13 June 2026

UPSC GS 1

Shiveluch Volcano

1. News: The Shiveluch Volcano recently erupted, sending ash plumes nearly 10 km into the atmosphere and prompting red-level aviation alerts in the region.

2. About Shiveluch Volcano:

a. Shiveluch is one of the largest and most active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, one of the most volcanically active regions in the world.

b. The volcano is estimated to be about 60,000–70,000 years old.

3.  Type of Volcano: Shiveluch is a stratovolcano, characterized by steep slopes formed from alternating layers of lava, volcanic ash, and other volcanic debris.

4. Physical Features:

a. The volcano rises to an elevation of approximately 3,283 metres (10,771 feet).

b. Its summit is truncated by a broad caldera about 9 km wide.

c. A large lava dome complex has developed within this caldera.

d. Several additional lava domes are present on the outer flanks of the volcano.

5.  Volcanic Activity:

a. Frequent collapses of the lava dome complex have generated large debris avalanches, with deposits covering significant portions of the caldera floor.

b. Shiveluch has experienced an estimated 60 major eruptions during the last 10,000 years, making it one of the most active volcanoes of the Holocene epoch.

c. It has been in a state of continuous eruption since August 1999, punctuated by periodic powerful explosive events.

6. Recent Behaviour:

a. Over the past decade, the volcano has repeatedly emitted ash and steam and has experienced dome collapses, pyroclastic flows, and lava flows.

b. Such eruptions pose risks to aviation because volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines and reduce visibility.

7. Key Terms:

a. Caldera: A large depression formed when a volcano collapses following the emptying of its magma chamber.

b. Lava Dome:  A mound-shaped volcanic feature formed by the slow extrusion of highly viscous lava.

c. Pyroclastic Flow: A fast-moving mixture of hot gases, ash, and volcanic rock fragments that moves down a volcano's slopes at high speeds.

8.  Significance: Shiveluch is an important volcano for monitoring volcanic hazards in the North Pacific region and provides valuable insights into volcanic processes, dome-building activity, and explosive eruptions.

Aurora Borealis

1. News:  The Aurora Borealis, popularly known as the Northern Lights, was recently expected to be visible from parts of India due to heightened solar activity and associated geomagnetic disturbances.

2. About Aurora Borealis:

a. Aurora Borealis is the scientific name for the natural light display seen in the night sky of the Northern Hemisphere and is popularly known as the "Northern Lights."

b. The phenomenon is concentrated around the North Pole and the Earth's magnetic north pole.

c. It is commonly observed in regions such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Alaska, and Greenland.

d. The corresponding phenomenon in the Southern Hemisphere is known as Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights.

3. Formation of Auroras:

a. Auroras originate from activity on the Sun's surface.

b. The Sun continuously emits a stream of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, along with magnetic fields, collectively known as the solar wind.

c. As the solar wind approaches Earth, most of these charged particles are deflected by Earth's magnetic field, which acts as a protective shield.

d. However, some particles become trapped within the magnetic field and travel along magnetic field lines toward the polar regions.

e. These particles enter the upper atmosphere and collide with atmospheric gases, producing flashes of light that create auroral displays.

4. Colours of Auroras:

a. Collisions between charged particles and oxygen atoms generally produce green light, the most common auroral colour.

b. Interactions with nitrogen molecules produce blue, purple, and violet shades.

c. Depending on altitude and atmospheric composition, auroras may also display red and pink colours.

5. Why Auroras Sometimes Appear at Lower Latitudes:

a. During periods of intense solar activity, the Sun can release powerful solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejection events.

b. These events strengthen the solar wind and can trigger a geomagnetic storm, which is a temporary disturbance in Earth's magnetic field.

c. Under such conditions, auroral displays can expand far beyond polar regions and become visible in mid-latitude locations, occasionally even in parts of India.

6. Significance:

a. Auroras are among the most spectacular natural phenomena and provide valuable insights into interactions between the Sun, solar wind, and Earth's magnetic field.

b. Their occurrence also helps scientists study space weather and its potential impacts on satellites, communication systems, navigation networks, and power grids.

UPSC GS 2

Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra

1. News:  Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra is India's first nationwide WhatsApp-based AI advisory service dedicated to oilseed farmers.

2. Developed By:

a. The platform has been developed by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (ICAR-IIOR).

b. Its knowledge base has been jointly developed with the ICAR-Indian Institute of Groundnut Research (ICAR-IIGR), ICAR-Indian Institute of Rapeseed and Mustard Research (ICAR-IIRMR), and the PC Unit (Sesame & Niger).

3. Key Features:

a. Comprehensive Crop Coverage: The platform provides end-to-end advisory services for all nine major annual oilseed crops, including groundnut, sunflower, soybean, mustard, sesame, and other important oilseed crops, covering the entire journey from sowing to harvest.

b. 24×7 Accessibility: The AI-powered chatbot offers instant responses round the clock, providing research-based guidance on variety selection, crop management, pest and disease control, irrigation practices, and post-harvest management free of cost.

c. Regional Language Support: The service supports multiple regional languages and provides responses in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and English, making scientific information accessible to a wider farming community.

d. Trusted Scientific Knowledge: The advisory is based on validated scientific recommendations generated by ICAR-IIOR and other ICAR institutes, All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs), and associated knowledge partners.

e. No Additional App Required:  Farmers can access advisory services directly through WhatsApp without downloading or installing any separate application.

f. Instant Problem Solving: The chatbot provides immediate solutions related to crop cultivation, pest infestations, disease outbreaks, nutrient management, and other farming challenges, helping improve productivity.

g. Complete Crop Cycle Advisory: The platform covers the entire crop production cycle, including variety selection, agronomic practices, pest and disease management, irrigation scheduling, post-harvest management, and information on seed availability.

4. Significance:

a. Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra leverages artificial intelligence and digital communication platforms to deliver timely, reliable, and location-relevant agricultural advice directly to farmers.

b. The initiative is expected to improve oilseed productivity, enhance decision-making, reduce crop losses, and support India's efforts towards greater self-reliance in edible oils.

UPSC GS 3

Project 18 (P-18)

1. News: According to recent reports, India’s Project 18 programme is progressing steadily and is expected to become one of the most powerful surface combatant projects ever undertaken by the Indian Navy.

2.  About Project 18 Programme:

a. Project 18 (P-18) is the Indian Navy’s Next-Generation Destroyer (NGD) programme.

i. The project is being overseen by the Warship Design Bureau in collaboration with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).

b. Conceived as the successor to the Visakhapatnam-class Destroyer destroyers, the P-18 class will comprise advanced multi-role stealth destroyers designed for future maritime warfare.

3. Features:

a. Size and Displacement: 

i. With an estimated displacement exceeding 13,000 tonnes, the P-18 class is expected to be among the largest destroyers ever operated by the Indian Navy.

ii. Under international naval classification, warships exceeding 10,000 tonnes are generally categorized as cruisers, making Project 18 a significant step towards India's entry into this class of warships.

b. Propulsion System:

i. The ships will employ an advanced electric propulsion system powered by a combination of gas turbines and diesel generators.

c. Automation:

i. Extensive automation is expected to be integrated throughout the vessels, reducing crew requirements by approximately 25–30 percent compared to existing destroyer classes.

d. Vertical Launch Systems (VLS):

i. Each ship is expected to be equipped with 114 Vertical Launch System cells capable of deploying a wide range of indigenous missile systems.

4. Missile Armament: The ships are expected to carry:

a. BrahMos and BrahMos Next Generation missiles.

b. Long-Range Land-Attack Cruise Missiles (LR-LACM).

c. Precision-Guided Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (PGLRSAM).

d. Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (SRSAM).

5. SMART System:

a. Unmanned Systems: The destroyers will be capable of carrying unmanned underwater vehicles and kamikaze drones for surveillance, mine detection, and anti-submarine operations.

b. Sensor Suite: Advanced radar systems will provide 360-degree situational awareness and enable detection of threats at distances of up to 500 kilometres.

6. Significance:

7. Project 18 represents a major advancement in India's indigenous naval shipbuilding capabilities and maritime deterrence.

8. The programme is expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s blue-water operational capability, long-range strike potential, air defence, anti-submarine warfare, and network-centric combat effectiveness.

9. Its size, firepower, automation, and integration of advanced technologies could make it one of the most capable surface combatant classes in the Indo-Pacific region.  

Bovista Colorata

1. News:  Researchers have documented a rare bright yellow puffball mushroom, Bovista colorata, in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh.

2.  About Bovista Colorata:

a. Bovista colorata, commonly known as the yellow puffball mushroom, is a species of puffball fungus belonging to the Agaricaceae family.

b. It is typically found in grasslands, open fields, meadows, and disturbed soils.

3. Features:

a. The fungus is characterized by its spherical shape and striking yellow fruiting body.

b. Unlike typical mushrooms that release spores through gills beneath a cap, puffball fungi produce spores inside a closed, ball-shaped fruiting body.

c. As the mushroom matures, its internal tissue transforms into a fine powdery mass of spores.

4.  Reproduction and Dispersal: The mature spores are dispersed by wind, raindrops, or physical disturbances, enabling the species to spread over large distances.

5. Ecological Importance:

a. Puffball fungi serve as important decomposers in ecosystems by breaking down organic matter.

b. They contribute to nutrient recycling, carbon cycling, and soil formation, thereby supporting ecosystem health and productivity.

6. Economic and Medicinal Significance: Some puffball species possess nutritional value and contain bioactive compounds that may have potential medicinal applications.

7.  Classification:

a. Kingdom: Fungi

b. Family: Agaricaceae

c. Genus: Bovista

d. Species: Bovista colorata

8.  Significance: The documentation of Bovista colorata adds to the known fungal diversity of India and highlights the rich but relatively underexplored biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayan region.