3 issues picked from 57 PIB releases · about 2 minutes each · written by UPSC Grade, each fact checked against its PIB release or by a second model
How to readRead “Why in news” and “What it is” for every issue. Open For Prelims or For Mains for the exam you’re preparing for, then Test yourself at the foot of each card. Half the news questions in Prelims are answered from background, not the news itself.
On 21 June 2026, PM Modi commissioned three indigenously designed and built naval ships, INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray, at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata.
What it is
The three ships were designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. Dunagiri is a stealth frigate, Sanshodhak a large survey vessel and Agray an anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft. They add to the push for indigenous warship building under Aatmanirbharta.
Dunagiri
An advanced stealth frigate commissioned into the Navy.
Designer and builder
All three were designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by GRSE in Kolkata.
Indigenous content
The ships have over 75 percent indigenous content.
Defence production
Defence production rose from about ₹40,000 crore in 2014 to nearly ₹1.8 lakh crore, per the PM.
Don’t confuse with Survey vessel vs warship: Sanshodhak is a hydrographic survey vessel, used for charting and maritime domain awareness, not a combat frigate like Dunagiri.
Don’t confuse with World Hydrography Day vs International Day of Yoga: Both fall on 21 June; the release links the Sanshodhak commissioning to World Hydrography Day.
Defence: Prelims tests exercises (with whom), equipment (who makes it) and firsts.
Why it matters
Strengthens coastal security and maritime domain awareness.
Boosts indigenous shipbuilding, MSME participation and jobs, supporting Aatmanirbharta.
Problems
Reliance on imported critical components and systems can limit true self-reliance.
Delivery delays and capacity limits in shipyards.
Way forward
Deepen domestic supply chains for engines, sensors and weapons.
Use shipbuilding incentives and Sagarmala to expand yard capacity and exports.
Put in your answer
Shipping incentive: A ₹70,000 crore incentive package for the shipping sector, as cited by the PM.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Defence hardware seldom reaches Mains; Prelims defence questions are 8 of 327, so a card is enough with no practice question.
GS3 Science and Technology - Nuclear EnergyPrelims and Mains
Why in news
On 21 June 2026, DAE Secretary Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty inaugurated the Versatile Deuterated compounds Production Plant and commissioned a 24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell at the Heavy Water Board Facilities, Vadodara. The sodium cell supports India's Fast Breeder Reactor Programme.
What it is
The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor is a 500 MW sodium-cooled fast reactor at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. It was designed by IGCAR and is built by BHAVINI. It uses Uranium-Plutonium MOX fuel and breeds Pu-239 from a U-238 blanket, which links India's PHWR stage to the thorium stage.
Criticality date and place
PFBR, built at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, attained first criticality on 6 April 2026.
Fuel and breeding
PFBR uses MOX fuel and a U-238 blanket to breed Pu-239, producing more fuel than it consumes.
Stage one
Stage one uses natural uranium in PHWRs, followed by reprocessing of spent fuel to recover plutonium.
Stage three
Thorium-232 is converted into fissile U-233, which fuels the third stage. This follows only after adequate FBR capacity exists.
Uranium resources
AMD has established 4,42,800 tonne in situ U3O8, and uses AI/ML for mineral potential mapping.
Thorium role
Thorium-232 is fertile, not fissile. It must be converted to U-233 in a breeder reactor using plutonium before it can be used as fuel.
Hydrogen first
On 26 June 2026 IGCAR produced hydrogen using nuclear heat. It coupled a BARC-developed Cu-Cl thermochemical cycle to the sodium loop of FBTR.
Fuel and coolant
PFBR is a 500 MWe sodium-cooled reactor using U-Pu MOX fuel, at Kalpakkam. It is built by BHAVINI.
Heat source
The plant uses nuclear process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor at IGCAR, Kalpakkam.
Technology developer
The Cu–Cl process was developed indigenously by BARC, Mumbai. BARC and IGCAR built the plant jointly.
Why Cu–Cl
It is considered promising for its relatively lower operating temperatures and higher thermodynamic efficiency.
IGCAR
IGCAR has led India's Fast Breeder Reactor programme since its establishment in 1971.
PFBR
The 500 MWe PFBR is the flagship of the second stage of the three-stage programme.
Three stages
Stage 1: PHWRs on natural uranium. Stage 2: fast breeder reactors using plutonium. Stage 3: thorium-based reactors using U-233.
What was commissioned
A 24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell at HWBF, Vadodara, a step towards industrial-scale indigenous nuclear-grade sodium production.
Link to the three stages
Nuclear-grade sodium is a critical material for the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme.
Deuterated compounds plant
The Versatile Deuterated compounds Production Plant is meant for indigenous production of high-purity deuterated solvents.
Coolant in fast reactors
Fast breeder reactors such as PFBR use liquid sodium as coolant, since water would slow the neutrons.
Capacity and place
The PFBR is an indigenously designed 500 MWe reactor at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. It achieved first criticality on 6 April 2026.
Who built it
IGCAR developed the reactor and BHAVINI built it. It uses uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuel to produce more fuel than it consumes.
Global position
Russia is the only country operating commercial fast breeder reactors now. India is in the advanced stage of commissioning its own.
Stage link
The PFBR marks the second stage and paves the way for use of India's thorium reserves in the third stage.
Coolant and breeding
The PFBR uses liquid sodium as coolant. It breeds plutonium-239 from a uranium-238 blanket.
Nuclear Mission and SMRs
The Nuclear Mission has an allocation of Rs 20,000 crore. Five SMRs are planned by 2033.
Criticality
First criticality means the start of a controlled fission chain reaction. PFBR reached it on 6 April 2026.
Who designed and built it
IGCAR, an R&D centre of DAE, did the design. BHAVINI, a DAE PSU, built and commissioned it.
Thorium link
The blanket is designed to later hold Thorium-232, which transmutes into Uranium-233 to fuel the third stage.
Regulator
AERB cleared the reactor after reviewing plant safety systems before criticality.
Milestone
The PFBR at Kalpakkam attained criticality, meaning a self-sustaining chain reaction was achieved.
Breeding capability
The reactor can generate more fuel than it consumes.
Link to thorium
The achievement paves the way for using India's thorium reserves in the third stage.
Who designs and builds
PFBR was designed by IGCAR and is built by BHAVINI.
Reactor type and fuel
It is a 500 MW sodium-cooled fast reactor using Uranium-Plutonium MOX fuel with a U-238 blanket that breeds Pu-239.
Don’t confuse with PFBR vs PHWR: PFBR is a fast breeder (stage two, sodium-cooled, MOX fuel). PHWRs are stage one, use natural uranium and heavy water.
Don’t confuse with Fertile vs fissile: U-238 and Th-232 are fertile and become fissile Pu-239 and U-233. These fissile isotopes sustain the chain reaction.
Don’t confuse with FBTR vs PFBR: FBTR is the small test fast reactor at Kalpakkam. PFBR is the 500 MWe prototype power reactor.
Don’t confuse with BARC vs IGCAR: BARC (Mumbai) developed the Cu–Cl process. IGCAR (Kalpakkam) runs FBTR and leads the fast reactor programme.
Don’t confuse with Heavy water vs deuterated compounds: Heavy water (D2O) is the moderator and coolant in PHWRs. Deuterated compounds, such as deuterated solvents, are used in research and specialised applications.
Don’t confuse with Moderator vs coolant: PHWRs use heavy water as moderator. Fast reactors use no moderator and use liquid sodium as coolant.
Don’t confuse with Criticality vs commercial operation: First criticality means the chain reaction is self-sustaining. Grid power and commercial operation come later.
Don’t confuse with First criticality vs grid connection: Criticality is the start of a self-sustaining chain reaction. Power generation and grid supply come later, after power-raising tests.
Don’t confuse with Fast breeder vs thermal reactor: A thermal reactor slows neutrons with a moderator. A fast reactor uses fast neutrons with no moderator and can breed fuel.
Don’t confuse with Criticality vs power generation: Criticality means a sustained chain reaction begins. Grid power supply comes later, after further tests and power raising.
Don’t confuse with Fast breeder vs PHWR: PHWRs are heavy water moderated and use natural uranium. Fast reactors use fast neutrons, no moderator, and a liquid metal coolant.
Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.
Why it matters
Starts the second stage, moving India toward using its large thorium reserves for long-term energy security.
Builds indigenous capacity, with nearly 90% domestic manufacturing of PFBR equipment.
Reduces dependence on imported uranium and improves energy security.
Opens the route to using India's large thorium reserves.
Shows nuclear heat can serve non-electric uses such as clean hydrogen, supporting decarbonisation and energy security.
Links the fast reactor stage of the three-stage programme to the National Green Hydrogen Mission goals.
Domestic nuclear-grade sodium cuts import dependence for the second stage of the programme.
Supports strategic self-reliance in critical materials.
Starts stage two of the three-stage programme, a step to thorium use.
Helps the 100 GW nuclear target by 2047 and clean energy goals.
Closes the gap between the PHWR stage and thorium use, bringing India closer to using its large thorium reserves.
Gets more energy from limited uranium and gives low-carbon base-load power.
Builds indigenous capability in fuel cycle, materials and reactor engineering, supporting self-reliance.
Advances India's closed fuel cycle by reusing plutonium and breeding fuel.
Opens the route to using vast thorium reserves, aiding energy security.
Shows indigenous design and engineering capability in advanced nuclear technology.
Problems
The third stage depends on adequate FBR capacity being installed first, which is slow.
Sodium coolant handling and strict safety standards raise complexity.
Thorium use at scale needs enough plutonium as driver fuel, which takes time.
Sodium coolant needs careful handling, and FBRs need advanced materials and strict regulatory clearances.
It is only a technology demonstrator. Scale-up and cost competitiveness with electrolysis are unproven.
Handling sodium-cooled fast reactor heat and corrosive Cu–Cl chemistry needs advanced materials and safety systems.
Sodium reacts violently with water and air, so handling needs strict safety measures.
Scaling up from a prototype cell to industrial output must keep the purity nuclear use requires.
High capital cost and long construction delays of fast reactors.
Sodium coolant is hazardous because it reacts with water and air, so safety needs are high.
Sodium coolant reacts with air and water, so safety and leak control are demanding.
Fast reactors cost more and the project ran far beyond its original schedule.
Closed fuel cycle needs reprocessing, plutonium handling and waste management, with proliferation and public concerns.
High cost and long delays in building the prototype.
Sodium coolant is highly reactive, which raises safety and engineering concerns.
Reprocessing and fuel fabrication for closed cycle are complex.
Way forward
Scale up FBR capacity and reprocessing in step with the fleet-mode PHWR build-out.
Continue uranium exploration with AI/ML and advanced surveys to support early stages.
Complete low power physics experiments, obtain step-wise regulatory clearance, and raise power to grid synchronisation.
Continue R&D on molten salt reactors and thorium fuel cycles before large-scale deployment.
Use the plant's operating data to optimise the process, then build pilot-scale units coupled to larger reactors.
Expand fast reactor capacity, including PFBR, to supply high-temperature heat.
Scale the prototype to industrial production with quality assurance.
Build up fast reactor capacity so the second stage can lead to the thorium stage.
Move from the prototype to commercial fast reactors while keeping safety standards high.
Develop the thorium stage and the fuel cycle, with SMRs and private participation under the SHANTI Act.
Run power-raising tests and grid synchronisation under AERB oversight, with transparent safety reporting.
Scale to commercial fast breeder reactors only after cost, safety and performance are proven.
Build reprocessing and fuel fabrication capacity and move toward thorium use.
Move from prototype to commercial fast reactors after proven operation.
Strengthen reprocessing capacity and independent safety oversight.
Build thorium-stage research and fuel cycle step by step.
Put in your answer
Domestic content: IGCAR helped achieve nearly 90% domestic manufacturing of PFBR equipment and systems.
Capacity target: Installed nuclear capacity is to rise from 8780 MW to 22480 MW by 2031/32.
Domestic manufacturing: Nearly 90% of PFBR's equipment and systems were made domestically.
Nuclear hydrogen: Nuclear-heat hydrogen supports decarbonisation of fertilisers, refineries, transport and steel, and the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
FBTR experience: FBTR has served for more than four decades as a platform for fuels, materials and sodium technology, laying the base for PFBR.
Three-stage nuclear programme: Use it as an example of indigenous supply chain building for the second stage, from PHWRs through fast breeders to thorium.
Nuclear power target: India aims for 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.
SMR plan: Five SMRs are planned by 2033 under the Nuclear Mission, with SHANTI Act enabling private participation.
Closed fuel cycle: The reactor uses a closed fuel cycle that recycles nuclear materials, improving sustainability and reducing waste.
Three-stage programme: Use the stage-wise link: PHWR, then fast breeders, then thorium reactors, to explain India's long-term energy strategy.
Institutions: IGCAR designed the PFBR and BHAVINI builds it, an example of indigenous capacity in a public-sector model.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Test yourself
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
1.The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam uses a Uranium-238 blanket around its core to breed fissile Plutonium-239.
2.In India's three-stage nuclear power programme, the first stage uses Fast Breeder Reactors with thorium as fuel.
3.In the third stage of the programme, Uranium-233 bred from Thorium-232 is the intended fuel.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 42
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The first stage of India's three-stage programme uses Fast Breeder Reactors with thorium as fuel.
False. Stage one uses natural uranium in PHWRs. FBRs belong to stage two.
2.In the third stage, Uranium-233 bred from Thorium-232 is the intended fuel.
True. Th-232 is transmuted to fissile U-233.
3.The PFBR at Kalpakkam is a 500 MW reactor implemented by NPCIL.
False. PFBR is implemented by BHAVINI, not NPCIL.
4.The three-stage programme is based on a closed fuel cycle involving reprocessing of spent fuel.
True. The programme uses a closed fuel cycle to make the best use of limited uranium.
5.Fast breeder reactors use a moderator such as heavy water to slow neutrons for breeding.
False. Fast reactors use fast neutrons with no moderator. Sodium coolant is used.
6.The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research is a unit of the Department of Atomic Energy.
True. AMD is a constituent unit of DAE with a mandate on uranium exploration.
7.In India's three-stage nuclear programme, the second stage uses plutonium from reprocessed PHWR spent fuel in Fast Breeder Reactors.
True. Stage two uses plutonium from PHWR spent fuel in FBRs.
8.Thorium-232 is a fissile material that can be used directly as reactor fuel.
False. Thorium-232 is fertile and must first be converted to fissile U-233.
9.The third stage of the programme relies on Uranium-233 bred from Thorium-232.
True. Stage three uses U-233 bred from thorium-232.
10.PFBR uses water as its primary coolant.
False. PFBR is cooled by liquid sodium.
11.PFBR was designed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research.
True. IGCAR designed PFBR.
12.Uranium-233 fabricated as fuel for the KAMINI reactor was obtained from irradiated thoria pins.
True. Irradiated thoria pins were reprocessed to get U-233 for KAMINI.
13.PFBR is being built by NPCIL.
False. PFBR is built by BHAVINI, not NPCIL.
14.The newly inaugurated hydrogen facility at Kalpakkam draws process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor.
True. The heat comes from FBTR at IGCAR.
15.The Copper–Chlorine thermochemical process used in the facility was developed indigenously by BARC.
True. BARC, Mumbai developed the Cu–Cl process.
16.The Cu–Cl cycle is regarded as promising mainly because it needs extremely high operating temperatures compared with other cycles.
False. It is promising for its relatively lower operating temperatures and higher thermodynamic efficiency.
17.IGCAR was established in 1971 and has been at the forefront of India's Fast Breeder Reactor programme.
True. IGCAR dates from 1971.
18.The 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor is the flagship of the first stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme.
False. PFBR is the flagship of the second stage.
19.The third stage of India's nuclear programme is based on thorium, with U-233 as the fissile material.
True. Stage 3 uses thorium-U-233 reactors.
20.In the Cu–Cl cycle, the hydrogen is produced by chemical reactions that split water, with heat supplied by the reactor.
True. Thermochemical cycles split water using heat through a series of chemical reactions.
21.The first stage of India's three-stage programme uses fast breeder reactors fuelled with plutonium.
False. Stage 1 uses pressurised heavy water reactors on natural uranium; fast breeders are stage 2.
22.The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam is a 500 MWe reactor designed indigenously.
True. It is a 500 MWe indigenously designed reactor at Kalpakkam.
23.The PFBR is built by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, which also designed it.
False. IGCAR developed it; BHAVINI built it.
24.The PFBR uses uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuel and produces more fissile fuel than it consumes.
True. It uses U-Pu MOX fuel and breeds fuel.
25.The PFBR is the third stage of India's three-stage nuclear programme and runs mainly on thorium.
False. It marks the second stage; thorium is the third stage.
26.In the PFBR, fertile uranium-238 in a blanket is converted into fissile plutonium-239.
True. U-238 absorbs neutrons and becomes Pu-239.
27.The PFBR uses heavy water as both moderator and coolant.
False. It is a fast reactor with no moderator and uses liquid sodium as coolant; heavy water is used in PHWRs.
28.Russia is currently the only country operating commercial fast breeder reactors.
True. Russia is the only operator of commercial FBRs now.
29.The PFBR uses Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel in its core.
True. The core uses U-Pu MOX fuel, unlike conventional thermal reactors.
30.In the PFBR, fertile Uranium-238 in the blanket is converted into fissile Plutonium-239 by fast neutrons.
True. Fast neutrons convert U-238 into Pu-239.
31.The PFBR was built and commissioned by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research.
False. BHAVINI built and commissioned it; IGCAR designed it.
32.The blanket of the PFBR is designed to eventually use Thorium-232, which is transmuted into Uranium-233.
True. Th-232 becomes U-233, the fuel of the third stage.
33.The PFBR uses heavy water as moderator and coolant.
False. It is a fast reactor with no moderator and uses liquid sodium coolant.
34.In India's three-stage nuclear programme, the first stage uses pressurised heavy water reactors fuelled by natural uranium.
True. Stage one is PHWRs on natural uranium.
35.The third stage of India's nuclear programme is based on Plutonium-239 fuel.
False. The third stage is based on Thorium-232 and Uranium-233; Pu-239 belongs to stage two.
36.The PFBR at Kalpakkam has attained criticality, which marks progress in the second stage of India's nuclear programme.
True. PFBR belongs to stage two of the programme.
37.The PFBR is capable of producing more fissile fuel than it consumes.
True. It is a breeder reactor.
38.The PFBR directly uses thorium as its main fuel, making it a third-stage reactor.
False. PFBR uses U-Pu MOX fuel and is a stage-two reactor; it paves the way for the thorium stage.
39.The PFBR uses sodium as coolant.
True. PFBR is a sodium-cooled fast reactor.
40.The PFBR is built by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
False. It is built by BHAVINI; IGCAR designed it.
41.In the fast breeder reactor, a U-238 blanket is converted to Pu-239.
True. Neutron capture in U-238 yields Pu-239.
42.The first stage of India's nuclear programme uses fast breeder reactors with plutonium fuel.
False. Stage one uses PHWRs with natural uranium.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Mains practice
15 marks · 250 words
India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam attained first criticality in April 2026. Discuss the role of fast breeder reactors in India's three-stage nuclear power programme. Examine the technological, economic and safety challenges in moving from the second stage to thorium-based power.
President Droupadi Murmu visited Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, on June 21, 2026. She toured the Cheetah Management Area and was briefed on Project Cheetah.
What it is
Project Cheetah is India's programme to reintroduce the cheetah, which became extinct in the country. It is run by the Environment Ministry and led by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh was the first release site, with cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa.
Cheetah report
The Annual Report of Project Cheetah covers September 2024 to December 2025. It covers translocations, habitat management, veterinary care, community engagement and future priorities.
Organiser
The NTCA organised the workshop with the Rajasthan Government. NTCA is the body under the Environment Ministry that also leads Project Cheetah.
Sariska recovery
Sariska went from local extinction of tigers in 2005 to 56 tigers now.
Tiger reserves
The number of tiger reserves rose from 46 to 58 over the past decade.
Community role
Reintroduction succeeded in Panna and Sariska with local support, but not in Satkosia (Odisha) because community support was lacking.
Kuno
Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh was the first site for the African cheetah introduction in 2022.
Launch
Project Cheetah was launched on September 17, 2022.
Who runs it
The Environment Ministry oversees it. The National Tiger Conservation Authority leads it.
First site
Kuno National Park is India's first cheetah reintroduction site. It offers suitable habitat, abundant prey and little human disturbance.
Source countries
Cheetahs came from Namibia in September 2022, South Africa in February 2023 and Botswana in February 2026.
Botswana batch
Eight cheetahs were donated by Botswana and reached Kuno in February 2026.
Don’t confuse with Reintroduction vs supplementation: Reintroduction restores a species where it went locally extinct (Sariska). Supplementation adds animals to an existing low population.
Don’t confuse with Source vs sink areas: Source areas have surplus animals that disperse. Sink areas lose more animals than they produce.
Don’t confuse with Asiatic vs African cheetah: The cheetah that went extinct in India was the Asiatic subspecies. The animals brought to Kuno are African cheetahs, from Namibia, South Africa and Botswana.
Species and protected areas: 12 Prelims questions since 2013; they test legal status, location and the year of designation.
Why it matters
Shows scientific reintroduction can restore locally extinct big cats.
Supports ecosystem health through forests, watersheds and prey base.
It aims to restore a lost large carnivore and its grassland habitat.
It shows India's commitment to biodiversity restoration through international cooperation.
Problems
Without community support, reintroduction can fail, as in Satkosia.
Tiger and elephant landscapes need connectivity, and tourism must not harm local communities.
Cheetahs need large, prey-rich areas with little human disturbance, and a single site may not hold them.
Way forward
Use source-sink mapping and active management to guide translocations.
Combine prey augmentation and habitat restoration with community participation.
Add more release sites and manage the cheetahs as a connected population across them.
Put in your answer
Sariska recovery: Sariska went from local extinction in 2005 to 56 tigers today.
Satkosia: Reintroduction at Satkosia, Odisha did not succeed due to lack of community support.
Project Cheetah: Launched on September 17, 2022, as a species reintroduction effort led by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Test yourself
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about tiger and cheetah reintroduction in India:
1. The National Workshop on tiger re-introduction at Alwar was organised by the National Tiger Conservation Authority with the Government of Rajasthan.
2. Tigers became locally extinct in Sariska in 2010.
3. Tiger reintroduction succeeded in Satkosia but failed in Panna for lack of community support.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Which one of the following is the correct answer?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Annual Report of Project Cheetah released at the Alwar workshop covers the period September 2024 to December 2025.
True. The report covers September 2024–December 2025.
2.The National Workshop on tiger re-introduction was organised by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in collaboration with the Government of Rajasthan.
True. NTCA organised it with Rajasthan.
3.The number of tiger reserves in India has risen from 46 to 58 over the past decade.
True. Tiger reserves rose from 46 to 58.
4.Tiger reintroduction succeeded in Satkosia Tiger Reserve but failed in Panna because of lack of community support.
False. It succeeded in Panna and Sariska; it did not succeed in Satkosia.
5.Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh was the first release site of Project Cheetah.
True. Kuno was the first release site.
6.The cheetahs introduced under Project Cheetah in 2022 were brought from Kenya.
False. The first cheetahs came from Namibia, with later batches from South Africa.
7.India achieved the St. Petersburg Declaration target of doubling its wild tiger population by 2022.
True. India met the target of doubling tigers by 2022.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.
Quick facts
12th International Day of Yoga (21 June 2026) had the theme 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing'; the PM led the national event at Red Road, Kolkata. The UNGA declared the Day in 2014.
CCPA fined Storia Foods and Mrs. Bectors Rs 1 lakh each for misleading '100%' claims under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
India hosts the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers' Meeting in Gurugram on 25-26 June 2026, during its fourth BRICS Chairship (earlier 2012, 2016, 2021).
India's women's hockey team won the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup.
India hosted the first BRICS MSME Forum and third SME Working Group meeting at Agra on 19 June 2026 under its BRICS Chairship.
India sends 15 competitors to the Global Skills Challenge 2026 in Australia (23-29 June), a preparation for the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai.
Source: PIB, 21 Jun
What we left out: 48 of 57 releases
Yoga Day events (40)
Speeches without a decision (3)
Same issue as another release (2)
Overview feature, no new decision (1)
Routine visits and port calls (1)
Condolence messages (1)
Practise the day’s news
In UPSC’s formats, inside each issue. The answer and why come after you choose.