🔥 UPSC/PCS Current Affairs | 18 August 2026

1. Kerala Renamed as Keralam: Article 3 and First Schedule

Why in News?

President Droupadi Murmu has given assent to the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, clearing the way for the State of Kerala to officially be known as Keralam. The legislation requires consequential changes in the Constitution, including modification of the State’s name in the First Schedule.

UPSC/PCS Importance

This is one of the strongest polity topics of the day because it directly connects Article 3, the First Schedule, Parliament’s power to alter the name of a State, the role of the President and the constitutional procedure relating to changes in States.

Prelims Facts

• Article 3 deals with formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States.
• A Bill under Article 3 can be introduced in Parliament only on the recommendation of the President.
• The President refers the proposal to the concerned State Legislature for expressing its views.
• The views of the State Legislature are not binding on Parliament.
• The names of States and Union Territories are contained in the First Schedule of the Constitution.
• Such a law can be passed by a simple majority in Parliament.
• A law made under Article 3 is not treated as a constitutional amendment under Article 368.
• The Kerala Assembly had earlier passed a resolution seeking the name change to Keralam.

Mains Perspective

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

Revision Note: Article 3 gives Parliament wide powers over the territorial and nomenclatural organisation of States, while consultation with the State Legislature ensures a federal element in the process.

2. Supreme Court Orders Nationwide Survey of Elephant Corridors

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has directed the Union government to conduct a nationwide check of traditional elephant corridors and ensure that States do not create blockades that obstruct the natural movement of wild elephant herds.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Highly important for wildlife conservation, habitat connectivity, human-elephant conflict, protected species, wildlife corridors and implementation of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Prelims Facts

• Elephant corridors connect fragmented elephant habitats and permit seasonal movement.
• Indian elephants receive the highest level of protection under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Elephants often move across State boundaries.
• Blocking traditional migration routes can increase human-elephant conflict.
• The Supreme Court has opposed the use of fireballs, burning rods and spikes to drive away elephants.
• Habitat fragmentation is a major threat to large-ranging wildlife species.
• Wildlife corridors are important for gene flow and long-term species survival.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Environment, Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation

Revision Note: Human-wildlife conflict cannot be solved merely through physical barriers. Landscape-level planning, protection of migration corridors and community-based mitigation are necessary for sustainable coexistence.

3. Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls in Maharashtra and Telangana

Why in News?

Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls remains in focus in Maharashtra and Telangana. More than two crore enumeration forms remained uncollected in Maharashtra, while nearly 93 lakh electors in Telangana were reported to require notices due to anomalies or incomplete details.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Extremely important for the Election Commission of India, electoral rolls, voter verification, Booth Level Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, free and fair elections and Article 324.

Prelims Facts

• SIR stands for Special Intensive Revision.
• Article 324 provides for superintendence, direction and control of elections by the Election Commission.
• Electoral rolls are prepared and revised under election law.
• BLO stands for Booth Level Officer.
• ERO stands for Electoral Registration Officer.
• Reasons for electoral-roll verification may include death, migration, duplication or incomplete information.
• Draft electoral rolls are followed by claims and objections before publication of final rolls.
• Census records and electoral rolls serve different legal purposes.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Constitution, Election Commission and Electoral Reforms

Revision Note: Electoral-roll purification must balance two objectives: removing duplicate or invalid entries while ensuring that genuine citizens are not excluded from democratic participation. Transparency and due process are therefore essential.

4. Ken-Betwa River Linking Project and Adivasi Displacement

Why in News?

Adivasi communities affected by the Ken-Betwa river-linking project have continued protests over displacement, compensation, land acquisition and rehabilitation. Concerns have also been raised regarding large-scale tree felling and ecological impacts.

UPSC/PCS Importance

One of the strongest GS-III topics because it combines river interlinking, water security, environmental clearance, forest diversion, displacement, rehabilitation and development-versus-conservation debates.

Prelims Facts

• Ken and Betwa are rivers of the Yamuna river system.
• The project seeks transfer of water from the Ken basin to the Betwa basin.
• The project primarily concerns Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• River-linking projects involve hydrological, ecological and social-impact considerations.
• Large infrastructure projects may require land acquisition, forest clearance and rehabilitation measures.
• The newspaper report refers to an earlier project estimate involving the felling of around 23 lakh trees.
• Displacement raises issues of compensation, livelihood restoration and community rights.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Tribal Welfare and Governance
GS-III: Environment, Water Resources and Infrastructure

Revision Note: Large water projects must be evaluated not merely in terms of irrigation and water transfer, but also through ecological sustainability, fair rehabilitation and meaningful participation of affected local communities.

5. Cauvery Water Dispute: Supreme Court to Monitor Water Sharing

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has decided to monitor the progress of Cauvery water sharing between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka stated that it had released more than 12,000 cusecs in compliance with directions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for Article 262, inter-State river water disputes, cooperative federalism, Cauvery Water Management Authority and water sharing during distress years.

Prelims Facts

• Article 262 deals with adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers or river valleys.
• The Cauvery basin is shared by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
• CWMA stands for Cauvery Water Management Authority.
• Cauvery Water Regulation Committee assists in implementation and monitoring.
• Cusec means cubic foot per second and measures flow of water.
• TMC ft means thousand million cubic feet.
• Water-sharing disputes become more difficult during rainfall-deficit or distress years.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Federalism and Inter-State Relations
GS-III: Water Resources

Revision Note: Inter-State river disputes require rule-based allocation, reliable hydrological data, institutional coordination and mechanisms for equitable burden-sharing during distress years.

6. Rotating Detonation Engines: Future of Propulsion Technology

Why in News?

Rotating Detonation Engines have emerged as an important research area in advanced propulsion. Unlike conventional combustion, an RDE sustains detonation waves travelling continuously around an annular combustion chamber.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Strong Science and Technology topic for understanding propulsion, combustion, rocket and aerospace technology, energy efficiency and emerging defence applications.

Prelims Facts

• RDE stands for Rotating Detonation Engine.
• Detonation involves a shock-driven combustion process.
• An RDE commonly uses an annular or ring-shaped combustion chamber.
• Fuel and oxidiser are continuously injected into the chamber.
• One or more detonation waves travel repeatedly around the annulus.
• The technology can generate continuous thrust.
• RDEs could offer approximately 10% to 25% higher thermodynamic efficiency than conventional combustors.
• The technology remains primarily at the research and development stage.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Science & Technology, Space and Defence Technology

Revision Note: RDE technology could improve propulsion efficiency and reduce fuel requirements, but engineering challenges involving thermal stress, stability and controlled detonation must be solved before large-scale deployment.

7. Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme and India’s Supply-Chain Strategy

Why in News?

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology approved projects worth ₹7,877 crore for incentives under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme. The projects include components that have not previously been manufactured domestically at scale.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for Atmanirbhar Bharat, electronics manufacturing, industrial policy, global value chains, import dependence, supply-chain resilience and manufacturing-led growth.

Prelims Facts

• ECMS stands for Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme.
• MeitY stands for Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• Electronic components form the upstream foundation of finished electronic products.
• Domestic component manufacturing can reduce dependence on imported intermediate goods.
• Incentive schemes may be linked to investment, capital expenditure or production milestones.
• Components mentioned include electrolyte additives, hermetic terminals, capacitor films and coils.
• Hermetic terminals are relevant to sealed assemblies, including defence-grade applications.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Indian Economy, Manufacturing and Industrial Policy

Revision Note: India’s electronics strategy must move beyond final assembly towards domestic production of critical components, materials and technologies to create deeper and more resilient value chains.

8. Russia-Ukraine War Disrupts India’s Edible Oil Imports

Why in News?

Disruptions to Black Sea shipping caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict are affecting sunflower-oil supplies to India. At the same time, competitive prices are expected to push India’s soy-oil imports to unusually high levels.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for edible-oil import dependence, food inflation, agricultural commodities, Black Sea geopolitics, supply-chain disruptions and India’s external-sector vulnerability.

Prelims Facts

• India is a major importer of edible oils.
• Sunflower oil is an important component of India’s vegetable-oil imports.
• Russia and Ukraine are major suppliers of sunflower oil to India.
• The Black Sea is an important route for grain and vegetable-oil trade.
• War-related attacks on ports can reduce export capacity and delay shipments.
• Soy oil can substitute for other edible oils when relative prices change.
• Imported edible-oil prices can influence domestic food inflation.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: International Relations
GS-III: Agriculture, Food Security and External Sector

Revision Note: Global geopolitical conflicts can quickly become domestic food-security issues when a country depends heavily on imported agricultural commodities. Diversification of suppliers and higher domestic oilseed productivity are therefore strategically important.

9. Census, Mother Tongue and the Assamese Identity Debate

Why in News?

During the ongoing Census process, the Assam Chief Minister urged residents originally from other States but culturally integrated into Assam to record Assamese as their mother tongue. The issue has brought demographic change, linguistic identity and Census data into focus.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for Census methodology, demographic data, linguistic diversity, identity politics, cultural rights and policy planning.

Prelims Facts

• The Census provides demographic, social and economic information about India’s population.
• The Census is conducted under the Census Act, 1948.
• Mother tongue is an important linguistic variable recorded during Census exercises.
• India is a multilingual country with constitutionally recognised languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
• Census data is important for policy formulation and demographic analysis.
• Language data can reflect migration, assimilation and changing population patterns.
• Census and electoral-roll exercises have different objectives and statutory frameworks.

Mains Perspective

GS-I: Indian Society and Linguistic Diversity
GS-II: Governance and Census

Revision Note: Census data is not merely statistical; linguistic and demographic figures can affect political narratives, identity debates and policy priorities. Accuracy and voluntary, truthful enumeration are therefore essential.

10. ISI-Backed Network Dismantled: Cross-Border Terrorism and Intelligence Coordination

Why in News?

Security agencies carried out coordinated operations across multiple States against an alleged Pakistan-based network linked with grenade attacks, IED incidents, targeted killings and reconnaissance of sensitive locations.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Highly relevant for cross-border terrorism, intelligence sharing, organised terror networks, radicalisation, surveillance of critical infrastructure and Centre-State coordination in internal security.

Prelims Facts

• ISI refers to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence.
• IED stands for Improvised Explosive Device.
• UAPA stands for Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
• Counter-terrorism frequently requires coordination between Central agencies and State police.
• Reconnaissance of police, defence and religious sites may form part of terror planning.
• The operation reportedly involved simultaneous action across 14 States.
• Cases linked to such networks may involve UAPA, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act provisions.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Internal Security, Terrorism and Security Agencies

Revision Note: Modern terror networks often operate through decentralised local modules supported by cross-border handlers. Real-time intelligence sharing, financial tracking and coordination between Central and State agencies are critical for prevention.

📰 Explainer Focus – How Can a State’s Name Be Changed?

Theme

The renaming of Kerala as Keralam provides a direct example of Parliament’s powers under Article 3. The Constitution allows Parliament to change the name, area or boundaries of a State through an ordinary legislative process subject to specified constitutional procedure.

Key Concepts

• Article 3
• Article 4
• First Schedule
• President’s Recommendation
• Reference to State Legislature
• Simple Majority
• Parliament
• Federalism
• State Reorganisation
• Constitutional Procedure

Mains Takeaway: India’s Constitution creates a flexible Union in which Parliament possesses significant authority over the territorial organisation of States, although States are given an opportunity to express their views before Parliament takes the final decision.

📰 Explainer Focus – Elephant Corridors and Human-Wildlife Conflict

Theme

Elephants require large connected landscapes for seasonal movement, food and water. Roads, settlements, farms and other barriers can fragment these traditional routes, increasing encounters between elephants and people.

Key Concepts

• Elephant Corridors
• Habitat Fragmentation
• Human-Wildlife Conflict
• Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
• Landscape Connectivity
• Migration Routes
• Habitat Restoration
• Community Participation
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Inter-State Coordination

Mains Takeaway: Wildlife conservation must move beyond isolated protected areas towards landscape-level connectivity because animals such as elephants regularly move across administrative and State boundaries.

🔥 Most Important Topics for UPSC/PCS Today

• Kerala Renamed as Keralam: Article 3 and First Schedule
• Supreme Court Order on Elephant Corridors
• Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls
• Ken-Betwa River Linking Project and Tribal Displacement
• Cauvery Water Dispute and CWMA
• Rotating Detonation Engine Technology
• Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme
• Russia-Ukraine War and India’s Edible Oil Imports
• Census and Assamese Linguistic Identity
• Cross-Border Terrorism and Intelligence Coordination

One-Line Fact: A law altering the name, area or boundary of a State under Article 3 can be passed by a simple majority and is not treated as a constitutional amendment under Article 368.

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