CURRENT-AFFAIRS

General Studies Paper – II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations

Context

The recent visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to India has not only infused new energy into bilateral ties but has also broadcasted a powerful message of 'Global South' solidarity. His participation in the 'AI Impact Summit' held in New Delhi, followed by an official state visit, underscores the growing role of India and Brazil in global governance.

Why in Discussion?

• Trade Targets: Both nations have set an ambitious goal to double bilateral trade to $30 billion by the year 2030.
• Strategic Agreements: To diversify supply chains away from dependence on China, significant agreements were signed on critical minerals, steel mining, and digital cooperation.
• Political Context: President Lula’s visit comes at a time when he faces domestic elections later this year, which could make his attendance at the upcoming BRICS summit uncertain.

American Tariffs and Judicial Turn: A Global Perspective

India and Brazil are both currently at the center of stringent U.S. trade policies:

• Reciprocal Tariffs: Under the Donald Trump administration, heavy tariffs of up to 50% were imposed on both countries.
• Judicial Intervention: The U.S. Supreme Court striking down the rationale for President Trump’s tariffs marks a significant turning point. This has provided a golden opportunity for both nations to restructure their trade negotiations.
• Pressure Points: Both countries continue to face threats of additional U.S. sanctions and tariffs due to oil imports from Russia, trade with Iran, and increasing proximity to the BRICS grouping.

Participation in Strategic Groups and Challenges

India and Brazil are not merely bilateral partners but stand together on several global platforms:

• BRICS and IBSA: Both play a decisive role in these groups that amplify the voice of the developing world.
• G-4 (UNSC Reform): Alongside Germany and South Africa, both nations are striving for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.
• Biofuel Alliance: Both countries are co-founders in the field of alternative energy.
• Shared Challenges: Policies regarding 'fossil fuels' and 'unilateralism' (Multilateralism vs. America First) under Mr. Trump have created hurdles for all these groupings regarding trade, regional sovereignty, and multilateralism.

Analysis: "The Bundle of Sticks" and Unionization

President Lula, himself a former trade union leader, presented a highly impactful metaphor to deal with geopolitical uncertainty:

"It is easy to break a single stick, but it is much more difficult to do so if the sticks are bundled tightly together."

He argues that rather than cutting individual deals with Washington (USA), developing countries should "unionize" and bargain collectively. Negotiating separately often leaves smaller and developing nations at a disadvantage.

Way Forward

• Coordinated Diplomacy: India and Brazil should coordinate their next steps by taking advantage of the U.S. court ruling.
• Restructuring of Meetings: India’s postponement of the trade negotiators' meeting this week is a strategic move to conduct a profound assessment of the new judicial landscape.
• Supply Chain Diversification: Mutual trade cooperation must be made more robust to reduce dependency on both China and the United States.

Conclusion

The shared future of India and Brazil depends on how 'united' they remain amidst global uncertainties. President Lula’s visit has made it clear that these two powers of the 'Global South' are no longer merely reactive, but are in a role to actively shape the global order. Their 'staying bundled together' is essential for the protection of the multilateral system.

General Studies Paper – II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.

Context

In recent years, the status of adolescent mental health in India has emerged as a complex public health challenge. Tragic incidents like the one in Ghaziabad and the alarming statistics from the Economic Survey 2025-26 make it clear that our traditional safety nets have failed to cope with modern digital and academic pressures. To solve long-standing problems and save the future generation, there is an imperative need for a comprehensive socio-policy strike rather than just clinical treatment.

Adolescent Mental Health

Adolescent mental health refers to the psychological, emotional, and social well-being of individuals between the ages of 10 and 19. This is a transition period where the brain exhibits high 'neuroplasticity' (changeability). Currently, this health concern is not limited to individual disorders; rather, a deadly mixture of comorbidities such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), internet addiction, and depression is being observed.

Major Reasons for Discussion

• Ghaziabad Tragedy: The recent death of three adolescent girls in Uttar Pradesh has sparked a national debate on the emotional vulnerability of adolescents.
• Economic Survey 2025-26: In this official document of the Government of India, youth mental health has been recognized as a 'major risk' for the first time, linking it to economic productivity.
• Regulatory Steps: Several Indian states are considering setting a 'social media age limit' for adolescents, following the lines of Australia and South Korea.
• Digital Penetration: Out of 800 million internet users in India, the increasing number of children and their consumption of 'unregulated content'.

Changing Nature of the Problem and Comorbidity

Mental health challenges are no longer limited to adults. According to clinical evidence:

• Early Symptoms: Emotional and behavioral disorders are now being observed in children as young as 4 to 5 years of age.
• Complexity: The trend of 'comorbidity' has increased currently. For example, the co-occurrence of ADHD with anxiety, and depression with 'compulsive digital use'.
• Long-term Impact: Unresolved childhood trauma or chronic stress resurfaces with greater intensity during adolescence, hindering an individual's cognitive development.

Scale of the Crisis: Statistics and Challenges

• Statistical Analysis: According to the National Mental Health Survey, 7% to 10% of Indian adolescents suffer from diagnosable mental conditions. Meanwhile, ADHD symptoms are present in 5% to 7% of school-going children.
• Lack of Resources: In a country with a population of 1.4 billion, there are fewer than 10,000 psychiatrists. The number of child mental health specialists is even lower.
• Digital Excess: There are more than 800 million internet users in India. Post-COVID-19, the blurring of boundaries between education and entertainment has made 'internet addiction' a common clinical problem.

Regulatory Landscape and Global Inspiration

The growing mental health challenges among youth have been officially acknowledged in India's Economic Survey 2025-26.

• Global Examples: Following the examples of countries like Australia, France, and South Korea, several Indian states are considering preparing a regulatory framework to limit social media use for adolescents.
• WHO Guidelines: In 2019 itself, the World Health Organization warned against excessive 'screen exposure', as it directly affects sleep, attention, and emotional regulation.

School and Family: Safety Shield or Weak Link?

• School: Currently, educational institutions are proving to be the 'weak link'. Here, the culture of 'ranking and competition' dominates emotional well-being. Mental health is seen as an additional subject rather than the foundation of education.
• Family: Parents are the 'primary psychological safety shield' for a child. It is mandatory to recognize early behavioral changes through 'trauma-sensitive parenting'.

Analysis

The crisis of adolescent mental health is the biggest threat to India's 'Demographic Dividend'. If the young generation entering the workforce is mentally unwell, it will adversely affect the country's productivity and social stability. The analysis shows that this problem is not merely 'biological' but 'socio-technical'. While technology has provided opportunities, it has displaced human contact, which is essential for healthy brain development.

Way Forward: Strategic Recommendations

The following multi-dimensional approaches are necessary to solve this crisis:

• Policy Integration: Implement mandatory 'mental health screening' in schools and special training programs for teachers under Ayushman Bharat and the National Mental Health Programme.
• Digital Hygiene Guidelines: Issue clear and scientific guidelines for digital use for schools and homes.
• Community Approach: Promote 'community-based counseling' instead of individual treatment, which is more effective than clinic-centered interventions.
• Trauma-Informed Parenting: Train parents not just as caregivers, but as 'mental safety shields'.
• Community Support Groups: Promote 'peer-support' and 'parent-support' groups to reduce isolation.

Conclusion

Investing in adolescent mental health is not just a health requirement but an essential element of nation-building. We must change the parameters of success from 'competition' to 'resilience and well-being'. Incidents like the one in Ghaziabad are a warning that if we do not listen to our children's 'silent crisis' now, the social and economic consequences will be far more devastating in the future.

General Studies Paper – III: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management

Context

The recently concluded 'AI Impact Summit' in New Delhi has proved to be a 'watershed moment' for India's technological future. India, which is currently the largest AI user base outside the U.S., is now moving beyond the role of a mere 'consumer' toward becoming a 'custodian' of this technology. While the declaration signed by 89 countries sparked a global discourse on the 'democratization of AI,' the journey for India remains fraught with challenges and strategic contradictions.

Infrastructural Challenges and 'Capital Dependency'

In this new era of AI, India's greatest challenge is the indigenization of 'capital and infrastructure.'

• Hardware Bottleneck: Currently, the Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) that power AI and the essential server technologies are under the control of foreign entities. The exorbitant cost of these components makes the domestic expansion of AI economically burdensome.
• Energy and Data Centers: While India’s data center capacity is expanding, building the massive electrical capacity and cooling systems required for AI is a complex task that could also impact sustainable development goals.

From 'ITES' to 'AI': A Shift in Economic Paradigms

India possesses decades of experience in the Information Technology (IT) sector, but the economics of AI are different:

• Labor vs. Algorithm: In the ITES era, India benefited from 'cheap and skilled labor.' In the age of AI, where human intervention is diminishing, India must focus on 'model training' and 'fine-tuning' rather than merely becoming a hub for 'model deployment.' If we remain mere users of foreign models, our economic gains will remain limited.

Global Governance and India’s Strategic Autonomy

There is a need to reconsider India's role in international forums:

• Risk of Regulatory Inaction: India has supported the U.S.’s 'hands-off' impulses toward AI. This is concerning, as AI possesses an immense potential to disrupt social and economic systems.
• Leadership of the Global South: In this era of 'Great Power Rivalry,' India should lead developing nations that are vulnerable to technological colonialism. India must emphasize the enforcement of 'safety standards' and 'ethical AI' more than just seeking 'consensus.'

'Inference Gap' and Digital Inclusivity

India's progress remains incomplete until the country's 'digital divide' is entirely bridged.

• Democratic Access: To bring the benefits of AI to the last mile of society, it is mandatory to eliminate the 'inference gap' (the gap in understanding and access to technical outputs). Only the democratization of technology will ensure that AI does not remain an 'elite' tool.

Conclusion and Policy Recommendations

India can provide a new direction to the world by adopting an 'optimistic' yet 'prudent' path in the field of AI. To turn the slogan of 'AI for All' into reality, we require indigenous chip manufacturing, data sovereignty, and a rigorous regulatory framework. The summit has made it clear that India has the potential to shape global growth, provided it does not compromise its strategic interests.

Context
India’s energy security is currently dependent on heavy imports of fossil fuels and fertilizer feedstock (natural gas & grey ammonia), making it vulnerable to global geopolitical instability and currency risks. To reduce carbon emissions and achieve the ‘Net Zero 2070’ target, domestic production of ‘green ammonia’ as an alternative to conventional ammonia is not only an environmental necessity but also essential for economic independence.

Green Ammonia:

It is produced by combining green hydrogen (via water electrolysis) and nitrogen through the Haber-Bosch process, using 100% renewable energy.

• Storage and Transport: Compared to pure hydrogen, ammonia has higher density, making it more cost-effective to store in liquid form and transport over long distances using existing ships/tankers.
• Zero Carbon Footprint: Its production cycle emits zero CO₂, making it the cleanest alternative to ‘grey ammonia’ (produced from natural gas).
• Versatile Uses: Apart from fertilizer production (urea/DAP), it can play a transformative role as fuel for green shipping and as grid-scale energy storage.

Why in News?

• India Energy Week (IEW) 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India as a global energy investment hub, emphasizing opportunities worth $500 billion.
• SECI Historic Auction: Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) successfully completed procurement of 7.24 lakh tonnes per annum of green ammonia for 13 fertilizer plants under the SIGHT program.
• New Global Record: In tenders concluded in August 2025, India achieved prices of ₹49.75–₹64.74 per kg, about 40–50% cheaper than EU prices.
• Subsidy and Contracts: Successful bidders were given 10-year fixed-price offtake agreements, with production subsidies up to ₹8.82/kg for the first three years.

Key Impacts and Need

• Import Substitution: This initiative will replace nearly 30% of India’s ammonia imports with domestic green production, saving significant foreign exchange.
• Price Stability: Long-term fixed-price contracts will shield farmers and fertilizer companies from volatility in international gas markets.
• Coastal Logistics: Distribution points have been strategically identified near coastal plants to minimize transportation costs.

Analysis

India’s model demonstrates the power of demand aggregation. While developed countries struggle with high costs, India has reduced costs to levels competitive with grey ammonia through infrastructure and transparent policy. This is a clear example of economies of scale, positioning India as a potential global green ammonia supply hub.

Way Forward

• Technological Integration: Promote round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy and hybrid storage systems for continuous production.
• Policy Harmonization: Create uniform policies across states for grid access and banking charges, and align with global certification standards.
• Financing: Use risk-mitigation instruments and blended finance to attract long-term investments.

Conclusion

The success of green ammonia marks a paradigm shift in India’s energy journey. Through strategic policy and market-based auctions, India has taken a concrete step from energy security to energy independence. This will not only strengthen Indian agriculture but also reinforce India’s leadership in the global fight against climate change.

General Studies Paper – III:Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

Context

India has been suffering from proxy war and cross-border sponsored terrorism for decades. Traditionally, terrorism was viewed only as a military or policing issue, but in the modern era, its nature has become ‘hybrid’. Technological advancements, the dark web, and the increasing use of drones have posed serious challenges to traditional security systems. Considering the growing complexity of these old problems and the urgent need for their permanent resolution, the Government of India has adopted an integrated and forward-looking approach by releasing its first official counter-terrorism policy.

Recent incidents in Kashmir (Pahalgam) and along the borders of Punjab have reinforced the need for a ‘national response’ instead of fragmented efforts.

What is ‘PRAHAAR’?

‘PRAHAAR’ is India’s first ‘National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy’. It is a comprehensive legal and strategic document of nine pages, prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

• Core principle: ‘Zero tolerance’ against terrorism and complete destruction of its ‘ecosystem’.
• Nature: The policy is not only defensive but also proactive and preventive.
• Uniqueness: It defines terrorism as a global security threat without linking it to any religion or community.

Why in News?

• After the announcement by the Union Home Minister in November 2024, it was officially released on 23 February 2026.
• The policy comes amid rising incidents of cyber-attacks supported by ‘nation-states’ and criminal hackers targeting Indian data.
• The Central Government aims to establish a ‘uniform anti-terror structure’ across all States to ensure a standardized protocol nationwide.

Key Dimensions of the Policy

• Three-Dimensional Security Framework

The policy clearly states that India faces threats on all three fronts—water, land, and air. Under ‘PRAHAAR’, emphasis has been placed on enhancing surveillance and response capabilities in all these domains to ensure quick retaliation against any intrusion or attack.

• Protection of Critical Economic Sectors

Terrorism is no longer limited to loss of life but aims to damage the economic backbone of the nation. The policy identifies the following as critical sectors:

• Energy and nuclear power plants
• Railways, civil aviation, and major ports
• Defence, space research, and digital economy

• Addressing Technological Threats: Cyber & CBRNED

Recognizing the digital nature of modern terrorism, the policy highlights:

• Cyber attacks: By nation-states and criminal hackers targeting digital infrastructure
• CBRNED threats: Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive, and Digital threats
• Drone technology: Misuse in border areas like Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, requiring anti-drone systems

Strategic Approach

• Clarity in definition: Terrorism is not linked to any religion, ethnicity, or civilization it is a global anti-human act.
• Integrated investigation system: Legal experts will be involved at every stage to strengthen prosecution.
• Institutional coordination: Establishment of a uniform anti-terror structure across states for better coordination and intelligence sharing.

Social and Preventive Strategies

The policy emphasizes not only hard power but also soft power and community participation:

• Counter-radicalisation: Engaging moderate religious leaders and NGOs to prevent youth radicalisation
• Dismantling ecosystem: Destroying financial, logistical, and safe-haven networks of terrorists
• Local-global nexus: Foreign terror groups (like Al-Qaeda and IS) using local networks and sleeper cells necessitating stronger intelligence sharing

India and Terrorism: Latest Global & National Reports (2025–26)

Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026

• Issued by: Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP)
• Global trend: 28% decline in terrorism-related deaths
• India: Improved ranking but remains in ‘medium to high impact’ category
• Neighbourhood: Pakistan remains the most affected country

MHA ‘Year End Review 2025’

• NIA achievement: 95% conviction rate (claimed)
• Target: Make India ‘Naxalism-free’ by 31 March 2026
• Initiative: New Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) headquarters in Delhi

FATF ‘Mutual Evaluation’ Report

• India placed in ‘High Level of Compliance’ category
• Alignment: Focus on crypto wallets and encrypted apps aligns with FATF recommendations

UNSC ‘Terrorism Threat Assessment’ 2025

• Warning: Al-Qaeda and ISIL (K) increasing activity in South Asia
• Strategy: Use of ‘lone wolf’ attackers and sleeper cells

Analysis

• Integrated framework: PRAHAAR unifies India’s fragmented security system into a coordinated structure.
• Soft power approach: Emphasis on awareness and community participation
• International cooperation: Focus on global and regional collaboration against cross-border terrorism

Way Forward

• Centre-State coordination: Since ‘police’ is a State subject, better coordination is essential
• Technological upgradation: Use of AI and big data analytics to prevent cyber-terrorism
• Legal reforms: Harmonisation between UAPA and PRAHAAR while safeguarding human rights

Conclusion

‘PRAHAAR’ is not just a document but a commitment by India to counter the ‘invisible and digital war’ of the 21st century. It provides a comprehensive strategy to dismantle every link of terrorism from financing to ideological propagation. As indicated by the Home Minister, India is now committed not only to responding to attacks but to eliminating the entire ecosystem of terrorism from its roots.