Daily Current Affairs 2025  

23/02/2026

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CA-23/02/2026

• First of its kind: India’s first semi-high-speed commuter rail distinct from metro and conventional trains.
• Green mobility: Designed to reduce congestion and pollution in NCR.
• Integration: Seamlessly connects with Meerut Metro and other transport systems.

• Regional development: Enhances connectivity between Delhi and satellite towns.
• Economic boost: Facilitates faster movement of people and goods, spurring local economies.
• Symbol of modern India: Represents world-class infrastructure and faster project execution.

• Empower doctoral scholars by placing them at the forefront as organizers, presenters, and contributors.
• Strengthen peer-led learning, leadership development, and academic rigor.
• Foster collaboration across ICMR institutes and expose scholars to diverse research ecosystems.

• Academic Scope:
  • Oral & poster presentations
  • Research quiz
  • Scientific exhibitions
  • Expert lectures & thematic sessions
  • Interactions with academia and industry professionals
• Participation: No registration fee for any component of SANVAD 2026.
• Valedictory Session: Included awards recognizing outstanding research presentations and scholarly contributions.

• Type: Autonomous intergovernmental organization
• Established: 1974 (after the 1973 oil crisis)
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Members: 32 countries (including the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, etc.)

• Energy Security: Coordinates collective responses to oil supply disruptions.
• Policy Guidance: Provides recommendations for sustainable energy transitions.
• Data & Analysis: Publishes authoritative energy statistics and forecasts.
• Emergency Cooperation: Acts as a platform for countries to collaborate during energy crises.

• Oil & Gas: Monitoring supply and demand trends.
• Electricity: Planning for grid resilience and flexibility.
• Hydrogen: Exploring pathways for large-scale adoption.
• Batteries: Assessing global supply risks in fast-growing markets.
• Climate Goals: Supporting clean energy transitions aligned with net-zero targets.

• Joined as Associate Member: 2017
• Formal Request for Full Membership: October 2023
• Discussions Underway: As of February 2026, IEA ministers are actively considering India’s bid for full membership.

• Rapidly Growing Energy Demand: India’s energy consumption is rising faster than most major economies, driven by urbanization and industrial growth.
• Renewable Energy Leadership: India has made significant progress in expanding solar, wind, and clean cooking initiatives.
• Global Energy Security: As the world’s third-largest energy consumer, India’s participation strengthens collective resilience against supply shocks.
• Climate Commitments: India plays a pivotal role in shaping global clean energy transitions, especially with its ambitious renewable targets.

• Charter Amendment Needed: The IEA’s founding agreement (1974) ties membership to OECD countries. India is not an OECD member, so full membership would require structural changes.
• Consensus Requirement: All current members must agree to amend the rules, making the process politically complex.
• Balancing Emerging & Developed Economies: India’s entry would shift the IEA’s balance toward emerging economies, requiring adjustments in governance.

• Access to Decision-Making: Full membership would give India voting rights and influence over global energy policies.
• Emergency Oil Reserves Coordination: India could participate fully in collective responses to supply disruptions.
• Enhanced Data & Technology Sharing: Greater access to IEA’s research, statistics, and clean energy innovations.
• Global Standing: Strengthens India’s role as a leader in energy diplomacy and climate negotiations.

• Structural shifts in the economy
• Evolving trade patterns
• Changes in commodity composition
• Better alignment with current macroeconomic indicators

• Merchandise Trade Indices measure changes in the unit values (prices) of exports and imports over time.
• They are compiled and published by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S) under India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• These indices are crucial for analyzing external sector price movements, assessing terms of trade, and compiling national accounts.

• Earlier base years included 1978–79, 1999–2000, and 2012–13, updated periodically to capture economic transitions.
• Different formulas have been used over time, such as the Fisher Ideal Index and chain-base systems, to ensure accuracy in tracking trade price movements.

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) also publishes merchandise trade indices (value, volume, unit value) for around 200 economies.
• These datasets provide long-term trends (since 1948) and short-term updates (monthly/quarterly), helping compare India’s trade indices with global benchmarks.

• Policymakers use these indices to evaluate export competitiveness and import costs.
• Economists rely on them for inflation analysis, terms of trade studies, and external sector monitoring.
• For UPSC or academic preparation, they are often linked to macroeconomic indicators and trade policy debates.

• Location: East Pacific Ocean, southern Galápagos
• Area: 173 km² (67 sq mi)
• Highest Point: Cerro Pajas, 640 m (2,100 ft)
• Population: ~100 residents, mainly in Puerto Velasco Ibarra
• Formation: Volcanic origin

• Unique wildlife encounters (flamingos, turtles, sea lions).
• Rich human history full of intrigue, mystery, and failed settlements.
• Adventure activities like snorkeling in Devil’s Crown, considered world-class.

• Vajra Prahar is an annual exercise between the Indian Army and the US Army.
• It complements other India–US military engagements like Exercise Yudh Abhyas.
• Hosted at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh Cantonment, which is a hub for advanced special operations training.

• Deepening Defence Cooperation: Strengthens strategic trust between India and the US.
• Enhancing Interoperability: Troops train together using common procedures, equipment coordination, and joint planning.
• Improving Operational Readiness: Builds capacity for rapid, coordinated responses to real-world crises.
• Exchange of Advanced Tactics: Sharing of special operations tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
• Focus Areas (2026): High-end combat skills, counter-terror operations, and joint mission planning.

• Endemic Range: Found only in the southern Eastern Ghats of India, especially Andhra Pradesh.
• Habitat: Thrives in rocky terrain, degraded lands, and red soil regions under hot, dry climates.
• Growth: Slow-growing tree, taking 25–40 years to mature.
• Characteristics:
  • Fire-hardy and drought-resistant
  • Produces deep red heartwood, slightly brittle compared to teak
  • Highly valued for furniture, musical instruments, and traditional medicine

• Illegal Trade: Its timber is extremely valuable, leading to widespread smuggling, especially along the Tirupati pilgrimage corridor.
• Overexploitation: Demand has caused severe depletion of natural populations.
• Protection Efforts: Classified as Near Threatened, with strict trade regulations under CITES Appendix II.

• Cultural: Known locally as Yerra Chandanam or Rakta Chandana, often used in rituals.
• Medicinal: Traditionally applied in Ayurveda for anti-inflammatory and therapeutic purposes.
• Commercial: Prized for its unique red color, used in luxury woodcraft and dyeing.

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