DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 20th February 2026

Category: International Organisations

Context:

• Food Corporation of India (FCI) and World Food Programme (WFP) recently signed an agreement for supply of rice to eradicate global hunger.

About World Food Programme:

• • Nature: It is a branch of the United Nations that deals with hunger eradication and promotes food security in the world.

• Establishment: It was established in 1961 by the UN General Assembly and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

• Headquarters: Its headquarters is located in Rome, Italy.

• Objective: It aims to eradicate hunger (SDG 2: Zero Hunger) and build resilience in conflict and disaster-prone areas.
• Significance: It is the world’s largest humanitarian agency and a member of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• Operation: It operates in more than 120 countries, provides food assistance during emergencies and works with communities to enhance nutrition and generate resilience.
• Funding: It relies entirely on voluntary donations from governments, corporations, and individuals; it receives no UN assessed contributions.
• Governance: It is led by an Executive Director (jointly appointed by the UN Secretary-General and FAO Director-General) and a 36-member Executive Board. The Executive Director is appointed for fixed five-year terms. 
• Recognition: It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its efforts to combat hunger and prevent its use as a weapon of war.
• Reports: It releases Global Report on Food Crisis which describes the scale of acute hunger in the world.

Source:

• • • • The Hindu Businessline

Category: Polity and Governance

Context:

• Nearly two years into the tenure of the Lok Sabha, two of its key oversight bodies, the Privileges Committee and the Ethics Committee, are yet to be constituted.

About Privileges Committee:

• • Nature: The Privileges Committee is a specialized standing committee of the legislature (Parliament) that acts as a quasi-judicial body.
  • Mandate: It is tasked with safeguarding the privileges—special rights and immunities—of the House and its members to ensure they can function without outside interference or fear.
  • Origin: The concept is rooted in British Parliamentary conventions. Historically, these privileges were developed in medieval England to protect the House of Commons from the absolute power of the Monarch.

• Constitutional provision: Article 105 defines the powers, privileges, and immunities of the Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and its members.

• • Members: It has 15 members from Lok Sabha nominated by the Speaker and 10 members from Rajya Sabha nominated by the Chairman.

• Key functions:

• • • Examination: Investigates every question of breach of privilege referred to it by the House or the Presiding Officer.
    • Evidence Collection: Has the power to summon individuals (both members and outsiders), record statements, and demand relevant documents.

• Determination: Evaluates the facts to decide if a breach of privilege or contempt has occurred.

• • Recommendation: Submits a report to the House recommending a specific course of action, which may include admonition (reprimand), imprisonment, suspension (expulsion) or unconditional apology.
• Significance: It ensures that lawmakers can speak and vote freely without being sued for defamation in court for their actions inside the House. It also acts as a deterrent against libels or physical obstructions that might hinder the democratic process.
• SC Judgement: A recent Supreme Court ruling (Sita Soren vs. Union of India, 2024) stated that these privileges do not shield legislators from bribery charges related to their votes or speeches.

About Ethics Committee:

• Genesis: The idea was first proposed at the Presiding Officers Conference in 1996.

• • Evolution: It was established in Rajya Sabha earlier on March 4, 1997, by the then Chairman, K.R. Narayanan. It was first constituted as an ad hoc committee in Lok Sabha in 2000 under Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi and became a permanent standing committee only in 2015.
  • Composition: It consists of 15 members in Lok Sabha, nominated by the Speaker. And, it consists of 10 members in Rajya Sabha, nominated by the Chairman.

• Key functions:

• • • Oversight: Supervizes the moral and ethical conduct of Members of Parliament (MPs).
    • Code of Conduct: Tasked with developing and refining a Code of Conduct for members.
    • Examination: Investigates cases of unethical conduct referred to it by the Presiding Officer or taken up suo motu.
    • Limitations: It cannot take up matters that are sub-judice (under judicial consideration).

• Complaint procedure:

• • Filing: Any person can file a complaint against an MP, but it must be forwarded by another Lok Sabha MP.
  • Requirement: Complaints from the public must be accompanied by evidence and an affidavit stating the complaint is not “false, frivolous, or vexatious”.
  • Inquiry: The committee conducts a prima facie inquiry before starting a full examination
• Cash-for-Query Case (2023): The committee made headlines when it investigated allegations against an MP for accepting bribes to ask questions, leading to a recommendation for expulsion.

Source:

• • • • The New Indian Express

Category: Government Schemes

Context:

• Recently, Union Minister for Rural Development directed officials to formulate a focused strategy to achieve the revised target of creating 6 crores ‘Lakhpati Didis’.

About Lakhpati Didi Initiative:

• • Nature: The Lakhpati Didi Initiative is a flagship program of the Government of India aimed at the economic empowerment of rural women. 
  • Objective: It aims to encourage women to start micro-enterprises within their villages.

• Definition: A Lakhpati Didi is a Self-Help Group member who earns an annual household income of Rupees One Lakh (Rs. 1,00,000) or more.

• • Calculation of income: This income is calculated for at least four agricultural seasons and/or business cycles, with an average monthly income exceeding Rupees Ten Thousand (Rs. 10,000), so that it is sustainable.
  • Individual focus: Unlike traditional SHG models that focus on the group, this initiative focuses on the individual SHG woman to ensure her personal entrepreneurial success. 

• Convergence: This initiative facilitates varied livelihood activities, by ensuring convergence across all Government departments/ Ministries, Private sector and Market players.

• • Diversified livelihoods: It encourages women to take up multiple income-generating activities such as:
    • Agriculture & Allied: Livestock, organic farming, and dairy.
    • Technical Skills: Operating and repairing drones (under Namo Drone Didi), LED bulb making, and plumbing.
    • Entrepreneurship: Tailoring, handicrafts, and digital services
  • Nodal Ministry: The nodal ministry for the scheme is Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).

• Initiation: The scheme has been initiated by DAY-NRLM, wherein each SHG household is encouraged to take up multiple livelihood activities coupled with value chain interventions.

• • Status: The original target of 3 crore Lakhpati Didis was achieved ahead of its March 2027 timeline, leading to the new goal of 6 crore.

• Revised Target: The Union Cabinet recently doubled the target to create 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by March 2029.

• Implementation strategy: The initiative leverages a 4-pillar support system to ensure women reach the income milestone:
  • Skills & Training: Practical knowledge and structured skilling programs in financial literacy and market access.
  • Access to Finance: Providing Revolving Funds, Community Investment Funds (CIF), and bank linkages for micro-enterprises.
  • Assets & Infrastructure: Support in acquiring tools and equipments like drones for precision farming.
  • Market Access: Facilitating branding, packaging, and e-commerce opportunities.

Source:

• • • • PIB

Category: Environment and Ecology

Context:

• MP High Court recently directed Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve field officer to submit report on action taken for unnatural tiger deaths.

About Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. It is spread over the Vindhya hills.
• Nomenclature: It derives its name from the most prominent hillock in the area, which was said to be given by Hindu Lord Rama to his brother Lakshmana to keep a watch on Lanka. Hence the name Bandhavgarh (Sanskrit: Brother’s Fort).
• Topography: It varies between steep ridges, undulating forests, and open meadows. 
• Ecological corridor: It forms a vital wildlife corridor between Kanha Tiger Reserve (south) and Sanjay-Dubri National Park (northeast).
• Historical significance: The reserve features around 39 caves with Pali inscriptions and animal depictions. It also contains ancient structures, including stupas and statues from the 1st century BCE.
• Key landmark: The Sheshashaiya statue, a 10th-century sandstone sculpture of Lord Vishnu in a reclining pose, located near a perennial water source.
• Flora: The vegetation of Bandhavgarh is specially filled with Sal forest in the valleys, and bamboo stretches on the lower slopes of the region. Some of the most famous floral species include Saj, Dhaora, Tendu, Arjun , Amla, Palas, etc.
• Fauna: It is known to have one of the highest density of tigers in the world. It also hosts other notable mammals such as leopards, Indian bison (gaur), sambar deer, spotted deer, nilgai, wild boar, sloth bears, Indian wolves, jackals, and both langur and rhesus macaque monkeys.
• Important birds: It also has over 250 bird species, including the crested serpent eagle, Malabar pied hornbill, white-rumped vulture, and Indian roller.

Source:

• • • • Live Law

Category: Science and Technology

Context:

• Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology unveiled VoicERA at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

About VoicERA:

• Nature: It is an open-source, end-to-end Voice AI stack.

• Objective: It establishes a national execution layer for multilingual Voice and Language AI, aiming to make voice the primary digital interface for citizens.

• • Platform: It is deployed on the BHASHINI National Language Infrastructure under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

• Development: The initiative is a milestone for the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and is supported by foundations like EkStep Foundation.

• • Open-Source: It is designed to be pluggable and interoperable, allowing developers to build without reconstructing entire technology stacks.

• Scalability: It supports real-time speech systems, conversational AI, and multilingual telephony at a “population scale”.

• Significance: It enables secure and scalable deployment of voice systems across government, research institutions, and innovation ecosystems.

Source:

• • • • PIB

(UPSC GS Paper II – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; Transparency and accountability and institutional and other measures.)

Context (Introduction)

The Supreme Court has referred petitions challenging the amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act by the DPDP Act, 2023, to a Constitution Bench, citing constitutional sensitivity. The issue concerns balancing privacy protection with transparency and democratic accountability.

The Right to Information Act, 2005 was enacted to reduce state–citizen information asymmetry and promote accountable governance. The DPDP Act, 2023, by amending Section 8(1)(j), removes the “public interest override” and introduces a broad prohibition on disclosure of personal information, raising constitutional concerns.

Body

Main Arguments and Concerns

• Dilution of Public Interest Override: Originally, Section 8(1)(j) permitted withholding of personal information only if unrelated to public activity or if disclosure caused unwarranted invasion of privacy. Crucially, it allowed disclosure when larger public interest justified it. The amendment removes this safeguard, creating a near-blanket bar.
• Expansion of ‘Personal Information’ Ambiguity: The Chief Justice’s remark on defining “personal information” reflects the risk of overbroad interpretation. Officials’ service records, procurement decisions, audit findings, and public spending details may be denied under the amended clause.
• Legitimate Uses Paradox: Section 7 of the DPDP Act allows the State to process personal data without consent for certain purposes. However, citizens are restricted from seeking similar data under RTI for transparency. This asymmetry enables state surveillance but curtails citizen scrutiny.
• Chilling Effect on Press Freedom: Journalists may be classified as “data fiduciaries” under DPDP Rules, attracting penalties up to ₹250 crore for non-compliance. This risks self-censorship and undermines investigative journalism, weakening Article 19(1)(a) freedoms.
• Comparative Perspective – GDPR: Unlike the EU’s GDPR, which harmonises privacy with transparency exemptions for journalism and public interest, the DPDP framework lacks explicit balancing safeguards.

Constitutional and Judicial Dimensions

• Right to Information as Fundamental Right: In Central Public Information Officer (2019), the Supreme Court held that personal information may be disclosed where larger public interest outweighs privacy concerns. RTI is rooted in Article 19(1)(a) and linked to participatory democracy.
• Privacy as Fundamental Right: Post-K.S. Puttaswamy (2017), privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21. However, privacy is not absolute and must satisfy proportionality.
• The amendment raises the question whether a blanket restriction satisfies the proportionality test and whether it disproportionately impairs democratic accountability.

Criticisms / Drawbacks

• Erosion of Accountability: Blanket prohibition may shield corruption, cronyism, and misuse of public funds.
• Administrative Discretion Abuse: Over-classification of data as “personal” could increase opacity.
• Weakening of RTI Legacy: Over two decades, RTI significantly empowered marginalised citizens to access welfare entitlements and expose local-level corruption.
• Democratic Deficit: Information asymmetry between State and citizen undermines the principle of informed consent in governance.

Way Forward / Reforms

• Restore Public Interest Override”: Reintroduce a narrowly tailored public interest test, subject to reasoned orders and appellate scrutiny.
• Clear Statutory Definition: Legislatively define “personal information” distinguishing between private data and information related to public office and public expenditure.
• Journalistic Safeguards: Provide explicit exemptions for investigative journalism, akin to GDPR’s Article 85 balancing clause.
• Independent Oversight Mechanism: Strengthen Information Commissions and ensure coordination between Data Protection Board and RTI authorities to prevent jurisdictional conflicts.
• Proportionality Framework: Embed a structured proportionality test in disclosure decisions to balance privacy and transparency case-by-case.

Conclusion

A democracy cannot permit one-sided opacity where the State collects data expansively but denies reciprocal transparency. The Constitution Bench’s interpretation will determine whether privacy protection coexists with, rather than eclipses, the citizen’s right to know—an essential pillar of accountable governance.

Mains Question

1. The recent amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act through the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 has reignited the debate between privacy and transparency. Critically examine whether the amendment strikes an appropriate constitutional balance. (250 words)

Source: The Hindu

(General Studies II – Sports Governance, Sports Economy, Institutional Development)

Context ( Introduction) 

India’s sporting landscape is heavily shaped by cricket’s economic and cultural dominance. The financial strength of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the commercial success of the Indian Premier League (IPL) stand in sharp contrast to the comparatively fragile ecosystems of football, hockey, athletics, and other Olympic sports.

Cricket accounts for nearly 85% of India’s sports media market revenues (industry estimates, 2023). The IPL’s 2023–27 media rights were sold for approximately ₹48,390 crore, making it one of the most valuable sports leagues globally on a per-match basis. This disproportionate concentration of capital, sponsorship, and visibility has structural implications for other sports.

Structural Advantages of Cricket

• Financial Power: The BCCI operates independently of government funding and generates revenue exceeding ₹6,000–7,000 crore annually. By contrast, most other sports federations rely on government grants through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports or sporadic corporate sponsorships.

• • The IPL’s valuation per match reportedly rivals that of major global leagues, whereas the Indian Super League (ISL) media rights are valued at a fraction of this figure.

• Institutional Depth: Cricket has a multi-tier domestic pyramid (Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, IPL). This structured pathway ensures talent identification, financial sustainability, and competitive depth.

• • Other sports lack such stable pyramids. Football’s domestic calendar has frequently faced uncertainty, including commercial disruptions and governance crises involving the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

• Performance Legitimacy: India’s cricket team consistently ranks among the top ICC nations and regularly competes in global finals. Success generates aspiration, which attracts sponsorship and media investment.

• In contrast, India’s football team is currently ranked 141 in FIFA rankings, and failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup — weakening commercial appeal.

How Cricket’s Dominance Impacts Other Sports

• Sponsorship Crowding-Out: Corporate sports marketing budgets are limited. Since cricket guarantees high visibility and returns, brands prioritise it. Consequently, leagues in hockey, football, athletics, and volleyball struggle for sustained sponsorship cycles.

• Broadcast Bandwidth: Cricket occupies prime-time slots for nearly 8–9 months annually (bilateral series + IPL). Other sports often receive secondary scheduling or limited television exposure, affecting audience growth.

• Infrastructure Bias: Many state associations prioritise cricket stadium development due to revenue potential. Multi-sport facilities, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, remain underdeveloped.

• Talent Diversion: For young athletes from lower-income backgrounds, cricket offers clearer income mobility pathways. IPL contracts, endorsements, and state-level match fees create financial security not matched in most other sports.

However, Cricket Is Not the Sole Constraint

• Governance and Administrative Instability: The AIFF has faced suspensions and court interventions in recent years. Governance disputes disrupt long-term planning and investor confidence.

• Grassroots Deficit: According to Khelo India reports, structured school-level football and athletics competitions remain uneven across states. Cricket’s grassroots reach via academies and district associations is far deeper.

• Performance-Driven Growth Model: The rise of badminton (post Olympic medals), javelin (Neeraj Chopra’s gold), and wrestling demonstrates that international success triggers corporate and media attention — independent of cricket.

• Unrealistic League Expectations: The ISL’s launch in 2014 was viewed as a “silver bullet.” However, sustainable sports ecosystems require decades of grassroots development, not merely franchise models.

Comparative Insight

• Countries like Australia demonstrate coexistence: cricket, rugby, and football thrive due to diversified funding models and strong institutional governance.
• India’s issue is not cricket’s size, but the absence of similar systemic robustness in other sports.

Way Forward

1. Dedicated Multi-Sport Development Fund: Ring-fence funding for Olympic and team sports beyond cricket’s ecosystem.
2. Governance Reform Across Federations: Adopt professional management models with transparency and independent oversight.
3. Grassroots League Expansion: Institutionalise school and university leagues across states, aligned with Khelo India.
4. Media Diversification Policy: Public broadcasters should ensure mandated coverage for non-cricket sports.
5. Long-Term National Sports Vision (10–15 Years): Shift from event-based celebration to ecosystem-building with measurable infrastructure, participation, and performance targets.

Conclusion

Cricket’s dominance reflects historical performance, financial discipline, and institutional depth. It does not intentionally suppress other sports, but its overwhelming share of capital and visibility exposes systemic weaknesses elsewhere. India’s rise as a multi-sport nation depends not on reducing cricket’s prominence, but on replicating its governance efficiency and performance culture across the broader sporting ecosystem.

The central question is not whether cricket is too strong, but whether India’s other sports bodies are institutionally strong enough to compete in the same marketplace of attention, investment, and aspiration.

Mains Question

1. Cricket accounts for a disproportionately large share of India’s sports economy and media landscape. Critically examine whether its dominance has hindered the growth of other sports in India. (250 words) 

Source: The Hindu