Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 05 September, 2026

Context: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology, launched BIO-NIVESH — a platform to connect biotechnology startups with investors and raise private capital for innovations ready for scale-up and commercialisation. It was launched at a joint roundtable with startups and investors in New Delhi.

What BIO-NIVESH Is

• A strategic platform connecting science, capital, industry and markets
• Fostering collaboration among innovators, investors, industry and government

The Distinguishing Design

• Unlike a conventional pitching event, BIO-NIVESH is a two-way engagement mechanism
• Helping startups understand investors’ expectations
• And giving investors deeper insight into biotechnology’s scientific, regulatory and development pathways

Context

UNEP released Limiting Overshoot: Navigating Exceedance of 1.5°C and Pathways Towards Return. It examines how the world can return below 1.5°C if global temperatures temporarily exceed the target.

What is Climate Overshoot?

• Climate overshoot means global temperature temporarily exceeds 1.5°C, reaches a peak, and later declines.
• The pathway has four stages:
  1. Exceedance
  2. Plateau/Peak
  3. Decline
  4. Stabilization

Key Findings

• Human-induced warming is already around 1.4°C and rising by about 0.25°C per decade.
• WMO estimates a 75% probability that the 2026–2030 average will exceed 1.5°C.
• Only around 130 GtCO₂ remains in the carbon budget for a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
• At current emissions, this budget could be exhausted in roughly 3 years.
• Current policies could lead to around 2.6°C warming by 2100.
• Even full implementation of NDCs and net-zero pledges could result in peak warming of about 1.8°C.

Cost of Delay

• Every 5 years of continued high emissions could add around 0.1°C to peak warming.
• Returning to lower temperatures would then require removing roughly 220 GtCO₂ from the atmosphere.

Major Risks

• Tipping points: Greenland and West Antarctic ice-sheet loss, AMOC weakening and Amazon dieback.
• Glaciers: Mountain glaciers could lose more than 25% of their mass by 2100.
• Sea level: Each century spent above 1.5°C could contribute around 40 cm of additional sea-level rise by 2300.
• Food security: Food production could decline by up to 14% by 2050 without adequate adaptation.
• Coral reefs: Severe and repeated bleaching could push reefs beyond their ability to adapt.

Key Challenges & Way Forward

• Axis Bank and Scapia launched the Scapia Axis Bank Credit Card.
• Available on both Mastercard and RuPay networks.
• Features zero joining fee, zero annual fee and zero forex mark-up.
• Offers travel rewards and benefits through the Scapia app.
• Targets digitally native and travel-focused consumers.

• ICICI Bank acquired an additional 2% stake in ICICI Prudential Life Insurance.
• Transaction value: approximately ₹1,470 crore.
• ICICI Bank’s holding increased to around 52.8%.
• Acquisition was made through the stock exchange mechanism.
• Linked to regulatory requirements arising from Prudential’s proposed acquisition of Bharti Life Insurance.

Context The Defence Minister released ‘RAKSHA’, a strategic document outlining India’s 10-year defence diplomacy roadmap and vision for global partnerships, at an event held at Kartavya Bhawan.

What RAKSHA Is

• A strategic 10-year defence diplomacy vision document formulated by the Ministry of Defence
• An institutional blueprint defining how India will use its military engagements, multilateral security frameworks, domestic defence-industrial ecosystem and maritime presence
• To foster global stability, protect national security interests, and advance a rules-based international order over the next decade

Nodal Bodies

• Ministry of Defence, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and the National Security Council Secretariat

Aim

• Align national security priorities with proactive foreign policy
• Transform defence diplomacy into a tool for mutual economic growth, strategic autonomy and a rules-based international order

Context The Ministry of Defence announced that the 16th edition of Aero India will be held from 8 to 12 February 2027, at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru.

What Aero India Is

• Asia’s largest biennial aerospace and defence exhibition
• Showcasing civil and military aircraft, weapon systems and defence electronics
• Bringing together aerospace manufacturers, military delegations, policymakers, startups and research institutions

Organisation and Venue

• Organised by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
• Hosted by the Indian Air Force at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, Karnataka

Aim

• Showcase India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing capabilities
• Advance Aatmanirbhar Bharat
• Boost defence exports and foster international industrial partnerships

Context ISRO successfully launched its advanced Earth observation satellite EOS-05 aboard the GSLV-F17 on 4 September 2026 — India’s first imaging satellite designed to monitor Earth from geosynchronous orbit, about 36,000 km up.

EOS-05: India’s First Dedicated Geosynchronous Earth-Imaging Satellite

• ISRO successfully launched EOS-05 using the GSLV-F17 on 4 September 2026.
• It is India’s first Earth-imaging satellite designed for geosynchronous orbit.
• The satellite weighs around 2,367 kg, making it the heaviest payload launched by GSLV so far.
• EOS-05 is also known as GISAT-1A.

Why is EOS-05 important?

• Unlike conventional Earth-observation satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), EOS-05 will operate from geosynchronous orbit, around 36,000 km above Earth.
• This allows it to repeatedly observe the same geographical region, providing frequent and near-real-time imagery.
• This capability is particularly useful for:
  • Disaster management
  • Agriculture
  • Forestry
  • Weather and environmental monitoring
  • Land-use monitoring
  • Strategic and national-security applications

GSLV-F17

• Launch vehicle: GSLV Mk II / GSLV-F17
• Developed and operated by: ISRO
• Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
• The mission also demonstrated improved reliability of the GSLV Mk II.

• Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra appointed as the first full-time CEO of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
• He served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command.
• Retired from the IAF in April 2026.
• He led the Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor.
• The Trust also appointed Govind Dev Giri as General Secretary and Mahesh Bhagchandka as Treasurer.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the RAKSHA framework for India’s defence diplomacy.
• Provides a 10-year vision for strengthening global defence partnerships.
• Four key pillars: Strategic Partnerships, Capacity Building, Indigenous Exports and Maritime Security.
• Focuses on India’s role as a Net Security Provider and First Responder in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Aims to promote defence cooperation, technology sharing and indigenous defence exports.

• NIELIT and Intel India launched programmes to develop an Agentic AI-ready workforce.
• Focus is on AI systems capable of reasoning, planning and execution.
• Two programmes: Agentic AI for Everyone and Engineering Agentic AI Systems.
• Emphasis on government–academia–industry collaboration.
• NIELIT functions under MeitY for skill development in electronics and IT.

• Held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from 31 August–1 September 2026.
• India was represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Pakistan received the SCO presidency for 2026–27.
• Lahore was designated SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026–27.
• Summit adopted the Bishkek Declaration and approved 28 documents.

• Odisha State Disaster Management Authority signed MoUs with UNDP and CivicDataLab.
• UNDP will conduct Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA) across all 30 districts.
• CivicDataLab will implement the IDS-DRR platform.
• Focus areas include floods, coastal flooding and heatwaves.
• Supports Odisha’s Zero Casualty disaster-management approach.

• Bharat Tex Trade Federation and Premiere Vision SA signed an MoU in Paris.
• Aim: shift Indian textile exports from volume-based to high-value and design-led products.
• Provides access to international buyers, fashion houses and premium sourcing networks.
• Cooperation covers export promotion, sustainability, circularity, traceability and heritage crafts.
• A Joint Steering Committee will oversee implementation.

• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and Textiles Committee signed an MoU.
• Aim to promote recycled and upcycled textile products through government procurement.
• Focus on creating a Waste-to-Value-to-Market ecosystem.
• Textiles Committee will identify/certify producers and provide standardisation support.
• GeM will facilitate market access, producer onboarding and procurement.

• The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 4 September 2026 to observe 27 November every year as the International Day for the Elimination of Child Marriage.
• The initiative aims to strengthen global efforts to prevent child, early and forced marriage.
• Focuses on protecting children’s rights, education, health and overall development.
• It highlights the need for stronger laws, social awareness and coordinated action against child marriage.

• The UN General Assembly adopted the “Correct the Map” resolution on 4 September 2026.
• The resolution addresses cartographic distortions and inaccuracies in world maps.
• India voted in favour of the resolution.
• The initiative highlights the importance of accurate geographical representation and responsible map-making.

• The Rangpur-Sivasagar Historical Ensemble of Assam has been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List.
• It represents the historic capital landscape of the Ahom dynasty, which ruled the Brahmaputra Valley for nearly six centuries.
• The ensemble includes important royal, religious, water-management and funerary structures.
• India submitted the nomination dossier to UNESCO on 19 June 2026.

• Adani Defence & Aerospace signed a five-year agreement with Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited.
• The agreement covers indigenous 7.62×39 mm ammunition for the AK-203 assault rifle programme.
• It supports domestic production of small-calibre ammunition.
• The deal strengthens Make in India and defence self-reliance.

• India and Afghanistan share long-standing civilisational, economic and people-to-people ties.
• As India has no direct land route to Afghanistan, connectivity depends on transit corridors and strategic ports.
• Chabahar Port remains an important connectivity route for India to access Afghanistan and Central Asia.
• Connectivity cooperation is important for trade, humanitarian assistance and regional integration.