UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 11 July 2026

by Vajiram & Ravi - 11 July 2026

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 11 July 2026, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco

July 11, 2026
Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco

Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco Latest News

A team of senior officers from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry recently reviewed the ongoing Andhra Pradesh Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco Marketing Season 2025–26 in Hyderabad.

About Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco

  • Flue-cured Virginia tobacco, which is also known as Virginia Tobacco or Bright Leaf, is a bright, golden-leaf tobacco variety cured using controlled heat from flues — a process that preserves natural sugars and produces a mild, clean-burning leaf. 
  • It is one of the most widely traded tobacco types in international commerce. 
  • What is Curing?
    • Curing is a process by which the harvested tobacco leaf is made ready for the market.
    • To create smoking tobacco, the tobacco leaves need to be cured, or dried out.
    • The wet, green tobacco leaves of a tobacco plant initially contain too much moisture to catch fire.
    • They also have higher chlorophyll content. By releasing a certain amount of chlorophyll from the leaves during the drying out process, the natural tannins come out giving the smoked tobacco its flavor and scent.
    • Curing is a well standardized process to achieve the desirable qualities in the cured leaf along with the removal of moisture.
    • There are three types of tobacco curing methods traditionally used: Air-Cured, Fire-Cured, and Flue-Cured.
    • Each of the different curing methods results in a tobacco product that is distinguishable by both its nicotine content and its aroma.

Key Characteristics of Flue Cured Tobacco

  • Produces primarily cigarette tobacco
  • Contains a high sugar content
  • Contains medium to high levels of nicotine
  • Rich in natural tannins which creates its distinct mild and slightly sweet flavor and aroma.
  • In India Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco is mainly produced in India in 2 states, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

News: PIB

Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco FAQs

Q1: What is Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco also known as?

Ans: Virginia Tobacco or Bright Leaf.

Q2: How is Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco cured?

Ans: Using controlled heat from flues (flue-curing).

Q3: What is curing in tobacco processing?

Ans: The process of drying harvested tobacco leaves to prepare them for the market.

Q4: Why are freshly harvested tobacco leaves cured?

Ans: To remove moisture and develop desirable flavour, aroma, and smoking qualities.

AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws

July 11, 2026
AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws

AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws Latest News

Taiwan's AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws radar system played a crucial role in tracking China's recent ballistic missile launch from the South China Sea.

About AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws

  • It is an ultrahigh-frequency (UHF; 420–450 MHz) phased-array system for detecting submarine-launched ballistic missiles. 
  • It was developed by US defence contractor Raytheon.
  • Besides tracking ballistic missiles, it can monitor aircraft, cruise missiles, and maritime activity.

AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws Features

  • It can detect targets with a radar cross section of 10 square metres at a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km). 
  • The array antenna contains 1,792 active elements within a diameter of 72.5 feet (22 metres). 
  • Each active element is a module with its own solid-state transmitter, receiver, duplexer, and phase shifter.  
  • Two antennas make up a system, with each capable of covering a sector 120 degrees in azimuth.  Vertical coverage is from 3 to 85 degrees. 
  • The unique aspect of this radar system is the phased array antenna technology.
    • This system differs from a mechanical radar, which must be physically aimed at an object in space to track or observe it. 
    • The phased array antenna is a fixed position and is part of the exterior building wall. 
    • Phased array antenna aiming, or beam steering, is done rapidly by electronically controlling the timing, or phase, of the incoming and outgoing signals. 
    • Thus, it continuously scans large areas without mechanical rotation, enabling rapid detection and tracking of multiple targets simultaneously. 

News: TOI

AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws FAQs

Q1: What is the AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws?

Ans: An ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) phased-array radar system for detecting submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

Q2: Which company developed the AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws radar?

Ans: It was developed by US defence contractor Raytheon.

Q3: What is the maximum detection range of the AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws radar?

Ans: About 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km).

Pratapgad Fort

July 11, 2026
Pratapgad Fort

Pratapgad Fort Latest News

A memorial of ‘Veer’ Jivaji Mahale will be constructed on the foothills of Pratapgad Fort, and Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned by the Maharashtra Government for the first phase of the project recently.

About Pratapgad Fort

  • Pratapgad, also known as Pratapgarh, is a large hill fort located in the Satara district of Maharashtra. 
  • The fort lies at an altitude of 1080 m and is built on a spur that overlooks the road between the villages of Par and Kinesvar. 

Pratapgad Fort History

  • Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj had commissioned Moropant Pingle, his prime minister, to commence the construction of this fort to defend Nira and the Koyna River banks and also to guard the Par pass.  
  • The construction of the fortress was completed in the year 1656. 
  • The fort stands as the witness of the historic Battle of Pratapgarh between Shivaji and Afzal Khan, the commander of the Bijapur Sultanate, on 10th November 1659. 
  • The Battle of Pratapgad marked the rise of Shivaji Maharaj as a powerful and independent ruler in the Deccan region. 
  • It also marked the decline of the Bijapur Sultanate, which eventually fell to the Mughals in 1686.  
  • After the Battle of Pratapgad, the Afzal Tower was constructed outside the fort as a lookout for enemies. 
  • It is said that Afzal Khan's head is buried under the Afzal tower which is also known as Afzal Buruj. Afzal Khan's tomb is situated to the northwest of Afzal Buruj. 
  • In 1818, the Maratha forces had to surrender the Pratapgad Fort after losing the third Anglo-Maratha War. 

Pratapgad Fort Features

  • The fort is divided into two parts, the lower fort and the upper fort. 
  • The upper fort was built upon the crest of the hill. 
  • It is roughly square, 180 m long on each side. The upper fort comprises several buildings, including a Mahadev Temple. 
  • The lower fort situated at the southeast end of the fort is defended by tall towers and strongholds, which are 10-12 m high. 
  • The lower fort is around 320 m long and 110 m wide. 
  • It houses Bhavani Temple on the eastern side.  It is believed that Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja was blessed with a shining sword at this temple. 
  • A 17-foot-tall bronze figure of Shivaji was erected and unveiled by Jawaharlal Nehru on 30th November 1957 to commemorate and pay homage to Shivaji Maharaj.

News: TP

Pratapgad Fort FAQs

Q1: Where is Pratapgad Fort located?

Ans: Satara district, Maharashtra.

Q2: Who commissioned the construction of Pratapgad Fort?

Ans: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Q3: Who supervised the construction of Pratapgad Fort?

Ans: Moropant Pingle, the Prime Minister of Shivaji Maharaj.

Q4: Who fought in the Battle of Pratapgad?

Ans: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Afzal Khan, commander of the Bijapur Sultanate.

Q5: When did the Marathas surrender Pratapgad Fort to the British?

Ans: In 1818, after the Third Anglo-Maratha War.

Molluscs

July 11, 2026
Molluscs

Molluscs Latest News

Recently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has announced that over half of molluscs are threatened by deep-sea mining. 

About Molluscs

  • Molluscs are extremely diverse invertebrate animals.
  • Habitat: They are found in nearly all freshwater and marine environments, and some are found also on land. 
  • They come in all shapes and sizes, and some of them grow external shells to protect their soft bodies.
  • These are a quarter of all living marine species and also have importance as food sources.
  • The molluscs include many familiar animals, including clams, snails, slugs, and squid, as well as some less familiar animals, like tusk shells and chitons.
  • Major groups within the Mollusca:
    • Polyplacophora: It consists of chitons, snail-like molluscs with eight-part overlapping scale shells
    • Gastropoda: These are true snails and slugs. They represent the most diverse class within phylum Mollusca with 60,000 to 80,000 extant species in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats.
    • Bivalvia: These are molluscs with hinged two-part shells. Examples include clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops.
    • Cephalopoda: These are molluscs with large heads, large eyes, and grasping tentacles
    • Examples include octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautiloids.

Source: DTE

Molluscs FAQs

Q1: Molluscs belong to which phylum?

Ans: Phylum Mollusca

Q2: The body of molluscs is covered by which structure?

Ans: Mantle

Samriddh Gram

July 11, 2026
Samriddh Gram

Samriddh Gram Latest News

Recently, the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) Samriddh Gram has won the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2026 under Action Line C6 – Enabling Environment. 

About Samriddh Gram

  • It is a flagship rural digital transformation initiative of the Department of Telecommunications built on the BharatNet network. 
  • Objective: It is envisaged as a pioneering phygital (physical + digital) Services model integrating on-ground presence with robust digital infrastructure to empower rural citizens.
  • It is aimed at transforming rural India through a seamless integration of physical and digital services.
  • At the heart of the initiative are Samriddhi Kendras, established as one-stop village-level hubs delivering integrated phygital services by combining reliable telecom connectivity, digital platforms and assisted physical service delivery.
  • The Samriddhi Kendras will deliver a comprehensive suite of services
    • Education & Skilling: Smart classrooms, AR/VR-based learning, and digital skilling aligned with government schemes/initiatives.
    • Agriculture: IoT-based soil testing, drone support, and smart irrigation systems.
    • Healthcare:  Teleconsultations, Health ATMs, and emergency care.
    • e-Governance: Assisted access to citizen services, documentation, and grievance redressal.
    • E-Commerce: Integration with ONDC and digital marketplaces for local entrepreneurship.
    • Financial Inclusion: Digital banking and payments
    • Connectivity Backbone: Strengthened BharatNet FTTH with a Village Area Network and public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Source: DD News

Samriddh Gram FAQs

Q1: The flagship rural digital transformation initiative built on BharatNet network is implemented by which department?

Ans: Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications

Q2: Which organization is the implementing agency for BharatNet Phase-1 and 2?

Ans: BBNL - Bharat Broadband Network Limited

Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary

July 11, 2026
Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary

Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary Latest News

A Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change expert committee on the proposal for diversion of forest and non-forest land from the Sharavathi Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary and its eco-sensitive zone has strongly recommended against approving the proposed 2000 MW Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project.

About Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary

  • It is located in Shimoga District in Karnataka. 
  • It lies in the Western Ghats. 
  • It was formed by combining the existing Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Aghanashini Lion-Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve, and the adjoining reserve forest blocks. 
  • The sanctuary shares its southwestern boundary with the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • The sanctuary is nourished by the Sharavathi River. The Linganamakki reservoir spread over an area of 128.7 kms, is a part of this sanctuary. 
  • Terrain: The overall terrain of the sanctuary is highly undulating, with altitude ranging from 94 m to 1102 m.
  • The spectacular Jog Falls, where water from the Sharavathi River falls from a height of almost 300 m, is present on the northern boundary of the sanctuary. 
  • Vegetation: It mainly consists of tropical evergreen to semi-evergreen types of forests, moist deciduous forests, and grasslands and savanna.
  • Flora: The sanctuary is immensely rich in species like Dhoopa, Gulmavu, Surahonne, Mavu, Nandi, etc.
  • Fauna: 
    • It is home to the endangered lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, etc.
    • It is home to approximately 700 lion-tailed macaques — the highest population of the endangered species in any protected area.

News: NIE

Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary FAQs

Q1: In which state is the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary located?

Ans: Karnataka.

Q2: Which protected areas were merged to form the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary?

Ans: Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Aghanashini Lion-Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve, and adjoining reserve forest blocks.

Q3: Which river nourishes the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary?

Ans: The Sharavathi River.

Q4: Which reservoir forms part of the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary?

Ans: Linganamakki Reservoir.

Q5: Which famous waterfall is located on the northern boundary of the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary?

Ans: Jog Falls.

Cyanobacteria

July 11, 2026
Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria Latest News

Recently, researchers found that cyanobacteria can be used to absorb lead from contaminated water. 

About Cyanobacteria

  • These are also called blue-green algae, microscopic organisms found naturally in all types of water.
  • They have the distinction of being the oldest known fossils, more than 3.5 billion years old.
  • Habitat: These single-celled organisms live in fresh, brackish (combined salt and fresh water), and marine water.

Characteristics of cyanobacteria

  • Autotrophs: All cyanobacteria are autotrophs, meaning they produce their own energy by photosynthesizing sunlight. Cyanobacteria are a very old group of organisms. 
  • These are the most primitive organisms in the plant kingdom and show typical prokaryotic organization.
  • Reproduction in Cyanobacteria: Cyanobacteria also reproduce asexually and the commonest mode of reproduction in them is transverse binary fission.
  • Some are solitary, others are colonial and few cyanobacteria produce toxins.
  • Cyanobacteria blooms can form in warm, slow-moving waters that are rich in nutrients from sources such as fertilizer runoff or septic tank overflows.
  • In warm, nutrient-rich environments, microscopic cyanobacteria can grow quickly, creating blooms that spread across the water’s surface and may become visible.

Source: TH

Cyanobacteria FAQs

Q1: Cyanobacteria fix which gas from atmosphere?

Ans: Nitrogen

Q2: Which Cyanobacteria is used as bio-fertilizer in paddy fields?

Ans: Anabaena, Nostoc

Financial Intelligence Unit–India

July 11, 2026
Financial Intelligence Unit–India

Financial Intelligence Unit–India Latest News

The Financial Intelligence Unit–India (FIU-IND) has earned another significant international recognition with its case regarding a large-scale cyber fraud, securing the Runner-up position at the prestigious Best Egmont Case Award (BECA) 2026. 

About Financial Intelligence Unit–India

  • It was set by the Government of India in 2004.
  • It is the central national agency responsible for receiving, processing, analyzing and disseminating information relating to suspect financial transactions.
  • FIU-IND is an independent body reporting directly to the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC) headed by the Finance Minister.

Function of Financial Intelligence Unit-India

  • Collection of Information: It acts as the central reception point for receiving Cash Transaction reports (CTRs), Non-Profit Organisation Transaction Report (NTRs), Cross Border Wire Transfer Reports (CBWTRs), Reports on Purchase or Sale of Immovable Property (IPRs) and Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) from various reporting entities.
  • Analysis of Information: Analyze received information in order to uncover patterns of transactions suggesting suspicion of money laundering and related crimes.
  • Sharing of Information: It shares information with national intelligence/law enforcement agencies, national regulatory authorities and foreign Financial Intelligence Units.
  • Central Repository: It establishes and maintains a national database on the basis of reports received from reporting entities.
  • Coordination: It coordinates and strengthens collection and sharing of financial intelligence through an effective national, regional and global network to combat money laundering and related crimes.
  • Research and Analysis: Monitor and identify strategic key areas on money laundering trends, typologies and developments.

Source: PIB

Financial Intelligence Unit–India FAQs

Q1: FIU-IND functions under which Ministry?

Ans: Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue

Q2: What is the main function of FIU-IND ?

Ans: To analyze and disseminate financial intelligence on money laundering & terror financing

Helium

July 11, 2026
Helium

Helium Latest News

Recently, the Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs, China, has temporarily but immediately banned helium exports from the country. 

About Helium

  • It is an inert gas and does not react with other substances or combust.
  • It was discovered in 1868 by Jules Janssen and Norman Lockyer via a yellow spectral line during a solar eclipse. 
  • Formation: It is a non-renewable resource generated deep in the earth’s crust, where the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium atoms emits alpha particles, which capture electrons to form helium atoms.

Properties of Helium

  • Its atomic number is 2, making it the second lightest element after hydrogen.
  • Helium also has a very low boiling point (-268.9° C), allowing it to remain a gas even in super-cold environments.
  • It does not participate easily in chemical reactions.
  • Helium is the second-lightest element, after hydrogen, and is not manufactured.
  • The gas is non-toxic, but cannot be breathed on its own, because it displaces the oxygen humans need for respiration.
  • It is the only element that cannot be solidified by sufficient cooling at normal atmospheric pressure.
  • Largest global reserves: United States, Algeria, and Russia.
  • India’s Rajmahal Volcanic Basin (Jharkhand) is a significant helium reservoir trapped for billions of years.

Applications of Helium

  • Used as Coolant: It is used as coolant to cool the magnets in MRI machines, the silicon wafers in the semiconductor fabricating industry, and, increasingly, some of the devices used in quantum computers.
  • Leak Detector: Engineers use helium as a leak-detector.
  • Optical Fibre Manufacture: It is also used in the process of drawing optical fibres to rapidly and uniformly cool molten glass and to displace oxygen or nitrogen from forming bubbles inside the material.
  • Aerospace: Spaceflight organisations like ISRO, NASA, and SpaceX use helium to pressurise fuel tanks in rockets.
  • Research and the tourism sector in many parts of the world also use helium to inflate balloons and airships.

Source: TH

Helium FAQs

Q1: Which property of Helium makes it useful for leak detection?

Ans: Small atoms escape through tiny gaps.

Q2: Who discovered the Helium?

Ans: It was discovered in 1868 by Jules Janssen and Norman Lockyer via a yellow spectral line during a solar eclipse. 

Saryu River

July 11, 2026
Saryu River

Saryu River Latest News

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently directed the Almora district magistrate to submit a status report detailing remedial and punitive actions taken regarding improper waste disposal along the Saryu river at Sera Ghat in the district.

About Saryu River

  • It is a river that flows through the states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
  • It is also known as the Sarayu or Sarju River.
  • This river is of ancient significance. It is mentioned in ancient Indian texts like the Vedas and the Ramayana. 
  • The famous city of Ayodhya is located right on the banks of the Sarayu River.  
  • Course:
    • It rises at Sarmul (or Sarmool), which is located in the extreme north of the district Bageshwar of Uttarakhand on the southern slope of a ridge of the Nanda Kot. 
    • It flows through the Kumaon Himalayas before flowing into the Sharada River at Pancheshwar at the India-Nepal border. 
    • Sharada River (also known as the Kali River) then flows into the Ghaghara River in Sitapur District, Uttar Pradesh.
    • Lower Ghaghara is popularly known as Sarayu in India, especially while it flows through the city of Ayodhya.
    • Length: Approximately 350–400 kilometers long.

News: TOI

Saryu River FAQs

Q1: Through which Indian states does the Saryu River flow?

Ans: Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Q2: Which famous city is situated on the banks of the Saryu River?

Ans: Ayodhya.

Q3: Where does the Saryu River originate?

Ans: Sarmul (Sarmool) in Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand

Q4: Into which river does the Saryu River merge at Pancheshwar?

Ans: The Sharada (Kali) River.

Q5: What is the approximate length of the Saryu River?

Ans: Approximately 350–400 kilometres.

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