UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 16-07-2026

One Liners 16-07-2026

Social Issues

Odisha’s Recognition of Habitat Rights for PVTGs

Odisha has formally recognised 10 habitat rights claims covering 8 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.

• PVTGs (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) - Most marginalized and isolated sub-groups of Scheduled Tribes in India.
• The Government of India recognizes 75 such groups across 18 states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• They are characterized by stagnant populations, pre-agricultural technology, extreme isolation, and very low literacy rates.
  • Based on the recommendations of the Dhebar Commission (1960-61).
• Habitat – It is defined as the customary territory of primitive tribal groups, pre-agricultural communities, and Scheduled Tribes in both reserved and protected forests.
  • Recognised under – Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

Odisha records 13 PVTGs (Highest in India).

• The first habitat title went to the Paudi Bhuyan community in Deogarh, covers protecting the Maa Rambha Devi sacred grove.
• 9 subsequent titles distributed to—
  • Juang of Jajpur.
  • Keonjhar.
  • Chuktia Bhunjia of Nuapada.
  • Saora of Gajapati.
  • Mankidia of Mayurbhanj.
  • Paudi Bhuyan of Angul.
  • Hill Kharia of Mayurbhanj.
  • Kutia Kondh of Kandhamal.
  • Bonda of Malkangiri.

Polity & Governance

National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)

NBWL Standing Committee (91st Meeting) recently held.

• It is a statutory apex body in India responsible for promoting the conservation and development of wildlife and forests.
• Constituted under – Section 5A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Chairperson – Prime Minister of India.
• Key Functions -No alteration of boundaries of national parks or wildlife sanctuaries can take place without the prior approval of the NBWL.
• The de-notification or boundary alteration of any Tiger Reserve also falls strictly under the regulatory oversight of the NBWL.

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

• It is a statutory body operating under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Established under – Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (by 2006 amendment).
• Chairperson – Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• It provides legal backing, policy direction, and institutional oversight to Project Tiger.

Central Zoo Authority (CZA)

• It is a statutory body in India responsible for the oversight, regulation, and development of zoos across the country.
• Headquarters – New Delhi.
• Established in – 1992.
• Under – Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change serves as the ex-officio Chairman.
• The CZA ensures that Indian zoos maintain proper standards for animal housing, veterinary care, and conservation.

International Relations and Issues

Ballistic Missile Defence Coalition

Missile Defence Coalition is formed recently based on the experience of Russia’s invasion faced by Ukraine in Europe.

• Formed on – July 13, 2026.
• Formed by – Ukraine and 9 European nations to develop a shared missile defence architecture for Europe.
• It was launched during a "Coalition of the Willing" summit in Paris, France.
• Aim – To pool technical, industrial, and operational resources to counter the escalating threat of ballistic missiles.
• Member States – 10 founding members
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • The Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom.

SHANTI Vision

• SHANTI Vision – Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity.
• It is an India’s campaign for election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• It reflects India’s guiding approach to promoting global peace, security and equitable development.
• India contributions –
  • 3 lakh personnel to about 50 UN peacekeeping missions since UNSC inception.
  • Currently has over 4,300 personnel serving in 10 UN peacekeeping missions.
• India has previously served 8 terms as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, most recent 2021-22.
• If elected, India will serve a 2-year term for 2028 - 2029.

49^th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49)

• Held in – Geneva in Switzerland.
• Highlights –
  • Commission adopted 7 Codex guidelines developed under India's chairmanship.
  • India appointed as co-chair of the Electronic Working Group for future regulatory frameworks.
  • Global standards for dried Coriander Seeds and Fresh Curry Leaves were adopted.
  • India successfully initiated the development of a global Codex Standard for Cashew Kernels.

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

• It is an international intergovernmental body.
• Established by – FAO and WHO.
• Objective – To develop science-based food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice.
• Its main goals are protecting consumer health and ensuring fair practices in the international food trade

India – Australia Traditional knowledge and Patent Cooperation Agreement

• India and Australia have officially partnered to safeguard India's indigenous wisdom by granting CSIR’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) database access.
• Signatories – IP Australia and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
• Signed during –3^rd India–Australia Annual Summit held in Melbourne, Australia
• Purpose –
  • Preventing Biopiracy.
  • Targeting Erroneous Patents.
  • Protecting Global Systems.

Environment

Indian Plate and ‘Roof of the World’

• "Roof of the World" is epithet primarily used to describe high-altitude regions of Central and South Asia (Tibetan Plateau).
• Unique topography at the summit of the plateau indicate how far the Indian continental plate, to the south, has been pushed beneath the Asian plate, to the north.
• The uplift of the central and western parts of the plateau was radically different between 45 and 20 million years ago.
• This coincides with the time that the Indian plate is known to have moved under the Asian plate in the west but has not yet reached the central plateau.
• Tibetan Plateau –   
  • It is the highest and largest upland area on Earth, average elevations exceed 4,500 m.
  • It is a major driver of the global climate and it is the source of Asia’s 10 largest rivers, providing water to billions of people.

Animal and Plant Discoveries 2025

The Animal Discoveries–2025 and Plant Discoveries–2025 reports were officially released in Kolkata during the 111th Foundation Day of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).

• India documented a biodiversity addition in 2025, with the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).
• Animal Discoveries–2025
  • Total Additions - 709 additions to India's fauna.
  • New Species - 483 species new to science.
  • First-Time Records - 226 species recorded in India for the first time.
• Kerala recorded the highest number of new animal discoveries, with 98 new additions.
• Arunachal Pradesh recorded the highest number of new plant discoveries, with 49 new additions.

3.61 lakh saplings in one hour

• Location – Bhadaj, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• It got Guinness World Record by planting 3.61 lakh saplings in one hour.
• Organized by – Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC)
• The drive utilized the Miyawaki method (Japanese method).
  • Native species are planted very close together.
  • This method forces trees to grow up to 10 times faster and become 30 times denser than conventional plantations.