UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 13 June 2026

by Vajiram & Ravi - 13 June 2026

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 13 June 2026, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

INS Baaz

June 13, 2026
INS Baaz

INS Baaz Latest News

The government recently decided to build a new Rs 13,000-crore greenfield civil-military airport as part of the Great Nicobar project instead of expanding the existing naval airfield at INS Baaz.

About INS Baaz

  • It is an Indian naval air station located near Campbell Bay, on Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 
  • It was commissioned on July 31, 2012. It is the first air station in the Nicobar Islands.
  • It is the southernmost air station of the Indian Armed Forces.   
  • It is under the joint-services Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) of the Indian Armed Forces. 
  • It significantly enhances India’s capacity for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance across vast areas of the Indian Ocean. 
  • It overlooks the Strait of Malacca as well as the Six Degree Channel between Great Nicobar and the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
  • It is used as a base for the Indian Navy's Dornier Do 228 reconnaissance aircraft. 
  • It can also operate the Indian Air Force's C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft. 
  • Its runway measures 3,500 feet (1,100 m) and will be progressively lengthened to enable all heavy aircraft to operate from the base.

News: IT

INS Baaz FAQs

Q1: What is INS Baaz?

Ans: INS Baaz is an Indian naval air station.

Q2: Where is INS Baaz located?

Ans: Near Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Q3: When was INS Baaz commissioned?

Ans: July 31, 2012.

Q4: Under which command does INS Baaz operate?

Ans: It is under the joint-services Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) of the Indian Armed Forces.

Q5: Which strategic strait is overlooked by INS Baaz?

Ans: The Strait of Malacca.

Estonia

June 13, 2026
Estonia

Estonia Latest News

Estonian government officials and business executives are expressing greater interest in cooperating with India in defence and trade.

About Estonia

  • It is a country in northeastern Europe, the northernmost of the three Baltic states.  
  • It is bordered by Russia in the east and Latvia in the south. 
  • It is also bounded by the Gulf of Finland in the north, the Baltic Sea in the west, and Lake Peipus in the east. 
  • Estonia shares its maritime borders with Finland and Sweden. 
  • Estonia’s area includes some 1,500 islands and islets; the two largest of these islands, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, are off mainland Estonia’s west coast. 
  • Capital: Tallinn 
  • Official Language: Estonian   
  • Currency: euro (€) 
  • Political System:  It is a parliamentary republic. 

Estonia History

  • Ruled at various times during the Middle Ages by Denmark, the German knights of the Livonian Order, and Sweden, Estonia ended up part of the Russian Empire in the 18th century.
  • It experienced its first period of independence in 1918, following the end of World War One and the collapse of the Russian Empire.
  • In 1940 it was forcibly incorporated into the U.S.S.R. as one of its constituent republics. 
  • Estonia remained a Soviet republic until 1991, when, along with the other Baltic states, it declared its independence. 
  • The Soviet Union recognized independence for Estonia and the other Baltic states on September 6, 1991, and United Nations membership followed shortly thereafter. 
  • Estonia set about transforming its government into a parliamentary democracy and reorienting its economy toward market capitalism. 
  • In 2004 joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU).

News: TH

Estonia FAQs

Q1: Where is Estonia located?

Ans: Estonia is located in northeastern Europe.

Q2: Which country borders Estonia to the east?

Ans: Russia.

Q3: Which sea lies to the west of Estonia?

Ans: The Baltic Sea.

Q4: What is the capital of Estonia?

Ans: Tallinn.

Q5: On what date did the Soviet Union recognize Estonia's independence?

Ans: September 6, 1991.

Chonala albistricta

June 13, 2026
Chonala albistricta

Chonala albistricta Latest News

Researchers recently discovered a new butterfly species named Chonala albistricta in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Chonala albistricta

  • Chonala albistricta, or Narrow-banded Wall, is a new species of butterfly.
  • It was discovered at Mayodia Pass in the Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • It belongs to the genus Chonala, a small group of mountain butterflies found in high-elevation regions of the Himalayas and neighbouring parts of Asia. 
  • It is the tenth known species in the genus Chonala worldwide and only the second species from the genus recorded in India. 
  • The species has been named after the distinctly narrow, unevenly bent white band on its forewing. 
  • This high-altitude butterfly species is notoriously difficult to study as they occur in small populations, fly for only a brief period each year (June to August), and inhabit remote mountain passes that are often challenging to access. 
  • The species breeds only once a year.

News: EM

Chonala albistricta FAQs

Q1: What is Chonala albistricta?

Ans: It is a new species of butterfly.

Q2: Where was Chonala albistricta discovered?

Ans: It was discovered at Mayodia Pass in the Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Q3: What type of habitat is associated with butterflies of the genus Chonala?

Ans: High-elevation mountain regions of the Himalayas and neighbouring parts of Asia.

Q4: Why has the species been named Chonala albistricta?

Ans: It is named after the distinctly narrow, unevenly bent white band on its forewing.

Ingerana occidens

June 13, 2026
Ingerana occidens

Ingerana occidens Latest News

A researcher recently discovered a new species of frog named Ingerana occidens in the canopy-covered streams of northeastern India. 

About Ingerana occidens

  • Ingerana occidens, or the western trickle frog, is a new species of frog.
  • It was discovered in the Garo and Khasi Hills of Meghalaya south of the Brahmaputra River. 
  • When comparing the DNA of the newly found southern frogs to the topotypic Ingerana borealis frogs living north of the Brahmaputra River, there is an 18% difference in their genetic code.  
  • This confirms that the southern frogs belong to a distinct and previously undocumented species. 
  • The species name ‘occidens’ is derived from the Latin word for 'west'. This name was chosen because the frog's habitat marks the westernmost known range of any species in its genus. 

Ingerana occidens Features

  • The newly discovered species is noticeably smaller, with adult females reaching just 26 millimetres in length. 
  • While its northern relative is heavily wrinkled, the new frog features mostly smooth skin with only mild wrinkling and boasts a distinct stripe of contrasting colour running down its side. 
  • Its most noticeable feature is its clearly visible, protruding eardrum, known as a tympanum, topped by a strong fold of skin. 
  • In contrast, the northern species has practically invisible eardrums.

News: RM

Ingerana occidens FAQs

Q1: What is Ingerana occidens?

Ans: Ingerana occidens, or the western trickle frog, is a newly discovered species of frog.

Q2: Where was Ingerana occidens discovered?

Ans: In the Garo and Khasi Hills of Meghalaya.

Q3: What is the texture of the skin of Ingerana occidens?

Ans: Mostly smooth with only mild wrinkling.

Q4: What distinctive colour pattern is seen in Ingerana occidens?

Ans: A distinct stripe of contrasting colour running down its side.

Slovakia

June 13, 2026
Slovakia

Slovakia Latest News

The Prime Minister of India will undertake a historic state visit to Slovakia marking the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Central European nation since its independence.

About Slovakia

  • Location: It is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Europe.
  • Bordering Countries: It is bordered by 5 Nations: by Poland in the north; Hungary in the south; Ukraine in the east; Austria in the southwest and Czech Republic in the west. 
  • It is a member of the European Union and NATO.
  • Capital City: Bratislava

Geographical Features of Slovakia

  • Topography: Slovakia's geography is largely mountainous in the northern and central parts of the country, while the southern part is covered by lowlands.
  • Climate: It experiences a continental climate common to central Europe, characterised by warm, dry summers and cold winters.
  • Mountain Ranges: Ore Mountains, Tatra Mountains and Carpathian Mountains 
  • Highest Peak: The highest point is Gerlach Peak
  • Major Rivers: Danube, Morava, Hron, Hornad and Vah
  • Natural Resources: It mainly consists of iron ore, copper, manganese, magnesite, lead, and zinc.

Source: News On Air

Slovakia FAQs

Q1: When did Slovakia become independent?

Ans: 1 Jan 1993 after Velvet Divorce of Czechoslovakia

Q2: Which major river flows through Bratislava?

Ans: Danube

Varya AI Model

June 13, 2026
Varya AI Model

Varya AI Model Latest News

Recently, Avataar.ai, an artificial intelligence (AI)-native transformation company has launched the Varya AI model.

About Varya AI Model

  • It is a distilled video model built to make frontier video AI affordable, accessible and relevant for India’s next generation of users.
  • It is developed with support from the IndiaAI Mission.
  • Features
    • Technique used: Varya uses a distillation technique that reduces video generation from 50 steps to 4 steps, while maintaining comparable output quality.
    • Cost: It can generate video at ₹0.48 per second, making it upto 10x more cost-efficient than several leading global video models.
  • Working
    • Users can either enter a text prompt or upload an image.
    • The model then generates a video clip, and users can continue extending the sequence by generating additional clips.
  • Potential Uses-case
    • Education: A teacher can create a visual lesson in a village classroom.
    • Industry: MSME use it for creating product ads,
    • Governance: Citizens can access public information through video.

What is Distilled Video Generation?

  • It is a model compression technique from machine learning where a compact "student" model replicates the outputs of a larger, slower "teacher" model transferring capabilities while eliminating redundant computation.
  • Standard video models iterate through over 50 noisy steps before producing clean output; distillation teaches the student to skip most steps and deliver the same quality in just a few iterations.

Source: PIB

Varya AI Model FAQs

Q1: Which ministry launched Varya AI under IndiaAI Mission in June 2026?

Ans: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Q2: What makes Varya different from global video AI models?

Ans: It is India-specific cultural context and has 10x lower cost at ₹0.48/sec

DigiDukaan

June 13, 2026
DigiDukaan

DigiDukaan Latest News

Recently, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), in collaboration with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), convened a Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Roundtable and discussed DigiDukaan. 

About DigiDukaan

  • It is an Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC's) initiative.
  • It is aimed at digitising kirana stores for B2B procurement.
  • It is designed to improve efficiency across the value chain.
  • Key Features of DigiDukaan
    • For Kirana Stores:  It enables kirana stores to improve margins through direct procurement by offering better visibility of schemes, improved fill rates and enhanced working capital management.
    • For distributors: The initiative facilitates wider market reach without additional field costs through order and collection digitisation, while improving retailer coverage.
    • For brands: It provides direct access to retailer demand signals, retail counters, and more effective deployment and tracking of schemes.
    • DigiDukaan has already gained early traction in Hyderabad, where more than 10,000 retailers 

Key Facts about Open Network for Digital Commerce

  • It was launched in April 2022.
  • It is a network based on open protocol and will enable local commerce across segments, such as mobility, grocery, food order and delivery, hotel booking and travel, among others, to be discovered and engaged by any network-enabled application.
  • It aims to create new opportunities, curb digital monopolies and by supporting micro, small and medium enterprises and small traders and help them get on online platforms.
  • It is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • It envisions creating a level playing field for sellers, buyers, and service providers across India, particularly small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
  • It will enable local commerce across segments, such as mobility, grocery, food order and delivery, hotel booking and travel, among others, to be discovered and engaged by any network-enabled application.

Source: PIB

DigiDukaan FAQs

Q1: Which technology backbone powers DigiDukaan for kirana digitization?

Ans: ONDC – Open Network for Digital Commerce

Q2: What is the aim of DigiDukaan?

Ans: It is aimed at digitising kirana stores for B2B procurement.

Global Peace Index

June 13, 2026
Global Peace Index

Global Peace Index Latest News

India ranked 127th place in the recently released Global Peace Index 2026. 

About Global Peace Index

  • It is produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank
  • The GPI is the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness. 
  • It ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness, covering 99.7 percent of the world’s population.
  • Parameters used: It uses 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators to measure the state of peace across three domains: the level of Societal Safety and Security; the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict; and the degree of Militarisation.
  • This year it is the 20th edition of the GPI.
  • Top Performing Countries: Iceland ranked first for the 19th consecutive year, followed by New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Ireland.
  • Bottom Countries: Russia is the least peaceful country, with Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, and Israel completing the bottom five.

Source: News On Air

Global Peace Index FAQs

Q1: Global Peace Index (GPI) is released annually by which organization?

Ans: Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP)

Q2: Which country has been ranked the most peaceful in GPI for consecutive years since 2008?

Ans: Iceland

Supernova

June 13, 2026
Supernova

Supernova Latest News

According to a study led by Indian researchers, observations of a supernova discovered in a galaxy about 90.7 million light-years from Earth could help astronomers improve measurements of distances in the nearby universe.

About Supernova

  • A supernova is the name given to the cataclysmic explosion of a massive star.
  • Supernovae (SNe) are one of the most violent explosions in the universe.
  • It can emit more energy in a few seconds than our sun will radiate in its lifetime of billions of years.
  • These spectacular events can be so bright that they outshine their entire galaxies for a few days or even months. 
  • They’re also the primary source of heavy elements in the universe.

Types of Supernova

  • Core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe)
    • These are one of these cosmic fireworks occurring when a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel and can no longer support itself against the gravitational pull. 
    • The most common type of core-collapse supernova is Type IIP, which happens when a massive red supergiant star (about 8–17 times the mass of the Sun) reaches the end of its life.
    • Process: When the star’s core collapses into a proto-neutron star, the outer material falls inward, then bounces back from the surface, creating a powerful shock wave.
    • When the shock reaches the surface, the star’s outer layers break away and expand into space.
  • Thermal runaway supernova
    • It can occur when two stars orbit each other, and one or both of those stars is a white dwarf.
    • If the stars in one of these binary systems collide, or if one of the white dwarfs absorbs enough matter from the other star, the white dwarf can become a supernova.

Source: PIB

Supernova FAQs

Q1: What causes a Type II Supernova?

Ans: Core collapse of a massive star >8 times the Sun’s mass after it runs out of nuclear fuel

Q2: Which type of supernova is used as a ‘standard candle’ to measure distances in the universe?

Ans: Type Ia Supernova

Paraquat

June 13, 2026
Paraquat

Paraquat Latest News

Telangana recently banned paraquat, one of the world's most widely used and highly toxic weedicides, becoming only the third State in India to do so.

About Paraquat

  • Paraquat, or paraquat dichloride, is a toxic chemical that is used worldwide as an herbicide (plant killer), usually for weed and grass control. 
  • Paraquat’s origins date back to the 1880s, when it was first developed as a chemical dye. Its herbicidal properties were discovered in the 1950s.
  • It is a synthetic (human-made) herbicide. 
  • It is also used as a desiccant, which dries out the crop before harvest. Paraquat is sometimes used as a plant growth regulator. 
  • It may induce or delay flowering. It has no residual activity in soil. 
  • Major Concerns:
    • It causes many health issues and human fatalities each year from accidental exposure and suicide. 
    • It is known for its extreme toxicity and lack of a specific antidote. 
    • When paraquat is ingested, it damages the lining of the mouth, stomach, and intestines upon contact. 
    • It then spreads throughout the body, damaging organs, but primarily the lungs, liver, and kidneys. 
    • More than 70% of paraquat self-poisonings result in death. 
  • Paraquat is banned in 74 countries. 
  • It is not yet banned nationwide in India. In India, Kerala became the first State to ban it in 2011. 
  • Other states which banned paraquat are Odisha, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

News: TH

Paraquat FAQ's

Q1: What is paraquat?

Ans: Paraquat is a toxic chemical used worldwide as an herbicide for weed and grass control.

Q2: Is paraquat a natural or synthetic herbicide?

Ans: It is a synthetic (human-made) herbicide.

Q3: Why is paraquat considered highly dangerous?

Ans: Because of its extreme toxicity and lack of a specific antidote.

Q4: What happens when paraquat is ingested?

Ans: It damages the lining of the mouth, stomach, and intestines upon contact.

Q5: Has paraquat been banned nationwide in India?

Ans: No, it has not been banned nationwide in India.

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