UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 21-05-2026

One Liners 21-05-2026

Geography

Warming Nights & Its Threat

• Rising Night Heat – Experts warn that warmer nights limit the body’s ability to recover from daytime heat.
• Health Risks – Persistent warm nights increase chances of heat exhaustion, cardiovascular stress, and sleep disruption.
• Caused by – Urbanisation, loss of green spaces, and the urban heat island effect worsen night-time temperatures.
• Vulnerable Groups – Poor and densely populated communities face higher risks due to inadequate housing and cooling options.
• Key Facts
  • India’s average temperature rose 0.7°C (1901–2018).
  • Night-time temperatures rising faster than daytime.
  • High humidity reduces cooling efficiency through sweating.
  • Heat exposure linked to higher mortality, heart and respiratory illnesses, and reduced productivity.
• Adaptation Measures – Cool roofs, better urban planning, more tree cover, reflective materials, improved ventilation, and early warning systems.

International Relations and Issues

Global Recognition for Agriculture

Prime Minister received the award from Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director General of FAO.

• Held in – FAO Headquarters in Rome.
• Award – Agricola Medal for 2026, by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
• Objective – To recognize PM’s exceptional leadership to address food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development in India and at the global level.

68th APO Governing Body Meeting

• Hosted by – India in New Delhi from 20–22 May 2026.
• Participants – Over 60 senior delegates from 20 APO member economies.
• Observers from – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Bhutan, and the Global Green Growth Institute.
• Objective – To serves as the highest decision-making forum for APO, guiding governance, strategy, and financial planning.
• Key Agenda –
  • Election of APO Chair & Vice Chairs (2026–27).
  • Adoption of Annual & Financial Report.
  • Budget proposals for 2027–28.
  • Review of APO Vision 2030 progress.
  • Institutional reforms & policy recommendations.
• APO National Awards – Awards for Productivity Advocates and Technical Experts to recognize champions of productivity.
• India’s Role – Chairmanship in 2025, reflects commitment to productivity-led growth, innovation, and sustainable development.

Asian Productivity Organization

• Established in – 1961.
• Member countries – 21 member economies.
• Objectives – To work on productivity enhancement through cooperation, knowledge sharing, and best practices.
  • To foster bilateral and multilateral cooperation among member economies.

Economy

Index of Eight Core Industries

Atal Pension Yojana Annual Felicitation Programme

• Conducted by – PFRDA in New Delhi.
• Achievements -
  • Growth – Crossed 9 crore enrolments; 1.35 crore new subscribers added in FY 2025–26; AUM exceeded Rs.54,000 crore.
  • Women Participation – Reached a record 55.14% in FY 2025–26.
  • Youth Enrolment - Significant rise among 18–25 age group, showing growing awareness of retirement planning.
• Focus on – Subscriber persistency, financial literacy, outreach in urban informal sector, and pension awareness.
• Significance – PFRDA reaffirmed efforts to achieve pension saturation and strengthen India’s social security framework.

Security

Launch of Sanghmitra (Yard 3039)

• It is a Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV).
• Launched at – GRSE, Kolkata.
• Part of – 11 NGOPVs being built indigenously at Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and GRSE.
• Name from – India’s heritage, ‘Sanghmitra’, after the daughter of King Ashoka.
• Crest design – It depicts the constellation of Ursa Major and a red and white coloured lighthouse.
• Designed for – Surveillance, defence, search & rescue, offshore asset protection, HADR, and anti-piracy missions.
• Significance – Aligned with Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiative.

Multilateral Exercise PRAGATI 2026

• PRAGATI – Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Commenced at – Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya.
• Participants – Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
• Focus on – Counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.
• Objectives – To enhance joint coordination, share expertise, strengthen defence ties through training and cultural exchange.
  • To establish common intelligence-sharing practices.

Science

World Metrology Day 2026

• Observed annually on – 20^th May.
• Established in – 1999 by the International Committee for Weights and Measures.
• Coordinated by – International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML).
• Theme – “Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making”.
• Objective – To mark the 151^st anniversary of the historic Metre Convention signed in Paris on 20th May 1875.
• Significance – This celebration reaffirmed the commitment towards building a modern, efficient and trusted measurement system in the country.

Environment

Ramsar sites