UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 13 March 2026

Van Allen Probe A

March 13, 2026

Van Allen Probe A Latest News

NASA's 600 kg Van Allen Probe A satellite is falling back to Earth, raising questions about whether people on the ground should be concerned.

About Van Allen Probe A

NASA’s Van Allen Probes mission was the first mission to use two spacecraft in tandem to study Earth’s radiation belts.
Originally designed for a two-year mission, the Van Allen Probes A and B launched on Aug. 30, 2012, and gathered unprecedented data on Earth’s two permanent radiation belts — named for scientist James Van Allen — for almost seven years.
From 2012 to 2019, the spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, flew through the Van Allen belts, rings of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field, to understand how particles were gained and lost.
The belts shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms, and the constantly streaming solar wind that are harmful to humans and can damage technology, so understanding them is important.
By having two spacecraft with identical instruments, with one followed by the other along nearly the same path, researchers could measure changes that occur in Earth’s radiation belts over time and through space, providing insights into the physical dynamics of the radiation belts and changes that occur in this critical region of space.
NASA ended the mission after the two spacecraft ran out of fuel and were no longer able to orient themselves toward the Sun.

Source: NDTV

Van Allen Probe A FAQs

Q1: What was the primary objective of the Van Allen Probes mission?

Ans: To study Earth’s radiation belts.

Q2: Which space agency launched the Van Allen Probes mission?

Ans: NASA.

Q3: When were the Van Allen Probes launched?

Ans: August 30, 2012.

Q4: For how long did the Van Allen Probes collect scientific data?

Ans: For almost seven years (2012–2019).

Cobalt

March 13, 2026

Cobalt Latest News

According to a new report, the world’s largest cobalt producing company has caused serious environmental and public health damage in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

About Cobalt

It is a hard, lustrous, silver-grey metal.
Properties

- It is a ferromagnetic strategic alloying metal.
- It is a chemical element with the symbol Co and atomic no.27.
- It is associated mostly with copper, nickel and arsenic ores.
- Cobalt is extracted as a by-product of copper, nickel, zinc or precious metals.
Major World reserves of cobalt: Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Canada, Philippines and Cuba.
Occurrences of cobalt in India: Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan, Nagaland and Madhya Pradesh.

Applications of Cobalt

Major use of cobalt is in metallurgical applications, in the Special alloy/Superalloy Industry, in magnets and cutting tools industries.
Cobalt is used as precursors (cobalt compounds) for cathodes in rechargeable batteries.
It is also used in powerful magnets, cutting tools and high-strength alloys in the aerospace, energy and defence sectors.
Cobalt compounds have been used since antiquity as a pigment (cobalt-blue) for pottery, glass, paints and other media.

Source: DTE

Cobalt FAQs

Q1: Which industry uses Cobalt extensively?

Ans: Electronics and batteries

Q2: What is Cobalt's symbol?

Ans: Co

Spotted Hyena

March 13, 2026

Spotted Hyena Latest News

According to a new study the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) has emerged as an unlikely ‘eco-warrior’ in Ethiopia’s second-largest city Mekelle.

About Spotted Hyena

It is also called the laughing hyena.
It is a strong and capable hunter and the largest member of the hyena family.
Appearance: It looks like a dog but is closer related to cats, civets, and genes.
- It is physically distinguished from other species by its vaguely bear-like build, rounded ears, less prominent mane, spotted pelt, more dual-purposed dentition, fewer nipples, and pseudo-penis.
Habitat: It inhabits savannas, open and dense dry woodland, grasslands, mountains, tropical rainforests, semi-deserts, and coastal areas.
Distribution: It is mainly found throughout sub-Saharan Africa (Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Angola, Namibia, and parts of South Africa),

Characteristics of Spotted Hyena

They have excellent night vision, being mostly nocturnal, hunting at night, and sleeping or staying near their den in the daytime.
They have a matriarchal social order of related individuals that are called clans. One alpha female leads the clan.
These animals mark their territory by scratching the ground and with an oily substance that they secrete from their anal glands.
Diet: These are carnivorous animals that hunt and scavenge.
It is the only placental mammalian species where females have a pseudo-penis and lack an external vaginal opening.
Conservation status: IUCN: Least Concern.

Source: DTE

Spotted Hyena FAQs

Q1: What is the scientific name of the Spotted Hyena?

Ans: Crocuta crocuta

Q2: Spotted Hyenas are primarily found in?

Ans: Savannas and grasslands

Beas River

March 13, 2026

Beas River Latest News

Four people drowned in the Beas River in the Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, recently.

About Beas River

It is a river passing through the northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
It is one of the five rivers that give Punjab (“Five Rivers”) its name.
It was known as Vipas in the past, meaning the “Unfettered” river.
The Beas River was the approximate eastern limit of Alexander the Great’s invasion of India in 326 BCE.
Course:
- The river originates in the Rohtang Pass of the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh at a height of 13,050 feet.
- From there it flows south through the Kullu Valley, receiving tributaries from the flanking mountains, and then turns west to flow past Mandi into the Kangra Valley.
- After crossing the valley, the Beas enters Punjab state and veers south and then southwest to its confluence with the Sutlej River at Harike.
The total length of the river is 470 km.
The Beas catchment is under the influence of western disturbances that bring snowfall to the upper sub-catchment during winter, and the monsoon provides around 70% of the annual rainfall during June – September.
Major Tributaries: Bain, Banganga, Luni, and Uhal, along with Banner, Chakki, Gaj, Harla, Mamuni, Parvati, Patlikuhlal, Sainj, Suketi, and Tirthan.
Dams: The Pong Dam, also known as the Beas Dam, is an earth-fill embankment dam constructed on the river Beas in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.

Source: NEWSM

Beas River FAQs

Q1: Through which Indian states does the Beas River flow

Ans: Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

Q2: Where does the Beas River originate?

Ans: Rohtang Pass in the Himalayas.

Q3: With which river does the Beas River meet at Harike?

Ans: Sutlej River.

Q4: What is the total length of the Beas River?

Ans: Approximately 470 km.

Chelonus (Carinichelonus) mahadeb

March 13, 2026

Chelonus (Carinichelonus) mahadeb Latest News

A rare parasitic wasp Chelonus (Carinichelonus) mahadeb named has been recently recorded from a tea estate in Assam.

About Chelonus (Carinichelonus) mahadeb

It is a new species of parasitic wasp.
It was discovered from Nahortoli Tea Estate in Assam.
Parasitic wasps of the genus Chelonus are tiny insects but play an important ecological role.
- They are known as egg–larval parasitoids, meaning they lay their eggs inside the eggs of other insects, usually moths and butterflies.
- The developing wasp larva eventually consumes the host, helping regulate insect populations naturally.
- Because many moth larvae are major agricultural pests, species of Chelonus are often considered beneficial insects that contribute to natural pest control in crop ecosystems, including plantations.
The discovery is notable because the subgenus Carinichelonus is extremely rare and poorly documented worldwide.
It is only the second new species of this subgenus described from India in recent times.

Source: EM

Chelonus (Carinichelonus) mahadeb FAQs

Q1: What is Chelonus (Carinichelonus) mahadeb?

Ans: A newly discovered species of parasitic wasp.

Q2: Where was Chelonus (Carinichelonus) mahadeb discovered?

Ans: Nahortoli Tea Estate in Assam, India.

Q3: What is the ecological role of parasitic wasps of the genus Chelonus?

Ans: They help regulate insect populations naturally.

Q4: Where do Chelonus wasps lay their eggs?

Ans: Inside the eggs of other insects, usually moths and butterflies.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

March 13, 2026

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Latest News

Amid growing concerns over nuclear non-proliferation, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency held talks with the head of Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear energy corporation recently.

About International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

It is the world’s leading intergovernmental organisation for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field.
The Agency’s genesis was U.S. President Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” address to the General Assembly of the United Nations on 8 December 1953.
The IAEA Statute was approved on 23 October 1956 and came into force on 29 July 1957.
The IAEA is an autonomous organization within the United Nations system.
It reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and the UN Security Council.
Its primary goal is to ensure that nuclear energy is not diverted for weapons purposes.
The IAEA works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.
It is widely known as the world's "Atoms for Peace and Development" organization.
Member Countries: The agency currently has 180 member states, reflecting its wide international mandate and credibility.
Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Institutional Structure

General Conference: The General Conference, composed of all member states, meets annually to approve budgets and set general policy directions.
Board of Governors: The Board of Governors, comprising 35 members, meets about five times a year to: approve safeguards agreements, carry out statutory functions, and appoint the Director General.
Secretariat: The Secretariat, led by the Director General, handles the IAEA’s daily operations.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Functions

Promoting Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy: The IAEA encourages the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, emphasizing sustainability and safety.
Safety and Security: The agency establishes safety standards and provides assistance to ensure that nuclear operations are conducted safely and securely.
Verification: The IAEA conducts inspections and monitoring to verify compliance with nuclear non-proliferation agreements.

Source: DEVD

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) FAQs

Q1: What is the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?

Ans: The world’s leading intergovernmental organization for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field.

Q2: When did the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Statute come into force?

Ans: 29 July 1957.

Q3: What is the primary goal of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?

Ans: To ensure that nuclear energy is not diverted for weapons purposes.

Q4: Where is the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) located?

Ans: Vienna.