UPSC Daily Current Affairs | One Liners 11-09-2026

One Liners 11-09-2026

Polity and Governance

First-Ever CSR Framework for Coal Companies

Recently, Ministry of Coal and Coal India Limited (CIL) celebrating two major healthcare milestones and launching a new CSR framework.

• Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana – Funded over 1,050 bone marrow transplants (up to Rs.10 lakh per child) across 21 hospitals for children with rare blood disorders.
• Nanha Sa Dil – Screened over 2 lakh children and completed 1,500 free heart surgeries for children with congenital heart defects.
• CSR Framework – Introduced India’s first sector-specific CSR plan to better direct mining funds into local community health and education.

Economy

Demat 2.0 – SEBI and RBI Pilot for Corporate Bond Tokenisation

SEBI and RBI launched Demat 2.0 pilot at Global Fintech Fest, Mumbai.

• Objective – Test tokenisation of corporate bonds with Central Bank Digital Currency(CBDC) and blockchain for faster settlement.
• Tokenising Financial Assets – Breaking down an asset into smaller pieces i.e. cheaper digital shares, allowing everyday individuals to buy and own portions easily.
• Led by –
  • Central Depository Services Ltd (CDSL) and the National Securities Depositories Ltd (NSDL).
  • Exchanges like the BSE and the National Stock Exchange (NSE),
  • Banks such as the HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
• Evolution – Demat 1.0 (1996) digitised shares; Demat 2.0 adds tokenised securities and smart contracts.
• Future Scope – Extend to equity, mutual funds, gold; RBI exploring gold tokenisation.

First Shipment of Lithium from Zimbabwe

India’s Lohum dispatched first shipment of lithium ore from Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Province.

• Assets – Secured 10 mining blocks covering 1,100 hectares with 30–40M tonnes deposits.
• Production – Expected 300,000 metric tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent worth $7B.
• Expansion – Option to acquire up to 90 adjacent blocks.
• Strategy – Complements refining, advanced manufacturing, recycling; expands critical minerals value chain.

Environment

Badingilo–Boma Landscape – South Sudan’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site

Recently, In July 2026, Boma and Badingilo National Parks designated as South Sudan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Scale – Covers 30 million acres, part of Africa’s largest intact savanna system.
• Wildlife – Protects migration of 6 million antelopes including white‑eared kob and Mongalla gazelle.
• Birds – Haven for shoebills, storks, kingfishers; supports 470 bird species across wetlands and swamps.
• Ecosystem – Interconnected wetlands, swamps, woodlands, grassy plains; linked to Sudd Ramsar wetland.
• Significance – Boosts conservation, biodiversity protection, migratory bird staging areas; raises global profile and investment.

Defence

El Alamein International Airshow 2026

IAF Sarang Helicopter Display Team reached Egypt for 2nd El Alamein International Airshow.

• Unique Team – World’s only five‑helicopter display team, flying indigenously designed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv.
• Display – Famous “Dolphin Leap” manoeuvre and new “Spot Stall Turn” showcased.
• Significance – Highlights precision, professionalism, synchronised aerial sequences; reflects India’s indigenous aerospace capability.

22^nd India–US Yudh Abhyas Exercise

22^nd edition of Yudh Abhyas is being held in India.

• Focus – High‑altitude warfare, long‑range precision fires, counter‑drone capabilities, interoperability.
• Participants – Indian Army and U.S. Army’s 11th Airborne Division (Arctic‑trained) and 3rd Multi‑Domain Task Force (3MDTF).
• Drills – Command post exercise, field training exercise, combined live‑fire demonstration.
• New Feature – Deployment of Mobile-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS), a counter‑drone system in India for first time.

4^th Edition of Exercise Samudra Laksamana

INS Mysore arrived at Lumut, Malaysia for bilateral maritime exercise Samudra Laksamana.

• Participants – Indian Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy.
• Activities – Professional engagements in harbour and sea -  cross‑deck visits, operational interactions, sporting events.
• Objective – Enhance interoperability, professional exchanges, mutual understanding.
• Vision – Aligned with Government of India’s MAHASAGAR and ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation 2026.

Science

CE20 Cryogenic Engine at 220 kN Thrust

ISRO successfully conducted flight acceptance hot test of CE20 cryogenic engine.

• Thrust – Tested at uprated 220 kN conditions.
• Place – Sep 9, 2026 at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
• Mission Link – Engine earmarked for C32 upper stage of upcoming LVM3 mission.
• Objective – Enhance payload capability of LVM3 and support Gaganyaan programme.

India’s Nuclear Arsenal at 190 – FAS Report

Federation of American Scientists (FAS) reports India’s nuclear arsenal 190 warheads, including 30 for new missiles under production.

• Operational – >160 warheads for operational launchers.
• Plutonium – Produced 730 kg weapon‑grade plutonium; enough for 140–225 warheads.
• Modernisation – New aircraft, land and sea‑based systems under development.
• Doctrine – India adheres to credible minimum deterrence and no‑first‑use policy since Pokhran‑II (1998).
• Uncertainty – Progress on boosted fission and thermonuclear designs remains unclear.

Bird Hearing Technology

Forest Department to introduce bird hearing technology in Bhoramdev Wildlife Sanctuary, Chhattisgarh.

• Method – Audio‑recording devices to capture sounds of birds and animals across core and buffer zones.
• Objective – Identify species presence, behaviour, impact of human activity and natural factors.
• Scope – Focus on birds using existing database; extend to smaller animals and insects.
• Bhoramdev Wildlife Sanctuary – Sanctuary covers 351 sq km; devices to be installed via grid layout survey.
• Complement – Adds to camera traps for comprehensive biodiversity monitoring.