Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Parbati Giri on her birth centenary, highlighting her role in India’s freedom movement and post independence social service. She was also remembered earlier in Mann Ki Baat.
Who was Parbati Giri
Freedom fighter from Odisha
Known as “Mother Teresa of Western Odisha”
Actively participated in the Quit India Movement
Joined the freedom struggle at just 16 years of age
Role in freedom struggle
Took part in the Quit India Movement of 1942
Represented the contribution of women and tribal regions in the national movement
Part of the broader mass based resistance against colonial rule
Post-independence contributions
Dedicated her life to social service
Worked extensively for Tribal welfare, Healthcare and Women empowerment
Established orphanages and welfare institutions
Focused on upliftment of the poor and marginalised
UPSC Prelims pointers
Parbati Giri was associated with Quit India Movement
Belonged to Odisha
Known for lifelong tribal and social welfare work
Frequently cited in context of unsung freedom fighters
[2011] Which one of the following observations is not true about the Quit India Movement of 1942?
(a) It was a non-violent movement
(b) It was led by Mahatma Gandhi
(c) It was a spontaneous movement
(d) It did not attract the labour class in general
The Union Government has expanded the Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity reduction regime to four additional industrial sectors under amended rules notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The move operationalises India’s Carbon Credit Trading framework and strengthens compliance based climate mitigation.
Bombay Natural History Society and National Mission for Clean Ganga have launched a new conservation project in Dehradun to protect the endangered Indian Skimmer in the Ganga Basin. The project was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti C R Patil.
About Indian Skimmer
Scientific name: Rynchops albicollis
IUCN status: Endangered
Habitat: Large rivers, estuaries, sandbars and islands
India hosts around 90 percent of the global population, making conservation nationally critical.
Core objective
Protection of river sandbars, which are crucial nesting and breeding habitats for Indian Skimmer and other riverine birds.
Major threats addressed
Sand mining on riverbeds
Altered river flows and sudden water releases from dams
Human and livestock disturbance
Predation and habitat fragmentation
Geographical coverage
National Chambal Sanctuary
Upper Ganga near Bijnor and Narora
Ganga Yamuna confluence at Prayagraj
Lower Ganga near the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar
UPSC Prelims pointers
Indian Skimmer nests on exposed river sandbars.
India holds the largest global population share of the species.
Project combines science, community participation, and river planning.
Linked with Namami Gange ecosystem restoration goals.
[2014] With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements: 1. It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests
2. It strives to conserve nature through action-based research, education and public awareness
3. It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 only
The Union Government notified detailed rules in January 2026 to operationalise the Environmental (Protection) Fund, a reform enabled by the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023.
About
A statutory fund of the Government of India created to channel environmental penalties into pollution control, restoration, monitoring, research, and capacity building.
Converts monetary penalties into direct environmental remediation.
Legal basis
Provided under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Detailed rules notified in January 2026.
Strengthened by the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, which decriminalised several environmental offences while retaining penalties.
Nodal authority
Administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change or any body notified by the Central Government.
Aim
Ensure that pollution penalties are recycled for environmental protection, remediation, clean technology promotion, and stronger regulatory institutions.
Key features
Sources of funds
Penalties under the Air Act 1981 and Environment Act 1986
Interest from investments
Other prescribed sources
Permitted uses (11 activities)
Pollution prevention and mitigation
Remediation of contaminated sites
Environmental monitoring equipment
Clean technology research
IT enabled regulatory systems
Laboratory infrastructure
Capacity building of regulatory bodies
Revenue sharing
75% of penalty proceeds to the Consolidated Fund of the State or UT
25% retained by the Centre
Governance: Dedicated Project Management Units at Central and State levels
Oversight and transparency
Audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Centralised online portal developed by the Central Pollution Control Board
[2019] Consider the following statements: The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to:
1. State the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection, and the procedure and manner in which it is sought
2. Lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Reserve Bank of India has advised the Government of India to place a proposal on linking Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) on the agenda of the BRICS 2026 Summit, which India will host.
Key proposal
Link BRICS members’ CBDCs including India’s e-rupee for cross border trade finance and tourism payments.
Aim is faster settlements, lower transaction costs and reduced dependence on correspondent banking systems.
RBI clarifies this is not a formal de dollarisation push, but about efficiency and resilience.
Background context
Builds on the 2025 BRICS Rio Declaration that called for interoperability of payment systems.
All core BRICS members Brazil Russia India China South Africa are running CBDC pilot projects, none fully launched yet.
Central Bank Digital Currencies Vs Cryptocurrency
Issuing authority
CBDCs are issued and regulated by a country’s central bank such as the Reserve Bank of India
Cryptocurrencies are issued privately through decentralised blockchain networks with no sovereign authority, for example Bitcoin
Legal status
CBDCs are legal tender and must be accepted for payments within the issuing country
Cryptocurrencies are not legal tender in most countries and their legal status varies
Strategic significance
Could challenge dollar centric payment rails indirectly amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Enhances international use of the rupee through regulated digital channels.
Fits India’s push for safe sovereign digital money over private stablecoins.
Prelims pointers
CBDC is sovereign digital legal tender issued by a central bank.
RBI views CBDCs as less risky than stablecoins for monetary and financial stability.
BRICS was founded in 2009 and later expanded beyond the original five members.
[2024] Consider the following statements in respect of the digital rupee:
1. It is a sovereign currency issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in alignment with its monetary policy
2. It appears as a liability on the RBI’s balance sheet
3. It is insured against inflation by its very design
4. It is freely convertible against commercial bank money and cash
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2 and 4
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What “Mains ready preparation” actually looks like in 2025–26
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[UPSC 2020] “Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times.” Discuss.
Linkage: The Quad, EU engagement, and BRICS together show India’s shift towards selective, issue-based “small tables” instead of relying on one universal platform. The article argues that delivery and flexibility, not bloc size, now define diplomatic relevance.
Mentor’s Comment
In a fragmented global order where multilateral institutions are losing effectiveness and leadership is contested, India’s diplomacy is changing in a fundamental way. The article explains why issue-based, small groupings are delivering better results than large universal forums, and why 2026 marks a turning point in India’s foreign policy approach.
Why in the News
India’s diplomacy in 2026 has gained attention as it engages with several small groupings, such as BRICS, the Quad, G20 follow-ups, and Europe, rather than depending on one large multilateral platform. This marks a clear break from the past, when global governance relied on large institutions with clear leaders. Today, no single power can lead across all areas, forcing countries to work through selective groupings. The importance lies in India’s ability to secure practical outcomes, such as finance, technology, crisis response, and rule-making, despite a divided global order. Since these problems are global and long-term, the shift reflects a structural change, not a short-term adjustment.
Why has global diplomacy moved away from large multilateral platforms?
Fragmented power structure: Prevents any single country from credibly setting agendas across trade, security, finance, and technology.
Overcrowded institutions: Limits decisiveness and accountability in global problem-solving.
Legitimacy-capacity mismatch: Expands participation without corresponding enforcement or delivery mechanisms.
How does Europe test India’s diplomatic adaptability?
Collective engagement logic: Requires dealing with the EU as a bloc rather than bilateral capitals.
Regulatory centrality: Positions Europe as a rule-maker in trade, climate, competition, and sustainability.
Economic rebalancing: Provides India diversification away from China-centric supply chains.
Risk insulation: Reduces exposure to United States trade unpredictability through deeper institutional ties.
What structural contradictions limit BRICS effectiveness?
Political divergence: Prevents consensus on strategic direction.
Economic asymmetry: Limits collective leverage.
China-centric drift: Raises concerns of agenda capture.
Institutional contestation: Weakens credibility of alternatives like the New Development Bank.
Outcome uncertainty: Reduces BRICS to a forum without clear delivery benchmarks.
Why is the Quad a functional platform despite limited membership?
Operational focus: Enables crisis response and maritime coordination.
Public goods delivery: Supports disaster relief and regional capacity-building.
Flexible architecture: Avoids rigid alliance commitments while enabling cooperation.
Security-development balance: Combines deterrence with infrastructure and connectivity roles.
How does the G20 illustrate limits of large tables?
Theoretical inclusiveness: Positions itself as the premier economic coordination forum.
Practical inertia: Fails to translate consensus into sustained action.
Agenda dilution: Expands scope without strengthening enforcement.
Continuity gap: Depends heavily on host-country momentum.
What strategic message does 2026 send for India’s diplomacy?
Selective multilateralism: Prioritises effectiveness over representativeness.
Bridge-building role: Positions India as an intermediary across divided blocs.
Issue-based leadership: Focuses on technology, supply chains, development finance, and crisis response.
Choice architecture: Recognises that strategic autonomy now lies in table selection, not table size.
Conclusion
In an era of fragmented power and weakening multilateral institutions, India’s diplomatic effectiveness will depend on choosing the right platforms rather than occupying every forum. By prioritising issue-based, limited-member groupings, India is adapting to structural changes in global governance and positioning itself to secure concrete outcomes in a complex international order.
The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea enters into force on January 17, 2026, enabling, for the first time, the creation of marine protected areas in international waters. This reverses decades of regulatory vacuum over the high seas, which constitute two-thirds of ocean area with less than 10% protected. India has begun shaping a domestic implementation framework, highlighting the Treaty’s scale, timing, and implications for fisheries, marine genetics, and ocean governance.
The High Seas Treaty
It is a landmark global accord to protect marine life in the high seas and the deep seabed (the areas of the ocean that lie beyond any country’s national jurisdiction).
It applies to over two thirds of the world’s ocean.
It provides a legal framework to
conserve marine biodiversity
promote sustainable use of ocean resources
ensure fair sharing of benefits from marine genetic materials found in deep-sea species.
The treaty is built around four key pillars:
Marine genetic resources and benefit-sharing, ensuring discoveries from marine organisms benefit all humanity.
Area-based management tools, enabling the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in international waters.
Environmental impact assessments which require countries to evaluate how proposed activities could affect fragile marine ecosystems.
Capacity-building and technology transfer, helping developing countries participate fully in ocean research and conservation.
What makes the High Seas Treaty a landmark in ocean governance?
First-time Legal Protection: Enables designation of environmentally protected zones in international waters.
Governance Closure: Addresses long-standing regulatory gaps over marine genetic resources, environmental impact assessments, and conservation measures.
Global Scale: Applies to waters covering nearly two thirds of the world’s ocean. (high seas + deep seabed).
Why is the Treaty’s timing significant?
Countdown Trigger:Morocco’s ratification (September) activated a 120-day countdown to entry into force.
Policy Context: Aligns with the 2022 UN biodiversity goal to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030.
Industry Interface: Comes as applications for deep-sea exploration are under review (with seabed mining governed separately).
How is India preparing for ratification and implementation?
Institutional Coordination:Ministry of Earth Sciences convened a national consultation with ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology.
Stakeholder Integration: Policymakers, legal experts, scientists, fisheries and maritime industry assessed scientific, legal, and institutional readiness.
Roadmap Formation: Recommendations to inform India’s domestic roadmap ahead of the Conference of Parties (August 2026).
What governance gaps does the Treaty address?
Marine Genetic Resources: Clarifies ownership sensitivities and equitable access mechanisms.
Environmental Accountability: Establishes structured processes to manage impact assessments and conservation obligations.
Equity and Access: Balances conservation with national interests of coastal and developing states.
Why does the Treaty matter for India’s fisheries and ocean science?
Ecosystem Connectivity: High seas activities influence fish availability within India’s EEZ, despite reliance on nearshore fisheries.
Scientific Capacity: India’s strengths in ocean science and marine technology position it to integrate science, policy, and law.
Sectoral Relevance: Direct implications for small-scale fisheries, sustainability, and food security.
What are the limits and enforcement challenges?
Compliance Constraints: Enforcement options in international law remain limited, relying on cooperation among ratifying states.
Participation Gap: Some major players, including the United States, have not ratified, affecting universality.
Conclusion
The High Seas Treaty transforms the oceans from a regulatory “wild west” into a governed commons. India’s early domestic alignment signals strategic intent to shape implementation, protect fisheries interests, and integrate science with law, while the Treaty’s success will hinge on cooperation, compliance, and institutional capacity at scale.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2023] The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region?
Linkage: UPSC has repeatedly asked questions on international organisations and environmental regimes such as Ramsar Convention, UNFCCC, IPCC, and Sendai Framework, indicating sustained focus on global commons and climate governance. The IPCC’s sea-level rise projections highlight climate stress on oceans, reinforcing the relevance of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) in strengthening biodiversity protection and governance beyond national jurisdiction.
India’s nuclear establishment is prioritising Light Water Reactors (LWRs) for global market integration while retaining Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) as a domestic and strategic strength. This marks a significant departure from India’s earlier inward-looking PHWR-centric approach. The shift is urgent as Light Water Reactors account for over 85% of global nuclear capacity. India seeks export competitiveness as emerging economies like the UAE, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey expand nuclear power.
What is a Light Water Reactor?
A Light Water Reactor (LWR) is a nuclear reactor that uses ordinary water (H₂O) as both the coolant and neutron moderator.
Fuel type: Operates on low-enriched uranium fuel.
What is a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor?
Definition: A Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) is a nuclear reactor that uses heavy water (D₂O) as both the coolant and neutron moderator.
Fuel type: Operates on natural uranium, avoiding the need for enrichment.
Why do Light Water Reactors dominate the global nuclear market?
Global share: LWRs constitute over 85% of installed civil nuclear reactor capacity worldwide.
Design simplicity: Uses normal water as coolant and moderator, reducing engineering complexity.
Cost structure: Lower construction costs due to economies of scale and standardised designs.
Operational efficiency: Higher thermal efficiency compared to heavy water reactors.
Fuel ecosystem: Reliance on enriched uranium, readily accessible in Western markets.
Why has India relied on PHWRs despite global LWR dominance?
Fuel flexibility: PHWRs operate on natural uranium, reducing enrichment dependence.
Resource alignment: Matches India’s limited uranium and abundant thorium reserves.
Indigenous capability: Strong domestic expertise in design, manufacturing, and operation.
Export potential: Enhances attractiveness for emerging economies.
Strategic competition: China pursuing SMR leadership as a Global South diplomatic tool, similar to EV sector disruption.
Conclusion
India’s nuclear pivot reflects strategic pragmatism rather than abandonment of legacy strengths. The dual-track approach, global LWR integration combined with PHWR-based differentiation, balances export ambition, energy security, and industrial capability. Success depends on managing costs, protecting indigenous capacity, and converting legislative reform into manufacturing scale.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2018] With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy?
Linkage: The question links directly to India’s energy security and clean baseload power needs, where nuclear energy complements renewables. The current debate on LWR expansion, PHWR indigenisation, high costs, and safety concerns reflects the balance between the facts and fears of nuclear power.
India is fast tracking the fabrication of an indigenous Light Water Reactor (LWR) as it opens the nuclear power sector to private participation and explores opportunities in the global nuclear export market.
Key Development
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is accelerating work on a 900 MWe indigenous LWR.
Design work began in 2015.
Objective is to complement India’s existing Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) fleet.
Indigenous LWR capability is expected to improve India’s bargaining power with foreign reactor vendors.
Why LWRs Matter Globally
LWRs account for over 85 percent of global civil nuclear reactor capacity.
Used extensively by United States, Russia and France.
Dominant technology in international reactor trade and supply chains.
Without LWR integration, India risks limited access to global nuclear exports.
LWR vs PHWR
Light Water Reactors
Use ordinary water as coolant and moderator
Require enriched uranium fuel
Simpler design, lower construction cost
Higher thermal efficiency
Strong economies of scale
Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors
Use heavy water (deuterium)
Operate on natural uranium
Core strength of India’s nuclear programme
Greater fuel flexibility
Less attractive in export markets dominated by LWRs
Legal and Policy Context
The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act, 2025 enables:
Greater private sector participation
More imported LWR based projects
Addresses earlier liability concerns raised by foreign suppliers.
Supports projects like Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
Export and Strategic Angle
Indigenous LWR enhances India’s role in the global nuclear supply chain.
Emerging economies like UAE, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are expanding nuclear capacity.
India could position itself as a supplier of:
PHWRs fuelled with thorium and low enriched uranium
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) of 30 to 300 MWe
Thorium and India
India has modest uranium but vast thorium reserves.
Using thorium with low enriched uranium in PHWRs can:
Ease fuel constraints
Support large scale nuclear expansion
Strengthen India’s unique reactor niche
Prelims Pointers
LWRs dominate the global nuclear reactor market.
India’s proposed indigenous LWR capacity is 900 MWe.
PHWRs remain India’s technological strength.
Nuclear amendments aim to attract private and foreign investment.
SMRs are emerging as a tool of energy diplomacy, including by China.
[2023] Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production.
Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-1
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
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