30 September 2026
The Tourism and Civil Aviation Department observed World Tourism Day 2026 at the DAC conference hall in Gangtok on 27 September 2026. The theme was 'Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Re-design Tourism'. The Sikkim Darshan App offers multilingual guides for 50+ destinations. Other e-services are the Sikkim Tourism Portal, SikkimGo Single Sign-On and the Atithi Guest Information System. Sikkim Adventure Tourism Fest 2026 is set for 1-7 November 2026 at Linkeytar, Namthang in Namchi district.
Venue:
DAC conference hall, Gangtok
Destinations on Sikkim Darshan App:
50+
Adventure Tourism Fest:
1-7 November 2026, Linkeytar, Namthang
Why it matters for exams: Days, themes and state tourism initiatives are regular short-answer material.
Kerala PSCUPSC
30 September 2026
The Union Cabinet approved an Intelligent Traffic Management System for Delhi with an outlay of ₹1,789.52 crore on 30 September 2026.
It covers 42 identified traffic corridors, with 1,092 adaptive traffic control system locations and 1,029 enforcement locations.
Implementation is in three phases over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and maintenance.
Delhi Police is the implementing agency, with a master system integrator selected through competitive bidding.
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is the project management consultant.
The system offers AI-based signals, real-time congestion detection, automated enforcement and priority corridors for emergency vehicles.
Outlay:
₹1,789.52 crore
Traffic corridors:
42
Adaptive control locations:
1,092
Implementation period:
24 months
Why it matters for exams: Cabinet-approved urban governance projects, their outlays and implementing agencies are recurring questions in polity and current-affairs papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
30 September 2026
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III scheme for development of the intra-state transmission system with Battery Energy Storage Systems on 30 September 2026.
Total project cost is ₹1,86,405 crore: ₹1,36,378 crore for intra-state transmission systems and ₹50,000 crore for battery energy storage systems.
Central financial support is ₹54,082 crore.
The scheme targets evacuation of 135 GW of renewable energy and deployment of 50 GWh of battery storage by FY 2032-33.
Greenfield projects use Tariff Based Competitive Bidding and brownfield work uses Cost Plus Basis.
State Transmission Utilities implement it, with Transmission Service Providers taking part under the Build-Own-Operate-Maintain model.
It supports the target of 900 GW installed non-fossil capacity by 2035.
Total project cost:
₹1,86,405 crore
Central financial support:
₹54,082 crore
Renewable evacuation target:
135 GW
Battery storage:
50 GWh
Why it matters for exams: Green Energy Corridor phases, outlays and the 900 GW non-fossil target for 2035 are staple economy and energy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Worldwide there are six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) mandated to issue advisories and name tropical cyclones.
The India Meteorological Department is one of the six RSMCs.
It provides cyclone and storm surge advisories to 13 member countries under the WMO/ESCAP Panel, including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
RSMC New Delhi names tropical cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
Naming helps identify each cyclone, removes confusion when cyclones occur at the same time and helps warnings reach a wider audience.
RSMCs worldwide:
Six
Member countries served under the WMO/ESCAP Panel:
13
Names cyclones over the north Indian Ocean:
RSMC New Delhi
Why it matters for exams: Who names cyclones in the Indian Ocean and why is a recurring geography and disaster-management question.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
India has three active operational launch vehicles: PSLV, GSLV and LVM3.
PSLV, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, is considered the work horse of ISRO and has variants with 6, 4, 2 or no solid strap-on motors.
GSLV with an indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage launches communication satellites up to the 2 tonne class.
LVM3 can launch 4 tonne class communication satellites and 10 tonne class payloads to Low Earth Orbit.
The Human Rated LVM3 is identified as the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram designs and develops the vehicles, and Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR is the space port of India.
Active launch vehicles:
PSLV, GSLV, LVM3
ISRO's work horse:
PSLV
Gaganyaan vehicle:
Human Rated LVM3
Designs launch vehicles:
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
Space port:
Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR
Why it matters for exams: Launch vehicles, their payload classes and the centres behind them are standard space questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
CERN's address is Esplanade des Particules 1, Geneva, Switzerland.
The CERN Convention was signed by 12 states in 1953, and CERN began in 1954.
The laboratory's foundation stone was laid in the presence of Max Petitpierre, President of the Swiss Confederation.
CERN's achievements include the early discovery of neutral currents and technologies such as the World Wide Web.
Location:
Geneva, Switzerland
Convention signed by:
12 states
Why it matters for exams: CERN's location, founding and discoveries are frequent science and international-organisation questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
Jantar Mantar in Jaipur was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010 under criteria (iii) and (iv). It was built in the early 18th century by Prince Jai Singh II. It has about 20 main fixed instruments designed for observing astronomical positions with the naked eye. UNESCO calls it the most significant, most comprehensive and best preserved of India's historic observatories. The property covers 1.8652 hectares with a buffer zone of 14.6664 hectares.
Inscribed:
2010
Builder:
Prince Jai Singh II
Main fixed instruments:
About 20
Criteria:
(iii), (iv)
Why it matters for exams: Builders, dates and inscription years of Indian World Heritage monuments are standard art-and-culture questions.
UPSCSSC
29 September 2026
NASA has added Blue Origin's New Glenn 9x4 launch service to the NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract.
The addition used the contract's on-ramp clause, which allows annual competition for new providers.
The ordering period runs through June 2030 and the overall performance period through December 2032.
The vehicle can support missions in Human Spaceflight, Science, and Research and Technology.
The contract also lets NASA provide launch services to other government agencies, such as NOAA.
It is managed by NASA's Launch Services Program Office at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
Contract:
NASA Launch Services (NLS) II
Ordering period:
Through June 2030
Performance period:
Through December 2032
Why it matters for exams: Launch-service contracts and commercial launch providers feature in science and technology current affairs.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — It is the U.S. agency for weather, oceans and climate.
On-ramp Contract on-ramp clause — It lets new providers join a running contract through annual competition.
29 September 2026
The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology, has signed an agreement with Multi Nano Sense Technologies Private Limited, Nagpur, for ₹37.51 crore support under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund.
The project has a total approved cost of ₹75.02 crore and aims to develop a MEMS + AFE SoC Multi-Gas Sensor platform.
The technology is to advance from TRL-4 to TRL-9.
Support will be given through Optionally Convertible Debt (OCD).
The project falls under the Deep Technology sector, with Quantum Technology as the sub-sector.
TDB support:
₹37.51 crore
Total approved cost:
₹75.02 crore
Instrument:
Optionally Convertible Debt (OCD)
Technology readiness:
TRL-4 to TRL-9
Why it matters for exams: Technology-funding bodies and TRL levels are popular in science-and-technology current affairs.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST, or Webb) is a joint project between NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). It has a segmented primary mirror with a diameter of 6.5 metres that collects almost six times more light than the Hubble Space Telescope. The wavelength range covered by its scientific instruments is about 0.6 μm to 28 μm (visible to mid-infrared light), while the Hubble Space Telescope observes at 0.1–2.5 microns. Webb carries four science instruments: the MIRI mid-infrared camera and spectrograph, the NIRSpec near-infrared spectrograph, the NIRCam near-infrared camera, and the FGS-NIRISS combined fine guidance sensor and near-infrared imager and slitless spectrograph. The observatory operates approximately 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, in an orbit around the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system, L2. A giant, five layered shield of 22×12 metres keeps the telescope and its instruments permanently in the shade, where they cool down to –233 °C; MIRI is cooled further, to –266 °C. The telescope launched on 25 December 2021 on an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. The mission honours NASA's second administrator, James E. Webb, and was previously known as the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST). In return for Europe's contributions, European scientists get a minimum share of 15% of the total observing time.
Primary mirror diameter:
6.5 metres, segmented
Wavelength range:
about 0.6 μm to 28 μm
Operating position:
approximately 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, around L2
Launch mass:
6200 kg
Partners:
NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
Why it matters for exams: Space observatories are a standing question area, and examiners ask which telescope works in infrared, how far out L2 lies and why a sunshield is needed.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The National Quantum Mission (NQM) was approved on 19th April 2023 by the Union Cabinet, is set to span from 2023–24 to 2030–31, with a budget allocation of ₹6,003.65 crore. It is one of the nine initiatives under the Prime Minister’s Science Technology Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC). Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) have been set up, bringing together 14 Technical Groups across 17 states and 2 Union Territories. The four T-Hubs are at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru; the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras in association with the Centre for Development of Telematics, New Delhi; the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay; and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. Each hub focuses on one domain among Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and Quantum Materials & Devices, and together they involve 152 researchers from 43 institutions. Each T-Hub follows the Hub-Spoke-Spike model, in which research projects are the Spokes and individual research groups the Spikes operating alongside the central hubs. Mission targets include intermediate-scale quantum computers with 20-50 physical qubits in 3 years, 50-100 physical qubits in 5 years and 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years. They also include satellite-enabled quantum-secured communication between two ground stations over 2000 km within India and inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km using trusted nodes.
Budget allocation:
₹6,003.65 crore
Mission period:
2023–24 to 2030–31
Approved by:
the Union Cabinet, on 19th April 2023
Thematic Hubs:
Four — IISc Bengaluru, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi
Implementation model:
Hub-Spoke-Spike model
Researchers and institutions:
152 researchers from 43 institutions
Why it matters for exams: The outlay, the mission period, the number and location of the Thematic Hubs and the Hub-Spoke-Spike model are the details asked whenever a national science mission comes up.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was set up under the direct charge of the Prime Minister through a Presidential Order on August 3, 1954. As per this order, all businesses of the Government of India related to Atomic Energy and to the functions of the Central Government under the Atomic Energy Act, 1948 were to be transacted in the Department. The Atomic Energy Commission, with full executive and financial powers, was set up by a Government resolution dated March 1, 1958. The Atomic Energy Commission is responsible for formulating the policy of the Department of Atomic Energy.
DAE set up by Presidential Order:
August 3, 1954
Atomic Energy Commission set up:
March 1, 1958
Related Act:
Atomic Energy Act, 1948
Why it matters for exams: The origin of India's nuclear administration and the DAE-AEC relationship are standard science and polity facts.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
29 September 2026
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime for India on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on 25 September 2026. He said the Convention "strengthens international cooperation for a safer digital future". During the same High-Level Week he also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Treaty:
United Nations Convention against Cybercrime
Signed by:
S. Jaishankar
Occasion:
81st UN General Assembly, New York
Why it matters for exams: India's treaty commitments at the UN and cybercrime governance are linked to science-tech and polity syllabi.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
DRDO works under the Department of Defence Research and Development of the Ministry of Defence.
It was formed in 1958 by amalgamating the Technical Development Establishments of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production with the Defence Science Organisation.
It began with 10 establishments or laboratories and is now a network of around 41 laboratories and 5 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories.
Its indigenous systems include the Agni and Prithvi missiles, the Tejas light combat aircraft, the Pinaka rocket launcher and the Akash air defence system.
Its guiding line is "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam", meaning the source of strength is science.
Parent department:
Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence
Merged into DRDO:
Technical Development Establishments, Directorate of Technical Development and Production and Defence Science Organisation
Motto:
Balasya Mulam Vigyanam
Laboratories:
Around 41, plus 5 Young Scientist Laboratories
Why it matters for exams: DRDO's parent department, origin and flagship systems are common in defence and science-and-technology sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Department of Space and ISRO Headquarters are at Bengaluru.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) and the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) are at Thiruvananthapuram.
Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR is at Nellore and the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri.
U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) and the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS) are at Bengaluru.
Space Applications Centre (SAC) is at Ahmedabad, the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) at Hyderabad and the Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan.
The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) is at DehraDun.
IN-SPACe is at Ahmedabad; the two Central Public Sector Enterprises under the Department are Antrix Corporation Limited and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), both at Bengaluru.
The autonomous bodies are the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) at Thiruvananthapuram, the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) at Tirupathi, the North Eastern-Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) in Ri Bhoi District and the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) at Ahmedabad.
Department of Space and ISRO HQ:
Bengaluru
Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR:
Nellore
Master Control Facility (MCF):
Hassan
CPSEs under the Department:
Antrix Corporation Limited, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)
Why it matters for exams: Matching ISRO centres to their cities is a recurring one-mark question in Kerala PSC and SSC papers, and Kerala hosts four of them.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international environmental treaty for protection of the Ozone Layer by phasing out the production and consumption of man-made chemicals referred to as ozone depleting substances (ODS).
India became a Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on 19 June 1992 and has since ratified the amendments to the Protocol.
The Kigali Amendment was agreed at the 28th Meeting of the Parties (MOP) held in October 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, which added hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to the list of controlled substances and approved a timeline for their gradual reduction by 80-85 per cent by the late 2040s.
The Union Cabinet approved ratification of the Kigali Amendment by India, with a national strategy for HFC phase down to be developed after consultation with industry stakeholders by 2023.
India will complete its phase down of HFCs in 4 steps from 2032 onwards with cumulative reduction of 10% in 2032, 20% in 2037, 30% in 2042 and 85% in 2047.
The HFC phase down is expected to prevent the emission of up to 105 million tonne of carbondioxide equivalent of greenhouse gases, helping to avoid up to 0.5 degree Celsius of global temperature rise by 2100.
India became a Party:
19 June 1992
Kigali Amendment agreed:
28th Meeting of the Parties, October 2016, Kigali, Rwanda
India's phase down steps:
10% in 2032, 20% in 2037, 30% in 2042 and 85% in 2047
Emissions avoided:
105 million tonne of carbondioxide equivalent
Warming avoided:
0.5 degree Celsius by 2100
Why it matters for exams: The year India joined the Montreal Protocol, the Kigali venue and India's four-step HFC phase down schedule are standard environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
28 September 2026
NASA and Boeing shared an update on the Starliner programme on 28 September 2026.
NASA intends to exercise options for a fifth and sixth Starliner flight to and from the International Space Station.
NASA will work with Boeing and United Launch Alliance to certify the Vulcan rocket for use after the Atlas V rocket's final flight; certification has not yet been completed.
An uncrewed Starliner-1 mission will precede crewed flights and has the potential to fly in December this year or January 2027.
NASA's current plan is to return astronauts on Starliner-2 by 2028.
Boeing has made thermal modifications to the spacecraft's service module, which NASA will evaluate on Starliner-1; NASA's Program Investigation Team had identified 61 recommendations.
Uncrewed Starliner-1 potential flight:
December this year or January 2027
Crewed Starliner-2:
By 2028
Review recommendations:
61
Why it matters for exams: Commercial crew programmes and launch vehicle certification are common science and technology topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ULA United Launch Alliance — It is the company that builds and flies the Atlas V and Vulcan rockets.
Service module Starliner service module — It is the part of the spacecraft holding propulsion and power systems.
28 September 2026
Union Minister for Education Pralhad Joshi held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi with France's Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space, Philippe Baptiste. French higher educational institutions were invited to explore setting up branch campuses in India, including at GIFT City in Gujarat and at locations where French companies need skilled technical manpower. Joshi said the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 offered an opportunity to deepen collaboration in education, research and innovation. The two sides discussed student, faculty and researcher mobility, collaborative academic programmes and cooperation in life sciences, social sciences and humanities. They also reviewed the ongoing revision of the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ) Agreement between India and France. Language learning, teacher education and technology-enabled digital learning were the other areas taken up.
Indian Minister:
Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for Education
French Minister:
Philippe Baptiste, Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space
Agreement under revision:
Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ) Agreement
Campus location offered:
GIFT City, Gujarat
Why it matters for exams: India-France education cooperation, the MRQ Agreement and the Year of Innovation 2026 are likely bilateral-relations questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
28 September 2026
The Ministry of Ayush announced the results of a 24-week clinical trial of standardised Ashwagandha root extract, published in Frontiers in Medicine.
1,200 vaccinated adults aged 18 to 70 years took part; 1,032 participants, or 86 per cent, completed the 24-week intervention, with follow-up continuing to week 28.
Participants received 500 mg of the extract daily, equivalent to 4 grams of raw root powder.
Liver and kidney function parameters remained within normal ranges and no treatment-related hepatic or renal injury was observed.
No serious adverse events were attributed to the intervention and no participant withdrew because of adverse effects.
Nine institutions took part, including the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur.
Ayush Secretary Rajesh Kotecha said high-quality clinical research strengthens the scientific evidence-base of Ayurveda.
Participants:
1,200
Completed the intervention:
1,032 (86%)
Daily dose:
500 mg
Duration:
24 weeks
Why it matters for exams: Government-backed clinical validation of an Ayush drug is a recurring science and health question area.
Kerala PSCUPSC
27 September 2026
Three Sistan sand boas (Eryx sistanensis) were found in Sikar district, Rajasthan, in 2025. This is the first official scientific record of the species in India. It was earlier known only from Iran and Pakistan. The record was published by Vivek Sharma of Jabalpur and Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch, Ranthambhore, in the Journal of Threatened Taxa on 26 May 2026. The snake is non-venomous and thick-bodied, and its tail tapers gradually to a point, unlike the red sand boa.
Species:
Eryx sistanensis
Specimens found:
3
District:
Sikar
Earlier range:
Iran and Pakistan
Why it matters for exams: New species records, range limits and the Thar Desert's biodiversity are common science and environment questions.
UPSCSSC