UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 10 June 2026

by Vajiram & Ravi - 10 June 2026

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 10 June 2026, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

Pseudocapritermes novus

June 10, 2026
Pseudocapritermes novus

Pseudocapritermes novus Latest News

Researchers recently discovered a new species of soil-dwelling termite named Pseudocapritermes novus within the lush forests of West Bengal.

About Pseudocapritermes novus

  • It is a new species of soil-dwelling termite.
  • It was discovered during an exploration of the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, West Bengal.
  • It is different from the usual termites that are destructive in nature.
  • These soil-feeding termites play a crucial role in enriching the earth by feeding on soil and humus, making them vital indicators of an ecosystem's soil health and fertility. 
  • This discovery brings the total number of Pseudocapritermes species found in India to five. 

Pseudocapritermes novus Features

  • The new termite stands out from its closest relatives in the unique shapes of its mouthparts and body armour. 
  • Like others in its group, this insect belongs to a special club of termites known for their asymmetrical, snapping jaws, which they use to defend themselves or raise an alarm by producing a loud clicking sound. 
  • However, compared to its closest known cousin, P. bhutanensis, the newly discovered species boasts a strongly bent left jaw with a slightly incurved tip, a more rounded swollen section below its beak, and a longer, wider postmentum (the lower part of its mouth).  
  • It also features strong, prominent spurs on its front legs. 
  • Compared with another close relative, P. tikadari, the new insect has a noticeably wider head.

Source: RM

Pseudocapritermes novus FAQs

Q1: What is Pseudocapritermes novus?

Ans: It is a newly discovered species of soil-dwelling termite.

Q2: Where was Pseudocapritermes novus discovered?

Ans: It was discovered in the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, West Bengal.

Q3: What type of termite is Pseudocapritermes novus?

Ans: A soil-feeding, soil-dwelling termite.

Q4: How does Pseudocapritermes novus differ from many commonly known termites?

Ans: It is not destructive and instead contributes to soil enrichment.

Q5: To which special group of termites does Pseudocapritermes novus belong?

Ans: A group of termites known for their asymmetrical snapping jaws.

Caustic Soda

June 10, 2026
Caustic Soda

Caustic Soda Latest News

The Environment (Protection) Second Amendment Rules, 2025 require caustic soda plants using membrane cell technology to pass a fish-survival test for wastewater toxicity. 

About Caustic Soda

  • Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, is one of India’s most widely used industrial chemicals.
  • Other names: Lye, soda lye, and sodium hydrate.
  • It is produced by the electrolysis of aqueous solutions of sodium chloride (brine) or by reacting naturally occurring sodium carbonate with calcium hydroxide.

Properties of Caustic Soda

  • This compound is an alkali – a type of base that can neutralize acids and is soluble in water.
  • At room temperature, sodium hydroxide is a white crystalline odorless solid that absorbs moisture from the air
  • When dissolved in water or neutralized with acid it liberates substantial heat.
  • Its solution appears as a colorless liquid and more dense than water.
  • Its contact may severely irritate skin, eyes, and mucous membranes.
  • It is corrosive to metals and tissue.

Applications of Caustic Soda

  • It is used in industries such as soap, detergents, paper, textiles, aluminium, petrochemicals and water purification.
  • It is also used in processing cotton fabric, laundering and bleaching, metal cleaning and processing, oxide coating, electroplating, and electrolytic extracting.

Source: DTE

Caustic Soda FAQs

Q1: Caustic Soda is produced mainly by which process?

Ans: Electrolysis of brine

Q2: What is the nature of Caustic Soda solution?

Ans: Highly corrosive to skin and metals

Tezpur Litchi

June 10, 2026
Tezpur Litchi

Tezpur Litchi Latest News

Recently, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first export consignment of GI-tagged Tezpur Litchi from Assam to Dubai.

About Tezpur Litchi

  • It is one of Assam's most celebrated horticultural products.
  • It is renowned for its exceptional sweetness, bright-red appearance, distinctive aroma and superior eating quality.
  • The region cultivates several notable varieties, including Bombaya, Bilati, Elaichi, Piyaji and Sahi.
  • It received the geographical indication (GI) tag in 2013.

Key Facts about Litchi

  • It is a tropical fruit belonging to the Sapindaceae family.

Required Climatic Conditions for Litchi

  • Climate: It is a sub-tropical fruit and thrives best under moist sub-tropical climate.
  • It usually prefers low elevation and can be grown up to an altitude of 800 m.
  • Soil: Deep, well drained loamy soil, rich in organic matter and having pH in the range of 5.0 to 7.0 is ideal for the crop.
  • Temperature: The temperature should not go beyond 40.5 0C in summer and below freezing point in winter.
  • Rain: Prolonged rain may be harmful especially at the time of flowering, when it interferes with pollination.
  • The young trees require protection against frost and hot winds for several years till they are firmly established.
  • It is sensitive to frost during winter and dry heat in summer.
  • Distribution of Litchis Cultivation
    • India is the second largest producer of litchi in the World after China. Other major producing countries are Thailand, Australia, South Africa, Madagascar and Florida in the US.
    • It is widely cultivated in India, especially in Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Assam.

Source: PIB

Tezpur Litchi FAQs

Q1: What is special about Tezpur Litchi compared to other litchis?

Ans: It is known for high pulp content and small seed.

Q2: Tezpur Litchi is associated with which state?

Ans: Assam

Gharials

June 10, 2026
Gharials

Gharials Latest News

Recently, 31 gharial hatchlings have been released in the Bagaha area along the Gandak River in Bihar.

About Gharials

  • It is a freshwater crocodile belonging to the Crocodylia Order and Crocodylidae Family.
  • The name ‘gharial’ comes from the Hindi word ghara, meaning pot or vessel, referring to the bulbous snout tip of adult males, which resembles an inverted pot.
  • Habitat Preference: Gharials inhabit deep, clear, freshwater rivers with sandy banks, primarily within Himalayan river systems.
  • Distribution: It is mainly found in the rivers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
  • Their major population occurs in three tributaries of the Ganga River: the Chambal (Hosts the largest wild population) and Girwa Rivers in India and the Rapti-Naryani River in Nepal.
  • The Gharial reserves of India are located in three States: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
  • Diet: Predominantly piscivorous, gharials play a key role in regulating fish diversity and maintaining riverine ecological balance.

Features of Gharials

  • It is one of the largest crocodilians.
  • They have thick skin covered with smooth epidermal scales that do not overlap.
  • The snout of the gharial is uniquely the thinnest and most elongated among all the crocodilians.
  • In addition, the adult males sport a large bulb at the tip of their snout, called the ‘ghara’.
  • It is also the most aquatic of all crocodilians, for it never moves far from the water. Individuals typically only leave the water to bask and nest on sandbanks.
  • Reproduction: They mate during November–January and lay eggs March–May.

Conservation Status of  Gharials

  • IUCN Red List: Critically endangered
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I.

Source: IT

Gharials FAQs

Q1: Gharial is listed under which Schedule of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972?

Ans: Schedule I

Q2: Gharials are found mainly in which river system of India?

Ans: Chambal, Girwa, Son, Gandak tributaries of Ganga

Zojila Tunnel

June 10, 2026
Zojila Tunnel

Zojila Tunnel Latest News

The Zojila Tunnel recently achieved its final breakthrough with the blast of the last five metres, marking a historic milestone in India’s infrastructure story.

About Zojila Tunnel

  • It is a major under-construction road tunnel that will connect Sonamarg in Jammu & Kashmir to Drass in Ladakh. 
  • It is situated under the Zoji La pass on the Srinagar-Leh Highway (NH-1). 
  • Upon completion, the tunnel will join the Ganderbal district of Jammu & Kashmir and the Kargil district of Ladakh, providing all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. 
  • It is being constructed on the complex, rocky terrain at an elevation of 11,578 feet above sea level.  
  • The horseshoe-shaped, single-tube tunnel will be 9.5 metres wide, 7.57 metres high and 13 kilometres long.
  • It is the world’s longest single‑tube bi‑directional road tunnel at the highest altitude.   
  • Once completed, it will reduce travel time across the Zojila stretch from around 90 minutes to just 15 minutes.
  • It is being constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a method particularly suited to fragile Himalayan geology and variable rock conditions.

Source: DC

Zojila Tunnel FAQs

Q1: What is the Zojila Tunnel?

Ans: It is a major under-construction road tunnel connecting Sonamarg in Jammu & Kashmir to Dras in Ladakh.

Q2: Under which mountain pass is the Zojila Tunnel being constructed?

Ans: The tunnel is being constructed under the Zoji La Pass.

Q3: On which national highway is the Zojila Tunnel located?

Ans: It is located on the Srinagar–Leh Highway (NH-1).

Q4: What type of tunnel is the Zojila Tunnel?

Ans: It is a single-tube bi-directional road tunnel.

Q5: What global distinction will the Zojila Tunnel hold upon completion?

Ans: It will be the world's longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnel at the highest altitude.

Eechathalakenda incognita

June 10, 2026
Eechathalakenda incognita

Eechathalakenda incognita Latest News

A team of scientists recently discovered a new fish species named Eechathalakenda incognita from Western Ghats of Kerala.

About Eechathalakenda incognita

  • It is a new species of fish belonging to the cyprinid subfamily Torinae. 
  • It was discovered from various streams inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala.
  • The genus Eechathalakenda was originally established in 1999 for a solitary, enigmatic fish species first described in 1941 from the Pamba River in Kerala. 
  • This newly described species had been confused with Eechathalakenda ophicephala for the last 70 years.  
    • However, it is visually and genetically distinct from Eechathalakenda ophicephala.
    • While E. ophicephala sports rhomboid-shaped scales, the new species features circular scales near its upper body, alongside a unique dark lateral stripe, a different count of fin rays, and a substantial 4.9%-5.3% genetic variation.   
    • Their geographic distributions are exceptionally narrow; E. ophicephala is strictly confined to Pamba river headwaters over 1,000 metres above sea level, while E. incognita is isolated to specific fast-flowing, rocky streams inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. 
  • E. incognita is the ninth point-endemic fish species (restricted to a single location in the world) to be identified within the Periyar Tiger Reserve. 

Source: TH

Eechathalakenda incognita FAQs

Q1: What is Eechathalakenda incognita?

Ans: It is a newly discovered species of fish belonging to the cyprinid subfamily Torinae.

Q2: Where was Eechathalakenda incognita discovered?

Ans: It was discovered in various streams within the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala.

Q3: How does Eechathalakenda incognita differ from Eechathalakenda ophicephala in scale shape?

Ans: E. incognita has circular scales near its upper body, whereas E. ophicephala has rhomboid-shaped scales.

Q4: What is meant by a point-endemic species?

Ans: A point-endemic species is one that is restricted to a single location in the world.

Q5: Why is Eechathalakenda incognita considered a point-endemic species?

Ans: Because it is known only from specific streams within the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Sagittarius A*

June 10, 2026
Sagittarius A*

Sagittarius A* Latest News

Recently, after 50 years of relentless research, astronomers have finally found evidence of wind blowing from Sagittarius A*.

About Sagittarius A*

  • It is a supermassive black hole at the Milky Way’s Center. 
  • It was discovered in the 1970s.
  • It is mostly dormant and only occasionally absorbs gas or dust, but nonetheless has an estimated mass 4.3 million times that of the sun.
  • It is located in the constellation Sagittarius.
  • It has a diameter of around 14.6 million miles (23.5 million kilometers).
  • It is a strong source of radio waves. Most of the radio radiation is from a synchrotron mechanism, indicating the presence of free electrons and magnetic fields.
  • The event horizon of the black hole has a radius of 12 million km (7 million miles).

What is a Black hole?

  • A black hole is a region in space where gravity pulls so much that even light cannot get out.
  • The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.
  • Because no light can get out, it is difficult to detect a black hole.
  • The largest black holes are called “supermassive.” These black holes have masses that are more than 1 million suns together.
  • Albert Einstein first predicted the existence of black holes in 1916, with his general theory of relativity.

Source: TH

Sagittarius A* FAQs

Q1: Which constellation contains Sagittarius A_?

Ans: Sagittarius constellation

Q2: Which type of telescope array imaged Sagittarius A_?

Ans: The Event Horizon Telescope

American Foulbrood (AFB)

June 10, 2026
American Foulbrood (AFB)

American Foulbrood (AFB) Latest News

Beekeepers have been warned to increase the biosecurity of their hives after an outbreak of American Foulbrood disease (AFB) was recently confirmed in Scotland. 

About American Foulbrood 

  • It is a fatal infectious disease of honey bee larvae  caused by a spore-forming bacterium called Paenibacillus larvae. 
  • While it only attacks larvae, AFB weakens the colony and can quickly lead to its death in only three weeks. 
  • Cause: 
    • Paenibacillus larvae produce spores when subjected to stress such as lack of nutrients. 
    • It's these spores that actually cause and are the source of the disease.  
    • Spores enter the larva through feeding of contaminated food. 
    • The bacteria kill the bee larva by completely consuming the body tissues. 
    • The spores are highly resistant to extremes of temperature, chemical attack, and other adverse conditions and can remain viable for over 50 years  
    • Once hardship has passed, for example, when nutrients become available again, the bacterium will germinate and reproduce. 
    • The cycle will repeat if hardship occurs again. This means that it is difficult to eliminate the spores from colonies. 
  • Transmission: 
    • Although AFB is not highly contagious, bacterial spores can easily be spread between hives and apiaries through beekeeping practices such as the exchange of equipment and movement of infected combs.  
    • Though adult bees are not affected by AFB, they can spread spores within and between infected and clean hives through robbing and drifting. 
  • Treatment: The disease is not able to be cured, meaning that destruction of infected colonies and hives or irradiation of infected material is the only way to manage AFB.

Source: HS

American Foulbrood FAQs

Q1: What is American Foulbrood (AFB)?

Ans: American Foulbrood is a fatal infectious disease of honey bee larvae.

Q2: Which organism causes American Foulbrood?

Ans: A spore-forming bacterium called Paenibacillus larvae.

Q3: Does American Foulbrood affect adult honey bees directly?

Ans: No, it primarily affects bee larvae.

Q4: How can American Foulbrood spores spread between hives and apiaries?

Ans: Through beekeeping practices such as exchanging equipment and moving infected combs.

Q5: What is the primary management method for American Foulbrood?

Ans: Destruction of infected colonies and hives.

National SC-ST Hub Scheme

June 10, 2026
National SC-ST Hub scheme

National SC-ST Hub Scheme Latest News

The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises is promoting inclusive entrepreneurship through the National SC-ST Hub Scheme. 

About National SC-ST Hub Scheme

  • It was launched in October 2016.
  • It is one of the flagship schemes of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.
  • It is aimed at capacity enhancement of Schedule Caste - Schedule Tribe entrepreneurs and promoting "entrepreneurship culture" amongst the SC-ST population.
  • Implementation: It is implemented by the National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC).
  • The NSSH scheme supports purchase of plant & machinery/equipment; capacity building & training, market linkage, facilitation for participation in exhibitions, credit, Udyam registration and GeM onboarding.

Functions of the scheme

  • To encourage SC/ST owned units to be part of 4% of total procurement being made by Central/State Governments, CPSEs and other government agencies
  • To prepare strategy for intervention through industry associations to sensitize, encourage and enable the SC/ST owned units for participation in Public Procurement Process
  • Facilitating SC/ST Entrepreneurs to be part of vendor development programs and mentoring support by specific CPSE matching the products/services of such entrepreneurs
  • Capacity building of existing and prospective SC/ST entrepreneurs through skill development programs
  • Sharing of SC/ST MSEs data with CPSEs to enhance the procurement from SC/ST
  • Undertaking outreach activities for the promotion of the scheme among SC/ST population
  • Significance: These initiatives are fostering inclusive economic growth, promoting self-reliance and strengthening the MSME ecosystem by creating greater opportunities across India. 

Source: PIB

National SC-ST Hub Scheme FAQs

Q1: Which organization is the implementing agency for National SC-ST Hub?

Ans: National Small Industries Corporation Ltd

Q2: Which ministry implements the National SC-ST Hub Scheme?

Ans: Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises

Dark Pattern

June 10, 2026
Dark Pattern

Dark Patterns Latest News

Indian consumers are losing an estimated ₹25,000 crore to ₹28,000 crore annually due to deceptive interface designs, commonly known as dark patterns, across online marketplaces, according to a recent report.

About Dark Patterns

  • Dark patterns, also known as deceptive patterns, are deliberate design tactics that trick online users into making choices that aren’t always in their best interest.  
  • They are designed to mislead users to do something they originally did not intend or want to do.
  • The term was coined by Harry Brignull in 2010.
  • At their core, dark patterns exploit cognitive biases. They leverage the way our brains process information to nudge us toward specific decisions, often against our best interests. 
  • Dark patterns take many forms, and different sources may categorize them in various ways. 
  • Each is designed to manipulate users into making choices that benefit the company rather than the user. 
  • These deceptive design tactics can pop up across websites, forms, emails, and apps.  
  • The Central Consumer Protection Authority notified the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns in 2023 and specified 13 dark patterns, namely
    • False urgency, Basket Sneaking, Confirm shaming, forced action, Subscription trap, Interface Interference, Bait and switch, Drip Pricing, Disguised Advertisements and Nagging, Trick Wording, Saas Billing and Rogue Malwares.
  • For example, drip pricing is when extra costs appear after the user has started the purchase process.
  • False urgency: Dark patterns sometimes invent deadlines or stock shortages, sometimes known as scarcity cues, to exploit a fear of missing out, pressuring users into quick decisions without taking the time to think through the purchase.   
  • Basket Sneaking: This is when extra products or services are added to a user’s shopping cart without their explicit consent.  
  • Subscription Trap: This dark pattern is the common case of making it substantially harder to cancel a subscription than it was to start the subscription in the first place. 

Source: TH

Dark Patterns FAQs

Q1: What are dark patterns?

Ans: Dark patterns are deceptive design tactics that trick online users into making choices that may not be in their best interest.

Q2: What is the primary purpose of dark patterns?

Ans: To mislead users into doing something they did not originally intend or want to do.

Q3: How do dark patterns manipulate users?

Ans: By leveraging the way people process information to nudge them toward specific decisions.

Q4: What is drip pricing?

Ans: A dark pattern where additional costs are revealed only after the user has begun the purchase process.

Q5: What is false urgency?

Ans: A dark pattern that creates fake deadlines or stock shortages to pressure users into making quick decisions.

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