Prelims Focus 7th September 2026

Global Bond Sell-off

In News: If investors around the world sell off their government bonds, the interest rates on government bonds will rise, making borrowing by governments less attractive, and by increasing borrowing rates in the private sector, which may decrease private investment and economic growth, private investment will also decline.

• A bond is a financial contract that is an agreement between the lender and the borrower that the borrower will pay back the principal and interest to the lender over a period of time. 
• They can be marketed and therefore their prices fluctuate with respect to demand and supply. 
• The more bonds that are sold, the less demand there is for them and the price of a bond drops. 
• Interest is typically paid at a fixed amount and the more you pay, the less you get back on the investment.
• Thus, bond prices and bond yields move in opposite directions.

Decentralised Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector

In News: The government has been moving towards decentralized food storage facilities to bring the foodgrains closer to the tracts, as agricultural production of agriculture has increased in India.

• India is expected to produce 376.563 million tonnes of foodgrains during 2025-26, according to the Third Advance Estimates, which are 5.3 per cent higher than a year ago when the production was 357.732 million tonnes. 
• The National Food Security Act, 2013, on the other hand, will cover approximately 80 crore people simultaneously and food security is a crucial issue that will require an efficient grain storage and food distribution system to address.
• Cooperative Sector Decentralised Grain Storage Plan
  • The Decentralised Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector, which was introduced in 2023, aims to encourage the development of the grain storage infrastructure through the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). 
  • The project is to augment storage, procurement, processing, and distribution at the farmers’ level as well as reduce transportation costs and post-harvest loss.

GPT-6 Astra

In News: In a new frontier in Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, OpenAI has announced the release of GPT-6 Astra with regard to computer usage, coding, long-running tasks and cybersecurity.

• Astra is different from traditional Q&A applications, as it provides a multi-step, end-to-end solution for more independent tools that use AI. 
• Works with computers and browsers, conducts web research, completes online forms, works with documents and email, analyzes data, creates websites, writes and tests programs, and troubleshoots problems. 
• The other important aspect is that it can handle partial instructions and leverage information it has to make decisions that are common, and only request clarification when it has no information to make a critical decision based on. 
• Astra is another crucial advancement in the AI cybersecurity arena, where OpenAI classifies it as the initial model to move into the “Critical” tier of cybersecurity capability, and with the correct tools and access, can spot and exploit novel vulnerabilities. 

Green Climate Fund (GCF)

In News: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has been criticised for taking seven years to approve a project to mitigate risks due to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in Nepal, which was approved for $49.9 million. 

• The 194 parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established it in 2010.
• It is the world’s largest dedicated climate fund set up to address the climate crisis. 
• It aimed to encourage the development pathways low in emissions and resilient to the climate in the developing countries.
• It will support developing countries to achieve their climate targets and will play a critical role in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Khagantak-243

In News: The Indian Air Force successfully completed the maiden drop trial of the indigenous Khagantak-243 long-range glide bomb on September 2, 2026, meeting all test objectives. Released from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet, this 300-kg class weapon boosts India’s stand-off precision strike capabilities while reducing reliance on foreign munitions. 

Design and Development 

• Partnership: Developed by Nagpur-based private sector start-up  JSR Dynamics  alongside state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). 
• Structure: Features unpowered, swivelling mid-body wings that deploy immediately after release to generate aerodynamic lift. 
• Payload: Carries a warhead in the 300-kg class (including a ~125-kg explosive fill) designed to target runways, command hubs, and hardened shelters. 

Operational Performance 

• Stand-off Range: Capable of gliding between 140 km and 180 km when deployed from a high altitude (around 12 km) at transonic speeds (Mach 0.8). 
• Safety: Allows launching fighter aircraft to stay well outside the effective retaliatory reach of hostile enemy air defense systems. 

Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatau

In News: Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatau erupted, sending high plumes of volcanic ash across western regions and forcing the temporary suspension of flights at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta along with several other regional airports.

Eruption Overview

• The volcano in the Sunda Strait erupted for 30 seconds after prior activity, with CCTV capturing lava flares and ash plumes drifting over Jakarta, Banten, and Lampung.
• No casualties or evacuations were reported. While the nearest settlement is over 16 km away, authorities restricted access within 3 km of the crater.

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