GK Express of 07/02/2026

🚆 GK Express 2.0

Discipline • Clarity • Competitive Preparation

TODAY’S FOCUS → INTERNAL SECURITY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

🧠 Thought of the Day

“We cannot stop natural disasters but we can arm ourselves with knowledge: so many lives wouldn't have to be lost if there was enough disaster preparedness.”

— Petra Nemcova

📰 Current Affairs (Security)

1. Highest ever Defence Budget: The Union Budget 2026–27 has drawn sharp attention for giving the highest-ever allocation of Rs 7.85 lakh crore to the defence sector, signalling India’s strategic focus on military modernisation, indigenous manufacturing and veterans’ welfare.
2. KAVACH 4.0 in Indian Trains: Indian Railways recently commissioned a record 472.3 route kilometres of Kavach Version 4.0 in a single day, the highest-ever rollout achieved in a day and month.
   
   
   Kavach is India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, developed since 2012 as the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and later rechristened as Kavach (meaning “armour”).
3. Digital Personal Data Protection Act: Communal tension between tribal communities and Christians in Kapena village, Odisha, has spoilt the practice and sanctity of the tribal sacred groves.
   What are Sacred Groves?
   
   
   
   Sacred groves are patches of virgin or near-natural forests protected by local communities due to their religious, cultural, and spiritual significance.

📘 Concept of the Day

Narco-Terrorism: The Silent Threat

Internal Security

Narco-terrorism is the lethal intersection of drug trafficking and terrorism. It’s a "business deal" where drug cartels provide the money, and terrorist groups provide the violence and routes.

The Logic: Terrorists need funding for weapons; Drug cartels need military-grade protection. This synergy destabilizes national security.

1. International Hotspots

India is geographically "sandwiched" between the two most dangerous drug zones in the world:

The Golden Crescent

Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran.

Impact: Influx of heroin/opium through Punjab and J&K borders.

The Golden Triangle

Countries: Myanmar, Thailand, Laos.

Impact: Synthetic drugs (Yaba tablets) entering via the North-East.

2. Challenges in India (2025-26)

• Drone Drops: Use of high-tech drones to drop "Drug-and-Weapon" packages across the Western border.
• Maritime Shift: Increased trafficking through the Arabian Sea to bypass land-border fencing.
• Crypto-Payments: Use of the Dark Web and Cryptocurrency to mask the money trail from the NIA.

3. Key Agencies

The NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) and NIA (National Investigation Agency) are the primary bodies tackling this under the UAPA laws.

🤔 Think About This

Tap a question to reveal the answer

1. Mineral resources are very important to the country’s economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard?

Impact of Mining:
1. Land Degradation: Surface mining causes deforestation, soil erosion, sinkholes, and loss of topsoil, rendering land unproductive for agriculture or habitats.
Heavy machinery and blasting destroy biodiversity, creating artificial valleys that alter local climates
2. Water Pollution and Contamination: Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) contaminates groundwater and nearby rivers with toxic heavy metals. Mining releases toxic chemicals like arsenic, mercury, cyanide, and sulfuric acid into groundwater and rivers via acid mine drainage and tailings.
This contaminates drinking water sources and harms aquatic life.
3. Air Pollution: Dust from blasting and transport causes respiratory diseases (e.g., Silicosis in workers).
4. Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss: Large forest areas are cleared, destroying wildlife habitats (e.g., Coal mining in Hasdeo Arand).
Habitat fragmentation from clearing vast areas displaces wildlife, while pollutants enter food chains, affecting species like fish and mammals. In India, iron ore mining has impacted elephant habitats despite regulations.

2. Discuss the types of organised crime. Describe the linkages between terrorists and organised crime that exist at the national and transnational levels.

Meaning of Organised and Unorganised Crime:Organised crime involves structured groups operating systematically for profit, while unorganised crime refers to spontaneous, individual acts without such coordination.

Types of Organised Crime: Drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, and cyber-crimes.

Linkages with Terrorism:
1. Funding: Terrorists use organised crime (drug trade/extortion) to finance their operations (e.g., Narco-terrorism in Kashmir/Punjab).
2. Logistics: Crime syndicates provide fake passports, safe houses, and transport routes to terrorists.
3. Arms Supply: Smugglers supply illegal weapons and explosives to terror outfits.
Example: The Dawood Ibrahim gang's role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts.

📝 Let’s Write an Exam

Q.1 (UPSC PYQ)
What is the location of the International Tsunami Information Center?

A) Genev

B) Honolulu

C) Vishakapatnam

D) Kolkata

Answer: B
• The International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC) is a Honolulu-based, UNESCO-established (1965) organization under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) that mitigates tsunami risks by enhancing preparedness, education, and warning systems for Pacific nations.

Q.2 (UPSC PYQ)
The 'Nodal Ministry' in the Government of India for the management of droughts (కరువులు) is:

A) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

B) Ministry of Home Affairs

C) Ministry of Environment & Forests

D) Ministry of Jal Shakti

Answer: A
• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is the nodal ministry for managing droughts and famines in India.
• Note: Early warnings related to Droughts are given by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMA).

✍️ Answer These Questions

1. What is the full form of NIDM?

2. Naxalism affected areas are commonly called as?

GK Express @ Juniors Hostel
Curated with discipline by Nikhil Dasari