UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 25-09-2026

One Liners 25-09-2026

Geography

Cyclone Arnab 2026

Cyclone Arnab 2026 is the popular social media and news name for a weather system that hit the eastern coast of India as a deep depression rather than an official tropical cyclone.

• Official Status – The India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the system over the Bay of Bengal as a deep depression, not a fully formed cyclonic storm.
• The Name – “Arnab” is the next unused name on the regional North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone list, contributed by Bangladesh (meaning "ocean" in Bengali).
• It trended online because people anticipated the system would intensify and be assigned this name, but sustained winds remained below the 63 km/h threshold required for cyclone status.
• Wind Speeds – Sustained winds stayed around 52 to 65 km/h with temporary higher gusts near the shore, which fits the profile of a deep depression rather than a cyclone.
• Impact and Preventions
• Heavy Rainfall – The system brought heavy to very heavy rains to coastal and interior districts across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, including Malkangiri and Koraput.
• Safety Measures – Local authorities issued red warnings, closed schools, restricted fishermen from entering the rough seas, and deployed emergency response teams ahead of the landfall.

Social Issues

WHO/UNICEF JMP: WASH in Schools 2015–2025

Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in schools 2015-2025’ Report was released recently.

• Prepared by – WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP).
• Purpose – Tracks global, regional and national progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in schools, linked to the SDG WASH targets.
• Key Findings
• The world is not on track to achieve universal (>99%) WASH coverage in schools by 2030.
• To meet the 2030 goal, the current pace of improvement must increase by:
  • 4× for basic drinking-water
  • 5× for basic sanitation
  • 4× for basic hygiene

• Water: 10%
• Sanitation: 7%
• Hygiene: 12%

Polity & Governance

Next phase of the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) Scheme

Aviation Ministry signs 21 agreements under UDAN next phase.

• The UDAN Scheme (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) – It is a regional connectivity scheme launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India on October 21, 2016, to make air travel affordable and accessible for common citizens in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
• Next phase – The Civil Aviation Ministry signed 21 agreements with states and UTs for the next phase of the UDAN scheme.

• These MoUs aim to strengthen regional air connectivity and develop aviation infrastructure in underserved areas.
• The "Modified UDAN" focuses on affordability, sustainability, and promoting indigenous manufacturing.
• The scheme has already operationalized 687 routes and served 1.71 crore passengers.
• A new Challenge Mode portal allows states to nominate airstrips and helipads for development under UDAN.

International Relations and Issues

First Space Squadron by UK

The UK's No. III Space Effects Squadron is the Royal Air Force's first-ever dedicated active space defence unit created to disrupt, degrade, and deny hostile threats targeting British interests and infrastructure in orbit.

• Function and Role
• Active Defense – Unlike monitoring units, the squadron actively counters hostile actions against British space assets using advanced technology.
• Electronic Warfare – Employs electronic counter-measures to jam or block adversarial satellite signals and tracking.
• Operational Scope – Supports both defensive and offensive space operations to protect critical national infrastructure. Protected Infrastructure
• Military Support – Safeguards navigation systems, communications, and missile warning architectures that guide armed forces and warships.
• Civilian Services – Protects everyday essentials tied to satellite dependency, including mobile communications, weather forecasting, and financial/banking networks.
• Context and Structure
• Command Network – Operates alongside existing surveillance units— No. I Space Operations Squadron (which tracks objects) and No. II Space Warning Squadron (which provides threat warnings).
• Personnel – Pulls specialist joint-service personnel from across the UK Armed Forces.
• Announcement – Unveiled by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth at the inaugural UK Space Power Conference in September 2026.

Sports

India’s First Mixed Skeet Team Medal

India won its first-ever medal in the Mixed Skeet Team event at the international level.

• Skeet – It is a shooting discipline in which athletes fire at clay targets launched from two different stations.
• The Mixed Team format involves one male and one female shooter competing together.
• The achievement is significant for Indian shooting, particularly in the development of mixed-team events.
• It highlights India's growing competitiveness in Olympic shooting disciplines.

Security

Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026

Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 is the second edition of the Indian Air Force's premier multinational air exercise, running from September 26 to October 12, 2026, at Air Force Station Jodhpur and adjoining bases in Rajasthan.

• Participating Nations (with air assets) – 8 countries (Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Sri Lanka, UAE, and the USA)
• Observer Nations – 32 countries
• Key Aircraft – U.S. F-35A, French Rafale, UAE F-16, alongside Indian frontline assets like the Rafale, Su-30MKI, Tejas, and MiG-29.
• Objectives and Operations
• Interoperability – Focuses on realistic joint combat operations and tactical coordination.
• Mission Types – Includes counter-air, air defense, reconnaissance, airlift, and air-to-air refueling.
• Defense Showcase – Highlights the growing capabilities of Indian aerospace and domestic defense production to global partners.

Exercise Varuna

The 24th edition of the India-France bilateral maritime exercise Varuna officially commenced when the Indian Navy's guided-missile stealth frigate INS Trishul arrived at the Toulon Naval Base in France on September 22, 2026.

• Participants – Conducted between the Indian Navy and the French Navy.
• Indian Representation – Guided missile stealth frigate INS Trishul.
• Location – Toulon Naval Base, France (the primary French Navy base on the Mediterranean coast).
• Activities – Professional interactions, cross-deck visits, sporting events, and tactical operations both in harbor and at sea.
• Objectives – Share best practices, improve operational coordination, and strengthen maritime cooperation and mutual understanding.

Science

ISRO Advanced Radar Research Centre, Chandrapur, Assam

The ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) Advanced Radar Research Facility (IARRF) is an upcoming ISRO facility at Chandrapur in Kamrup Metropolitan district, Assam, near Guwahati.

• The facility is being developed as part of Project NETRA — Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis.
• Main purpose – The central objective is to strengthen India's Space Situational Awareness (SSA).
• In simple terms, it will help India observe, track and analyse objects orbiting Earth, including:
  • Operational satellites
  • Defunct satellites
  • Rocket bodies
  • Space debris
  • Other objects that could pose collision risks
• This is becoming increasingly important as the number of satellites and debris objects in Earth's orbit increases. ISRO's own 2024 Space Situational Assessment Report identifies the Chandrapur radar as a component of the NETRA programme.
• Project NETRA – NETRA = Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis.
• It is ISRO's programme to develop India's indigenous capability for space-object tracking and Space Situational Awareness.
• The broader NETRA architecture includes:
• Radar at Chandrapur, Assam

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Optical telescope at Hanle, Ladakh
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Other tracking facilities, including the Multi-Object Tracking Radar (MOTR) at Sriharikota
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Data analysis & conjunction assessment
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Protection of Indian space assets

ISRO says the Chandrapur radar and Hanle optical telescope are being established under NETRA

Awards

FAO 100 Women Heroes Award

Z T Lalrithangi, popularly known as Pi Mari-i, a former teacher-turned-farmer from Mizoram, has been selected among the FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development.

• 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development.
• The recognition is associated with the International Year of Women Farmers 2026.
• Selection – 100 women were chosen from 600+ nominations across 131 countries; Lalrithangi is one of two Indian awardees.
• Agricultural innovation – She started strawberry cultivation in 2024 and expanded to 10,000+ plants across 2 hectares.
• Value addition – Besides fresh strawberries, she produces strawberry wine and other value-added products.
• Income – Her venture earned around ₹1.5 lakh in 2024 and over ₹10 lakh in 2025.
• Significance – Her story highlights women-led agripreneurship, value addition, rural livelihoods and sustainable agricultural development in Northeast India.

Miscellaneous

World Pharmacists Day

World Pharmacists Day is celebrated by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).

Key Details of World Pharmacists Day 2026

• Date – September 25, 2026
• Official Theme – "Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures"
• Significance – Marks the founding date of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in 1912.
• Core Focus – Highlighting the vital contributions of pharmacists in disease prevention, patient counselling, medication safety, and strengthening global health systems against rising pressures like noncommunicable diseases and climate challenges.
• National Context (India) – Promoted extensively by regulatory bodies like the Pharmacy Council of India under overarching awareness missions such as combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR).