16 May 2026

UPSC GS 1

Agalega Islands

1. News: Agalega Islands are emerging as an important component of India’s strategy to strengthen naval presence and monitor critical trade routes in the Indian Ocean region.

2. Location:   The Agalega Islands are two islands located in the Indian Ocean. The islands are surrounded by:

i. Seychelles to the north.

ii. Maldives, the US base Diego Garcia, and Chagos Islands to the east.

iii. Madagascar, the Mozambique Channel, and the eastern coast of Africa to the west.

iv. Administratively, the islands form part of the territories and dependencies of the Republic of Mauritius.

a. 

  3. Important Settlements: North Agalega contains the capital settlement known as Vingt Cinq.

4. Flora and Fauna:

a. Coconut is the major endemic plant species of the islands.

b. The Agalega Island Day Gecko is an important native species found on the islands.

5. Strategic Importance for India:

a. The Agalega Islands are becoming one of India’s major strategic projects in the Indian Ocean region.

b. The islands provide India with strategic access for monitoring activities around the Mozambique Channel.

c. The Mozambique Channel is an important maritime route carrying substantial trade flows between Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Qom

1. News:    Qom is home to one of the largest Indian communities in Iran, with nearly 3,000 to 3,500 Indian nationals residing there.

2. Location:

a. Qom is the capital city of Qom Province situated in north-central Iran.

b. The city acts as an important link between the central provinces of Iran and Tehran.

c. Qom is widely recognised as one of the most important centres of Shia Islamic scholarship and theology.

3. Rise as a Religious Centre: 

a. The city emerged as a major centre of Shi’ite Islam during the 8th century CE.

b. It later developed into an important pilgrimage destination during the 17th century.

c. Qom houses several important religious sites, including the Shrine of Fatima Masumeh, which is among the most visited pilgrimage destinations in Iran.

4. Theological Institutions: The city is home to the largest theological college in Iran.

5. Economic Importance:

a. Qom also functions as a petroleum distribution centre.

b. Industries in the city include petrochemicals, cement, textiles, and other manufacturing sectors. 

UPSC GS 2

 Common Criteria Development Board

1. News:     India was recently nominated to serve as the Chair of the Common Criteria Development Board for the period from April 2026 to April 2028.

2. Definition: The Common Criteria Development Board is the technical body responsible for managing international standards related to information technology security evaluation under the Common Criteria framework.

3. Operates Under: The CCDB functions under the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement.

4. Aim of CCDB: The principal objective of the board is to develop and maintain the Common Criteria (CC) and the Common Methodology for IT Security Evaluation (CEM) for secure IT products.

5. Key Aspects:

a. Technical Core of CCRA: The CCDB administers the international work programme relating to the Common Criteria (CC) and the Common Methodology for Information Technology Security Evaluation (CEM).

b. Focus on Security Standards: The board formulates technical standards and evaluation benchmarks for secure IT products used globally.

c. Portal Management: It manages the Common Criteria Portal, which serves as the authoritative global repository for certified secure IT products.

d. Global Security Evaluation: The board ensures that international IT security standards remain robust, consistent, and capable of addressing emerging cyber security threats.

6. India’s Participation: 

a. India has held the status of a Certificate Authorizing Nation since 2013.

b. India participates in the arrangement through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

7.  Certification Body: The Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification Directorate functions as India’s official Certification Body.

8. About Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA):

a. The Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement is an international framework established for the mutual recognition of IT security certificates among participating countries.

9. Key Aspects:

a. Mutual Recognition System: Under the arrangement, certificates issued by member nations are accepted without requiring re-certification. This system supports smooth international trade in secure IT products.

b. Membership: The CCRA currently includes:

i. 20 certificate-authorizing nations.

ii. 18 certificate-consuming nations. 

Pride of Hills: Special Development Assistance for Hill States

1. News:     The Central Government recently allocated ₹4,900 crore to Arunachal Pradesh under the newly launched Pride of Hills: Special Development Assistance for Hill States initiative for the financial year 2026–27.

2.  About Pride of Hills: Special Development Assistance for Hill States:

a. It is a special initiative introduced under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment framework for 2026–27.

b. The scheme has been designed to address infrastructure and development gaps in hill and Himalayan states.

3. Total Outlay of the Scheme: The scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹25,000 crore for nine hill and Himalayan states.

4. Objective of the Scheme: The initiative aims to address structural and geographical disadvantages faced by hill states, including:

a. Difficult terrain.

b. Weak connectivity.

c. Sparse population distribution.

d. High infrastructure development costs.

e. Weak fiscal indicators.

f. Limited revenue-generation capacity.

5. Beneficiary States: The nine states covered under the scheme are:

a. Arunachal Pradesh.

b. Himachal Pradesh.

c. Nagaland.

d. Uttarakhand.

e. Tripura.

f. Manipur.

g. Meghalaya.

h. Sikkim.

i. Mizoram.

6. Loan Repayment:

a. States may use the allocated funds for repayment of the principal amount of loans obtained from the Government of India, banks, and other agencies.

b. This also includes loans taken for Externally Aided Projects (EAPs).

7. Borrowing Ceiling Provision:

a. Funds released under this component will not affect the Gross Borrowing Ceiling of the states as determined under the Borrowing Guidelines for 2026–27.

8. State Share of Projects:

a. The funds may also be utilised for meeting the state share required under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).

9. Infrastructure Projects:

a. States can use the funds for contributing towards infrastructure projects implemented by Central agencies such as Railways and highways.

10. Externally Aided Projects:

a. The scheme also permits utilisation of funds as counterpart funding for Externally Aided Projects (EAPs).

UPSC GS 3

Psechrus Ntu And Psechrus Phenshunyu

1. News:    The Zoological Survey of India recently discovered two new spider species named Psechrus ntu and Psechrus phenshunyu.

2. Classification: These are two newly identified spider species belonging to the genus Psechrus.

3. About the Genus Psechrus:

a. Psechrus spiders belong to the family Psechridae.

b. They are commonly recognised for constructing large horizontal sheet-like webs in moist forest habitats.

4. Discovery Location:

a. Both species were discovered in Nagaland.

b. The species were named after the local villages where they were first documented, namely Ntu and Phenshunyu.

5. Key Features:

a.  Body Structure: The spiders possess elongated and dorsoventrally flattened body structures.

b. Sensory Adaptations: They have exceptionally long anterior legs that assist in environmental sensing. Fine sensory hair structures help them detect vibrations efficiently.

c. Web-building Behaviour: The species exhibit expanded web-building behaviour suited for dense vegetation zones. They build extensive horizontal sheet-like webs that function both as prey-capture systems and environmental monitoring platforms.

6. Ecological Adaptation: These specialised features are considered adaptive advantages for survival in dimly lit forest microhabitats where tactile and vibrational perception is highly important.

7. Rare Behavioural Observation:

a. A male Psechrus himalayanus was observed sharing a web with Psechrus phenshunyu.

b. This behaviour is known as a heterospecific association.

c. Such associations are extremely rare among spiders because most species display territorial or cannibalistic behaviour. 

Advance Authorisation Scheme

1. News:     The Government of India recently imposed limits on the quantity of gold that can be imported under the Advance Authorisation Scheme.

2. Definition: The Advance Authorisation Scheme permits duty-free import of inputs that are physically incorporated into export products.

3. Scope of Inputs Allowed: In addition to production inputs, the scheme also allows duty-free import of:

a. Packaging materials.

b. Fuel.

c. Oil.

d. Catalysts consumed or utilised during the production process of export goods.

4. Duty Exemptions under the Scheme: Inputs imported under the scheme are exempt from several duties, including:

a. Basic Customs Duty.

b. Additional Customs Duty.

c. Education Cess.

d. Anti-dumping Duty.

e. Safeguard Duty.

f. Transition Product-Specific Safeguard Duty.

g. Integrated Tax.

h. Compensation Cess.

5. Export Obligation Condition: Advance Authorisation is generally issued with an export obligation that the beneficiary must fulfil.

6. Categories Eligible for Advance Authorisation:

a.   Manufacturer Exporters: The scheme is available to manufacturer exporters engaged in producing goods for export purposes.

b. Merchant Exporters: Merchant exporters linked with supporting manufacturers are also eligible under the scheme. These exporters procure goods from supporting manufacturers for export.

7. Advance Authorisation Issued For:

a. Physical Exports: The authorisation may be issued for physical export of goods.

b. Intermediate Supply: It may also be granted for intermediate supply transactions.

c. Deemed Exports: The scheme covers supplies made to specified categories of deemed exports.

d. Supply of Stores: It also applies to supply of stores on board foreign-going vessels or aircraft, provided Standard Input Output Norms (SION) exist for such items.

8. Validity Period: Advance Authorisation remains valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

9. Implementing Authority: The scheme is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

10. Top of Form

11. Bottom of Form