UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 25 March 2026

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 25 March 2026 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

 

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents

GS Paper 3 :

1. Asymmetric Warfare

 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Use Of AI In Disaster Management

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. Variable Rate Repo (VRR) Auctions

2. Space Reactor 1 (SR-1) Freedom Spacecraft

3. Reform Express Initiative

4. Understanding LPG and LNG

5. Vayu Baan Project

6. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950

7. Biologics

 Mapping:

1. Lviv’s Historic Architectural Ensemble

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 25 March 2026

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GS Paper 3 :

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Asymmetric Warfare

Source:  NIE

Subject:   Security

Context: The ongoing West Asia conflict has seen a massive surge in electronic warfare, with over 1,600 vessels experiencing GNSS (GPS) disruptions in the Persian Gulf within a single 24-hour period.

About Asymmetric Warfare:

What it is?

• Asymmetric warfare is a type of conflict where there is a significant imbalance in the military power, resources, or technology between the opposing sides. Instead of a direct force-on-force conventional battle, the weaker party uses unconventional tactics, unpredictable methods, and low-cost technologies to exploit the vulnerabilities of the more powerful opponent.

Types of Asymmetric Warfare:

• Electronic & Cyber Warfare: Jamming communication and navigation systems (e.g., GPS/GNSS).
• Unconventional Naval Tactics: Using sea mines, fast attack boats, and suicide drone boats.
• Aerial Drone Strikes: Utilizing low-cost loitering munitions to bypass expensive air defense systems.
• Economic Disruption: Targeting critical maritime chokepoints to cause global price volatility.

Factors Causing Asymmetric Warfare:

• Cost-Effectiveness: Small actors can cause massive damage with minimal investment.

Example: Iran uses low-cost drones and sea mines to deter high-cost US and Israeli naval destroyers.

• Geographical Advantage: Leveraging chokepoints to negate the enemy’s numerical superiority.

Example: Iran’s proximity to the narrow Strait of Hormuz allows it to control traffic without a massive fleet.

• Denial of Technology: Using electronic interference to neutralize advanced Western military tech.

Example: Widespread GNSS spoofing makes precision-guided missiles and ship navigation systems unreliable.

• Psychological Deterrence: Creating fear and uncertainty to halt commercial activity.

Example: The mere threat of hidden sea mines has caused shipping insurance premiums to skyrocket, stopping trade.

Issues Associated with Asymmetric Warfare:

• Navigation Risks: Constant interference leads to physical accidents in congested waters.

Example: Over 1,100 vessels in the Persian Gulf showed navigation anomalies, increasing the risk of groundings or collisions.

• Tracking Difficulties: Authorities lose the ability to monitor vessel movements for safety.

Example: Ships are switching off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) trackers to avoid being targeted, making the Gulf blind.

• Legal Enforcement Gaps: International laws like UNCLOS are difficult to enforce against shadow tactics.

Example: While UNCLOS guarantees free transit, the US/Israel cannot legally stop jamming that originates from within a sovereign nation’s borders.

• Prolonged Recovery: Asymmetric threats are difficult to clear even after active fighting stops.

Example: Clearing thousands of cheap sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz could take months, keeping energy prices high.

Implications:

• Energy Security Crisis: Vital fuel supplies for developing nations are at high risk.

Example: India’s 2.6 million barrels of crude oil per day are currently under threat due to the de facto closure of Hormuz.

• Global Inflation: Disruption in shipping leads to a surge in the cost of goods and fuel.

Example: The drop in shipping traffic has forced alternate, longer routes, drastically increasing freight costs.

• Aviation Disruptions: Electronic warfare in West Asia is now affecting civilian flights.

Example: Pilots in the region report spoofed flight paths, forcing emergency manual navigation over conflict zones.

• Shift in Military Doctrine: Global powers must now spend billions to counter cheap threats.

Example: The US Navy is forced to use million-dollar missiles to intercept drones that cost only a few thousand dollars.

Way Ahead for India:

1. Diversification of Suppliers: Accelerate oil and gas imports from the US, Brazil, and Russia to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.
2. NavIC Integration: Mandate the use of India’s indigenous NavIC system for all Indian-flagged vessels to provide a backup against GPS jamming.
3. Strategic Reserves: Increase the capacity of India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) to handle supply shocks lasting more than 90 days.
4. Naval Escorts: Continue and expand Operation Sankalp, where the Indian Navy provides direct escorts to Indian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.
5. Indigenous Counter-Electronic Tech: Invest in domestic R&D for anti-jamming and anti-spoofing hardware for both maritime and aviation sectors.

Conclusion:

The West Asia conflict marks a turning point where electronic disruption has become as potent as physical explosives. For a nation like India, which sits at the crossroads of global energy trade, the transition to asymmetric warfare is not just a military concern but a direct threat to economic stability. Adapting to this invisible battlefield through technological self-reliance and supply-chain flexibility is now a national imperative.

 

 

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 25 March 2026 – Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

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Use Of AI In Disaster Management

Context: The Government of India highlighted the expanding use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in disaster management following the enactment of the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025.

About Use Of AI In Disaster Management:

What it is?

• The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) across the disaster management cycle—preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery—to enhance prediction, decision-making, and coordination.

Various AI Applications in Disaster Management:

• Weather Forecasting & Early Warning:
  • India Meteorological Department uses AI/ML for 7-day advance weather predictions .
  • Cyclone tracking and intensity prediction under Mission Mausam.
• Flood Forecasting & Hydrological Modelling:
  • Central Water Commission uses AI for short-range flood forecasting.
  • Real-time flood advisory via digital portals using rainfall-based modelling .
• Risk Mapping & Decision Support Systems:
  • National Disaster Management Authority developed Web-DCRA & DSS tools.
  • Dynamic risk atlases help in cyclone preparedness and evacuation planning.
• Remote Sensing & Hazard Mapping:
  • National Remote Sensing Centre developed Flood Hazard Atlases .
  • Satellite data + AI used for mapping vulnerable regions.
• Avalanche Forecasting & Geo-Intelligence:
  • Defence Research and Development Organisation uses AI for:
    • Avalanche prediction
    • Remote sensing-based detection
    • Autonomous forecasting systems

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus

• GS Paper III (Disaster Management & Science & Technology)

• • Role of technology in disaster risk reduction
  • AI, remote sensing, and big data applications
  • Institutional mechanisms (NDMA, CWC, IMD, DRDO)

• GS Paper II (Governance)

• • Policy initiatives like Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025
  • Role of government agencies and coordination

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 25 March 2026 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

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Variable Rate Repo (VRR) Auctions

Source:  BL

Subject:  Economy

Context: The RBI injected ₹55,837 crore into the banking system via a 3-day VRR auction to address tightening liquidity.

About Variable Rate Repo (VRR) Auctions:

What is Variable Rate Repo (VRR) Auctions?

• A Variable Rate Repo (VRR) is a monetary policy tool used by the RBI to inject liquidity into the banking system when cash becomes scarce. Unlike the fixed-rate repo, the interest rate in a VRR is determined through a competitive bidding

How it Works?

1. Announcement: The RBI notifies banks of its intent to lend a specific amount (e.g., ₹1 lakh crore) for a set duration (e.g., 3 days).
2. Bidding: Commercial banks submit bids stating the amount they want to borrow and the interest rate they are willing to pay.
3. Allotment: The RBI accepts bids starting from the highest rate offered down to a cut-off rate, which is the lowest rate at which funds are disbursed.
4. Collateral: Banks provide government securities to the RBI as collateral, which they repurchase (Repo) at the end of the term.

Aim of VRR:

• The primary objective is liquidity management. By infusing cash, the RBI ensures that banks have enough funds to meet daily requirements, preventing the Call Money Rate (the rate at which banks lend to each other) from spiking far above the policy Repo rate.

Key Features of Short-Term VRR:

• Flexibility: It targets immediate, temporary deficits (usually 1 to 14 days) caused by seasonal factors like tax payments or festivals.
• Market-Driven: The Variable Rate allows the market to determine the cost of funds based on actual demand.
• Short Duration: These are tactical tools, unlike Open Market Operations (OMO), which provide long-term durable liquidity.
• Collateralized: Like all repo transactions, these are backed by high-quality government bonds.

Implications:

• By filling the liquidity gap, it prevents volatility in the short-term money market.
• Ensures that banks don’t tighten lending to businesses and consumers just because they are temporarily low on cash.
• High demand for VRR funds usually indicates that the banking system is in a deficit mode rather than a surplus mode.

 

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Space Reactor 1 (SR-1) Freedom Spacecraft

Source:  DD News

Subject:  Science and Technology

Context: NASA has revamped the Artemis programme, scrapping the Lunar Gateway plan and prioritizing a moon base and Mars missions.

• It also announced Space Reactor 1 Freedom, a nuclear-powered spacecraft to be launched by 2028.

About Space Reactor 1 (SR-1) Freedom Spacecraft:

What it is?

• Space Reactor 1 Freedom is set to be the first interplanetary spacecraft powered by a nuclear fission reactor, marking a transition from experimental laboratory research to active deep-space operations. It is a pathfinder spacecraft utilizing Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP).

Announced By: The mission was officially announced by NASA.

Aim:

• To prove the viability of advanced nuclear electric propulsion for long-duration, deep-space travel.
• To deliver the Skyfall payload—a fleet of robotic helicopters—to the Martian surface to scout for water ice and human landing sites.
• To retire flight risks and activate the industrial supply chain for future nuclear-powered missions to the outer solar system.

Key Features:

• Repurposed Hardware: It will utilize the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) originally designed for the now-paused Lunar Gateway station.
• Fission Reactor: Features an onboard reactor that splits uranium atoms to provide a continuous, high-output power source independent of sunlight.
• Skyfall Payload: Carries three (or up to six, per some reports) Ingenuity-class helicopters equipped with ground-penetrating radar and high-resolution cameras.
• Launch Date: Scheduled for launch in December 2028.

Significance:

• This will be the first U.S. space reactor since SNAP-10A in 1965, and the first ever used for propulsion beyond Earth orbit.
• Nuclear power allows for missions to the outer planets and through Martian dust storms where solar panels fail.

 

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Reform Express Initiative

Source:  PIB

Subject:  Government Scheme

Context: Union Railway Minister has announced five new reforms under the Reform Express initiative to modernize cargo and passenger services.

About Reform Express Initiative:

What it is?

• The Reform Express is a comprehensive policy framework launched in 2026 to fast-track the transformation of Indian Railways into a more efficient, transparent, and passenger-friendly network.

Organisation Involved: The initiative is spearheaded by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.

Aim:

• The primary objective is to overhaul legacy systems by integrating advanced technology, improving ease of doing business for cargo transporters, and eliminating inefficiencies in project execution and passenger ticketing.

Key Features:

• Specialized Cargo Logistics: Introduction of stainless steel, top-loading, and hydraulic side-discharge containers specifically for salt transportation to prevent wagon corrosion and leakage.
• Infrastructure Quality Control: Implementation of stricter contractor eligibility, fixed 2% bid security, and safeguards against predatory bidding (bids significantly below cost) to ensure project durability.
• Ticketing Integrity: Removal of nearly 3 crore fake IRCTC accounts and the introduction of Aadhaar-based OTP verification to prevent touts from cornering tickets.
• Passenger Flexibility: New rules allowing passengers to change boarding stations or upgrade travel classes digitally up to 30 minutes before departure.
• Automobile Transport Optimization: Introduction of flexible wagon designs tailored to specific rail routes to bypass constraints like low bridges and narrow tunnels, increasing the rail share of auto logistics.

Significance:

• By targeting salt and automobile sectors, the Railways aims to lower logistics costs for essential and high-value goods, supporting the national economy.
• Stricter bidding rules and the cleanup of the IRCTC database reduce corruption and ensure that government funds are used effectively.

 

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Understanding LPG and LNG

Source:   IE

Subject:  Science and Technology

Context: India is facing a significant energy crisis as the West Asia war has disrupted 54% of its LPG and 30% of its LNG supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

About Understanding LPG and LNG:

What is LPG?

• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases, primarily propane and butane. It is produced as a byproduct of crude oil refining and natural gas processing. It turns into a liquid under moderate pressure, making it highly portable in cylinders.

What is LNG?

• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is primarily methane that has been cooled to extremely low temperatures (below -160°C) through a cryogenic process. It is liquefied mainly for long-distance transport across oceans where pipelines are not feasible, as its liquid volume is 600 times smaller than its gaseous form.

Difference Between LPG and LNG:

Applications of LPG

• Domestic: Used extensively as cooking fuel in households (cylinders).
• Heating: Used for space heating and water heating in areas without gas grids.
• Industrial: Used for high-heat processes like metal cutting, welding, and food processing.
• Autogas: Used as a cleaner alternative to petrol/diesel in specially converted vehicles.

Applications of LNG:

• Energy Transport: The primary bridge to move natural gas from producing countries to consuming countries.
• Power Generation: Once regasified, it fuels gas-based power plants.
• Industrial Feedstock: Used in manufacturing fertilizers, petrochemicals, and steel.
• Heavy Transport: Emerging as a fuel for long-haul trucks, ships (as bunker fuel), and locomotives.
• City Gas: Converted back to gas for PNG (households) and CNG (transport).

 

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Vayu Baan Project

Source:  NIE

Subject:  Security

Context: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated Vayu Baan, a pioneering project to develop India’s first helicopter-launched drone system.

About Vayu Baan Project:

What it Is?

• It is a small, autonomous drone designed to be dropped from a moving helicopter mid-flight. Once released, the drone unfolds its wings, activates its propulsion, and operates as either a surveillance asset or a precision-guided munition (kamikaze drone).
• The Vayu Baan (meaning Air Arrow) is an indigenous Air-Launched Effects (ALE) program designed to integrate unmanned aerial systems directly with manned rotary-wing platforms.

Launched By: The project is being led by the IAF’s Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD).

Aim:

• The primary goal is to provide stand-off capability, allowing helicopters to identify and destroy enemy targets from a safe distance (over 50 km) without entering the kill zone of enemy man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS).

Key Features:

• Extended Range: Capable of flying over 50 km after being dropped, significantly extending the reach of the mother ship.
• Dual-Role Capability: Equipped for both high-definition ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and precision strikes using an onboard warhead.
• Autonomous Navigation: Features advanced flight control systems for autonomous waypoint navigation and target tracking.
• GNSS-Denied Operation: Specifically designed to function effectively even in electronic warfare environments where GPS signals are jammed or disabled.
• Advanced Sensors: Integrated with electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors for clear day and night operations.
• Endurance: Provides approximately 30 minutes of loitering time to scout for targets or wait for the optimal strike window.

Significance:

• By acting as a forward scout or attacker, it minimizes the risk to aircrew in high-threat environments.
• Joining an elite club (including the US and China), India is reducing its reliance on foreign air-launched technologies.
• A single helicopter can deploy multiple Vayu Baan drones to create a mini-swarm, overwhelming enemy localized defenses.

 

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The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950

Source:  TH

Subject:  Polity

Context: The Supreme Court reaffirmed that Scheduled Caste (SC) status is strictly limited to individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism.

• The court ruled that conversion to any other religion, such as Christianity or Islam, results in the immediate and complete loss of SC benefits and legal protections.

About The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950:

What it is?

• The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 is a Presidential Order issued under Article 341(1) of the Indian Constitution. It specifies which castes, races, or tribes are deemed Scheduled Castes for the purpose of various constitutional and statutory benefits.

Aim: The primary objective of the Order is to identify specific communities that have historically suffered from the social evil of untouchability and extreme social backwardness within the Hindu fold, ensuring they receive affirmative action (reservations) and legal protection.

Key Features:

• Article 341 Authority: The Order was promulgated by the President of India after consultation with State Governors to provide a definitive list of Scheduled Castes.
• Religious Limitation (Paragraph 3): Originally, the Order stated that only those professing Hinduism could be deemed members of a Scheduled Caste.
• Historical Amendments:
  • 1956: The Order was amended to include followers of the Sikh religion.
  • 1990: It was further amended to include followers of Buddhism (Neo-Buddhists).
• Geographic Specificity: Communities are recognized as Scheduled Castes only in relation to specific States or Union Territories where they are resident and identified in the Schedule.
• The Profess Clause: The legal status is tied to the outward manifestation and public practice of the religion, not just private belief.

Recent Supreme Court Judgment Summary:

• Immediate Loss of Status: Conversion to a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism (such as Christianity or Islam) leads to an absolute and immediate loss of SC status.
• Loss of Statutory Protection: A convert cannot claim protection under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, as the court held that the theological foundations of religions like Christianity do not recognize the institution of caste.
• Strict Re-conversion Criteria: To regain SC status through re-conversion, an individual must conclusively prove:
  • Their original caste identity.
  • Bona fide re-conversion to the original religion.
  • Social Acceptance: Proof that the original caste community has accepted and assimilated the individual back into their fold.

 

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Biologics

Source:  TH

Subject:  Science and Technology

Context: The Union Budget 2026 announced the Biopharma SHAKTI strategy to boost domestic production of biologics and biosimilars, alongside a shift toward non-animal testing models.

About Biologicals:

What are Biologicals?

• Biologicals are a class of advanced medicines produced using living organisms. Unlike traditional small molecule drugs (like aspirin) which are synthesized through chemical processes, biologics are large, complex proteins derived from biological sources.

Aim:

• The primary goal of biologics is to provide highly targeted therapy for chronic and life-threatening diseases—such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes—by interacting specifically with human receptors and immune pathways that traditional chemicals cannot reach.

How They are Produced?

• Host Cell Selection: Scientists select living cells (bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells) to act as factories.
• Genetic Engineering: The specific DNA sequence for the desired protein is inserted into these cells.
• Large-Scale Culture: The cells are grown in massive bioreactors under strictly controlled conditions.
• Purification: The protein is extracted and purified from the cell culture to ensure it is free from contaminants.
• Batch Testing: Because they are grown rather than made, every single batch must undergo extensive testing to ensure consistency and safety.

Key Features:

• Molecular Complexity: They are significantly larger and more structurally complex than chemically synthesized drugs.
• Living Sources: Derived from living systems such as microorganisms, plant cells, or animal/human cells and plasma.
• High Specificity: They bind to specific cell receptors, which allows for precision medicine with fewer off-target effects.
• Sensitivity: Extremely sensitive to environmental factors like temperature and light; they usually require a cold chain for storage.
• Immunogenicity: Because they are proteins, they have the potential to trigger an immune response in the human body, requiring rigorous safety monitoring.

Significance:

• Biologics have turned once-fatal conditions, like certain types of leukemia and autoimmune disorders, into manageable chronic conditions.
• Through initiatives like Biopharma SHAKTI, India aims to become a global hub for biosimilars (generic biologics), making expensive treatments affordable.

 

Facts for Prelims – 25th March 2026 Current Affairs Video

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 25 March 2026 Mapping:

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Lviv’s Historic Architectural Ensemble

Source:  TG

Subject:  Mapping

Context: A Russian drone strike targeted a residential building within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lviv’s historic center, causing extensive damage near the Bernardine monastery.

About Lviv’s Historic Architectural Ensemble:

What it is?

• The Historic Centre of Lviv, Ukraine, preserves a medieval street layout and rich Baroque, Renaissance, and Neoclassical architecture. Largely spared during World War II, it reflects a unique blend of Central and Eastern European styles with Italian and German influences.

Origin: Founded in the late Middle Ages (mid-13th century) by King Daniel of Galicia.

Part of UNESCO Since:

• The ensemble has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998.

Characteristics:

• Multi-Ethnic Layout: The city was designed with distinct quarters for different ethnic groups (Armenians, Jews, Orthodox Ukrainians, and Catholic Poles), each contributing unique architectural styles.
• High Density: A concentrated urban fabric featuring over 2,000 registered landmarks.
• Stylistic Fusion: A rare blend of Eastern European traditions and Western European influences (particularly Italian Renaissance and Austrian Baroque).
• The Rynok Square: A central marketplace surrounded by 44 unique townhouses representing various historical periods.

Protection Under International Law: UNESCO sites in war zones are protected under the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

• The Blue Shield: Sites are often marked with a distinctive Blue Shield emblem to indicate they should not be targeted.

Significance:

• Lviv serves as a living museum and a primary symbol of Ukrainian European identity and national pride.
• It represents centuries of coexistence between different religious and ethnic communities in Eastern Europe.

 

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