise industryires

Kerala for All’ conclave

Organized by – Kerala Tourism and The Hindu.
Core Principle – Inclusive tourism enhances quality of life and is a shared responsibility.
Barriers identified – Physical, social, informational, and attitudinal challenges.
Key Initiatives –
- Drafting India’s first design policy for accessibility
- Promoting barrier-free infrastructure (ramps, lifts, accessible toilets)
- Training personnel in inclusive practices
- Applying universal design principles
Significance – It emphasizes inclusive and accessible tourism, drafting a design policy, and highlighting its successful Responsible Tourism Mission.

Responsible Tourism Mission

Launched in – 2007, evolved from community engagement to village tourism (e.g., Kumarakom).
Impact – Involves 1.9 lakh families and over 26,000 tourism units, with 18,000+ women-led enterprises.
Proposal – Grant tourism industry status to enable lower power tariffs and access to low-interest loans.
Accessibility challenges – Lack of empathy, poor information flow, limited training for architects, and weak enforcement of standards.
Key insight – Attitudinal barriers are more critical than infrastructural ones.

Environment

Tigers in Pench National Park

Pench National Park in central India is a tiger conservation success story, with rising tiger numbers.

Location – It lies across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh in central India.
Tiger Population – Numbers are increasing, with the wider Pench landscape supporting over 100 tigers.
Success Factors – Strong prey base (chital, sambar, gaur, wild boar) and well-protected habitats.
Biodiversity – Home to leopards, dholes, sloth bears, and more than 300 bird species.
Area – Covers 758 sq. km, including 257 sq. km in Maharashtra.
Tourism – Wildlife tourism is growing at about 15% annually, boosted by celebrity visits.
Safari Route – The Sillari Gate is emerging as a popular entry point due to frequent wildlife sightings.
Cultural Significance – The landscape inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.

Government Policies and Interventions

North Eastern Region Agri-Commodity e-Connect (NERACE) App

It is fully operational and facilitates market linkages between farmers/Farmer Producer Organisations/ Self Help Groups/Cooperatives of the North Eastern Region (NER) and buyers across the country.
Nodal ministry – Ministry of Development of North-East Region.
Aim – To strengthen digital market access and improve market preparedness of farmers in Sikkim.

Places in News

Mine Collapse in Congo

Event – A landslide caused a mine collapse at the Rubaya mines in eastern Congo.
Casualties – At least 200 people lost their lives in the disaster.
Cause – The collapse was triggered by heavy rainfall.
Control – The mines are under the control of M23 rebel forces.
Commodity – The site produces coltan, a mineral widely used in electronic devices.

congo mine collapse

Columbite-tantalite

It is commonly called coltan, is a dull metallic mineral found in large amounts in eastern Congo.
Location – It is primarily found in Central Africa.
Refinement – When processed, coltan becomes metallic tantalum, a heat-resistant powder capable of storing high electrical charge.
Extraction – Coltan is processed to extract tantalum, niobium, tin, and wolfram.
Use – These properties make tantalum essential for capacitors, which regulate current flow in miniature circuit boards.
Applications – Tantalum capacitors are widely used in cell phones, laptops, pagers, and many other electronic devices.