Current Affairs – February 05, 2026

{GS1 – Geo} India’s Denotified Tribes Recognition **

• Context (TH): Denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes (DNTs) are demanding a separate Census column in 2027 and constitutional recognition through a distinct Schedule.

Need for Separate Recognition of DNT

• Historical Stigmatisation: Communities were branded “criminal tribes” under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, and continue facing social and police prejudice despite repeal in 1952.
• Uncovered Communities: Around 267 DNT groups remain outside SC/ST/OBC classifications, excluding them from reservation benefits (Idate Commission, 2017).
• Underutilised Schemes: Only ₹69.3 crore of the planned ₹200 crore was spent under the SEED scheme over five years due to identification failures.

Significance of Separate Recognition of DNT

• Targeted Policy Design: A distinct constitutional Schedule would enable focused quotas, schemes and development planning for DNT communities.
• Accurate Enumeration: A separate Census column would generate reliable population data to guide funding and representation.
• Social Justice Correction: Recognition would address colonial-era injustice and continued exclusion from mainstream welfare systems.

Way Forward

• Separate Schedule: Create a constitutional Schedule for DNTs to ensure dedicated quotas and welfare focus; E.g., recognition structure parallel to SC and ST categories.
• Sub-Classification: Implement graded backwardness within the DNT to prioritise the most deprived groups; E.g., SC sub-categorisation framework upheld in State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (2024).
• Certificate Issuance: Mandate States to issue DNT community certificates with strict timelines; E.g., Aadhaar-linked social category verification systems.
• Scheme Delivery: Strengthen utilisation of targeted schemes through direct beneficiary identification; E.g., revamp of SEED scheme with real-time beneficiary tracking.

{GS2 – Governance} Waste-Pickers Enumeration under NAMASTE Scheme **

• Context (TH): The Union government released nationwide enumeration data on 1.52 lakh waste pickers under the NAMASTE scheme.

• The enumeration was conducted using the Waste Picker Enumeration App, launched in 2025.

Key Demographic Trends

• Caste Composition: About 84.5% of the workforce belongs to SC, ST, and OBC communities, highlighting the historical link between caste and sanitation work.
• General Category: The General category constitutes 10.7% (16,329 workers) of the total and is a majority in regions such as Delhi and Goa.
• Gender Parity: The data shows a near-equal distribution, with 48.7% women, highlighting the significant feminisation of informal waste work.

About NAMASTE Scheme

• The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2023.
• It replaced the Self-Employment Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS).
• Objective: Ensure the safety and dignity of sanitation workers by replacing hazardous manual cleaning with mechanised methods.
• Nodal Ministries: It is a joint venture between the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Nodal Agency: The National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) serves as the primary implementing body.
• Expansion (2024-25): Initially for Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs), the scheme was expanded to include waste-pickers, integrating them into the formal Circular Economy.
• Enumeration Target: It aims to profile 2.5 lakh waste pickers and connect them to social security.

Read More > NAMASTE Scheme

{GS2 – MoMA} PM-Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS)

• Context (PIB): The Union Budget 2026-27 has allocated fresh funding to the PM-Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme.

• PM VIKAS is a Central Sector Scheme, officially launched in 2025, for the skill development and upliftment of minority communities.
• Nodal Ministry: The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs through the Skill India Mission framework.
• Key Components: It comprises four components – Skilling, Entrepreneurship, Education, and Infrastructure Development.
• Scheme Convergence: It subsumes five schemes – Seekho Aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil.
• Target Groups: The scheme covers six notified minority communities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis.
• Inclusion Mandate: A minimum of 33% reservation for women in skilling components and 3% for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) across all scheme activities.
• Financial Linkages: The scheme facilitates credit access by linking beneficiaries with loan programmes of the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC).
• Key Goal: To train approximately 1.51 lakh beneficiaries across States and Union Territories.

Read More > Other Minority Welfare Schemes

{GS2 – MoC} Bharat Taxi *

• Context (PIB | TH): The Union Home and Cooperation Minister launched Bharat Taxi in New Delhi.

• Bharat Taxi is India’s first cooperative-sector taxi service, offering a “swadeshi” alternative to private aggregators like Uber and Ola.
• It is also the world’s first and largest cooperative-based ride-hailing platform and the largest driver-owned mobility platform.
• It aims to expand nationwide in two years and develop a sustainable, inclusive mobility ecosystem.
• Institutional Support: The Ministry of Cooperation promoted the initiative under the “Sahkar se Samriddhi” vision with technical support from the National e-Governance Division (NeGD).
• Legal Framework: Bharat Taxi is operated by the Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL) under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MASCS) Act, 2002.
• Key Philosophy: It is based on the ‘Sarathi Hi Malik’ principle, designating drivers as shareholders and co-owners with decision-making and profit-sharing rights.
• Revenue Model: The platform uses a zero-commission model, under which drivers retain 100% of the fare and pay only a nominal daily fee (approximately ₹30).
• Consumer Benefits: The initiative eliminates surge pricing and offers fixed fares, estimated to be 30% cheaper than those of private competitors.
• Social Security: Every registered driver receives ₹5 lakh of personal accident insurance and ₹5 lakh of family health insurance.
• Digital Integration: It leverages Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) by utilising DigiLocker for instant driver verification and UMANG for service delivery.
• Gender Inclusion: It features the “Bike Didi” initiative, providing safe, dignified employment for women drivers within the cooperative ecosystem.

{GS2 – IR} US–Russia Nuclear Arms Control Crisis

• Context (TOI): The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between the US and Russia is set to expire, raising fears of an unregulated nuclear arms race.

About the New START Treaty

• Full Name: The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the US and Russia.
• Treaty Succession: Replaced the 1991 START I Treaty and superseded the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT).
• Signing and Enforcement: Signed in Prague in 2010 by Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev, and entered into force in February 2011.
• Core Objective: Caps deployed strategic nuclear warheads well below Cold War levels to prevent unchecked nuclear stockpiling.
• Strategic Scope: Covers long-range weapons designed to strike power centres & critical infrastructure.
• Extension Clause: Extended once in 2021 for five years, keeping treaty in force until February 4, 2026.

Key Risks from Treaty Expiry

• Unrestricted Build-Up: With no binding ceilings, both the US and Russia would be free to expand nuclear warheads and delivery systems over time, reversing decades of arms control restraint.
• Transparency Breakdown: The end of inspections, notifications and data exchanges would increase uncertainty, forcing militaries to plan based on worst-case threat perceptions.
• Renewed Arms Race: Absence of formal limits could trigger accelerated nuclear modernisation and stockpiling, similar to Cold War-style competitive escalation dynamics.

Why Replacement Talks are Stalled?

• Ukraine War Fallout: The conflict has severely damaged diplomatic trust and cooperation, making sustained arms control negotiations politically unviable.
• China Inclusion Dispute: The US insists on including China in future treaties, but Beijing rejects parity, citing its much smaller nuclear stockpile.
• Expanded Actor Demands: Russia argues that British and French nuclear forces must also be counted, a condition strongly opposed by both countries.

{GS2 – IR} India Joins BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC)

• Context (PIB): India joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) to support its manufacturing sector and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed a Trust Fund Agreement with UNIDO to provide technical support.
• The National Productivity Council (NPC) has been designated as the nodal ‘India Centre’ to spearhead engagement and capacity-building.
• Significance: This participation facilitates cross-country knowledge exchange and integrates Indian businesses into resilient BRICS supply chains.

About BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC)

• The BCIC is a multilateral platform that accelerates industrial modernisation and digital transformation across BRICS member countries.
• It was established in 2025 as a collaborative initiative by BRICS countries and UNIDO, with headquarters in Vienna.
• Objective: To strengthen Industry 4.0 competencies by promoting the adoption of AI, IoT, and advanced analytics in manufacturing.
• Operational Role: BCIC serves as a “one-stop shop” for manufacturing firms and MSMEs to enhance global competitiveness.
• Capacity Building: It bridges the technological gap faced by small enterprises by providing access to advanced manufacturing practices.
• Geopolitical Significance: It reinforces BRICS’s leadership in South-South Cooperation, focusing on sustainable industrial development.

Read More > BRICS

{GS2 – IR} Formal Negotiation Begins for an FTA with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) *

• Context (BS): India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are signing the Terms of Reference (ToR) to formally resume negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

• Bilateral Pacts: India has already signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) with the UAE in 2022 and with Oman in 2025.

About Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

• Regional Union: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union of six Arab states, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Objective: The council was formed in 1981 to foster unity rooted in shared political and cultural identities grounded in Islamic beliefs.
• Members: It comprises six oil-rich monarchies: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.
  • Exception: Iraq is the only Arab state bordering the Persian Gulf excluded from membership.
• Oil Reserves: The GCC countries collectively control roughly 30% of the world’s proven oil reserves.
• Market Integration: The bloc established a Customs Union (2003) and a Common Market (2008) to facilitate the free movement of citizens and goods.
  • Residency Rights: The Common Market grants GCC citizens the right to work, reside, and own property in any member state.
• Joint Defence: The “Peninsula Shield Force” is the bloc’s joint military arm, tasked with deterring external aggression and internal instability.
• Unified Travel: A new “Schengen-style” visa system, GCC Grand Tours, was approved in 2023 to simplify travel across member states.
• Apex Authority: The Supreme Council holds the highest authority and comprises heads of state; the presidency rotates annually.
• Geopolitical Balance: The alliance serves as a strategic Sunni-led counterweight to Iranian influence and helps secure the energy-critical Strait of Hormuz.

About India-GCC Relations

• Commercial Ties: The GCC is India’s largest regional trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $178 billion in 2024-25.
  • Leading Markets: The UAE is India’s largest partner in the bloc, followed by Saudi Arabia.
• Import Reliance: It remains the principal pillar of India’s energy security, supplying 35% of crude oil and 70% of natural gas imports.
• Diaspora Size: About 9 million Indians reside across member states, constituting 66% of all Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
  • Remittance: The Indian diaspora contributes nearly 38% of India’s total inward remittances.
• Strategic Defence: Security ties have evolved into strategic partnerships, as evidenced by joint exercises like “Naseem Al Bahr” (Oman), “Al Mohed Al Hindi” (Saudi Arabia) and “Desert Flag” (UAE).
• Corridor Project: The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) aims to position the Gulf as a transit hub linking Indian markets to Europe.

Read More > Gulf region’s importance for India

{GS3 – IE} India’s Industrial Transition from Molecules to Electrons

• Context (TH): India’s industrial sector remains largely powered by fossil fuel “molecules”, while China has shifted nearly half of its industrial energy use to electricity, strengthening competitiveness.

China’s Industrial Edge through Electrification

• Grid First Strategy: Massive investment in ultra-high-voltage transmission, storage and flexible substations ensured reliable industrial power.
• Policy-Driven EAF Steel: Electric-arc furnace (EAF) steel rose from 44 million tonnes (2010) to 106 million tonnes (2024) via incentives and scrap systems.
• Industrial Digitalisation: Automation and digital controls improved efficiency and enabled electricity-based manufacturing optimisation.
• Green Electron Push: High renewable integration reduced carbon intensity, aligning exports with emerging global climate standards.

Significance of Electrification for India

• Export Competitiveness: China runs nearly 50% of industrial energy on electricity, while India is near 25%, directly impacting carbon-sensitive global supply chains like steel and cement.
• Energy Security: India imports nearly 85% of crude oil and over 45% of natural gas, making electrification crucial to reduce fuel price shock exposure.
• Efficiency Gains: Electric motors operate at over 90% efficiency compared to below 35% for combustion engines, sharply lowering energy cost per unit of output.
• Decarbonisation Enabler: Industry contributes about 25% of India’s total greenhouse gas emissions, making electrification a key decarbonisation lever.

Key Issues in India’s Industrial Electrification Shift

• Legacy Combustion Lock-In: Most factories rely on coal boilers, diesel generators and fossil furnaces, making process redesign towards electric systems slow and capital-intensive.
• Low Green Share: Only about 7–8% of India’s final industrial energy comes from green electrons, compared to China’s much higher clean electricity penetration.
• Generation-Centric Policy: Focus remains on adding renewable capacity rather than ensuring electricity flows directly into industrial processes.
• Process Emission Barriers: Sectors such as cement still require high-temperature calcination, where full electrification remains technologically challenging.

Industrial Electrification Pathways for India

• National Electrification Mission: Launch a dedicated mission shifting policy focus from capacity addition to industrial electricity usage; E.g., mandatory electrified processes in new industrial parks.
• Grid Investment Surge: Expand transmission, storage and reliability infrastructure for continuous industrial power; E.g., China-style ultra-high-voltage corridors.
• Steel Transition Support: Scale renewable-linked EAF incentives and scrap markets; E.g., align with EU CBAM low-carbon steel requirements.
• MSME Green Finance: Provide concessional loans and pooled renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for electric equipment upgrades; E.g., SIDBI-led green credit lines.

{GS3 – DM} NDMA Released India’s First Guideline for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) **

• Context (IE): The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) released India’s first-ever Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Guidelines for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI).

• Commemorative Release: The guidelines were released on the 25^th anniversary of the 2001 Bhuj earthquake to standardise responses to Mass Fatality Incidents (MFIs).
• Scientific Alignment: The framework replaces ad hoc body disposal with a scientific DVI protocol aligned with Interpol standards.

Key Guidelines for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI)

• Identification Workflow: The identification process follows a mandatory four-stage workflow:
  1. Systematic Recovery: Organised retrieval of remains to prevent commingling or loss of evidence.
  2. Post-Mortem (PM) Data: Gathering biometric data like DNA and fingerprints from the deceased.
  3. Ante-Mortem (AM) Data: Collecting medical records and personal details from the victims’ families.
  4. Reconciliation: Scientifically matching PM and AM data to establish positive identification before releasing the remains.
• Humanitarian Focus: The guidelines emphasise Humanitarian Forensics, treating the dignified management of the dead as a fundamental human right.
• Psychosocial Support: Psychosocial support for families is integrated into the official protocol to minimise trauma during the waiting period.
• Dental Registry: It proposes creating a National Dental Data Registry, since dental evidence is often the main surviving identifier in high-impact disasters.
• Forensic Archaeology: Forensic Archaeology is recognised as a standard method for the systematic recovery of buried remains.
• Specialised Teams: States are mandated to establish DVI Teams comprising police, pathologists, and archaeologists to ensure coordinated action.
• Disposal Mandate: Mass burials or unscientific disposal of unidentified bodies are prohibited to preserve the possibility of identification.

{GS3 – S&T} Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Fund Launched *

• Context (PIB): The Technology Development Board (TDB) officially launched the first open call for the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Fund.

• Rolling Application: Project proposals are accepted 24/7, 365 days a year through the TDB RDI Portal to ensure continuous innovation support.
• Operational Role: The TDB serves as a Second-Level Fund Manager (SLFM), deploying a designated portion of the total RDI corpus.

About Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund

• Legal Status: The RDI Fund operates as a Special Purpose Fund (SPF) under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act, 2023.
• Financial Corpus: A corpus of ₹1 lakh crore is allocated for deployment over a 5 to 6-year horizon.
• Primary Objective: It aims to facilitate the transition from academic research to industrial application by catalysing private investment.
• Nodal Authority: The Department of Science & Technology (DST) serves as the implementing agency.
• Target Stage: Projects at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 and above are prioritised for scaling and commercialisation rather than for basic research.
• Fund Management: A two-tiered mechanism separates high-level policy and capital allocation (Tier 1) from project-level evaluation and disbursement (Tier 2).
  1. Primary Custodianship: The Special Purpose Fund (SPF) under ANRF manages the corpus and policy framework.
  2. Intermediary Distribution: Funds are channelled through Second-Level Fund Managers (SLFMs), such as AIFs, NBFCs, TDB, and BIRAC.
• Concessional Financing: Support is provided through equity infusions or collateral-free long-term concessional loans; grants are strictly excluded to ensure commercial accountability.
• Cost Sharing: Up to 50% of the assessed project cost is financed by the fund, with a matching contribution required from the private sector.
• Strategic Sectors: Investments are prioritised in “sunrise sectors” like deep-tech, quantum computing, clean energy, and AI.
• Deep-Tech Focus: A significant portion of the corpus will serve as a ‘Fund of Funds’ to support deep-tech startups with long gestation periods.

Read More> Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

{Prelims – PAN} Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve (DKTR)

• Context (TOI): The Rajasthan Government assured local communities that residents of the Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve (DKTR) will not be displaced without their consent.

About Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve (DKTR)

• Reserve Status: Spanning 1,111 sq. km in eastern Rajasthan, the forest was officially notified in 2023 as India’s 54^th and Rajasthan’s 5^th tiger reserve.
• Geological Setting: The terrain lies at the geological junction of the Vindhyan and Aravalli hill ranges.
• Topography: Its landscape is uniquely characterised by the rugged and extensive ravines of the Chambal River basin.
• Hydrology: The perennial Chambal River flows along the eastern boundary and serves as the primary water source.
• Vegetation Type: The forest is classified as a tropical dry deciduous forest, dominated by Dhok, Khair, Tendu, and Babool trees.
• Faunal Diversity: Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, striped hyenas, sloth bears, golden jackals, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai, etc.
• Ecological Role: It serves as a vital sink area to accommodate the spillover tiger population from the overcrowded Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
• Wildlife Corridor: Dholpur-Karauli is a critical corridor connecting Ranthambore (Rajasthan) to Kuno and Madhav National Parks (Madhya Pradesh).

{Prelims – Exercise} Exercise KHANJAR

• Context (PIB): The 13^th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR has begun at Missamari, Assam.

• KHANJAR is an annual bilateral training exercise to exchange best practices in counter-terrorism and Special Forces operations, especially in urban and mountainous terrain.
• Participants: The Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment and Kyrgyzstan’s ILBRIS Special Forces (Scorpion Brigade), each with 20 members.

• Key Focus: Includes specialised training in sniping, complex building interventions, mountain craft, and operations under a United Nations mandate.
• Significance: This engagement strengthens bilateral defence ties and deepens the strategic partnership centred on regional stability.
• Inception: The exercise was initiated in 2011 and has been held since then, with the venue alternating between the two countries.

{Prelims – In News} PLASTINDIA 2026

• Context (PIB): The 12^th edition of PLASTINDIA 2026, one of the world’s largest plastics exhibitions, is taking place at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

• It is a triennial international exhibition that connects India’s expanding manufacturing capabilities with global demand for sustainable polymer solutions.
• The event is organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• The theme, “Bharat Next”, highlights India’s trajectory toward becoming a self-reliant industrial hub and a global leader in high-value manufacturing.
• Participation: Over 2,000 exhibitors from over 80 countries have converged to showcase innovations.
• Key Feature: The event is being held as a Zero Waste exhibition for the first time, where all solid waste is segregated, recycled, and reused.
• Significance: The exhibition aligns with the visions of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat, highlighting domestic capacity and environmental responsibility.

{Prelims – In News} Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)

• Context (PIB): The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reduced the feature film certification time to 18 working days, from the statutory 48 working days limit.

• The CBFC is a statutory body established under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• Mandate: It regulates the public exhibition of films, requiring a certificate for legal screenings in cinemas or on television.
• Structure: The board comprises the Chairperson and 12 to 25 members appointed by the Central Government for a three-year term.
• Institutional Presence: It is headquartered in Mumbai and operates through nine regional offices, supported by Advisory Panels.
• Constitutional Basis: Certification is governed by the Cinematograph Act, reflecting “reasonable restrictions” under Article 19(2) of the Constitution.
• Appellate Mechanism: The Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) was abolished in 2021, requiring filmmakers to approach the High Courts for grievances.