PRELIMS CA 3 SEPT 2026

Subject: Science

Context: ISRO scheduled the launch of EOS-05 aboard GSLV-F17 from Sriharikota as an operational replacement for GISAT-1.
Nodal Agency & Launcher: Developed by ISRO | Launched via GSLV-F17 (GSLV Mk II) from SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota.
Orbit & Platform: Geosynchronous Orbit (~35,786 km) | Built on I-2K spacecraft bus.
Primary Objective: Continuous spatial and thermal monitoring for disaster mitigation, agriculture and defence.
Key Payloads: 700 mm Ritchey–Chrétien optical telescope (42 m resolution) | HyS-VNIR, HyS-SWIR and MX-LWIR sensors.
Revisit Time: Disaster spots every 5–10 minutes | Full scan of Indian landmass every 30 minutes.

Subject: IR

Context: Leaders of the 10 SCO member states signed the joint Bishkek Declaration at the 26th Summit in Kyrgyzstan.
What?: Consensus-based outcome document setting institutional roadmap and security priorities for 25 years.
Host & Chair: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | Summit Chair: President Sadyr Japarov
Presidency: Rotating SCO Presidency handed over to Pakistan for 2026–2027.
Nature: Reaffirmed that SCO is not a military-political alliance or directed against any country.
Counter-Terrorism: Rejected double standards and use of extremist proxies for strategic purposes.
Financial Integration: Pushed for trade in national currencies + discussions on an SCO Development Bank.
Connectivity: Supported regional corridors including INSTC while respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Innovation: Institutionalised the SCO Young Scientists Forum and Start-up Forum.
IYI Link: SCO membership, regional security agreements and international groupings (Prelims 2021, 2022).

Subject: Economy

Context: IRDAI issued a consultation paper proposing a Public Insurance Registry to address information gaps in the sector.
Nature: Population-scale Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) | Interoperable common information exchange layer.
Legal Basis: Envisaged under Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025.
Nodal Agency: IRDAI.
Implementing Body: Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) to be converted into a wholly owned, not-for-profit subsidiary of IRDAI.
Architecture: Federated model (Source-System Primacy) | No single centralised data warehouse.
Data Governance: Consent-driven access | Integrates with vehicle, health, weather, disaster and court databases.

Subject: Economy

Context: Ministry of Civil Aviation launched India's hub-and-spoke international strategy via Air India's Easy Connect service.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation | Target year: 2047 for establishing global transit hub status.
Model Architecture: Regional feeder airports (spokes) funnel passengers into central gateway airports (hubs) for long-haul routes.
Clearance Process: Passengers clear international immigration and customs at origin spoke airport | Baggage checked through to final destination.
Hub Network: Delhi functions as initial mega-hub + Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai earmarked as future hubs.
Technology Integration: Uses DigiYatra platform for facial recognition and paperless boarding identity verification.
Data Point: Strategy addresses nearly 35% of Indian international travellers currently connecting via foreign hubs like Dubai.

Subject: Geography

Context: An ISEC study evaluated the total economic ecosystem value of the Pichavaram Mangrove Forest at ₹2,485.38 crore.
Location: Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu | Situated along the Coromandel Coast.
Hydrology: Lies between Vellar estuary to the north and Coleroon estuary to the south + connects with Killai backwaters.
Vegetation: Dominated by Rhizophora apiculata (stilt roots) and Avicennia marina (pneumatophores).
Status: Designated as a Ramsar Wetland in 2022 | Listed as an Important Bird Area on the Central Asian Flyway.
Ecological Role: Serves as a natural bio-shield against storm surges and tsunamis + functions as a major blue carbon sink.