DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th February 2026

Category: Society

Context:

• The apex body of Nagaland’s Sangtam tribal community has passed a resolution to protect pangolins, the world’s most trafficked wild mammal, within its jurisdiction.

About Sangtam Tribe:

• Nature: The Sangtam is one of the 16 major Naga tribes of Nagaland. They are one of the major Naga ethnic groups in Northeast India.

• Location: They are concentrated in the Kiphire and Tuensang districts of Nagaland, bordering Myanmar.
• History: Oral traditions suggest ancestors migrated from Mongolia through China (possibly linked to the Great Wall) before settling in present-day Nagaland.
• Heritage: The Morung (communal dormitory) remains a vital symbol of their culture and heritage, though it has evolved from a training ground to a symbolic cultural centre.
• Religion: While predominantly Christian, many Sangtams have uniquely retained traditional beliefs and animist roots.
• Clans: There are six major clans amongst the Sangtams- Dhongrü, Jingrü, Langtidhongrü/ Langkidhongrü, Mungzarü, Anarü/Yingphidhongrü and Rudidhongrü clans.
• Language: The common dialect of the Sangtams is known as Sangtamyu which is spoken by around 90% of the population.
• Economy: The Sangtam people traditionally practice jhum cultivation (shifting agriculture), which remains central to their livelihood.
• Society: They follow a patriarchal system of lineage and inheritance as well.
• Governance: The society is egalitarian and governed by strong village councils and the apex tribal body, the United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP).
• Festivals: Mongmong, their premier festival, is celebrated from September 1–6 to mark the harvest. It involves worshipping the “God of the House” and the three cooking stones of the fireplace. Hünapungbi is another festival dedicated especially to children.

About Pangolin:

• • Nature: Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammals, nocturnal, and the only mammals with protective keratin scales, often rolling into a ball for defense.
  • Presence in India: The Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is found across the subcontinent, while the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is found in North-East India. A new species, the Indo-Burmese pangolin, has been identified in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Habitat: They inhabit tropical forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas.
  • Diet: They are specialized insectivores, feeding on ants and termites, which makes them crucial for controlling termite populations.
  • Threats: Rampant poaching for illegal international trade, especially in China and Vietnam, for their scales (used in traditional medicine) and meat.

• Conservation Status:

• • IUCN Red List: Indian Pangolin (Endangered), Chinese Pangolin (Critically Endangered).
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection).
  • CITES: Appendix I.

Source:

• • The Hindu

Category: Geography

Context:

• Amid rising incidents of landslides, a comprehensive geological study of the hillocks surrounding the Bhakra Dam is to be undertaken by the Geological Survey of India.

About Bhakra Dam:

• • Location: It is located at a gorge near the upstream Bhakra village in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. It is near the border between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

• River: It is a concrete gravity dam across the Sutlej River.

• • Uniqueness: It is the highest straight gravity dam in the world, with a height of about 207.26 meters. It is Asia’s second tallest dam, next to the 261 m Tehri Dam, also in India. 
  • History: The Bhakra Dam is one of the earliest river valley development schemes undertaken by India after independence. 
  • Construction: The construction of this dam started in 1948, when Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, poured the first bucket of concrete into the foundations of Bhakra. 

• Completion: The dam was completed by the end of 1963.

• • Other names: Bhakra Dam was described as the ‘New Temple of Resurgent India’ by Jawaharlal Nehru.

• Management: Operation and maintenance of the Bhakra dam is done by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

• • Reservoir: The dam created the massive Gobind Sagar reservoir and plays a crucial role in irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation for Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh.

• Area and storage of reservoir: The 90 km long reservoir is spread over an area of 168.35 sq.km. In terms of storage of water, it is the second largest reservoir in India, the first being Indira Sagar Dam in MP with a capacity of 12.22 billion cu m.

• Powerhouse: The installed capacity of Bhakra Right Bank Power House is 785 MW, and that of Bhakra Left Bank Power House is 630 MW.

Source:

• • The New Indian Express

Category: Science and Technology

Context:

• The phenomenon “quorum sensing” could indeed be a game changer for medicine, by opening new avenues to develop anti-quorum sensing therapies instead of antibiotics.

About Quorum Sensing:

• • Nature: Quorum sensing is a mechanism by which bacteria regulate gene expression in accordance with population density through the use of signal molecules. 
  • Functioning: It allows bacteria populations to communicate and coordinate group behaviour and commonly is used by pathogens (disease-causing organisms) in disease and infection processes.
  • First observation: Bacterial activity involving quorum sensing was first observed in the mid-1960s by Hungarian-born microbiologist Alexander Tomasz in his studies of the ability of Pneumococcus (later known as Streptococcus pneumoniae) to take up free DNA from its environment.

• Pathway composition: Standard quorum-sensing pathways consist of bacteria populations, signal molecules, and behavioural genes.

• • Autoinducers: The signal molecules, known as autoinducers, are secreted into the environment by bacteria and gradually increase in concentration as the bacteria population grows.
  • Behaviour regulation: After reaching a certain concentration threshold, the molecules become detectable to bacteria populations, which then activate corresponding response genes that regulate various behaviours, such as virulence, horizontal gene transfer, biofilm formation, and competence (the ability to take up DNA).

• Significance: Since many of these processes are effective only at certain population sizes, quorum sensing is a key behaviour-coordination mechanism in many microbes. It could indeed be a game changer for medicine, by opening new avenues to develop anti-quorum sensing therapies instead of antibiotics.

• Variation: Although quorum sensing is common among bacteria, the precise sensing system and class of quorum-sensing compounds used may differ. For example, the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause pneumonia and blood infections, uses quorum sensing to regulate disease mechanisms.
• Use in other organisms: In other organisms, quorum sensing is used for symbiotic processes and cell growth; an example is the nitrogen-fixation mechanism of the bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum.

Source:

• • The Hindu

Category: Environment and Ecology

Context:

• The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under the Ministry of Ayush organised a one-day Chintan Shivir at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

About National Medicinal Plants Board:

• • Establishment: It was set up on November 24, 2000, by the Government of India.
  • Nodal ministry: It functions as a section within the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy). 
  • Objective: It aims to develop an appropriate mechanism for coordination between various ministries in India and implement support policies for overall growth of the medicinal plants sector both at the Central/State and International level.

• Focus: It focuses on development of the medicinal plants sector through developing a strong coordination between various ministries for implementation of policies on medicinal plants.

• • Structure: It is supported by 36 State Medicinal Plant Boards (SMPBs) and seven Regional Cum Facilitation Centres (RCFCs) across the country. 
  • Conservation: It focuses on both in-situ (in natural habitats) and ex-situ (nurseries, herbal gardens) conservation of medicinal and aromatic species.

• Cultivation and support: It provides financial assistance and subsidies (ranging from 30% to 75%) for the cultivation of 140 prioritized medicinal plants.

• Research and development: It funds projects for identifying, inventorising, and quantifying medicinal plants, as well as developing agro-technologies for their sustainable use.

• • Standardization: It develops Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACPs), which are recommended by the WHO to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of herbal materials.
  • Awareness: It promotes the creation of Home/School Herbal Gardens and launched initiatives like the Professor Ayushman Comic Book to educate children about traditional medicine.
  • Patent rights: It encourages the protection of patent rights and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). It also focuses on identification, inventorisation and quantification of medicinal plants.

• Major initiatives:

• • National AYUSH Mission (NAM): Under NAM, the board supports market-driven production of prioritized medicinal plants in specified clusters.
  • Digital platforms: Launched the e-CHARAK (e-Channel for Herbs, Aromatic, Raw material and Knowledge) mobile app and web portal to facilitate market linkages for stakeholders.

Source:

• • PIB

Category: Government Schemes

Context:

• Recently, the Union Minister for Home and Cooperation informed the Rajya Sabha about the Ayushman Sahakar Scheme.

About Ayushman Sahakar Scheme:

• • Nodal Agency: It is a scheme of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) for financial assistance to cooperatives on holistic healthcare infrastructure, education and services.

• Ministry: Originally launched under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, it is now often associated with the newly formed Ministry of Cooperation.

• Objectives:

• • • To assist provision of affordable and holistic healthcare through hospitals / healthcare / education facilities by cooperative societies,
    • To assist promotion of AYUSH facilities by cooperative societies,

• To assist cooperative societies meet the objectives of National Health Policy,

• To assist cooperative societies participate in the National Digital Health Mission,

• • • To assist cooperative societies provide comprehensive healthcare including education, services, insurance and activities related thereto.
  • Financial support: NCDC provides term loans totalling up to ₹10,000 crore for cooperative healthcare projects.
  • Eligibility: Any cooperative society registered under State or Multi-State Cooperative Societies Acts with healthcare provisions in its bye-laws is eligible for the scheme.
  • Special incentives: A 1% interest subvention is provided to cooperatives where women members are in the majority.
  • Loan tenure: Loans are typically for 8 years, including a moratorium of 1–2 years on principal repayment, depending on the type of project and its ability to generate revenue.
  • Modernisation: It supports the modernisation of cooperative healthcare facilities. It also supports the establishment of healthcare infrastructures like clinics, diagnostics centres and hospitals.

• Alignment with national policies: It aligns with the National Health Policy 2017 and the National Digital Health Mission.

Source:

• • PIB

(GS Paper III – Indian Economy: Inclusive Growth; Employment; Human Resource Development; Formalisation of Economy)

Context (Introduction)

India consolidated 29 central labour laws into four Labour Codes — the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020). The stated objective is simplification, formalisation and expansion of social security coverage. The new framework redefines wages, extends gratuity and social protection, and brings gig and platform workers within statutory recognition.

Redefinition of ‘Wages’ and Social Security Expansion

1. Uniform Wage Definition: The Codes mandate that basic wages (including DA and retaining allowance) must constitute at least 50% of total remuneration, preventing artificial structuring to reduce statutory contributions.
2. Higher Provident Fund Accumulation: A larger wage base increases employer and employee PF contributions, enhancing long-term retirement savings.
3. Pension and Gratuity Enhancement: Increased wage calculation directly improves pension benefits and gratuity payouts.
4. Asset Creation for Workers: Social security instruments (PF, pension, gratuity) function as lifecycle risk buffers rather than mere post-retirement support.
5. Redistributive Effect: Greater mandatory contributions shift a higher share of enterprise surplus towards labour security.

Recognition of Fixed-Term and Gig Workers

1. Gratuity for Fixed-Term Employees: Workers are entitled to gratuity after one year of service, aligning contract employment with permanent employment benefits.
2. Inclusion of Gig and Platform Workers: The Code on Social Security formally recognises gig and platform workers, enabling scheme-based coverage.
3. Portability of Benefits: Social security entitlements are portable across states and employers, benefiting migrant labour.
4. Formalisation of Informal Workforce: Extending coverage beyond organised sector employees strengthens financial inclusion.
5. Reduction in Exclusion: Historically unprotected segments now enter contributory or welfare-based social protection frameworks.

Macroeconomic Implications

1. Demand-Led Growth: Higher disposable income and savings of workers stimulate domestic consumption.
2. Financial Deepening: Increased PF and pension participation broadens integration into formal financial systems.
3. Social Stability: Income security reduces vulnerability to economic shocks and cyclical downturns.
4. Multiplier Effects: Worker income largely circulates within the domestic economy rather than flowing into speculative financial assets.
5. Inclusive Growth Framework: Labour Codes align economic expansion with distributive justice.

Structural Reform of Labour Governance

1. Consolidation of Laws: Replacing 29 fragmented laws reduces compliance complexity and improves regulatory clarity.
2. Predictable Regulatory Environment: Uniform definitions and streamlined procedures enhance ease of doing business.
3. Modernisation of Labour Law: Earlier laws were colonial-era constructs designed for industrial-era factory systems.
4. Digital Compliance Architecture: Online registration and unified returns reduce administrative burden.
5. Alignment with Changing Labour Markets: The Codes recognise flexible and platform-based employment realities.

Concerns and Areas of Debate

1. Employer Cost Increase: Larger wage base increases corporate gratuity and PF liabilities.
2. Implementation Gaps: Effective enforcement across states remains uncertain.
3. Trade Union Opposition: Unions fear dilution of collective bargaining and safeguards under the Industrial Relations Code.
4. Threshold-Based Applicability: Some protections apply only above certain employment thresholds, potentially excluding smaller enterprises.
5. Balance Between Flexibility and Security: Ensuring labour market flexibility without undermining job security remains critical.

Conclusion

The Labour Codes represent a structural shift from fragmented labour regulation to a framework that embeds social security and financial inclusion into employment. By redefining wages, expanding gratuity coverage, and recognising gig workers, the Codes attempt a gradual redistribution of economic value toward labour. Their long-term success, however, will depend not only on legislative design but on consistent enforcement, cooperative federalism, and balancing labour flexibility with worker protection.

Mains Question

1. Discuss how the new Labour Codes aim to promote financial inclusion and inclusive growth in India. What concerns have been raised? (250 words)

Source: The Hindu 

(GS Paper II – India and its Neighbourhood- Relations; Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s Interests; Issues Relating to Internal Security)

Context (Introduction)

Bangladesh’s 2026 elections mark a significant political transition with the return of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to power under Tarique Rahman. The verdict restores one of the two dominant poles of post-1990 Bangladeshi politics and introduces a new phase in Dhaka’s domestic and foreign policy trajectory. The accompanying constitutional referendum adds institutional depth to this moment, but the real test lies not in electoral arithmetic, but in how power is exercised within constitutional limits.

Political Realignment and Institutional Test

1. Return of Bipolar Politics: The BNP’s victory re-establishes the competitive two-party structure that has shaped Bangladesh since the 1990 democratic transition.
2. Shift in Leadership Tone: Tarique Rahman’s post-exile rhetoric indicates moderation, institutional emphasis, and calibrated foreign engagement.
3. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Re-entry: Electoral participation of JEI reflects evolving negotiations between liberation memory, religious identity, and governance concerns.
4. Constitutional Referendum: Democratic endorsement of constitutional reforms enhances legitimacy, but durability depends on institutional restraint.
5. From Mobilisation to Governance: Student-led political mobilisation preceding elections now confronts the constraints of parliamentary arithmetic.

Democratic Consolidation: Inclusion and Minority Confidence

1. Minority Security Concerns: Reports of attacks on Hindu homes and temples during transitions underline fragility in plural space.
2. Constitutional Morality Test: Sovereignty must remain anchored in equality, echoing the normative promise of 1971.
3. Institutional Credibility: Democratic resilience requires adherence to procedural fairness beyond electoral victory.
4. Balancing Identity and Governance: Political nationalism must coexist with inclusive constitutionalism.
5. Legitimacy through Delivery: Governance competence will determine whether political transition stabilises or polarises society.

Economic Imperatives and Developmental Stability

1. Export-Driven Growth Model: Bangladesh’s garment sector, remittances, and female workforce participation remain central to economic success.
2. Structural Vulnerabilities: Global trade pressures and supply-chain shifts demand policy predictability.
3. Administrative Capacity: Economic stability will depend on fiscal prudence and regulatory continuity.
4. Investor Confidence: Markets respond to institutional reliability rather than electoral symbolism.
5. Social Cohesion and Growth: Inclusive governance sustains development gains.

Strategic Implications for India

1. Geographic Interdependence: Shared rivers, border management, connectivity, and Bay of Bengal security make Bangladesh central to India’s eastern security architecture.
2. Diplomatic Continuity: Early outreach signals India’s intent to maintain institutional engagement beyond partisan change.
3. Chinese Strategic Footprint: Infrastructure investments and connectivity corridors reflect long-term leverage accumulation.
4. Pakistan’s Tactical Interest: Intelligence and ideological networks remain relevant during periods of political flux.
5. Western Engagement: US and UK involvement in transitional phases reflects broader strategic calculations affecting regional balance.

Broader Regional Context

1. Fragmented Regional Order: South Asia operates within a competitive geopolitical environment marked by incremental influence accumulation.
2. Sovereignty and Strategic Autonomy: Bangladesh must navigate external partnerships without strategic overdependence.
3. India’s Strategic Prudence: Vigilance in neighbourhood diplomacy is not intrusion but necessary realism.
4. Equilibrium and Influence: Regional stability depends on disciplined exercise of political power in Dhaka.
5. Democratic Mandate vs Democratic Maturity: The strength of a mandate must translate into constitutional restraint.

Conclusion

Bangladesh’s 2026 election is not merely a transfer of power but a structural realignment. The significance of this moment lies less in the scale of electoral victory and more in the discipline with which authority is exercised. For India, the development reinforces the importance of steady, non-reactive engagement anchored in strategic realism. Stability in Dhaka remains integral to India’s neighbourhood policy and eastern security calculus.

Mains Question

1. Bangladesh’s recent electoral transition represents both democratic consolidation and geopolitical recalibration. Analyse its implications for regional stability and India’s neighbourhood policy. (250 words)

Source: Indian Express