Current Affair Category: Defence & Security

Why in News? On 18 August 2026, Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Minoan Dignity was hit by an unknown projectile while exiting the Strait of Hormuz. The attack killed the ship’s chief engineer and damaged the engine room. The incident highlighted the growing importance of United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) in regional maritime security. UKMTO provides verified security information, warnings and coordination support to commercial shipping. […]

Why in News? Puducherry has requested the Central Government and neighboring states, especially Tamil Nadu, to cooperate in developing an integrated surface-water system for reliable water supply throughout the year. Puducherry Water Security — Simple Notes: Main Problem: Limited Surface Sources: Puducherry has very limited surface-water sources and depends heavily on groundwater. Poor Quality: In […]

Why in News? Astrobase Space Technologies, a Bengaluru-based private space company, unveiled EVEREST, India’s first privately developed 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) LOX-Methane rocket engine on 7 August 2026. India has now joined Russia, USA and China in developing FFSC engine technology. What is FFSC? Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) is an advanced liquid rocket-engine architecture in which: Both fuel and oxidiser pass through […]

Why in news?: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Mecca, committing to ‘collective defense’ and ‘collective deterrence’ amidst mounting instability in West Asia. Key Features of the Agreement: Collective Deterrence: Formulates a pledge to treat an armed attack on any single member state as an attack on all […]

Why in News? The government approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) on 31 July 2026. The scheme aims to develop 5,000 MW of floating solar projects with energy storage. It will help increase clean energy, reduce carbon emissions, and improve energy security. India’s Solar Growth: India’s solar capacity has increased rapidly: 2014: Around […]

What is the SAMUDRA MANTHAN Initiative?: The Union Cabinet approved ‘Samudra Manthan’ – the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, a central sector program under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with a massive financial outlay of ₹84,084 crore up to FY 2030–31. Inspired by the ancient mythological concept of “churning of the ocean,” the initiative […]

Why in News? The Union Government has introduced the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to provide statutory protection to the National Song, Vande Mataram by amending the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971: Purpose: The Act was enacted to preserve the […]

Why in News? India is transitioning its military structure from a single-service model to Integrated Theatre Commands, which is nearing its final stages: An editorial in The Hindu highlights that this major transformation may temporarily reduce operational readiness, making a well-structured Readiness Framework essential: UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS Paper Two (Governance and Security): India’s defense […]

Why in News? India’s space-tech sector is witnessing rapid growth, with total funding reaching approximately $871 million as of July 2026. Private sector milestones, such as Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 reaching low Earth orbit, have marked a major shift from research to commercial maturity. Key Highlights: Strong surge in private investment catalyzed by the 2020 Space […]

IPR vs AI (Pre & Mains) – Concise Notes Why in News? Delhi High Court delivered India’s first major ruling on Generative AI (GenAI) and Copyright. ANI sued OpenAI, alleging that its copyrighted news content was used to train ChatGPT without permission. The case is part of the global debate on AI training vs Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). […]