Daily Current Affairs тАФ September 11, 2026

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ЁЯУЛ Today's Topics Index (16 Key Affairs)

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1.Red-Naped Ibis and Antibiotic Resistance Study2.Bakhira Lake Sediment Analysis and Climate History3.Google AlphaGenome Atlas4.Mocha Port Seizure and Regional Geopolitics5.Nandankanan Zoological Park Animal Welfare Initiatives6.UNESCO International Literacy Prizes 20267.Levees: Infrastructure, Formation, and Flood Management8.Gooty Fort Historical and Architectural Significance9.Exercise Yudh Abhyas 202610.Digital Bharat Nidhi and Amended BharatNet Program11.Curbing Misuse of Political Funding and RUPPs12.Jute Sector in India: Golden Fibre and Sustainable Production13.IndiaтАУSri Lanka Strategic and Defence Cooperation14.Democratic Republic of Congo Sovereign Control Over Geological Data15.Ocean Research Vessel Sagar Manthan16.International Literacy Day 2026 and ULLAS Initiative
#1ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
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Red-Naped Ibis and Antibiotic Resistance Study

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

A recent scientific study conducted on red-naped ibises in Udaipur has uncovered diverse bacteria within their faeces, notably including multidrug-resistant strains. This finding highlights the growing environmental penetration of antimicrobial resistance across wildlife habitats.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

The red-naped ibis (Pseudibis papillosa), also known as the Indian black ibis, is a common, resident, non-migratory wading bird native to the Indian Subcontinent. It features a bare dark head with a prominent patch of crimson red warty skin on the crown and nape. Operating as a diurnal, opportunistic omnivore, it feeds on insects, small vertebrates, and livestock carcasses, which may expose them to resistant pathogens from anthropogenic sources.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

The detection of multidrug-resistant bacteria in common resident wildlife signals a worrying spillover of human-induced pharmaceutical pollutants into natural food webs. Tracking these vectors is vital for understanding ecosystem health and designing integrated One Health surveillance policies.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв State: Rajasthan (Udaipur) тАв Distribution: Plains of the Indian Subcontinent, common in Haryana, Punjab, and the Gangetic plain тАв IUCN Status: Least Concern тАв Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule-II тАв Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change тАв PYQ Trend: Questions frequently test the conservation status and biological classification of common resident Indian avifauna.
#2ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
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Bakhira Lake Sediment Analysis and Climate History

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

A groundbreaking study measuring magnetic minerals accumulated in sediments below Bakhira Lake over a span of 25,000 years has successfully reconstructed past climate shifts, rainfall variability, and weathering patterns in northern India.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Bakhira Lake is situated within the GhagharaтАУRapti alluvial system in Uttar Pradesh and represents a perennial oxbow wetland formed via the cutoff of the Rapti River. Its unique floodplain-lacustrine setting provides an uninterrupted stratigraphic archive of sediment accumulation, serving as an ecological haven for wintering waterfowl.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

Paleoclimatic data extracted from wetland sediments like those at Bakhira are critical for modelling future monsoonal behaviors and addressing climate vulnerability in the heavily populated Indo-Gangetic plains.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв State: Uttar Pradesh тАв District: Sant Kabir Nagar тАв River System: GhagharaтАУRapti alluvial system (Rapti River cutoff) тАв Ramsar Designation: Designated as a Ramsar Site in 2022 тАв Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change тАв PYQ Trend: State PCS exams frequently target Ramsar sites located within Uttar Pradesh and their geographic characteristics.
#3SCIENCE & SPACE
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Google AlphaGenome Atlas

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

Google recently unveiled the AlphaGenome Atlas, an extensive, high-resolution digital directory designed to predict how genetic alterations impact molecular biology and gene regulation.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

The Atlas is a 1 petabyte interactive dataset mapping the predicted impact of all 9 billion DNA variants. It operates directly within regular web browsers without requiring coding, offering the AlphaGenome Variant Impact (AVI) score and linking variants to over 2,500 recurrent DNA sequence motifs across human and mouse cell types.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

By democratizing access to genomic predictive tools, the platform accelerates biomedical research, target discovery for hereditary diseases, and precision medicine initiatives globally without specialized computational barriers.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Developer: Google DeepMind тАв Dataset Size: 1 Petabyte containing 9 billion DNA variants тАв Key Metric: AlphaGenome Variant Impact (AVI) score тАв Nodal Domain: Artificial Intelligence and Genomics тАв PYQ Trend: Questions often feature major global technological launches in AI and computational biology.
#4INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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Mocha Port Seizure and Regional Geopolitics

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

Iran-aligned Houthis recently seized control of the strategic Yemeni port city of Mocha, advancing aggressively down the Red Sea coast and altering regional maritime security equations.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Mocha (Mokha) is a historic town in southwestern Yemen on the Red Sea, historically renowned as Arabia's chief coffee-exporting center and strategically positioned on the northern approach to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait near Perim Island. Founded in the 14th century, it served as a bustling trade hub under Ottoman and regional suzerainties before declining with global trade shifts.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

Control over Mocha gives militant forces tactical leverage over one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, directly threatening international shipping lanes connecting the Red Sea to the Suez Canal.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Region: Southwestern Yemen, Red Sea Coast тАв Key Geographic Feature: Bab el-Mandeb Strait тАв Historical Association: Global hub for coffee export since the 15th century under Ottoman and local dynasties тАв PYQ Trend: Strategic global ports, chokepoints, and maritime straits frequently feature in mapping and international relations questions.
#5ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
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Nandankanan Zoological Park Animal Welfare Initiatives

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

Nandankanan Zoological Park recently introduced innovative musical therapy and specialized enrichment toys to help five abandoned baby orangutans cope with captivity stress.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Located on the banks of Kanjia Lake within the semi-evergreen Chandaka Forest in Odisha, Nandankanan is India's first zoo to join the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA). It holds global distinction as the first zoo to successfully breed melanistic and white tigers, and serves as a premier conservation breeding center for Indian pangolins and gharials.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

Adopting advanced behavioral enrichment techniques underscores modern zoos' evolving role from mere exhibition centers to hubs of advanced animal welfare, psychological rehabilitation, and endangered species conservation.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв State: Odisha (Barang, near Bhubaneswar) тАв Associated Ecosystem: Chandaka Forest and Kanjia Lake тАв Global Distinction: First zoo to breed melanistic and white tigers; sole global breeding center for Indian Pangolins тАв Nodal Authority: Central Zoo Authority (CZA) тАв PYQ Trend: Protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, and unique zoological milestones are perennial favorites in state civil services examinations.
#6GOVERNANCE & SCHEMES
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UNESCO International Literacy Prizes 2026

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

UNESCO presented the prestigious 2026 International Literacy Prizes during the global International Literacy Day celebrations hosted in Chiapas, Mexico, rewarding impactful literacy initiatives worldwide.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Awarded annually since 1967 under the theme тАЬLiteracy for people, the planet, and prosperityтАЭ, the awards comprise the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize (supported by the Republic of Korea, focusing on mother-tongue and multilingual education) and the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy (supported by China, focusing on rural functional literacy and technology).

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

These awards incentivize grassroots and technological innovations in education, accelerating global efforts to eradicate adult illiteracy and build inclusive, sustainable lifelong learning frameworks.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Establishment Year: 1967 тАв Award Categories: King Sejong Literacy Prize and Confucius Prize for Literacy тАв Award Value: Medal, diploma, and USD 30,000 per laureate тАв Nodal Organization: UNESCO тАв PYQ Trend: Questions regularly test international awards, their sponsoring nations, and global thematic focus areas.
#7ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
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Levees: Infrastructure, Formation, and Flood Management

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The maintenance and historical impact of nearly 2,000 kilometres of levees along the Mississippi River have come under scrutiny for their dual role in protecting cities while altering sediment deposition in coastal wetlands.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

A levee is a natural or artificial barrier built parallel to the edges of a stream, river, or coastline to prevent flooding. Natural levees form when overflowing waters deposit silt and sediments along riverbanks. Artificial levees are constructed using earth, rock, concrete, or metal. Prominent global examples include Mississippi river embankments and North Sea sea dikes in the Netherlands.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

While essential for protecting low-lying human settlements from extreme weather events, poorly managed levees can disconnect rivers from their natural floodplains, starving delta ecosystems of vital sediments and exacerbating coastal erosion.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Key Geographic Examples: Mississippi River (USA), Netherlands coastal dikes, Bay of Fundy (Canada) тАв Primary Material: Natural silt deposits or reinforced artificial concrete and earthen structures тАв Nodal Concern: Fluvial geomorphology and disaster management тАв PYQ Trend: Geomorphological landforms and river dynamics are frequent subjects in physical geography sections.
#8CULTURE & GI TAGS
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Gooty Fort Historical and Architectural Significance

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The proposal to issue a commemorative postage stamp honouring the historic Gooty Fort has reached its final approval stage under the Union Ministry of Communications.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Gooty Fort (Ravadurg / Gutti Kota) is an ancient hilltop fortress in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, featuring inscriptions from Western Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI Tribhuvanamalla. Built in a shell shape comprising 15 interconnected small forts, it showcases a fusion of Hindu-Islamic architecture crafted from granite rocks, complete with ancient water wells and 'Morari RaoтАЩs seat'.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

Recognizing monuments through philately enhances public awareness regarding India's rich medieval military architecture, bolstering cultural tourism and heritage conservation efforts.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв State: Andhra Pradesh тАв District: Anantapur тАв Architectural Style: Blend of Hindu-Islamic architecture constructed with granite and lime mortar тАв Historical Rulers: Western Chalukyas, Vijayanagar Empire (Krishnadevaraya), Qutb Shahis, Mughals, Maratha general Murari Rao, and British East India Company тАв PYQ Trend: Historical forts, regional dynasties, and architectural features are essential topics in Indian history and art and culture.
#9DEFENCE & MISSILE TECH
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Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The Indian Army and the United States Army have commenced the 22nd iteration of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, featuring unprecedented deployments of advanced tactical equipment.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

The bilateral exercise is conducted in two phases: first at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, followed by high-altitude drills in Auli, Uttarakhand. This year's edition marks the historic first-time deployment of the US 11th Airborne Division and advanced counter-drone frameworks like the Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (MLIDS) under Operation Pathways.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

The exercise deepens bilateral interoperability, tactical coordination in diverse terrains ranging from deserts to high-altitude mountain warfare, and joint readiness against asymmetric modern drone warfare threats.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Participating Nations: India and the United States тАв Edition: 22nd Iteration (2026) тАв Key Locations: Mahajan Range (Rajasthan) and Auli (Uttarakhand) тАв Other Bilateral Exercises: Vajra Prahar (Army), Cope India (Air Force), Malabar (Navy), Tiger Triumph (Tri-Service) тАв PYQ Trend: Bilateral military exercises and their operational locations are regular highlights in defense current affairs.
#10GOVERNANCE & SCHEMES
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Digital Bharat Nidhi and Amended BharatNet Program

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications has signed an agreement to implement the Amended BharatNet Program under the state-led model.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Formerly known as the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), Digital Bharat Nidhi now operates under the statutory framework of the Telecommunication Act, 2023. Funded through contributions credited initially to the Consolidated Fund of India, its mandate is to expand affordable telecommunication access, research, and infrastructure in underserved rural, remote, and urban areas.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

By modernizing telecom funding mechanisms, DBN bridges the rural-urban digital divide, empowers digital public infrastructure, and accelerates last-mile high-speed internet penetration across rural India.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Statutory Backing: Telecommunication Act, 2023 (Replaced USOF) тАв Nodal Ministry: Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications тАв Fund Management: Administered by an appointed central administrator with non-lapsing financial provisions тАв PYQ Trend: Statutory funds, telecom policy reforms, and digital infrastructure schemes are key areas for governance questions.
#11GOVERNANCE & SCHEMES
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Curbing Misuse of Political Funding and RUPPs

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

Discussions on electoral transparency have intensified following allegations of tax evasion and money laundering involving Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs).

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

While RUPPs enjoy tax exemptions under Section 13A of the Income Tax Act upon registering under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, hundreds remain inactive or 'letter-pad parties'. The ECI currently lacks statutory powers to deregister dormant parties, relying only on delisting, while political party expenditure remains uncapped unlike candidate-level ceilings.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

Plugging loopholes in political financing is vital to uphold the Supreme Court's mandate on the voter's Right to Information under Article 19(1)(a), curb crony capitalism, and protect the integrity of India's democratic framework.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Key Legal Provisions: Article 324, Article 19(1)(a), Sections 29A, 29B, and 29C of RPA 1951, Section 13A of Income Tax Act 1961 тАв Landmark Committees: Law Commission 255th Report, Indrajit Gupta Committee, Dinesh Goswami Committee тАв Nodal Body: Election Commission of India (ECI) тАв PYQ Trend: Electoral reforms, powers of the ECI, and transparency in political funding are core topics for Polity and Governance mains/prelims.
#12INDIAN ECONOMY
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Jute Sector in India: Golden Fibre and Sustainable Production

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

India's jute sector has garnered prominence as the country maintains its position as the world's leading raw jute producer, supported by government interventions under the National Jute Development Programme.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Jute, famously known as the Golden Fibre, is a biodegradable natural fiber cultivated predominantly in eastern and northeastern states, with West Bengal accounting for the highest share. Operating under the statutory backing of the Jute Packaging Materials Act, 1987 (mandating 100% food grain and 20% sugar packaging in jute), the sector relies on MSP enforcement by the Jute Corporation of India (JCI).

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

As global economies transition away from synthetic plastics, diversified jute products, technical textiles like Jute Geotextiles, and eco-friendly apparel position India's jute industry as a major driver of the green economy and rural employment.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Major Producing States: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, and Jharkhand тАв Nodal Agencies: National Jute Board (NJB) and Jute Corporation of India (JCI) тАв Key Schemes: JUTE-ICARE, National Jute Development Programme (NJDP) тАв Statutory Mandate: Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987 тАв PYQ Trend: Cash crops, agro-climatic requirements, and government fiber missions frequently appear in agriculture and economy sections.
#13INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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IndiaтАУSri Lanka Strategic and Defence Cooperation

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

India's Defence Minister concluded a landmark three-day visit to Sri LankaтАФthe first in 38 yearsтАФsigning three key defence MoUs and strengthening bilateral security ties.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

The newly signed agreements cover the upgradation of L70 anti-aircraft guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force, institutional cooperation between National Defence Colleges, and a National Cadet Corps youth exchange. Furthermore, India provided humanitarian connectivity support through Bailey bridges under Operation Sagar Bandhu in response to Cyclone Ditwah.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

These initiatives reinforce India's Neighbourhood First Policy and its vision of MAHASAGAR, consolidating its role as a security net and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region amidst growing external maritime pressures.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Bilateral Exercises: SLINEX (Navy) and MITRA SHAKTI (Army) тАв Regional Security Platform: Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) тАв Humanitarian Operation: Operation Sagar Bandhu тАв Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Defence, Government of India тАв PYQ Trend: India's bilateral relations with immediate neighbors and Indian Ocean maritime diplomacy are high-yield areas.
#14INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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Democratic Republic of Congo Sovereign Control Over Geological Data

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced plans to establish a comprehensive national databank for critical minerals to tighten sovereign control over its vast geological wealth.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Located in Central Africa and crossed by the Equator and the Congo River (the second-longest in Africa, crossing the equator twice), the DRC is a global superpower in mineral resources. It is the world's largest producer of cobalt and hosts the rich Katanga Copperbelt, alongside massive deposits of copper, lithium, and tantalum.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

By asserting state ownership over geological data, the DRC aims to curb illicit mineral exploration, maximize national revenue from critical energy transition minerals, and shift unequal resource extraction models.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Continent/Region: Central Africa (Capital: Kinshasa) тАв Geographic Features: Congo River, Congo Rainforest, African Great Lakes (Lake Tanganyika) тАв Mineral Wealth: World's largest cobalt producer, major copper reserves in Katanga region тАв PYQ Trend: African geography, river basins, and critical mineral corridors are increasingly tested in international mapping questions.
#15SCIENCE & SPACE
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Ocean Research Vessel Sagar Manthan

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

India achieved another milestone in indigenous maritime capability with the launch of the advanced Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) Sagar Manthan at Kolkata.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Designed, engineered, and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the vessel replaces the aging ORV Sagar Kanya. It features multi-beam bathymetry, multichannel seismic systems, and deep-sea mapping capabilities up to 6 km depths.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

ORV Sagar Manthan enhances India's sovereign capacity for deep ocean exploration, marine mineral resource assessment (such as polymetallic sulphides), polar research in the Southern Ocean, and advancement of the Blue Economy.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Implementing Agency: National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences тАв Builder: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata тАв Operational Scope: Deep-sea mapping up to 6 km depth, Southern Ocean research тАв PYQ Trend: India's scientific vessels, deep ocean missions, and indigenous shipbuilding milestones frequently feature in science and tech.
#16GOVERNANCE & SCHEMES
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International Literacy Day 2026 and ULLAS Initiative

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The celebrations of International Literacy Day 2026 culminated with the national ULLAS Mela in New Delhi, highlighting grassroots progress in adult foundational literacy.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

The central scheme driving this mission is ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society), also known as the Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. Implemented by the Ministry of Education as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, it targets non-literate adults aged 15 years and above to impart foundational literacy, numeracy, and critical life skills.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

By leveraging volunteerism and digital literacy platforms, ULLAS empowers marginalized populations, bridges educational inequalities, and fosters a robust nationwide culture of continuous lifelong learning.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

тАв Scheme Name: ULLAS (Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram) тАв Target Group: Non-literate adults aged 15 years and above тАв Implementation Period: 2022тАУ23 to 2026тАУ27 тАв Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education тАв PYQ Trend: Government educational schemes, target beneficiary demographics, and Centrally Sponsored Scheme details are standard topics in state PCS exams.
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