06 July 2026

UPSC GS 1

Taal Volcano

· News: Taal Volcano recently produced a brief four-minute phreatomagmatic eruption, sending an ash plume about 450 metres above its crater due to the interaction of magma with water.

·  About Taal Volcano:

o Taal Volcano is a stratovolcano located in Batangas Province, about 70 km south of Manila.

o It is classified as a complex volcano by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

o Unlike a single volcanic cone, it consists of multiple stratovolcanoes, craters, and volcanic cones.

o It is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines.

o It forms part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

o It has experienced at least 38 recorded eruptions over the past 450 years.

· Physical Features:

o It contains a large caldera, formed by a series of prehistoric eruptions between 140,000 and 5,380 BCE.

o The caldera is occupied by Taal Lake, covering about 265 sq. km with a depth of 100–150 metres.

o Within Taal Lake lies Volcano Island, covering about 24 sq. km.

o Volcano Island contains Crater Lake, which covers about 1.2 sq. km.

o Crater Lake contains Vulcan Point, a small rock formation.

o The caldera rim consists of deeply eroded hills and cliffs.

· What is a Phreatomagmatic Eruption?

o A phreatomagmatic eruption is a volcanic eruption caused by the explosive interaction between magma and water.

o When magma comes into contact with:

§ Groundwater.

§ Surface water.

§ Water-rich rocks.

o The water is rapidly converted into steam, causing violent explosions.

o These eruptions produce:

§ Volcanic ash.

§ Pyroclastic materials.

§ Fragments of magma and surrounding rocks.

Guru Ravidas

· News: The Prime Minister recently inaugurated Adampur Airport in Punjab and renamed it after Guru Ravidas to honour the revered saint and social reformer on his birth anniversary.

·  About Guru Ravidas:

o Guru Ravidas (c. 1377–1527 CE) was a renowned Bhakti saint, poet, and social reformer.

o He was one of the leading figures of the Bhakti Movement.

o He is also known as Raidas, Rohidas, and Ruhidas.

o He was born at Sir Gobardhanpur, near Varanasi.

o His birthplace is now known as Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan.

o His birth anniversary is celebrated as Ravidas Jayanti.

o He is traditionally regarded as a disciple of Ramananda.

o He is believed to have lived during the same period as Kabir.

o He composed devotional poetry in local languages, making spiritual teachings accessible to ordinary people.

o Forty-one hymns composed by Guru Ravidas are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.

o His compositions also appear in the Panch Vani.

· Philosophy and Teachings:

o Rejected the caste system and promoted equality, dignity, and human rights.

o Envisioned an ideal society called "Begumpura" ("City Without Sorrow"), free from:

§ Suffering.

§ Fear.

§ Social discrimination.

o Opposed untouchability and social exclusion.

o Emphasised spiritual freedom and equality of all human beings.

o Advocated devotion to the Nirguna (formless, attribute-less) Supreme Being rather than Saguna (with form and attributes) worship.

o Mirabai is traditionally believed to have accepted Guru Ravidas as her spiritual guide.

· Ravidassia Religion:

o Guru Ravidas's teachings form the foundation of the Ravidassia Religion.

o Followers believe Guru Ravidas should be revered alongside other great spiritual teachers.

o The community regards Amrit Bani Guru Ravidass Ji as its holy scripture.

o It has developed its own religious symbols, traditions, and rituals. 

UPSC GS 2

PaleoIndia Portal

· News: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently launched the PaleoIndia Portal.

·  About PaleoIndia Portal:

o PaleoIndia Portal is a national digital platform for documenting India's fossil heritage.

o It has been jointly developed by the:

§ Zoological Survey of India.

§ National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Chennai.

o The portal uses dynamic geological maps provided by the Geological Survey of India.

o It documents fossil fauna from all 28 States and 8 Union Territories.

o It currently hosts information on more than 5,000 fossil specimens, including:

§ Mammals.

§ Reptiles.

§ Birds.

§ Fishes.

§ Amphibians.

§ Molluscs.

§ Arthropods.

§ Foraminifera.

§ Echinoderms.

§ Ichnofossils (trace fossils).

o It features a real-time data upload system, enabling contributions from researchers, field scientists, and citizen scientists for conserving India's palaeontological heritage.

SHE-LEAPS Platform

· News:  India's efforts to strengthen women-led rural entrepreneurship have entered a new phase with the launch of the SHE-LEAPS Platform.

·  About SHE-LEAPS Platform:

o SHE-LEAPS stands for Self-Help Entrepreneur-Livelihoods and Enterprise Application for Prosperity and Sustainability.

o It was launched at the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan.

o It is a digital platform designed to empower women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across rural India through enterprise creation, monitoring, and performance tracking.

o It aims to strengthen women-led rural enterprises and accelerate the Lakhpati Didi initiative through data-driven entrepreneurship.

o The mobile application has been developed by the Digital India Corporation.

o It is implemented under the LokOS platform.

o The nationwide rollout will cover 34 States and Union Territories, supporting State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) in promoting women-led enterprises.

· Objectives:

o Empower women entrepreneurs associated with rural SHGs.

o Promote the creation and growth of women-led rural enterprises.

o Integrate rural producers with formal value chains.

o Enhance the financial inclusion of SHG households.

o Enable data-driven rural entrepreneurship and decision-making.

· Key Features:

o Captures real-time operational data across multiple livelihood sectors.

o Tracks the complete livelihood journey of SHG entrepreneurs.

o Supports both farm and non-farm rural enterprises.

o Strengthens digital monitoring and governance.

o Facilitates better planning, targeted interventions, and informed policy decisions.

o Contributes to building a sustainable rural economy through technology-enabled enterprise development. 

UPSC GS 3

Transcaspian Marinka

· News:  The Sangon clan in Arunachal Pradesh has launched an initiative to conserve the Transcaspian marinka (Schizothorax pelzami), a Himalayan ray-finned fish.

·  About Transcaspian Marinka:

o Transcaspian marinka is a species of ray-finned freshwater fish.

o Scientific Name: Schizothorax pelzami.

· It belongs to:

o Genus: Schizothorax.

o Family: Cyprinidae (carp family).

o In Arunachal Pradesh, it is locally known as "Ngarsing" in the Nyishi language.

· Distribution: It is mainly found in:

o Afghanistan.

o Turkmenistan.

o Iran.

· Habitat: It inhabits freshwater ecosystems, including:

o Rivers.

o Streams.

o Springs.

o Qanats (traditional underground water channels).

o It occupies a benthopelagic niche, living and feeding near the bottom as well as in the water column.

· Conservation Status: International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List: Least Concern (LC).