UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 10-11-2026

One Liners 10-11-2026

History, Art and Culture

Ningol Chakouba Festival – Manipur

• It is a traditional festival symbolising the bond between married women, their brothers and paternal families.
• Celebrated in – Manipur.
• Celebrated annually on – 2^nd day of Hiyangei month of the Meitei calendar.
• Tradition
  • Married women visit their parental homes with their children.
  • Brothers and family members host a special feast and give gifts to the women.
  • Traditional dishes include fish curry, an essential part of the celebration.

Fish Fair

• Manipur's Department of Fisheries organises the Annual Fish Fair-cum-Fish Crop Competition ahead of the festival.
• Venue – Imphal.
• Objective – To make fish available to the public at affordable prices.

4,000-Year-Old Rock Paintings

• Discovered at – Karadimalai, Ottampattu Thandari village, Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu.
• Key Findings
• Location – Rock overhang near the foothills of Karadimalai.
• Material – Paintings executed in red ochre.
• Depictions
  • Plant resembling the Peruvian Apple Cactus.
  • Deer-like figures and a wild boar.
  • Geometric square patterns, rectangular boundaries and parallel vertical strokes.
  • Animal figures, including bovids, with stylised bodies.
• Interpretation – Geometric motifs may represent enclosures or settlement maps and reflect prehistoric/protohistoric rock-art traditions.
• Other Archaeological Evidence
  • Three rock depressions discovered at nearby Karadichunai.
  • It is believed to have been formed by Neolithic people while sharpening or polishing stone tools.
  • It indicates the presence and activities of ancient hunter-gatherer communities.

Geography

Maharashtra’s 3 Blue Flag Beaches

Recently, 3 Maharashtra beaches received the International Blue Flag certification for the 2026–27 season.

• It marks the state's 1^st entry into the international list of Blue Flag beaches.

• Newly Certified Beaches
  • Shrivardhan – Raigad district.
  • Ladghar – Ratnagiri district.
  • Guhagar – Ratnagiri district.

Shrivardhan is the 1^st beach in Raigad district to receive this recognition.

Blue Flag Certification

• An international eco-label awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Denmark.
• It recognises beaches that meet standards relating to:
  • Water quality and beach cleanliness.
  • Environmental management and biodiversity conservation.
  • Tourist safety and emergency services.
  • Sanitation, waste management and basic facilities.
  • Environmental education and accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Economy

COP31 – Global Electrification Initiative

COP31 (Antalya, Türkiye) launched the Electrify Now Finance Coalition on 10 November 2026.

• Aim – To accelerate clean electrification investments in developing countries.
• Electrify Now Finance Coalition:
  • Backed by COP31 Presidency and Ethiopia (COP32 host).
  • Co-chaired by World Bank Group and African Development Bank (2027).
  • Operates until COP33 (2028).
• Climate Investment Funds (CIF)
  • Announced $94 million catalytic finance under AMPLIFi programme.
  • Aims to mobilise over $1.2 billion in private investment for clean power, grids, storage and electrification.
• Investment Gap
  • Developing economies account for 80% of global electricity demand growth.
  • Advanced economies and China receive 90% of energy-transition investments.
  • Africa receives only 2%.
• Global Electrification Pledge (35-by-35)
  • Increase electricity's share in final energy consumption from 23% to 35% by 2035.
  • Focus – Transport, buildings and industries.
  • Supports the 1.5°C climate goal.
• Associated Initiatives
  • Grids Technical Assistance Solutions Hub – Grid modernisation and renewable integration.
  • IEA – Global Electrification Tracking Mechanism.
  • IRENA – D-GRIDS programme for distribution-grid development.

India’s Russian Fossil Fuel Imports – Record High

• India’s imports of Russian fossil fuels reached a record €6.4 billion in October 2026, according to the Europe-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

• Global Trends
  • China remained the largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels (€10.7 billion), followed by India (€6.4 billion).
  • Russia’s fossil fuel export revenue rose 14% month-on-month to €754 million/day in October 2026, despite broadly unchanged export volumes.
  • Russian Urals crude price increased 13% to $101.7/barrel, its highest monthly average since at least October 2021.
  • Higher global energy prices, partly linked to the West Asia and Russia–Ukraine conflicts, boosted Russian export earnings.
• Significance for India
  • It supports energy security through diversified crude oil sourcing.
  • It provides access to alternative crude supplies, but increases exposure to geopolitical risks, sanctions and price volatility.

India – Renewable Energy Expansion (IEA Report 2026)

• According to the India Renewable Energy Market Report 2026 by IEA, India's renewable energy expansion has saved over $100 billion in coal and natural gas import costs over the past 15 years.
• Key Highlights
• Installed Capacity – India has around 300 GW renewable energy capacity, becoming the world's 2^nd-fastest-growing renewables market.

• 2030 Target – Renewable energy capacity expected to reach 530 GW.
• Climate Achievement – Achieved the target of 50% installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources in 2025, five years ahead of schedule.
• Government Initiatives
  • PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana – It promotes rooftop solar installations.
  • PM-KUSUM – It promotes solar-powered agricultural pumps and farm feeders.

Agriculture

El Niño – Impact on Global Food Security (COP31)

• A new IFAD report, Food Systems Under Stress: Building Resilience from the First Mile, warns of $11 trillion global income losses due to El Niño over 5–6 years.
• Key Highlights
  • 2026–27 El Niño – Expected to peak during October 2026–January 2027, with prolonged agricultural impacts.

• Agricultural Impact
  • Southern Africa faces over 50% drought probability (Oct 2026–Mar 2027).
  • South and Southeast Asian rice-producing regions are vulnerable.
  • 2015–16 El Niño reduced regional rice production by 15 million tonnes.
  • Food Security – Additional 49 million people may face acute food insecurity by end-2027 (WFP estimate).

Agriwaste-to-Fuels Plant

• India’s proposed largest agriwaste-to-fuels plant at Khed City, near Pune, Maharashtra.
• Key Highlights
  • Production capacity – Up to 2 lakh litres of bio-crude per day.
  • Technology – Proprietary Integrated Catalytic Thermo Cracking (ICTC) process.
  • Converts agricultural waste at around 600°C, using multiple catalysts, into bio-crude.
  • Feedstock – Paddy straw and husk, groundnut and cashew shells, and sugarcane bagasse.
  • End Products – Bio-crude can be refined into renewable diesel and bio-naphtha.
  • Around 75% of bio-crude can yield renewable diesel.
  • Renewable diesel can be used in existing vehicles without modification.
• Expansion Plan
  • Existing Chakan plant – 15,000 → 30,000 litres/day.
  • Target – 5 lakh litres/day total capacity by 2028.
• Funding of Rs.250 crore
  • Rs.100 crore from Technology Development Board (TDB), Ministry of Science and Technology.
  • Rs.150 crore through Series B funding from investors including Amazon’s Smbhav Venture Fund, Climate Pledge Fund, Rainmatter and Strategic Autonomy Fund.
• Significance
  • It utilises agricultural waste and helps reduce stubble burning.
  • It avoids the food-versus-fuel conflict associated with food crops and vegetable oils.
  • It supports renewable fuel production and circular economy.

Environment

Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) – 2026 Impact Report

• GCoM released its 2026 Impact Report at COP31 (Türkiye), highlighting cities' growing leadership in climate action.
• Key Highlights
• Climate Targets
  • 7,500 out of 14,000 signatories (58%) have more ambitious emission-reduction targets than national governments.
  • 28% aim to achieve targets earlier.
  • Potential to reduce 4.8 Gt CO₂e annually by 2050.
• Climate Action
  • Net-zero targets with implementation plans increased from 211 (2025) to 580 (2026).
  • 3,078 cities completed climate-risk assessments covering 735 million people.
• Climate Finance Gap
  • Emerging economies receive only $6 billion annually, against estimated requirements of $147 billion/year by 2030.
  • Only 1% of tracked urban climate finance goes towards adaptation.
• Global South
  • 61% of the population represented by GCoM signatories lives in the Global South.
  • 81% of national climate commitments now include strong urban components (UN-Habitat).

Global Carbon Emissions – 2026

• Global fossil-fuel CO₂ emissions declined by 0.4% in 2026, largely due to Iran war-related energy shocks, according to the Global Carbon Project (GCP).
• Key Highlights

• • Historical Decline – 3^rd global emissions decline in the 21^st century, after the 2009 global recession and 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Key Concern – Decline is largely driven by geopolitical energy disruptions rather than a structural transition to clean energy.