30 July 2026

UPSC GS 1

Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath

●      News: Sarnath has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in the Republic of Korea.

●      About Sarnath:

○      Sarnath is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites of Buddhism.

○      It is located near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

○      With this inscription, India now has 45 World Heritage sites. 

○      In ancient Buddhist texts, it is referred to as:

■      Rishipattan.

■      Ishipatana.

■      Mrigadava (Deer Park).

●      Significance in Buddhism:

○      It is the sacred site where Gautama Buddha, after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, delivered his first sermon to his five disciples.

○      The first sermon marked the beginning of Dharmachakra Pravartan (Turning of the Wheel of Dharma).

○      It also marked the establishment of the Buddhist Sangha (monastic community).

●      UNESCO World Heritage Property: The inscribed serial property comprises two component parts:

○      Chaukhandi Stupa.

○      Archaeological Remains of Sarnath, including:

■      Dhamekh Stupa.

■      Dharmarajika Stupa.

■      Mulagandhakuti Vihara.

■      Ashokan Pillar.

■      Other associated monasteries and archaeological remains.

●      Major Monuments at Sarnath:

○      Dhamekh Stupa – Marks the site traditionally associated with Buddha's first sermon.

○      Dharmarajika Stupa – One of the earliest stupas commissioned by Emperor Ashoka.

○      Chaukhandi Stupa – Commemorates the meeting of Buddha with his first five disciples.

○      Mulagandhakuti Vihara – Believed to mark the place where Buddha spent his first rainy season after enlightenment. 

UPSC GS 2 

Initiatives Undertaken in Rashtrapati Bhavan  

●      News:As President Smt. Droupadi Murmu completed four years in office; several citizen-centric initiatives were launched at Rashtrapati Bhavan and the President's Estates.

●       Key Initiatives:

●      Launch of e-Audio Guide:

○      An application-based e-Audio Guide has been launched to enhance the visitor experience at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

○      It is available in Hindi, English, and 14 other Indian languages.

○      The guide also includes a sign language module to improve accessibility for visitors.

●      Launch of the Third Edition of e-Upahaar:

○      e-Upahaar is an online platform for the public auction of Presidential gifts.

○      The third edition features 300 curated Presidential gifts.

○      The auction will be held from 5 August to 5 September 2026.

●      Inauguration of Bachpan 'Bal Parisar':

○      A dedicated facility for children in the President's Estate.

○      It includes:

■      Kilkari – a children's play zone.

■      Samarth Anganwadi-cum-Palna – a facility providing a safe and nurturing environment for children's care and development.

●      Launch of RAAHI:

○      RAAHI (Rashtrapati Bhavan Access And Heritage Interconnector) is a fare-free electric bus service launched to promote green and inclusive mobility.

○      The service is operated by women drivers and conductors.

○      It provides safe and convenient transport for:

■      Staff and residents of the President's Estate.

■      Women.

■      Children.

■      Senior citizens.

■      Divyang persons.

○      The service also connects the President's Estate with the nearest Metro station.

●      Net Zero Energy Strategy:

○      The foundation stone was laid for a new service block as part of the Net Zero Energy Strategy for the President's Estate.

○      The initiative aims to improve energy efficiency and promote sustainable infrastructure.

●      Development of Presidential Estates: Inauguration of accommodation facilities at:

○      Rashtrapati Niketan, Dehradun.

○      Rashtrapati Nilayam, Secunderabad.

○      Foundation stone laid for the redevelopment of staff quarters in the President's Estate. 

UPSC GS 3 

Ceratocaudia Antiqua  

●      News:Scientists have discovered a new species of long-necked dinosaur, Ceratocaudia antiqua, in western India, distinguished by its unique horn-like tail crest.

●       About Ceratocaudia Antiqua:

○      Ceratocaudia antiqua is a newly discovered species of long-necked sauropod dinosaur.

○      It is among the earliest known macronarian dinosaurs and the earliest diagnosable member of its lineage in India.

●      Discovery:

○      The fossil was discovered during excavations in the Kaladongar Formation of the Kachchh Basin in Kutch district, Gujarat.

●      Geological Age:

○      It lived approximately 170–180 million years ago during the Jurassic Period.

●      Physical Characteristics:

○      Measured about 7 metres in length, making it much smaller than giant sauropods such as Brachiosaurus, which could reach around 20 metres.

○      Distinguished by a curved, horn-like crest on the front part of its tail vertebrae.

○      Possessed a unique notch on its neck vertebrae.

○      Had distinctive tibia and fibula (lower leg bones) not observed in other known sauropods.

○      Its tail vertebrae exhibit a rare transition from flat-ended joints to ball-and-socket joints near the tail tip, a feature usually seen in much later dinosaur species.

●      Etymology:

●      The genus name Ceratocaudia is derived from the Greek words:

○      "cerato" – horn.

○      "caudia" – tail.

●      The name refers to its distinctive horn-like tail crest.

●      The species name "antiqua" is Latin for "old" or "ancient", reflecting its status as one of the earliest known macronarian dinosaurs.

●      Macronarian Dinosaurs:

○      Macronarians are a group of long-necked sauropod dinosaurs.

○      They are characterised by:

■      Large, box-shaped skulls.

■      Wide nostrils.

■      Massive bodies with long necks and tails.

Blue Straggler Star (BSS)

●      News: Indian astronomers have discovered a Blue Straggler Star (BSS) during its formation stage, providing rare direct observational evidence of how these unusual stars originate.

●      About Blue Straggler Star (BSS):

○      A Blue Straggler Star (BSS) is an unusually hot, bright, blue, and massive star found in old stellar populations, where such young-looking stars are generally not expected.

○      These stars appear younger than other stars in the same cluster because they gain additional mass during their evolution.

●      Location:

○      Globular clusters.

○      Open clusters.

○      Dwarf galaxies.

●      Discovery:

○      First discovered by Allan Sandage during 1952–53 in the globular cluster M3.

●      Formation Mechanisms:

●      Mass Transfer in a Binary System:

○      Two stars orbit each other in a binary system.

○      As one star evolves, it expands and transfers its outer layers to its companion.

○      The companion star gains mass, becoming hotter, brighter, and more massive, eventually forming a Blue Straggler Star.

●      Stellar Collision or Merger:

○      In densely populated star clusters, two stars may collide or merge.

○      The merged star becomes more massive and energetic, making it appear hotter, brighter, and younger than the surrounding stars.

●      Key Features:

○      Follow a different evolutionary path from most stars in the same cluster because they are rejuvenated after gaining additional mass.

○      Appear younger despite existing in ancient star clusters.

○      Strong X-ray emission indicates that matter is currently being accreted, providing evidence of ongoing mass transfer.

Tripura Sarinda

●      News: An artisan from Tripura showcased the state's GI-tagged Tripura Sarinda, at the 'Indi Haat 2026' in New Delhi.

●      About Tripura Sarinda:

○      Tripura Sarinda is a traditional bowed string musical instrument crafted from a single block of wood with a hollow resonator.

○      It is closely associated with the indigenous communities of Tripura and is widely used during folk performances and other traditional musical expressions.

○      It is also known as Sarinda Uakhrap.

●      Features:

○      Traditionally made using bamboo and wood.

○      Has an oval-shaped hollow vibrating chamber covered with a thin animal skin.

○      The upper portion is open, while the waist is narrow.

○      Measures approximately 65–70 cm in length.

○      The lower portion is oval-shaped, with a broad middle section.

○      Fitted with three pegs at the top for fastening the strings.

○      Strings are made of metal, Muga silk thread, or animal gut.

○      Played using a bow made of horsehair.

○      The instrument is tuned by tightening or loosening the strings.

●      Cultural Significance:

○      An important instrument in the folk traditions of Tripura's indigenous communities.

○      Similar instruments are found across several parts of India under different names.

○      The Bodos call it Serja or Serenja.

○      It is known as the "Foli" instrument in parts of Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

○      The Sarangi and Nepali Sarangi are closely related instruments.

○      It is traditionally played by communities such as the Bauls of Bengal, Punjabis, folk artists of Rajasthan, Bodos of Assam, and the Twiprasa of Tripura.

●      GI Tag:

○      Tripura Sarinda has received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag, recognising its unique craftsmanship and cultural heritage. 

Tigidia Singhal

●      News: Researchers have described a new species of trapdoor spider, Tigidia singhal, from the semi-arid grasslands of the Deccan Plateau in Maharashtra.

●      About Tigidia singhal:

○      Tigidia singhal is a newly described species of trapdoor spider discovered in the semi-arid grasslands of the Deccan Plateau.

○      Its discovery increases the number of Tigidia species reported from India to eight.

○      It is the first record of the genus Tigidia from a semi-arid open natural ecosystem, extending its known distribution beyond tropical evergreen and deciduous forests.

●      Taxonomic Classification:

○      Genus: Tigidia.

○      Family: Barychelidae (Brush-footed spiders).

○      Infraorder: Mygalomorphae, which also includes tarantulas and funnel-web spiders.

●      Habitat and Distribution:

○      Found in the rocky hilltop grasslands of the Deccan Plateau in Maharashtra.

○      The genus Tigidia is found only in:

■      Madagascar.

■      Mauritius.

■      India.

●      Characteristics:

○      The female measures approximately 15 mm in length.

○      Has black legs covered with greyish bristle-like hairs.

○      The abdomen is lighter in colour with chevron-shaped markings.

○      Constructs silk-lined burrows that:

■      Are 4–10 cm deep.

■      Have two openings.

■      Are usually located along the edges of rocks, where soil retains more moisture.

○      These burrows protect the spider from desiccation and predators while facilitating efficient prey capture.

●      Behaviour:

○      It is a long-lived and sedentary spider.

○      Spends most of its life inside its burrow.

○      Usually emerges only during the mating season.