09 July 2026

UPSC GS 2

TribeX Platform

· News:  The TribeX Platform was launched to digitally transform tribal education and preserve India's rich tribal heritage, traditional knowledge, and cultural practices.

·  About TribeX Platform:

o TribeX is a first-of-its-kind digital learning platform dedicated to tribal arts, culture, traditional knowledge, and skill development.

o It serves as a one-stop digital platform for the learning, documentation, and preservation of tribal knowledge.

· Launched by: Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

· Features:

· Courses Offered: Provides free certificate courses and UGC-recognised Postgraduate Diploma programmes in:

o Tribal languages.

o Tribal art forms.

o Handicrafts.

o Traditional knowledge systems.

o Currently offers 20 free certificate courses covering:

§ Tribal paintings.

§ Handicrafts.

§ Handloom.

§ Artefacts.

§ Traditional musical instruments.

· Digital Learning Ecosystem:

o Integrates a Learning Management System (LMS) for online learning and progress tracking.

o Includes a Repository Management System that enables secure storage, documentation, and management of tribal knowledge resources.

· Digital Repository: Functions as a comprehensive digital repository for preserving:

o Tribal languages.

o Oral traditions.

o Performing arts.

o Cultural practices.

o Indigenous knowledge systems.

· Heritage Archive: Contains over 5,000 multimedia resources, including:

o Audio recordings.

o Videos.

o Literature.

o Documents:

o Tribal festivals.

o Oral traditions.

o Socio-cultural practices. 

UPSC GS 3

Antariksh Venture Capital Fund

· News:  The Union Minister recently announced that India's dedicated Antariksh Venture Capital Fund for the space sector has made steady progress, with investments in selected startups expected to commence from the first quarter of FY 2027.

·  About Antariksh Venture Capital Fund:

o The Antariksh Venture Capital Fund is a SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) dedicated exclusively to India's space sector.

o It is registered as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

o It is a close-ended fund.

· Key Investor: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre, under the Department of Space.

· Sponsor: SIDBI Venture Capital Limited.

· Investment Objective:

o To provide growth capital to Indian space-sector companies at different stages of development.

o To support:

§ Scaling up of operations.

§ Commercialisation of indigenous space technologies.

§ Development of a robust private space ecosystem.

§ The fund aims to strengthen India's long-term space ambitions by promoting innovation and private sector participation.

· Investment Criteria:

o The fund will invest exclusively in Indian companies operating in the space sector.

o Eligible companies must have achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or above, indicating that the technology has progressed beyond basic research and has been validated in a laboratory environment.  

Eurasian lynx

· News: The Eurasian lynx has been photographed for the first time in Sikkim, marking an important wildlife record for the state.

· About Eurasian Lynx:

o The Eurasian lynx is a medium-sized wild cat.

o Scientific Name: Lynx lynx.

o It is the largest species of lynx and one of the top predators of forest ecosystems across Europe and Asia.

· Appearance:

o It has a short body, long legs, and large paws adapted for walking on snow.

o Its ears are distinguished by black tufts of hair at the tips.

o It possesses retractile sharp claws that aid in climbing and hunting.

o The fur is generally greyish to reddish-brown with variable dark spots, providing effective camouflage.

· Distribution:

o The Eurasian lynx has a wide distribution extending from Western Europe through Russia to Central Asia.

o In India, it occurs mainly along the northern slopes of the Himalayas and parts of the Trans-Himalayan region.

· Habitat: It inhabits:

o Temperate broadleaf forests.

o Boreal and mixed forests with dense undergrowth.

o Alpine tundra.

o Rocky mountain slopes.

o Brushlands and open forests.

o High-altitude regions of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas.

· Characteristics:

· Behaviour:

o It is a solitary, territorial, and highly elusive animal.

o It is primarily crepuscular (active during dawn and dusk) and nocturnal.

o It is an excellent climber and is often found resting on trees or rocky outcrops.

· Diet:

o It is strictly carnivorous.

o It preys mainly on:

o Deer.

o Hares.

o Rodents.

o Birds.

o Other small mammals.

· Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Least Concern

INS Mahendragiri (F38)

· News: The Indian Navy is set to commission the indigenous stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri (F38) at Visakhapatnam on 11 July 2026.

· About INS Mahendragiri:

o INS Mahendragiri (F38) is the sixth and final ship of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigates.

o It has been designed by the Warship Design Bureau.

o It was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.

· Features:

· Propulsion:

o INS Mahendragiri is equipped with a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system.

o The propulsion arrangement consists of:

§ A diesel engine.

§ A gas turbine.

o A Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft.

o It also incorporates a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for efficient onboard machinery and systems management.

· Armament and Combat Capability:

o The ship carries an advanced suite of weapons and sensors for:

§ Anti-air warfare (AAW).

§ Anti-surface warfare (ASuW).

§ Anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

o It is capable of undertaking a wide range of naval operations, including:

§ Maritime security.

§ Power projection.

o Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).

o Search and Rescue (SAR).

o Long-duration presence missions. 

Perungulam Tank

· News: Environmentalists have called for the conservation of Perungulam Tank due to illegal lotus cultivation, highlighting its ecological importance as a major bird habitat and wetland ecosystem.

·  About Perungulam Tank : Perungulam Tank is a biodiversity-rich wetland and an important irrigation waterbody supporting rich avian diversity.

· Location: Perungulam Tank.

· Key Features:

· Large Irrigation Tank:

o The tank covers an area of approximately 850–900 acres.

o It serves as an important source of:

§ Irrigation.

o Domestic water supply for the surrounding region.

· Hydrological Significance:

o It is the last tank in a chain of irrigation tanks.

o It receives water from:

§ The Thamirabarani River.

§ The Southwest Monsoon.

§ The Northeast Monsoon.

· Rich Bird Habitat:

o The wetland supports more than 5,000 birds annually.

o It provides vital feeding, nesting, and roosting habitats for both:

§ Resident birds.

§ Migratory birds.

· Unique Landscape: The tank is divided by the Ucham Parambu mound, which supports:

o Native tree species.

o Thorny scrub vegetation.

o This varied landscape enhances habitat diversity.

· Heritage Significance: The area around the tank is home to:

o The Thiruvazhutheeswarar Temple, a 1,000-year-old Shaivite temple.

o The Maya Koothar Perumal Temple, an ancient Vaishnavite temple.

· Conservation Status: Environmentalists and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department have proposed:

o Inclusion of Perungulam Tank under the Ramsar Convention.

o Notification as a Wetland Conservation Reserve. 

Facts for Prelims

Global Passport Index (GPI)

· News: India's ranking in the Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026 has slipped to 125th, falling by one position compared to the previous year.

·  About Global Passport Index (GPI):

o The Global Passport Index (GPI) is a comprehensive global passport ranking that evaluates passports not only on visa-free travel but also on the broader opportunities they provide for living, working, and investing abroad.

o It is published by Global Citizen Solutions.

o Unlike traditional passport rankings that focus mainly on travel freedom, the GPI adopts a multi-dimensional approach by assessing the overall value of a passport.

· Assessment Criteria:

o The index evaluates passports across three major categories:

o Enhanced Mobility (50%) : Measures international travel freedom, including visa-free and visa-on-arrival access.

o Investment (25%) : Assesses the economic and investment opportunities available to passport holders.

o Quality of Living (25%) :Evaluates factors that influence living standards and quality of life. These categories are measured using 14 separate indicators.

o Data Sources: The index relies on quantitative data from leading international organisations, including:

§ World Bank

§ World Economic Forum

§ Sustainable Development Solutions Network (through the Sustainable Development Report)

· Key Highlights of Global Passport Index 2026:

o India's Rank: 125th (down by one position from the previous year).

· Top-Ranked Passports: The strongest passports in the 2026 Global Passport Index are jointly held by:

o Sweden

o Switzerland

o Finland

o Germany

o Denmark

o Netherlands