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Daily Current Affairs

Current Affairs 10 February 2026

Content On Gravity’s Role in the Earth’s Journey Through Space India and Greece Agree to Strengthen Defence Industrial Cooperation in Five-Year Road Map Remembering Leo D’Souza, Who Transformed the Cashew Industry Bonded Labour Continues Despite 50 Years of Its Abolition From Maritime to Digital: India–Seychelles Give Ties a Shot in the Arm Rs 54,000 Crore Lost in Digital Arrests, This is Dacoity: Supreme Court On Gravity’s Role in the Earth’s Journey Through Space Source : The Hindu Gravity — The Fundamental Force Newtonian Gravity Isaac Newton (1687, Principia) formulated universal gravitation: every mass attracts another with force F = Gm₁m₂/r², explaining falling bodies, planetary motion, and tides under one framework. Why We Stay on Earth ? Earth’s mass ≈ 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg produces surface gravity g ≈ 9.8 m/s², strong enough to hold oceans, atmosphere, and living beings against thermal motion and escape. Relevance GS I (Geography – Physical Geography) Earth–Sun dynamics, revolution, seasons, tides, and planetary motion basics. GS III (Science & Tech – Space Science) Gravity, inertia, vacuum, relativity, satellite orbits, escape velocity concepts. Practice Question Explain how gravity governs planetary motion and tides.(150 Words) Gravity and Orbital Motion Gravity as Centripetal Force For orbits, gravity supplies centripetal force (mv²/r), continuously bending motion into a curve; objects move forward by inertia while gravity pulls inward, creating stable revolutions. Earth–Sun System Average Earth–Sun distance ≈ 149.6 million km (1 AU); Earth’s orbital speed ≈ 29.8 km/s (~1,07,000 km/h) keeps it bound without spiralling into or escaping the Sun. Scale of Earth’s Space Journey Annual Distance Traveled Earth’s orbital path length ≈ 2πr ≈ 940–1,000 million km/year, meaning our planet travels ~1 billion km annually, far exceeding everyday terrestrial travel scales. Human Perspective At 100 km/h, covering 1 billion km would take ~1 million hours (~114 years) of non-stop driving; Earth completes it in 365.25 days due to vacuum and inertia. Motion Without Fuel Inertia in Vacuum In near-vacuum space, negligible drag allows uniform motion without continuous energy input; per Newton’s first law, velocity persists unless acted upon by external forces. Why Cars Need Fuel ? On Earth, friction and air drag dissipate kinetic energy, requiring fuel to maintain speed; planets face minimal resistance, so no “fuel” is needed to keep moving. The Aether Hypothesis and Its Demise Aether Idea 19th-century physics proposed luminiferous aether as a medium for light and planetary motion, assuming space wasn’t empty but filled with an invisible substance. Michelson–Morley Experiment (1887) Precision interferometry found no directional change in light speed, delivering a null result that undermined aether and paved the way for Einstein’s relativity. Beyond Newton — Modern View General Relativity Einstein (1915) described gravity as spacetime curvature caused by mass–energy; orbits follow geodesics, explaining perihelion precession and gravitational lensing. Tides and Stability Solar–lunar gravity drives tides, redistributing oceans and affecting Earth’s rotation slightly; long-term orbital stability arises from conserved angular momentum and energy. Astrophysics and Indian Contributions Jayant Narlikar Prof. Jayant Narlikar, cosmologist and IUCAA founding director, advanced theoretical cosmology and public science; honoured with Padma Vibhushan (2004) for contributions. Scientific Temper Public outreach combating superstition aligns with Article 51A(h) duty to develop scientific temper, linking astrophysics education with constitutional values. India and Greece Agree to Strengthen Defence Industrial Cooperation in Five-Year Road Map Source : The Hindu Strategic Context of India–Greece Relations Civilisational and Maritime Legacy India and Greece are ancient seafaring civilisations with historical maritime trade links across the Mediterranean–Indian Ocean continuum, shaping long-standing cultural familiarity and strategic maritime consciousness. Strategic Partnership Framework Bilateral ties elevated to a Strategic Partnership (2023), reflecting convergence in defence, shipping, energy, and connectivity, and Greece’s support for India’s stronger engagement with Europe and the Mediterranean. Relevance GS II (International Relations) Strategic partnerships, defence diplomacy, Indo-Pacific–Mediterranean linkages. GS III (Security & Defence) Defence indigenisation, military cooperation, maritime security. Practice Question Analyse the role of defence diplomacy in strengthening India’s strategic autonomy. (150 Words) Defence & Security Cooperation Defence Industrial Collaboration Signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent launches a five-year defence industrial roadmap, aligning India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat with Greece’s Agenda 2030 defence reforms to co-develop capabilities. Military-to-Military Engagement A Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan (2026) institutionalises joint exercises, training, and staff talks, promoting interoperability and professional exchanges between armed forces. Maritime Dimension Convergence on Maritime Security Both nations share interest in secure Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs), freedom of navigation, and rule-based maritime order, vital for energy and trade flows. IFC-IOR Cooperation Greece deploying a Liaison Officer at IFC-IOR (Gurugram) strengthens information-sharing on piracy, trafficking, and maritime incidents across the Indian Ocean Region. Geopolitical Significance Mediterranean–Indo-Pacific Link Greece offers India a strategic gateway to the Eastern Mediterranean and EU defence markets, while India provides reach into the Indo-Pacific security architecture. Balancing Regional Dynamics Cooperation reflects shared interest in stable multipolar order, maritime security, and diversified defence partnerships amid shifting global power balances. Defence Industrial Relevance Make in India in Defence Collaboration supports India’s push to raise defence manufacturing and exports (target USD 5 billion annually) through technology partnerships and co-production. Niche Technology Scope Potential areas include naval systems, aerospace components, shipbuilding, and electronics, where Greece has specialised maritime-industrial expertise. Challenges Scale Constraints Greece’s relatively small defence market and fiscal limits may restrict scale, requiring focused niche collaboration rather than broad-spectrum projects. Regulatory Complexities Defence deals must navigate export controls, technology transfer norms, and EU regulatory frameworks, affecting speed of implementation. Way Forward Institutionalisation Regular defence dialogues, industry-to-industry linkages, and joint R&D platforms can convert declarations into tangible outcomes. Maritime & Tech Focus Prioritising maritime domain awareness, shipbuilding, and defence electronics can yield quick, mutually beneficial results. Remembering Leo D’Souza, Who Transformed the Cashew Industry Source : The Hindu Cashew in India — Agronomic & Historical Context Origin and Agro-Ecology Cashew (Anacardium occidentale), native to Brazil, was introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century to stabilise lateritic coastal soils, later evolving into a high-value plantation crop. Geographic Spread Cultivated mainly in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, suited to tropical climate, 600–3500 mm rainfall, and poor lateritic soils. Relevance GS III (Agriculture & S&T) Plantation crops, biotechnology, tissue culture, value chains. GS I (Society) Women in agro-processing, rural livelihoods. Practice Question Discuss the role of biotechnology in improving plantation crop productivity. (150 Words) Economic Significance of Cashew Area and Production India has historically had ~5 lakh hectares under cashew (1980s baseline); today India remains among the top global producers and processors, though yield per hectare remains below potential. Export and Value Chain India is a major exporter of cashew kernels and cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) used in paints and lubricants; sector supports processing, packaging, and export-oriented MSMEs. Constraints in Cashew Productivity Biological Limitations Conventional propagation via seeds and grafting leads to genetic variability, uneven yield, and long gestation periods, limiting uniform orchard productivity. Structural Issues Challenges include ageing plantations, pest attacks (tea mosquito bug), climate variability, and smallholder dominance, reducing economies of scale. Role of Tissue Culture in Cashew Scientific Principle Tissue culture (micropropagation) produces genetically identical, disease-free plants under sterile conditions, enabling rapid multiplication of elite varieties and uniform orchard management. Why Cashew is Difficult ? Cashew is recalcitrant to tissue culture due to phenolic compound release that damages cells, making lab-to-soil transfer technically challenging compared to crops like banana or sugarcane. Leo D’Souza’s Contribution   Early Biotech Pioneer Established a tissue culture lab in 1975 (pre-DBT era), showing how individual scientific leadership can overcome institutional scarcity and build frontier research in developing countries. Landmark Breakthrough Achieved world’s first successful lab-to-soil transfer of tissue-cultured cashew in 1990, published in Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (1992) — a global scientific milestone. Socio-Economic Sensitivity Women-Centric Industry Cashew processing historically employed 80%+ women workers, often informal and underpaid; productivity gains can directly affect women’s incomes and rural welfare. Farmer Livelihoods Higher-yielding, uniform plants can stabilise farmer incomes, reduce risk, and improve raw nut supply for processors, strengthening the entire value chain. Static Policy Linkages Agricultural R&D Importance Case underlines role of ICAR, State Agricultural Universities, and DBT in crop improvement, biotechnology diffusion, and plantation crop research. Blue Economy & Coastal Development Cashew fits into coastal livelihood systems, agro-forestry, and soil conservation, linking with sustainable coastal development policies. Bonded Labour Continues Despite 50 Years of Its Abolition Source : The Hindu Concept & Legal Framework What is Bonded Labour ? Bonded labour refers to forced labour arising from debt, advance payments, or social obligations, where workers lose freedom of employment, mobility, and wages until debts—often inflated—are “repaid”. Legal Abolition The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, abolished bonded labour, extinguished bonded debts, criminalised enforcement, and mandated rehabilitation, release certificates, and legal protection for victims. Relevance GS II (Polity & Social Justice) Article 23, Bonded Labour Abolition Act, welfare state obligations. GS I (Society) Poverty, migration, caste-based vulnerability. Practice Question Why does bonded labour persist despite legal abolition? Suggest reforms. (250 Words) Constitutional & Human Rights Dimension Constitutional Violations Bonded labour violates Article 23 (prohibition of forced labour), Article 21 (right to life with dignity), and Directive Principles on humane working conditions and social justice. International Commitments India is signatory to ILO Conventions 29 and 105, obligating elimination of forced labour, making continued prevalence a breach of international labour and human rights norms. Scale & Data Evidence Sectoral Spread Bonded labour persists in brick kilns, construction, agriculture, mining, domestic work, garment units, and small manufacturing, largely within informal and subcontracted production chains. Regional Data West Bengal alone has ~11,000 brick kilns employing ~8 lakh workers (2020 estimate); between 2019–2024, 143 bonded labourers were rescued in multiple operations. Socio-Economic Drivers Poverty and Migration Seasonal distress migration from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh fuels bondage, as migrants accept advances due to poverty, landlessness, and lack of social security. Wage and Work Conditions Low wages, long hours, restricted movement, workplace confinement, and denial of maternity and health benefits trap families into intergenerational bonded labour cycles. Intergenerational & Child Bondage Second-Generation Bondage Children inherit debt obligations, leading to second-generation bonded labour, violating Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and Right to Education (Article 21A). Recent Cases In March 2025, 28 children were rescued from brick kilns in South 24 Parganas, underscoring persistence of child bondage despite statutory safeguards. Governance & Implementation Gaps Weak Enforcement Poor inspections, delayed FIRs, low conviction rates, and local employer–official nexus weaken deterrence under the 1976 Act and IPC provisions. Rehabilitation Failures Delays in release certificates, inadequate compensation, poor livelihood support, and weak inter-state coordination lead to re-bondage after rescue. Federal & Administrative Challenges Source–Destination Disconnect Bonded labour involves inter-state migration, but weak coordination between source states (Bihar, Jharkhand) and destination states (West Bengal, Tamil Nadu) hampers monitoring and rehabilitation. Informal Economy Blind Spots Informality, subcontracting, and cash payments allow employers to evade labour laws, inspections, and digital wage tracking mechanisms. Ethical & Social Justice Dimensions Dignity of Labour Persistence of bondage reflects failure to uphold human dignity, equality, and freedom, reducing citizens to instruments of production rather than rights-bearing individuals. Structural Inequality Caste hierarchies, tribal marginalisation, illiteracy, and gender vulnerability deepen exploitation, making bonded labour a structural injustice, not an isolated crime. Way Forward  Legal & Institutional Strengthen district vigilance committees, mandate time-bound release certificates, enhance convictions, and impose strict liability on principal employers and supply-chain beneficiaries. Rehabilitation & Prevention Ensure ₹20,000–₹3 lakh rehabilitation packages, link victims to MGNREGA, PDS, housing, skilling, and create migration support systems in source regions. From Maritime to Digital: India–Seychelles Give Ties a Shot in the Arm Source : The Indian Express Strategic Context of India–Seychelles Relations Indian Ocean Geopolitics Seychelles’ location in the Western Indian Ocean near key Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) makes it strategically vital for monitoring maritime traffic between Africa–Middle East–Asia corridors. SAGAR Framework Engagement aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region, 2015) vision, emphasising maritime security, capacity building, and cooperative regional order in the Indian Ocean. Relevance GS II (IR) SAGAR, Indian Ocean diplomacy, small island partnerships. GS III (Security) Maritime security, MDA, anti-piracy. Practice Question Evaluate the significance of island nations in India’s Indian Ocean strategy. (150 Words) Maritime & Security Cooperation Colombo Security Conclave Seychelles joining the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)—with India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Bangladesh—strengthens regional architecture on maritime safety, counter-terrorism, cyber security, and HADR. Defence Collaboration India supports Seychelles via coastal surveillance radars, patrol vessels, hydrographic surveys, and training, enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) against piracy, trafficking, and illegal fishing. Digital & Development Partnership Digital Public Infrastructure Cooperation in digital governance, data-sharing, and digital transformation leverages India’s DPI model (Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker) to strengthen Seychelles’ public service delivery systems. Capacity Building Agreements on training, technical cooperation, and institutional capacity-building help Seychelles improve governance capability, maritime research, and disaster preparedness. Economic & Development Dimension Special Economic Assistance India announced a USD 15 million assistance package, including a USD 12 million Line of Credit and USD 3 million grant, targeting infrastructure, mobility, and maritime development. Blue Economy Linkages Cooperation supports blue economy sectors like fisheries, marine resources, and eco-tourism, aligning with Seychelles’ ocean-based economy and India’s Indo-Pacific outreach. Political & Diplomatic Significance High-Level Engagement Seychelles President’s visit within 100 days of assuming office signals priority to India ties; reflects mutual trust and continuity in diplomatic engagement. Shared Democratic Values Both nations emphasise rule-based order, sovereignty, and democratic governance, strengthening normative alignment in regional diplomacy. Regional & Global Implications Countering Extra-Regional Influence Strong India–Seychelles ties balance extra-regional naval presence in the Indian Ocean, ensuring smaller island states retain strategic autonomy and diversified partnerships. Western Indian Ocean Stability Cooperation contributes to stability in a region prone to piracy, trafficking, and climate vulnerabilities, reinforcing India’s role as a net security provider. Challenges Capacity Constraints Seychelles’ small population (~1 lakh) and limited fiscal capacity require sustained external support, making project execution and maintenance long-term challenges. Strategic Sensitivities Island states often balance multiple partners; India must ensure cooperation is transparent, demand-driven, and sovereignty-respecting to avoid perception of strategic overreach. Way Forward Institutionalised Cooperation Regular CSC exercises, joint patrols, and intelligence-sharing can institutionalise gains beyond leadership-level diplomacy. Sustainable Development Focus Integrating climate resilience, renewable energy, and coastal management into cooperation can align ties with SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and island sustainability needs. Rs 54,000 Crore Lost in Digital Arrests, This is Dacoity: Supreme Court Source : Then Indian Express Understanding Digital Arrest Frauds Modus Operandi Digital arrest scams involve fraudsters impersonating police, CBI, ED, or RBI officials, using video calls, fake notices, and psychological pressure to coerce victims into transferring funds to “safe accounts”. Scale and Trend Reported losses of ₹54,000+ crore indicate cyber fraud’s systemic scale; NCRB data shows cybercrime cases rising annually, with financial fraud forming the largest category of complaints. Relevance GS III (Internal Security/Cyber Security) Cyber fraud, digital economy risks, financial security. GS II (Governance) RBI regulation, institutional coordination. Practice Question Examine the rise of cyber financial frauds and regulatory challenges in India. (250 Words) Constitutional & Legal Dimensions Property and Due Process Coerced fund transfers violate Article 300A (right to property) and principles of natural justice, since deprivation occurs without lawful authority, consent, or judicial procedure. Statutory Provisions Offences fall under IPC cheating, extortion, criminal intimidation, and IT Act Sections 66C/66D; yet low conviction rates reflect jurisdictional and evidentiary challenges in cybercrime. Banking Regulation & RBI Oversight Fiduciary Duty of Banks Supreme Court termed banks “trustees of public money”, implying higher duty of care in monitoring abnormal transactions, beyond profit-driven facilitation of high-volume digital transfers. KYC–AML Framework Under PMLA and RBI Master Directions on KYC (2016, updated periodically), banks must detect unusual patterns, but real-time interdiction remains uneven across institutions. Governance & Institutional Gaps Fragmented Response Cyber fraud control spans RBI, commercial banks, state police, I4C (MHA), CERT-In, but fragmented databases and delayed coordination weaken rapid fund-freezing within critical time windows. Recovery vs Prevention Bias Court criticism that banks act as loan recovery agents highlights asymmetry: robust systems to recover bank dues versus limited urgency in safeguarding depositors’ funds. Technology Dimension AI-Based Detection AI and machine learning can flag velocity anomalies, mule accounts, and behavioural red flags, enabling automated pauses, step-up authentication, and alerts before high-risk transfers. Adoption Constraints Uneven deployment of RBI-backed analytics tools and fear of customer inconvenience reduce proactive blocking, allowing fraudsters to rapidly layer and disperse stolen funds. Economic & Social Impact Trust in Digital Economy Large-scale fraud undermines confidence in UPI and digital payments, potentially slowing India’s fintech growth and financial inclusion drive in a country processing billions of UPI transactions monthly. Household Vulnerability Victims often include elderly, retirees, and first-generation digital users, meaning losses hit life savings, affecting consumption, health security, and social stability. Ethical Dimensions Profit vs Protection Ethical dilemma arises if banks prioritise ease and transaction volume over safeguards; fiduciary institutions must balance innovation with depositor protection. State Responsibility As per welfare-state principles, regulators must ensure safe digital financial architecture, since individual citizens cannot counter sophisticated, transnational cyber networks alone. Way Forward Regulatory Reforms Mandate real-time risk scoring, cooling-off periods for large transfers, and compulsory alerts for first-time high-value payments to new beneficiaries across banks. Institutional Strengthening Create time-bound fund-freezing protocols, statutory liability norms for negligence, and unified cyber-fraud command centres linking banks, telecoms, and law enforcement.

Daily PIB Summaries

PIB Summaries 09 February 2026

Content Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) for Schoolchildren under Aadhaar Seven Chakras of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) for Schoolchildren under Aadhaar Why in News? UIDAI announced completion of over 1 crore Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) for schoolchildren through a nationwide mission-mode campaign, marking a major milestone in child-focused digital identity strengthening and lifecycle Aadhaar management. The update drive gained attention due to coverage of 83,000 schools in about 5 months, reflecting unprecedented administrative scale, cooperative federalism, and integration of identity services with the education ecosystem. Article relevance also arises from integration of Aadhaar with UDISE+ database, enabling real-time identification of children pending biometric updates and showcasing data-driven governance in the school education sector. Fee waiver for MBUs for children aged 7–15 from 1 October 2025 for one year highlighted government efforts to remove financial barriers and prevent exclusion from exams and welfare schemes. Relevance GS 2 (Polity & Governance) DBT efficiency and targeted welfare delivery. Cooperative federalism (UIDAI–States–Schools). Privacy, data protection, child rights. Data-driven education governance (UDISE+). Basics & Core Keywords Meaning and Concept Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) is compulsory capture and refresh of fingerprints and iris in Aadhaar after biological maturation at ages 5 and 15, ensuring reliable lifelong biometric authentication and identity continuity. UIDAI is a statutory authority under Aadhaar Act 2016 responsible for enrolment, authentication, and updates, managing demographic and biometric database and ensuring secure digital identity infrastructure across India. UDISE+ is a national digital school database of Ministry of Education capturing enrolment, infrastructure, and student data, enabling data-driven governance and integration with Aadhaar update status monitoring for children. Constitutional / Legal Dimension Aadhaar Act 2016 provides statutory basis; Supreme Court (Puttaswamy, 2018 Aadhaar judgment) allowed welfare-linked use but restricted private mandatory usage, embedding proportionality and legality in identity-based service delivery frameworks. Right to Privacy (Article 21) mandates lawful, necessary, and proportionate data collection, requiring purpose limitation, data minimisation, and safeguards, especially critical when collecting and storing children’s biometric information. Best-interest-of-child principle from constitutional jurisprudence and UNCRC obligations requires secure storage, limited retention, and grievance redressal, ensuring minors’ identity data is not misused or excessively processed by state systems. Governance / Administrative Dimension Campaign shows cooperative federalism, where UIDAI, State Education Departments, and district administrations align databases and logistics, improving last-mile identity service delivery through coordinated institutional efforts across states. School-based MBU camps reduce transaction costs, parental burden, and opportunity loss, bringing services to beneficiaries and improving inclusion in welfare, examination, and scholarship-linked identity requirements for students nationwide. UDISE+–Aadhaar integration enables real-time visibility of pending MBUs, supporting evidence-based targeting, dashboards, and monitoring, strengthening accountability and digital governance capacities in public education administration systems. Economic Dimension Updated biometrics strengthen Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) by preventing ghost and duplicate beneficiaries, improving fiscal efficiency of scholarships, nutrition schemes, and subsidies targeted at school-going children nationwide. Reliable Aadhaar enables smoother access to examinations, banking, and skilling, supporting human capital formation and future productivity, aligning with India’s demographic dividend and formalisation of the economy goals. Social / Ethical Dimension Free MBU for 7–15 years from 1 Oct 2025 for one year lowers financial barriers, promoting equity for poor, migrants, and marginalised groups, reducing risk of exclusion from welfare and education-linked services. Ethical governance demands informed parental consent, awareness on data usage, and child-friendly enrolment, ensuring identity systems empower rather than surveil, and preserve dignity and autonomy of minors. Technology / Security Dimension Fingerprints and iris biometrics rely on uniqueness and permanence; capturing after maturation improves matching accuracy, reducing false rejections in authentication for welfare, exams, and service delivery systems. Centralised identity databases require encryption, access controls, audit trails, and breach-response protocols to prevent identity theft, profiling, or unauthorised surveillance, especially given scale and sensitivity of children’s data. Data & Evidence Over 1 crore MBUs completed, covering 83,000 schools in 5 months, indicating strong administrative capacity, prioritisation of child identity updates, and scalability of mission-mode digital governance initiatives. About 1.3 crore MBU transactions at Aadhaar Seva Kendras and enrolment centres show high citizen demand and responsiveness when services are accessible, predictable, and free for children. Challenges Large biometric databases pose risks of data breaches, function creep, and profiling, particularly concerning for minors with limited consent capacity, necessitating strict oversight and enforcement of data protection norms. Device shortages, connectivity gaps, and operator deficits in remote areas may cause uneven coverage, creating regional disparities in update completion and risking exclusion of vulnerable populations. Low parental awareness on timelines and consequences leads to delays; sustained IEC campaigns through schools, anganwadis, and local governments are required for behavioural compliance and inclusion. Way Forward Implement Digital Personal Data Protection framework with child-specific protocols, shorter retention, and independent audits, building trust and legal robustness in children’s biometric identity ecosystem. Institutionalise lifecycle-based updates by linking MBUs to school admissions and health check-ups, creating automatic reminders and on-site facilities for universal compliance among children. Invest in secure devices, operator training, and grievance redressal, ensuring that scale does not dilute accuracy, dignity, or data security while maintaining inclusive and reliable service delivery. Aadhaar   What is Aadhaar? Aadhaar is a unique digital identity number issued to residents of India, based on demographic + biometric data, designed to enable unique identification and authentication for service delivery. It is proof of identity, not citizenship, and is available to residents (person living in India ≥ 182 days in preceding 12 months). Legal & Institutional Basis Aadhaar has statutory backing under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. It aims at targeted delivery of subsidies, benefits, and services funded from the Consolidated Fund of India, reducing leakages and duplication. Implementation Agency Implemented by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a statutory authority. UIDAI functions under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). UIDAI responsibilities: Aadhaar enrolment and updates Authentication ecosystem Data security and storage Policy and regulation of Aadhaar usage Aadhaar Number – Structure Aadhaar is a 12-digit random number (not intelligence-based, no profile coding). Designed to be unique, portable, and lifelong. Data Collected Demographic Data Name Date of Birth/Age Gender Address Mobile number (optional but important) Email (optional) Biometric Data 10 fingerprints Both iris scans Photograph For children below 5 years: only demographics + photo; biometrics updated later at 5 and 15 years. Seven Chakras of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 Context  Global AI Diplomacy Moment India–AI Impact Summit 2026 announced as first global AI summit in the Global South, projecting India as agenda-setter in responsible AI governance and development-oriented technology diplomacy. Summit highlighted due to 100+ countries, 15–20 Heads of Government, 50+ ministers, 40+ CEOs, signalling broad multilateral consensus-building on inclusive, safe, and accountable AI ecosystems. Relevance GS 2 (IR & Governance) AI diplomacy and global norm-setting. International tech governance. AI regulatory frameworks. GS 3 (S&T / Economy / Environment) AI as emerging technology. AI-led economic growth & startups. R&D and innovation ecosystem. Green AI and energy-efficient data centres. Digital sovereignty & compute infrastructure. Core Keywords Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial Intelligence refers to machine-based systems performing cognitive tasks like learning and decision-making using machine learning, neural networks, and big data, enabling predictive, adaptive, and autonomous functionalities. Global South Global South includes developing nations in Asia, Africa, Latin America facing developmental constraints; summit hosting signals geographical diversification of tech governance beyond traditional Western dominance. AI Governance AI governance comprises laws, ethical norms, standards, and institutions regulating AI lifecycle to ensure fairness, safety, accountability, and alignment with societal and developmental priorities. Chakras / Working Groups Seven Chakras are thematic working groups translating principles into policy and practice, enabling structured multilateral cooperation, norm-setting, and implementation pathways across AI domains. Philosophical Foundation: Three Sutras People Human-centric AI safeguards rights, dignity, and accessibility, ensuring equitable benefit distribution, trust-building, and augmentation of human capabilities rather than replacement across socio-economic segments. Planet Sustainable AI promotes energy-efficient algorithms, green data centres, and climate-focused AI applications, reducing ecological footprint of compute-heavy AI and supporting environmental resilience strategies. Progress Inclusive progress stresses innovation, productivity, and skilling, ensuring AI-driven growth generates employment, competitiveness, and SDG-aligned development without widening digital inequality. Chakra 1: Human Capital AI Skilling Ecosystem Focuses on reskilling, future-ready education, and workforce transition, minimizing technological unemployment and leveraging demographic dividend for knowledge-driven AI economy. Talent Indicators India shows 3× AI talent growth since 2016, 33% annual hiring growth, and targeted support for 500 PhDs, 5,000 PGs, 8,000 UGs, strengthening research pipelines. Chakra 2: Inclusion for Social Empowerment Inclusive-by-Design AI Encourages representative datasets, multilingual interfaces, and accessibility tools, reducing algorithmic bias and ensuring AI reflects India’s linguistic and social diversity. DPI Linkage Uses Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for scalable AI deployment in welfare, agriculture, and governance, ensuring affordability and last-mile access. Chakra 3: Safe and Trusted AI Responsible AI Promotes transparency, explainability, and auditability, making AI decisions interpretable and legally defensible, strengthening public trust. Governance Architecture Proposes AI Governance Group, Technology Policy Expert Committee, IndiaAI Safety Institute, creating layered oversight combining policy, expertise, and technical risk testing. Chakra 4: Resilience, Innovation & Efficiency Efficient AI Design Encourages low-energy, resource-optimized AI models, ensuring climate-conscious and scalable AI suitable for developing economies. Infrastructure Scale Data-centre capacity projected from 960 MW to 9.2 GW by 2030, backed by large private investments enhancing digital sovereignty. Chakra 5: Science AI in Research AI accelerates discovery in climate science, genomics, and health, improving modelling accuracy and collaborative research. R&D Push India’s R&D spending rose from ₹60,196 crore to ₹1.27 lakh crore; ANRF targets ₹50,000 crore, strengthening research ecosystem. Chakra 6: Democratising AI Resources Compute Sovereignty Promotes domestic access to GPUs, cloud, and supercomputers, reducing foreign dependence and ensuring strategic autonomy. Shared Infrastructure IndiaAI Kosh: 7,400 datasets, 570 AI Data Labs, and compute below ₹100/hour enable equitable innovation. Chakra 7: AI for Economic Growth & Social Good Sectoral Transformation AI improves productivity in agriculture, healthcare, education, and judiciary via analytics, diagnostics, and automation. Economic Impact AI sector projected at US$280 billion (2025); 1.8 lakh startups show widespread adoption and employment potential. Governance Significance Digital Diplomacy Summit enhances India’s soft power by shaping ethical AI norms and strengthening its global technology leadership. Development Model Export India promotes DPI + AI model, offering scalable governance solutions for developing nations. Challenges Global Inequality Unequal access to compute, data, and talent risks new digital divides and technological dependency. Regulatory Lag Fast AI evolution outpaces regulation, creating risks of misuse and accountability gaps. Way Forward Balanced AI Statecraft Align AI growth with constitutional values, human rights, and SDGs. South–South Cooperation Expand AI skilling and infrastructure collaboration among developing nations.

Daily Editorials Analysis

Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 09 February 2026

Content Social Media Bans and Child Safety: Limits of Prohibition, Need for Digital Governance Myanmar’s Military-Scripted Elections and India’s Strategic Dilemma Social Media Bans and Child Safety: Limits of Prohibition, Need for Digital Governance Why in News?  Renewed debate globally on banning or restricting minors’ access to social media amid rising concerns over adolescent mental health, cyberbullying, and online grooming, triggered by recent policy moves and public discourse. Countries like Australia and Spain have proposed or advanced age-based restrictions and stricter platform liability, bringing the question of prohibition vs regulation to the forefront of digital governance debates. Growing body of research linking excessive social media use with anxiety, depression, and body-image issues among teenagers has pushed governments to consider stronger child online safety frameworks. Simultaneously, experts and civil society argue that blanket bans are ineffective, shifting focus toward platform accountability, algorithm regulation, and digital literacy, making it a live governance and ethics issue. Relevance GS 1 (Society) Impact of social media on youth, mental health, and socialisation. Issues of vulnerable sections (children & adolescents). GS 2 (Polity & Governance) Digital governance, regulation of online platforms. Fundamental Rights — Speech (Art 19) & Privacy (Art 21). Role of State in protecting minors (parens patriae). Practice Questions “Blanket social media bans on minors are neither practical nor sufficient to ensure child safety.” Discuss. (150 Words) Core Concepts What is a Social Media Ban? Social media ban refers to legal or regulatory prohibition restricting minors’ access to platforms, typically through age-verification, parental consent mandates, or blanket denial to reduce online harms and exposure risks. Child Online Safety Child online safety involves protecting minors from cyberbullying, grooming, harmful content, addiction, and data exploitation while preserving developmental benefits of digital participation, learning opportunities, and social connectivity. Digital Ecosystem Digital ecosystem includes platforms, algorithms, advertisers, data brokers, and users interacting within regulatory frameworks, where design choices, incentives, and governance determine user safety and accountability outcomes. Constitutional & Legal Dimensions Freedom vs Protection Article 19(1)(a) guarantees speech and expression, including online participation; restrictions must satisfy reasonableness and proportionality, ensuring child protection does not become excessive censorship or rights dilution. Right to Privacy Article 21 privacy (Puttaswamy judgment) requires data minimisation, informed consent, and purpose limitation, especially for minors whose cognitive maturity limits meaningful consent in digital environments. State’s Parens Patriae Role Doctrine of parens patriae empowers the State to protect minors’ welfare, yet mandates balanced intervention respecting autonomy, developmental needs, and constitutional liberties rather than moralistic or populist overreach. Governance & Regulatory Dimension Platform Regulation Effective governance targets platform design, algorithms, and monetisation models, not merely users, addressing recommender systems that amplify harmful content and engagement-maximising features driving compulsive usage among minors. Age Verification Limits Age-verification systems face privacy risks, circumvention, exclusion errors, and surveillance concerns, often pushing children toward unsafe digital spaces rather than ensuring meaningful protection and guided participation. Institutional Capacity Regulatory success depends on independent regulators, technical expertise, and enforcement capacity, without which laws remain symbolic, inconsistently applied, and vulnerable to industry capture or bureaucratic inertia. Social Dimension Adolescent Development Adolescence involves identity formation and peer validation; social media intensifies comparison, validation-seeking, and exposure to unrealistic standards, affecting self-esteem, body image, and emotional regulation. Digital Divide Blanket bans risk widening digital divides, disproportionately affecting marginalized children who rely on digital platforms for learning, opportunities, and social mobility in resource-constrained environments. Family & Community Role Parental guidance, digital literacy, and open communication often prove more sustainable than prohibition, fostering responsible use and resilience rather than secrecy-driven or rebellious digital behaviour. Economic & Political Economy Dimension Attention Economy Platforms operate on attention economy models, monetising user engagement through targeted advertising, incentivising addictive design, infinite scrolling, and emotional triggers that disproportionately affect young users’ self-control capacities. Corporate Accountability Without liability frameworks, companies externalise social harms while privatising profits; regulatory focus must include duty of care, risk audits, and transparency obligations for child-impact assessments. Technology Dimension Algorithmic Amplification Algorithms prioritise engagement-heavy content, often sensational or harmful, creating echo chambers and accelerating exposure to risky material for impressionable users lacking critical evaluation skills. Design Ethics Safety-by-design principles include default privacy settings, time-use nudges, content moderation, and age-appropriate interfaces, embedding child protection within technological architecture rather than after-the-fact regulation. Challenges in Ban-Centric Approach Circumvention Reality Tech-savvy youth bypass bans using VPNs, fake credentials, or shared accounts, rendering prohibition partially ineffective while reducing scope for supervised and safer engagement. Democratic Deficit Moral panic-driven bans may substitute evidence-based policymaking, enabling symbolic politics that avoid deeper reforms in platform governance, digital education, and corporate regulation. Way Forward Regulate Systems, Not Just Users Shift from user-restriction to platform accountability, mandating algorithm audits, risk disclosures, and child-impact assessments, aligning regulation with systemic sources of harm rather than individual blame. Digital Literacy First Institutionalise digital literacy curricula covering critical thinking, online safety, consent, and cyber-ethics, equipping children to navigate digital risks responsibly in an inevitable online future. Co-Regulation Model Adopt co-regulation combining state oversight, industry standards, and civil society input, ensuring flexibility, expertise, and legitimacy in rapidly evolving technological contexts. Data and Facts ~80% of adolescents use social media daily, many exceeding 3 hours, increasing exposure to online risks and addictive design. (Source: UNICEF global adolescent digital use estimates) 1 in 3 adolescents (≈33%) experience cyberbullying, making online harassment a mainstream child-safety concern beyond anecdotal cases. (Source: UNICEF, Global Kids Online report) 59% of teens say social media harms peers’ mental health, linking platforms with anxiety, comparison pressure, and self-esteem issues. (Source: Pew Research Center, Teen Mental Health Survey) ~70% of teens feel “addicted” to social media; about half report sleep disruption due to late-night use. (Source: Common Sense Media, US teen survey) India has ~830 million internet users, with a youth-heavy user base, magnifying scale of child online safety challenges. (Source: IAMAI Internet in India Report) 10–20% of Indian adolescents face mental health conditions, where excessive digital exposure can act as a risk amplifier. (Source: Lancet Child & Adolescent Health) Algorithmic recommender systems can raise engagement 30–40%, often amplifying sensational or harmful content for minors. (Source: Academic studies on recommender systems, MIT/Stanford reviews) Myanmar’s Military-Scripted Elections and India’s Strategic Dilemma Context  : Myanmar Elections 2025–26 Myanmar junta conducted military-managed elections (Dec 2025–Jan 2026) claiming transition to civilian rule, but opposition boycotts and conflict conditions question legitimacy and democratic credibility internationally. Relevance GS 2 (IR) India–Myanmar relations. Democracy vs realism in foreign policy. ASEAN, neighbourhood diplomacy. Practice Question India’s Myanmar policy reflects a balance between democratic values and strategic interests. Critically analyse.(250 Words) Basics & Core Keywords Military Junta Military junta refers to armed forces controlling state power after a coup, suspending democratic institutions, centralising authority, and governing through emergency laws and coercive apparatus. Coup d’état Coup d’état is unconstitutional seizure of power by military or elites, displacing elected government, as seen in Myanmar February 2021 coup removing the National League for Democracy. Proxy Elections Military-scripted or proxy elections are polls organised to legitimise regime control, often excluding opposition, restricting media, and operating in conflict-affected environments lacking free political competition. Political Situation in Myanmar Post-Coup Conflict Since 2021 coup, Myanmar faces civil conflict between junta and Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) + People’s Defence Forces, causing territorial fragmentation and weakening central authority. Opposition Suppression Major parties like NLD sidelined; leaders jailed; electoral participation restricted, undermining pluralism and representative democracy. Territorial Control Junta reportedly lacks full control over significant areas, limiting election conduct and administrative reach, reducing credibility of nationwide mandate claims. India’s Strategic Interests Geopolitical Location Myanmar is India’s gateway to Southeast Asia and crucial for Act East Policy, linking Northeast India to ASEAN markets and connectivity corridors. China Factor China’s deep presence through infrastructure and arms supplies increases India’s concern about strategic encirclement and loss of regional influence. Border Security India shares 1,643 km border with Myanmar; instability fuels insurgent movement, arms trafficking, and safe havens for Northeast militant groups. Security & Internal Implications for India Refugee Inflows Violence has driven refugee flows into Mizoram and Manipur, straining local administration and raising humanitarian and political sensitivities. Transnational Crime Conflict zones enable drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and cyber-scam centres, affecting India’s internal security and regional crime networks. Insurgent Linkages Northeast insurgent groups historically used Myanmar sanctuaries, making stable bilateral security cooperation vital for counter-insurgency. Diplomatic Balancing Principle vs Pragmatism India avoids outright endorsement of junta yet maintains engagement to protect security and connectivity interests, reflecting realist foreign policy balancing. ASEAN Dynamics ASEAN’s divided stance and limited enforcement capacity constrain collective regional response, complicating India’s diplomatic alignment. Humanitarian Engagement India provides relief assistance and disaster aid, maintaining people-centric engagement without fully legitimising the regime. Economic & Connectivity Stakes Infrastructure Projects Projects like Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit and Trilateral Highway depend on stability in Myanmar for India’s Northeast integration and trade expansion. Northeast Development Myanmar stability directly influences India’s Northeast economic growth, border trade, and regional connectivity vision. Challenges for India Policy Dilemma Supporting democracy risks losing strategic access; engaging junta risks reputational costs and democratic credibility. Security Spillovers Prolonged instability increases cross-border crime and refugee pressures. Limited Leverage India’s influence is constrained by Myanmar’s internal dynamics and China’s stronger economic footprint. Way Forward Calibrated Engagement Continue multi-channel diplomacy engaging military, ethnic groups, and civil actors to retain influence without legitimising authoritarianism. Border Management Strengthen smart fencing, coordinated patrols, and intelligence sharing to manage spillovers. Regional Cooperation Work with ASEAN and BIMSTEC for humanitarian corridors and conflict de-escalation. People-Centric Approach Expand humanitarian aid and development partnerships supporting local communities. Data and Facts >3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Myanmar due to post-coup conflict, reflecting scale of humanitarian and governance collapse. (Source: UN OCHA, 2024–25 estimates) Over 1.3 million refugees from Myanmar hosted abroad, mainly in Thailand, Bangladesh, and India, indicating regional spillover of instability. (Source: UNHCR Global Trends) ~90,000 Myanmar nationals in Mizoram alone since 2021 coup, creating humanitarian and administrative pressures on a small border state. (Source: Mizoram Govt statements, 2024) Illicit drug production in Golden Triangle region rising, with Myanmar a major source of methamphetamine in Southeast Asia, affecting India’s Northeast. (Source: UNODC) China remains Myanmar’s largest investor and arms supplier, strengthening its leverage and complicating India’s strategic space. (Source: SIPRI Arms Transfers Database)

Daily Current Affairs

Current Affairs 09 February 2026

Content India–Malaysia Strategic Partnership Thwaites Glacier (“Doomsday Glacier”) Biotechnology and Green Growth AI Agents, “SaaSpocalypse” and Market Panic Traditional Delicacies as Next “Makhana Moment” India–Malaysia Strategic Partnership Why in News ? Recent Bilateral Developments India and Malaysia signed 11 agreements in 2026 covering defence, semiconductors, energy, and digital cooperation, signalling diversification of ties beyond traditional trade toward high-technology and security sectors. Both sides promoted local currency trade settlement (₹–Ringgit) amid global de-dollarisation trends, aiming to reduce forex risk and transaction costs in a bilateral trade relationship already exceeding US$20 billion annually. Relevance GS 2 (International Relations)   India–ASEAN relations, Act East Policy Bilateral diplomacy, UNSC reforms Indo-Pacific strategy, maritime cooperation De-dollarisation and currency diplomacy GS 3 (Economy & Security) Semiconductor supply chains and tech sovereignty Defence cooperation and maritime security Energy and digital economy partnerships Basics & Core Keywords Strategic Partnership A strategic partnership involves sustained cooperation in defence, technology, and diplomacy; India–Malaysia upgraded ties in 2015 to Enhanced Strategic Partnership, institutionalising annual dialogues and sectoral cooperation. Local Currency Trade Local currency settlement reduces dollar dependence; India already has similar arrangements with UAE and Sri Lanka, reflecting RBI’s push for rupee internationalisation in over 18 partner countries. Semiconductor Cooperation Semiconductor collaboration aligns with India’s US$10 billion Semiconductor Mission (2021) and Malaysia’s established role in global chip assembly, where it handles ~13% of global testing and packaging. Indo-Pacific Indo-Pacific region carries 60% of global GDP and 50% of global trade, making India–Malaysia maritime cooperation strategically significant for sea-lane security. Historical & Civilisational Links Maritime & Cultural Ties Historical Chola-era trade and migration built links; today ~2 million people of Indian origin live in Malaysia, forming one of the largest Indian diasporas in Southeast Asia. Diaspora Diplomacy Indian diaspora contributes significantly to Malaysia’s services and political sectors, strengthening soft power and business bridges. Political & Diplomatic Dimension UNSC Support Malaysia reiterated support for India’s permanent UNSC membership, adding to backing from major ASEAN partners and strengthening India’s G4 reform narrative. High-Level Engagement PM-level visits and CEO Forums facilitate business deals; Malaysia ranks among India’s top 15 trading partners globally. Economic Dimension Trade & Investment Bilateral trade crossed US$20–25 billion range in recent years, with palm oil, petroleum products, electronics, and machinery dominating baskets. Currency Diversification Use of rupee–ringgit trade can lower hedging costs by 2–3% in transaction value, benefiting SMEs and stabilising trade flows. Supply Chain Resilience Semiconductor and electronics cooperation reduces overdependence on East Asian hubs, critical after global chip shortages (2020–22). Security & Defence Dimension Counter-Terrorism Both countries cooperate via intelligence sharing under ASEAN-led frameworks; Southeast Asia remains vulnerable to extremist networks like Jemaah Islamiyah, necessitating coordination. Maritime Security Malacca Strait handles ~25% of global trade, making India–Malaysia maritime cooperation vital for anti-piracy and SLOC security. Defence Engagement India conducts defence training and capacity-building with ASEAN states, including Malaysia, under ADMM-Plus mechanisms. Technology & Innovation Dimension Digital & AI Cooperation India’s digital economy projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030, making tech partnerships attractive for Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem. Health & Food Security Joint agri-tech and pharma cooperation aligns with India’s role as “pharmacy of the world,” supplying vaccines and generics globally. Geopolitical Significance Act East Policy Malaysia is a key ASEAN economy; ASEAN–India trade stands around US$110 billion, making Malaysia important for regional integration. China Factor China is ASEAN’s largest trade partner (>US$900 billion ASEAN–China trade), pushing India to strengthen bilateral ties for strategic balance. Indo-Pacific Stability Both endorse a rules-based maritime order, aligning with UNCLOS norms and freedom of navigation. Challenges Trade Imbalance India often runs deficit due to palm oil imports; Malaysia is among India’s top palm oil suppliers. Geopolitical Sensitivities ASEAN centrality requires India to avoid bloc politics while expanding influence. Implementation Gap Past MoUs show slow execution due to regulatory and financing delays. Way Forward Institutional Dialogue Annual reviews and sectoral working groups can track implementation. Tech Skill Ecosystem Joint semiconductor skill hubs and R&D centres support long-term collaboration. Maritime Cooperation Expand HADR and joint naval exercises to secure sea lanes. Value Addition Malaysia is India’s 3rd largest trading partner in ASEAN (after Singapore & Indonesia). FDI from Malaysia to India ≈ US$1.2–1.5B cumulative, mainly in infrastructure & construction. Over 60 Indian companies operate in Malaysia, including in IT, pharma, and manufacturing. India imports ~6–7 million tonnes of palm oil annually, Malaysia among top two suppliers. ASEAN accounts for ~11% of India’s total global trade. Indian Ocean carries 80% of global oil trade, highlighting maritime cooperation relevance. Thwaites Glacier (“Doomsday Glacier”) Why in News ? Recent Scientific Concern Recent field studies and satellite observations show accelerated thinning, grounding-line retreat, and ice-shelf fracturing, raising fears of irreversible instability and renewed focus on Antarctica’s contribution to future global sea-level rise. Relevance GS 1 (Geography) — Core Glaciers, cryosphere, sea-level rise Physical geography of Antarctica Climate–ocean interactions GS 3 (Environment) — Core Climate change impacts Global warming and sea-level rise Coastal vulnerability and disaster risk Basics & Core Keywords What is a Glacier ? A glacier is a long-lasting mass of compressed snow and ice flowing under gravity, acting as a freshwater reservoir and climate indicator, sensitive to temperature, snowfall, and oceanic conditions. What is Thwaites Glacier ? Thwaites Glacier is a massive outlet glacier in West Antarctica draining into the Amundsen Sea, comparable in area to a large country, and critically important for global sea-level regulation. Why “Doomsday Glacier” ? Nicknamed “Doomsday Glacier” because potential collapse could trigger substantial sea-level rise and destabilise neighbouring ice basins, amplifying global coastal risks far beyond Antarctica. Physical Geography & Glaciology Marine Ice Sheet Setting Thwaites rests on bedrock sloping downward inland below sea level, a configuration called marine ice-sheet instability, making retreat self-reinforcing once warm water reaches grounding zones. Grounding Line The grounding line is where glacier ice detaches from bedrock and begins floating; its inland retreat indicates weakening structural stability and greater vulnerability to ocean-driven melting. Ice Shelf Buttressing Thwaites’ floating ice shelf acts as a buttress, slowing inland ice flow; thinning or breakup reduces resistance, allowing faster glacier discharge into the ocean. Climate & Ocean Interactions Ocean-Driven Melting Relatively warm Circumpolar Deep Water intrudes beneath the ice shelf, melting it from below, thinning critical support structures and accelerating grounding-line retreat. Atmospheric Warming Rising air temperatures influence surface melt and ice dynamics, though ocean heat currently plays the dominant role in destabilising West Antarctic outlet glaciers. Data & Evidence Current Contribution Thwaites alone contributes roughly 4% of present global sea-level rise, making it one of the single largest glacial contributors worldwide. Potential Sea-Level Rise Complete collapse over centuries could raise global mean sea level by ~0.5 metre, while also destabilising adjacent West Antarctic ice, adding several additional metres over longer timescales. Observed Changes Satellite records show rapid thinning, faster ice flow, and grounding-line retreat over recent decades, indicating ongoing dynamic imbalance rather than stable conditions. Global Implications Coastal Vulnerability Even modest sea-level rise increases coastal flooding, erosion, salinisation, and storm-surge damage, threatening megacities, ports, and delta regions globally. Small Island States Low-lying island nations face existential risks, with higher adaptation costs, displacement pressures, and loss of freshwater lenses due to saltwater intrusion. Economic Impact Sea-level rise raises costs for coastal infrastructure, insurance, disaster management, and climate adaptation, affecting both developed and developing economies. Governance & Policy Dimension Climate Mitigation Link Thwaites’ fate is strongly tied to global warming trajectories, making deep emissions cuts under Paris Agreement central to slowing long-term ice-sheet loss. Scientific Cooperation International collaborations like large Antarctic research missions improve modelling, monitoring, and early-warning capacity for ice-sheet instability. Challenges & Uncertainties Timescale Uncertainty Exact timelines for major retreat remain uncertain, complicating policy planning, but risk-based approaches justify early adaptation and mitigation investments. Complex Ice Dynamics Ice–ocean interactions, subglacial topography, and feedback loops create modelling challenges, requiring continuous observation and refinement. Way Forward Rapid Emission Reductions Limiting warming to well below 2°C reduces long-term Antarctic mass loss risks and associated sea-level rise. Coastal Adaptation Strengthen coastal zoning, resilient infrastructure, mangrove restoration, and managed retreat strategies to reduce vulnerability. Polar Research Investment Expand satellite monitoring, ocean sensors, and ice-penetrating radar to improve predictive capability. Value Addition Antarctica stores ~70% of the world’s freshwater. Antarctic Ice Sheet holds enough ice to raise sea level by ~58 metres if fully melted. Global mean sea level already rose ~20 cm since 1900 (IPCC). Sea level is rising at ~3.3 mm/year currently, double the 20th-century rate. Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai among top 20 global cities at coastal flood risk by 2050 (C40/World Bank studies). India has 7,500 km coastline, making it highly vulnerable. Biotechnology and Green Growth Why in News ? Biotech for Sustainable Future Experts in a national webinar highlighted biotechnology’s role in enabling green growth, zero-waste processes, and sustainable industry, aligning with India’s expanding bioeconomy and sustainability goals. Relevance GS 3 (Science & Tech + Economy + Environment) Bioeconomy and green growth Industrial biotech and sustainability Agri-biotech and food security Innovation-led growth and startups Basics & Core Keywords Biotechnology Biotechnology applies biological systems, organisms, or derivatives to develop products and processes in health, agriculture, environment, and industry, integrating biology with technology for societal and economic benefits. Green Growth Green growth refers to economic development that reduces environmental risks, promotes resource efficiency, and ensures sustainability while maintaining GDP growth and employment generation. Bioeconomy Bioeconomy includes economic activities using renewable biological resources to produce food, materials, and energy, reducing fossil-fuel dependence and supporting circular economy transitions. Data & Evidence India’s Bioeconomy Growth India’s bioeconomy expanded from ~US$10 billion (2014) to ~US$165 billion (2024), a 16-fold rise, making it among the fastest-growing bioeconomies globally. 2030 Target India targets US$300 billion bioeconomy by 2030, driven by biopharma, bio-agriculture, industrial biotech, and bio-services sectors. Sectoral Contribution Major drivers include biopharma, agriculture biotech, industrial biotech, and IT-enabled bio-services, collectively supporting innovation-led growth. Environmental Dimension Zero-Waste & Circularity Industrial biotechnology supports zero-waste manufacturing, bioremediation, and biodegradable materials, lowering pollution and landfill burdens. Climate Link Bio-based fuels and materials reduce carbon footprint and support net-zero transitions, complementing renewable energy policies. Economic Dimension Employment & Skills Biotechnology generates high-skill jobs in genomics, microbial technology, bioinformatics, and process engineering, supporting knowledge-economy growth. Innovation Economy Start-ups and R&D in biotech attract investments, patents, and global partnerships, strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem. Social Dimension Health & Food Security Biotech advances vaccines, diagnostics, fortified crops, and precision agriculture, improving public health and nutrition security. Rural Development Agri-biotech supports climate-resilient crops and bio-inputs, enhancing farmer incomes and sustainable rural livelihoods. Governance & Policy Dimension Policy Support India’s biotechnology push aligns with BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, Employment) and national sustainability missions. Skill Development Focus on biotech education and training builds human capital for future bio-industries. Technology Dimension Core Skills High demand for expertise in gene editing, microbial culture, fermentation tech, and data analytics for biotech innovation. Industry 5.0 Link Biotechnology integrates with AI, automation, and data science in Industry 5.0, enabling precision and efficiency. Challenges Regulatory Hurdles Biosafety regulations, ethical concerns, and approval delays can slow innovation. Funding Gaps High R&D costs and long gestation periods deter private investment. Skill Mismatch Rapid sector growth demands continuous upskilling. Way Forward R&D Investment Increase public–private biotech R&D funding and translational research support. Startup Ecosystem Strengthen incubators, venture funding, and industry–academia linkages. Sustainable Integration Promote bio-based alternatives in mainstream industries. AI Agents, “SaaSpocalypse” and Market Panic: Structural Shift or Overreaction? Why in News ? Claude Plugins Shock Markets Anthropic released 11 open-source plugins (Jan 30) for Claude Cowork enabling autonomous legal, finance, and compliance workflows, triggering fears of AI replacing software and labour, and causing sharp global tech stock sell-offs. Relevance GS 3 (Science & Tech) AI disruption and automation Agentic AI and future of work Digital economy transformation GS 3 (Economy — Core) IT sector vulnerability Employment and reskilling Business model shifts Basics & Core Keywords Agentic AI Agentic AI refers to AI systems that autonomously execute multi-step tasks, coordinate workflows, and make operational decisions with minimal human input, moving beyond chatbots to digital co-workers in enterprises. SaaS (Software as a Service) SaaS is a cloud-based software model charging per-user subscriptions; revenues depend on human “seats,” making it vulnerable if AI reduces human workforce dependence. SaaSpocalypse SaaSpocalypse, coined by Jefferies Group, describes fear that AI agents may replace traditional software usage itself, not merely enhance productivity, undermining seat-based revenue models. Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) HITL involves human oversight in AI decisions for validation, exception handling, ethics, and governance, especially in regulated sectors like finance, defence, and healthcare. Data & Evidence: Market Reaction Global Sell-off Nearly $285 billion market cap erased globally after announcement, showing sensitivity of tech valuations to AI disruption narratives. U.S. Software Impact Goldman Sachs software basket fell 6% (Feb 3); Thomson Reuters plunged 15.8%, LegalZoom 19.7%, RELX 14%, reflecting direct threat to legal/knowledge software. Indian Market Impact Nifty IT fell 5.87% in one day, wiping out nearly ₹2 lakh crore, steepest fall since March 2020; Infosys and TCS fell >7%. Technological Significance From Assistive to Autonomous Shift from AI assistants to autonomous agents marks transition from productivity tool to workflow executor, threatening service-based business models. Bloomberg GPT Benchmark BloombergGPT (50B parameters, 363B tokens) proved domain-specific AI can outperform general models in finance, setting precedent for vertical AI disruption. GitHub Coding Evidence Studies show ~4% of public GitHub commits authored by Claude Code, projected to reach 20% by year-end, indicating rapid AI penetration in coding. Economic & Business Model Impact Headcount Model at Risk India’s outsourcing relies on billing per employee; if one agent replaces teams, pricing models face structural repricing. Corporate Signals Salesforce paused hiring engineers/lawyers citing AI productivity; Goldman Sachs deploying AI for compliance and onboarding tasks. Capital Expenditure Paradox Contradiction noted by BofA: AI cannot both reduce capex and simultaneously replace all software; suggests overreaction. Employment Dimension Jobs at Risk Entry-level testing, maintenance, and compliance roles most vulnerable as they involve repetitive rule-based tasks. Reskilling Imperative Demand rising for AI architects, governance specialists, and HITL supervisors rather than traditional coders. Quantitative Signal TCS reportedly reduced workforce by ~11,000, and some firms cut fresher hiring from 80% to near zero in certain teams. Comparative Insight: DeepSeek Moment DeepSeek Precedent DeepSeek (Jan 2025) triggered Nvidia’s $589B single-day loss, yet stock recovered 58% within a year, showing panic cycles in AI markets. Expert’s View Bank of America and Gartner termed sell-off “overblown,” arguing enterprises won’t discard existing software investments quickly. Strategic Implications for India Need for Pivot Shift from labour arbitrage to AI deployment partnerships combining domain expertise with platforms. Competitive Advantage Indian firms possess deep domain knowledge in BFSI and healthcare, enabling HITL governance and AI integration services. Investment Signals TCS–TPG committed $2B for AI data centres; Wipro allocated $1B for AI360, showing gradual adaptation. Challenges Speed Gap Global firms integrating AI faster than Indian IT transition pace. Revenue Model Risk Seat-based billing vulnerable to automation. Skill Gap Large-scale reskilling required for AI system design. Way Forward AI Governance & HITL Build HITL centres for regulated sectors ensuring compliance and trust. Reskilling at Scale Train engineers in AI architecture and domain analytics. Platform Partnerships Collaborate with leading AI firms rather than compete at foundation-model level. Traditional Delicacies as Next “Makhana Moment” Why in News ? Cultural Visibility → Market Opportunity National spotlight on Chhattisgarh’s thethri and khurmi during a student interaction with the Prime Minister signals how cultural visibility can trigger market demand, branding, and value-chain development for regional foods. Relevance GS 3 (Economy ) Food processing and value addition Rural livelihoods and SHGs ODOP, PMFME, GI economy GS 1 (Culture ) Intangible cultural heritage Food culture and identity Basics & Core Keywords Traditional Delicacies Region-specific foods using local ingredients and customary methods; they encode ecological knowledge, seasonality, and community practices, forming part of intangible cultural heritage and local identity. “Makhana Moment” Makhana (fox nuts) evolved from a local snack to a national superfood through branding, GI support, and organised value chains; similar pathway can scale other regional foods. Value Addition Value addition involves processing, branding, packaging, and quality certification that increase product price and farmer/producer income beyond raw commodity sales. Case Focus: Thethri Made from besan (gram flour) and spices, deep-fried for low moisture and longer shelf life, enabling storage, transport, and small-scale commercialisation across regional markets. Cultural Embedment Linked to Diwali and harvest festivities, thethri carries ritual value, aiding storytelling-based branding and festival-driven demand spikes. Case Focus: Khurmi Prepared from jaggery, wheat flour, and semolina; jaggery adds iron and minerals, positioning khurmi as a traditional, less-refined sweet alternative to processed confectionery. Rural Suitability Simple ingredients and techniques allow SHGs and home enterprises to produce at scale with low capital, supporting decentralised rural industries. Economic Angle: From Snack to Sector Rural Livelihoods Scaling traditional snacks through SHGs/FPOs can generate non-farm rural income, especially for women; India has 80+ lakh SHGs linked to livelihoods missions. Domestic Market Potential India’s packaged snacks market exceeds $15–20 billion, growing with urban demand for ethnic and healthier options; regional products can capture niche segments. Export Possibility Ethnic foods ride diaspora demand; processed food exports from India cross $40 billion annually, indicating room for branded traditional snacks. “Next Makhana” Pathway GI & Branding GI tagging and state branding (like Bihar makhana) can signal authenticity, prevent imitation, and command price premiums for thethri/khurmi. Processing & Standards FSSAI-compliant units, standardised recipes, and hygienic packaging extend shelf life and enable retail/e-commerce entry. Cluster Development ODOP (One District One Product) and PMFME schemes can build clusters for traditional foods, linking credit, training, and marketing. Nutrition & Sustainability Clean-Label Advantage Traditional snacks use short ingredient lists (besan, jaggery, grains), aligning with clean-label trends and reduced ultra-processed consumption. Local Sourcing Using local grains/pulses reduces transport emissions and supports circular local economies. Governance & Policy Linkages Scheme Convergence Converge PMFME, NRLM, ODOP, and GI promotion for end-to-end support from production to branding. Tourism Link Culinary trails and state festivals can anchor food tourism, boosting regional economies. Challenges Quality Consistency Variability in taste and hygiene can limit scale; requires training and SOPs. Commercial Dilution Over-sweetening, additives, or ingredient substitution may erode authenticity and nutrition. Market Access Small producers face logistics and retail entry barriers without aggregator platforms. Way Forward Brand-Build-Scale Create state-backed brands, storytelling labels, and influencer marketing to build recognition. Digital Commerce Use ONDC and e-commerce for pan-India reach with small-batch producers. Capacity Building Train SHGs in food safety, packaging, and financial literacy for sustainable scaling. Value Addition  Rural Economy India has 80+ lakh SHGs, many engaged in food processing. Food processing contributes ~13% of manufacturing GVA. Market Size Indian packaged snacks market: US$15–20B and growing. Processed food exports: US$40B+ annually. GI & Branding Impact GI-tagged products often see 20–40% price premium. India has 500+ GI tags, many food-related. Tourism Link Culinary tourism is a growing niche within India’s US$200B+ tourism economy.

Daily PIB Summaries

PIB Summaries 07 February 2026

Content Arbitration Council Of India (ACI) 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) Scheme Arbitration Council Of India (ACI) Legal Foundation Statutory Origin Arbitration Council of India (ACI) is a proposed statutory regulator created through Part IA (Sections 43A–43M) inserted by the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2019 to institutionalise arbitration governance in India. Parent law, Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, is based on UNCITRAL Model Law, promoting party autonomy, minimal judicial intervention, and globally harmonised commercial dispute resolution standards. ACI envisaged as a seven-member body with Chairperson, arbitration experts, and government nominees, aiming to combine domain expertise with regulatory oversight in arbitration governance. Despite statutory mandate since 2019, ACI remains unconstituted, reflecting implementation deficit and raising concerns regarding legal reform credibility and governance accountability. Relevance GS 2 (Polity & Governance) Judicial reforms, ADR mechanisms, institutional arbitration, and legal system efficiency. Rule of law, contract enforcement, ease of doing business, and governance accountability. Balance between regulatory oversight and arbitral independence. Mandate and Functions Core Responsibilities ACI frames policies for grading arbitral institutions, setting quality benchmarks, and professionalising arbitration, similar to models in Singapore and UK arbitration regimes. Recognises professional bodies for accrediting arbitrators, standardising qualifications, ethics, and competency, addressing weaknesses of India’s ad-hoc arbitration culture. Conducts training, workshops, and courses to build arbitration capacity, strengthening legal human capital and supporting knowledge-based dispute resolution ecosystem. Maintains depository of arbitral awards and promotes research, enabling data-driven policy-making and evidence-based arbitration reforms. Reform Context in Indian Arbitration Evolution Since 1996 1996 Act replaced Arbitration Act, 1940, shifting from court-centric litigation to modern arbitration aligned with liberalised economy and global trade requirements. 2015 Amendment introduced Section 29A timelines, neutrality disclosures, and narrowed public policy grounds, improving award enforceability and investor confidence. 2019 Amendment promoted institutional arbitration, introduced confidentiality (Section 42A) and arbitrator immunity, encouraging structured dispute resolution mechanisms. 2021 Amendment removed automatic stay on awards except in fraud or corruption, strengthening enforcement and reducing delay tactics. Linkage with India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) Institutional Ecosystem India International Arbitration Centre Act, 2019 established IIAC as an autonomous institution to deliver world-class arbitration services and position India as global arbitration seat. IIAC provides empanelled arbitrators, administrative support, and modern facilities at cost-effective rates, reducing dependence on foreign seats like Singapore and London. Adoption by CPSEs — ONGC, GAIL, BPCL (2024–25) institutionalises arbitration in public contracts, improving commercial certainty and reducing litigation burden. Outreach through conferences, debates, exporter webinars, ADR publications reflects policy push toward mainstreaming institutional arbitration. Governance and Administrative Significance Justice Delivery Impact With over 5 crore pending cases in Indian courts, arbitration supports Article 39A goal of speedy and affordable justice. Institutional arbitration ensures transparent appointments, procedural consistency, and rule-based dispute resolution, strengthening trust in commercial justice systems. Predictable dispute resolution improves government contracting, reduces project delays, and enhances administrative efficiency. Economic Relevance Investment Climate Strong arbitration improves contract enforcement, a key factor influencing FDI inflows and cross-border commercial confidence. Global arbitration hubs earn significant legal services revenue; domestic ecosystem can retain high-value dispute resolution expenditure. Faster dispute settlement benefits export sectors, supporting India’s expanding global trade ambitions. Challenges and Criticisms Structural Gaps Non-constitution of ACI weakens reform momentum and creates regulatory vacuum in institutional arbitration quality control. Experts warn of excessive government control in ACI potentially undermining independence and party autonomy, core arbitration principles. Limited trained arbitrators and uneven institutional capacity restrict India’s competitiveness against global arbitration centres. Way Forward Reform Directions Expedite ACI constitution with credible arbitration experts, ensuring functional independence and transparency. Promote mandatory institutional arbitration clauses in major public contracts to reduce ad-hoc arbitration. Expand training, certification, and ethics regulation with global collaborations. Scale online dispute resolution (ODR) and digital arbitration platforms aligned with Digital India reforms. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Types ADR refers to non-judicial mechanisms for resolving disputes quickly, cost-effectively, and with minimal procedural complexity. Recognised under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. 1) Arbitration Dispute decided by a neutral arbitrator or arbitral tribunal. Decision (arbitral award) is binding and enforceable like a court decree. Can be institutional (e.g., arbitration centres) or ad-hoc. Used heavily in commercial and international disputes. 2) Conciliation Neutral conciliator actively suggests solutions and settlement terms. More interventionist than mediation. Settlement agreement has legal status of arbitral award under the 1996 Act. Common in commercial and contractual disputes. 3) Mediation Neutral mediator facilitates dialogue; does not impose a decision. Voluntary, confidential, and party-driven. Outcome becomes binding only if parties sign a settlement. Increasingly used in family, civil, and community disputes. 4) Negotiation Parties directly discuss to reach a mutually acceptable solution. No third-party involvement. Most informal and flexible ADR method. Often first step before formal ADR. 5) Lok Adalats (People’s Courts) Statutory ADR under Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Focus on compromise and settlement. Award is final, binding, and non-appealable. Effective in reducing judicial backlog. 6) Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Uses digital platforms, AI tools, and video conferencing. Suitable for e-commerce, fintech, and small-value disputes. Promoted under Digital India and e-Courts initiatives. 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) Scheme Legal–Policy Foundation Scheme Basis Central Sector Scheme on Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs launched in 2020 to collectivise small and marginal farmers, enhance bargaining power, and enable economies of scale in agriculture value chains. Implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare with support of SFAC, NABARD, NCDC, reflecting convergence model combining credit, capacity building, and market linkage support for farmer collectives. FPOs legally registered under Companies Act, 2013 (Producer Company provisions) or Cooperative/Society laws, providing formal institutional identity, limited liability, and democratic member-driven governance structure. Scheme aligns with Doubling Farmers’ Income vision, SDG-1 (No Poverty) and SDG-2 (Zero Hunger) by improving farmer income realisation through aggregation and value addition. Relevance GS 3 (Agriculture & Economy) Agricultural marketing reforms, value chains, and income diversification. Economies of scale, agri-exports, and market-led agriculture transition. Linkages with e-NAM, food processing, and digital agriculture. Core Objectives Functional Goals Promote collectivisation of producers for better input procurement, technology adoption, and market access, reducing dependence on intermediaries and improving farm-gate price realisation. Strengthen post-harvest management, processing, branding, and exports, shifting farmers from subsistence cultivation toward commercial and value-chain oriented agriculture. Facilitate access to institutional credit, as individual smallholders often lack collateral and credit history, but FPOs improve creditworthiness through collective strength. Encourage cluster-based business organisations (CBBOs) to provide professional handholding, business planning, and managerial support for initial 5-year nurturing period. Current Status & Data Latest Figures 10,000 FPOs formed under scheme as of 1 January 2026, marking achievement of major institutional target in farmer collectivisation and rural economic organisation. 56.32 lakh farmers enrolled, indicating large-scale mobilisation of agrarian population into formal producer collectives, critical for structural transformation of fragmented landholding system. 21.96 lakh women farmers enrolled, reflecting significant gender inclusion, improving women’s role in decision-making, income control, and agri-entrepreneurship. 1,175 FPOs with 100% women members demonstrate targeted push toward women-led producer enterprises, aligning with gender empowerment and inclusive rural development goals. Governance & Administrative Significance Institutional Impact FPOs reduce transaction costs, enable bulk marketing, and improve integration with e-NAM and digital agriculture platforms, strengthening market efficiency and price discovery. Support government shift from price support–centric agriculture toward market-led income enhancement, reducing excessive MSP dependency over long term. Promote decentralised rural institutions, strengthening grassroots economic democracy and participatory development consistent with cooperative federalism and local empowerment principles. Economic Significance Income & Market Impact Aggregation through FPOs improves scale economies, lowering per-unit costs of inputs, logistics, storage, and processing, thereby enhancing farmer profitability and competitiveness. Facilitates entry into high-value agriculture—horticulture, dairy, fisheries, organic produce—diversifying income sources and reducing monoculture risk. Enhances export readiness through quality standardisation and traceability, supporting India’s agri-export targets under Agriculture Export Policy, 2018. Social & Ethical Dimensions  Inclusion Value Women-centric FPOs improve financial inclusion, leadership participation, and social status of rural women, contributing to gender equity and household welfare improvements. Collective model reduces vulnerability of marginal farmers against price shocks, climate risks, and exploitative middlemen structures. Challenges & Criticisms Structural Gaps Many FPOs face weak managerial capacity, business planning gaps, and market intelligence deficits, affecting sustainability beyond government support period. Limited access to working capital and risk finance constrains scaling of operations and value-addition activities. Over-reliance on grants risks creating grant-dependent institutions rather than self-sustaining commercial entities. Market linkages often remain localised, limiting integration into national and global value chains. Way Forward Reform Directions Strengthen professional management, agri-business training, and digital literacy for FPO leaders to improve commercial viability. Expand credit guarantee mechanisms and blended finance models to attract private investment into FPO ecosystem. Integrate FPOs with food processing clusters, ONDC, and e-commerce platforms to widen market access. Promote women-led FPO federations to achieve scale, negotiation power, and policy visibility.

Daily Editorials Analysis

Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 07 February 2026

Content RBI maintains status quo, conserves policy ammunition Anthropic sends a message to Bengaluru: AI and India’s IT services model RBI maintains status quo, conserves policy ammunition Monetary Policy & Legal Framework Institutional Basis Reserve Bank of India (RBI) operates under RBI Act, 1934; Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) created via 2016 amendment, institutionalising flexible inflation targeting and rule-based monetary policy. MPC consists of 6 members (3 RBI + 3 Government nominees); decisions by majority vote with Governor’s casting vote, ensuring institutional balance between autonomy and accountability. India follows Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) with mandated CPI target 4% ±2% band (2–6%), notified by Government under Section 45ZA of RBI Act. Relevance GS 3 – Economy Monetary policy, inflation targeting, interest rates, liquidity management, capital flows, exchange rate stability. Growth–inflation trade-off, real interest rates, and macroeconomic stabilisation. Role of central banks in managing global spillovers and commodity shocks. Practice Question “In an uncertain global environment, central banks often prioritise policy credibility over short-term growth stimulus.”Discuss in the context of RBI’s recent status quo on policy rates.(250 Words) Current Policy Stance Status Quo Decision RBI kept policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25% (Feb 2026), continuing pause since Feb 2023, indicating cautious approach amid global uncertainty and evolving inflation-growth dynamics. Decision reflects strategy to preserve policy space (“policy ammunition”), allowing future rate actions if inflationary or growth shocks emerge domestically or globally. RBI assessment suggests inflation trajectory becoming manageable, reducing urgency for immediate rate cuts while ensuring credibility of inflation targeting framework. Inflation Dynamics Price Stability Context CPI inflation projected ~4% for FY27, aligning with RBI’s medium-term target, signalling relative price stability compared to post-pandemic and Ukraine-war driven inflation spikes. Core inflation softening indicates easing demand-side pressures, while food inflation volatility remains key risk due to climate variability and supply-side shocks. Stable inflation expectations strengthen real interest rate transmission, supporting macroeconomic credibility and currency stability. Growth Outlook GDP Projections RBI projects GDP growth ~7.2% for FY27, reflecting India’s position as fastest-growing major economy, supported by domestic demand, capex push, and services sector resilience. Lower global crude and commodity prices reduce imported inflation and input costs, improving corporate margins and household purchasing power. Potential improvement in capital flows expected if advanced economies like US and EU witness monetary easing cycles. Liquidity & Financial Conditions Liquidity Management RBI previously infused liquidity through CRR adjustments and OMOs, ensuring adequate system liquidity to support credit growth and financial stability. Despite earlier liquidity support, RBI remains cautious as excessive liquidity can rekindle inflationary pressures and asset price bubbles. Balancing liquidity with price stability reflects calibrated monetary management in uncertain global macroeconomic environment. External Sector Considerations Global Linkages US tariff policies and global trade uncertainty affect export outlook, though diversified export basket reduces concentrated vulnerability. Narrower interest rate differentials with US could influence capital flows and exchange rate stability, shaping RBI’s cautious stance. India’s strong forex reserves (historically above USD 600 billion range) provide buffer against external volatility. Governance & Economic Significance Policy Credibility Maintaining status quo signals policy predictability, anchoring investor confidence and financial market stability. Conservative approach protects against premature easing that may destabilise inflation expectations. Reinforces RBI’s reputation as credible inflation-targeting central bank among emerging markets. Challenges & Risks Structural Concerns Food inflation vulnerability due to monsoon variability and climate shocks remains persistent structural risk. Global financial volatility, geopolitical tensions, and commodity price swings could disrupt inflation trajectory. Tight policy for prolonged period may moderate private investment and consumption momentum. Way Forward Policy Priorities Maintain data-dependent monetary policy, avoiding rigid forward guidance amid volatile global macroeconomic environment. Strengthen supply-side measures in food management to reduce structural inflation drivers beyond monetary control. Improve monetary-fiscal coordination to ensure fiscal deficits do not counteract disinflation efforts. Deepen financial markets to enhance smoother transmission of policy rates. Anthropic sends a message to Bengaluru: AI and India’s IT services model Technological & Policy Context AI Disruption Basics Rapid advances in Generative AI (GenAI) are shifting software work from human-coded solutions toward AI-assisted and AI-generated outputs, challenging traditional labour-intensive IT services models. Firms like Anthropic and OpenAI demonstrate AI systems capable of coding, legal review, workflow planning, and analytics, expanding AI from assistance to partial task substitution in knowledge industries. India’s IT sector, built on outsourcing, cost arbitrage, and skilled manpower, now faces structural disruption as AI reduces need for large coding and support teams. Shift marks transition from “services-led digital economy” to “AI-augmented knowledge economy”, demanding policy and workforce adaptation. Relevance GS 3 – Economy & S&T AI-led productivity shifts, automation, and digital economy transformation. Impact on IT exports, employment, and business models. Innovation ecosystem, R&D, and strategic technology capacity. Practice Question “Generative AI may do to IT services what automation did to manufacturing.”Discuss implications for India’s growth and employment model.(250 Words) Economic Significance Growth Model Implications India’s IT-BPM sector contributes ~7–8% of GDP and over USD 200+ billion exports annually, making AI disruption macroeconomically significant for growth, forex, and employment. AI-driven automation may compress billing-hour models, pushing firms toward outcome-based pricing and high-value consulting rather than routine services. Productivity gains from AI can improve margins but may reduce entry-level hiring, affecting India’s demographic dividend utilisation. Stock market reactions, such as IT index declines, reflect investor concerns about medium-term revenue models and competitiveness. Employment & Social Dimensions Workforce Impact Routine coding, testing, and documentation roles face higher automation risk, especially entry-level positions forming bulk of Indian IT recruitment pipelines. However, AI creates demand for AI trainers, prompt engineers, data curators, and domain specialists, shifting skill composition rather than eliminating jobs entirely. Risk of job polarisation—high-skill AI roles grow while mid-skill routine jobs shrink—raising inequality and reskilling urgency. Large-scale reskilling aligns with NEP 2020 emphasis on digital and future skills. Governance & Regulatory Relevance Policy Interface India’s approach under Digital India and IndiaAI Mission seeks to build domestic AI capability, compute infrastructure, and datasets for strategic autonomy. Need for regulatory clarity on AI ethics, liability, and data protection under frameworks like Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Government role shifts toward enabler and regulator, ensuring innovation without harming employment stability or data sovereignty. Strategic & Global Dimensions Competitive Positioning Global AI race led by US and China may reshape digital value chains; India must avoid being confined to low-value segments. Opportunity to position India as hub for responsible AI, multilingual AI, and Global South solutions, leveraging large digital public infrastructure. AI capability increasingly linked with national power, productivity, and strategic autonomy. Challenges & Risks Structural Concerns Skill mismatch between current workforce and AI-driven demand may create short-term unemployment pressures. High dependence on foreign AI models risks technological dependence and data colonialism. SMEs may struggle to invest in AI adoption, widening digital divide within industry. Ethical concerns over algorithmic bias, surveillance, and accountability remain unresolved. Way Forward Reform Directions Scale up AI-focused skilling programs, integrating coding, statistics, and domain expertise through industry–academia collaboration. Incentivise R&D, domestic AI startups, and compute infrastructure to reduce import dependence. Promote human-in-the-loop AI systems ensuring augmentation rather than full automation. Develop clear AI governance framework balancing innovation, ethics, and labour transition support.

Daily Current Affairs

Current Affairs 07 February 2026

Content H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU) DEEP TECH START-UPS IN INDIA RBI FRAMEWORK FOR COMPENSATION TO CYBERFRAUD VICTIMS RBI MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE (MPC) & POLICY RATES AGROFORESTRY IN INDIA BLYTH’S TRAGOPAN (Tragopan blythii) H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU) Context H5N1 avian influenza detected in dead crows in Chennai, prompting Tamil Nadu authorities to issue advisories, strengthen surveillance, and enforce biosecurity, highlighting periodic zoonotic disease risks in urban ecosystems. Detection reiterates need for avian disease monitoring in migratory and urban bird populations, as sporadic outbreaks in India trigger containment protocols under national avian influenza response framework. Relevance GS 2 (Health & Governance) Public health preparedness, zoonotic disease surveillance, One Health approach, Centre–State coordination in epidemic response. GS 3 (Environment & Science) Zoonotic diseases, wildlife–livestock interface, biodiversity–health linkages, biosecurity and pandemic risk management. Scientific Basics Nature of Disease Avian Influenza is a zoonotic viral disease caused by Influenza A viruses of family Orthomyxoviridae, primarily infecting birds but occasionally crossing species barriers to infect humans and mammals. Influenza A viruses are classified by Hemagglutinin (H1–H16) and Neuraminidase (N1–N9) proteins; H5N1 subtype denotes specific antigenic structure influencing virulence, host range, and immune response. Avian influenza viruses are categorised as Low Pathogenic (LPAI) or Highly Pathogenic (HPAI); H5N1 is HPAI, causing systemic infection and high mortality in domestic poultry populations. Wild aquatic birds are natural reservoirs, often asymptomatic, facilitating long-distance virus spread through migratory flyways and creating epidemiological links between continents and domestic poultry. Transmission Mechanism Spread Dynamics Virus spreads among birds via saliva, nasal secretions, and faeces, contaminating shared water bodies, feed sources, cages, and farm equipment in intensive poultry environments. Human infection mainly occurs through direct handling of infected birds, carcasses, or contaminated environments, especially in farms and live bird markets with poor biosecurity. No sustained human-to-human transmission documented, limiting pandemic potential, yet sporadic human infections justify continuous global and national surveillance. Virus survives longer in cool, moist conditions, making wetlands and winter seasons ecologically favourable for persistence and transmission among bird populations. Symptoms & Pathology Clinical Features In birds, infection causes sudden death, respiratory distress, swelling, neurological signs, diarrhoea, and drastic fall in egg production due to multi-organ viral replication. In humans, symptoms include high fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and pneumonia, sometimes progressing to acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring intensive care. WHO records indicate around 50% case fatality among confirmed human H5N1 cases globally, though total human infections remain very limited in number. Prevention & Control Biosecurity Measures Culling of infected and exposed poultry remains primary containment method as vaccination effectiveness is limited against rapidly mutating highly pathogenic strains. Farm biosecurity requires controlled entry, sanitation, protective clothing, and routine disinfection, reducing farm-to-farm transmission risks. Safe disposal of carcasses through deep burial or incineration prevents soil and water contamination and secondary transmission. Proper cooking above 70°C destroys virus, ensuring well-cooked poultry and eggs remain safe for human consumption. Institutional & Legal Framework (India) Governance Structure Governed under Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009, empowering authorities to enforce quarantine, culling, and movement control. National Action Plan on Avian Influenza guides surveillance, outbreak response, zoning, and farmer compensation to ensure transparency and cooperation. India follows One Health approach, integrating animal, human, and environmental health surveillance for zoonotic disease management. Coordination among Department of Animal Husbandry, State Veterinary Services, and Public Health Departments ensures multi-sectoral outbreak response. Economic & Social Significance Sectoral Impact Poultry sector is major source of affordable protein, rural employment, and income diversification, making outbreaks economically sensitive. Outbreaks often cause consumer panic, price crashes, and trade restrictions, directly impacting farmers’ incomes and agri-exports. Compensation mechanisms help ensure early reporting and cooperation from poultry farmers during outbreaks. Environmental Linkages Ecology Dimension Migratory birds along Central Asian Flyway act as long-distance carriers, linking disease ecology across countries and seasons. Wetlands serve as ecological interfaces where wild and domestic birds interact, facilitating viral exchange. Climate variability influences migration routes, congregation patterns, and viral persistence in ecosystems. Challenges Structural Issues Frequent antigenic drift and shift in influenza viruses complicate vaccine development and long-term immunity. Informal poultry markets often lack traceability and biosecurity compliance, increasing outbreak risks. Veterinary infrastructure and rapid diagnostic capacity remain uneven across regions. Misinformation can reduce poultry consumption despite food safety assurances, hurting livelihoods. Way Forward Strategic Measures Strengthen One Health surveillance systems integrating wildlife, livestock, and human disease databases for early warning. Expand district-level veterinary labs and rapid response teams for timely containment. Promote farmer awareness on farm-level biosecurity and early reporting practices. Enhance international cooperation under WHO–FAO–WOAH frameworks for transboundary disease monitoring. DEEP TECH START-UPS IN INDIA Context Current Trigger Government of India issued official definition of “Deep Tech start-up” via DPIIT gazette notification, bringing regulatory clarity to a previously loosely used term amid rising policy focus on technology-driven innovation. Definition gains importance due to ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund and increasing public financing support targeted at high-technology and frontier innovation sectors. Relevance GS 3 (Science & Technology) Frontier technologies (AI, quantum, biotech, semiconductors), R&D ecosystem, IP generation, innovation-led growth. GS 3 (Economy) Knowledge economy transition, high-tech manufacturing, startup financing, productivity and export competitiveness. Conceptual & Scientific Basis Meaning of Deep Tech Deep Tech refers to start-ups based on advanced scientific or engineering innovations, producing solutions rooted in new knowledge rather than incremental digital or business-model innovations. Typically operates in frontier domains like AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, semiconductors, space tech, and advanced materials, where breakthroughs rely on scientific research and experimentation. Distinguished from regular tech start-ups by high R&D intensity, strong IP creation, and technology-led competitive advantage rather than platform or service aggregation models. Deep tech innovation often originates from university labs, research institutions, or scientific ecosystems, linking academia, industry, and government research systems. Official Definition Criteria (DPIIT) Qualification Norms A deep tech start-up must focus on new scientific or engineering knowledge, not merely applying existing technologies in commercial or service contexts. Must spend major share of expenditure on R&D, signalling research-driven rather than marketing-driven enterprise structure. Required to own or develop significant intellectual property (IP) and actively pursue commercialisation of that IP. Characterised by long gestation, high capital needs, infrastructure intensity, and significant technical uncertainty, distinguishing it from fast-scaling digital start-ups. Start-up Eligibility Norms Age & Turnover Rules Standard start-up defined as entity less than 10 years old or turnover below ₹200 crore, as per DPIIT norms. Deep tech start-ups receive extended runway, qualifying as start-up for up to 20 years with turnover ceiling of ₹300 crore, acknowledging longer innovation cycles. Recognition requires application and certification by DPIIT, making status rule-based rather than self-declared. Institutional & Governance Framework Regulatory Structure DPIIT is final authority for recognising start-ups and deep tech start-ups, ensuring standardised national classification. Decisions guided by Inter-Ministerial Board of Certification including representatives from DPIIT, Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Start-ups are restricted from investing in real estate, speculative assets, or securities unless directly linked to knowledge creation, ensuring focus on innovation. Reflects governance shift toward mission-oriented innovation policy rather than broad-based start-up promotion alone. Policy & Economic Significance Strategic Importance Deep tech critical for strategic autonomy, technological sovereignty, and high-value manufacturing, reducing dependence on foreign technology. Drives productivity, export competitiveness, and high-skilled employment, moving India up the global value chain. Aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat, Digital India, and Make in India visions focusing on domestic innovation capacity. Encourages knowledge economy transition, where growth stems from IP, patents, and research-led enterprises. Financing Ecosystem R&D Support Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) oversees ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund to finance emerging technologies and research over seven years. Deep tech start-ups may receive concessional financing at 2–4% interest with tenures up to 15 years, easing capital constraints. Public funding reduces early-stage risk where private investors hesitate due to uncertain and long innovation cycles. Signals state-led catalytic role in high-risk innovation financing. Challenges Structural Constraints Long gestation periods delay revenue generation, creating funding stress and investor hesitation. Limited deep-tech venture capital ecosystem compared to US and China. Weak academia–industry technology transfer pipelines slow commercialisation. Talent shortages in frontier science and interdisciplinary research areas. Way Forward Strategic Measures Strengthen industry–academia collaboration and technology transfer offices in universities. Expand deep-tech focused venture funds and blended finance instruments. Fast-track approval of national deep tech policy for coherent ecosystem support. Promote global partnerships in frontier technologies while safeguarding IP. RBI FRAMEWORK FOR COMPENSATION TO CYBERFRAUD VICTIMS Context RBI proposed framework to compensate online fraud victims up to ₹25,000, targeting small-value digital payment frauds, reflecting regulatory response to rising cybercrime in digital financial ecosystem and UPI expansion. Proposal shifts burden partly to banks and institutions, signalling stronger consumer protection regime amid rapid growth of digital payments, fintech usage, and cashless economy adoption across India. Relevance GS 3 (Economy) Digital payments ecosystem, fintech regulation, financial stability and consumer confidence. GS 3 (Internal Security / Cybersecurity) Cybercrime trends, digital fraud risks, need for cyber resilience and financial data protection. Conceptual & Regulatory Basics Cyber Fraud Meaning Cyber financial fraud involves unauthorised digital transactions through phishing, OTP compromise, social engineering, or malware, exploiting gaps in user awareness, digital hygiene, and platform-level security safeguards. RBI treats digital payment safety as core to payment system integrity, governed under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, ensuring trust, stability, and consumer confidence in electronic transactions. Key Features of Proposed Framework Compensation Structure Victims of small-value online frauds may receive compensation up to ₹25,000, focusing on frequently occurring low-ticket digital frauds affecting large number of retail users. Both bank and customer share liability, each bearing 15% of transaction value, while RBI-funded Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund covers remaining eligible compensation portion. Example-based approach ensures proportional relief; if fraud loss is below ₹25,000, compensation aligns with defined percentage-sharing formula rather than full unconditional reimbursement. Framework covers cases even where customers inadvertently share credentials, recognising modern fraud complexity and shifting toward victim-sensitive regulatory stance. Institutional Mechanism Governance Framework Compensation financed through Depositor Education and Awareness Fund, created by RBI using unclaimed deposits, primarily aimed at depositor protection and financial literacy promotion. RBI and banks will conduct due diligence checks, ensuring fraud legitimacy and preventing misuse, balancing consumer protection with moral hazard concerns. Framework emphasises shared responsibility model, encouraging both institutional safeguards and consumer vigilance in digital transactions. Economic & Governance Significance Systemic Importance Strengthens trust in digital payments ecosystem, crucial as India leads globally in real-time digital transactions volume, particularly through UPI-driven retail payments revolution. Enhances consumer confidence, supporting government push toward less-cash economy, financial inclusion, and fintech-led innovation. Reinforces RBI’s role as financial consumer protector, not merely monetary authority, expanding regulatory scope in digital finance governance. Social & Ethical Dimensions Citizen Protection Protects vulnerable users like elderly and first-time digital adopters, who face higher cyber fraud risks due to limited digital literacy. Ethical governance principle of fairness and victim protection reflected in partial compensation even when user negligence exists. Challenges & Risks Structural Concerns Risk of moral hazard, where guaranteed compensation may reduce consumer caution and digital hygiene practices. Verification complexity and dispute resolution delays may burden banks and regulators. Fraud detection remains reactive rather than preventive in many cases. Cybercriminal innovation evolves rapidly, outpacing regulatory responses. Way Forward Strategic Measures Strengthen real-time fraud detection systems, AI-driven monitoring, and transaction alerts to prevent frauds before loss occurs. Expand nationwide digital financial literacy campaigns on phishing, OTP safety, and secure banking practices. Improve coordination between RBI, banks, NPCI, and law enforcement for rapid response and fund recovery. Develop clearer liability frameworks for fintech intermediaries and third-party platforms. RBI MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE (MPC) & POLICY RATES Context RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee kept repo rate steady at 5.25% while raising FY26 GDP and inflation projections, indicating cautious optimism about growth alongside evolving inflation dynamics. Decision reflects RBI’s attempt to balance price stability and growth support, amid changing global monetary conditions and domestic demand patterns. Relevance GS 3 (Economy) Inflation targeting, interest rates, liquidity management, monetary transmission, macroeconomic stability. GS 2 (Polity & Governance) Institutional autonomy of RBI, rule-based policymaking, accountability mechanisms. Constitutional–Legal & Institutional Basis Legal Framework Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) established under RBI Act, 1934 (amended 2016) to institutionalise rule-based, transparent, and accountable monetary policy decision-making in India. MPC consists of 6 members — 3 from RBI and 3 government nominees, with RBI Governor as Chairperson holding casting vote in case of tie. India follows Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) framework with mandated CPI target of 4% ±2% (2–6%), notified by Government every five years. RBI must publish Monetary Policy Report and explain failure if inflation remains outside target band for three consecutive quarters. Repo Rate & Policy Rates Basics Core Concepts Repo rate is the rate at which RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks against government securities, serving as primary monetary policy signalling tool. Changes in repo rate influence lending rates, deposit rates, liquidity, credit demand, and overall economic activity, forming core of monetary transmission mechanism. Other policy rates include Reverse Repo Rate, Standing Deposit Facility (SDF), and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) forming liquidity adjustment framework. Monetary policy stance can be accommodative, neutral, or tightening, depending on macroeconomic priorities. Inflation Dynamics Price Stability Context Inflation projections revised upward for FY26, reflecting evolving food price pressures, energy price trends, and demand recovery. Benign core inflation provides room for growth support, while food inflation remains structurally volatile due to monsoon dependence and supply-side rigidities. Anchored inflation expectations improve real income stability and investor confidence. RBI’s primary mandate remains price stability while keeping growth in mind. Growth Outlook GDP Projections Upward revision in GDP growth projections signals confidence in domestic demand, government capex push, and resilient services sector. India remains among fastest-growing major economies, supported by structural reforms and demographic advantage. Credit growth and private consumption remain key growth drivers. Global slowdown risks and trade uncertainties remain external constraints. Governance & Economic Significance Policy Credibility Predictable rate decisions enhance policy credibility and financial market stability, reducing volatility in bond and equity markets. Supports investment planning and macroeconomic stability. Reinforces RBI’s reputation as credible inflation-targeting central bank. Strengthens rule-based macroeconomic governance. Challenges & Risks Structural Concerns Food inflation sensitivity to climate shocks complicates monetary control. Global oil price volatility impacts imported inflation. Tight policy may moderate private investment. Transmission lags reduce immediate policy effectiveness. Way Forward Strategic Measures Maintain data-driven, flexible policy approach amid uncertainty. Improve food supply management to tackle structural inflation. Deepen financial markets for smoother transmission. Strengthen monetary-fiscal coordination. AGROFORESTRY IN INDIA Context India targets 50 million hectares under agroforestry by 2050, yet financing remains inadequate, with <5% of ₹20 lakh crore annual agricultural credit flowing to agroforestry despite climate and income benefits. Discussions at South Asian Agroforestry & Trees Outside Forests (AF-TOF) Congress 2026 highlighted structural financing gaps, policy awareness deficits, and regulatory hurdles limiting agroforestry expansion across South Asia. Relevance GS 3 (Environment & Climate) Climate mitigation, carbon sequestration, land restoration, sustainable agriculture. GS 3 (Agriculture & Economy) Farmer income diversification, timber imports, agro-based industries, rural resilience. Conceptual & Scientific Basics Meaning of Agroforestry Agroforestry integrates trees, crops, and sometimes livestock on the same land management unit, combining ecological and economic functions to improve productivity, sustainability, and climate resilience. Recognised by FAO as sustainable land-use system that enhances biodiversity, soil fertility, microclimate regulation, and diversified farmer incomes while reducing land degradation. Includes systems like agri-silviculture, silvo-pastoral, and agri-horticulture, depending on tree–crop–livestock combinations suited to agro-climatic zones. Bridges agriculture and forestry sectors, falling under Trees Outside Forests (TOF) category in policy discourse. Policy & Legal Framework Institutional Basis India launched National Agroforestry Policy, 2014, becoming first country with dedicated agroforestry policy, aiming to integrate tree cultivation with farming systems. Policy seeks to simplify felling and transit regulations, improve market access, and promote research, extension, and institutional credit support. Agroforestry aligns with National Forest Policy, 1988 goal of one-third geographical area under tree/forest cover. Linked with schemes like Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture. Current Status & Data Key Figures India has nearly 28 million hectares under agroforestry, contributing significantly to tree cover outside traditional forests. Agroforestry systems hold nearly 20% of India’s national carbon stocks, demonstrating climate mitigation potential. India imports over $7 billion worth of wood annually, indicating domestic production gap and livelihood opportunity for farmers. Around 86% Indian farmers are small and marginal, making diversified income sources like agroforestry economically relevant. Economic Significance Livelihood & Trade Impact Agroforestry provides diversified income streams through timber, fruits, fodder, fuelwood, and non-timber forest products, reducing farm income volatility. Reduces import dependence on timber and wood products, improving trade balance and domestic value chains. Long-term tree assets function as natural savings and insurance for rural households. Supports agro-processing and rural industries linked to wood and tree-based products. Environmental & Climate Significance Ecological Benefits Enhances carbon sequestration, supporting India’s NDC commitments under Paris Agreement. Reduces soil erosion, improves soil organic carbon, and enhances water retention. Acts as buffer against climate variability through microclimate regulation and windbreak effects. Studies show agroforestry helps avoid millions of tonnes of GHG emissions annually. Governance & Financial Challenges Structural Constraints Long gestation periods (5–30 years) discourage formal credit as returns are delayed compared to seasonal crops. Land tenure complexities and lack of clear tree ownership rights reduce creditworthiness and farmer confidence. Trees often not accepted as collateral by banks, limiting institutional finance access. Limited farmer awareness about harvesting and transit rules restricts adoption. Way Forward Strategic Measures Develop dedicated agroforestry credit lines with longer repayment cycles matching tree growth periods. Integrate agroforestry with carbon markets and green finance mechanisms for additional revenue streams. Simplify tree felling and transit regulations across states for market confidence. Promote digital traceability and private-sector procurement linkages. BLYTH’S TRAGOPAN (Tragopan blythii) Context Blyth’s tragopan highlighted in conservation discourse as a rare Himalayan pheasant facing habitat loss and hunting pressure, drawing attention to indicator species role in fragile Eastern Himalayan ecosystems. Renewed focus arises from biodiversity reporting and conservation discussions stressing indicator species importance for monitoring mountain ecosystem health, forest integrity, and climate-sensitive habitats in Northeast India. Relevance GS 3 (Environment & Biodiversity) Endangered species conservation, Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, indicator species concept. GS 3 (Ecology) Habitat fragmentation, climate-sensitive mountain ecosystems, forest ecology. Taxonomy & Biological Basics Species Identity Blyth’s tragopan is a pheasant species (Family: Phasianidae), named after Edward Blyth, characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, elaborate male display features, and cryptic female camouflage for nesting survival. Belongs to genus Tragopan, which includes Satyr, Temminck’s, Western, and Blyth’s tragopans, collectively known for ornate plumage, inflatable throat lappets, and horn-like display structures during breeding. Medium-sized galliform bird; male length 65–70 cm, female about 59 cm, showing size dimorphism alongside colour differences typical of pheasant reproductive strategies. Habitat & Distribution Geographic Range Distributed across Bhutan, Northeast India, northern Myanmar, southeastern Tibet, and Yunnan (China), forming a fragmented Eastern Himalayan and Indo-Burma range. In India, found mainly in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram, particularly within undisturbed montane broadleaf forests rich in bamboo and rhododendron understory. Shows altitudinal migration, occupying 1,400 m in winter and up to 3,300 m in summer, responding to snowfall, food availability, and seasonal vegetation patterns. Stronghold populations survive in areas like Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve, indicating importance of large intact forest landscapes for species persistence. Ecological Significance Indicator Role Recognised as an indicator species, reflecting health of Eastern Himalayan montane forests, which are among Asia’s richest biodiversity hotspots and climate-sensitive ecosystems. Presence indicates intact understorey vegetation, minimal disturbance, and high habitat quality, useful for ecological monitoring and conservation prioritisation. As a forest-floor feeder, contributes to seed dispersal and ecological balance, supporting forest regeneration processes. Conservation Status Legal & Global Status Listed as Vulnerable on IUCN Red List, indicating high risk of population decline due to habitat loss and hunting pressures. Included in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, granting highest legal protection in India against hunting and trade. Also listed under CITES Appendix I, prohibiting international commercial trade and recognising global conservation concern. Estimated global population below 10,000 individuals, fragmented across isolated habitats, increasing extinction vulnerability. Threats Anthropogenic Pressures Habitat fragmentation from hydropower projects, road construction, and settlements disrupts forest continuity critical for species survival. Shifting cultivation (jhum) reduces mature broadleaf forests, replacing them with secondary vegetation unsuitable for tragopan nesting and foraging. Hunting for meat, feathers, and cultural uses remains localised threat despite legal protections. Low reproductive rate and secretive behaviour slow natural population recovery. Governance & Conservation Measures Protection Strategies Protected Areas, community reserves, and biosphere reserves form primary conservation framework for tragopan habitats in Northeast India. Community-based conservation models in Nagaland demonstrate local stewardship and reduced hunting pressure through awareness and eco-cultural pride. Surveys and population monitoring needed for evidence-based conservation planning and adaptive management. Awareness campaigns critical to reduce illegal bird trade and bushmeat demand. Way Forward Strategic Measures Expand community-led conservation and eco-tourism, linking livelihoods with species protection to build local incentives. Strengthen habitat protection in Eastern Himalayas through landscape-level conservation planning. Promote scientific monitoring using camera traps and acoustic surveys for better population estimates. Integrate tragopan conservation within biodiversity hotspot and climate adaptation strategies.

Daily Editorials Analysis

Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 06 February 2026

Content Governor’s Constitutional Duties & Address to Legislature  Dilution of Environmental Justice in India  Governor’s Constitutional Duties & Address to Legislature  Constitutional Position of Governor Nature of Office Governor is constitutional head of State; though executive power is formally vested in Governor, it is exercised on aid and advice of Council of Ministers (Articles 163–164) in a parliamentary system. Article 168 makes Governor part of State Legislature along with Assembly/Council, showing role is institutionally embedded in law-making process, not merely ceremonial symbolism. Governor is expected to act as neutral constitutional sentinel, preserving federal balance, constitutional morality, and democratic mandate rather than acting as political agent of Union government. Relevance GS-2 (Polity): Governor’s powers, aid-and-advice principle, Articles 163, 168, 175, 176, and limits of discretion. Centre–State relations, federalism, constitutional conventions, Punchhi Commission reforms. Practice Question “The Governor is meant to be a constitutional sentinel, not a political actor.” Examine the constitutional duties of the Governor regarding the legislative address and discuss issues arising from recent controversies. Suggest reforms. (15M) Duty Regarding Address to Legislature Article 176 — Special Address Article 176 mandates Governor’s address at first session after general election and first session each year, making it a constitutional obligation, not optional political convention. Address communicates government’s legislative and policy agenda, drafted exclusively by elected Council of Ministers, reflecting democratic will and collective cabinet responsibility before legislature. Refusal to read, truncating, or selectively omitting portions violates spirit of cabinet responsibility, since Governor substitutes personal judgment for elected executive’s policy communication. Discretion and Limits Can Governor Alter Speech? Governor cannot alter Cabinet-approved text, as address is executive act performed on aid and advice; Governor bears no legal or political responsibility for its contents. Supreme Court in Nabam Rebia (2016) held Governor must ordinarily act on aid and advice in legislative matters, limiting discretionary space and reinforcing parliamentary accountability. Discretion exists only in rare constitutional situations, not for judging desirability or ideology of government policies contained in legislative address. Related Constitutional Provisions Article 175 Article 175 allows Governor to address or send messages to legislature regarding pending bills, but this is supplementary power and cannot replace mandatory Article 176 special address. Article 355 Article 355 obligates Union to ensure State governance aligns with Constitution; persistent gubernatorial deviation from Article 176 raises questions about meaningful discharge of this Union duty. Article 160 Article 160 empowers President to make provisions for discharge of Governor’s functions in contingencies, theoretically enabling directions when gubernatorial conduct risks constitutional breakdown. Accountability Structure President vs Governor President is indirectly elected and removable by impeachment, creating institutional accountability to Parliament, which moderates conduct through constitutional and political checks. Governor holds office at pleasure of President (Union government), lacking impeachment process, leading to perception of political dependence and weaker accountability to State Legislature. This asymmetry explains why Presidents rarely attract controversy, whereas Governors often face allegations of partisanship in politically contested States. Federalism and Governance Dimension Centre–State Relations Partisan gubernatorial actions in Opposition-ruled States generate friction, undermine cooperative federalism, and create perception of indirect Union interference in State legislative functioning. Delays or disruptions in legislative sessions due to Governor’s conduct can indirectly affect law-making, budget approvals, and democratic governance at State level. Colonial Legacy Debate Retain or Remove? Supporters argue Governor’s address reflects Westminster parliamentary tradition, symbolising constitutional continuity and formal link between executive policies and legislative scrutiny. Critics argue practice is largely ceremonial, non-essential for legislative functioning, and increasingly politicised, thus reconsideration may be justified in modern federal democracy. Ethical and Normative Dimension Constitutional Morality Constitutional morality requires Governors to prioritise democratic mandate, restraint, and neutrality, even when personal or political preferences differ from elected government’s policies. Visible partisanship erodes public trust in constitutional offices and weakens legitimacy of federal institutions designed to be politically neutral. Challenges and Grey Areas Practical Concerns Constitution does not clearly specify penalties or corrective mechanisms if Governor refuses to deliver address, creating enforcement ambiguity and reliance on conventions. Presidential removal of Governor for such conduct is legally possible but politically sensitive, risking accusations of central overreach. Way Forward Reform Measures Punchhi Commission recommended fixed tenure, consultative appointment, and non-partisan individuals as Governors to strengthen neutrality and federal trust. Codified guidelines on gubernatorial conduct can clarify limits of discretion and reduce recurrent constitutional confrontations. Strengthening conventions of dialogue between Chief Minister and Governor can resolve disagreements privately, preserving dignity of institutions. Dilution of Environmental Justice in India  Context and Core Concern Emerging Trend Recent policy and judicial trends indicate systematic dilution of environmental safeguards, where development priorities increasingly override ecological concerns, raising questions about India’s constitutional commitment to environmental protection and intergenerational equity. Policy shift allowing EIA without prior site specificity (2025) weakens scientific appraisal, reducing ability to assess cumulative ecological impacts, carrying risks of arbitrary approvals and post-facto regularisation of damage. Relevance   GS-2 (Polity): Article 21, 48A, 51A(g), Article 14 — environmental rights and duties. Judiciary’s role in environmental protection. GS-3 (Environment): EIA, precautionary principle, polluter pays, public trust doctrine. Aravallis, mangroves, Himalayas — ecology & disaster risks. Practice Question   Environmental governance in India is witnessing a shift from precaution to post-facto regularisation.Critically examine in the light of constitutional provisions and recent trends. (15M) Constitutional Framework Article 21 — Right to Environment Supreme Court has consistently read right to clean and healthy environment into Article 21, making environmental protection integral to right to life, dignity, and public health. Diluting environmental safeguards indirectly compromises Article 21 by exposing citizens to pollution, ecological degradation, climate risks, and disaster vulnerability. Directive Principles Article 48A obligates State to protect and improve environment and safeguard forests and wildlife, forming constitutional foundation for environmental governance and policy restraint. Weak enforcement or dilution turns Article 48A into symbolic commitment rather than operational constitutional directive guiding state action. Fundamental Duty Article 51A(g) imposes duty on citizens to protect natural environment; however, citizen responsibility becomes ineffective if state policies themselves enable ecological degradation. Equality and Non-Arbitrariness Height-based Aravalli definition creates artificial classification lacking ecological rationale, potentially violating Article 14’s non-arbitrariness and reasonable classification doctrine. Judicial Dimension Progressive Jurisprudence (Past) In Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum (1996), SC adopted precautionary principle and polluter pays principle, embedding sustainability into Indian environmental jurisprudence. M.C. Mehta cases recognised ecological fragility of Aravallis and imposed mining restrictions, showing earlier judicial leadership in conservation. Public Trust Doctrine (M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, 1996) held natural resources are held in trust by State for public, limiting privatisation and ecological harm. Recent Judicial Leniency Recall of Vanashakti judgment (2025) and acceptance of post-facto or conditional clearances signal shift from deterrence to accommodation of violations. Acceptance of 100-metre Aravalli definition (2025) narrows legal protection, excluding ecologically linked low-altitude ridges critical for hydrology and biodiversity. Judicial approvals for mangrove destruction and infrastructure expansion reflect growing reliance on mitigation promises over strict compliance. Environmental and Scientific Concerns Aravallis Aravallis function as barrier against desertification, groundwater recharge zone, and biodiversity corridor, crucial for north-west India’s climate stability. Fragmented or height-centric definitions ignore geomorphological continuity and ecological interdependence, undermining landscape-level conservation. Mangroves Mangroves serve as carbon sinks, flood buffers, and biodiversity nurseries; mature ecosystems require decades to develop, making compensatory afforestation scientifically inadequate. Himalayas and Char Dham Himalayan ecosystems are geologically young and fragile; study identifying 811 landslide zones (2025) highlights disaster risks from large-scale road expansion. Governance and Procedural Justice Regulatory Weakening EIA dilution, shortened hearings, and checklist-style compliance reduce meaningful public participation and scientific scrutiny in decision-making. Procedural shortcuts erode transparency, accountability, and environmental democracy, weakening legitimacy of clearances. Corporate Influence Concerns Perception that large capital-backed projects navigate regulatory barriers easily raises concerns of regulatory capture and unequal application of law, affecting constitutional fairness. Ethical and Intergenerational Dimension Intergenerational Equity Environmental degradation imposes irreversible costs on future generations, conflicting with principle that present development must not compromise future ecological security. Constitutionally implied sustainability requires balancing economic growth with long-term ecological resilience. Challenges Structural Issues Developmental pressures, fiscal incentives, and political economy of infrastructure create bias toward project approvals over precaution. Courts face tension between economic growth imperatives and ecological jurisprudence, leading to inconsistent outcomes. Way Forward Reform Measures Strengthen independent, science-based EIA regime with cumulative impact assessments and credible public consultations. Institutionalise regular Green Benches in SC and HCs for specialised, consistent environmental adjudication. Reinforce application of precautionary principle, polluter pays, and public trust doctrine in all ecological matters. Promote development models integrating ecological economics, climate resilience, and natural capital accounting.

Daily Current Affairs

Current Affairs 06 February 2026

Content Illegal Coal Mining Tragedy in Meghalaya Cyberchondria and Health Misinformation Sodium-Ion Battery Technology Motion of Thanks in Parliament Artificial Intelligence Racing Ahead of Regulation India AI Stack Illegal Coal Mining Tragedy in Meghalaya Coal Mining in India  What is Coal Mining ? Coal mining is extraction of coal seams for energy and industry, conducted through open-cast or underground methods, regulated in India by central mining, labour, and environmental laws. Importance of Coal Coal remains India’s primary baseload energy source, supporting thermal power, steel production, and cement, making mining economically important but environmentally and socially sensitive. Relevance GS-1 (Geography & Society): Mineral geography of North-East, fragile hill ecosystems, human–environment interaction in mining regions. Vulnerability of migrant and informal labour in hazardous sectors. GS-3 (Economy, Environment, Disaster Management): Coal economy vs sustainability trade-offs. Environmental impacts: acid mine drainage, deforestation. Mine disasters and safety regulation. Rat-Hole Mining Definition Rat-hole mining involves digging narrow horizontal tunnels, often barely one metre high, where miners crawl to extract coal manually, common in Meghalaya’s hilly coal-bearing areas. Why Practised ? Practised due to thin coal seams, private land ownership patterns, low capital requirement, and quick returns, despite severe safety, health, and environmental risks. Legal Status NGT banned rat-hole mining in 2014, citing environmental damage and unsafe labour conditions, but illegal operations continue due to weak enforcement and local economic dependence. Geological and Regional Factors Meghalaya’s Coal Geology Meghalaya has tertiary coal deposits in fragmented seams within fragile hill ecosystems, making mechanised mining difficult and encouraging small, unsafe, manual extraction methods. Terrain Constraints Steep slopes, high rainfall, and loose soil increase risks of flooding, tunnel collapse, and landslides, turning unscientific mining sites into high-risk zones for workers. Safety and Labour Dimension Mine Safety Basics Scientific mining requires ventilation, structural supports, gas monitoring, and emergency exits, which are usually absent in illegal rat-hole mines, raising accident probability. Labour Profile Workers often include migrant and economically vulnerable populations, accepting hazardous conditions due to limited livelihood options and informal employment arrangements. Use of Explosives Use of dynamite or explosives in unregulated settings increases risks of blasts, toxic fumes, and tunnel instability, especially without certified handlers or safety protocols. Environmental Impacts Land and Forests Unregulated mining causes deforestation, soil erosion, and landscape degradation, permanently altering fragile hill ecosystems and reducing ecological stability. Water Pollution Coal mining generates acid mine drainage, contaminating rivers with heavy metals and acidity, harming aquatic life and affecting downstream communities’ water quality. Governance and Regulation Constitutional Position Mining and mineral development fall under Union regulation (MMDR Act), but land and local enforcement involve States, requiring coordinated governance for effective control. Enforcement Challenges Illegal mining persists due to monitoring gaps, local political economy, difficult terrain, and livelihood dependence, weakening regulatory effectiveness despite formal bans. Disaster Management Basics Response Framework Rescue operations involve State Disaster Response Force, police, and medical teams, focusing on evacuation, medical aid, and site stabilisation in hazardous underground conditions. Preventive Approach Prevention requires strict licensing, regular inspections, worker registration, and closure of illegal mines, alongside alternative livelihoods to reduce economic reliance on unsafe mining. Ethical and Developmental Angle Development vs Safety The tragedy highlights conflict between livelihood needs and human safety, where economic desperation often pushes workers into life-threatening informal sectors. State Responsibility Welfare state principles require government to ensure safe working conditions, environmental protection, and sustainable livelihoods, not merely post-disaster compensation. Cyberchondria and Health Misinformation  Context : Triggering Incident A filicide case in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, where a mother killed her children fearing terminal illness after consuming online medical misinformation, highlighted extreme consequences of unchecked digital health content. Broader Relevance With 1+ billion Internet subscriptions in India, social media has become a major health information source, raising concerns about misinformation-driven anxiety, self-diagnosis, and erosion of trust in medical systems. Relevance GS-2 (Governance & Social Sector): Public health communication, digital governance, platform regulation. Mental health as policy concern. GS-3 (Science & Tech): Algorithmic amplification, AI-driven recommendation systems. Digital literacy and misinformation. Cyberchondria Definition Cyberchondria refers to excessive, anxiety-driven online health searches where individuals repeatedly seek medical information online, leading to heightened fear of serious illness despite limited clinical evidence. Origin of Term The term combines “cyber” (digital space) and “hypochondria” (illness-anxiety disorder), indicating technology-amplified health anxiety rather than a new psychiatric disorder category. Clinical Nature Considered a behavioural and cognitive pattern linked to health anxiety, obsessive checking, and reassurance-seeking, sometimes overlapping with anxiety or obsessive-compulsive spectrum conditions. Hypochondria vs Cyberchondria Traditional Hypochondria Hypochondria involves persistent fear of illness despite medical reassurance, traditionally triggered by bodily sensations, media reports, or anecdotal experiences, even before the Internet era. Digital Amplification Cyberchondria intensifies these fears because search engines and social media provide vast, decontextualised medical information, often highlighting worst-case scenarios. How Algorithms Influence Health Anxiety ? Recommendation Systems Social media algorithms prioritise engagement-based content, promoting sensational or fear-inducing health videos because they generate longer watch time and user interaction. Personalisation Loops AI-driven feeds track pauses, clicks, and watch duration, then recommend similar content, creating echo chambers that repeatedly expose users to alarming medical claims. Engagement Bias Research shows misleading medical content often achieves higher engagement than accurate information, making algorithms unintentionally amplify misinformation. Medical Misinformation What is Medical Misinformation ? Medical misinformation is false, misleading, or unverified health-related information presented without scientific consensus, often simplified to appear authoritative or relatable. Source Patterns A large share of misleading health content is produced by non-professionals, influencers, or anecdotal storytellers rather than certified medical practitioners. Doctor–Patient Disconnect Limits of Online Diagnosis Online searches cannot replace clinical examination, patient history, and diagnostic testing, which doctors use to differentiate between common symptoms and serious disease. Anxiety Spiral Since many symptoms overlap across diseases, search results often highlight severe illnesses like cancer, triggering catastrophic thinking in vulnerable individuals. Psychological Dimension Conspiratorial Thinking When institutions like medicine feel like “black boxes,” people may turn to simplified or conspiratorial explanations, which provide psychological comfort and perceived control. Authority Bias People tend to trust information that appears authoritative online, even if credibility is weak, making them vulnerable to persuasive but inaccurate medical claims. Public Health and Governance Angle Digital Health Literacy Low health and digital literacy limits people’s ability to evaluate sources, understand probabilities, or distinguish correlation from causation in medical claims. Platform Responsibility Platforms have misinformation policies, but enforcement is inconsistent; algorithms are designed for engagement, not public health outcomes. Ethical and Social Angle Mental Health Impact Cyberchondria can increase anxiety, stress, unnecessary medical visits, and mistrust in doctors, burdening both individuals and healthcare systems. Family and Social Consequences Extreme anxiety-driven decisions can affect families and children, showing misinformation is not only informational risk but also a social and ethical concern. Preventive Understanding Responsible Health Seeking Verified medical sources, second opinions, and consultation with qualified doctors are essential to counterbalance algorithm-driven misinformation exposure. Role of Awareness Public awareness campaigns on digital health literacy and mental health can reduce vulnerability to misinformation-driven panic. Sodium-Ion Battery Technology Context Strategic Debate in India India is reassessing battery strategy due to import dependence and critical mineral risks in lithium-ion, with sodium-ion emerging as a viable alternative for energy storage and EV transition. Energy Transition Relevance As batteries underpin EVs, grid storage, and digital devices, technology choice directly affects India’s energy security, manufacturing self-reliance, and clean energy transition goals. Relevance GS-3 (Science & Tech, Economy, Environment): Energy storage innovation, battery chemistry. Critical minerals dependency and supply-chain resilience. Clean energy transition and EV ecosystem. Batteries What is a Battery ? A battery is an electrochemical device that stores energy through reversible chemical reactions, converting chemical energy into electrical energy via movement of ions between electrodes. Key Components Every battery contains anode, cathode, electrolyte, and current collectors, which together enable ion flow internally and electron flow through an external circuit. Lithium-Ion Batteries (Li-ion) Working Principle Lithium-ion batteries function by lithium ions shuttling between graphite anode and metal-oxide cathode, offering high energy density and long cycle life. Strengths High energy density, low self-discharge, and mature manufacturing ecosystem made Li-ion dominant in EVs and electronics globally. Structural Constraints Li-ion depends on lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite, minerals concentrated in few countries, creating supply, price, and geopolitical vulnerabilities. Sodium-Ion Batteries (Na-ion) What is Sodium-Ion Technology ? Sodium-ion batteries operate similarly to Li-ion but use sodium ions as charge carriers, with sodium sourced from abundant materials like soda ash and salt deposits. Material Advantage Sodium is abundant, geographically diversified, and low-cost, reducing critical mineral dependence and exposure to global commodity volatility. Current Collectors Na-ion uses aluminium for both electrodes, unlike Li-ion which needs copper on anode, lowering cost, weight, and corrosion-related risks. Energy Density Specific Energy (Wh/kg) Specific energy measures energy stored per unit mass; Na-ion is lower because sodium atoms are heavier than lithium, affecting weight-to-energy ratio. Practical Gap Performance gap narrows when cell design optimises other components’ weight, and some Na-ion chemistries approach lithium iron phosphate (LFP) levels. Safety Characteristics Thermal Stability Sodium-ion cells show lower peak temperatures during thermal runaway, reducing fire and explosion risks compared to conventional lithium-ion cells. Transport Safety Li-ion is classified as Dangerous Goods requiring charge limits during transport, while Na-ion can be stored at zero volts safely without degradation. Manufacturing Compatibility Production Lines Existing lithium-ion factories can be adapted for sodium-ion with minor changes, lowering capital barriers and enabling dual-chemistry production flexibility. Moisture Sensitivity Na-ion requires deeper vacuum drying during production because residual moisture affects performance more strongly than in lithium-ion cells. Global Industry Status Capacity Trends Around 70 GWh Na-ion capacity exists globally (2025), projected to reach nearly 400 GWh by 2030, indicating commercial-scale momentum. Cost Outlook Long-term projections indicate Na-ion could undercut Li-ion costs by 2035, especially for stationary storage and low-range mobility segments. Indian Policy Context PLI Scheme India’s PLI for Advanced Chemistry Cells (2021) allocated ~40 GWh capacity but is currently lithium-focused, with limited upstream mineral processing ecosystem. Import Dependence Limited domestic lithium reserves and refining capacity mean continued import reliance, increasing strategic vulnerability. Application Suitability Best Use Cases Sodium-ion suits grid storage, two- and three-wheelers, and stationary applications, where cost, safety, and cycle life matter more than ultra-high energy density. Strategic Significance for India Energy Security Sodium-based systems reduce reliance on imported critical minerals, strengthening long-term supply chain resilience. Industrial Opportunity Early adoption can help India build domestic battery manufacturing ecosystem, avoiding late-entry disadvantage seen in lithium-ion sector. Way Forward Policy Support Technology-neutral incentives, R&D funding, and standards recognition can support diversified battery ecosystem. Ecosystem Development Developing domestic materials, components, and recycling infrastructure is key for long-term sustainability. Motion of Thanks in Parliament  Context Recent Instance Lok Sabha passed the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address amid Opposition protests and adjournments, with debate continuing despite Prime Minister’s absence during part of the discussion. Procedural Significance The episode renewed attention on parliamentary conventions, executive accountability, and rules governing the Motion of Thanks, a key constitutional practice in India’s Parliament. Relevance GS-2 (Polity): Article 87, parliamentary procedures, executive accountability. Role of Speaker, conventions vs rules, deliberative democracy. President’s Address — Constitutional Basis Article 87 Article 87 of the Constitution mandates the President to address both Houses at the first session after each general election and at the first session each year. Purpose of Address The address outlines the government’s policies, priorities, and legislative agenda, functioning as a statement of intent by the executive to Parliament. Motion of Thanks  What is Motion of Thanks ? Motion of Thanks is a formal parliamentary motion moved in each House to thank the President for the Address and discuss its contents. Nature of Discussion Debate allows MPs to critique government policies, omissions, and achievements, making it one of the widest-ranging discussions in Parliament. Procedural Features Moving and Seconding The motion is moved and seconded by ruling party MPs, after which members across parties participate in debate and propose amendments. Amendments MPs may move amendments highlighting policy failures or omissions; adoption of an amendment symbolically signals political disapproval of government. Prime Minister’s Reply Conventionally, the Prime Minister replies to the debate, addressing issues raised; this reply represents the government’s official response. Political and Constitutional Importance Confidence Dimension Though not formally a no-confidence motion, defeat of Motion of Thanks is seen as serious political setback indicating loss of majority support. Accountability Tool Provides early-session platform for executive accountability, allowing Parliament to review government’s agenda. Role of Speaker and House Discipline Speaker’s Authority Speaker regulates proceedings, maintains order, and may adjourn House during disorder, ensuring decorum under Rules of Procedure. Parliamentary Privilege Disruptions, slogan-shouting, or entering the Well of the House may be treated as breach of decorum and privilege, though political protests are common. Conventions vs Rules Conventions PM’s presence during debate and reply is a strong convention, but Constitution does not legally mandate continuous presence during entire discussion. Democratic Norms Parliamentary democracy relies on mutual respect, debate, and dissent, not only numerical majority. Comparative Perspective Westminster Model Motion of Thanks originates from British parliamentary practice, where monarch’s speech is similarly debated. Broader Democratic Significance Deliberative Democracy Motion of Thanks embodies deliberative democracy, enabling comprehensive policy review at start of parliamentary year. Opposition’s Role Opposition uses debate to highlight governance gaps and represent alternative viewpoints, strengthening democratic scrutiny. Artificial Intelligence Racing Ahead of Regulation Context  Global Governance Push The United Nations announced an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI to guide global governance, reflecting rising concern over AI’s cross-border risks and uneven national regulations. Technological Leap Simultaneously, emergence of bot-only platforms like Moltbook, where AI agents interact without humans, signals rapid evolution of autonomous digital ecosystems beyond traditional regulatory control. Relevance GS-3 (Science & Tech): AI governance, emerging tech regulation, AI agents, deepfakes. GS-2 (IR & Governance): UN-led global governance, multilateral norm-setting. Tech geopolitics and AI race. Artificial Intelligence   What is AI ? Artificial Intelligence refers to computer systems performing tasks requiring human intelligence, including learning, reasoning, language processing, perception, and decision-making. Core Subfields AI includes machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, which enable pattern recognition and adaptive performance from data. AI Governance Meaning AI governance involves laws, policies, standards, and ethical norms guiding AI development and deployment to ensure safety, fairness, accountability, and transparency. Why Needed ? Because AI affects economies, elections, security, and rights, unregulated systems can produce large-scale societal harm or cross-border externalities. Global Governance Frameworks UN Role The UN acts as a multilateral platform for norm-setting, similar to climate or nuclear governance, aiming for shared principles rather than binding global AI laws. Pact for the Future The panel is mandated under the UN’s Pact for the Future, focusing on science-based advice for global public goods and emerging technologies. AI Race — Strategic Dimension Geopolitical Competition Countries view AI as strategic infrastructure influencing economic power, military capability, and technological leadership, intensifying global competition. Investment Surge Massive public and private investments in AI reflect its role in productivity growth, digital economy, and national security systems. Risks Associated with AI Misinformation Generative AI can create deepfakes, synthetic media, and automated propaganda, complicating information integrity and democratic processes. Labour Disruption Automation threatens routine cognitive and manual jobs, creating transitional unemployment and skill mismatches. Surveillance AI-powered analytics enable mass surveillance and profiling, raising civil liberty and privacy concerns. Bias and Ethics Algorithms trained on biased data can produce discriminatory outcomes, affecting fairness in hiring, lending, and policing. AI Agents — Basic Concept What are AI Agents ? AI agents are autonomous software entities capable of perceiving environments, making decisions, and performing tasks with minimal human intervention. Functional Scope They handle tasks like document drafting, data analysis, scheduling, and system coordination, increasingly acting as digital assistants. Bot-to-Bot Ecosystems Concept Bot-only platforms allow AI-to-AI communication, where agents post, evaluate, and respond to each other without human participation. Significance Such spaces test how AI systems behave collectively, raising questions about control, accountability, and emergent behaviours. Regulation vs Innovation Gap Pace Mismatch Technology evolves faster than law-making because policy processes require consensus, consultation, and legislative cycles, while AI innovation is market-driven and rapid. Jurisdiction Limits Digital systems operate across borders, making national regulations insufficient for global AI platforms. Ethical and Societal Dimension Human Oversight Ethical AI emphasises human-in-the-loop decision-making, ensuring accountability and value alignment. Digital Autonomy Risks Fully autonomous systems risk reduced human control and opaque decision chains, challenging traditional liability frameworks. Way Forward  Multi-Stakeholder Governance Effective governance requires cooperation among states, industry, academia, and civil society. Principle-Based Regulation Safety, transparency, accountability, and fairness can serve as core guiding principles even amid rapid innovation. India AI Stack  Context Policy Push India is advancing a population-scale AI Stack under the IndiaAI Mission, integrating data, models, compute, infrastructure, and energy to democratise AI and reduce dependence on foreign ecosystems. Development Significance The AI stack approach positions AI as public digital infrastructure, similar to Aadhaar or UPI, aiming to deliver inclusive, sovereign, and scalable AI-led development. Relevance GS-3 (Science & Tech, Economy): Digital public infrastructure, AI ecosystem, semiconductor push, compute capacity. AI for agriculture, health, governance. GS-2 (Governance): IndiaAI Mission, digital sovereignty, inclusive tech policy. AI Stack — Basic Concept What is an AI Stack ? An AI stack is the end-to-end ecosystem of technologies and infrastructure required to build, train, deploy, and scale AI applications from data collection to user delivery. Purpose It ensures AI systems are scalable, reliable, and deployable at population level, converting research innovations into real-world services across sectors. Layer 1 — Application Layer Meaning The application layer includes user-facing AI services such as chatbots, diagnostics tools, translation apps, and advisory platforms that convert AI capability into usable solutions. Agriculture Use AI advisories support crop planning, pest control, and input optimisation, with state deployments reporting productivity gains of 30–50%, improving farm incomes and resource efficiency. Healthcare Use AI supports early detection of TB, cancers, and neurological disorders, strengthening preventive healthcare and reducing diagnostic delays in resource-constrained regions. Education Use AI integration through NEP 2020, DIKSHA, and YUVAi promotes digital and AI literacy, preparing students for future technology-driven labour markets. Governance Use AI in e-Courts Phase III and IMD forecasting improves translation, case management, and disaster prediction, enhancing transparency and citizen service delivery. Layer 2 — AI Model Layer Meaning The model layer is the core intelligence layer, where algorithms learn patterns from data to generate predictions, language processing, recognition, and decision support. Sovereign Models India is developing indigenous foundation and multimodal models to ensure cultural, linguistic, and policy alignment rather than relying solely on foreign-trained models. IndiaAIKosh IndiaAIKosh hosts 5,700+ datasets and 250+ models, serving as national AI repository to support startups, research, and public-sector innovation. Language Inclusion Platforms like Bhashini and Sarvam AI strengthen Indian-language AI, enabling voice interfaces and multilingual governance services in a linguistically diverse country. Layer 3 — Compute Layer Meaning Compute layer provides high-performance processing power needed to train large AI models using GPUs, TPUs, and specialised AI chips. IndiaAI Compute The IndiaAI Compute Portal offers 38,000 GPUs and 1,050 TPUs at subsidised rates, lowering entry barriers for startups and academic institutions. Supercomputing Systems like PARAM Siddhi-AI and AIRAWAT support NLP, climate modelling, and drug discovery, strengthening domestic research capacity. Semiconductor Push The ₹76,000 crore Semiconductor Mission and indigenous processors like SHAKTI and VEGA aim to build long-term hardware self-reliance. Layer 4 — Data Centres & Networks Meaning This layer includes data centres, broadband, fibre networks, and 5G, enabling fast data transfer and reliable AI deployment. Connectivity Scale 5G covers 99.9% districts and 85% population, supporting real-time AI services and IoT-based applications. Data Centre Capacity India holds ~960 MW capacity (3% global share), projected to reach 9.2 GW by 2030, reflecting AI-driven infrastructure growth. Investment Momentum Large investments by global firms in Indian data centres strengthen digital sovereignty and domestic hosting of AI workloads. Layer 5 — Energy Layer Meaning AI systems require continuous, high-volume electricity, making energy reliability and affordability critical for AI scaling. Power Availability India’s installed capacity exceeds 500 GW, with energy shortages at only 0.03%, ensuring reliable power for data centres. Clean Energy Link Over 51% capacity from non-fossil sources aligns AI growth with climate commitments and sustainable development. Grid Stability Pumped storage and battery systems enhance grid flexibility, supporting AI centres operating alongside renewable energy variability. Strategic Significance Digital Sovereignty A domestic AI stack reduces reliance on foreign platforms, ensuring data control, regulatory alignment, and strategic autonomy. Inclusive Growth Population-scale AI enables targeted welfare delivery, productivity gains, and service efficiency, supporting inclusive development. Way Forward  Ecosystem Integration Success requires coordination across policy, research, industry, and energy sectors to prevent siloed AI growth. Responsible AI Ethical safeguards, data protection, and transparency are essential to maintain public trust and fairness in AI deployment.

Daily PIB Summaries

PIB Summaries 03 February 2026

Content Transforming India into a Global Biopharma Hub Survey on Migration 2026–27 Transforming India into a Global Biopharma Hub Why in News? — Budget 2026–27 Biopharma Push Union Budget 2026–27 launched Biopharma SHAKTI with ₹10,000 crore over five years to boost biologics–biosimilars ecosystem, marking shift from generics toward innovation-led, high-value pharmaceutical manufacturing and exports. Policy targets 5% global biopharma market share by integrating manufacturing scale, skilled workforce, clinical infrastructure, and regulatory reforms, projecting biopharma as engine for health security, technology leadership, and export competitiveness. Relevance GS III — Economy Industrial Policy: ₹10,000 cr Biopharma SHAKTI, PLI, Bulk Drug Parks. High-value Manufacturing & Exports: Target 5% global share. Import Substitution: Reduced biologics/API dependence. GS III — Science & Technology Biotech Innovation: Genome India, NBM, BIRAC ecosystem. R&D & Startups: Bio-incubators, tech transfers. IPR Issues: TRIPS vs affordability. Basics — Understanding Biopharma What is Biopharma? Biopharmaceuticals are medicines produced using living cells, microbes, or biological systems, including vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, gene therapies, recombinant proteins, modern insulin for targeted treatment of complex diseases. Unlike small-molecule drugs, biologics are structurally complex, R&D-intensive, temperature-sensitive, needing advanced bioprocessing, cold-chain logistics, and strict regulatory validation, creating high entry barriers but ensuring superior value addition. Global Context Global pharma industry valued around $1.1 trillion, with biologics as fastest-growing segment due to ageing populations, NCD rise, precision medicine demand, and vaccine innovations after COVID-19. Expiry of patents on blockbuster biologics fuels biosimilars market expansion; countries with regulatory credibility, scale manufacturing, and clinical ecosystems capture larger shares of global pharmaceutical value chains. Constitutional / Legal Dimensions Article 47 mandates State to improve public health; affordable biologics support access to advanced therapies for cancer, diabetes, autoimmune and rare diseases, aligning with Directive Principles. TRIPS-compliant IPR regime balances innovation incentives with public health; compulsory licensing remains legal safeguard ensuring affordability of life-saving biologics and vaccines during emergencies. Governance / Administrative Dimensions Proposal for 1,000+ accredited clinical trial sites expands ethical, quality-compliant research capacity, shortens trial timelines, and strengthens India’s position as global clinical research destination. Strengthening CDSCO with specialised scientific staff improves biologics evaluation, aligns approval timelines with global norms, and enhances regulatory credibility in export markets. Establishing 3 new NIPERs and upgrading 7 existing NIPERs addresses skilled manpower gaps in bioprocess engineering, regulatory science, and translational research. Economic Dimensions India ranks 3rd in pharma production by volume but 14th by value; biopharma push aims shifting toward high-margin, innovation-driven segments, boosting export earnings and technological depth. Domestic biologics manufacturing reduces import dependence on high-value therapies and APIs, improving supply-chain resilience, trade balance, and healthcare sovereignty. PLI, Bulk Drug Parks, and SPI schemes create ecosystem for scale manufacturing, common infrastructure, and WHO-GMP compliance, enabling MSME participation in complex biologics. Social / Ethical Dimensions Rising non-communicable diseases—diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disorders—raise biologics demand; domestic biosimilars improve affordability, equity, and financial risk protection in healthcare. Strong ethics oversight in trials ensures informed consent, patient safety, and data integrity, addressing past concerns and building international trust. Science–Tech / Innovation Dimensions National Biopharma Mission (₹1,500 crore) supports 101 projects, 150+ organisations, 30 MSMEs, generating 1,000+ jobs across vaccines, biosimilars, diagnostics, and devices. Genome India Programme sequencing 10,000 genomes enables precision medicine, predictive healthcare, and population-specific therapies, strengthening genomics-driven innovation. BioE3 Policy promotes biomanufacturing, Bio-AI hubs, and biofoundries across smart proteins, precision biotherapeutics, and climate-linked biotech. Data & Evidence BIRAC established 95 bio-incubation centres and supported nearly 1,000 innovators under BIG, strengthening startup pipeline from discovery to commercialisation. 7,000+ professionals trained in regulatory/IPR, 850+ IP filings, ~120 tech transfers reflect maturing innovation-commercialisation ecosystem. Clinical trials backed by 8 lakh volunteer database enable large-scale studies in oncology, diabetes, and rheumatology. Challenges / Criticisms High capital intensity and long gestation periods deter private investment; startups face funding gaps between research and commercialisation stages. Regulatory capacity constraints and coordination gaps risk approval delays and reputational issues in global markets. Continued reliance on imported high-end equipment and reagents limits true self-reliance. Persistent shortage of experts in bioprocessing and regulatory science shows academia–industry skill mismatch. Way Forward Create mission-mode biomanufacturing clusters integrating R&D, pilot plants, testing, and logistics to reduce entry barriers and accelerate scale-up. Implement single-window digital regulatory systems and harmonise with USFDA/EMA standards for predictability. Expand blended finance and sovereign biotech funds to bridge late-stage funding gaps. Promote global collaborations and vaccine diplomacy aligned with SDGs and health equity. Survey on Migration 2026–27 Why in News?  NSO under MoSPI will conduct Survey on Migration (July 2026–June 2027) to generate updated, nationwide evidence on rural–urban, inter-state, seasonal, and return migration for policy design. Latest comprehensive migration data currently rely on PLFS 2020–21; new survey fills post-pandemic data gaps amid rapid urbanisation, labour mobility, and informal sector shifts. Relevance GS I — Indian Society Urbanisation: Migration-led city expansion. Women & Society: 86.8% female marriage migration. Demographic shifts: Population redistribution. GS II — Polity & Governance / Social Justice Fundamental Rights: Article 19 mobility. Welfare Delivery: ONORC, portability gaps. Data Governance: NSO evidence-based policy. Basics — Migration in India What is Migration? Migration refers to movement of persons across regions for employment, marriage, education, displacement, or livelihood security, shaping labour markets, demographic patterns, and urbanisation trajectories. Includes intra-district, inter-district, and inter-state migration; may be temporary, seasonal, circular, or permanent, each having distinct socio-economic and policy implications. Current Statistical Picture PLFS 2020–21 estimated India’s overall migration rate at 28.9%, indicating that nearly one in three Indians is a migrant by last-residence criteria. Migration rate among males: 10.7% and females: 47.9%, showing strong gender asymmetry rooted in social norms, marriage systems, and labour participation differences. Constitutional / Legal Dimensions Article 19(1)(d) & (e) guarantee freedom to move and reside anywhere in India, forming constitutional basis for internal migration and labour mobility. Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 and Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020 aim to protect migrant workers’ wages, safety, and welfare. Migration-linked welfare portability aligns with One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) ensuring food security for mobile populations. Governance / Administrative Dimensions New survey will capture data on reasons for migration, employment profiles, remittances, and return migration, enabling evidence-based urban planning and labour market policies. Reliable migration data improve targeting in housing, transportation, social security, and skill development, reducing exclusion errors in welfare delivery. Strengthens data-driven governance under Digital India and DBT ecosystem by mapping migrant vulnerabilities and service access gaps. Economic Dimensions Male migration largely employment-driven; 22.8% of male migrants move for jobs, supporting construction, manufacturing, and urban informal sectors critical to GDP growth. Migrant remittances sustain rural consumption, reduce poverty, and smooth income shocks, acting as informal social security for origin households. Labour mobility enhances factor reallocation efficiency, shifting surplus labour from low-productivity agriculture to higher-productivity urban sectors. Social / Ethical Dimensions 86.8% of female migration due to marriage reflects patriarchy-driven mobility rather than economic agency, masking true female labour migration in statistics. Migrants face vulnerabilities—informal housing, job insecurity, lack of identity portability, and social discrimination—raising concerns of dignity and urban inclusion. Seasonal and circular migrants often excluded from PDS, healthcare, and education benefits due to documentation and domicile barriers. Demographic / Urbanisation Link Migration accelerates urbanisation, with cities acting as growth poles; unmanaged influx leads to slums, congestion, and pressure on civic amenities. Young migrant workforce contributes to demographic dividend utilisation but requires skilling, housing, and social protection frameworks. Data & Evidence 28.9% migration rate (PLFS 2020–21) indicates scale of internal mobility in India’s development process. Gender gap—47.9% female vs 10.7% male—highlights social drivers dominating female mobility statistics. Employment-driven migration share among males at 22.8% underscores labour-market pull factors. Challenges / Criticisms Migration data historically underreported due to definitional issues, short reference periods, and invisibility of circular migrants. Policy fragmentation between Centre–States leads to weak portability of welfare and social security benefits. Urban governance often treats migrants as temporary, leading to exclusion from housing, healthcare, and political representation. Gender-blind data classification underestimates women’s economic migration and workforce participation. Way Forward Institutionalise periodic migration surveys synchronized with Census and PLFS for real-time labour mobility insights. Ensure universal portability of welfare—PDS, health insurance, social security—through national migrant databases and digital IDs. Promote migrant-inclusive urban planning with rental housing, hostels, and transit-oriented development. Recognise women’s economic migration explicitly to design gender-responsive skilling and employment policies.

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