UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 30 August 2026

PM-eBus Sewa Scheme

August 30, 2026

PM-eBus Sewa Scheme Latest News

The Centre’s PM e-Bus Sewa scheme is gathering pace, with more than 500 electric buses now operational across 23 cities and daily ridership crossing one lakh.

About PM-eBus Sewa Scheme

It aims to strengthen the urban transport system by deployment of 10,000 air-conditioned electric buses to urban cities.
Eligible Cities: Cities have a population ranging 3-40 lakh and state capitals including North Eastern and Hilly Regions below three lakh population as per 2011 census are eligible for the scheme.
It is being implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

Features of PM-eBus Sewa Scheme

It focuses on cities with limited public transport capacity and largely covers smaller cities including those where organised city bus services have either been absent or inadequate.
Under this scheme, city bus operations will be done on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
This scheme will support bus operations for 10 years.
States/Cities shall be responsible for running the bus services and making payments to the bus operators.
The Central Government will support these bus operations by providing subsidies to the extent specified in the proposed scheme.
It covers development of depots, charging infrastructure, green mobility initiatives including accessible bus stops, last mile connectivity Intelligent Transit Management System (ITMS) and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)-based ticketing.

Source: NIE

PM e-Bus Sewa scheme FAQs

Q1: What is the nodal ministry of PM e-Bus Sewa scheme?

Ans: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

Q2: .What is th e PM e-Bus Sewa total cost and Central share?

Ans: 57,613 cr total, 20,000 cr Central

Barrier Lake

August 30, 2026

Barrier Lake Latest News

The newly formed barrier lake on the Nepal-Tibet border poses an immediate, catastrophic threat to Nepal.

About Barrier Lake

A barrier lake is more commonly known as a landslide dam or lake.

Formation of Barrier Lake

It is created in a river valley when landslide debris completely blocks a stream or river.
The displaced material effectively becomes a natural dam, trapping water upstream and creating a temporary reservoir.
It is commonly formed in places with high, steep mountains and narrow river valleys that witness activity such as rock, soil and mud avalanches, slides, or flows.
This instantly plugs the river flow. Water rapidly accumulates behind this natural blockage.
As water pressure mounts, the loose debris dam can erode or suddenly collapse.
This triggers the lake burst, sending a catastrophic wall of water downstream.
The timescale of a breach can vary from days to even decades after the formation of a dam.

Impact of Barrier Lake Failure

A failure of the dam can potentially release millions of cubic metres of water in a short period, causing catastrophic flooding downstream.
This flooding can carry debris and also create secondary landslides downstream, compounding its effect.

Source: IE

Barrier Lake FAQs

Q1: How does Barrier Lake form?

Ans: By Landslide debris blocking river valley.

Q2: Where does Barrier Lake form?

Ans: It is commonly formed in places with high, steep mountains and narrow river valleys that witness activity such as rock, soil and mud avalanches, slides, or flows.

Argentina

August 30, 2026

Argentina Latest News

Recently, the Fourth Meeting of the India–Argentina Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was held at Palacio San Martín, Buenos Aires.

About Argentina

It is a large country occupying the southern part of South America.
Bordering Countries: It shares its borders with 5 countries: Chile (south and west), Bolivia and Paraguay (north), and Brazil, Uruguay (east)
Maritime boundaries: It is also bounded by the South Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Drake Passage to the south.
Capital City: Buenos Aires

Geographical Features of Argentina

Terrain: Argentina’s landmass can be divided into four general topographical regions: the Andean region, the Pampas, the Patagonian plateau, and the Gran Chaco.
Climate: Mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
Major rivers: Parana, Paraguay, Uruguay, etc.
Highest Point: Cerro Aconcagua
Lakes: Lake Mar Chiquita and Lake Argentino
Water Falls: Northeast Argentina features rain forests and Iguazù Falls.
Natural Resources: It mainly consists of lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium and Lithium.

Source: PIB

Argentina FAQs

Q1: What is the capital of Argentina?

Ans: Buenos Aires

Q2: What is the highest peak of Argentina?

Ans: Cerro Aconcagua

CosmoCube Mission

August 30, 2026

CosmoCube Mission Latest News

Recently, an international team of astronomers announced that the CosmoCube mission will study faint radio signals from the early universe.

About CosmoCube Mission

It is a proposed suitcase-sized satellite that will study the universe’s earliest stages by listening for faint radio signals from more than 13.5 billion years ago.
It is being developed by a team of scientists led by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
Working
- It would operate near the Moon and use the lunar far side as a natural shield against radio interference from Earth.
- Observation Period: It will spend around 40 minutes on the far side during every two-hour orbit.
- Time Period: Over a proposed two-year mission, the satellite could collect roughly 1,000 hours of data at extremely low radio frequencies.
- The satellite would use a lightweight radio antenna to detect the early-universe signal.
- It would also repeatedly determine its own position using onboard information and observations of its surroundings.
Significance: This mission concept could help scientists study the poorly understood period between the Big Bang and the formation of the first stars.
The measurements could offer scientists a clearer picture of the cosmic dark age and the transition towards the formation of the first stars and galaxies.

Source: IE

CosmoCube Mission FAQs

Q1: What is the objective of CosmoCube Mission ?

Ans: Study the universe’s earliest stages by listening for faint radio signals from more than 13.5 billion years ago.

Q2: Who is developing CosmoCube Mission ?

Ans: It is being developed by a team of scientists led by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Oriental Darter

August 30, 2026

Oriental Darter Latest News

Recently, it was seen that Oriental Darters (Anhinga melanogaster) are getting affected by garbage dumping in Bengaluru’s lake.

About Oriental Darter

It is also known as the snakebird or Indian darter.
Appearance: It is a tropical water bird with a long, slender neck and a sharp, spear-like beak that it uses to impale fish.
It has a very long, slender, snakelike neck and a long, pointed bill.
Its neck has strongly developed muscles about a kink in the neck at the 8th and 9th vertebrae that allows it to be flexed and darted forward with rapid force to stab fish underwater.
Distribution: It is a water bird of tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Habitat: It is found mainly in freshwater lakes and streams.
They usually forage singly, with the entire body submerged. It darts its neck to impale fish and then brings them out of water.
Diet: It is an omnivorous species.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

Source: TH

Oriental Darter FAQs

Q1: What is the IUCN status of Oriental Darter?

Ans: Near Threatened

Q2: What are threats for Oriental Darter?

Ans: Habitat loss wetland drainage deforestation, Pollution pesticide industrial, Egg collection etc.

Dung Beetle

August 30, 2026

Dung beetle Latest News

A report published in Ecology and Evolution said that dung beetles are vulnerable to a previously unforeseen risk like dogs.

About Dung beetle

It is scientifically known as the Scarabaeidae family within the Animal Kingdom’s order Coleoptera.
Appearance
- They are robust, compact insects known for their hard, protective exoskeletons and strong, clawed legs adapted for digging and rolling dung.
- They vary in color, with some species displaying dull, black or brown hues, while others exhibit metallic shades of blue, green, or copper.
Habitat: They live in habitats that range from desert to forest.
Distribution: Dung beetles are found worldwide, on every continent except Antarctica.
They feed on the feces of large herbivores during both their larval and adult stages.
Dung beetles span three main lifestyles: rollers (ball-makers), tunnelers (bury beneath), and dwellers (live in the pat).
Several dung beetles navigate using celestial cues; some use the Milky Way as an orientation reference during straight-line rolling.
Many scarabs have fan-like (lamellate) antennae that open to sample odors-useful for locating fresh dung fast.
Ecological Role: They play major ecological roles in nutrient cycling, soil aeration, seed dispersal, and parasite/flies suppression.

Source: TH

Dung beetle FAQs

Q1: Dung beetles belong to which insect family?

Ans: Scarabaeidae family

Q2: What is unique about Dung beetle?

Ans: Several dung beetles navigate using celestial cues; some use the Milky Way as an orientation reference during straight-line rolling.

Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

August 30, 2026

Index of Industrial Production (IIP) Latest News

India’s industrial activity remained resilient in July 2026, with the overall Index of Industrial Production (IIP) standing at 124.8, unchanged from the revised level recorded in June.

About Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

It is a composite indicator designed to measure the changes in the volume of the production of an item basket over a period of time with respect to its base year.
It provides insight into the growth or contraction of industrial activity over a given period, making it a crucial economic performance indicator.
It is compiled and released by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
It is released every month with a time lag of 28 days from the reference month.
Base Year: It is 2022-23.
The first IIP was prepared with base year 1937 and thereafter the base year has been revised successively to 1946, 1951, 1956, 1960, 1970, 1980-81, 1993-94, 2004-05 and 2011-12.
The base year is a chosen year taken as a reference point (index = 100) to compare production over time.

Source: DD News

Index of Industrial Production FAQs

Q1: What is the base year of Index of Industrial Production?

Ans: 2022-23

Q2: Who publishes Index of Industrial Production?

Ans: National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

National Health Claim Exchange (NHCX)

August 30, 2026

National Health Claim Exchange (NHCX) Latest News

A sub-committee on health insurance headed by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) Chairman considered measures that will encourage insurers and hospitals to join the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX).

About National Health Claim Exchange (NHCX)

It is developed under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
It is developed by the National Health Authority (NHA) in consultation with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
It the
NHCX serves as a gateway for exchanging health claim information among insurers, third-party auditors, healthcare providers, beneficiaries, and other relevant entities.
Purpose: To streamline and standardize the processing of health insurance claims across the country, leveraging the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standards to ensure interoperability across diverse systems.

Features of National Health Claim Exchange (NHCX)

Checking Coverage Eligibility: Providers can verify if a treatment is covered by insurance to avoid unexpected costs.
Pre-Auth Request Submission: Hospitals can request approval from insurers before starting treatment.
Predetermination Request Submission: Providers can ask for an estimate of benefits for a treatment before it begins.
Claim Submission: Hospitals submit claims in a standard format for easier processing by insurers.
Payment Status: Hospitals can check the payment status of submitted claims, ensuring everyone stays informed.
Communication Request: Providers can send questions or requests for more information through NHCX.
Reprocess Request: If a claim has issues, providers can request a review for a solution.

Source: TH

National Health Claims Exchange FAQ's

Q1: What is aim of National Health Claims Exchange?

Ans: aims to streamline and standardize health insurance claim processing, enhancing efficiency in the insurance industry and improving the patient experience.

Q2: Who developed the National Health Claims Exchange?

Ans: It is developed by the National Health Authority (NHA) in consultation with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

Epidermolysis Bullosa

August 30, 2026

Epidermolysis Bullosa Latest News

Recently, a medical college in Karnataka has received a ₹5.5-crore research grant from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to develop affordable diagnostic and precision treatment approaches for epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

About Epidermolysis Bullosa

It is a rare genetic disorder that causes extreme skin fragility.
It comprises a group of inherited disorders in which minor friction or trauma can cause blistering and wounds.
Patients can develop chronic wounds, scarring, nutritional complications and an increased risk of skin cancer.
There are four types of epidermolysis bullosa (EB), all caused by different genetic mutations:
- EB simplex (EBS)
- Junctional EB (JEB)
- Dystrophic EB (DEB)
- Kindler's syndrome
EB simplex is the mildest and most common form of EB, while Junctional EB and Dystrophic EB are relatively less common and affect the patient more severely.
Kindler's syndrome is a mix of the other types of EB.
Cause: It is caused by an inherited gene. One may inherit the disease gene from one parent who has the disease (autosomal dominant inheritance) or from both parents (autosomal recessive inheritance).
Symptoms
- Fragile skin that blisters easily, especially on the palms and feet
- Nails that are thick or unformed
- Blisters inside the mouth and throat
- Scalp blistering and hair loss (scarring alopecia)
- Tiny pimple-like bumps (milia)
- Itchy, painful skin
Treatment: There's currently no cure for EB, so treatment aims to relieve symptoms and prevent complications developing.

Source: TH

Epidermolysis Bullosa FAQs

Q1: What is Epidermolysis Bullosa ?

Ans: Rare genetic fragile skin disease

Q2: What are the causes of Epidermolysis Bullosa ?

Ans: It is caused by an inherited gene.