19 May 2026

UPSC GS 1

Anaimangalam Copper Plates

1. News:    The Netherlands recently returned the 11th-century Anaimangalam Copper Plates, also known as the Leiden Plates, to India during the Prime Minister’s visit.

2. Definition:

a. The Anaimangalam Copper Plates, popularly referred to as the Leiden Plates, are 11th-century inscriptions associated with the Chola Empire.

b. The collection consists of 21 copper plates weighing nearly 30 kilograms.

c. The plates are bound together using a bronze ring secured with the royal seal of Rajendra Chola I.

3. Historical Period: The inscriptions belong to the reign of Emperor Rajaraja Chola I, who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE, and his son Rajendra Chola I.

4. Division of the Plates: The inscriptions are divided into two sections:

a. One section is written in Sanskrit.

b. The other section is written in Tamil.

5. Sanskrit Section:

a. The opening plates in Sanskrit provide a detailed genealogy of the Chola rulers.

b. These inscriptions also connect the dynasty to mythological figures.

6. Tamil Section:

a. Most of the plates are written in Tamil and contain administrative records and grant-related details.

7. Grant to Chudamani Vihara:

a. The Tamil inscriptions record the grant of land revenues and taxes by Rajaraja Chola I to the Chudamani Vihara, a Buddhist monastery located at Nagapattinam.

8. Connection with Srivijaya Kingdom:

a. The monastery was constructed by Sri Mara Vijayotunga Varman, ruler of the Srivijaya Kingdom in present-day Indonesia.

9. Engraving of the Plates:

a. Although the original land grants were issued by Rajaraja Chola I, the inscriptions were later engraved onto copper plates by Rajendra Chola I for preservation purposes.

10. Journey to the Netherlands:

a. The plates were taken abroad around the year 1700 when Dutch missionary Florentius Camper acquired them during the period of control of Nagapattinam by the Dutch East India Company.

UPSC GS 2

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission

1. News:   The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission recently organised a Scientific Conclave and Interactive Session on Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026 at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research in Telangana.

2. Definition: The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is an autonomous institution functioning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

3. Objective of IPC: The Commission was established to prescribe and maintain drug standards in India.

4. Functions of IPC:

a. Updating Drug Standards: Its primary responsibility is to regularly revise and update standards for drugs commonly required for the treatment of diseases prevalent in the region.

b. Publication of Indian Pharmacopoeia: The Commission publishes official documents aimed at improving the quality of medicines. This is achieved by adding new monographs and revising existing monographs under the Indian Pharmacopoeia.

c. Promotion of Generic Medicines: IPC promotes the rational use of generic medicines through the publication of the National Formulary of India.

d. Drug Quality Standards: The Commission prescribes standards related to the identity, purity, and strength of drugs that are essential for the healthcare needs of both humans and animals.

e. IP Reference Substances: IPC also provides Indian Pharmacopoeia Reference Substances (IPRS). These substances act as standard reference materials or “fingerprints” for identifying and testing the purity of pharmaceutical products according to Indian Pharmacopoeia standards. 

UPSC GS 3

Sonerila Roxburghii

1. News:    Researchers recently discovered a new flowering plant species named Sonerila roxburghii from the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats region in Kerala.

2. Definition: 

a. Sonerila roxburghii is a newly identified species of flowering plant.

b. The species was discovered in the Mankulam and Kallar regions of Idukki district in Kerala.

c. It was found at elevations ranging between 1,380 and 1,480 metres above sea level.

3. Naming of the Species:

a. The species has been named in honour of William Roxburgh, a renowned botanist from Scotland.

b. William Roxburgh is widely regarded as the “Father of Indian Botany.”

c. He was also among the earliest scientists to document the Sonerila genus.

4. Taxonomic Classification:

a. The plant belongs to the Sonerila genus under the Melastomataceae family.

5. Morphological Characteristics:

a. The stems of the plant can grow up to 60 centimetres in height.

b. The species bears light pink coloured flowers.

c. The leaves possess smooth and flattened surfaces that gradually taper towards the stem.

6. Habitat Adaptation: The species is adapted to moist, rocky, high-altitude habitats.

7. Ecological Significance: The species belongs to a group of delicate tropical herbs largely confined to the higher elevations of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.

8. IUCN Conservation Status: The species has been placed under the Critically Endangered category because of its highly restricted distribution and fragile habitat conditions.

Barn Swallow

1. News:     A recent study suggests that descendants of migratory Barn Swallow populations may have gradually stopped undertaking long-distance migration and settled permanently in the Imphal Valley of Manipur.

2. Definition: The Barn Swallow is a migratory passerine bird species.

3.   Scientific Name: The scientific name of the species is Hirundo rustica.

4.  Habitat and Distribution:

a. It is regarded as the most abundant and widely distributed swallow species in the world.

b. The species breeds across much of the Northern Hemisphere.

c. It spends the winter season in large parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

d. Barn swallows inhabit open landscapes such as:

i. Agricultural fields.

ii. Parks.

iii. Roadside edges.

iv. Marshes.

v. Meadows.

vi. Ponds.

vii. Coastal water regions.

5. Physical Features:

a. Barn swallows are small to medium-sized songbirds with long and pointed wings.

b. Adult barn swallows possess dark iridescent blue-black upperparts.

c. The tail is long and deeply forked.

d. White spots become visible when the tail spreads during flight.

e. The underparts are buff or cinnamon coloured with a dark chestnut throat.

f. The lighter belly region is separated from the throat by a narrow blue-black band.

6. IUCN Conservation Status: According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, the Barn Swallow is classified as Least Concern.

SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) Mission

1. News:    The European Space Agency and the Chinese space agency are preparing to launch SMILE Mission.

2. Definition: It is a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

3. Mission Objective:

a. The primary objective of the mission is to capture the first X-ray images of Earth’s protective magnetic shield while it deflects harmful charged particles and energy originating from the Sun.

b. The mission will study the interaction between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere and ionosphere.

c. The expected operational life of the mission is around three years.

4. Orbital Position:

a. The spacecraft will be positioned approximately 1.21 lakh kilometres above Earth’s north pole.

b. From this location, it will be able to observe the outer boundary of the magnetosphere in its entirety.

5. Scientific Instruments: The mission carries four scientific instruments for observations and data collection.

a. ESA Contribution: ESA has developed the Soft X-ray Imager (SXI).

b. Chinese Contribution: The Chinese team has developed the remaining three payloads:

i. Magnetometer.

ii. Light Ion Analyser (LIA).

iii. Ultraviolet Aurora Imager (UVI).

c. The four instruments will operate using both X-ray and ultraviolet wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.

d. These payloads will conduct remote sensing as well as in situ observations in the near-Earth environment.

Ebola

1. News: WHO has declared the outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda which constitutes a Public Health Emergency Of International Concern. (PHEIC).

2. Definition: Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease caused by a group of viruses known as orthoebolaviruses (formerly ebolavirus).

3. Discovery: Orthoebolaviruses were identified in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and are primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa.

4. Origin of Name: The disease is named after the Ebola River, located near one of the villages in DRC where the disease was first identified.

Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

o Definition: A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is the highest level of health alert issued by the World Health Organization under the International Health Regulations framework.

· Governing Framework:

o PHEIC is governed under the International Health Regulations 2005.

o The International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005 constitute a legally binding international agreement involving 196 countries.

· Criteria for Declaring a PHEIC:

o An outbreak may qualify as a PHEIC when the event is serious, sudden, unusual, or unexpected in nature.

o The disease or health event must possess the potential to spread across international borders and affect multiple countries.

o The situation may require urgent, coordinated, and international action to control or prevent the spread of the disease.

· Scope of PHEIC:

o A PHEIC is not restricted only to viral or bacterial outbreaks.

o It may also be declared in situations involving critical exposure to chemical agents or radioactive materials.

1. Affected Species: Ebola can affect humans as well as other primates, such as gorillas, monkeys, and chimpanzees.

2. Transmission of Ebola:

a. The virus is believed to be naturally hosted by fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family.

b.  Ebola is introduced to humans through close contact with infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelopes, or porcupines.

c. This contact typically occurs with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of the animals, especially when they are sick or dead in the rainforest.

d. Once introduced into the human population, Ebola spreads through direct contact with the body fluids of infected individuals, whether the person is alive or deceased.

3. Symptoms of Ebola:

a. Symptoms may appear between 2 to 21 days after exposure to the virus.

b. Fever

c. Diarrhea

d. Vomiting

e. Bleeding

f. Often leads to death.

4. Fatality Rate: The average case fatality rate of Ebola is approximately 50%.

5. Treatment for Ebola:

a. No Known Cure: Currently, there is no established cure for Ebola. While experimental treatments have been explored, none have been fully tested for effectiveness and safety.

b. FDA-Approved Treatments: Two monoclonal antibody treatments, Inmazeb and Ebanga, have been approved by the FDA for the Ebola Zaire strain.

6. Current Therapy: The treatment focuses on maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, as well as administering blood and plasma to control bleeding.

Eublepharis Jhuma

1. News:   Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India recently identified a new species of leopard gecko named Eublepharis jhuma from the rocky hill regions of Bihar.

2. Definition: 

a. Eublepharis jhuma is a newly discovered species of leopard gecko.

b. The species was discovered during a wildlife survey conducted on the outskirts of the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary.

3. Scientific Importance:

a. It is the first leopard gecko species ever recorded from the state of Bihar.

b. The species possesses unique physical characteristics as well as distinct genetic features.

4.  Naming of the Species: The species has been named in honour of Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman director of the Zoological Survey of India, whose nickname is “Jhuma.”

5. Physical Features:

a. It is a medium-sized gecko with a dark brown back marked by two pale bands containing spotted patterns.

b. Unlike its closest relative, Eublepharis satpuraensis, this species possesses large, flat, bumpy scales on its back.

c. These scales are separated by unusually wide gaps. 

d. The species has a greater number of tiny textured ridges, known as lamellae, beneath its fourth toe.

e. These structures help improve grip and movement.

f. The gecko displays a pattern of 12 to 13 pores near the tail region.

g. If the tail is lost and regenerates, the new scales grow back in a distinct flat and rectangular shape instead of a circular form.

Facts for Prelims

Royal Order of the Polar Star

1. News:    The Prime Minister of India was recently conferred with Royal Order of the Polar Star.

2. Definition:

a. The Royal Order of the Polar Star, also known as Nordstjärneorden, is a prestigious Swedish order of chivalry.

b. It is regarded as Sweden’s premier state distinction for recognising foreign heads of government, royalty, and individuals for exceptional public service, institutional achievements, and contributions that advance Swedish interests globally.

3. Key Features of the Award:

a. Insignia: The insignia consists of a white-enamelled golden Maltese cross carrying a blue medallion that features the silver Polar Star and the motto “Nescit occasum,” meaning “It knows no decline.”

b. Ribbon: Between 1975 and 2022, foreign recipients received the honour on a pale blue ribbon bordered with yellow edges representing Sweden’s national colours.

c. Grand Cross Collar: The highest category of the award includes a decorative collar featuring crowned monograms and Polar Stars, along with an eight-pointed silver breast star.

d. Valor Clasp:The Medal of the Polar Star may also include a special clasp awarded to civilians serving in armed conflict zones.

e. Return Tradition: Decorations associated with the order are traditionally returned to the Royal Orders of Knighthood after the recipient’s death.

4. Significance of the 2026 Conferral: Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Asian leader to receive this distinction, reflecting India’s growing global influence.