UPSC Daily Current Affairs |One Liners 16-09-2026

One Liners 16-09-2026

History, Art and Culture

Saratchandra Chattopadhyay

PM Modi pays tribute to Bangla writer Saratchandra on his 150th birth anniversary.

• Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (1876–1938) – He was a legendary Bengali novelist and short story writer known for his deep insights into human psychology and the struggles of rural village life.
• Birth and Death – Born on September 15, 1876, in Debanandapur, West Bengal, and died on January 16, 1938, in Calcutta.
• Early Hardships – Grew up in financial distress, which forced him to cut short his college education, though he later worked in Burma (Myanmar) for several years before returning to write full-time.
• Literary Style – Celebrated for simple, natural prose and powerful, sympathetic portrayals of women and marginalized individuals. Notable Works – Devdas (1917), Parineeta (1914), Srikanta (1917–1933), Pather Dabi (1926), Charitraheen (1917).

Social Issues

Scheme to assess services for elderly

Keralam government is the first in the country to have a dedicated department for the welfare of senior citizens.

• Objective – Assess and improve the accessibility of services for senior citizens
• Coverage – Government, quasi-government and voluntarily participating private institutions
• Assessment – Five domains
• Certification – Gold, Silver and Bronze categories

Five assessment domains

• Building accessibility – Ramps, step-free access, handrails, accessible toilets and seating.
• Service delivery – Priority queues and convenient service counters.
• Staff training and conduct – Sensitivity and appropriate assistance to elderly visitors.
• Communication – Clear signage, readable forms and accessible information.
• Participation – Involving senior citizens in assessing and improving services.

Polity & Governance

All India Official Language Conference

The 6th All India Official Language Conference was held on in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, alongside Hindi Diwas 2026.

• Organizer – Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
• Key Highlights
• Awards Presented – Union Home Minister Amit Shah conferred the prestigious Rajbhasha Gaurav and Rajbhasha Kirti Awards for the 2025–26 cycle to deserving individuals and institutions.
• Special Focus – The event highlighted the relationship between Hindi and Maharashtra's linguistic and literary traditions, featuring a core discussion and commemorative issue centered on the National Song, Vande Mataram.
• Book Launches – Several publications were released, including Bharatiya Gyan Tantra: Srot aur Swaroop, Shiv Anadi Hain, Anant Hain, and Andheron Se Ujalon Tak (writings by prison inmates).
• Exhibition – A 32-stall exhibition showcased various linguistic initiatives by banks, ministries, and public institutions.

Environment

India’s first Coke Oven Gas (COG) injection project

Tata Steel commissioned India’s first Coke Oven Gas (COG) injection project

• Location – Meramandali steel plant, Odisha.
• Developer – Tata Steel
• Goal – Cut fossil-fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in conventional blast furnace ironmaking.
• Working
• Gas Purification – Instead of just flaring or burning coke oven gas (a hydrogen- and hydrocarbon-rich byproduct containing over 55% hydrogen and methane) for general power or heating, the system cleans the gas to remove harmful tar and sulphur.
• Direct Injection – Workers pipe the clean gas directly into the blast furnace via small nozzles called tuyeres.
• Three-Fuel System – The application introduces a unique three-fuel operational configuration, improving overall energy efficiency and operational flexibility.
• Environmental Impact – Acts as a partial substitute for conventional fossil-fuel reductants, lowering the carbon intensity of ironmaking.
• Supports Tata Steel in scaling low-carbon technologies toward its corporate goal of Net Zero emissions by 2045.

Security

CHOSEN BRICK

UK, USA and Netherlands issue advisory on Iran-linked spyware.

•  “CHOSEN BRICK,” – It is a spyware allegedly used by Iranian state-linked actors to target dissidents, activists and journalists.
• Concerns – It can steal emails/messages, contacts and social-media data, capture screens and access microphones.
• Attackers reportedly use spear-phishing, often impersonating trusted contacts on WhatsApp or Telegram.
• Some victims were tricked with fake documents, including fabricated MRI results.
• Authorities say stolen personal information has appeared on pro-Iranian leak sites.
• The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) attributes the campaign to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and says the malware is used for intelligence gathering and reputational harm.
• The agencies say Iran “almost certainly” uses cyber operations to suppress perceived opponents.
• The warning updates a March 2026 advisory and comes amid broader cyber activity attributed to the Iran-linked group Handala Hack.

Science

SARAL

CSIR-NIScPR Leverages SARAL AI to Convert Research Papers into Videos, Expand Reach of Scientific Knowledge.

• SARAL – Simplified and Automated Research Amplification and Learning.
• It aims to democratize research by making academic workflows smoother, faster, and more accessible through AI-integrated tools that transform complex papers into engaging video presentations.
• The initiative is steered by researchers of IIIT Hyderabad under the guidance of Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
• The Need for Saral AI – Research papers contain valuable insights that often remain locked behind technical jargon and complex formatting.
• Saral AI bridges this gap by automatically converting academic papers into accessible, engaging video presentations that can reach broader audiences and facilitate better knowledge transfer.
• Working – Saral AI's streamlined workflow transforms research papers into professional presentation videos in just a few following steps.
• Paper Upload - Researchers upload research papers via arXiv links or direct LaTeX files. The system automatically extracts content and figures.
• AI Script Generation - System generates engaging presentation scripts using advanced AI models like Gemini and GPT for educational content.
• Voice Synthesis - System converts scripts to natural-sounding audio narration with support for multiple Indian languages including Hindi.
• Video Production - System automatically creates professional presentation videos combining slides, narration, and visual elements. The video can be shared on social media.

Endemic amphibians of Mizoram

Duttaphrynus phawngpui and Ingerana aizawl are scientific names of amphibians associated with Mizoram, in Northeast India.

Duttaphrynus phawngpui

• New species described in 2026
• Type – Toad
• Family – Bufonidae
• Location – Phawngpui National Park, Mizoram
• Habitat – High-altitude montane areas above 2,000 metres.
• Significance – Known only from its type locality; identified as a distinct species using morphology, morphometrics and DNA analysis.

Ingerana aizawl

• New species described in 2026
• Type – Frog
• Family – Dicroglossidae
• Location – Hratdawng Stream, Mizoram University campus, Aizawl.
• Significance – Previously identified as Ingerana borealis, it was recognised as a distinct species through morphological and genetic analysis.

Miscellaneous

Fourth HDSR Star Party

The fourth Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) Star Party took place at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh.

• Organizers – Jointly organized by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Department of Wildlife Protection of UT Ladakh, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).

Participants & Activities

• Amateur Astronomers – Approximately 40 participants from across multiple Indian states utilized advanced telescopes over four clear nights.
• Community Engagement – An Open Night on September 10 drew over 1,200 locals and tourists, while experts mentored 25 local villagers trained as HDSR Astronomy Ambassadors for astro-tourism.
• Conservation Focus – Emphasized minimizing light pollution to safeguard both current research and upcoming facilities like the 3.7-meter Himalayan Chandra Telescope and the 13.7-meter National Large Optical-infrared Telescope.

NABL Accreditation for Cylinder Testing

The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has received ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

• ARAI Received this Certification for its high-pressure cylinder testing facility at the Mobility Research Centre in Takwe, Pune.
• Facility Overview & Scope
• Location - Mobility Research Centre (MRC), Takwe, Pune, India.
• Standard – ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
• Cylinder Types & Applications – Tests Type I to Type IV gaseous storage cylinders for automotive, hydrogen (up to 700 bar), industrial, marine, defence, and space uses under the Gas Cylinder Rules.
• Key Testing Capabilities
• Hydrostatic stretch, burst testing, and pressure cycling under climatic conditions.
• Permeation, bonfire, drop, penetration, and durability evaluations.
• Industry Impact
• Reduces dependence on foreign testing facilities and shortens validation cycles.
• Supports domestic green mobility and alternative fuel initiatives like the Automotive PLI scheme.

Hazard Perception Test

Keralam to introduce Hazard Perception Test for driving licence aspirants, test is being introduced for the first time in the country

• The Hazard Perception Test – It is a computer-based assessment used in countries like the UK and Australia to test a driver's ability to spot and react to dangerous situations on the road.
• Working
• Video Clips – You watch a series of video clips recorded from a driver's perspective.
• Developing Hazards – You look for a developing hazard, which is something that forces you to change speed or direction (like a car pulling out or a pedestrian crossing).
• Scoring – You click your mouse as soon as you see the hazard start to develop.
• Points – Spotting the hazard earlier gives you more points (up to 5 points per hazard). Clicking too early or clicking in a repetitive pattern scores zero points.