1. Raisina Dialogue

Ø News:   The Prime Minister of India recently inaugurated the 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

Ø  Nature of the Forum: The Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship international conference focused on geopolitics and geo-economics, addressing major global challenges confronting the international community.

Ø Conceptual Inspiration: The dialogue is modelled on prominent global strategic forums such as the Munich Security Conference and Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue.

Ø Year of Inception: The conference has been organised annually in New Delhi since the year 2016.

Ø Discussion Format: The event follows a multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral format, bringing together diverse participants for dialogue and policy discussions.

Ø Participants: The forum includes heads of state, cabinet ministers, and representatives of local governments, along with experts and thought leaders from the private sector, media, and academic institutions.

Ø Organising Institutions: The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Ø Institutional Support: The dialogue is supported by multiple institutions, organisations, and individuals who contribute to advancing the objectives of the conference.

Ø Edition of 2026: The Raisina Dialogue held in 2026 marks the 11th edition of the event.

Ø Theme of the Dialogue: The theme for the 2026 edition is Saṁskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement.

Ø Global Participation: Approximately 2,700 participants representing around 110 countries are expected to attend the dialogue in person.

Ø Duration and Engagement: The conference will take place over three days, during which global decision makers and thought leaders will engage in discussions through multiple formats of interaction.

Ø Thematic Pillar One: Contested Frontiers focuses on issues related to power dynamics, global polarity, and geopolitical peripheries.

Ø Thematic Pillar Two: Repairing the Commons examines the need for new institutional arrangements, emerging stakeholders, and innovative governance approaches.

Ø Thematic Pillar Three: White Whale addresses global efforts toward achieving the targets of Agenda 2030.

Ø Thematic Pillar Four: The Eleventh Hour explores the interconnected challenges of climate change, conflict, and the consequences of delayed action.

Ø Thematic Pillar Five: Tomorrowland concentrates on the future of technology and the vision of a technology-driven global order.

Ø Thematic Pillar Six: Trade in the Time of Tariffs discusses global trade recovery, resilience of supply chains, and reinvention of economic frameworks in a tariff-driven environment.

UPSC GS 3

2.     Dusky Eagle Owl

Ø News:   A pair of rare dusky eagle owls has recently been observed in the Phato tourism zone of the Terai West forest division in Uttarakhand.

Ø  Taxonomic Classification: The dusky eagle owl is a species of owl that belongs to the family Strigidae.

Ø Physical Appearance: The bird is a large greyish-brown owl characterized by prominent ear tufts. Its underparts are greyish white with dark brown streaks, while its wings are dark brown with some whitish streaks.

Ø Habitat Preference: The dusky eagle owl generally inhabits dense riverside forests and areas with old-growth trees, where it preys mainly on small mammals and birds.

Ø Geographic Distribution: The species is distributed across several parts of South and Southeast Asia, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and parts of China.

Ø Body Size: The owl typically measures about 48 to 53 centimetres in length, with females generally larger than males.

Ø Daily Activity Pattern: The bird usually spends the daytime resting in secluded shaded branches or dense foliage and becomes active roughly an hour before sunset.

Ø Behavioural Traits: The dusky eagle owl is a powerful bird and may remain active during the daytime, particularly in cloudy weather conditions.

Ø Hunting Adaptations: It possesses strong feet and powerful flight capabilities, which make it an efficient predator.

Ø Nesting Behaviour: The species generally lays its eggs in old stick nests originally constructed by other birds.

Ø Nest Sources: These nests may have been previously built by large raptors such as kites, vultures, or eagles.

Ø Conservation Status: According to the IUCN Red List, the dusky eagle owl is classified as Least Concern.

3.     Cushing’s Syndrome

Ø News:   Recent medical studies have indicated that treatment options for Cushing’s syndrome are expanding, offering improved management possibilities for affected patients.

Ø Nature of the Disorder: Cushing’s syndrome is a medical condition that occurs when the body is exposed to excessive levels of the hormone cortisol for an extended period.

Ø Role of Cortisol: Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and plays an important role in regulating blood pressure, metabolism, immune responses, and the body’s reaction to stress.

Ø Common Cause: One of the most frequent causes of Cushing’s syndrome is the prolonged use of steroid medications prescribed for conditions such as asthma, autoimmune diseases, arthritis, or following organ transplantation.

Ø Endogenous Cause: In some cases, the body produces excess cortisol on its own due to a non-cancerous tumour in the pituitary gland, a condition commonly referred to as Cushing’s disease.

Ø Weight-related Symptoms: Individuals with Cushing’s syndrome often experience weight gain, particularly around the abdomen and face, along with the development of fat accumulation between the shoulders.

Ø Skin-related Symptoms: The skin may become thin and bruise easily, and wounds tend to heal slowly.

Ø Stretch Marks: Patients may develop wide purple stretch marks on areas such as the abdomen, thighs, breasts, or arms.

Ø Hormonal and Physical Changes: Acne and increased facial or body hair growth, especially in women, may occur as a result of hormonal imbalance.

Ø Reproductive Effects: Women may experience irregular or absent menstrual cycles, while men may notice reduced libido or fertility problems.

Ø Cardiometabolic Effects: Many patients develop high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar levels, and in some cases the condition can progress to diabetes.

Ø Bone Health Impact: Loss of bone density may occur, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Ø Psychological and Cognitive Effects: Patients may experience anxiety, irritability, depression, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and memory-related difficulties.

Ø Risk Profile: Naturally occurring cases of Cushing’s syndrome are more common in women than in men, particularly among individuals aged between 30 and 50 years.

Ø Treatment Approach: Treatment strategies depend on the underlying cause and are aimed at restoring cortisol levels to normal.

Ø Medication-related Management: If the condition results from prolonged steroid medication use, doctors gradually reduce the dosage under medical supervision.

Ø Surgical Treatment: When a tumour is responsible for excessive cortisol production, surgical removal of the tumour is usually the primary treatment option.

4.     Glyptothorax Sentimereni and Oreichthys Elianae

Ø News:     Researchers in Northeast India have recently identified two new freshwater fish species named Glyptothorax sentimereni and Oreichthys elianae from the state of Nagaland.

Ø  Survey Location: The species were discovered during ichthyological surveys conducted in tributaries of the Brahmaputra River in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland.

Ø Species Identification: Both Glyptothorax sentimereni and Oreichthys elianae represent newly described freshwater fish species from the region.

Ø Discovery Site of Glyptothorax sentimereni: Glyptothorax sentimereni was recorded from rocky stretches of the Dikhu River.

Ø Habitat: The species belongs to a group of torrent-dwelling catfishes that are adapted to survive in rapidly flowing mountain streams.

Ø Adhesive Adaptation: The fish possesses a specialised adhesive structure on its underside, enabling it to attach firmly to rocks in strong water currents.

Ø Distinctive Morphological Traits: It shows serrations on the dorsal-fin spine and a folded or plicate ventral surface on its pectoral and pelvic fins.

Ø Taxonomic Significance: These morphological characteristics distinguish Glyptothorax sentimereni from closely related species found across the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna river basin.

Ø Discovery Site of Oreichthys elianae: Oreichthys elianae was discovered in a tributary of the Tsurang River.

Ø Body Size: The species is very small in size, measuring slightly more than 2.5 centimetres in length.

Ø External Appearance: The fish is characterized by bright red fins and a prominent black blotch located at the base of its tail.

Ø Lateral Line Feature: The species possesses an incomplete lateral line consisting of only five pored scales.

Ø Cheek Pore Pattern: It also displays 14 to 15 pores on the cheek region, which help in distinguishing it from other related species.

5.     Shahed Drones

Ø News:   The United States has recently expressed serious concerns regarding the operational capabilities and growing use of Iran’s Shahed attack drones.

Ø Meaning and Origin: Shahed drones are unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Iran, and the word Shahed means witness in the Persian language.

Ø Nature of the System: These drones are designed as low-cost one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles that are intended to strike targets directly.

Ø Operational Concept: Shahed drones are often described as kamikaze or suicide drones because they function similarly to guided missiles that fly toward a predetermined target and explode upon impact.

Ø Major Variants: The most widely used models of the system are the Shahed-131 and Shahed-136.

Ø Russian Designations: Russia refers to the Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 drones as Geran-1 and Geran-2 respectively.

Ø Cost Advantage: Each Shahed drone is estimated to cost between 20,000 and 50,000 US dollars, which makes them significantly cheaper than many other long-range one-way attack drones.

Ø Comparison with Missiles: Ballistic missiles and cruise missiles typically cost several million dollars per unit, making Shahed drones a relatively inexpensive strike option.

Ø Strategic Label: Due to their low production cost, low-altitude flight profile, and expendable nature, Shahed drones are sometimes referred to as the poor man’s cruise missile.

Ø Swarm Strategy: These drones can be produced in large numbers and deployed in swarms, allowing them to overwhelm air defence systems by approaching from multiple directions simultaneously.

Ø Range of Shahed-131: The Shahed-131 drone has an operational range of approximately 700 to 900 kilometres.

Ø Range of Shahed-136: The Shahed-136 variant has a significantly longer range of about 2,000 to 2,500 kilometres.

Ø Size and Weight: These drones generally measure between 2.5 and 3 metres in length and have a launch weight of roughly 200 kilograms, most of which consists of fuel and payload.

Ø Launch Mechanism: The drones are launched using a disposable rocket booster attached beneath the aircraft.

Ø Propulsion System: Shortly after launch, the rocket booster separates and a piston-driven engine takes over to propel the drone toward its target.

Ø Launch Platforms: Shahed drones can be launched from both fixed rail launch systems and mobile vehicle-based platforms.

Ø Navigation System: For navigation, the drones rely on a combination of civilian GPS or GLONASS signals along with an inertial navigation system that is usually pre-programmed with target coordinates before launch.

Ø Warhead Types: These drones can carry different types of warheads, including high-explosive fragmentation, thermobaric, and shrapnel-filled munitions designed to cause significant damage to personnel and equipment.