UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 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 …
Source: NIE Subject: Science and Technology Context: India achieved a key milestone in its human spaceflight programme as DRDO successfully conducted a qualification-level load test of the Drogue Parachute for the Gaganyaan mission. About Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute: What is it? The Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute is a crucial component of the deceleration system of India’s Gaganyaan …
Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space. Q5. What are solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs)? Explain how they can cause radio blackouts on Earth. (10 M) Difficulty Level: Medium Reference: NIE Why the question With ISRO issuing warnings on strong radio blackout risks during intense solar storms, space weather has become a …
Source: IE Subject: Science and Technology Context: ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission suffered a failure due to an anomaly in its third stage (PS3), marking the second consecutive PSLV failure after PSLV-C61 in May 2025. About Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV): What it is? PSLV is India’s third-generation orbital launch vehicle, designed primarily to place satellites into …
Source: TW Subject: Science and Technology Context: India is set to demonstrate in-orbit satellite refuelling for the first time as Chennai-based OrbitAid’s AyulSAT is launched onboard ISRO’s PSLV-C62. About OrbitAid’s AyulSAT: What it is? AyulSAT is a 25-kg dedicated tanker-satellite and target spacecraft designed to demonstrate fuel transfer, power transfer and data transfer in orbit …
Source: IE Subject: Science and Technology Context: ISRO has confirmed that an interplanetary dust particle (IDP) enters Earth’s atmosphere roughly every 16 minutes, based on measurements from India’s first cosmic dust detector Dust EXperiment (DEX). About Dust EXperiment (DEX): What it is? DEX is India’s first indigenously developed cosmic dust detector, designed to detect and …
Source: IT Subject: Science and Technology Context: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will begin 2026 with the PSLV-C62 mission, launching the advanced surveillance satellite EOS-N1 (Anvesha) along with 18 co-passenger payloads. About Earth Observation Satellite EOS-N1 (Anvesha): What it is? EOS-N1 (codenamed ‘Anvesha’) is an advanced hyperspectral Earth observation satellite developed primarily to support India’s …
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Topic: Launch Vehicles Q6. How do advancements in launch vehicle technology shape the feasibility and scope of deep-space missions? Why are reusability and precision orbital insertion critical for modern space exploration? How far has India progressed in achieving these capabilities? (15 M) Difficulty Level: Medium Reference: InsightsIAS Why the question Advances in launch vehicle technology …
Source: DD News Subject: Science and Technology Context: IIA celebrated 10 years of the UltraViolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) aboard AstroSat, marking a decade of major scientific discoveries. About AstroSat: What it is? AstroSat is India’s first dedicated astronomy satellite enabling simultaneous observations in UV, optical, soft X-ray and hard X-ray bands. Launched in: 2015 by …
Source: NIE Subject: Science and Technology Context: ISRO confirmed that the Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module (PM) re-entered the Moon’s Sphere of Influence (MSI) during its high-altitude Earth-bound orbit, undergoing two lunar flybys. About Moon’s Sphere of Influence (MSI): What it is? The Moon’s Sphere of Influence (MSI) is the region around the Moon where its gravitational …
Source: NIE Subject: Miscellaneous Context: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has made it mandatory for all highway Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to include analysis using ISRO’s National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM). About National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM): What it is? A geo-spatial platform providing real-time, space-based data for disaster preparedness, …
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Source: IT Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched India’s heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03 (GSAT-7R), aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket from Sriharikota. About CMS-03 (GSAT-7R) Communication Satellite: What it is? CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, is a next-generation multi-band communication satellite designed to enhance India’s secure and high-throughput communication capabilities over land and sea. …
Source: TH Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the CMS-03 (GSAT-7R) communication satellite in November, aboard the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) from Sriharikota. About GSAT-7R Satellite: What it is? GSAT-7R, also called CMS-03, is a next-generation military communication satellite developed by ISRO to replace the aging GSAT-7A. It ensures robust, …
Topic: Awareness in the fields of Space Q6. What are the major technological challenges in designing a human-rated launch vehicle? Examine how ISRO’s Crew Escape System addresses these challenges. (10 M) Difficulty Level: Medium Reference: TH Why the question: ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission and the focus on crew safety and human-rating of LVM3, highlighting the technological, …
Source: TH Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has highlighted the working of the Crew Escape System (CES) — a critical safety mechanism of the Gaganyaan Mission. About Crew Escape System (CES): What it is? The Crew Escape System is a rapid-acting safety mechanism developed to eject the crew module carrying astronauts away from …
Context: The Border Security Force (BSF), in collaboration with ISRO, is developing radar-mounted drones to enhance surveillance along India’s western and eastern borders. About Radar-Mounted Drones for Surveillance: What it is? Radar-mounted drones are unmanned aerial systems equipped with compact radars capable of monitoring border areas remotely without crossing international boundaries. Aim: To strengthen border …
Source: IT Context: The Department of Space announced that India’s third satellite launch pad at Sriharikota will be fully operational by March 2029. About India’s 3rd Launch Pad in Sriharikota by 2029: What It Is? A new Third Launch Pad (TLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. Designed for next-generation rockets and to …
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Syllabus: Science and Technology Source: TOI Context: India successfully launched the NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite aboard GSLV-F16 from Sriharikota on July 31, 2025. It marks the first joint Earth-observation mission between ISRO and NASA, symbolizing deep Indo-US space collaboration. About India Successfully Launched The NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Satellite: What is NISAR? …
Source: HT Context: Union Minister confirmed in Parliament that India has completed the development and ground testing of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) for the Gaganyaan mission, marking a key milestone ahead of India’s first human spaceflight. The long-term vision includes the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035 and Indian Moon Landing by 2040. About …
Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space. Q6. What is the significance of the Axiom-4 mission for India’s human spaceflight ambitions. How can its outcomes contribute to the Gaganyaan programme. (10 M) Difficulty Level: Medium Reference: IE Why the question: India’s participation in the June 2025 Axiom-4 mission, through astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, marks a …
