NEW The Times Of India Sun 19 Jul 2026 06:43:01 PM

Archaeologists in Iraq unearthed a rare 2,600-year-old Assyrian stele of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh’s Shamash Gate, nearly a decade after ISIS damaged the ancient city

SUMMARY
A joint Iraqi-American mission unearthed a rare, 2,600-year-old Assyrian stele of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh’s Shamash Gate. Standing two meters high, the monument features a large relief of the king on the front and two smaller royal carvings on the back, alongside cuneiform inscriptions documenting his vast building projects. Discovered during post-ISIS restoration efforts, the find marks a major milestone for Iraq’s cultural recovery.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - I Art & Culture
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Archaeologists in Iraq unearthed a rare 2,600-year-old Assyrian stele of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh’s Shamash Gate, nearly a decade after ISIS damaged the ancient city

Archaeologists in Iraq unearthed a rare 2,600-year-old Assyrian stele of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh’s Shamash Gate, nearly a decade after ISIS damaged the ancient city

Archaeologists in Iraq unearthed a rare 2,600-year-old Assyrian stele of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh’s Shamash Gate, nearly a decade after ISIS damaged the ancient city

Concept not available.
NEW The Times Of India Sun 19 Jul 2026 03:48:59 PM

Mount Olympus, mythological home of Greek gods, may get UNESCO status

SUMMARY
Greece is pushing for Mount Olympus, the legendary 9,573-foot home of the 12 Olympian gods, to join UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a mixed cultural and natural site. The proposal is being evaluated at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Busan, South Korea. While local officials hope the status will enforce ecosystem protections against rising tourism, approval is uncertain, as a draft agenda suggests the committee may request more details from Greece.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - I Art & Culture
Focus Area unesco
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Mount Olympus, mythological home of Greek gods, may get UNESCO status

Mount Olympus, mythological home of Greek gods, may get UNESCO status

Mount Olympus, mythological home of Greek gods, may get UNESCO status

Concept not available.
NEW The Indian Express Sat 18 Jul 2026 04:23:35 PM

Knowledge Nugget: What is the RBI’s new Specified Non-Financial Assets (SNFAs) and SARFAESI Act?

SUMMARY
RBI has introduced a new prudential framework for Specified Non-Financial Assets (SNFAs) under its stressed assets directions. SNFAs are immovable properties (like buildings or land) acquired by banks from defaulting borrowers to settle Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). To ensure transparency, the RBI mandated that these assets must be disposed of within seven years primarily through public auctions following SARFAESI Act principles.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - III Indian Economy
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Knowledge Nugget: What is the RBI’s new Specified Non-Financial Assets (SNFAs) and SARFAESI Act?

Knowledge Nugget: What is the RBI’s new Specified Non-Financial Assets (SNFAs) and SARFAESI Act?

Knowledge Nugget: What is the RBI’s new Specified Non-Financial Assets (SNFAs) and SARFAESI Act?

Concept not available.
NEW Prabhat Khabar Thu 16 Jul 2026 09:18:13 PM

हॉर्मुज स्ट्रेट से गुजरने वाले जहाजों पर भारतीय नाविकों की तैनाती पर रोक, अमेरिका-ईरान तनाव के बीच भारत का फैसला

SUMMARY
अमेरिका-ईरान तनाव के बीच भारत सरकार ने हॉर्मुज जलडमरूमध्य (Strait of Hormuz) से गुजरने वाले वाणिज्यिक जहाजों पर भारतीय नाविकों (Seafarers) की तैनाती पर तत्काल प्रभाव से रोक लगा दी है। यह आपातकालीन फैसला हाल ही में इस समुद्री मार्ग पर हुए घातक हमलों में दो भारतीय नाविकों की मौत और कई अन्य के घायल होने के बाद लिया गया है। जहाजरानी महानिदेशालय (DGMA) ने सभी जहाज मालिकों, प्रबंधकों और भर्ती एजेंसियों (RPSL) को अगले आदेश तक इस प्रतिबंधित क्षेत्र में भारतीय क्रू को न भेजने का कड़ा निर्देश जारी किया है।
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - II International Relations
Focus Area US-IRAN WAR
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MCQs Mains Question Basic Concepts

हॉर्मुज स्ट्रेट से गुजरने वाले जहाजों पर भारतीय नाविकों की तैनाती पर रोक, अमेरिका-ईरान तनाव के बीच भारत का फैसला

हॉर्मुज स्ट्रेट से गुजरने वाले जहाजों पर भारतीय नाविकों की तैनाती पर रोक, अमेरिका-ईरान तनाव के बीच भारत का फैसला

हॉर्मुज स्ट्रेट से गुजरने वाले जहाजों पर भारतीय नाविकों की तैनाती पर रोक, अमेरिका-ईरान तनाव के बीच भारत का फैसला

Concept not available.
NEW The Hindu Thu 16 Jul 2026 06:24:59 PM

PM Modi to flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered train in Haryana

SUMMARY
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered fuel cell train on July 17, 2026, from Haryana's Jind station. Operating on the Jind-Sonipat route, the indigenously built 10-coach trainset marks a clean mobility milestone. Generating electricity on board via hydrogen and oxygen, its only by-products are water vapor and heat, ensuring entirely zero-emission operations.
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Relevant For: Prelims GS - III Science & Technology
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MCQs Mains Question Basic Concepts

PM Modi to flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered train in Haryana

PM Modi to flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered train in Haryana

PM Modi to flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered train in Haryana

Concept not available.
NEW News 18 Hindi Thu 16 Jul 2026 03:35:37 PM

Skyroot’s Vikram-1: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket To Launch On July 18

SUMMARY
India’s first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1 by Skyroot Aerospace, is set for its maiden test flight on July 18, 2026, at 11:30 AM IST. Named "Mission Aagaman," the 7-story carbon-composite vehicle will lift off from ISRO's Sriharikota spaceport to deliver small satellites into Low Earth Orbit. This milestone transitions India’s private space sector into active global commercial deployment.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - III Science & Technology
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Skyroot’s Vikram-1: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket To Launch On July 18

Skyroot’s Vikram-1: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket To Launch On July 18

Skyroot’s Vikram-1: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket To Launch On July 18

Concept not available.
NEW The Indian Express Wed 15 Jul 2026 10:01:37 PM

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Geostationary orbit, Soyuz MS-29 mission and more (Week 171)

SUMMARY
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Science and Technology to check your progress 1. It is an orbit where satellites match the planet’s rotation and remain fixed over the same location.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - III Science & Technology
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MCQs Mains Question Basic Concepts

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Geostationary orbit, Soyuz MS-29 mission and more (Week 171)

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Geostationary orbit, Soyuz MS-29 mission and more (Week 171)

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Geostationary orbit, Soyuz MS-29 mission and more (Week 171)

Concept not available.
NEW Firstpost Wed 15 Jul 2026 04:16:24 PM

Modi govt approves Rs 1.28-trillion for semiconductor sector, Rs 625 bn for making phones in India

SUMMARY
Building on the foundation of ISM 1.0 (which had a ₹76,000 crore outlay), Semicon 2.0 expands the government's strategy from basic chip packaging to the entire upstream and downstream global supply chain. The government expects this phase to trigger ₹4 trillion in total investments, generate ₹2 trillion in production, and yield ₹1 trillion in exports. It is structured around six strategic pillars. Details below
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - III Indian Economy
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MCQs Mains Question Basic Concepts

Modi govt approves Rs 1.28-trillion for semiconductor sector, Rs 625 bn for making phones in India

Modi govt approves Rs 1.28-trillion for semiconductor sector, Rs 625 bn for making phones in India

Modi govt approves Rs 1.28-trillion for semiconductor sector, Rs 625 bn for making phones in India

Concept not available.
NEW News 18 Hindi Wed 15 Jul 2026 02:00:22 PM

35 Failures Later, He Cracked UPSC — Twice — To Go From IPS Officer To IAS

SUMMARY
The journey to becoming an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer is rarely easy, but for Vijay Vardhan from Sirsa district in Haryana, it involved overcoming an extraordinary series of setbacks.

Before achieving success in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination, Vijay Vardhan failed 35 government recruitment and competitive examinations, including the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPCS) and Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examinations.
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35 Failures Later, He Cracked UPSC — Twice — To Go From IPS Officer To IAS

35 Failures Later, He Cracked UPSC — Twice — To Go From IPS Officer To IAS

35 Failures Later, He Cracked UPSC — Twice — To Go From IPS Officer To IAS

Concept not available.
NEW Prabhat Khabar Wed 15 Jul 2026 07:17:35 AM

भारत-नेपाल सीमा पर चीनी पासपोर्ट के साथ अमेरिकी नागरिक गिरफ्तार, हर एंगल से जांच में जुटीं एजेंसियां

SUMMARY
आरोपी की पहचान अमेरिका के कैलिफोर्निया निवासी जॉर्डन ब्राउन के रूप में हुई है. उसे शनिवार (11 जुलाई) को उत्तर प्रदेश के महाराजगंज जिले में गिरफ्तार किया गया. उसके पास से मिले चीनी पासपोर्ट और अन्य संदिग्ध दस्तावेजों को देखते हुए कई केंद्रीय खुफिया और सुरक्षा एजेंसियों ने उससे पूछताछ शुरू कर दी है. हालांकि, अधिकारियों का कहना है कि अब तक की जांच में जॉर्डन ब्राउन के किसी संदिग्ध या देश विरोधी गतिविधि में शामिल होने के सबूत नहीं मिले हैं.
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Relevant For: Mains GS - III Defence & Security
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MCQs Mains Question Basic Concepts

भारत-नेपाल सीमा पर चीनी पासपोर्ट के साथ अमेरिकी नागरिक गिरफ्तार, हर एंगल से जांच में जुटीं एजेंसियां

भारत-नेपाल सीमा पर चीनी पासपोर्ट के साथ अमेरिकी नागरिक गिरफ्तार, हर एंगल से जांच में जुटीं एजेंसियां

भारत-नेपाल सीमा पर चीनी पासपोर्ट के साथ अमेरिकी नागरिक गिरफ्तार, हर एंगल से जांच में जुटीं एजेंसियां

Concept not available.
NEW The Hindu Wed 15 Jul 2026 07:08:01 AM

Nasa's Anil Menon, two Russians blast off for 8-month International Space Station mission

SUMMARY
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and two Russian cosmonauts on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) lifted off onboard a Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft from Kazakhstan on an eight-month mission to the International Space Station. The Roscosmos spacecraft carrying Mr. Menon and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome at 8:17 pm IST. After a two-orbit, three-hour trip to the station, the spacecraft will automatically dock at 11:56 p.m. IST to the Prichal module.  

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Nasa's Anil Menon, two Russians blast off for 8-month International Space Station mission

Nasa's Anil Menon, two Russians blast off for 8-month International Space Station mission

Nasa's Anil Menon, two Russians blast off for 8-month International Space Station mission

Concept not available.
NEW The Indian Express Tue 14 Jul 2026 10:16:23 PM

Trump reverses decision to impose 20% Hormuz fees in favour of Gulf investment deals

SUMMARY
US President Trump on Tuesday stepped back from his decision to impose a 20 per cent fee on all the cargo being shipped through the Strait of Hormuz as part of the conflict with Iran, saying the Gulf countries would instead make investments and trade deals with America. After Tehran said it had closed the strategic waterway, the US military continued its wave of attacks for the third night in a row.
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Relevant For: Mains GS - II International Relations
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Trump reverses decision to impose 20% Hormuz fees in favour of Gulf investment deals

Trump reverses decision to impose 20% Hormuz fees in favour of Gulf investment deals

Trump reverses decision to impose 20% Hormuz fees in favour of Gulf investment deals

Concept not available.
NEW Hindustan Times Tue 14 Jul 2026 10:08:32 PM

NASA's Anil Menon embarks on 8-month sojourn to International Space Station, with drawings made by Indian kids

SUMMARY
Born in Minneapolis to Ukrainian and Indian immigrants, Anil Menon is an emergency medicine physician and a US Space Force colonel.
The Roscosmos spacecraft carrying Menon and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome at 8:17 pm IST.
After a two-orbit, three-hour trip to the station, the spacecraft will automatically dock at 11:56 p.m. IST to the Prichal module. This marks Menon's first spaceflighT.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains International Relations
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NASA's Anil Menon embarks on 8-month sojourn to International Space Station, with drawings made by Indian kids

NASA's Anil Menon embarks on 8-month sojourn to International Space Station, with drawings made by Indian kids

NASA's Anil Menon embarks on 8-month sojourn to International Space Station, with drawings made by Indian kids

Concept not available.
NEW Markets-Economic Times Sun 12 Jul 2026 01:45:05 PM

Iran moves to close Strait of Hormuz. Should investors fear a Nifty crash in coming days?

SUMMARY
Indian equities may face another volatile week as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and fresh US strikes on Iran raise the risk of higher crude oil prices, foreign outflows and pressure on the rupee. The immediate concern for Dalal Street is oil as India imports a large part of its crude requirement, and any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz can quickly feed into inflation, current account worries and corporate margins.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - II International Relations
Focus Area Strait of Hormuz
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Iran moves to close Strait of Hormuz. Should investors fear a Nifty crash in coming days?

Iran moves to close Strait of Hormuz. Should investors fear a Nifty crash in coming days?

Iran moves to close Strait of Hormuz. Should investors fear a Nifty crash in coming days?

Concept not available.
NEW The Hindu Fri 10 Jul 2026 04:19:01 PM

China announces temporary export ban on helium

SUMMARY
Earlier this year, the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran ​led to ‌helium shortages, disrupting companies globally, including in China, where the AI industry increasingly relies ‌on domestic chips ​for training and running AI models. Helium is ⁠essential for heat management in semiconductor production. The helium ban ‌is the latest example of Beijing seeking to prevent domestic shortages of critical materials by curbing exports. Previously, it imposed similar ‌measures on fuel, fertilisers and sulphuric ​acid.
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China announces temporary export ban on helium

China announces temporary export ban on helium

China announces temporary export ban on helium

Concept not available.