🔥 UPSC/PCS Current Affairs | 13 July 2026

1. Iran-U.S. Conflict Escalates Around Strait of Hormuz

Why in News?

The United States carried out major strikes on Iranian military targets after an Iranian attack on a commercial vessel, while Iran retaliated against countries in West Asia hosting U.S. forces.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for West Asia geopolitics, maritime security, international law, global trade, energy security and India’s strategic interests.

Prelims Facts

• Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
• It is a major global chokepoint for crude oil and LNG transportation.
• U.S. Central Command is commonly known as CENTCOM.
• Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: International Relations
GS-III: Energy Security and Maritime Security

Revision Note: Strait of Hormuz crisis = West Asia conflict + energy chokepoint + freedom of navigation + India’s oil security.

2. Attack on Commercial Vessel Near Oman and Indian Seafarer Safety

Why in News?

India condemned the attack on the Cyprus-flagged vessel GFS Galaxy near Oman. Ten Indian crew members were rescued, while one Indian seafarer was reported missing.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Relevant for maritime security, safety of Indian nationals abroad, consular assistance, commercial shipping and freedom of navigation.

Prelims Facts

• A flag State is the country in which a commercial vessel is registered.
• UNCLOS provides the broad legal framework for the use of seas and oceans.
• Oman lies close to the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea.
• India has a large workforce employed in global merchant shipping.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Indian Diaspora and International Relations
GS-III: Maritime Security

Revision Note: Commercial ship attack = Seafarer safety + UNCLOS + consular protection + secure sea lanes.

3. Demand for Restoration of Jammu and Kashmir Statehood

Why in News?

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah renewed the demand for restoration of Statehood and announced a protest in New Delhi.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for federalism, Centre-Union Territory relations, democratic representation and the constitutional reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Prelims Facts

• Article 3 empowers Parliament to form new States and alter their areas, boundaries or names.
• The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 created the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
• Jammu and Kashmir has a Legislative Assembly, while Ladakh does not.
• Article 370 was made inoperative in August 2019.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Federalism, Constitution and Centre-State Relations

Revision Note: J&K Statehood = Federalism + democratic mandate + constitutional reorganisation + regional aspirations.

4. India-Afghanistan Agricultural Cooperation

Why in News?

A Taliban delegation visited India to discuss agricultural trade, irrigation, food processing, infrastructure development and capacity building.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Relevant for India-Afghanistan relations, humanitarian diplomacy, food security, regional connectivity and India’s engagement with the Taliban administration.

Prelims Facts

• India has not formally recognised the Taliban administration.
• India maintains a technical presence at its Embassy in Kabul.
• NABARD supports agriculture and rural development finance.
• ICAR is India’s apex body for coordinating agricultural research and education.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: International Relations
GS-III: Agriculture and Food Processing

Revision Note: India-Afghanistan ties = Humanitarian aid + agriculture + strategic engagement without formal recognition.

5. ISRO Tests Gaganyaan Crew Module Systems

Why in News?

ISRO successfully conducted three important tests of the Gaganyaan crew module systems, including a test to ensure that the module remains upright after splashdown.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for India’s human spaceflight programme, space technology, astronaut safety and indigenous scientific capability.

Prelims Facts

• Gaganyaan is India’s human spaceflight mission.
• The crew module is designed to carry astronauts safely.
• Splashdown refers to the landing of a spacecraft in the sea.
• The upright position of the module is essential for safe crew recovery.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Science and Technology, Space Programme

Revision Note: Gaganyaan tests = Human spaceflight + crew safety + splashdown recovery + technological self-reliance.

6. Drones Reduce TB Diagnosis Cost and Time

Why in News?

An ICMR-supported study found that drone transport of sputum samples reduced average patient expenditure from about ₹9,451 to ₹91 and cut diagnosis time from 15 days to five days.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Relevant for public health delivery, tuberculosis elimination, drone technology, rural healthcare access and last-mile connectivity.

Prelims Facts

• Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• It primarily affects the lungs but may affect other organs.
• Sputum testing is commonly used for pulmonary TB diagnosis.
• ICMR is India’s apex body for biomedical research.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Health and Social Justice
GS-III: Science and Technology

Revision Note: Drone-based TB testing = Affordable healthcare + faster diagnosis + technology-enabled last-mile delivery.

7. Assam Intensifies Anti-Drug Campaign

Why in News?

Assam launched a major drug-disposal campaign and called for stronger inter-State and international coordination against narcotics trafficking.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for internal security, border management, organised crime, drug trafficking routes and cooperative federalism.

Prelims Facts

• The NDPS Act, 1985 regulates narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
• Myanmar forms part of the Golden Triangle region associated with illicit drug production.
• India’s north-eastern States are vulnerable to cross-border trafficking routes.
• Drug seizures require legally supervised storage and disposal.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Internal Security, Border Management and Organised Crime

Revision Note: Drug trafficking = Porous borders + organised crime + inter-State coordination + international cooperation.

8. Wayanad Debris Slip Highlights Construction Safety Risks

Why in News?

The death toll in the debris slip at a tunnel construction site in Wayanad reached eight, with all missing persons traced.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Relevant for disaster management, landslide-prone regions, worker safety, environmental assessment and infrastructure governance.

Prelims Facts

• Wayanad lies in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
• Heavy rainfall, unstable slopes and construction activity can increase landslide risk.
• SDRF functions at the State level, while NDRF is a specialised national disaster response force.
• Slope stabilisation and drainage planning are essential in hill infrastructure projects.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Disaster Management and Infrastructure

Revision Note: Wayanad disaster = Ecologically fragile terrain + construction safety + accountability + disaster preparedness.

9. China’s New Ethnic Unity Law Raises Minority Rights Concerns

Why in News?

China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress came into force, promoting a shared national identity, Mandarin and the Sinicisation of religion. The UN Human Rights Office raised concerns about forced assimilation.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for minority rights, cultural assimilation, China’s internal governance, human rights and India-China comparative studies.

Prelims Facts

• China officially recognises 56 ethnic groups.
• Han Chinese form the overwhelming majority of the population.
• Uyghurs are concentrated mainly in Xinjiang.
• Tibetans are a major ethnic minority associated with the Tibetan Plateau.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: International Relations and Human Rights

Revision Note: China’s ethnic unity law = National integration policy + Sinicisation + minority rights + assimilation debate.

10. Eärendil-1 Orbital Mirror Mission and Space Governance

Why in News?

A proposed satellite mission called Eärendil-1 plans to use a steerable reflector to redirect sunlight towards selected locations on Earth at night, raising concerns about skyglow and optical astronomy.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Relevant for emerging space technologies, regulation of commercial space activity, light pollution, astronomy and responsible use of outer space.

Prelims Facts

• The mission proposes a motorised reflector in low-Earth orbit.
• Skyglow is artificial brightening of the night sky.
• Optical astronomy can be affected by reflected sunlight and light pollution.
• Space governance involves safety, orbital debris, spectrum use and environmental impacts.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Science and Technology, Space Regulation

Revision Note: Orbital mirrors = Commercial space innovation + astronomy concerns + regulatory gaps + responsible space governance.

📰 Editorial Focus – Reforming Court Vacations and Reducing Judicial Delays

Theme

The editorial highlights the need to reconsider long court vacations when crores of cases remain pending and litigants face prolonged delays in accessing justice.

Key Concepts

• Judicial Pendency
• Access to Justice
• Right to Speedy Trial
• Court Vacation System
• Judicial Accountability
• Case Management
• Technology and E-Courts
• Filling Judicial Vacancies

Mains Takeaway: Judicial reform should balance judges’ workload and institutional needs with the citizen’s right to timely and affordable justice.

🔥 Most Important Topics for UPSC/PCS Today

• Iran-U.S. Conflict and West Asia Security
• Strait of Hormuz and Global Energy Chokepoints
• Freedom of Navigation and UNCLOS
• Safety of Indian Seafarers Abroad
• Jammu and Kashmir Statehood
• Article 3 and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019
• India-Afghanistan Agricultural Cooperation
• India’s Engagement with the Taliban Administration
• Gaganyaan Crew Module and Splashdown Tests
• ICMR Drone Trial for TB Diagnosis
• TB Elimination and Rural Healthcare Access
• NDPS Act and Cross-Border Drug Trafficking
• Golden Triangle and North-East Security
• Wayanad Debris Slip and Infrastructure Safety
• China’s Ethnic Unity Law and Minority Rights
• Sinicisation and Cultural Assimilation
• Eärendil-1 Orbital Mirror Mission
• Light Pollution and Space Governance
• Judicial Pendency and Court Vacation Reforms

One-Line Fact: Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is one of the world’s most strategically important oil and LNG transit chokepoints.

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