UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Digest: Maduro Capture, Galaxy Frogs, CBAM & More

For aspirants preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 and other state PCS exams, staying updated with current events is non-negotiable. This weekly digest compiles the crucial national and international developments from December 29, 2025, to January 4, 2026, providing a concise yet comprehensive overview for your Prelims and Mains preparation.

International Affairs: Geopolitical Shifts and Economic Changes

US Captures Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

In a dramatic escalation of tensions, US President Donald Trump announced on January 3, 2026, that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been captured and flown out of the country. This followed widespread US military strikes on Venezuela, with at least seven explosions reported in the capital, Caracas. The US has long accused Maduro of drug trafficking and collaborating with terrorist-designated gangs, allegations he denies. Reports suggest the high-stakes operation was executed by the elite Delta Force (1st SFOD-D), marking a significant intensification after months of targeted actions against Venezuelan assets.

Bulgaria Joins the Eurozone

On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria became the 21st member of the eurozone, taking a major step towards deeper European integration. As the European Union's poorest member, Bulgaria retired its historic currency, the lev, which had been in use since 1881 and pegged to the Deutschmark and later the euro since 1997. This expansion brings the total population using the euro to approximately 350 million. Croatia was the last country to join the bloc in 2023. The eurozone, established under the Maastricht Treaty, now includes 21 of the 27 EU member states.

EU Implements Carbon Border Tax, India Criticises

The European Union commenced the implementation of the world's first Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on January 1, 2026. This carbon tax has sparked criticism from developing nations, including India, which has labelled it a violation of multilateral trade norms. The CBAM applies a charge on imports of carbon-intensive goods like cement, steel, aluminium, and fertilisers from countries with less stringent environmental regulations than the EU. With India being a significant exporter of aluminium, iron, and steel to the EU, its industries are expected to face impact. India has called for such measures to be debated in wider international forums rather than being unilaterally imposed.

National Spotlight: Heritage, Environment, and Policy

INSV Kaundinya's Historic Voyage

The Indian Navy's unique stitched sailing vessel, INSV Kaundinya, embarked on its maiden overseas voyage on December 29, 2025, from Porbandar, Gujarat, to Muscat, Oman. This journey retraces ancient maritime trade routes. The vessel's design is based on a 5th-century CE ship depicted in the Ajanta Cave paintings. Named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya, who is said to have founded the Funan kingdom in Southeast Asia, the ship features symbolic elements like the Gandabherunda (a two-headed mythical bird, the state symbol of Karnataka) on its sails and a Simha Yali (a mythical lion guardian) on its bow.

Discovery of a 2,000-Year-Old Buddhist Site in Kashmir

Archaeologists in Jammu and Kashmir have uncovered a significant 2,000-year-old Buddhist complex in Zehanpora village, Baramulla district. The discovery was prompted by an archival photograph in a French museum showing three ancient stupas. The site is believed to date back to the Kushan period, highlighting Kashmir's rich Buddhist heritage.

Magh Mela Commences in Prayagraj

The annual Magh Mela pilgrimage has begun in Prayagraj, leading the Northern Railway to issue a travel advisory. This religious gathering, held during the Hindu month of Magh, sees devotees take a holy dip at the Sangam (confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati). It is one of the largest religious events after the Maha Kumbh, which occurs every 12 years.

Exhibition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics Inaugurated

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated "The Light and The Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One" in New Delhi on January 3. The exhibition showcases the sacred Piprahwa relics, discovered in 1898 in Uttar Pradesh's Siddharthnagar district. Recently repatriated to India after an auction at Sotheby's Hong Kong was halted, the relics, believed to contain bone fragments of Lord Buddha and offerings from his kin, the Sakyas, are now on public display.

Environment and Science: Concerns and Discoveries

Galaxy Frogs Face Threat from Photography

A recent study has raised alarm about the impact of nature photography on the critically endangered Galaxy Frog (Melanobatrachus indicus). This tiny, dazzling amphibian, no bigger than a fingertip, with star-like blue speckles on black skin, lives under rotten logs in Kerala's Western Ghats. Designated the flagship species of Mathikettan Shola National Park in 2021, a group of seven of these rare frogs reportedly vanished after photographers disturbed their habitat, potentially disrupting feeding and breeding. Already listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, the incident underscores the need for ethical wildlife photography standards.

Secondary Aerosols Dominate Delhi's Pollution

Secondary aerosols now constitute at least one-third of Delhi's annual PM2.5 pollution. Unlike primary pollutants from direct sources like dust and vehicles, secondary particulate matter forms in the air when precursor gases (like sulphur dioxide) react under specific weather conditions. A dominant component in Delhi is ammonium sulfate, formed from SO₂ emissions largely released by coal-fired power plants. India is the world's largest SO₂ emitter, and a recent government exemption for many power plants from installing Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems has weakened source control.

Delhi Explores AI to Combat Pollution

The Delhi government is considering a collaboration with IIT Kanpur to develop an AI-enabled Decision Support System (DSS). This data-driven system aims to identify pollution sources at a granular level and enable targeted, timely interventions, moving beyond the current reliance on IIT Pune's DSS.

First Supermoon of 2026

The first supermoon of 2026 was visible on January 3. A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth (perigee), making it appear about 14% larger and 30% brighter than the smallest full moon of the year.

Polity and Governance: Key Updates

New Duty Rates for Tobacco Products

The government has notified new duty rates for tobacco products. From February 1, 2026, pan masala and cigarettes will attract a GST rate of 40%, while biris will be taxed at 18%. Additionally, a Health and National Security Cess will be levied on pan masala, and an additional excise duty on tobacco products. These new levies replace the compensation cess, which was extended to service COVID-era loans.

Bullet Train Project Achieves Tunnel Breakthrough

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project achieved a breakthrough in its first mountain tunnel (Mountain Tunnel No. 5) in Palghar, Maharashtra. This 1.5-km long tunnel, the project's longest mountain tunnel, is approximately 55% complete. The total project cost is estimated at ₹1.08 lakh crore, with Japan's JICA funding 81% of it.

Supreme Court on Open Category Recruitment

The Supreme Court has ruled that recruitment authorities cannot exclude reserved category candidates from consideration for open category posts if they have scored above the general cut-off. The court clarified that the open category is a merit-based pool open to all candidates and treating it as a closed compartment would distort affirmative action.

Shipbuilding Initiatives Launched

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has notified guidelines for two schemes: the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) with a corpus of ₹24,736 crore, offering 15-25% financial aid per vessel, and the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) with an outlay of ₹19,989 crore for long-term capacity building.

Health Alerts and Persons in News

Counterfeit Rabies Vaccine Advisory

Health departments in Australia, the UK, and the US have issued advisories regarding counterfeit rabies vaccines (Abhayrab) found in several Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Agra. Citizens who received rabies shots in India are urged to check if they need replacement doses. Drug regulation in India is a concurrent responsibility of Central and State authorities under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Ban on High-Dose Nimesulide

The Union Health Ministry has banned the manufacture and sale of oral "immediate release" formulations of the painkiller nimesulide above 100 mg dosage, following an ICMR recommendation due to concerns over liver toxicity.

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Delhi's Air

A JNU study found high levels of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci bacteria in Delhi's air, with peaks in winter. These bacteria, which can cause severe infections, adhere to particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10), facilitating their spread and increasing respiratory infection risks.

Khaleda Zia Passes Away

Bangladesh's first woman Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia, passed away on December 30, 2025. The chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), she served as PM three times and is remembered for educational reforms and restoring parliamentary democracy.

Kaamya Karthikeyan's Polar Feat

Kaamya Karthikeyan, an 18-year-old daughter of an Indian Navy officer, became the youngest Indian to ski to the South Pole. She completed the 115 km trek on December 27, 2025, braving temperatures as low as -30°C.