UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 28 April 2026

by Vajiram & Ravi - 28 April 2026

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 28 April 2026, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

Cyborg Botany

April 28, 2026
Cyborg Botany

Cyborg Botany Latest News

Scientists across many institutions are exploring the cyborg botany field which transforms plants into living circuit boards.

About Cyborg Botany

  • It is a hybrid system that integrates living plants with electronic components.
  • It is an intersection of biology, materials science, and engineering.
  • The word ‘cyborg’ itself comes from ‘cybernetic organism’, a concept long associated with science fiction.
  • Its goal is to use the biological processes of living plants and merge them with artificial electronic functionality.
  • Working
    • Embedding Nanowires and Electronic Transistors: These can be directly embedded into plant cell walls, where they can function as biosensors, picking up biochemical changes as they happen.
    • Polymers as living wires: Certain conductive polymers such as PEDOT, a biodegradable, electrically conductive material, can act as living wires within plant tissue, carrying signals from the plant’s cells to an external device.
  • Significance
    • Plants face two broad types of stress: biotic stress, such as pest infestations and disease, and abiotic stress, such as drought and extreme temperatures.
    • If a sensor embedded in a crop plant could flag a moisture deficit or a disease signal days or weeks before the physical symptoms appear.
    • Farmers could intervene early by applying water and nutrients or treatments only where and when they are needed.

Source: TH

Cyborg Botany FAQs

Q1: What does “Cyborg Botany” refer to?

Ans: Integration of electronic circuits/devices directly into living plant tissue for sensing & actuation

Q2: Cyborg botany contributes to which modern agriculture concept?

Ans: Precision farming & Internet of Plants (IoP)

Barbary Macaque

April 28, 2026
Barbary Macaque

Barbary Macaque Latest News

Recently, scientists have observed that the Gibraltar’s Barbary Macaques eat soil (geophagy ) to counter ill effects of tourist-derived junk food.

About Barbary Macaque

  • Barbary macaques are one of 25 species of macaque found around the world.
  • They’re the only macaque species living outside Asia and the only non-human primate in North Africa and Europe.
  • Habitat: They are most commonly found in high-altitude mountains, rocky cliffs, and gorges. The ideal habitat of this species is cedar forest.
  • Distribution: They are mainly found in Africa, Asia and Europe.
    • The natural range of these primates covers the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco in North Africa.
    • The Barbary monkeys have also been introduced from Morocco to Gibraltar, where these animals currently occur in a small population.
  • Characteristics
    • These are highly adaptable creatures, they are capable of surviving in various environments and temperatures from fir and mixed oak forests to sheer cliffs.
    • They are generally active during the daytime hours.
    • Barbary macaques lack a tail. This means they’re sometimes called Barbary apes
    • Diet: These are omnivorous animals.
    • It is an alloparental species. This means that the adult males and females look after all the offspring in the group, not just their own.
  • Conservation Status
    • IUCN Red List: Endangered

Source: DTE

Barbary Macaque FAQs

Q1: What is the main diet of Barbary Macaque?

Ans: Omnivore – fruits, seeds, leaves, insects, bark

Q2: What is the IUCN Red List status of Barbary Macaque?

Ans: Endangered

Vitamin E

April 28, 2026
Vitamin E

Vitamin E Latest News

Researchers recently found that a daily 300 mg dose of vitamin E improves liver tissue in adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, a serious form of fatty liver disease where fat buildup triggers inflammation and damage in the liver. 

About Vitamin E

  • It is a fat-soluble vitamin with several forms, but alpha-tocopherol is the only one used by the human body. 
  • The body stores vitamin E in fatty tissue and the liver. 
  • Functions:
    • The main role of vitamin E is to act as an antioxidant, scavenging loose electrons—so-called “free radicals”—that can damage cells. 
    • Vitamin E helps keep your immune system healthy, promotes good eye health, and supports healthy skin.
    • It helps form red blood cells and widen blood vessels to keep blood from clotting inside them.
    • It helps the body use vitamin K.
  • Food Sources: 
    • Foods rich in vitamin E include vegetable oils such as canola and olive oils, nuts, and seeds. 
    • Meats, dairy, leafy greens, and fortified cereals also have vitamin E. 
  • People who have digestive disorders or do not absorb fat properly (e.g., pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease) can develop a vitamin E deficiency. 
  • The following are common signs of a deficiency:
    • Retinopathy (damage to the retina of the eyes that can impair vision)
    • Peripheral neuropathy (damage to the peripheral nerves, usually in the hands or feet, causing weakness or pain)
    • Ataxia (loss of control of body movements)
    • Decreased immune function

Source: EAR

Vitamin E FAQs

Q1: What is Vitamin E?

Ans: A fat-soluble vitamin.

Q2: Which form of Vitamin E is used by the human body?

Ans: Alpha-tocopherol

Q3: What is the primary function of Vitamin E?

Ans: It acts as an antioxidant.

Q4: Which conditions can lead to Vitamin E deficiency?

Ans: People who have digestive disorders or do not absorb fat properly (e.g., pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease) can develop a vitamin E deficiency.

Siang Upper Multipurpose Project

April 28, 2026
Siang Upper Multipurpose Project

Siang Upper Multipurpose Project Latest News

More than 330 students from Boleng in Arunachal Pradesh recently took part in a three-day school exhibition centred on river conservation and sustainable infrastructure, with a strong focus on the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).

About Siang Upper Multipurpose Project

  • It is a proposed 11,000 MW hydropower project on the Siang River near the Geku Village in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
    • The Siang River is the upper course of the Brahmaputra River.
  • It is envisioned as one of India’s largest hydropower reservoirs and as a strategic countermeasure to China’s proposed 60,000 MW super dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) in Tibet’s Medog County.
  • This project aims to not only harness hydropower but also to control flooding and erosion downstream in the upper Brahmaputra basin.
  • The area is primarily inhabited by the Adi Tribe, an indigenous community with a strong connection to the Siang River.
  • Developers: Jointly undertaken by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO).

Source: IT

Siang Upper Multipurpose Project FAQs

Q1: Where is the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project located?

Ans: It is located on the Siang River near the Geku Village in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Q2: What is the planned capacity of Siang Upper Multipurpose Project?

Ans: 11,000 MW

Q3: What is one of the main objectives of Siang Upper Multipurpose Project besides power generation?

Ans: Flood control and erosion management.

Q4: Which indigenous tribe inhabits the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project area?

Ans: Adi Tribe

Eulophia picta

April 28, 2026
Eulophia picta

Eulophia picta Latest News

Scientists recently identified a rare orchid species, Eulophia picta, in central Andhra Pradesh, marking the first recorded presence of this species in the region.

About Eulophia picta

  • It is a medium-to-small, hot-growing terrestrial orchid.
  • It is commonly known as Nodding Swamp Orchid or pink nodding orchid.
  • Habitat and Distribution:
    • It is found from India to Southeast Asia to Australia in moist grasslands, sandy areas behind beaches, and rainforests.
    • It is also found in semi-deciduous and deciduous dry lowland forests at elevations up to 1000 m, with underground, spherical pseudobulbs.  
  • Description: 
    • A distinctive leafy species with three to five broad, smooth, ribbed leaves and up to 20 pale pink, rarely white flowers. 
    • The flowers do not open but remain as a tube. 
    • The distinctive inflorescence is hooked like a shepherd's crook when plants are flowering but straightens as the prominently ribbed seed capsules develop. 
  • It thrives in full sun to partial shade, making it versatile for various garden settings.

Source: HANS

Eulophia picta FAQs

Q1: What is Eulophia picta?

Ans: A medium-to-small terrestrial orchid.

Q2: What are the common names of Eulophia picta?

Ans: Nodding Swamp Orchid and Pink Nodding Orchid

Q3: Where is Eulophia picta found geographically?

Ans: From India to Southeast Asia to Australia.

Q4: What is the typical color of Eulophia picta flowers?

Ans: Pale pink (rarely white)

Lake Issyk-Kul

April 28, 2026
Lake Issyk-Kul

Lake Issyk-Kul Latest News

Underwater archaeologists recently unveiled a hidden city in Lake Issyk-Kul, revealing a lost civilization from seven hundred years ago.

About Lake Issyk-Kul

  • It is located in northeastern Kyrgyzstan. 
  • Surrounding the lake are the snowcapped Tian Shan mountains (the Heaven’s mountains).  
  • It was formed roughly 25 million years ago and has an endorheic basin, meaning it has no outflow to other bodies of water like rivers or oceans. 
  • The water in the lake is blue and brackish. 
  • It is located at an altitude of 1600 meters. It is after Lake Titicaca in South America, the world's second-largest high mountain lake.
  • The lake has a length of 182 km, a width up to 61 km, and a surface area of 6,280 sq.km.
  • It is the second-largest saline lake in the world after the Caspian Sea.  It is also the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan.
  • It reaches a depth of 668 metres and averages some 280 metres deep. It ranks seventh in the list of the deepest lakes in the world.  
  • Owing to its depth, low salinity, and warm springs, it does not freeze, even in winter.   Issyk-Kul translates as "hot lake". 
  • From the lakeshore, all major landscape types, from subtropical to tundra, occur in close succession. 
  • In 1976, it was included on the Ramsar list as a wetland of international importance.

Source: TOI

Lake Issyk-Kul FAQs

Q1: Where is Lake Issyk-Kul located?

Ans: Northeastern Kyrgyzstan

Q2: Which mountain range surrounds Lake Issyk-Kul?

Ans: Tian Shan mountains (the Heaven’s mountains).

Q3: Which is the world’s second-largest high mountain lake?

Ans: Lake Issyk-Kul

Q4: Why does Lake Issyk-Kul not freeze in winter?

Ans: Due to its depth, low salinity, and warm springs.

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

April 28, 2026
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Latest News

Recently, the central government has invited nominations for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP).

About Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

  • It is a prestigious national honour conferred annually by the Government of India.
  • It is awarded to children for exceptional excellence in Bravery, Art & Culture, Environment, Social Service, Science & Technology, and Sports.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar organized by the Ministry of Women and Child Development Government of India.

Eligibility for Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

  • A child should be an Indian Citizen.
  • Age: A child above the age of 5 years and not exceeding 18 years (as of 31st July of respective year).
  • The act/incident/achievement should have been within 2 years of the last date of receipt of application/nomination for the year of consideration.
  • The number of awards will be 25, however, any relaxation to this maximum number may be permitted at the discretion of the National Selection Committee.
  • Each awardee will receive a medal, certificate and citation booklet.

Source: DD News

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar FAQs

Q1: Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is conferred by which ministry?

Ans: Ministry of Women and Child Development

Q2: What is the age limit for Bal Shakti Puraskar?

Ans: 5-18 years

Dopamine

April 28, 2026
Dopamine

Dopamine Latest News

Researchers recently showed for the first time that dopamine dysfunction in the entorhinal cortex, a critical memory-related brain region, contributes directly to impaired memory formation.

About Dopamine

  • Dopamine is a hormone and a type of neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, made in your brain. 
  • Your nervous system uses it to send messages between nerve cells.  These messages also travel between your brain and the rest of your body.  
  • This unique neurotransmitter affects your body, brain, and behavior.
  • Dopamine is the chemical that mediates pleasure in the brain.  
    • It is released when your brain is expecting a reward. 
    • When you come to associate a certain activity with pleasure, mere anticipation may be enough to raise dopamine levels.
  • It's a big part of our unique human ability to think and plan.  It helps us focus, work towards goals, and find things interesting. 
  • Dopamine also plays a role in these functions:
    • learning and attention
    • mood
    • movement
    • heart rate
    • kidney function
    • blood vessel function
    • sleep
    • pain processing
    • lactation.
  • High or low dopamine levels are associated with diseases including Parkinson’s disease, restless legs syndrome, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • Dopamine is also made in other parts of your body, where it acts as a hormone. 
  • Dopamine acts as a hormone to help:
    • relax or tighten your blood vessels when needed
    • control your salt levels and urine production
    • control how much insulin you make
    • slow down some parts of your digestion
  • Dopamine is found in humans as well as animals, including both vertebrates and invertebrates.

Source: ME

Dopamine FAQs

Q1: What is dopamine?

Ans: A hormone and a neurotransmitter.

Q2: What is the function of dopamine in the nervous system?

Ans: It acts as a chemical messenger between nerve cells.

Q3: What role does dopamine play in the brain’s reward system?

Ans: It mediates pleasure.

Q4: How does dopamine help in human thinking?

Ans: It supports focus, planning, and goal-oriented behavior.

Q5: What diseases are associated with low dopamine levels?

Ans: Parkinson's disease and Restless legs syndrome.

Sahayog Portal

April 28, 2026
Sahayog Portal

Sahayog Portal Latest News

The Delhi High Court has asked the Union government to clarify whether social media platform X Corp. should be required to participate in the Sahyog portal in cases linked to human trafficking, child trafficking and national security.

About Sahayog Portal

  • It is an online platform launched in October 2024 to help remove illegal content from the internet quickly.
  • It allows government agencies to send takedown notices directly to social media platforms and other online intermediaries.
  • It operates under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, giving it legal backing.
  • It ensures that intermediaries act fast while retaining safe harbour protections.
  • Nodal Ministry: Union Home Ministry

Features of Sahayog Portal

  • Centralised Communication: Connects government agencies, state/UT nodal officers, and 65 online intermediaries in a single platform.
  • Automated Takedown Notices: Sends quick, documented notices to intermediaries for prompt removal of unlawful content.
  • Legal Backing: Operates under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, ensuring legal enforcement and consequences for non-compliance.
  • Separate from Section 69A: Focuses on intermediaries’ responsibility to disable unlawful content rather than government blocking powers.

Source: TH

Sahayog Portal FAQs

Q1: What is the primary purpose of Sahayog Portal?

Ans: Platform for coordination between Law Enforcement Agencies & Social Media intermediaries to remove unlawful content

Q2: Sahayog Portal was launched in which year?

Ans: 2024

Nilgiri Tahr

April 28, 2026
Nilgiri Tahr

Nilgiri Tahr Latest News

Recently, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has commenced the third synchronised survey of the Nilgiri Tahr.

About Nilgiri Tahr

  • The Nilgiri Tahr is a mountain ungulate endemic to the southern part of the Western Ghats. 
  • It is also known by the name Nilgiri Ibex or simply Ibex. Locally the animal is called ‘Varayaadu’.
  • It is the only mountain ungulate in southern India.
  • Habitat: It inhabits the open montane grassland habitat of the southwestern ghats montane rain forests ecoregion. 
    • At elevations ranging from 1200 to 2600 m, the jungle opens into grasslands interspersed with pockets of stunted forests, known as ‘sholas.’
  • Distribution: It is found in a roughly 400 km stretch in the Western Ghats, which falls in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. 
    • The Eravikulam National Park (Kerala) has the highest density and largest surviving population of Nilgiri tahr. 
  • Features of Nilgiri Tahr
    • These are stocky goats with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane. 
    • The males are found to be larger than the females, and have a darker color when mature. 
    • Both sexes have curved horns, which are larger in the males.
  • Conservation Status
    • IUCN: Endangered 
    • Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I.
  • Threats: Habitat loss due to rampant deforestation, competition with domestic livestock, hydroelectric projects in Nilgiri tahr habitat, and monoculture plantations. 

Source: TH

Nilgiri Tahr FAQs

Q1: Nilgiri Tahr is endemic to which mountain range?

Ans: Western Ghats

Q2: Under which Schedule of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is Nilgiri Tahr listed?

Ans: Schedule I

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