UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 15-07-2026

One Liners 15-07-2026

Polity & Governance

India’s first government-driven AI university

Karnataka will establish India’s first government-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) University.

• Location –Bengaluru.
• Objectives –
  • To build world-class AI talent, promote advanced AI research.
  • To strengthen collaboration between academia, industry, and the government.
• The state will also set up a dedicated AI Hub that serve as an incubation center for AI startups, companies, and researchers.

Karnataka contributes nearly 40% of India’s software exports, while Bengaluru is home to over 17,000 start-ups and Global Capability Centres.

Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA)

Over 104 crore health records have been linked to over 93 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) accounts.

• ABHA is a 14-digit unique identifier like Aadhaar that securely links individuals to the wider health system.
• It helps patients access to digital health services.
• Patients can connect to insurers, healthcare facilities, doctors, and other services with all their medical history intact through this network.
• The government aims to extend the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission to all citizens and health facilities, enabling universal digital health records.

Village‑Level Telecom Survey – 2026

MoU signed between Department of Posts (DoP) and Ministry of Communications, and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

• Purpose – To conduct a nationwide app-based survey to assess the mobile network performance of Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) – Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea, BSNL.
• The survey will be conducted by Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDSs), using a TRAI‑developed mobile app.
• Significance – Strengthens Digital India, bridges rural connectivity gaps, supports evidence‑based policy.

Kartavya Bhawan Area

Central Vista to be known as Kartavya Bhawan Area

• Kartavya Bhawan – A high‑tech office complex under Central Vista Redevelopment.
• 1^st of 10 planned Common Central Secretariat (CCS) buildings.
• Purpose – To consolidate ministries for better coordination and reduced admin costs.
• Name change – Entire zone to be called Kartavya Bhawan Area (includes Kartavya Bhawans, Kartavya Marg, future govt. buildings).

International Relations and Issues

15^th BRICS Trade Union Forum (TUF) Summit 2026

• Inaugurated in – Hyderabad.
• Focus – Worker-centric global order where technological advancement is guided by social justice, responsible innovation and human dignity.
• Theme – “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
• Hosted by – Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).

Bharat Tex 2026

• Inaugurated by – Ministry of Textiles.
• Commenced at – Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
• Organised by – Bharat Tex Trade Federation, a consortium of Textile Export Promotion Councils and industry bodies.
• As part of the event, the CITI Textile Sustainability Awards 2026 will recognise excellence in
  • Resource efficiency.
  • Energy conservation.
  • Circular economy.
  • Sustainable materials.
  • Social responsibility.
  • Responsible business practices and industry collaboration.

Agriculture

Unjha Cumin (Jeera)

Recently Unjha Cumin (jeera) received a GI tag.

• It is celebrated worldwide for its bold flavor, high natural essential oil content, and strong earthy aroma.
• From – Gujarat.
• It contains 2% to 4% natural essential oils, which deliver a rich, warm aroma that elevates everyday dishes.
• The seeds are long, mature, sortex-cleaned, and naturally unpolished.

Variyali (Fennel)

• Renowned from – Unjha region, Mehsana district, Gujarat.
• It is celebrated globally for its rich aroma, high essential oils, and sweet, mild licorice (sweet) flavour.

Environment

Deep-Sea Mining Pushing Molluscs to Extinction – IUCN

• Over half of molluscs such as chitons, clams, mussels, snails, sea slugs, tusk shells, octopus, and squid are threatened.
• 64% of endemic hydrothermal vent molluscs (125 out of 201 species) known worldwide are at risk of extinction due to deep-sea mining for valuable minerals.
• They found only at depths up to 5,000 metres below sea level, around vents spewing out water that can be over 450 degrees Celsius.

Desert Frog

• Scientific name – Breviceps macrops.
• It is a plump, round amphibian famous for its viral, high-pitched defensive squeak that sounds exactly like a dog’s squeaky toy.
• Native to – Namibia and South Africa
• It is uniquely adapted to survive in an arid environment without ever needing open water.
• The diamond mining and energy infrastructure developments have caused the desert rain frog to move from Near Threatened to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
• Climate change and associated heat stress and aridification are possible further strains on this species.

Science

Faint black hole activity

Astronomers discovered a hidden population of weakly active supermassive black holes in nearby galaxies.

• The UK’s e-MERLIN radio array detected compact radio emissions in nearly one-fourth of 280 surveyed galaxies.
• Some black holes showed jet-like radio structures extending several parsecs from the galactic centre.
• The multi-wavelength analysis confirmed that the detected emissions originated from actively accreting supermassive black holes rather than star-forming regions.
• Their jets and outflows regulate star formation and influence the long-term evolution of galaxies.

Index

United Nations' first scientific report on AI

• Drafted by – Independent International Scientific Panel on AI.
• Report warns that rapid artificial intelligence development has completely outstripped existing safety boundaries and scientific understanding.
• The UN is urging governments worldwide to act immediately to prevent severe risks, including
  • Unchecked concentration of AI power
  • Geopolitical instability,
  • Widening global "compute divide" that threatens national sovereignty.

United States accounts for roughly 75% of global AI computing capacity, and China (15%), rest of the world sharing just 10%.