Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, warned against the weaponisation of technology and access to critical minerals, stating it hinders shared progress. He highlighted new BRICS initiatives to strengthen supply chains, enhance resilience against pandemics and climate disasters, and emphasized that the grouping must deliver concrete results rather than merely ideas. Modi also noted the growing confidence of Global South countries in BRICS, pointing out that their voices are heard and solutions are developed together with them.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
He warned against the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals hindering global progress.
Modi highlighted new initiatives to bolster supply chains and increase resilience against pandemics and climate disasters.
The Delhi government's Atal Canteen initiative, spread across 100 locations in the city, has become a vital lifeline for thousands of daily wage workers, ragpickers, and commuters by serving around 50,000 meals a day at a subsidised cost of ₹5 per meal. Launched on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the scheme contracts various NGOs and vendors where the government bears the remaining ₹25 per meal. While beneficiaries praise the affordability and accessibility, concerns remain regarding staff wages and operational challenges.
Atal Canteens operate across 100 locations in Delhi, serving around 50,000 meals daily.
Meals cost ₹5 for individuals, with the government subsidising the remaining ₹25 to vendors.
The scheme aims to ensure that no one in Delhi goes hungry, addressing food security for low-income groups.
India's counter-terrorism strategy has transitioned significantly over the decades, moving from a passive, reactive stance to a bold, proactive policy that classifies any cross-border terrorist act as an 'act of war'. Following historical benchmarks like the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and subsequent major strikes, India introduced decisive military responses such as the Uri surgical strikes and Balakot airstrikes, culminating in Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack in 2025. Furthermore, India unveiled its first comprehensive National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy, 'PRAHAAR', in February 2026.
India's counter-terror strategy has evolved from passive warning to proactive cross-border military action.
Key milestones include responses to the 2016 Uri attack, 2019 Pulwama/Balakot airstrikes, and 2025 Operation Sindoor.
India unveiled its first comprehensive National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy named 'PRAHAAR' in February 2026.
Exam Points
Policy name: PRAHAAR (National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy)
Pakistan's expanding diplomatic, military, and institutional engagement in West Asia—exemplified by its defense cooperation agreement with Kuwait and membership in the Saudi Arabia-Türkiye-Pakistan arrangement—brings potential strategic depth but also significant risks. While attempting to balance relations with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and the US, Pakistan risks strategic overstretch by entangling itself in complex Middle Eastern conflicts, such as the Houthi-Saudi confrontation. This multifaceted involvement could dilute its focus on India and present irreconcilable regional contradictions.
Pakistan is significantly expanding its strategic footprint in West Asia through defense agreements and multilateral pacts.
The Makkah Agreement and defense pacts with Gulf nations and Turkey provide Islamabad with strategic depth and financial resources.
Engagement in volatile Middle Eastern alliances exposes Pakistan to severe strategic overstretch and conflicting regional commitments.
Exam Points
Kuwait-Pakistan defense cooperation agreement date: August 27, 2026
Ahead of major multi-sport events like the Asian Games, a spate of positive doping cases among Indian athletes across disciplines such as athletics, weightlifting, and wrestling has brought embarrassment to the country. India has consistently topped global doping charts for consecutive years, leading to strict warnings from international bodies and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) downgrading India due to high doping risks. Experts emphasize the urgent need to strengthen the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), increase budgetary allocations, enforce the National Anti-Doping Act strictly, and cut off illegal supply lines of banned substances.
Multiple doping positives ahead of major games have placed India in an embarrassing spot on global doping charts.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) downgraded India due to an extremely high risk of doping.
NADA needs greater operational independence and increased budget allocation to curb the doping menace effectively.
Exam Points
Key Act: National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Act, 2025
Global Hunger Index ranking mentioned in context: 102nd out of 123 countries
Cash transfer schemes and unconditional welfare payouts have become a prominent feature of Indian statecraft, with unconditional cash transfers to women scaling up significantly across multiple States and carrying substantial annual fiscal costs. While cash transfers provide essential relief in an informal economy, experts argue they must not substitute for durable public goods like health, education, and robust institutions. Because of a severe lack of systematic datasets and welfare impact statements, governments must subject these schemes to rigorous evaluation, pre-rollout impact statements, and strict transparency.
Unconditional cash transfers to women have expanded across multiple Indian States with substantial annual fiscal costs.
Cash transfers can soften strains of weak institutions but cannot replace durable public goods like healthcare and education.
An ADB study found that India lacks a systematic dataset of government expenditure on cash-transfer schemes.
Exam Points
Estimated annual cost of unconditional cash transfers to women (2025-26): ₹1.68 lakh crore (about 0.5% of GDP)
Economic Survey 2025-26 finding: transfers to women amount to 11-24% of monthly income for daily-wage workers
As the 18th BRICS Summit concluded in New Delhi, analysts emphasize that India should leverage BRICS to maximize its global potential without strengthening Beijing's strategic position, primarily by empowering the New Development Bank (NDB). Established in 2015, the NDB serves as a crucial tool for infrastructure and sustainable development financing, offering a distinct preference for local-currency lending. To overcome slow disbursement rates and capital constraints caused by sanctions on founders like Russia, India must push for capital expansion, resolve asset bottlenecks, and successfully launch long-delayed rupee bonds.
The New Development Bank (NDB) remains one of the most tangible economic instruments of the BRICS grouping.
The NDB promotes local-currency lending, such as Panda bonds, to reduce foreign exchange volatility and dollar reliance.
Stagnant asset growth and slow loan disbursement rates continue to restrict the NDB's lending capacity compared to counterparts like the AIIB.
Exam Points
NDB approved projects: 139 projects worth about $43 billion
AIIB approved projects: 350 projects worth about $69 billion
BRICS founding GDP contribution: 20% of global GDP, holding 11% IMF voting share
Tesla recently unveiled its two-seater, steering-less and pedal-less 'Cybercab' robotaxis in Austin, Texas, featuring a futuristic cyberpunk design and lounge-like interior. However, the removal of traditional steering controls and brake pedals has triggered immediate regulatory scrutiny and safety investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. While supporters praise robotaxis for accessibility and reduced human error, critics highlight concerns regarding unexpected road situations, emergency vehicle interference, and passenger safety vulnerabilities.
Tesla introduced its steering-less and pedal-less Cybercab robotaxis in limited areas of Austin, Texas.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into Tesla's self-certification of the Cybercab.
Design choices eliminate brake pedals and hydraulic plumbing, sparking debates on compliance with safety standards.
In an exclusive interview with The Hindu on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered scathing remarks on the culture of 'impunity' and power distortions paralyzing the UN Security Council. Guterres commended India's diplomatic mediation efforts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive structural overhaul of global governance systems, including Bretton Woods institutions, to reflect contemporary economic realities rather than those of 1945. He also clarified that the UN does not publish official maps with borders, addressing recent controversy over UN geospatial maps.
UN Chief Antonio Guterres criticized distorted power relations making the Security Council non-operational.
He commended India's active mediation efforts and credibility as a bridge-builder in global conflicts.
Guterres advocated for a complete structural overhaul of the UN and Bretton Woods institutions to reflect modern economic realities.
Exam Points
Interviewee: Antonio Guterres (UN Secretary-General)
Event context: 18th BRICS Summit sidelines, New Delhi
On the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in intensive bilateral diplomacy with leaders from Africa and Asia, focusing heavily on defense, security, trade, and capacity building. Modi held high-level talks with African Union Chairperson and Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and leaders from Uganda, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Kazakhstan. These meetings underscored India's push to leverage the BRICS platform to solidify strategic partnerships, indigenous defense exports like the BrahMos missile system, and Global South solidarity.
Prime Minister Modi held extensive bilateral meetings with African and Asian leaders on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
Discussions focused on strengthening defense and security cooperation, counter-terrorism, and digital public infrastructure.
India engaged with African Union leadership and partner countries like Uganda, Nigeria, and Ethiopia to enhance development partnerships.
Exam Points
Key defense export mentioned: BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system
Key visiting African leaders: Abiy Ahmed Ali (Ethiopia), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced in Mumbai that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented by 2029 across all 21 States where the BJP and NDA are in power. Addressing the press during the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyaan', Shah asserted the government's firm commitment to deporting all illegal immigrants from the country. He also commented on political developments, handling of Gen Z protests, and urged the diamond industry to expand lab-grown diamond manufacturing capacity significantly.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that UCC will be implemented by 2029 in all 21 NDA-ruled States.
The government reiterated its firm commitment to deporting all illegal immigrants from India.
Shah emphasized the importance of free expression in a democracy while contrasting current governance with Emergency-era styles.
Exam Points
Target year for UCC implementation in NDA States: 2029
Target states/governing coalition: 21 NDA-ruled States
Campaign mentioned: Seva Sankalp Abhiyaan (September 17 to October 17)
According to the Defence Ministry's Annual Report for 2025-2026, an Indian Air Force S-400 air-defence unit successfully destroyed a Pakistani special-mission aircraft at a distance of 314 km during Operation Sindoor, showcasing advanced long-range interception capabilities. Concurrently, the report noted a significant reduction in the aggressive deployment of China's PLA along India's northern borders in 2025, though 10 combined arms brigades remain deployed. Sustained diplomatic, military, and WMCC talks have contributed to a gradual stabilization of the LAC situation.
An IAF S-400 system destroyed a Pakistani aircraft at 314 km during Operation Sindoor, proving long-range air defense efficacy.
The Defence Ministry's Annual Report for 2025-26 reports a significant reduction in aggressive PLA deployment along the northern borders.
Ten combined arms brigades of the PLA remain deployed along the LAC in traditional training areas.
Exam Points
Interception range: 314 km (Operation Sindoor)
Key systems mentioned: S-400 air-defence unit, IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System)
A groundbreaking 30-year study published in 'Science Advances' by researchers from Leibniz-IZW and Montpellier has revealed that spotted hyenas inherit social rank, resources, and alliances from their mothers rather than merely genetic traits. Observing eight resident clans in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater, scientists found that the youngest female cub born to an alpha female inherits her mother's high social status and gains superior access to food, allies, and breeding opportunities. This challenges traditional Darwin-Bateman evolutionary paradigms by proving that complex social processes and matriarchal alliances dictate dominance in mammalian societies.
A study published in 'Science Advances' shows that spotted hyenas socially inherit rank and resources from their mothers.
The youngest female cub born to an alpha hyena inherits top social status and accumulates long-term survival advantages.
Matriarchal dominance in spotted hyenas is driven by powerful social networks and alliance-building rather than pure physical size.
Exam Points
Study duration and scope: 29-30 years, 8 resident clans, 2,743 wild spotted hyenas
Study location: Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Key research bodies: Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), Institute of Evolutionary Science of Montpellier
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