Monthly Digest
Curated, fact-verified stories from PIB, PRS, MEA, The Hindu and Indian Express — organised by GS paper for Prelims & Mains use.
Ahead of World Wetlands Day 2026, the Union Environment Ministry announced the addition of Khichan (Rajasthan) and Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand) as India's 97th and 98th Ramsar sites. India remains the third-largest network of Ramsar wetlands globally, behind the UK and Mexico.
Why it matters: GS1 Geography (wetlands, biodiversity) and GS3 Environment — expect MCQs on state-wise Ramsar tallies.
The Registrar General of India confirmed that the 16th Indian Census will be India's first digital census and will — for the first time since 1931 — enumerate caste. Phase I (House Listing and Housing Census) runs April–September 2026; Population Enumeration falls in February 2027.
Why it matters: GS1 Society (caste, demography), GS2 Governance — foundational for social-justice questions.
The Ministry of Culture formally submitted Chhath Mahaparva for inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, emphasising its sun-worship ethos and ecological practices. India currently has 16 ICH elements, including Deepavali (inscribed 2025).
Why it matters: GS1 Art & Culture — UNESCO ICH additions are a staple of Prelims.
At a summit at Hyderabad House on 27 January 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa announced the conclusion of negotiations on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, nearly two decades in the making. The deal spans roughly 2 billion people and USD 27 trillion of combined GDP; it now awaits legal vetting and ratification.
Why it matters: GS2 IR and GS3 Economy — India's largest bilateral trade pact to date.
India hosted the AI Impact Summit from 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, the first Global South–led summit of its kind. Ninety-two countries and international organisations endorsed the New Delhi Declaration, committing to safe, secure and trustworthy AI; over USD 200 billion in AI investments were catalysed and the Global AI Impact Commons was launched.
Why it matters: GS2 IR (multilateral diplomacy) and GS3 S&T — AI governance is a high-probability essay and GS3 topic.
On 16 February 2026, the Supreme Court revived two long-pending nine-judge bench references: (i) the scope of "industry" under Section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (arguments from 17 March); and (ii) the review of the Sabarimala judgment, to be heard in April 2026.
Why it matters: GS2 Polity — constitutional interpretation of fundamental rights, Article 25.
On 19 February 2026, the Supreme Court took up the batch of petitions challenging the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 after nearly two years. The bench directed pan-India concerns to be argued first, with Assam- and Tripura-specific matters to follow; final hearings on petitioners' side begin 5 May 2026.
Why it matters: GS2 Polity — secularism, Article 14, basic structure.
Introduced in the Lok Sabha on 11 February 2026, the Bill amends the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 and clarifies that three pre-existing labour Acts stand repealed from 21 November 2025. It tweaks provisions on trade-union recognition, strike/lockout notice periods and dispute resolution.
Why it matters: GS2 Governance and GS3 Economy — labour codes continue to be a Mains favourite.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the first Budget from Kartavya Bhawan on 1 February 2026. The FY27 fiscal deficit is pegged at 4.3% of GDP; public infrastructure allocation rose to ₹12.2 lakh crore and Railways received a record ₹2,77,830 crore capex (+10.25%). Key announcements: Biopharma SHAKTI (₹10,000 crore), the ₹40,000-crore Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, and a tax holiday till 2047 for foreign data-centre customers.
Why it matters: GS3 Economy — Budget provisions are directly testable (Prelims + Mains Paper-III).
The Budget announced ISM 2.0 with a ₹1,000-crore FY27 provision, focusing on semiconductor equipment and materials manufacturing, full-stack Indian semiconductor IP, and industry-led R&D/training centres. It complements the existing ₹76,000-crore ISM 1.0 framework.
Why it matters: GS3 S&T and economy — chip self-reliance is a core Mains theme.
Tabled on 29 January 2026, the Survey estimates real GDP growth of 7.4% for FY26 and projects 6.8-7.2% for FY27. Retail inflation cooled to 1.7% (Apr-Dec FY26); PFCE grew 7.5% in H1 FY26 (61.4% of GDP — highest since FY12). Forex reserves covered ~11 months of imports as of 16 January 2026.
Why it matters: GS3 Economy — the Survey sets the intellectual frame for Budget-related answers.
The Defence Acquisition Council in February 2026 accorded "in-principle" Acceptance of Necessity to the 114-aircraft Rafale Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme for the IAF. Final contract signing remains pending, with negotiations focused on source-code access and offset obligations.
Why it matters: GS3 Security — India's largest fighter-procurement after the 36-Rafale IGA of 2016.
Ujiyari — Current Affairs 
BharatNotes