UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 16-06-2026

One Liners 16-06-2026

History, Art and Culture

Agatthiyar

Recently, the Vice President of India released the book “Agatthiyar – The Unifier”.

• Agathiyar (Agastya) is a revered Vedic sage.

• Contributions – Founding father of the Siddha system of medicine.

• Literary work – Agathiyam (Tamil grammer book).

• Associated places – Held River Kaveri in his kamandalam (water pot) to provide water to the dry lands of the south.

  • In the sacred Pothigai Hills, Agastya composed Agathiyam, the earliest known Tamil grammatical treatise.

• Legacy – "India’s languages are sister tongues, enriched by mutual respect and centuries of cultural exchange."

Ayurveda Knowledge Heritage workshop

CCRAS-Central Sanskrit University Initiative Strengthens Preservation of India’s Ayurveda Knowledge Heritage recently.

• Organised by –

  • Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush.

  • Central Sanskrit University (CSU), Ministry of Education.

• Collaboration with – Sri Vadiraja Research Foundation.

• Focuses on – Transliteration of Tigalari and Old Kannada Manuscripts

  • Publication of rare unpublished ayurveda texts.

• Aim – To build expertise among scholars in reading, deciphering and transcribing Ayurveda manuscripts.

Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro

There is a recent controversy about the digital "covering up" of the bare torso of the 4,500-year-old bronze "Dancing Girl" figurine Period – Indus Valley Civilisation.

• Discovered in – Mohenjo-daro (present-day Sindh, Pakistan), in the year of 1926.

• Excavated by – British archaeologist Ernest Mackay

• Made-up of – Bronze.

• Features – Naturalism, lively posture, and ancient metallurgy.

Polity & Governance

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

ASI and National Museum of Denmark Signed MoU for Underwater Archaeological Investigation of Historic Danish Ship Oresund.

• It is a premier organization for archaeological research and heritage protection.

• Founded in – 1861 by Sir Alexander Cunningham.

• Functions under – Ministry of Culture.

• Legal Framework

  • Operates under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

  • Regulates the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.

• Administrative Structure – Entire country divided into 37 Circles for monument/site management.

• Objectives – To conducts archaeological surveys, excavations, and research projects.

  • To maintains and conserves monuments and sites of national importance.

  • To operates museums and publishes research findings.

SHE-Marts (Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts)

Under DAY-NRLM 700 SHE-MARTs, 1,000 District Fulfilment Centres to be set up to ensure 6 crore lakpati didis.

• SHE-Marts – These are Community‑owned retail outlets supported by the government.

  • Designed to empower rural women entrepreneurs.

• Objectives -

  • To enable Self‑Help Groups (SHGs) to sell goods directly to consumers.

  • To increase profit margins and reduce dependence on middlemen.

  • To support the “Lakhpati Didi” mission – ensuring sustainable income for 6 crore women.

• Structure & function

  • Established within cluster‑level federations to showcase and sell local products.

  • Linked with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) for nationwide digital selling.

International Relations and Issues

Slovakia

Prime Minister conferred with the national honour of the Slovak Republic recently.

• Award – ''Order of the White Double Cross, 1st Class''.

  • It is the highest national honour of the Slovakia.

Slovakia

• Slovakia is a landlocked parliamentary democratic republic in Central Europe.

  • It became an independent nation on January 1, 1993.

• Capital – Bratislava (only national capital in the world that directly borders two other sovereign countries: Austria and Hungary).

• Geography – Dominated by the Western Carpathian Mountains.

• Boarders –Poland (north), Ukraine (east), Hungary (south), Austria (southwest), Czech Republic (northwest).

Exercise Pitch Black

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) officially launched the 2026 edition of Exercise Pitch Black.

• Held in – Northern Australia.

• Operated from – RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal in the Northern Territory, as well as RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland.

• Participating nations – India, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Fiji, Finland, France, Indonesia, and other 11 nations.

• Objective – To enhance interoperability, shared preparedness, and regional security among allied and partner air forces.

Agriculture

Queen Pineapple

Recently Union Minister highlights GI-tagged Queen Pineapple as a flagship product with global premium potential.

• It is a spiny, golden-yellow variety.

• Scientific name – Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.

• Known for – Deep orange-yellow flesh, intense sweetness (13-17.2 degrees Brix), and rich aroma.

• Nutritional value – Packed with vitamins (A, B, C) and minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron).

• Note – It is state fruit of Tripura.

Environment

Project Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

Recently, Project GIB Adds Three Chicks, Taking Captive Stock to 94 Birds.

• Objective – to save Great Indian Bustard (GIB) i.e, state bird of Rajasthan.

• Conservation methods –

  • Captive breeding – “Jumpstart approach”, By replacing an infertile egg in the wild with a captive-bred, led to increase in population.

  • Habitat preservation,

  • Power-line mitigation.

• Conservation status –

  • IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered

  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – Schedule I

  • CITES – Appendix I

Security

INS Sharda (P55)

Recently, INS Sharda departed Colombo, Sri Lanka after a successful port call that further strengthened maritime cooperation.

• It is a Sukanya-class offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy.

• Commissioned in – 1991.

• Designed for – Maritime surveillance, fleet support, and anti-piracy operations.

• Significance – It actively participates in

  • Regional security deployments and

  • Humanitarian assistance missions.