India Deploys AI-Powered Indrajaal Counter-Drone System Covering 4,000 Sq Km; Artemis II Mission Prepares for Launch

ISRO Launches EOS-05: India's First Geo-Imaging Satellite in Geosynchronous Orbit; SC Invokes Article 142 to Quash CJP Protest Cases

A day of high exam relevance: ISRO successfully launched EOS-05, India’s first dedicated geo-imaging satellite in geosynchronous orbit, breaking a failure streak. The Supreme Court used its extraordinary power under Article 142 to close cases linked to CJP protests, raising important constitutional questions. Other key updates include OpenAI’s new autonomous AI model, Manipur’s NRC-first demand for Census deferral, mistrust in GDP data, and Tata Chemicals’ Kenya dispute.

UPSC Key: Moon Base, Surrogate Ads, Mines Bill, Criminalisation – Daily News Analysis for Prelims & Mains

Today's UPSC Key covers 5 major topics: India invited to NASA's Moon Base programme, FDA notices to actors for surrogate ads, Centre-State tussle over Mines Bill, 4,192 criminal cases pending against MPs/MLAs, and RBI's FCNR(B) swap facility. Essential for Prelims & Mains.

NASA Invites ISRO to Join Moon Base Programme; India Signed Artemis Accords, Targets 2040 Human Moon Landing

NASA has invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme, a major step in India-US space cooperation. India, a signatory to the Artemis Accords, aims to land humans on the Moon by 2040. This collaboration offers ISRO hands-on experience but raises concerns about technology dependency.

AI-Driven Cyber Threats Rise: India 2nd Most Attacked Nation, AI Agents Find Zero-Day Flaws

The article highlights how AI is transforming cyber threats—from automated reconnaissance to AI-generated polymorphic malware and autonomous zero-day vulnerability discovery. For India, already among the most targeted nations, the lag in indigenous AI capabilities poses a critical national security risk, demanding integrated AI-cybersecurity policymaking.

ISRO-JAXA Joint Chandrayaan-5 (LUPEX) Mission for 2028: Lander by India, Rover by Japan, 7 Scientific Payloads

India and Japan are advancing the Chandrayaan-5 (LUPEX) joint mission to the Moon, scheduled for 2028. This is a first-of-its-kind joint rover mission where ISRO builds the lander and JAXA develops the rover, with NASA and ESA contributing payloads. The mission aims to study lunar water and water-ice for 100 days, marking a significant step in global lunar exploration cooperation.

NASA Invites ISRO to Moon Base Programme Under Artemis Accords; India Joins 70-Nation Alliance

NASA has formally invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme, building on the India-US space partnership under the Artemis Accords. This is a major step in deepening bilateral space cooperation, with implications for India's Gaganyaan mission and human spaceflight ambitions. For exam aspirants, this news is critical for Prelims facts (Artemis Accords, NISAR, Gaganyaan) and Mains analysis (bilateral space diplomacy, strategic technology partnerships).

India-Australia ECTA: Zero Tariff on Indian Goods, 200% Export Growth, PACTS & Quad in Focus

India-Australia ties are no longer just cricket—ECTA zero-tariff access, PACTS on critical technologies, space tracking and Quad security now anchor the relationship. Indian exports to Australia have grown ~200% in five years. This is a high-value bilateral story for IR, economy, science-tech and security questions.

NASA Invites ISRO to Join Moon Base Program Under Artemis Accords for Lunar South Pole Outpost

NASA has formally invited ISRO to join its ambitious Moon Base programme, aiming to build humanity's first lunar outpost near the South Pole. This invitation, extended during the 9th India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru, deepens bilateral space collaboration under the Artemis Accords and the TRUST initiative. For UPSC aspirants, this is a crucial topic for Science & Tech and International Relations, with potential prelims questions on the Artemis Accords, CSJWG, and lunar South Pole.