DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22nd October 2026

Science & Technology | Space Technology | Defence and Security

Why in the news?

India’s first dedicated communication satellite for the Indian Army, GSAT-7B, is now expected to launch by mid-2028, around six months later than the earlier target of November 2027. The satellite is being developed indigenously by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under a Ministry of Defence contract with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). 

Key facts

• Purpose: Provide secure, dedicated satellite communication for the Indian Army.
• Contract: Signed in March 2023; reported value approximately ₹2,963 crore.
• Weight class: Approximately five tonnes.
• Orbit: Geostationary Earth orbit (GEO).
• Developer: ISRO; contract signed with NSIL, its commercial arm.
• Current dependency: The Army has relied on the Indian Air Force’s GSAT-7A for satellite communication requirements. 

Major capabilities and significance

• Beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communication: Connects troops and formations that cannot communicate directly through conventional line-of-sight links.
• Command and control: Supports coordination between headquarters, deployed troops, weapon systems and airborne platforms.
• Remote-area connectivity: Improves communication in mountainous terrain, forward border areas and locations with limited terrestrial infrastructure.
• Operational resilience: Provides an alternative communication link when ground-based networks are damaged or disrupted.
• Strategic autonomy: Strengthens indigenous military space capabilities and reduces dependence on communication capacity assigned to another service. 

Key concepts

• Geostationary orbit (GEO): Approximately 35,786 km above the equator; the satellite orbits in the same direction and at the same angular rate as Earth’s rotation, appearing stationary relative to the ground.
• NSIL: NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of the Department of Space.
• ISRO: India’s national space agency, responsible for developing the satellite.

Sources:

https://defence.in/threads/indian-armys-first-dedicated-satellite-gsat-7b-scheduled-for-mid-2028-launch-amid-military-space-push.18899/#google_vignette

World Geography | International Relations | Energy Security

Why in the news?

On 19 October 2026, reports said US President Donald Trump was considering strikes on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island oil-export infrastructure to pressure Tehran over its nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz. The reported plan was not officially confirmed by Washington. 

Key facts

• Location: Northern Persian Gulf, off the southwestern coast of Iran, near Bushehr Province.
• Geographical significance: Island in the Persian Gulf, approximately 26 km from Iran’s mainland.
• Strategic importance: Iran’s principal crude-oil export terminal; historically, around 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports passed through Kharg.
• Infrastructure: Offshore oil pipelines, storage tanks, loading terminals and facilities for exporting crude oil to international markets.
• Economic role: A critical link between Iran’s oil-producing regions and global energy markets. 

Geographical and geopolitical significance

• Persian Gulf: A marginal sea of the Indian Ocean, bordered by Iran to the north and northeast and the Arabian Peninsula to the south and southwest.
• Strait of Hormuz: Connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea; a major chokepoint for global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments.
• Bushehr Province: Located along Iran’s Persian Gulf coast; Kharg Island is a key part of the country’s oil-export infrastructure.
• Energy security: Disruption to Kharg’s export facilities could reduce Iranian oil shipments, affect global crude prices and increase geopolitical risks in the Gulf region. 

Sources: 

https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/trump-weighs-strikes-on-iran-s-kharg-island-oil-hub-to-pressure-tehran-report-article-14055322.html#google_vignette

International Relations | Economy | Energy Security

Why in the news?

On 20 October 2026, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that global oil markets were unlikely to normalise in 2027 because of continuing conflict in West Asia, supply disruptions and risks to energy infrastructure and shipping. The IEA has also coordinated the release of emergency oil stocks by member countries. 

Key facts about IEA

• Established: 1974, following the 1973–74 oil crisis.
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• Associated with: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); operates within the OECD framework but is an autonomous intergovernmental organisation.
• Core objective: Promote energy security, reliable and affordable energy supplies, and cooperation among member countries.
• Membership: India is an IEA Association Country, not a full member. 

Major functions

• Monitors global energy supply, demand, prices and inventories.
• Publishes the World Energy Outlook and periodic Oil Market Reports.
• Coordinates collective responses to major oil supply disruptions.
• Supports energy efficiency, clean-energy transitions and technology cooperation.
• Advises governments on energy security and energy policy.

Emergency oil stocks: Important for Prelims

• IEA member countries maintain emergency oil stocks under the IEA’s oil security system.
• Collective action can coordinate the release of stocks during major supply disruptions.
• In March 2026, IEA member countries agreed to make 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves available to the market. 

IEA vs OPEC

India and the IEA

India joined as an Association Country in 2017. Cooperation covers energy security, efficiency, renewable energy, energy statistics and clean-energy transitions. India’s association status does not confer the same rights and obligations as full membership. 

Sources: 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/iea-chief-warns-2027-likely-wont-normalize-oil-markets-amid-west-asia-war/article71606077.ece#google_vignette

Art & Culture | Indian Neighbourhood | UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Why in the news?

The historic Taleju Bhawani Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, opened to devotees on Maha Navami, the ninth day of the Bada Dashain (Dashain) festival in October 2026. The temple is traditionally open to the general public only once a year. 

Key facts

• Location: Hanuman Dhoka Durbar complex, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Presiding deity: Goddess Taleju Bhawani, associated with Goddess Durga and revered as the tutelary deity of Nepal’s Malla kings.
• Builder: King Mahendra Malla; the temple dates to the 16th century.
• Architectural style: Traditional Newar pagoda architecture, characteristic of the Kathmandu Valley.
• Heritage status: Located within the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage property.
• Public access: Traditionally opens once a year on Maha Navami during Dashain. 

Architectural features

• Multi-tiered pagoda roof and elaborately carved wooden elements.
• Ornamental gateways and traditional Newar craftsmanship.
• The temple reflects the religious and political significance of Goddess Taleju during the Malla period.

Bada Dashain: Important facts

• Nepal’s major Hindu festival, also known as Dashain.
• Celebrates the victory of good over evil, particularly Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura.
• Maha Navami: Ninth day, associated with worship of Goddess Durga and her manifestations.
• Vijaya Dashami: Culminating day, marked by receiving tika and jamara (barley shoots) from elders as blessings.

Sources:

https://newsonair.gov.in/nepal-celebrates-bada-dashain-festival-historic-taleju-bhawani-temple-opens-for-devotees/

Environment & Ecology | Species | Biodiversity

Why in the news?

A European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) was recorded for the first time in Chennai near Broken Bridge, adjoining the Adyar Estuary, on 11 October 2026. The observation was reviewed and accepted on eBird, a global bird-observation database. 

Key facts

• Scientific name: Merops apiaster
• Family: Meropidae
• Order: Coraciiformes
• Common name: Golden Bee-eater
• Identification: Brightly coloured plumage, blue-green tones, yellow throat and a dark trailing edge on the wings.
• Diet: Mainly flying insects, particularly bees, wasps and hornets.
• Feeding behaviour: Catches insects in flight and may rub stinging insects against a perch to remove their sting.
• Distribution: Breeds across much of Europe and parts of western Asia; migrates seasonally, including to parts of Africa.
• Habitat: Open landscapes, grasslands, scrublands and areas near water, where flying insects are available.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List). 

Important distinction: Bee-eater species

Sources: 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/european-bee-eater-at-broken-bridge/article71603997.ece

GS III – Environment / GS II – Governance
Water Pollution, Wastewater Treatment, and River Rejuvenation

Introduction

Wastewater is generated daily through domestic and urban activities, and as towns and cities expand, the volume of sewage requiring collection, conveyance, and treatment increases. Effective treatment requires different technological approaches depending on the nature of sewage, local conditions, and available infrastructure. This approach shapes the Namami Gange Programme (NGP), launched in 2014—an Integrated Conservation Mission with the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation/rejuvenation of the National River Ganga. The programme has undertaken 219 projects worth ₹35,664 crore, of which 147 have been completed. It records interventions across 10 Ganga basin states, including development of 6,603 MLD of STP capacity, with 4,341 MLD created.

Namami Gange’s Technology-Neutral Approach

Adopted Technologies

• Conventional Activated Sludge Process
• Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (and combinations with aerated lagoons)
• Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR)
• Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor
• Fluidized Aerated Bed
• Food Chain Reactor (FCR)
• Electrocoagulation
• Constructed wetlands
• Packaged systems such as Johkasou

Flexibility

• Addresses varied conditions: large urban centres, small habitations, hilly terrain, land-constrained locations.
• Innovations: NEREDA, Soil Biotechnology, on-site Advanced Oxidation Process, multi-storey STPs, decentralised systems.
• Faecal sludge and septage management extends treatment options beyond conventional sewerage networks.

Key Technologies and Innovations

Food Chain Reactor (FCR)

• Introduced in India: Through NGP.
• Improves Upon: Activated Sludge Process and SBR by incorporating fixed artificial media and plant roots.
• Advantages: Smaller footprint, lower power consumption, nutrient removal.
• Operational: 5 FCR-based STPs—two at Bhatpara (West Bengal), three at Prayagraj (UP); another at Bhagalpur (Bihar) under construction (~175 sq m per MLD).

Electrocoagulation Technology (Uttarakhand)

• Non-Biological Process: Uses electric current and coagulant metal anode to destabilise suspended and emulsified pollutants.
• Suited To: Cold temperatures, hilly terrain, limited access.
• Installations: 17 in Uttarakhand, including Badrinath and Chamoli—0.05 MLD at Police Chowki, 1.19 MLD at Vivekanand Colony, 1.25 MLD at Pokhari Bend.

Onsite Treatment and Multi-Storey STPs

• Advanced Oxidation Process Pilot (Varanasi’s Assi Drain): Treats excess wastewater onsite; avoids long interception/diversion sewer lines; minimum civil infrastructure; faster execution. Innovative financing—payments linked to treated water quantity and KPIs; no upfront capital payment.
• Multi-Storey STP (Muni Ki Reti, Chandreshwar Nagar): Country’s first four-storey STP for a municipality under NGP. 7.5 MLD plant occupies ~900 sq m (land requirement ~120 sq m/MLD with biological nutrient removal, vs. 400 sq m/MLD for conventional alternative). Overcomes limited land, three sewage drains, stormwater drain, and location upstream of Rishikesh’s Triveni Ghat.

Nature-Based and Decentralised Solutions

• Constructed Wetlands (Bithoor, UP): Population ~20,000; six wetlands developed directly on drains; in-situ treatment for ~2 MLD. BOD declined from ~75 mg/l to below 10 mg/l. Suitable for drains carrying small, dilute flows with sufficient length and width.
• Johkasou (Uttarakhand): Packaged treatment facility; combines several processes in prefabricated, plug-and-play unit. Useful for low-flow applications, difficult civil construction, limited space, underground systems. Six installations in Uttarakhand. Reduces need for full-time operators and daily sludge handling.

NEREDA: Efficient Biological Treatment

• Technology: Aerobic granular sludge; same bacteria as conventional activated sludge but forms compact granules with good settling properties.
• Advantages: Smaller footprint, lower construction costs, reduced operating expenditure; power savings ~50% vs. ASP and 20% vs. SBR.
• Installation: 60 MLD STP at Pahadi Patna; bioreactor occupies ~1,900 sq m vs. 5,400 sq m for SBR bioreactor.

Soil Biotechnology and Faecal Sludge Management

• Soil Biotechnology (Devprayag): Terrestrial wastewater-treatment system combining physical processes (sedimentation, infiltration) with biochemical processes. Uses mineral constitution, native microflora, bio-indicator plants. 1.2 MLD STP constructed; effluent standards based on NGT parameters.
• Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (Chunar, UP): 10 KLD pilot; construction cost ₹2.70 crore. Conventional interception/diversion networks and STP unfeasible due to high costs for small habitation. Septic tanks and soak pits prevalent; constructed wetlands/nature-based solutions identified as more suitable. FSTP does not replace STP—treats periodic septage; co-processing enables septage from unconnected areas to enter wider treatment system.

Energy Recovery, Sludge Management, and Resource Use

Biogas Generation

• Varanasi’s Dinapur STP (140 MLD; actual flow ~110 MLD): Actual power consumption 4,20,000 units/month; biogas-based generation reached ~2,20,000-3,00,000 units monthly (52-72%).
• Naini STP (80 MLD), Prayagraj: Biogas accounted for ~50% of daily power consumption.
• Other Examples: Jajmau (Kanpur), Bhagalpur; 220 MLD Meerut STP identified for Bio-CNG generation.

Sludge Dewatering

• Volute Press: Introduced at 50 MLD Ramana STP to meet guaranteed energy-consumption and land requirements. Energy efficiency and compact footprint prompted consideration of replication.

Green STPs

• On-Site Solar Power: 42 MLD Naini STP—1,000 KW solar plant generates ~3,850 units daily against requirement of 5,700 units. 80 MLD Naini STP—solar contributes ~1,400 units daily; biogas supplies another 4,500 units against total requirement of ~8,900 units. Other installations: Jhunsi (16 MLD), Phaphamau (14 MLD), Bareilly, Bhagwanpur, Vrindavan, Hathras, Shamli, Saharanpur.
• Meerut STP (220 MLD): Proposed as Green STP with 100% solar power; 10 MW offsite solar plant being considered under Open Access Policy.
• Sludge Incineration Pilot (Rishikesh): Thermal stabilisation and volume reduction; dewatered sludge (~20% solids) dried to ~90% solids; oxidised in hot-air generator; stabilised ash for fire bricks or concrete. At Muni Ki Reti, pilot addressed sludge disposal challenges from limited land.

Rehabilitation and Long-Term Performance

STP Rehabilitation

• Naini STP (80 MLD), Prayagraj: Electro-mechanical works, biogas power, OCEMS.
• Jajmau STP (130 MLD), Kanpur: Civil and electro-mechanical rehabilitation, biogas power, chlorination, OCEMS.

Trunk Sewer Rehabilitation

• Varanasi: 7-km old brick trunk sewer (up to 2,400 mm diameter) using Glass Reinforced Pipe liner.
• Kanpur: 9.3 km old brick trunk sewer (up to 2,250 mm diameter) using Machine Wound Spiral Lining.

Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM)-Based PPP

• Model: One City/Cluster–One Operator; construction-linked payments combined with performance-linked payments over 15 years.
• Projects: 31 projects covering 1,955 MLD taken up; 11 projects (454 MLD) completed; 6 projects (235 MLD) in advanced stage.

Conclusion

Namami Gange’s approach to wastewater treatment combines infrastructure, diverse technologies, decentralised solutions, rehabilitation, and long-term operation. Conventional and advanced treatment processes—FCR, electrocoagulation, NEREDA, Soil Biotechnology, constructed wetlands, Johkasou, multi-storey STPs—address varied local requirements. Performance-based operational models, resource recovery, energy efficiency, sludge management, and treated-water reuse strengthen the overall framework. From biogas generation (52-72% of power at Dinapur) to solar-powered STPs and sludge incineration pilots, the programme integrates sustainability. Ultimately, the objective extends beyond building STPs to creating sustainable wastewater-management systems that ensure effective treatment, reliable performance, and resource recovery across the river basin.

Practice Question

1. Namami Gange’s technology-neutral approach combines conventional and advanced treatment processes, decentralised solutions, and performance-based operation to create sustainable wastewater-management systems. Critically examine. (250 words, 15 marks)

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2325989&reg=3&lang=1

GS III – Economy / GS II – International Relations
Supply Chain Resilience, Strategic Technologies, and Industrial Policy

Introduction

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs decision to place tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) on an export control list reveals a blind spot in India’s supply chain diversification. The curbs include TBMs, walking excavators, and high-altitude wet shotcrete machines. From November 18, shipments intended for countries deemed sensitive due to ongoing disputes with China will require an export licence; for other countries, exporters must register, obtain an export certificate, and submit end-use declarations stating the equipment will not be re-routed to sensitive locations. China has cornered around 70% of the global TBM market; even prominent Western manufacturers maintain substantial component supply chains in China to cut manufacturing overhead. India has struggled with TBM-related hold-ups with China for at least two years, including for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project.

Why TBMs Matter

Complexity and Customisation

• Geological Configuration: TBMs must be configured to geological characteristics at the project site.
• Multiple Tasks: Perform numerous functions.
• Dual-Use: Where a suitable TBM exists, it can be used for civilian or military purposes.

Production Economics

• Not Conventional: New plants need a minimum number of orders; must access industrial capability to design, manufacture, and repair specialised components.
• Herrenknecht AG: Germany’s Herrenknecht set up an assembling and refurbishing facility in Chennai in 2007-08.

India’s Dilemma

Import Dependence

• One of World’s Largest Importers: India relies heavily on imported TBMs.
• Domestic Production Costs: Expecting every sophisticated machine to be produced domestically will send public infrastructure costs soaring.
• Redirecting Procurement: Depending on China’s decision, India may have to redirect procurement to facilities in Germany or Japan and absorb higher capital costs.

The BEML Experience

• Lesson: Manufacturing partnerships can fail without secure licensing arrangements and access to sustained demand.

The Broader Pattern

• Beijing’s Strategy: Systematically identifying sectors where it commands significant global capacity and establishing export controls to counter Western technological restrictions (e.g., advanced semiconductors).
• Implication: Any critical infrastructure sector relying on Chinese supply lines will face compounding geopolitical risk.

Way Forward: Domestic Manufacturing and International Partnerships

Twin Approach

• Domestic Manufacturing: Must go hand-in-hand with international partnerships.
• Model: Making equipment in India under agreement with established foreign firms.
• Shared Industrial Capabilities: Develop common testing and precision manufacturing infrastructure rather than singular “national champions”—benefiting TBM manufacturers and suppliers.

Secure Licensing and Demand

• Licensing Arrangements: Secure, long-term agreements with foreign firms.
• Sustained Demand: Ensure order pipelines to justify domestic production.

Supply Chain Diversification

• Beyond China: Develop alternative suppliers in Germany, Japan, and other countries.
• Component Ecosystem: Build domestic capability for specialised components—cutters, bearings, hydraulics, electronics.

Strategic Autonomy

• Critical Infrastructure: Reduce reliance on Chinese supply lines for strategic projects (high-speed rail, metro, water tunnels, defence infrastructure).
• Geopolitical Risk: Factor supply chain risk into procurement decisions.

Conclusion

China’s export control on TBMs reveals a blind spot in India’s supply chain diversification. With China cornering ~70% of the global TBM market, and Western manufacturers maintaining component supply chains there, India faces compounding geopolitical risk. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project has already suffered hold-ups. Expecting every sophisticated machine to be produced domestically will send infrastructure costs soaring; India may have to redirect procurement to Germany or Japan and absorb higher capital costs. The BEML experience shows manufacturing partnerships can fail without secure licensing and sustained demand. India should pursue domestic manufacturing alongside international partnerships—making equipment in India under agreement with established foreign firms, developing shared industrial capabilities rather than singular national champions. Beijing is systematically weaponising export controls; India must build resilience through diversification, partnerships, and strategic autonomy.

Practice Question

1. China’s export control on tunnel-boring machines reveals a blind spot in India’s supply chain diversification; domestic manufacturing and foreign partnerships must go hand-in-hand. Critically examine the challenges of strategic technology supply chains and suggest measures for building resilience. (250 words, 15 marks)

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/tunnelling-through-on-chinas-export-control-list-tunnel-boring-machines/article71611821.ece