UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 January 2026
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 January 2026 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles
InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.
Table of Contents
GS Paper 2 & 3:
• India’s Minerals Diplomacy
India’s Minerals Diplomacy
GS Paper 4:
• Accountability in Democratic Institutions
Accountability in Democratic Institutions
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• Holding the Hills Together: The Unseen Leadership of G. Rajkumar
Holding the Hills Together: The Unseen Leadership of G. Rajkumar
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• Lokpal of India
Lokpal of India
• Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
• 10 years of StartUp India
10 years of StartUp India
• Coconut root wilt disease
Coconut root wilt disease
• Dugongs
Dugongs
• Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara
Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara
Mapping:
• Mount Elbrus
Mount Elbrus
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 January 2026
GS Paper 2 & 3:
India’s Minerals Diplomacy
Source: TH
Subject: International relations/ Economic Resources
Context: India is recalibrating its global mineral strategy following the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 and the tightening of export controls by China on rare earths.
About India’s Minerals Diplomacy:
What it is?
• Minerals diplomacy is the strategic use of international partnerships and multilateral mineral clubs to secure a reliable supply of minerals like Lithium and Cobalt.
• It involves managing upstream mining, midstream processing, and downstream manufacturing collaborations to protect national economic growth and security.
Status of Mineral Resources:
• Refining Growth: Domestic refined copper production surged by 43.5 percent in early FY26, signalling a major rebound in local smelting capacity.
• Import Reliance: India remains 100 percent import-dependent for 10 critical minerals, including Lithium and Cobalt, which are vital for EV batteries.
• Global Standing: India is currently the 2nd largest producer of aluminium and the 3rd largest iron ore producer globally as of 2025.
• Exploration Surge: The Geological Survey of India has undertaken over 368 critical mineral exploration projects in the last three years to bridge gaps.
• Financial Outlay: The government has allocated a sovereign fund of 34,300 crore rupees for the National Critical Mineral Mission through 2031.
Need for India’s Mineral Diplomacy:
• Energy Transition Goals: India needs vast lithium for its 500 GW non-fossil fuel target. The India-Australia Partnership (2022) identified five projects to secure lithium for EVs.
• Mitigating China Risk: To bypass China dominance in processing. The 2025 India-Japan Memorandum focuses on joint extraction in third countries to build a China-plus-one supply chain.
• Technological Sovereignty: Accessing advanced refining and recycling technologies. The TRUST Initiative with the USA proposes frameworks for rare-earth processing and battery recycling technologies.
• Economic Resilience: Ensuring stable prices against global volatility. India’s 200 crore agreement with Argentina via KABIL aims to fix long-term costs for domestic battery manufacturers.
• Global South Leadership: Positioning India as a bridge for mineral-rich nations. Recent deals with Namibia for Lithium focus on local value creation, contrasting with extractive models.
Initiatives Taken:
• National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) 2025: A 7-year, 34,300 crore mission for end-to-end supply chain security and exploration.
• Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Act 2025: Exclusive authority to the Centre to auction mining leases for 24 strategic and critical minerals.
• KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd): A joint venture of PSUs specifically for acquiring overseas mineral assets in Chile and Argentina.
• Mineral Security Partnership (MSP): India joined this 14-nation club to coordinate with the US and EU on sustainable global supply chains.
• Recycling Incentive Scheme: A 1,500 crore scheme launched in 2025 to build a circular economy for critical minerals from e-waste.
Challenges Associated:
• Processing Choke Points: India finds ore but lacks high-tech refineries. Most lithium from KABIL Argentina projects still needs foreign refining due to weak midstream capacity.
• Intense Global Competition: Competing with deep pockets of Chinese firms. India asset-acquisition talks in Zambia face hurdles from more coordinated financial bids by global giants.
• Policy Volatility in Partner Nations: Resource Nationalism complicates friend-shoring. US Inflation Reduction Act subsidies often favour local North American production over Indian exports.
• Environmental and Social Concerns: Difficulty in meeting strict EU environmental standards. To export to Europe, Indian mining must align with transparency norms that are still maturing.
• Long Lead Times: Mining projects take 10 to 15 years from discovery to production. Despite identifying lithium in Jammu and Kashmir, commercial extraction is years away due to terrain.
Way Ahead:
• Integrated Value-Chain Mapping: Assigning specific roles to partners. Finalizing the trilateral agreement with Australia and Canada will combine raw reserves with India manufacturing scale.
• Sovereign Wealth Support: Using NCMM funds to de-risk private sector entry. The proposed Critical Minerals Overseas Acquisition Authority can provide the patient capital needed for long-term projects.
• Focus on Circular Economy: Investing in urban mining for e-waste. Scaling the 1,500 crore recycling scheme can recover 40 kilo tonnes of minerals annually by 2030.
• Strengthening ESG Standards: Adopting global reporting codes. Linking Indian mines to the Indian Mineral Industry Code ensures credibility and attracts vital Western investment.
• Diplomatic Expansion: Creating a dedicated Mineral Diplomacy Division. Appointing Mineral Attachés in capitals like Perth and Santiago will help monitor local developments in real-time.
Conclusion:
India’s minerals diplomacy has evolved from a reactive trade policy into a sophisticated, two-pronged geopolitical strategy to secure raw materials. By balancing domestic exploration with strategic global clusters, India is ensuring the foundation for its 2047 Viksit Bharat vision. Success depends on turning signed agreements into operational refineries and stable, long-term supply lines.
Q. While global competition for critical minerals intensifies, India has lagged in developing a resilient supply chain. Analyze the role of National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in strengthening India’s critical mineral security. (10 M)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 January 2026 GS Paper 4:
Accountability in Democratic Institutions
Source: TI
Subject: Accountability
Context: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla recently addressed the 28th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference (CSPOC) in New Delhi.
• He emphasized that the legitimacy of democratic institutions depends on their ability to remain transparent, inclusive, and accountable amidst the rise of AI and social media.
About Accountability in Democratic Institutions:
What is accountability?
• Accountability is the ethical obligation of those in power to provide an account of their actions, justify their decisions, and face consequences for their conduct. It is a relational concept where the agent (government) is answerable to the principal (citizens).
Key Features:
• Answerability: The duty to explain decisions and provide reliable information to the public.
• Enforceability: The existence of mechanisms to penalize misconduct or rectify institutional failures.
• Responsiveness: The capacity of institutions to adapt and respond to the evolving needs and feedback of the citizenry.
Importance of Accountability:
• Fostering Public Trust: Accountability bridges the gap between the rulers and the ruled by ensuring honesty.
E.g. The National Critical Mineral Mission (2025) includes transparency clauses to ensure public resources are managed without bias.
• Curbing Corruption: Constant scrutiny prevents the misuse of authority for personal gain.
E.g. The 130th Constitution Amendment Bill (2025) proposes automatic removal of ministers detained for serious crimes to restore institutional ethics.
• Enhancing Service Delivery: It ensures that welfare benefits reach the intended beneficiaries without leakages.
E.g. The use of social audits in MGNREGA has successfully identified and corrected irregularities in fund distribution at the grassroots level.
• Protecting Marginalized Voices: Accountable systems ensure that the last person in the social hierarchy is heard.
E.g. In his CSPOC speech, Om Birla highlighted that inclusive deliberation is essential to prevent social polarization caused by digital misinformation.
• Upholding Rule of Law: It ensures that no individual, regardless of their status, is above the legal framework.
E.g. The Supreme Court’s 2025 judgment on State Governors’ veto powers reaffirmed that constitutional heads are accountable to the legislative will.
Challenges to Accountability:
• Misuse of Technology: The rise of AI and deepfakes can be used to manipulate public opinion and evade truth.
E.g. Recent concerns over generative AI in political campaigns show how digital tools can blur the lines of responsibility.
• Opaque Decision Making: Excessive secrecy under the guise of national security can hinder public oversight.
E.g. Delays in responding to RTI applications in sensitive sectors continue to be a significant barrier to administrative transparency.
• Erosion of Parliamentary Propriety: Frequent disruptions in the House reduce the time available for executive scrutiny.
E.g. Recent sessions have seen record suspensions of members, which critics argue weakens the primary forum for horizontal accountability.
• Structural Delays: A slow judicial process prevents timely enforcement of accountability for misconduct.
E.g. With over 5 crore cases pending in Indian courts as of 2025, the deterrent effect of legal sanctions is often diluted.
• Information Overload and Disinformation: Social media often prioritizes engagement over accuracy, making it harder for citizens to hold leaders accountable.
E.g. The Voluntary Code of Ethics (2025) for social media platforms has struggled to keep pace with rapid misinformation.
Way Ahead:
• Strengthening Standing Committees: These mini-parliaments must be empowered to scrutinize every major bill and budget.
E.g. Speaker urged the revival of robust committee oversight to provide deep-dive technical scrutiny that the main House often lacks.
• Adopting Ethical AI Frameworks: Parliaments must establish clear guidelines for the responsible use of AI in legislative work.
E.g. The proposed Unified Digital Platform for all Indian legislatures aims to set new benchmarks in digital transparency and paperless functioning.
• Institutionalizing Social Audits: Moving beyond individual schemes, social audits should be a mandatory feature for all public departments.
E.g. Expanding the Citizen Charter model to include time-bound digital services can reduce bureaucratic red-tapism significantly.
• Judicial and Electoral Reforms: Ensuring faster disposal of cases involving public officials is vital for enforceability.
E.g. The implementation of the preemptive removal process for detained ministers could act as a strong ethical deterrent against criminalization.
• Deepening Citizen Engagement: Governance must move beyond the five-year election cycle to include continuous participation.
E.g. Platforms like MyGov should be further leveraged to invite direct feedback on draft policies before they are enacted into law.
Conclusion:
True democracy is not just about the act of voting but the ongoing ethical conduct of those who are elected. As Speaker Om Birla noted, when institutions prioritize inclusivity and transparency, they strengthen the enduring bond between the citizen and the State. Ultimately, accountability transforms power into a public trust, ensuring that governance remains a service rather than a privilege.
Q. “Accountability without transparency is incomplete”. Analyze this statement in the context of governance in India. (10 M)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 January 2026 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Holding the Hills Together: The Unseen Leadership of G. Rajkumar
Anecdote: G. Rajkumar never stood at the head of a march, yet he ensured the march never dissolved. While others spoke from stages, he walked the mountains, listening to grasslands that files called “wastelands” and people whom plans rendered invisible. Through patient padayatras and quiet coordination, he stitched science to memory, protest to poetry, and ecology to everyday life. The kurinji that bloomed once in twelve years became, under his care, both symbol and warning. He refused titles, avoided publicity, and chose endurance over applause. Years later, when Kurinjimala became a sanctuary, the victory bore no single face—only a landscape preserved. Rajkumar showed that conservation is often held together not by slogans, but by steadfast, unseen hands. The hills remember those who walk for them.
Relevance in UPSC Examination Syllabus
• GS Paper III (Environment & Ecology): Biodiversity conservation, community-led environmental governance, protected areas, sustainable development.
• GS Paper IV (Ethics): Values of humility, integrity, leadership without authority, moral courage, and service beyond recognition.
• Essay Paper: Themes on environmental stewardship, grassroots leadership, quiet ethics, development vs conservation, and intergenerational justice.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 January 2026 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Lokpal of India
Source: ET
Subject: Polity
Context: Lokpal of India observed its Foundation Day on 16 January 2026, marking the day the institution legally came into force in 2014.
About Lokpal of India:
What it is?
• A statutory, independent anti-corruption ombudsman at the Union level.
• Designed as a sui generis institution to inquire into and investigate allegations of corruption against specified public functionaries, including those at the highest political and bureaucratic levels.
Established in:
• Created under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
• Came into force on 16 January 2014 through commencement of Section 3 of the Act.
Historical evolution:
• The idea of an ombudsman-type body was first proposed in 1963.
• The First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966) recommended a two-tier mechanism—Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in States.
• Multiple Lokpal Bills were introduced and lapsed between 1968 and 2011, reflecting prolonged political and parliamentary debate.
• The Act was finally passed in December 2013 and operationalised in January 2014, responding to sustained public demand for an autonomous anti-corruption authority.
Composition and members:
• Consists of a Chairperson and up to eight Members.
• Includes an equal balance of Judicial Members and Non-Judicial Members.
• Appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a statutory Selection Committee.
• Tenure is five years or up to the age of 70, whichever is earlier.
Eligibility criteria:
• Chairperson must be a former Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court.
• Judicial Members must be former Supreme Court Judges or former Chief Justices of High Courts.
• Non-Judicial Members must be persons of impeccable integrity with at least 25 years of experience in specified fields such as public administration, vigilance, law or finance.
Jurisdiction and coverage:
• Covers allegations against the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, and Central Government officials in Groups A, B, C and D.
• Extends to officials of PSUs, autonomous bodies, trusts and societies established or funded by the Union Government.
• Also covers certain bodies receiving foreign contributions beyond the prescribed threshold.
Key functions and powers:
• Receives complaints relating to offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
• Orders preliminary inquiries through its Inquiry Wing or other authorised agencies.
• Directs investigations, including referral to agencies such as the CBI, where a prima facie case exists.
• Exercises limited superintendence and direction over the CBI for cases referred by it.
• Possesses powers akin to a civil court for summoning, document production and examination on oath during inquiry.
• Can authorise search, seizure and provisional attachment of assets as per statutory provisions.
• Has exclusive authority to grant sanction for prosecution in cases before it, reducing procedural delays.
• May recommend departmental action, prosecution or closure, and can proceed against complainants filing false or vexatious complaints.
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
Source: TOI
Subject: Polity
Context: Shri Praveen Vashista, IPS (Bihar cadre, 1991 batch), has been appointed as Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission and took oath on 16 January 2026.
About Central Vigilance Commission (CVC):
What it is?
• The apex integrity and vigilance institution of the Government of India.
• Mandated to promote integrity, transparency and accountability in public administration and to prevent corruption in Central Government organisations.
Established in:
• 1964 as an executive resolution of the Government of India.
• Given statutory status by the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003.
Historical background:
• Originated from the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee (1962–64) on Prevention of Corruption.
• Initially functioned without statutory backing, limiting its authority.
• Became a statutory and independent body in 2003, strengthening its supervisory and advisory role in vigilance administration.
Composition and members:
• Headed by a Central Vigilance Commissioner (Chairperson).
• Assisted by not more than two Vigilance Commissioners (Members).
• Appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a high-level committee.
• Tenure is four years or up to 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.
Organisational structure:
• Secretariat headed by a Secretary with supporting officers.
• Chief Technical Examiners’ Wing (CTE) to examine technical aspects of works contracts.
• Commissioners for Departmental Inquiries (CDIs) who act as Inquiry Officers in disciplinary proceedings.
• Network of Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) in ministries, departments, PSUs and public sector banks, acting as the extended arm of the CVC.
Jurisdiction:
• Covers All India Services and Group ‘A’ officers of the Central Government.
• Includes senior officials of Central Public Sector Undertakings, Public Sector Banks, RBI, NABARD, SIDBI, LIC, General Insurance Companies, and specified societies and autonomous bodies controlled by the Union Government.
• Exercises superintendence over CBI investigations relating to offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
• Conducts preliminary inquiries on complaints referred by the Lokpal in respect of Group A, B, C and D officials.
Key functions:
• Supervises and coordinates the vigilance machinery across Central Government organisations.
• Inquires or causes inquiry/investigation into corruption complaints within its jurisdiction.
• Tenders vigilance advice to ministries, departments and PSUs.
• Exercises superintendence over the CBI for corruption-related investigations.
• Reviews progress of investigations and pendency of prosecution sanctions under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
• Recommends appointments to senior posts in the CBI and Directorate of Enforcement through statutory committees.
• Acts as the authority for complaints under the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers (PIDPI) Resolution, providing whistle-blower protection.
10 years of StartUp India
Source: ANI
Subject: Government Scheme
Context: On National StartUp Day (16 January 2026), the Prime Minister of India extended greetings as India marked 10 years of the StartUp India initiative.
About 10 years of StartUp India:
What it is?
• A flagship initiative of Government of India to catalyse start up culture and build a strong, inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Implemented through a dedicated StartUp India Team under DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade).
Established in: Launched on 16 January 2016 (National StartUp Day is observed on 16 January).
• Shift India towards a job-creator economy by enabling entrepreneurs to start, sustain, and scale ventures.
• Provide full lifecycle support from ideation → incubation → funding → mentorship → scaling.
Key features of the scheme:
• 19-Point Action Plan framework to improve ease of doing business for startups and reduce friction in compliance.
• Incubation and infrastructure support through incubation centres and ecosystem-building institutions.
• IPR facilitation with simpler, faster processes for patents and related filings.
• Regulatory and compliance reforms to ease company set-up and enable faster exit mechanisms.
• Tax and policy support to encourage early-stage risk-taking and investment in innovation.
• Funding backbone via Fund of Funds for Start ups (FFS) with a ₹10,000 crore corpus managed by SIDBI to expand domestic risk capital through AIFs.
• Digital ecosystem enablers through the StartUp India Portal for discovery, networking and resources; plus helpline/email support for quick guidance.
• Mentorship and connections through platforms like MAARG and investor-connect initiatives that link startups to mentors and funders.
Significance:
• Positions start ups as engines of change—solving societal and planetary challenges while creating jobs and new markets.
• Strengthens Aatmanirbhar Bharat by enabling start ups to enter cutting-edge sectors like space and defence, supported by reforms and a more conducive business climate.
• Reflects scale and deepening inclusiveness of India’s ecosystem, with over 2 lakh DPIIT-recognised start ups (as of Dec 2025) and about half emerging from Tier-II/Tier-III cities.
Coconut root wilt disease
Source: TH
Subject: Science and Technology
Context: Coconut Root Wilt Disease is in the news due to its rapid spread across major coconut-growing regions of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, affecting lakhs of palms.
About Coconut root wilt disease:
What it is?
• A debilitating, non-fatal disease of coconut caused by a phytoplasma (phloem-limited pathogen), leading to chronic decline and major yield loss.
• Infected palms often remain alive but become long-term inoculum sources, enabling continued spread through vectors.
Origin and spread:
• First reported over 150 years ago from Erattupetta (Kerala) and has remained a persistent endemic problem.
• Spread is vector-borne, and is accelerated by continuous coconut belts, wind-assisted vector movement, and rising abiotic stress (temperature extremes) plus biotic stress (new sucking pests like whiteflies) that increase palm susceptibility.
Vector:
• Transmitted through sap-sucking insect vectors; commonly cited vectors in endemic areas include Stephanitis typica and Proutista moesta.
Key symptoms:
• Leaves look weak and droopy: The small leaf strips lose stiffness and hang down instead of standing firm — this is usually the first visible sign.
• Leaves turn yellow from the tips: Yellowing starts at the ends of leaves and slowly spreads inward; in later stages, parts of the leaves dry up and die.
• Leaves curl and cup inward: The leaf strips bend inward, making the whole leaf look ribbed or cup-shaped.
• Poor flowering and nut fall: The tree produces fewer flowers, nuts fall prematurely, and overall yield drops sharply.
• Tree slowly weakens: Roots start decaying, growth becomes poor, and in some cases the top of the trunk becomes thin and tapered.
Solutions and management:
• Select and multiply tolerant palms: Palms that continue to yield well despite disease pressure should be identified in farmers’ fields, scientifically confirmed, and multiplied through local nurseries.
• Good field and crop management: Remove badly affected, low-yielding palms to reduce disease spread. Improve soil health using green manure crops, ensure regular irrigation, proper drainage, and follow suitable intercropping to reduce stress on coconut palms.
• Strengthen palms with organic nutrition: Apply farmyard manure or green manure along with neem cake every year. Healthy soil and strong roots help palms tolerate disease better even if infection occurs.
Dugongs
Source: TH
Subject: Species in news
Context: The Union government’s Expert Appraisal Committee (MoEFCC) has asked Tamil Nadu to revise the design of the proposed International Dugong Conservation Centre at Manora (Thanjavur).
About Dugongs:
What it is?
• Dugong is a large, slow-moving marine mammal, commonly called a “sea cow”, that feeds exclusively on seagrass.
• It is a keystone species, playing a vital role in maintaining healthy seagrass meadows.
Scientific name: Dugong dugon
Habitat:
• Found in warm, shallow coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
• Lives mainly in seagrass meadows, estuaries, lagoons, and nearshore areas.
• Unlike manatees, dugongs are strictly marine and do not enter freshwater.
IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Key characteristics of dugong:
• Large, plump body with paddle-like flippers and a whale-like tail fluke.
• Grows up to 3 metres in length and can weigh 400 kg or more.
• Gentle, herbivorous grazer that feeds almost continuously on seagrass.
• Acts as an ecosystem engineer, helping seagrass regenerate and supporting marine biodiversity.
• Holds cultural significance for many coastal and indigenous communities and is linked to ancient mermaid legends.
Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara
Source: NIE
Subject: Art and Culture
Context: Telangana is preparing for the biennial Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara beginning 28 January 2026, alongside a large-scale redevelopment of the sacred precinct at Medaram.
About Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara:
What it is?
• A biennial tribal spiritual festival honouring Sammakka and Saralamma, revered as ancestral goddesses of the Koya Adivasi community.
• Recognised as Asia’s largest tribal festival and one of the largest human congregations in the world.
Held in:
• Celebrated at Medaram village in Mulugu district, Telangana, located inside the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Dandakaranya forest belt.
• Conducted during the full moon of the Hindu month of Magh.
Origin:
• Rooted in Koya tribal history and legend, centred on Sammakka, a forest-born woman adopted by tribals, and her daughter Saralamma.
• According to tradition, they resisted the Kakatiya rulers’ tax oppression, attained martyrdom, and are remembered as symbols of tribal resistance and sacrifice.
• The deities are not worshipped permanently in temples; instead, they are symbolically brought from the forest to stay with the people for a few sacred days.
Key features:
• Rituals are conducted exclusively by Koya tribal priests, following indigenous customs.
• Devotees offer “Bangaram” (jaggery) instead of gold or money, symbolising equality and agrarian life.
• Worship centres around sacred trees, bamboo totems, flags (dalgudda) and clan symbols rather than idols.
• Attracts over one crore devotees, second only to the Kumbh Mela in scale within India.
• The festival space has recently expanded with arches, platforms and granite flooring to manage massive crowds.
Significance:
• Represents tribal identity, collective memory and resistance against historical injustice.
• Preserves an animistic, kinship-based belief system, where deities are treated as family members.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 January 2026 Mapping:
Mount Elbrus
Source: BBC
Subject: Mapping
Context: A controlled (artificially triggered) avalanche was carried out on Mount Elbrus in Russia to safely release accumulated snow after heavy snowfall.
About Mount Elbrus:
What it is?
• Mount Elbrus is the highest mountain in Europe and an ancient, extinct volcano with two distinct peaks (East and West).
• It is part of the Caucasus mountain system and a major centre for mountaineering and alpine tourism.
Located in:
• Southwestern Russia, in the Caucasus Mountains, just north of the Georgia border.
• Lies between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea mountain corridor.
Key geological features:
• A twin-coned stratovolcano formed over 2.5 million years ago.
• Highest peak reaches 5,642 metres, the second peak 5,595 metres.
• Covered by 22 glaciers, which feed rivers like the Kuban and Terek.
• Though dormant for nearly 2,000 years, sulphurous gases and mineral springs are still present.
Significance:
• Recognised as Europe’s highest peak, making it one of the Seven Summits for climbers.
• A key site for glaciological and climate research, including studies observed from the International Space Station.
• Economically important for tourism and adventure sports in the Caucasus region.
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