UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 2 July 2026

Five New Species of Flowering Plants

July 2, 2026

New Species of Flowering Plants Latest News

Researchers recently discovered five entirely new species of Impatiens named Impatiens berchmansiensis; Impatiens ninanii; Impatiens filcyii; Impatiens xanthopetala; Impatiens flavispicata.

About Five New Species of Flowering Plants

They were discovered within the misty, rain-soaked peaks of the Western Ghats in Kerala.
They belong to the genus Impatiens, a large genus of flowering plants belonging to the Balsaminaceae family.
Impatiens berchmansiensis:
- It is a delicate balsam with bright yellow flowers.
- It was found beside the cold highland streams of Vagamon, Idukki District.
Impatiens ninanii:
- It is a resilient herb with beautiful violet petals and deep purple-speckled stems.
- It was found in the quiet wilderness of Mankulam Viripara, Idukki District.
Impatiens filcyii:
- It has a striking pinkish-purple flower, bearing a vibrant splash of yellow and purple at its heart.
- It was found deep in the open grasslands of Mamalakkandam, Ernakulam District.
Impatiens xanthopetala:
- It literally means 'yellow-petalled', clings precariously to the sheer, rocky cliffs, showing off deep golden petals marked with dark brown spots like a solitary drop of sunshine.
- It was found in Pambanar, Idukki District.
Impatiens flavispicata:
- It bears pure white flowers with a hidden yellow spur.
- It was found in the dense pockets of Mamalakkandam, Ernakulam District.

News: MATH

Five New Species of Flowering Plants FAQs

Q1: Where were the five new species of flowering plants recently discovered?

Ans: They were discovered in the Western Ghats of Kerala.

Q2: The genus Impatiens belongs to which plant family?

Ans: Balsaminaceae

Q3: What is the distinguishing feature of Impatiens flavispicata?

Ans: It bears pure white flowers with a hidden yellow spur.

Q4: What is the distinguishing feature of Impatiens filcyii?

Ans: It has pinkish-purple flowers with a vibrant yellow and purple centre.

Exosomes

July 2, 2026

Exosomes Latest News

Tiny particles called exosomes released by most human cells may be promising targets for diagnosis and treatment of an array of diseases from cancer to Alzheimer's, but scientists have struggled to see them and study them in detail.

About Exosomes

They are small extracellular vesicles secreted by cells.
They typically measure 30–200 nanometres (nm) in diameter.
They are enclosed by a lipid bilayer membrane, similar to the cell membrane.
They’re naturally produced by almost all cells in the body and are packed with a cargo of proteins, lipids, RNAs, and various signalling molecules.
In many ways, they reflect the status of their parent cell, passing on that "information" to nearby cells.
They mediate the exchange of substances between cells, thereby affecting the biological properties and activities of recipient cells.
They play significant roles in intercellular communication, immune response modulation, and the transfer of genetic materials.

News: NM

Exosomes FAQs

Q1: What are exosomes?

Ans: Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles secreted by cells.

Q2: What is the typical size range of exosomes?

Ans: Exosomes typically measure 30–200 nanometres (nm) in diameter.

Q3: Are exosomes naturally produced by cells?

Ans: Yes, exosomes are naturally produced by almost all cells in the body.

Q4: What do exosomes contain?

Ans: They contain proteins, lipids, RNAs, and various signalling molecules.

Q5: What is the primary function of exosomes?

Ans: They mediate the exchange of substances between cells.

PaleoIndia Portal

July 2, 2026

PaleoIndia Portal Latest News

The Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change recently launched the PaleoIndia Portal.

About PaleoIndia Portal

It is a digital initiative developed jointly by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai, using dynamic geological maps provided by the GSI.
The digital platform documents fossil fauna across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
It currently hosts information on more than 5,000 fossil specimens spanning mammals, reptiles, birds, fishes, amphibians, molluscs, arthropods, foraminifera, echinoderms, and ichnofossils.
It features a real-time data upload system to enable field-based and citizen science contributions for safeguarding India’s paleontological heritage.

Key Facts about National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management

It was established by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in 2011 as an autonomous institution to support the protection, conservation, rehabilitation, management, and policy advice of the coast.
Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Aims and Objectives:
- Strive for being a world-class knowledge institution related to coastal zones, environment, resources, and processes.
- To promote integrated and sustainable management of the coastal and marine areas in India for the benefit and well-being of the traditional coastal and island communities.
- Advise the Union and State Governments and other associated stakeholder(s) on policy and scientific matters related to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).
Its work includes coastal vulnerability assessments, coastal environmental impact studies, mapping of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs), and creating Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) plans.
The Six Research Divisions of the NCSCM are:
- Geospatial Sciences, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS),
- Integrated Social Sciences & Economics,
- Coastal environmental impact assessment,
- Conservation of Coastal & Marine Resources,
- Knowledge, Governance and Policy,
- Futuristic Research and Integrated Island Management Unit.

News: TI

PaleoIndia Portal FAQs

Q1: What is the PaleoIndia Portal?

Ans: It is a digital platform which documents fossil fauna across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories.

Q2: Which organisations jointly developed the PaleoIndia Portal?

Ans: The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai.

Q3: Approximately how many fossil specimens are currently documented in the PaleoIndia Portal?

Ans: More than 5,000 fossil specimens.

Transcaspian marinka

July 2, 2026

Transcaspian marinka Latest News

Recently, Sangon clan in Arunachal Pradesh has launched an initiative to conserve a Himalayan ray-finned fish Transcaspian marinka (Schizothorax pelzami).

About Transcaspian marinka

It is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Schizothorax in the family Cyprinidae.
Distribution: It is mainly found in Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Iran.
Habitat: It inhabits freshwater rivers, streams, springs, and qanats, where it occupies a benthopelagic niche.
It is locally in Arunachal Pradesh known as Ngarsing in the Nyishi language.
Conservation Status
- IUCN: Least Concern

Key Facts about Ray-Finned Fishes

Actinopterygians, or ‘ray-finned fishes,’ are the largest and most successful group of fishes and make up half of all living vertebrates.
Habitat: Ray-finned fishes inhabit a variety of extreme environments. These include high altitude lakes and streams, desert springs and subterranean caves.
Behaviour: Many ray-finned fishes exhibit migratory behavior.
Communication: It perceives the external environment in five major ways – vision, mechanoreception, chemoreception, electroreception and magnetic reception.

Source: TH

Transcaspian marinka FAQs

Q1: What is the IUCN conservation status of Transcaspian marinka?

Ans: Least Concern

Q2: What is the scientific name of Transcaspian marinka?

Ans: Schizothorax pelzami

Taal Volcano

July 2, 2026

Taal Volcano Latest News

Taal Volcano recently produced a brief four-minute phreatomagmatic eruption, sending a plume about 450 meters above its crater as magma interacted with water.

About Taal Volcano

It is a stratovolcano located in Batangas province about 70 kilometers south of Manila, Philippines.
It is classified as a “complex” volcano by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
It does not rise from the ground as a distinct, singular dome but consists of multiple stratovolcanoes, conical hills, and craters of all shapes and sizes.
It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines and part of the “Pacific Ring of Fire”.
It had at least 38 recorded eruptions in the last 450 years.
It has a massive caldera which presently holds Taal Lake, a picturesque expanse of water 100-150 meters deep, spanning approximately 265 sq.km
Within Taal Lake lies Volcano Island, which covers an area of about 24 sq.km.
Volcano Island cradles Crater Lake, which is 1.2 sq.km. and contains a prominent rock formation known as Vulcan Point.
The caldera rim consists of deeply eroded hills and cliffs.
The caldera is believed to have formed during a series of prehistoric eruptions between 140,000 and 5,380 BCE.

What is a Phreatomagmatic Eruption?

It is a type of volcanic eruption that results from the explosive interaction between magma and water.
When magma touches groundwater, surface water, or water-rich rocks, it rapidly converts water into steam.
The explosive release of steam and the fragmentation of magma and surrounding rocks produce a mix of ash and other pyroclastic materials and fragments of overlying and adjacent rocks.

News: IE

Taal Volcano FAQs

Q1: Where is Taal Volcano located?

Ans: Taal Volcano is located in Batangas Province, about 70 kilometres south of Manila, Philippines.

Q2: Why is Taal Volcano called a complex volcano?

Ans: Because it consists of multiple stratovolcanoes, conical hills, and craters rather than a single volcanic cone.

Q3: Is Taal Volcano an active volcano?

Ans: Yes, it is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines.

Q4: What occupies the massive caldera of Taal Volcano?

Ans: Taal Lake.

Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary

July 2, 2026

Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

With Chandaka wildlife sanctuary having a lot of anthropogenic pressure, particularly due to the presence of cattle, the wildlife wing of the forest department has put on hold the ambitious Indian gaur (bison) translocation programme.

About Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary

It is located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar in Odisha.
It represents the northeastern limits of the Eastern Ghats.
It was declared primarily to preserve wild elephants and elephant habitats.
The Kumarkhunti reservoir is the only water reservoir inside the sanctuary that sustains wildlife during the summer.
Vegetation: Flora is moderately diverse with an intimate mixture of evergreen and deciduous elements.
Flora: Main tree species are Kochila, Kalicha, Belo, Kangada, Giringa, Sunari, Sal, Kumbhi, Jamu, Karanja, Teak, and Sidha.
Fauna:
- Elephants, Chital, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Rhesus Monkey, Pangolin, Sloth Bear, Indian Wolf, Hyena, and other mammals.
- A variety of snakes, like the Python and the monitor lizard, can also be sighted there.
- Prominent birds of the sanctuary are peafowl, red junglefowl, crested serpent eagle, great horned owl, black headed oriole, paradise flycatcher, coucal and stone curlew.

News: TOI

Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1: Where is Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans: It is located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar in Odisha.

Q2: Which is the only water reservoir inside Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans: The Kumarkhunti Reservoir.

Q3: What type of vegetation is found in Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans: An intimate mixture of evergreen and deciduous vegetation.

Q4: Why was Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary primarily declared?

Ans: To preserve wild elephants and their habitats.

Centralised IT-Enabled System (CITES) Project

July 2, 2026

Centralised IT-Enabled System (CITES) Project Latest News

Recently, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) carried out a planned nationwide database consolidation under its Centralised IT-Enabled System (CITES) project.

About Centralised IT-Enabled System (CITES) Project

It is EPFO's initiative to modernise its service delivery mechanism through automation and rule-based processing.
It is designed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).

Features of Centralised IT-Enabled System (CITES) Project

Single Database: CITES provides a single centralised system architecture with one national database.
Online services: Most of the services, including KYC updates, can be done online using the new platform.
Faster Service: The new interface simplifies transfers, helps maintain an accurate service history, and enables faster settlements.
Members or beneficiaries will now be able to approach any PF office across the country for the redress of their queries and for seeking clarifications.
The current Universal Account Number (UAN) and password created by the member can be used to access the new system.
It allows members to see all their previous member IDs under the Universal Account Number linked with a single KYC (Aadhaar).
EPFO offices can process the claims and can raise queries electronically through the system.

Source: TH

Centralised IT-Enabled System (CITES) Project FAQs

Q1: Who developed CITES 2.01 for EPFO?

Ans: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)

Q2: What major member benefit does CITES provide regarding PF offices?

Ans: Can approach any PF office across India for queries/clarifications

SHE-LEAPS Platform

July 2, 2026

SHE-LEAPS Platform Latest News

India’s efforts to strengthen women-led rural entrepreneurship have entered a new phase with the launch of SHE-LEAPS platform.

About SHE-LEAPS Platform

SHE-LEAPS stands for ‘Self-Help Entrepreneur-Livelihoods and Enterprise Application for Prosperity and Sustainability’.
It was launched at the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan.
It is a digital platform for empowering women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across rural India for enterprise creation, monitoring and performance tracking.
It is designed to strengthen women-led rural enterprises and accelerate the Lakhpati Didi initiative through data-driven entrepreneurship.
Implemented by: The SHE-LEAPS mobile application is developed by the Digital India Corporation and implemented under the LokOS platform.
Outreach: The nationwide rollout of SHE-LEAPS will cover 34 States and Union Territories, supporting State Rural Livelihood Missions in strengthening women-led enterprises.
Objectives
- Empowering rural SHG women entrepreneurs nationwide.
- Creating and strengthening women-led enterprises in rural areas.
- Integrating rural producers with formal value chains
- Enhancing the financial inclusion of SHG households
- Enabling data-driven rural entrepreneurship

Key Features SHE-LEAPS Platform

It captures real-time operational data across sectors and tracks the complete livelihood journey.
It supports both farm and non-farm rural enterprises, aiming to build a stronger and more sustainable rural economy.
It further strengthens digital monitoring, improves governance, and enables better planning, intervention, and informed policy decisions.

Source: PIB

SHE-LEAPS Platform FAQs

Q1: What does SHE-LEAPS stand for?

Ans: Self-Help Entrepreneur-Livelihoods and Enterprise Application for Prosperity and Sustainability

Q2: Which Ministry launched the SHE-LEAPS platform?

Ans: Ministry of Rural Development through Digital India Corporation

Greece

July 2, 2026

Greece Latest News

Recently, the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry has discussed strengthening India-Greece economic ties by enhancing cooperation in financial services, fintech, digital payments, and emerging technologies.

About Greece

Location: It is located on the southern edge of the Balkan Peninsula.
Bordering Countries: It is bordered by 4 nations namely, North Macedonia and Bulgaria in the north, Albania in the northwest, and Turkey in the northeast.
Maritime Borders: It is also bounded by the Aegean Sea in the east, Ionian Sea in the west and the Mediterranean Sea in the south.
Capital: Athens

Geographical Features of Greece

Terrain: It is predominantly mountainous, with approximately 80% of its terrain consisting of mountains or hills, making it one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.
Climate: The climate of Greece is typically Mediterranean.
Major Mountain: Pindus mountain range on the mainland contains one of the world’s deepest gorges, Vikos Gorge, which plunges 3,600 feet (1,100 meters).
Highest Peak: The highest Greek mountain is Mount Olympus, rising to 2,918 meters.
Major Rivers: Maritsa, Struma and Vardar etc.
Natural Resources: It mainly consists of petroleum, magnetite, lignite, bauxite, hydropower, and marble.

Source: News On Air

Greece FAQs

Q1: Which sea lies to the west of Greece?

Ans: Ionian Sea; Aegean Sea to east, Mediterranean Sea to south

Q2: Which mountain is the highest peak in Greece?

Ans: Mount Olympus

National Rainfed Area Authority

July 2, 2026

National Rainfed Area Authority Latest News

Recently, the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) has achieved a significant milestone in the conservation of India's wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) genetic resources in Sonitpur District of Assam.

About National Rainfed Area Authority

It was established in 2006 as an advisory body under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
It aims to promote sustainable agriculture in rainfed regions, enhance productivity, and improve the livelihoods of the farming communities.
Mandate: It is wider than mere water conservation and covers all aspects of sustainable and holistic development of rainfed areas, including appropriate farming and livelihood system approaches.
Governance Structure
- Governing Board: It provides necessary leadership and appropriate coordination in implementation of programmes.
  - The Governing Board is chaired by the Union Agriculture Minister and co-chaired by the Union Minister of Rural Development.
- Executive Committee: It consists of technical experts and representatives from stakeholder Ministries.
  - The Executive Committee would be headed by a full time Chief Executive Officer who should be a recognized expert on the subject.
- The CEO will be supported by five full-time technical experts.
Headquarter: It is located in New Delhi.

Source: PIB

National Rainfed Area Authority FAQs

Q1: Where is the headquarters of National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA ) located?

Ans: New Delhi

Q2: Under which Ministry does NRAA function?

Ans: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare