UPSC Daily Current Affairs for 12 August 2026

India and the Arctic: From Scientific Presence to Strategic Engagement

Context

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs recently released its report ‘India’s Role and Presence in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions’, reviewing India’s polar engagement and highlighting major capability gaps in the Arctic.

About India’s Arctic Engagement: Past & Present

India’s Arctic engagement has historically centred on scientific research and climate studies, but the region is now acquiring wider strategic, economic and geopolitical significance.

India’s engagement dates back to the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, under which Indians have rights to access Svalbard and undertake commercial activities, subject to the treaty’s provisions.

Ladakh’s Glaciers Are Slowing Down

Context

According to a new study, between 1992 and 2023, 12 glaciers in the Zanskar region of Ladakh slowed at an average rate of 2.4 m/year per decade, along with increased glacier thinning.

What are Glaciers?

They are large and thick masses of ice that are formed on land due to the accumulation of snow over centuries.

They hold 70 per cent of the Earth’s freshwater, currently encompassing around 10 percent of the planet’s land area.

India’s Cultural Diplomacy: Towards a National Framework for Global Engagement

Context

India is strengthening its cultural diplomacy and international engagement through a Cultural Exchange Programmes with 98 countries.

What is Cultural Diplomacy?

Cultural diplomacy is the exchange of ideas, information, art, language and other aspects of culture among nations and peoples in order to foster mutual understanding.

It functions as a soft but potent force for unity and coexistence.

Ship Recycling in India

In Context

India has emerged as a leading destination for environmentally sound ship recycling.

Ship recycling

It refers to the process of dismantling vessels with the purpose of extracting and recovering materials for reuse, particularly the steel.

It is an integral part of the maritime lifecycle, enabling ships that have reached the end of their operational life to be dismantled in a safe, environmentally sound and resource-efficient manner.

News In Short 12-08-2026

Context

Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, has fallen to its lowest water level since it was filled nearly 90 years ago.

About

Lake Mead is a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, located on the Arizona-Nevada border, about 40 km east of Las Vegas.

It is one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the world by water capacity. The lake was created as part of the Boulder Canyon Project and was named after Elwood Mead, former Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.