Upcoming Mentoring Sessions
RMS - Economy - Planning and Mobilisation of Resources
RMS - Modern History - 1919 AD to 1932 AD
RMS - Modern History - 1757 AD to 1813 AD
RMS - Economy - Financial Organisations
RMS - Geography - Major Landforms
RMS - Polity - Constitutional and Statutory Bodies
RMS - Geography - EQ, Faulting and Fracture
RMS - Polity - Fundamental Rights - Part II
RMS - Economy - Industry, Infrastructure & Investment Models
RMS - Polity - DPSP & FD
RMS - Economy - Indian Agriculture - Part II
RMS - Geography - Rocks & Volcanoes and its landforms
RMS - Geography - Evolution of Oceans & Continents
RMS - Polity - Fundamental Rights - Part I
RMS - Modern History - 1498 AD to 1757 AD
RMS - Modern History - 1858 AD to 1919 AD
RMS - Geography - Interior of the Earth & Geomorphic Processes
RMS - Geography - Universe and Earth and Basic concepts on Earth
RMS - Economy - Indian Agriculture - Part I
RMS - Economy - Fundamentals of the Indian Economy
RMS - Polity - Union & its territories and Citizenship
RMS - Polity - Constitution & its Salient Features and Preamble
Learning Support Session - ANSWER writing MASTER Session
Learning Support Session - How to Read Newspaper?
Mastering Art of writing Ethics Answers
Mastering Art of Writing Social Issues Answers
Answer Review Session
UPSC CSE 2026 Form Filling Doubt Session
Mentoring Session (2024 - 25) - How to Write an ESSAY?
Social Issues Doubts and Mentoring Session
Ethics & Essay Doubts and Mentoring Session
Geography & Environment Doubts and Mentoring Session
History Doubts and Mentoring Session
Economy & Agriculture Doubts and Mentoring Session
Online Orientation Session
How to Read Newspaper and Make Notes?
Mains Support Programme 2025-(2)
Mains Support Programme 2025- (1)
Polity & International Relations Doubts and Mentoring Session
Mentoring Sessions (2024-25) - How to DO REVISION?
Learning Support Session - How to Start Preparation?
RMS - Geography - World Mapping
Mentoring Session (2024-25) - How to Make Notes?
General Mentoring Session (GMS )
Mentoring Session (2025-26) - How to write an Answer?
Current Affairs
Feb. 19, 2026
Dibang Multipurpose Project
The under-construction 2,880 MW Dibang multipurpose hydel project in Arunachal Pradesh recently achieved a significant milestone with the successful daylighting of Diversion Tunnel-3 (DT-3).
About Dibang Multipurpose Project:
- It is a flood control cum hydroelectric power project to be developed on the Dibang River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, in Arunachal Pradesh.
- At 2,880 MW installed capacity, it will be the country’s biggest hydropower facility.
- It is being developed by India’s state-run National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
- The project is designed as an energy storage project, with flood moderation as one of the key objectives, besides power generation.
- Project Features:
- The project envisages the construction of a concrete gravity dam, which will be the highest concrete gravity dam of India.
- The dam is planned to be constructed with the Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) technique, and it will be the highest RCC dam in the World.
Economy
Current Affairs
Feb. 19, 2026
What is CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS)?
ESA’s CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS) recently revealed a four-planet system whose outermost world is a small and rocky planet — not a gas giant.
About CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS):
- It is a European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft.
- It is the first space mission dedicated to studying bright, nearby stars that are already known to host exoplanets, in order to make high-precision observations of the planet's size as it passes in front of its host star.
- It focuses on planets in the super-Earth to Neptune size range.
- Orbit: Sun-synchronous, dusk-dawn orbit at 700 km above Earth.
- The spacecraft has a single science instrument: a specialized camera called a photometer.
- CHEOPS observes transits of Earth-to-Neptune-sized exoplanets and measures their diameters.
- When combined with mass data from ground telescopes, it helps calculate planet density.
- A planet’s density provides vital clues about its composition and structure, indicating, for example, if it is predominantly rocky or gassy, or perhaps harbours significant oceans.
Science & Tech
Current Affairs
Feb. 19, 2026
What is Lymphedema?
A newly discovered cellular mechanism shows promise for treating painful lymphedema.
About Lymphedema:
- It is swelling in various areas of body that happens when something affects the lymphatic system.
- The lymphatic system collects excess fluid, proteins, and toxins from the cells and tissues and returns them to the bloodstream.
- When the lymphatic system doesn’t work well, the body accumulates fluid and may begin to swell.
- The swelling typically affects the arms and legs, but it can affect other areas of the body, too.
- Causes:
- Lymphedema can happen after certain surgeries or because of certain medical conditions or genetic conditions.
- It can be caused by cancer treatments that remove or damage the lymph nodes.
- One may develop lymphedema spontaneously, meaning it happens for no known reason.
- Symptoms:
- Lymphedema symptoms may be mild, causing minor swelling and discomfort.
- Severe cases of lymphedema can affect the ability to move the affected limb, increase the risks of skin infections and sepsis, and can lead to skin changes and breakdown.
- Treatment:
- Once lymphedema develops, it is a chronic condition that cannot be cured but can be treated to relieve swelling and improve the ability to function day to day.
Science & Tech
Current Affairs
Feb. 19, 2026
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently directed the Field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to submit a detailed report on recent tiger fatalities in the reserve and surrounding areas.
About Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve:
- It is located in Madhya Pradesh.
- It is spread over the Vindhya hills.
- Topography: Varies between steep ridges, undulating forests, and open meadows.
- The reserve features caves with Pali inscriptions and animal depictions.
- It also contains ancient structures, including stupas and statues from the 1st century BCE.
- Flora:
- The vegetation of Bandhavgarh is specially filled with Sal forest in the valleys, and bamboo stretches on the lower slopes of the region.
- Some of the most famous floral species include Saj, Dhaora, Tendu, Arjun , Amla, Palas, etc.
- Fauna:
- It is known to have one of the highest density of tigers in the world.
- It also hosts other notable mammals such as leopards, Indian bison (gaur), sambar deer, spotted deer, nilgai, wild boar, sloth bears, Indian wolves, jackals, and both langur and rhesus macaque monkeys.
- It also has over 250 bird species, including the crested serpent eagle, Malabar pied hornbill, white-rumped vulture, and Indian roller.
Environment
Current Affairs
Feb. 19, 2026
What is Galathea balasubramaniani?
Researchers recently discovered a tiny crab species named Galathea balasubramaniani from the coral reefs of Agatti in the Lakshadweep Islands.
About Galathea balasubramaniani:
- It is a new species of crab.
- It was discovered from the coral reefs of Agatti in the Lakshadweep Islands.
- It belongs to the genus Galathea, a group of small, reef-dwelling anomuran crabs commonly called squat lobsters.
- Resembling tiny lobsters, these crabs have the ability to hide among coral and rocky crevices.
- They play an important role in coral reef ecosystems by recycling organic matter and serving as food for fish and other marine organisms.
- It differs from its closest relative, G. mauritiana, in several body characteristics, including the structure of its legs and other morphological features, alongside clear genetic distinctions.
Environment
Current Affairs
Feb. 19, 2026
Indian Grey Hornbill
In a public poll that was conducted by the Forest Department, Indian Grey Hornbill was chosen as the ‘Bird of Tirupattur’ district of Tamil Nadu by over 41,000 voters.
About Indian Grey Hornbill:
- It is a common hornbill found on the Indian subcontinent.
- It is commonly sighted in pairs.
- These birds are known to be arboreal, e. spend most of their time on tall trees, but may descend for food and to collect mud pellets for nesting.
- Appearance:
- It has grey feathers all over the body with a light grey or dull white belly.
- The horn is black or dark grey with a casque extending to the point of curvature of the horn.
- Unlike a lot of other birds, the male and female look similar.
- Habitat: Occurs in deciduous forests, open woodlands and thorn forest as well as rural cultivation and urban gardens and parks.
- Distribution: Indian subcontinent; found from north-east Pakistan and south Nepal east to north-west Bangladesh and south throughout most of India except in Assam.
- Diet: The food is mainly fruits, particularly figs.
- Ecological Role: They play an essential role in the ecosystem as prime dispersers of seeds.
- Conservation status
- IUCN: Least Concern.
Environment
Current Affairs
Feb. 19, 2026
Key Facts about Finland
Recently, the Prime Minister of Finland said that Finland and India, together with global partners, can lead resilient, sustainable and human-centric technological progress.
About Finland:
- Location: It is located in Northern Europe.
- Bordering Countries: Norway (north), Sweden (northwest) and Russia (east).
- Bordering water bodies: It is bounded by the Gulf of Finland (south), Gulf of Bothnia (southwest) and Baltic Sea.
- Capital City: Helsinki
- It is a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO.
- Geographical Features of Finland:
- Climate: It has a severe climate due to its northern location
- Terrain: It is heavily forested
- It has one of the highest concentrations of lakes
- Highest Point: Mount Halti
- Natural Resources: The country consists of copper, iron ore, nickel, cobalt, and chromium.
Geography
Current Affairs
Feb. 19, 2026
Lakhpati Didi Initiative
Recently, the Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare directed officials to formulate a special, focused strategy and work on a war footing to achieve the revised target of creating 6 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
About Lakhpati Didi Initiative:
- A Lakhpati Didi is a Self-Help Group member who earns an annual household income of Rupees One Lakh (Rs. 1,00,000) or more.
- This income is calculated for at least four agricultural seasons and/or business cycles, with an average monthly income exceeding Rs. 10,000 so that it is sustainable.
- It focuses on the individual SHG women and not on the Self-Help Group (SHG).
- This initiative facilitates diversified livelihood activities, by ensuring convergence across all Government departments/ Ministries, Private sector and Market players.
- Objective: To encourage women to start micro-enterprises within their villages.
- The initiative has been initiated by DAY-NRLM, wherein each SHG household is encouraged to take up multiple livelihood activities coupled with value chain interventions.
- Lakhpati Didi Strategy:
- Deepen, Strengthen and Expand Livelihood options: The households will be facilitated and enabled to take up diversified income-generating activities.
- Capacity Building: A Cascade Training Strategy is adopted to enable training and handholding of Potential Lakhpati Didis (SHG members) from across all States and Union Territories in India.
- Financial Assistance: DAY-NRLM serves as a catalyst, facilitating financial assistance and providing a platform for these women to thrive.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
- Revised Target: 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by March 2029.
Polity & Governance
Current Affairs
Feb. 19, 2026
VoicERA
Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology unveiled VoicERA at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
About VoicERA:
- It is an open-source, end-to-end Voice AI stack.
- It is deployed on the BHASHINI National Language Infrastructure.
- It establishes a national execution layer for multilingual Voice and Language AI.
- It is designed to be open, pluggable, interoperable, cloud deployable, and on premise ready.
- The platform enables secure and scalable deployment of voice systems across government, research institutions, and innovation ecosystems.
- Significance
- Modularising the voice stack reduces duplication of effort and eliminates vendor lock-in.
- The integration of VoicERA strengthens BHASHINI’s role as India’s national language
- It expands BHASHINI’s capabilities from translation and language technologies to real-time speech systems, conversational AI, and multilingual telephony at a population scale.
What is BHASHINI?
- BHASHINI, or the BHASHa INterface for India, is an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered language translation platform.
- It is developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under its National Language Translation Mission.
- It aims to build a National Public Digital Platform for languages to develop services and products for citizens by leveraging the power of AI and other emerging technologies.
- It helps people translate content into various Indian languages.
- It uses cutting-edge AI and natural language processing (NLP) technologies to bridge the language divide, enabling users to access content and services in their preferred language.
- It is implemented by Digital India BHASHINI Division, a division under Digital India Corporation, a Section 8 Company of the MeitY.
- Bhashini currently supports more than 22 languages, enabling inclusivity for a broad range of linguistic communities.
Science & Tech