UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 February 2026
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 February 2026 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles
InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.
Table of Contents
GS Paper 2:
• IT Rules Amendment 2026
IT Rules Amendment 2026
GS Paper 2 & 4:
• India’s Rank 91st in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025
India’s Rank 91st in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• India designated ‘Country of the Year’ at Germany’s BIOFACH 2026
India designated ‘Country of the Year’ at Germany’s BIOFACH 2026
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• B-READY Assessment
B-READY Assessment
• India, UK Sign Social Security Agreement for Temporary Employees
India, UK Sign Social Security Agreement for Temporary Employees
• No-Confidence Motion Against the Lok Sabha Speaker
No-Confidence Motion Against the Lok Sabha Speaker
• Centre’s New Guidelines on ‘Vande Mataram’
Centre’s New Guidelines on ‘Vande Mataram’
• Continental Mantle Earthquakes
Continental Mantle Earthquakes
Mapping:
• Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project
Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 February 2026
GS Paper 2 :
IT Rules Amendment 2026
Source: LL
Subject: Governance
Context: The Union Government notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026 on February 10, 2026.
• The amendment specifically targets the rising threat of deepfakes and misinformation by mandating a swift 3-hour takedown window and compulsory labelling for AI-generated content.
About IT Rules Amendment 2026:
What it is?
• The amendment is a revision of the existing IT Rules, 2021, aimed at bringing Synthetically Generated Information (SGI) under strict legal oversight. It defines SGI as any audio, visual, or audio-visual content created or altered algorithmically to appear real or indistinguishable from a natural person or real-world event.
Key Amendments to the IT Rules:
• Legal Recognition of “Synthetically Generated Information”: For the first time, Indian law provides a clear, technical definition of Synthetic Content. It covers any media (audio, video, or images) created or modified by algorithms to look or sound authentic.
• The Focus: It specifically targets deepfakes and AI impersonation.
• The Nuance: It smartly carves out exceptions for good faith editing—like basic filters, accessibility features (text-to-speech for the blind), or academic research—so that innovation isn’t accidentally criminalized.
• Mandatory Labelling & Metadata: Transparency is no longer optional; it must be baked into the file itself.
• Visual/Audio Labels: If a video is AI-generated, it must have a visible watermark. If it’s audio, it must start with a spoken disclaimer.
• Digital Fingerprints: Platforms must embed provenance markers (metadata) that stay with the file even if it’s shared elsewhere. This allows investigators to trace the origin of a deepfake back to the specific AI tool used to create it.
• Prohibition on Illegal AI Content: The government has moved from reactive to preventative. Intermediaries (like Instagram or X) must now use automated AI filters to block the upload of:
• CSAM & NCII: Child abuse material and non-consensual revenge porn deepfakes.
• Public Safety Risks: AI-generated instructions on how to build explosives or illegal weapons.
• Deception: Content designed to impersonate high-ranking officials or create false electronic records to commit fraud.
• User Declaration Mechanism: The burden of honesty is placed on the user.
• Self-Disclosure: When you upload content to a major platform, you must declare if it was made with AI.
• Verification: Platforms cannot just take your word for it; they are legally required to use their own technical tools to double-check if your real video is actually a deepfake.
• Shortened Takedown Timelines: In the age of viral content, 36 hours was considered an eternity. The new rules require warp-speed action:
• 3 Hours: For content deemed illegal by a court or the government.
• 2 Hours: For the most sensitive violations, like non-consensual deepfake nudity, where every minute of exposure causes trauma.
• Faster Grievances: Platforms must acknowledge your complaint in 7 days (down from 15), forcing them to staff up their moderation teams.
• Law Enforcement Coordination: This amendment bridges the gap between digital policy and criminal justice.
• BNS Integration: References are now aligned with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, replacing the old IPC.
• Identity Disclosure: If a crime is committed via AI, platforms must reveal the creator’s identity to the police. This is designed to end the anonymity shield that often protects deepfake creators.
• Safe Harbour Clarification: This is the Carrot and Stick approach for Big Tech.
• Section 79 Protection: Platforms generally aren’t sued for what users post (Safe Harbour).
• The Condition: Under the 2026 rules, if a platform fails to label AI or misses a 3-hour takedown window, they lose this protection. They can then be sued as if they were the ones who created the illegal content.
Significance of the Amendment:
• Combating Viral Misinformation: Prevents the rapid spread of fake news before it can cause real-world damage.
E.g. In the 2025 state elections, fabricated videos of candidates making inflammatory speeches were quelled by rapid intervention from the Cyber Crime Coordination Centre.
• Protecting Individual Dignity: Provides a fast-track remedy for victims of non-consensual AI-generated imagery.
E.g. The 2024 Rashmika Mandanna deepfake incident highlighted the need for near-instant removal to prevent irreversible reputational harm.
• Ensuring Electoral Integrity: Guards against the use of AI influencers or morphed videos to sway voters during the sensitive Model Code of Conduct period.
E.g. During recent local polls, AI-cloned voices of deceased political leaders were used for campaigning, prompting calls for strict disclosure.
• Strengthening Business Accountability: Forces global tech giants to invest in India-specific moderation and detection technologies.
E.g. Companies like Meta and X had to expand their Indian Grievance Officer teams in late 2025 to meet the increasingly tight response windows.
• Alignment with New Criminal Laws: The rules replace references to the IPC with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, streamlining the legal process.
E.g. Police in Delhi recently used BNS provisions alongside IT rules to fast-track a case involving AI-based financial digital arrest scams.
Challenges Associated with Implementation:
• Technical Accuracy of Detection: Automated tools often struggle to differentiate between high-quality deepfakes and actual real footage.
E.g. In 2025, several genuine satire videos were accidentally flagged and removed by AI filters on major video-sharing platforms.
• Resource Constraints for 3-Hour Takedowns: Smaller intermediaries may find it impossible to maintain 24/7 legal teams capable of acting within 180 minutes.
E.g. Regional social media apps in South India reported difficulty in 2024 meeting the high costs of compliance for real-time content moderation.
• Potential for Censorship by Proxy: Fears that the government might use the short window to suppress legitimate dissent or political parody.
E.g. Ongoing litigation in the Karnataka High Court (X Corp v. Union of India) debates whether takedown powers are being used too broadly.
• Traceability vs. Privacy: Embedding metadata and provenance markers could potentially compromise the end-to-end encryption of messaging apps.
E.g. In 2025, privacy advocates argued that the new metadata rules could act as a “backdoor” to identifying anonymous whistle blowers.
• Complexity of Blended Content: Difficulty in regulating videos that are 90% real but contain small, crucial AI-altered details.
E.g. A 2024 controversy involved a real protest video where the audio was subtitled with AI-generated translated hate speech that didn’t exist.
Way Ahead:
• Standardized Watermarking: Developing a global industry standard for invisible digital watermarks that survive compression and re-uploads.
• Capacity Building for Law Enforcement: Training local police units (beyond just the DIG rank) to accurately identify and report synthetic harms.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating citizens on how to spot telltale signs of deepfakes, reducing the reliance on takedowns alone.
• Independent Review Mechanism: Establishing an autonomous body of experts to review takedown orders to prevent political misuse.
• Incentivizing Research: Providing grants to Indian startups building advanced AI-detection tools specifically for regional Indian languages.
Conclusion:
The 2026 IT Rules amendment marks a decisive end to the wild west era of unregulated generative AI in India by shifting the burden of truth onto platforms. While the 3-hour takedown window poses a massive logistical challenge, it reflects the government’s priority of safety over safe harbour. Success will depend on balancing these strict enforcement measures with the protection of free speech and user privacy.
Q. “Rule-following is not the same as ethical governance”. Distinguish between the two. Illustrate how ethical discretion can be exercised without arbitrariness. (10 M)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 February 2026 GS Paper 2 & 4:
India’s Rank 91st in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025
Source: NIE
Subject: Corruption
Context: India has climbed to the 91st position on the global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), reflecting a slight improvement from its 96th rank in the previous year.
• Despite this five-place rise, India’s score of 39 remains below the global average, highlighting that corruption is still viewed as a deep-rooted structural challenge.
About India’s Rank 91st in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025:
What it is?
• The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released annually by Transparency International, ranks 182 countries and territories based on perceived levels of public sector corruption.
• It uses a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). India’s rank of 91st with a score of 39 indicates that while digitalization and reforms have prevented a decline, the country still struggles with bureaucratic opacity and weak enforcement.
Key Insights & Trends in CPI 2025:
• Stagnant Global Progress: The global average score has dropped to a new low of 42, with more than two-thirds of countries scoring below 50.
• Asia-Pacific Regional Unrest: The region saw slow growth in anti-corruption progress, with public anger in countries like Nepal and Indonesia leading to Gen Z-led protests against unaccountable leadership.
• Backslide in Democracies: Established democracies like the UK (dropped to 20th) and the US (slipped to 29th) have seen their scores decline due to weakening standards and political funding opacity.
• Danger for Journalists: The 2025 report specifically lists India as dangerous for journalists investigating corruption, noting that 90% of journalist killings occur in countries with scores below 50.
• Top and Bottom Performers: Denmark remains the cleanest country (score: 89), while Somalia and South Sudan remain at the bottom (score: 9).
Reasons for Corruption Persistence in India:
• Bureaucratic Red Tape: Excessive regulations and complex approval processes create gatekeeping opportunities for officials.
E.g. Recent 2024 investigations into land acquisition approvals in various states showed officials demanding bribes to bypass lengthy procedural delays.
• Weak Protection for Whistleblowers: Despite laws, individuals who expose corruption often face harassment or physical threats.
E.g. Transparency International’s 2025 report highlighted the ongoing risks for investigative journalists reporting on local mining and sand mafias.
• Lack of Political Transparency: Opaque political funding and the influence of money power in elections sustain a corrupt ecosystem.
E.g. Ongoing debates in 2025 regarding the transparency of electoral funding mechanisms following the scrapping of previous bond schemes.
• Inconsistent Enforcement: Anti-corruption agencies are often perceived as being influenced by political considerations rather than independent merit.
E.g. Low conviction rates in high-profile 2024 scams, such as the West Bengal recruitment case, where legal proceedings have seen significant delays.
• Cultural Acceptance of ‘Speed Money’: A societal tendency to seek shortcuts (jugaad) leads to the normalization of petty bribery for basic services.
E.g. A 2024 study on regional transport offices (RTOs) found that citizens often pay middlemen to avoid the hassle of official driving test queues.
Initiatives Taken to Counter Corruption:
• Digitalization of Governance: Transitioning services to e-governance platforms (like Direct Benefit Transfer) to eliminate middlemen and human interface.
• Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2024: Strengthened punishments for bribe-givers and takers and introduced provisions for asset forfeiture.
• Expansion of Blockchain: Using blockchain technology for immutable land records and transparent government tendering in several states.
• Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Reforms: Empowering the CVC with advanced forensic technologies and AI-powered tools to detect suspicious financial patterns.
Challenges to Counter Corruption:
• Overburdened Judiciary: The massive backlog of cases leads to trials dragging on for decades, reducing the deterrent effect.
E.g. In early 2025, several corruption cases from the 2010s were still awaiting final verdicts in special courts.
• Informal Economy & Black Money: A significant portion of the economy remains unorganized, making it easier to hide illicit transactions.
E.g. 2024-2025 tax raids continued to uncover massive stashes of unaccounted cash in the real estate and jewelry sectors.
• Cross-Border Asset Recovery: Difficulty in tracing and bringing back illicit funds stashed in foreign tax havens.
E.g. Indian authorities in 2025 emphasized the challenge of proving links in Hawala networks that bypass formal banking.
• Technological Misuse: While tech helps, corrupt actors are increasingly using encrypted platforms and deepfakes to facilitate fraud.
E.g. A 2025 cyber-cell report highlighted digital arrest scams where fraudsters pose as investigative officers to extort money.
• Weak Local Oversight: While central agencies are strong, village and municipal-level oversight bodies often remain underfunded or captured by local elites.
E.g. The 2024 Sandeshkhali incidents showcased how local power structures can suppress complaints and institutional accountability for years.
Way Ahead:
• Institutional Independence: Granting greater autonomy and fixed tenures to heads of investigative agencies like the CBI and ED.
• Fast-Track Courts: Establishing dedicated courts that must conclude corruption trials within a strict 1-year timeframe.
• Protection of Civic Space: Strengthening the safety of journalists and activists to ensure a robust social audit of government actions.
• Political Finance Reform: Implementing a more transparent and public-funded election model to reduce the need for illicit corporate funding.
• Educational Integration: Incorporating Integrity and Ethics as a mandatory part of school and civil service training to shift the cultural mindset.
Conclusion:
India’s rise to 91st rank is a positive sign of incremental progress, but the low score of 39 warns that systemic corruption remains a heavy drag on economic growth and social trust. Moving forward, the focus must shift from symbolic reforms to substantive enforcement and protecting those who speak truth to power. Only through sustained institutional integrity can India hope to break into the top tier of the index.
Q. Explain how conflict of interest operates as a gateway to corruption in public decision-making. Suggest safeguards to manage and disclose conflicts of interest. (10 M)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 February 2026 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
India designated ‘Country of the Year’ at Germany’s BIOFACH 2026
Context: India has been designated as the ‘Country of the Year’ at BIOFACH 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for organic products.
About India designated ‘Country of the Year’ at Germany’s BIOFACH 2026:
What is BIOFACH?
• BIOFACH is the world’s leading trade fair for organic food and agriculture, held annually in Nuremberg, Germany.
• Organised at the Nuremberg Messe Exhibition Centre, Germany.
• Managed by NürnbergMesse GmbH (Germany).
• Promote global trade in certified organic products.
• Facilitate B2B networking among producers, exporters, retailers, and policymakers.
• Encourage sustainable agriculture and environmentally responsible consumption.
• Provide a platform for innovation in organic farming and processing.
Implications for India:
• Strengthening Global Organic Leadership: Positions India as a major supplier of certified organic produce amid rising global demand for sustainable food systems.
• Boost to Agricultural Exports: Enhances market access for products like organic rice, spices, pulses, oilseeds, cashew, turmeric, ginger, mango puree, and essential oils.
• Promotion of GI-Tagged Heritage Products: Showcases five GI-tagged rice varieties, reinforcing branding of India’s traditional agricultural diversity.
• Empowerment of FPOs and Regional Producers: Participation from over 20 States/UTs highlights inclusive growth and grassroots export integration.
• Soft Power through Culinary Diplomacy: Live tastings, including organic biryani and heritage rice varieties, promote India’s organic identity globally.
Relevance in UPSC Examination Syllabus:
• GS Paper II – International Relations
• India’s Economic Diplomacy: Leveraging trade fairs for soft power and trade diversification. India–EU Trade Relations: Strengthening commercial linkages with Germany and European organic markets.
• India’s Economic Diplomacy: Leveraging trade fairs for soft power and trade diversification.
• India–EU Trade Relations: Strengthening commercial linkages with Germany and European organic markets.
• GS Paper III – Indian Economy & Agriculture
• Agriculture Marketing & Export Promotion: Role of organic farming in boosting farm incomes and export diversification. Inclusive Growth & FPOs: Integration of Farmer Producer Organisations into global value chains.
• Agriculture Marketing & Export Promotion: Role of organic farming in boosting farm incomes and export diversification.
• Inclusive Growth & FPOs: Integration of Farmer Producer Organisations into global value chains.
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS –11 February 2026 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
B-READY Assessment
Source: PIB
Subject: Economy/Miscellaneous
Context: The inclusion of India in the Business Ready (B-READY) 2026 assessment has renewed attention on India’s business reform trajectory.
About the B-READY Assessment:
What is B-READY?
• World Bank Group’s Business Ready (B-READY) is a global benchmarking exercise designed to assess the business and investment climate across economies. It replaces the earlier Doing Business Report with a more transparent, comprehensive, and modern methodology.
Launched In: Following the discontinuation of the World Bank’s Doing Business Report (DBR) Report in 2020, the World Bank launched the B-Ready Assessment in 2024.
Organisation Involved:
• Developed and administered by the World Bank Group (WBG)
• Data collected through expert consultations and firm-level surveys (World Bank Enterprise Surveys – WBES)
Aim of B-READY:
• To provide a quantitative and evidence-based assessment of the business environment.
• To evaluate how regulations and public services support private sector development.
• To promote inclusive, sustainable, and digitally enabled economic growth.
Three Pillars of B-READY
• Pillar I – Regulatory Framework
• Assesses rules and regulations governing business entry, operation, and closure. Focuses on statutory laws (de jure framework).
• Assesses rules and regulations governing business entry, operation, and closure.
• Focuses on statutory laws (de jure framework).
• Pillar II – Public Services
• Evaluates government-provided infrastructure and institutional support. Includes digital systems, licensing authorities, dispute resolution bodies, etc.
• Evaluates government-provided infrastructure and institutional support.
• Includes digital systems, licensing authorities, dispute resolution bodies, etc.
• Pillar III – Operational Efficiency
• Measures ease of compliance and real-world implementation (de facto). Captures nationwide firm-level experiences through surveys.
• Measures ease of compliance and real-world implementation (de facto).
• Captures nationwide firm-level experiences through surveys.
Key Features of B-READY:
• Lifecycle-Based Assessment Framework: Evaluates businesses across ten topics covering the complete firm lifecycle—entry, operation/expansion, and exit—ensuring a holistic understanding of regulatory and market conditions.
• Three-Pillar Structure for Comprehensive Evaluation: Built on Regulatory Framework, Public Services, and Operational Efficiency, integrating legal provisions (de jure) with real-world implementation (de facto) through firm surveys.
• Integration of Cross-Cutting Themes: Embeds Digital Adoption, Environmental Sustainability, and Gender Inclusion across all topics—making it aligned with modern economic governance priorities.
• Dual Data Collection Methodology: Combines expert consultations (laws and regulations) with firm-level surveys (World Bank Enterprise Surveys) to ensure both statutory accuracy and ground-level realism.
• Annual, Transparent Global Benchmarking: Conducted by the World Bank Group and published annually, it replaces the earlier Doing Business Report with improved methodology, transparency, and broader institutional coverage.
India, UK Sign Social Security Agreement for Temporary Employees
Source: News on Air
Subject: Economy
Context: India and the United Kingdom have signed a Social Security Agreement (SSA) to prevent double social security contributions for employees on short-term assignments.
About India, UK Sign Social Security Agreement for Temporary Employees:
What is the Agreement?
• India and the United Kingdom have signed a reciprocal Social Security Agreement, also referred to as a Double Contributions Convention (DCC), to eliminate the burden of dual social security payments for employees temporarily working in each other’s territory.
• The agreement allows employees on assignments of up to 36 months to continue contributing to their home country’s social security system, thereby avoiding double payments.
Nations Involved: India and United Kingdom
• Prevents employees and employers from paying contributions in both countries simultaneously.
• Supports short-term overseas assignments in sectors such as IT, finance, consulting, and engineering.
• Forms part of commitments made under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement signed in July 2025.
• Reduces cost burdens on firms sending skilled professionals abroad.
Key Features:
• Coverage for Temporary Assignments (Up to 36 Months): Employees remain covered under their home country’s social security system during temporary postings.
• Certificate of Coverage (CoC) Mechanism: Workers can obtain a CoC through the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation to certify exemption from host-country contributions.
• Reciprocal Application: Applies equally to Indian employees in the UK and UK employees in India.
• Prevention of Social Security Record Fragmentation: Ensures continuity in pension and benefit records.
• Implementation Linked to Trade Deal: The agreement will enter into force alongside the India–UK CETA, expected in the first half of the year.
Significance:
• India’s strength in IT and professional services benefits from smoother mobility of skilled workers.
• Supports the broader India–UK trade architecture, projected to significantly enhance bilateral trade.
• Avoids duplicative employer contributions, improving global competitiveness.
No-Confidence Motion Against the Lok Sabha Speaker
Source: IE
Subject: Polity
Context: The Opposition has moved a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, triggering a constitutional procedure for examining the removal of the Speaker.
About No-Confidence Motion Against the Lok Sabha Speaker:
What is It?
• A no-confidence motion against the Speaker is a resolution seeking removal of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha before the expiry of their term. It applies only to the Lok Sabha and not to the Rajya Sabha.
• The constitutional basis for removal is provided under Article 94(c) of the Constitution of India, which states that the Speaker or Deputy Speaker may be removed by a resolution of the House passed by a majority of all the then members.
Constitutional Provisions Involved:
• Article 94 – Vacation, Resignation and Removal
• A Speaker/Deputy Speaker shall vacate office if: They cease to be a Member of the House They resign in writing to the Deputy Speaker/Speaker They are removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members
• They cease to be a Member of the House
• They resign in writing to the Deputy Speaker/Speaker
• They are removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members
• The procedure is further governed by Rules 200–203 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
Procedure for Removal of the Speaker:
• Notice of Resolution:
• A written notice must be submitted to the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha. At least 14 days’ notice is mandatory before the motion can be taken up.
• A written notice must be submitted to the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha.
• At least 14 days’ notice is mandatory before the motion can be taken up.
• Inclusion in List of Business: After notice, the motion for leave to move the resolution is listed for a day fixed after 14 days.
• Support Requirement:
• When the motion is taken up, at least 50 Members must rise in support. If fewer than 50 rise, the motion lapses.
• When the motion is taken up, at least 50 Members must rise in support.
• If fewer than 50 rise, the motion lapses.
• Discussion:
• If admitted, the resolution must be discussed within 10 days. Debate is strictly confined to the charges specified in the motion.
• If admitted, the resolution must be discussed within 10 days.
• Debate is strictly confined to the charges specified in the motion.
• Voting Requirement: Removal requires a majority of all the then members of the House (effective majority).
Role of the Speaker During the Motion:
• The Speaker can participate in proceedings and speak in defence.
• They can vote in the first instance but cannot exercise a casting vote in case of a tie.
• Even after dissolution of Lok Sabha, the Speaker continues in office until the first sitting of the new House.
Has This Happened Before?
• Yes, motions were moved against:
• G.V. Mavalankar (1954) Hukam Singh (1966) Balram Jakhar (1987)
• G.V. Mavalankar (1954)
• Hukam Singh (1966)
• Balram Jakhar (1987)
• None of these resulted in removal.
Implications:
• Constitutional Accountability: Ensures that the presiding officer remains answerable to the House.
• Political Sensitivity: Reflects heightened tensions between ruling and opposition benches.
• Institutional Stability: Frequent or politically motivated motions may impact parliamentary decorum.
Centre’s New Guidelines on ‘Vande Mataram’
Source: TOI
Subject: Polity
Context: The Union Government has issued fresh guidelines mandating the singing of all six stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ at official functions. The order coincides with the 150th anniversary of the song’s creation.
About Centre’s New Guidelines on ‘Vande Mataram’:
What it is?
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified the official version of ‘Vande Mataram’, requiring that all six stanzas of the original composition by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee be sung at specified government functions.
• The directive formalises the complete rendition of the national song and prescribes the protocol for its performance.
Ministry Involved: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India
Key Features of the Guidelines:
• Official Version & Duration:
• All six stanzas must be sung as the official version. Total duration prescribed: 3 minutes and 10 seconds.
• All six stanzas must be sung as the official version.
• Total duration prescribed: 3 minutes and 10 seconds.
• Mandatory Occasions at the Union Level:
• To be played at civil investiture ceremonies and official state functions. To be played upon arrival and departure of the President of India. Before and after the President’s address broadcast on Akashwani and Doordarshan.
• To be played at civil investiture ceremonies and official state functions.
• To be played upon arrival and departure of the President of India.
• Before and after the President’s address broadcast on Akashwani and Doordarshan.
• State-Level Functions:
• To be played during arrival and departure of Governors or Lieutenant Governors at official state functions.
• To be played during arrival and departure of Governors or Lieutenant Governors at official state functions.
• Cultural and Flag-Hoisting Events:
• Mandatory group singing at cultural events and occasions involving flag hoisting. Morning assemblies of all schools must incorporate group singing.
• Mandatory group singing at cultural events and occasions involving flag hoisting.
• Morning assemblies of all schools must incorporate group singing.
• Protocols During Rendition:
• Audience must stand in attention posture when the song is played. Exception: Not mandatory in cinema halls when played as part of films or newsreels. A drumroll (mridang/trumpet) to precede the song. In marching drills, seven preparatory steps before commencement.
• Audience must stand in attention posture when the song is played.
• Exception: Not mandatory in cinema halls when played as part of films or newsreels.
• A drumroll (mridang/trumpet) to precede the song.
• In marching drills, seven preparatory steps before commencement.
• Informal Events:
• May be sung at informal functions attended by ministers.
• May be sung at informal functions attended by ministers.
Significance:
• Cultural Reaffirmation: Reinforces the historic and symbolic importance of Vande Mataram in India’s freedom movement.
• Standardisation of Protocol: Provides uniform guidelines across Union and State functions to avoid ambiguity.
• National Integration: Promotes collective participation in national symbols through schools and public events.
Continental Mantle Earthquakes
Source: DTE
Subject: Geography
Context: A Stanford-led study has created the first global map of rare continental mantle earthquakes, identifying 459 such events worldwide.
About Continental Mantle Earthquakes:
What Are Continental Mantle Earthquakes?
• Continental mantle earthquakes are rare seismic events that originate deep within the Earth’s mantle beneath continental regions, rather than in the shallow crust where most earthquakes occur.
• Unlike typical crustal earthquakes (10–29 km depth), these quakes occur more than 80 km below the Mohorovičić discontinuity (Moho)—the boundary separating the crust from the mantle.
Where Do They Occur?
• The recent study found clustering beneath tectonically active regions such as:
• The Himalayan collision zone (Indian Plate subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate) The Bering Strait region
• The Himalayan collision zone (Indian Plate subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate)
• The Bering Strait region
• Such areas are marked by intense continental collision and lithospheric deformation.
How Do They Originate?
• Tectonic Stress Transfer: Stress from continental collision or crustal earthquakes may penetrate deeper into the mantle, triggering rupture.
• Subduction-Related Processes: In collision zones, the descending plate may retain brittle characteristics at greater depths.
• Thermal & Rheological Variations: Though the mantle is generally semi-solid and ductile, localized cooler or compositionally distinct zones may become brittle enough to fracture.
• Seismic Wave Identification: Scientists distinguished mantle quakes using differences between Sn waves (mantle-travelling) and Lg waves (crustal-travelling) in seismic waveforms.
How Are They Different from Crustal Earthquakes?
Feature | Crustal Earthquakes | Continental Mantle Earthquakes
Depth | 10–29 km | >80 km
Location | Within brittle crust | Deep mantle beneath continents
Surface Impact | Strong shaking possible | Minimal surface impact
Frequency | Common | Rare
Impacts and Significance:
• Limited Surface Damage: Due to great depth, these quakes typically do not cause significant surface shaking or destruction.
• Insight into Earth’s Interior: Provide new data on mantle structure and stress distribution beneath continents.
• Understanding Mountain Building: Regions like the Himalayas show how deep tectonic processes contribute to orogeny (mountain formation).
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 February 2026 Mapping:
Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project
Source: IT
Subject: Mapping
Context: Pakistan has initiated a review of India’s Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in 2025.
About Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project:
What is the Sawalkot Project?
• The Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project is a 1,856 MW Run-of-the-River (RoR) hydropower project being developed on the Chenab River in Jammu & Kashmir. It is the largest hydropower project in J&K and among the biggest in Northern India.
• The project is being implemented by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
Location:
• River: Chenab River – A major tributary of the Indus, crucial for hydropower generation in the Himalayan region.
• Basin: Indus Basin (Western Rivers system) – Part of the western rivers allocated to India for non-consumptive use under treaty provisions.
• Location: Ramban and Udhampur districts, Jammu & Kashmir.
• Falls under India’s share as per Indus Waters Treaty – India can develop run-of-the-river projects on western rivers within specified design limits.
Key Features:
• Installed Capacity: 1,856 MW – Makes it the largest hydropower project in J&K, significantly boosting regional capacity.
• Project Type: Run-of-the-River (RoR) – Generates electricity using natural river flow without creating large storage reservoirs.
• Dam Type: 192.5 m RCC Gravity Dam – A strong concrete structure designed to withstand high Himalayan river pressures.
• Power Infrastructure: Underground powerhouse with nine turbines – Enhances security and efficiency while minimizing surface disturbance.
• Annual Output: ~8,000 Million Units (MU) – Capable of meeting substantial electricity demand, especially during winter shortages.
• Environmental Clearance: Reaffirmed September 2025 – Approved after review by the Expert Appraisal Committee for compliance with norms.
• Cost Estimate: ₹5,129 crore – Reflects the large-scale engineering and infrastructure investment involved.
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