India recently skipped the announcement of the U.S. President Donald Trump-led "Board of Peace" (BoP) charter in Davos. The BoP is part of Phase 2 of the Gaza Peace Proposal, aiming for a two-state solution. While the UN Security Council cleared the proposal in November 2025, the BoP's structure appears unilaterally altered, potentially supplanting the UN. India faces pressure as regional partners like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel have joined. However, concerns remain regarding the exclusion of Palestinian leadership, the inclusion of Pakistan, and the potential for the BoP to interfere in the Kashmir dispute.
The BoP aims to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict but lacks representation from the official Palestinian leadership.
India is a traditional supporter of the Palestinian cause and provides significant humanitarian assistance.
Joining the BoP could invite U.S. ire if rebuffed, but joining might compromise India's independent foreign policy.
Exam Points
The BoP charter was announced in Davos in January 2026.
The UN Security Council cleared the Gaza Peace Proposal in November 2025.
Membership fee for 'permanent' status in BoP is $1 billion.
The Himalayan region is facing an 'ecocide' due to aggressive infrastructure projects like the Char Dham Road Widening. In 2025, climate-induced disasters caused over 4,000 deaths in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The article criticizes the 'translocating' of ancient Devdaar trees, which is ecologically flawed. Projects often bypass Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and use improper road-width standards, leading to slope instability and landslides. The vulnerability of the Himalayas is increasing as high-altitude areas warm 50% faster than the global average. Disaster resilience must take precedence over ideological or economic necessity.
The Devdaar (Deodar) forests are crucial for soil stability, flood prevention, and maintaining the ecology of the Ganga river.
High-altitude Himalayan regions are warming 50% faster than the global average since 1950.
The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) was established under the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
Exam Points
Over 4,000 deaths occurred due to climate disasters in the Himalayas in 2025.
The NMSHE was approved in 2014.
High-altitude warming is 50% faster than the global average.
As India prepares to host the BRICS Summit in 2026, there is a critical need to focus on a green agenda for the Global South. With the U.S. potentially withdrawing from international climate organizations, BRICS can provide a stabilizing force for collaborative multilateralism. The article suggests that BRICS should move beyond just 'G-7 or G-20' frameworks and include institutions like the World Bank and IMF in climate finance discussions. India's leadership is pivotal to steering the global climate process, especially in adaptation, resilience, and sustainable development, while countering Chinese ambitions in the green sector.
BRICS now represents approximately 40% of the global GDP and 26% of the global landmass.
The 'BASIC' group (Brazil, South Africa, India, China) remains a key player in UNFCCC negotiations.
India can use its BRICS presidency to articulate the demands of the Global South regarding climate finance.
Exam Points
India will host the BRICS Summit in 2026.
The July 2025 BRICS Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro.
BRICS members now include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE.
President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland poses a challenge to NATO’s Article 5 and European security. Greenland is strategically vital due to its location near the Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage, which are becoming accessible due to melting ice. The U.S. seeks to secure access to rare earth minerals and control shipping routes to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic. This move creates a rift with Denmark and other European allies who view it as a violation of sovereignty. The situation reflects a shift toward transactional diplomacy and unilateralism.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and a strategic location for Arctic shipping routes.
The Northern Sea Route connects the Atlantic and Pacific via the Russian-Norwegian frontiers.
Russia has invested heavily in Arctic infrastructure, including a fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers.
Exam Points
NATO's Article 5 is the collective defense pledge.
The Northern Sea Route is a key Arctic shipping lane.
Russia has a fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers for Arctic operations.
The Registrar-General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI) has notified 33 questions for the first phase of Census 2027, scheduled from April 1 to September 30. This will be India's first digital census, allowing respondents to self-enumerate through a portal. Significantly, this census will include caste enumeration for the first time. The first phase focuses on house-listing and housing schedules, while the second phase (Population Enumeration) in February 2027 will record caste details. The notification splits questions on housing materials into three distinct categories to improve data accuracy.
Census 2027 will be the first digital census in India's history.
Caste enumeration will be conducted during the second phase in February 2027.
The first phase includes 33 questions covering building details, household amenities, and assets.
Exam Points
The first phase of Census 2027 runs from April 1 to September 30.
There are 33 questions in the first phase notification.
The second phase (Population Enumeration) is scheduled for February 2027.
Members of the Tribal Council in Little and Great Nicobar have alleged that the district administration is pressuring them to sign 'surrender certificates' for their ancestral lands. The ₹92,000-crore Great Nicobar Island mega-infrastructure project requires the diversion of forest lands in Galathea Bay and Pemmaya Bay. These areas were inhabited by the indigenous Nicobarese community before the 2004 tsunami. The council argues that surrendering this land would leave nothing for future generations. The project is nearing final approval, but the lack of transparency regarding the surrender documents has caused significant distress among the tribal population.
The Great Nicobar Island project is a ₹92,000-crore mega-infrastructure initiative.
The project affects the Nicobarese and Shompen tribes, who are recognized as Scheduled Tribes.
Key project areas include Galathea Bay and Pemmaya Bay.
Exam Points
Project cost is estimated at ₹92,000 crore.
The 2004 tsunami is the reference point for tribal displacement in the region.
Data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shows that India’s net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) remained negative for the fourth consecutive month in November 2025. This trend is driven by high levels of repatriation and disinvestment by foreign companies, which exceeded total inflows by $446 million. Additionally, net Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPI) have also been negative in the 2025-26 financial year due to uncertainty over India-U.S. trade deals and a weakening rupee. Despite this, gross inflows remained steady at $6.4 billion, with the financial services and manufacturing sectors receiving the highest shares.
Net FDI is the balance between total inflows and outflows (repatriation/disinvestment).
Outflows in November 2025 exceeded inflows by $446 million.
Repatriation and disinvestment reached a five-month high of $5.3 billion in November 2025.
Exam Points
Net FDI was negative for four months ending November 2025.
Gross FDI inflow in November 2025 was $6.4 billion.
Outward FDI by Indian companies was $1.5 billion in November 2025.
The World Malaria Report 2025 indicates a mixed outlook for the Asia-Pacific region. While estimated cases in Southeast Asia have dropped from 9.6 million in 2023 to 8.9 million in 2024, challenges like drug resistance and funding gaps persist. India has set a target to achieve zero indigenous malaria cases by 2027 and complete elimination by 2030. The introduction of the RTS,S and R21 vaccines offers hope, particularly for high-burden areas. However, the emergence of artemisinin-resistant malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion and a significant funding shortfall of $2.4 billion in 2024 threaten the 2030 goal.
India aims for zero indigenous malaria cases by 2027 and total elimination by 2030.
Five states in India's northeast account for nearly 80% of the country's malaria burden.
The R21/Matrix-M vaccine has shown high efficacy in clinical trials and is being rolled out in Africa.
Exam Points
India's target for zero indigenous cases is 2027.
Global funding gap for malaria in 2024 was $2.4 billion.
Southeast Asia malaria cases dropped to 8.9 million in 2024.
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