Introduction

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 will test not only factual knowledge but also conceptual clarity, analytical ability, and awareness of current developments. Over the past decade, the trend of the Prelims examination has shifted towards integrating static subjects with current affairs, requiring aspirants to prepare in a focused and strategic manner.

This blog post highlights the most important topics for UPSC 2026 Prelims based on previous year question analysis, emerging national and international developments, and core foundational areas that consistently carry weightage. Aspirants should use this structured outline to prioritize their revision, strengthen weak areas, and align preparation with evolving exam patterns.

1. Indus Valley Script

The Harappan script is the earliest known writing system in the Indian subcontinent, dating primarily to the Mature Harappan Phase (2600–1900 BCE).

Key Characteristics

• Nature: It is Logo-syllabic (a mix of symbols representing words/concepts and symbols representing sounds).
• Number of Signs: Approximately 400 to 600 unique signs have been identified. This is too many for an alphabet but too few for a purely pictographic system (like Chinese).
• Direction of Writing: Primarily written from Right to Left.
  • Evidence: “Cramping” of characters on the left side of seals suggests the scribe ran out of space.
  • Boustrophedon: Some longer inscriptions use this style (first line right-to-left, second line left-to-right).
• Brevity: Most inscriptions are very short, averaging 5–6 signs. The longest known inscription (found at Dholavira) contains 26 signs.
• Artifacts: Found on steatite seals, copper tablets, pottery rims, terracotta cakes, and ivory rods.

Why it is in the News (Latest 2025-26 Data)

• The $1 Million Prize: In early 2025, the Tamil Nadu Government announced a global prize of $1 million for anyone who successfully deciphers the script. This is aimed at proving the “Dravidian Hypothesis.”
• Dravidian Hypothesis: Recent research by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) suggests that 90% of graffiti marks found in South Indian sites (like Keezhadi and Sivakalai) share striking parallels with the Indus script.
• AI & Machine Learning: In 2025/26, researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and international teams have increasingly used Deep Learning and neural networks to find mathematical patterns in sign clustering, suggesting the script follows a definite linguistic syntax.
• ASI Conference: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) scheduled an international summit in late 2025 specifically to evaluate new claims of decipherment.

2. ISRO-CROPS

The CROPS project is an experimental payload developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). It is designed to test the feasibility of growing food in space, which is a critical requirement for long-duration human spaceflight missions like Gaganyaan and future lunar colonies.

1. Key Features of the Mission

• Platform: It was launched aboard the PSLV-C60 mission (December 30, 2024) using the POEM-4 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module) platform.
• The Experiment: ISRO successfully germinated Lobia (Cowpea) seeds in the microgravity of Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• Mini Greenhouse: The module is a self-contained, airtight cylinder ($300\text{mm}$ diameter) that simulates Earth-like conditions:
  • Growing Medium: Uses highly porous clay pellets with slow-release fertilizers.
  • Lighting: Eight LEDs (warm and cool) simulate a 16-hour day and 8-hour night cycle.
  • Watering: An automated system controlled from Earth via electric valves.
  • Atmosphere: Maintains 21% Oxygen and specific $CO_2$ levels to facilitate photosynthesis.

Why it is in the News (2025-26 Context)

• Success of CROPS-1: In January 2025, ISRO released images showing the seeds sprouting into a two-leaf stage within just 4–5 days.
• Preparation for Gaganyaan: As India prepares for manned missions, the ability to create a Closed-Loop Life Support System (where plants recycle $CO_2$ into $O_2$ and provide food) is paramount.
• Expansion to CROPS-2: In early 2026, ISRO announced the next phase to study plant growth for longer durations (30–45 days) to observe the transition from vegetative to reproductive stages in space.

3. Annual Status on Education Report

ASER is a nationwide, citizen-led household survey that provides a snapshot of children’s schooling and learning levels in rural India.

• Who conducts it? It is facilitated by the NGO Pratham and conducted by the ASER Centre.
• Methodology: Unlike government surveys (like NAS) which are school-based, ASER is household-based. This ensures it captures children who are not enrolled in school or are frequently absent.
• The “Alternate-Year” Model: * Basic ASER: Conducted every two years, focusing on foundational reading and math for ages 5–16.
  • Beyond Basics: Conducted in intervening years, focusing on older youth (ages 14–18) and their digital/life skills.

Why in the News? (Latest 2024-25 Data)

The ASER 2024 report (released in January 2025) and its subsequent citation in the Economic Survey 2025-26 have been major talking points.

Key Findings of ASER 2024:

1. The Great Recovery: After a sharp decline during the pandemic (2020–22), learning levels have shown a “Full Recovery.” In fact, arithmetic levels for Class 3 are at their highest in a decade.
2. Government School Surge: The shift from private to government schools (triggered by the pandemic) has stabilized. Enrolment in government schools for ages 6–14 stands at approximately 72.9%.
3. Digital Readiness: Over 82% of rural youth (14–16) know how to use a smartphone, but only 57% use it for educational purposes.
4. NEP 2020 Impact: The report attributes the recovery to the NIPUN Bharat Mission and the focus on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) under the National Education Policy 2020.

4.Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases in news

Why in the News? (Latest 2025-26 Context)

A. The NCD “Silent Crisis” (66% of Indian Deaths)

• $6 Trillion Challenge: As per reports leading into the Union Budget 2026-27, NCDs are projected to cost the Indian economy $6 trillion between 2012 and 2030 due to lost productivity and healthcare costs.
• NP-NCD Renaming: The government recently rebranded the NPCDCS to the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), expanding its scope to include Chronic Kidney Disease and NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease).
• 200 Day Care Cancer Centres: The government announced a plan to set up 200 dedicated Day Care Cancer Centres in district hospitals by the end of FY 2025-26.

B. Communicable Diseases: The 2025 Targets

• TB Elimination 2025: India is in the final sprint of its “TB Mukt Bharat” mission, aiming to eliminate TB by 2025—five years ahead of the global SDG target of 2030.
• Vector-Borne Surge: 2025 saw a 21% spike in Dengue cases across urban clusters (Tamil Nadu and Karnataka being hotspots), attributed to longer monsoon cycles and climate change.
• Malaria Milestone: India has officially exited the WHO’s “High Burden to High Impact” (HBHI) group, aiming for zero indigenous cases by 2027.

5. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue.

• The Mechanism: Bones are living tissues that undergo constant “remodeling.” Two types of cells are involved:
  • Osteoclasts: Break down old bone (Resorption).
  • Osteoblasts: Build new bone (Formation).
  • In Osteoporosis, the rate of resorption exceeds formation, making bones porous and brittle.
• The “Silent” Nature: It is called a silent disease because bone loss occurs without symptoms until a fragility fracture occurs (typically in the hip, spine, or wrist).
• Diagnosis: The gold standard is the DEXA Scan (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry), which measures Bone Mineral Density (BMD).

Why in the News? (Latest 2025-26 Context)

• Ayurveda Integration (Oct 2025): On World Osteoporosis Day 2025, the Ministry of Ayush highlighted the “Ayurvedic Pathway” to bone health. The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) is scientifically validating formulations like Laksha Guggulu and Pravala Pishti as supplementary treatments.
• Space Biology (ISRO CROPS-1): While the CROPS mission (2024-25) focused on plants, it is a precursor to studying human bone density loss in microgravity. Astronauts (like Sunita Williams in 2024/25) lose bone mass at a rate of 1% to 1.5% per month in space, making osteoporosis research a priority for the Gaganyaan mission.
• NCD Program Rebranding: Osteoporosis is increasingly being addressed under the newly renamed National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), which has shifted focus toward geriatric care and screening for the elderly.

6. Nagarahole National Park

Located in the Kodagu and Mysuru districts of Karnataka, Nagarahole is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve—the first biosphere reserve in India.

Key Geographical Features:

• Ecological Confluence: It sits at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, acting as a link between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats (through Bandipur).
• Hydrography: The park is named after the Nagarahole River (Naga meaning snake, Hole meaning river/stream). The Kabini River serves as a natural boundary separating Nagarahole from Bandipur National Park.
• Vegetation: A transition from Tropical Moist Deciduous forests in the west to Dry Deciduous forests in the east. It features unique swampy fallows called ‘hadlu’, which are rich in grasses and favored by herbivores.

Why in the News? (Latest 2025-26 Context)

• Resumption of Tiger Safaris (Feb 2026): Safaris in Nagarahole and Bandipur resumed on February 21, 2026, under strict guidelines after being suspended since November 2025 due to a spike in human-tiger conflicts.
• International Big Cat Summit (Feb 2026): Delegates from 20 countries visited Nagarahole to study India’s successful landscape-based conservation and human-wildlife conflict management models.
• Sixth National Tiger Census (Jan 2026): The decennial-style tiger estimation exercise commenced in early 2026. Nagarahole is a critical focus area as it has historically maintained one of the highest tiger densities in India (ranking 3rd nationally after Corbett and Kaziranga).
• Eco-Tourism Revenue Sharing: A new policy was introduced in 2025-26 where 35% of safari revenue is now allocated to local fringe communities for skill training and cattle fodder to reduce forest dependence.

7. Indus Valley Civilization

The IVC (c. 3300–1300 BCE) was one of the world’s three earliest civilizations. For an aspirant, the core focus should be on its Standardization (bricks, weights), Urban Planning (grid system, drainage), and Trade (Mesopotamian links).

Latest Key Sites & Updates (2025-26)

• Rakhigarhi (Haryana): Now considered the largest Harappan site, surpassing Mohenjo-daro. Recent Phase 4 excavations (2026) focus on “Lower Towns” to understand social stratification.
• Dholavira (Gujarat): India’s first IVC site on the UNESCO World Heritage List (2021). Known for its unique three-tier city plan and “Jala Durga” (water fortress) architecture.
• Ratadiya Ri Dheri (Rajasthan): A brand new rural Harappan site discovered in the Thar Desert (2025), bridging the geographical gap between Sindh and Gujarat settlements.

Why in the News? (Latest Developments)

1. The $1 Million Script Prize (2025-26)

The Tamil Nadu Government announced a global prize of $1 million for deciphering the Indus Script. This has reignited debates on the Dravidian Hypothesis (linking IVC to old Tamil).

2. AI in Archaeology

In late 2025, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) hosted an international summit on using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to find linguistic patterns in the 4,000+ known inscriptions.

3. The “No Invasion” Genetic Data

DNA analysis of a 4,500-year-old skeleton from Rakhigarhi (I4411) continues to be debated in 2026. The findings suggest that the Harappan ancestry is indigenous to South Asia, challenging the century-old Aryan Invasion Theory.

8. Toda Community

The Toda people are a small, pastoral tribe residing in the Nilgiri Plateau of Tamil Nadu. They are one of the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India.

Key Cultural Pillars:

• The Buffalo Cult: Their entire existence revolves around the sacred water buffalo. Their temples are “dairies,” and the priest is essentially a “dairyman.”
• Unique Architecture: They live in ‘Munds’ (settlements) consisting of semi-barrel-shaped huts called ‘Dogles’, built using bamboo, rattan, and thatch.
• Social Structure: Historically known for fraternal polyandry (though now largely abandoned) and a unique system of justice called ‘Noim’ headed by a ‘Monegar’.
• Diet: They are strictly vegetarian, a rarity among tribal groups, relying heavily on dairy products.

Why in the News? (Latest 2025-26 Context)

A. The “Modhweth” Festival (January 2026)

The community recently celebrated their most significant annual festival, Modhweth (or the Buffalo Festival), at the Moonpo Temple in Muthanadu Mund.

• Significance: It marks the New Year and involves prayers to the deity Thenkish Amman for health and a good harvest.
• Strength Ritual: A unique feature is the lifting of a greased boulder (weighing approx. 80 kg) by young men to demonstrate masculinity and balance.

B. Toda Embroidery & GI Rights (February 2026)

The community is currently in a legal and social battle over their GI-tagged embroidery (Pukhoor).

• The Issue: Accusations of “cultural appropriation” arose when non-tribal members were hired to produce the embroidery.
• Legal Debate: While the GI tag protects the product’s identity, there is a growing demand from the tribe to ensure that only Toda women can legally practice this “sacred” art to prevent its dilution.

C. Revitalisation Project (2025-26)

Under the Tholkudi Makkal Scheme, the Tamil Nadu government has launched a project to document the Toda Language (which has no script) and preserve their oral traditions, chants, and songs which are rapidly disappearing.

9. BRICS Membership

Initially an acronym coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill to identify high-growth emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China), the group has matured into a formal intergovernmental organization.

• Genesis: Formalized in 2006; first summit in Yekaterinburg (2009).
• First Expansion: South Africa joined in 2010 (changing BRIC to BRICS).
• The “Kazan” Shift: The 16th Summit in Kazan (2024) and the 17th Summit in Brazil (2025) cemented the “Partner Country” model and integrated the second wave of expansion.
• Core Objective: To challenge the “unipolar” world order and reform the Bretton Woods institutions (IMF and World Bank) to better represent the Global South.

Why in the News? (Latest February 2026 Data)

A. The 2026 Indian Presidency

As of January 2026, India has officially assumed the Chairmanship of BRICS. India will host the 18th BRICS Summit later this year.

• Theme: Focused on the four pillars of “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.”
• Priority: India is pushing for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a scalable model for the Global South and the “interoperability” of national digital payment systems (like UPI-linkages).

B. Current Membership Status (The 11 Full Members)

As of early 2026, the group consists of 11 full members:

1. Original 5: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.
2. 2024 Entrants: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia.
3. 2025 Entrant: Indonesia officially transitioned to full membership in January 2025.

C. The “Partner Country” Category

In a move to manage the long “waitlist” of 40+ countries, BRICS introduced a Partner status (similar to observer status).

• Current Partners (10): Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
• Notable Opt-outs: Argentina (under President Javier Milei) declined the invitation in 2024; Algeria withdrew its bid in late 2024.

10. Vembanad Lake

Vembanad is India’s longest lake and the largest in Kerala. For an aspirant, it is important to categorize it geographically and ecologically:

• Geographical Identity: It spans three districts (Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam) and is known by various names: Vembanad Kayal, Punnamada Lake (in Kuttanad), and Kochi Lake (in Kochi).
• Ramsar Status: Designated as a Ramsar Site in 2002, it is the second-largest wetland of international importance in India, after the Sundarbans.
• The Thanneermukkom Bund: This is India’s largest saltwater barrage. It divides the lake into two parts:
  • Southern Freshwater side: Maintained for paddy cultivation in Kuttanad (the “Rice Bowl of Kerala”).
  • Northern Brackish water side: Connected to the Arabian Sea.
• Drainage: It is fed by four major rivers: Pampa, Achankovil, Meenachil, and Manimala.

Why in the News? (Latest 2025-26 Context)

Vembanad has dominated the news cycle in late 2025 and early 2026 due to aggressive judicial and administrative interventions:

• Kerala High Court Crackdown (Jan-Feb 2026): The High Court issued a landmark directive requiring all houseboats plying on the lake to obtain a “Certificate of Compliance” for pollution prevention within three months or face an operational ban. This follows reports of the lake reaching “carrying capacity” and being choked by sewage.
• Microplastic Crisis (2025): Recent environmental studies published in late 2025 highlighted that Vembanad has some of the highest microplastic concentrations among global estuaries, threatening the endemic clam and fish populations.
• “Kottayam Flood-Free” Initiative (Feb 2026): A ₹100-crore project commenced to clear silt from the six river mouths (including the Meenachil) that drain into the lake to prevent the recurring urban flooding in central Kerala.
• Declining Fish Catch: Reports in 2025 indicated a 66% decline in traditional fish varieties due to ecological decay and the imbalance caused by the Thanneermukkom Bund’s operations.

Conclusion

The topics outlined in this seventh installment represent the core of the evolving UPSC Prelims landscape—where ancient history meets cutting-edge technology and local environmental conservation intersects with global geopolitics.

Success in the 2026 Prelims will depend on an aspirant’s ability to see the “connective tissue” between these subjects:

• Understanding how Ancient DNA (Rakhigarhi) reshapes our historical narrative.
• Recognizing how Space Biology (ISRO-CROPS) offers solutions for terrestrial health issues like Osteoporosis.
• Analyzing how Digital Public Infrastructure (BRICS 2026) serves as a bridge for the Global South.

As the examination pattern continues to favor conceptual depth over rote memorization, your preparation must be dynamic. Use these highlights as a roadmap for your final revisions, ensuring you balance static foundations with the latest updates from 2025 and early 2026. Stay consistent, remain analytical, and keep your preparation aligned with the pulse of national and international developments.