Current Affairs – February 16, 2026

{GS2 – MoHFW} Regulating Refurbished Medical Devices in India **

Context (IE): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has formed a committee to develop a “Policy on regulation of refurbished medical devices” to resolve ongoing policy conflicts.

About Refurbished Medical Devices

Refurbished medical devices are previously used equipment restored to the safety and performance specifications set by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
Key Examples: This category includes high-value capital-intensive technologies such as MRI scanners, CT scanners, PET-CT systems, and robotic surgery units.
Cost Efficiency: These devices cost 50-60% less than new equipment, making advanced diagnostics financially feasible for hospitals in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Resource Optimisation: Refurbishing extends the useful life of complex machinery, aligns with circular economy principles, and reduces electronic waste.

Current Government Policy & Regulatory Framework

India currently lacks a specific definition or a dedicated regulatory pathway for these devices under the Medical Devices Rules (MDR), 2017.
Import Law: Imports are currently governed by the Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016, administered by the Ministry of Environment (MoEFCC).
Conditional Approval: The MoEFCC permits the import of 38 specific items, provided they have at least 7 years of residual life and a mandatory warranty.

Key Issue & Policy Debate

Regulatory Conflict: MoEFCC permits imports, but the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) blocks clearances due to safety gaps in the MDR framework.

Arguments Supporting Regulated Imports

Healthcare Access: Proponents argue that regulated imports lower capital costs, thereby improving diagnostic availability in underserved regions.
Global Practice: The Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) supports a calibrated framework aligned with international standards to avoid technological isolation.
Skill Development: Refurbished equipment enables medical colleges to acquire advanced technology for training healthcare professionals at a lower cost.

Arguments Opposing Refurbished Imports

Safety Risks: The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) highlights risks related to unknown usage history and calibration inconsistencies.
Industry Impact: Domestic manufacturers claim that cheaper imports undermine the objectives of the PLI scheme and the “Make in India” initiative.
Dumping Risk: Industry groups warn that India could become a “dumping ground” for hazardous e-waste, citing strict import bans in China and Brazil.

Read More > Medical Device Sector

{GS2 – Governance} MHA to Introduce New Law for Regulating IPS Deputation in CAPFs

Context (TH): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Supreme Court that it is considering a new law to regulate IPS deputation to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

Judicial Compliance: This proposal follows contempt petitions filed against the Centre, alleging non-compliance with judicial directives to reduce IPS quotas in CAPFs.
Deputation Quota: Current recruitment rules reserve 50% of Inspector General (IG) and 20% of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) posts in CAPFs exclusively for IPS officers.
Glass Ceiling: CAPF cadre officers argue that fixed IPS quotas restrict their upward mobility despite prolonged field service.
- Career Disparity: IPS officers typically reach senior ranks within 13-15 years, while CAPF officers require nearly 20-25 years.

Prior Judicial Directives

OGAS Recognition: In the Harananda judgment (2019), the Supreme Court granted Organised Group ‘A’ Service (OGAS) status to CAPF officers to ensure financial parity.
Reduction Directive: In the Sanjay Prakash (2025) verdict, the Court directed the Centre to progressively reduce IPS deputation posts up to the IG rank within two years.
Review Dismissal: The Supreme Court dismissed the Centre’s review petition in October 2025, upholding that operational requirements cannot justify denying legitimate career progression.

{GS2 – IR} UAE-India Corridor

Context (TH): The UAE-India corridor is driving strategic growth through aligned policy, capital, and technology. This partnership exemplifies how shared vision fuels global economic opportunities.

India-UAE Upswing

Trade Milestone: Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) 2022 target of $100B bilateral trade by 2030 achieved five years early; new target set at $200B by 2032.
Non-Oil Growth: Non-oil trade rose 20% last year to $65B, reflecting economic diversification beyond energy.
Investment Flow: Since 2000, the UAE invested $22B in India, while India invested $16B there.
Diaspora Backbone: Nearly 5 million Indians in the UAE, enabling over 1,200 weekly flights.

Strategic Significance

Sector Expansion: Corridor is being reshaped by advanced manufacturing, financial services, technology, and logistics.
Industrial Projects: Reliance-TA’ZIZ $2B low-carbon chemicals, Ashok Leyland shifted electric bus production to the UAE, and L&T Abu Dhabi solar-plus-storage.
Financial Integration: Emirates National Bank of Dubai (NBD’s) acquisition of RBL Bank is the largest FDI in Indian banking, & DP World has committed an additional $5 billion to Indian infrastructure.
Regional Platform: Bharat Mart will serve Africa, West Asia, and Eurasia, doubling India’s exports to these regions.

India‑UAE Bilateral Cooperation

Policy Architecture: CEPA removed ~90% tariffs, and the 2024 Bilateral Investment Treaty ensures investor certainty.
Technology Partnership: India-UAE collaborate on AI, data centres, and digital infrastructure, with India hosting the Global South AI Summit 2026.
Energy Collaboration: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed multi-billion-dollar LNG agreements with Indian Oil and HPCL.
Long-Term Commitment: Mubadala deployed $4B in Indian health, renewables, and tech and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is based in GIFT City.

India‑UAE Cooperation Challenges

Geo Tensions: Regional instability and shifting Middle East alliances affect investment certainty.
Regulatory Differences: Divergent labour, taxation, and compliance standards require harmonisation for smooth operations.
Technology Gaps: AI and advanced manufacturing demand local talent and infrastructure, posing implementation challenges.
Trade Reliance: Overdependence on the corridor for certain exports could create vulnerability to external shocks.

Way Forward

Capacity Building: Joint digital infrastructure and skill development in Africa to enhance the corridor’s global impact.
Investment Diversification: Encourage sectoral expansion beyond energy and logistics to AI, renewables, and healthcare.
Innovation Leadership: Focus on AI and advanced technologies to make the corridor a model for Global South partnerships.

{GS3 – IE} Union Cabinet Approves Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) Scheme **

Context (TH): The Union Cabinet approved the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) to transform the financing ecosystem of urban infrastructure in India.

About Urban Challenge Fund (UCF)

The Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) is a ₹1 lakh crore Centrally Sponsored Scheme designed to institutionalise market-linked financing for urban development.
Core Objective: It aims to transition cities from grant dependence to fiscal self-sufficiency through market-linked infrastructure development.
Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is responsible for overall policy formulation and funding.
Monitoring Mechanism: A dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) under MoHUA tracks fund disbursements and reform milestones via a unified digital portal.
Budget Link: The fund operationalises the Union Budget 2025-26 announcement to develop “Cities as Growth Hubs” through a challenge mode.
Outcome Focus: Funding is strictly contingent on reaching reform milestones and third-party verification of outcomes, not just construction targets.
Timeline: The scheme operates from FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31, with a project implementation window extendable until FY 2033-34.
Selection Process: Projects are selected through a competitive “Challenge Mode” based on their financial viability and the city’s reform readiness.

Financing Mechanism

Central Grant: The Central Government provides up to 25% of the project cost as catalytic assistance.
Market Mobilisation: Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) must mobilise 50% through non-budgetary sources such as Municipal Bonds or commercial loans.
State Share: The remaining 25% is contributed by the State Government or generated through the ULB’s internal revenue.

Eligibility Criteria

Population: The fund covers all cities with a population of 10 lakh or more based on 2025 estimates.
Strategic Cities: It includes all State and Union Territory capitals and major industrial cities with a population above 1 lakh.
Financial Health: Participating ULBs must possess audited financial statements for the last three years.
Creditworthiness: Cities must maintain a credit rating of ‘BBB-’ or higher to access the market-linked financing component.

Credit Repayment Guarantee Scheme

Component Corpus: A ₹5,000 crore corpus has been set aside to improve the creditworthiness of Hilly, North-Eastern, and smaller ULBs with populations under 1 lakh.
Graded Guarantee: The Centre guarantees up to ₹7 crore or 70% of the loan amount (whichever is lower) for first-time borrowers; for subsequent loans, the guarantee is 50% or ₹7 crore.
Market Entry: It aims to de-risk lending, enabling smaller municipalities to access formal credit markets for projects with a minimum cost of ₹20 crore initially and ₹28 crore thereafter.

Key Verticals

Strategic Mandate: The fund channels investments into three priority verticals to ensure sustainable urban growth and financial viability.

Growth Hubs: Development of economic corridors and nodes to enhance regional competitiveness and urban mobility.
Creative Redevelopment: Revitalisation of central business districts and heritage cores through climate-resilient brownfield regeneration.
Water Sanitation: Financing of Bankable infrastructure projects for water supply, sewerage, stormwater, and solid waste remediation.

{GS3 – S&T} Indian Scientific Service (ISS) for Expert-led Policymaking **

Context (TH): The increasing technical complexity in governance calls for a dedicated Indian Scientific Service (ISS) to ensure evidence-based, expert-led policymaking.

Current Framework of Scientific Services

Generalist Hegemony: Scientific departments are predominantly headed by IAS officers, often creating a leadership gap in domains that require deep technical expertise.
Fragmented Recruitment: Unlike the centralised Civil Services Examination, scientific recruitment remains decentralised across autonomous bodies like CSIR and ISRO.
Restrictive Conduct: Government scientists are bound by the CCS (Conduct) Rules 1964, which prioritise administrative obedience over independent scientific inquiry.
Reactive Role: The current system utilises scientific input primarily for crisis management rather than as a foundational component of long-term policy formulation.
Vertical Immobility: Technical experts often encounter a “glass ceiling” in which administrative hierarchies prevent them from exercising final decision-making authority.

Arguments in Favour of Indian Scientific Service (ISS)

Regulatory Agility: Scientific administrators are essential to draft dynamic regulations for “black-box” technologies (like AI and genomics) that currently outpace generalist understanding.
Diplomatic Leverage: A specialised cadre would equip India to negotiate effectively in global forums on complex issues like climate finance and nuclear protocols.
Institutional Memory: Unlike generalist administrators who face frequent transfers, a permanent scientific cadre ensures sustained leadership for long-gestation R&D projects.
Innovation Culture: Separate service rules would legitimise “risk-tolerant” financial norms, treating scientific failure as a step in innovation rather than a procedural error.
‘Lab to Land’: An ISS cadre can serve as a professional interface to translate theoretical research into scalable public welfare schemes.

Arguments Against Indian Scientific Service (ISS)

Administrative Siloisation: Creating a separate scientific vertical may widen the coordination gap between technical experts and the executive administrators responsible for implementation.
Technocratic Tunnel-Vision: A purely scientific approach may overlook the critical socio-economic nuances that generalist administrators are trained to manage.
Bureaucratic Proliferation: A new All-India Service could increase fiscal burdens and add red tape without guaranteeing improved research output.
Research Dilution: Formalising scientists within a civil service structure risks burdening them with administrative paperwork and detracting from their primary role as innovators.
Lateral Entry: The existing ‘Lateral Entry’ mechanism offers a more flexible and cost-effective solution than creating a rigid, permanent cadre.

Way Forward

Embedded Cadre: Embed scientific officers directly within ministries to ensure technical feasibility meets administrative viability.
Statutory Integrity: Enact service rules safeguarding “Scientific Integrity,” empowering experts to record dissent without administrative reprisal.
Unified Training: Institutionalise a “Policy-Science Bridge” at LBSNAA to sensitise generalists to data and scientists to public administration.
Legislative Support: Establish a specialised scientific unit attached to Parliament to provide technical briefs on science-heavy legislation.
Phased Rollout: Pilot the service in high-stakes sectors like Public Health and Disaster Management before pan-India expansion.

{GS3 – S&T} AFR Became the First Indian Private Satellite to Perform “In-Orbit Snooping” *

Context (IE): The Aerospace First Runner (AFR) satellite achieved a breakthrough in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) by tracking and imaging the International Space Station (ISS) from orbit.

Private First: This is the first publicly reported instance of an Indian private satellite performing “in-orbit snooping” (non-Earth orbital imaging).
Satellite Profile: The 80-kilogram Azista BST Aerospace First Runner (AFR) is an optical Earth Observation satellite designed for high-resolution remote sensing.
Manufacturing: Azista BST Aerospace (ABA), an Indo-German joint venture, manufactures the satellite at a facility in Ahmedabad.
Launch Details: The satellite was launched into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) in June 2023 aboard the SpaceX Transporter-8 mission.
Payload Capabilities: Its primary payload comprises wide-swath optical cameras capable of capturing panchromatic and multispectral imagery.
Strategic Potential: The “in-orbit snooping” capability has significant dual-use potential for inspecting other space assets and monitoring space debris.
Sectoral Applications: The satellite data supports critical sectors such as crop health monitoring, disaster management, and urban infrastructure planning.

In-orbit snooping, formally known as Non-Earth Imaging (NEI) or Space-to-Space Imaging, refers to satellites tracking and photographing other objects in orbit rather than observing Earth.

{Prelims – Eco} CBDC-Based Digital Food Currency

Context (PIB): The Government of India launched a CBDC-based Digital Food Currency pilot in Gujarat for the Public Distribution System (PDS).

It is a programmable digital coupon within India’s Central Bank Digital Currency (e-Rupee) framework.
Regulator: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulates and issues the Digital Rupee (e₹) for coupons.
Implementing Agency: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution coordinates execution with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and State Governments.
These coupons are “locked” for exclusive use at authorised Fair Price Shops (FPS) and cannot be converted into cash or used for non-essential purchases.
The system credits coupons directly to beneficiaries’ mobile wallets to ensure that they are used exclusively for foodgrains.
Transaction Method: Beneficiaries claim entitlements by scanning a merchant’s QR code at the FPS.
Validity: The coupons typically have a fixed timeframe (e.g., 30 days) to prevent unspent subsidy accumulation and to identify inactive accounts.
Key Benefits: The model eliminates dependency on unreliable biometric e-POS machines and enables real-time digital tracking to prevent foodgrain diversion.

India’s CBDC is a sovereign digital form of fiat money; it is legal tender issued by the RBI and exchangeable at par (one-to-one) with physical currency.

{Prelims – Infra} India’s first Twin Tube Underwater Tunnel Project *

Context (IE): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the construction of the Gohpur–Numaligarh road-cum-rail tunnel.

This is India’s first underwater twin-tube road-cum-rail tunnel and the second of its kind globally.
It connects Gohpur (North Bank) & Numaligarh (South Bank) in Assam under the Brahmaputra River.
Development: The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) in collaboration with the Ministry of Railways.
Dimensions: The entire project spans 33.7 km, featuring a 15.79 km twin-tube tunnel located directly beneath the riverbed.
Design: It is a twin-tube tunnel design; each tube carries a 2-lane road (total 4 lanes), with provision for railway infrastructure in one tube.
Route Integration: The corridor integrates National Highway 15 and National Highway 715, connecting the Rangia-Murkongselek rail line (North) with the Furkating-Mariani line (South).
Technology: The construction employs Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) to withstand high siltation and water flow.
Significance: It marks a milestone under the Act East Policy, enhancing multi-modal connectivity and providing an all-weather corridor for rapid troop movement in the sensitive border region.

{Prelims – S&T} Study Reveals Potential Pathway for Osteoporosis Prevention

Context (SA): A recent study by the University of Hong Kong has discovered the molecular mechanism linking physical activity to enhanced bone density.

The researchers identified Piezo1, a protein, as the biological sensor that detects mechanical stress in bone tissue during exercise.
It acts as a mechanotransducer, converting mechanical force into intracellular chemical signals that regulate bone formation.
Piezo1 directs Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMMSCs) to differentiate into osteoblasts (bone cells) rather than adipocytes (fat-storing cells).
Scientific Validation: These findings provide cellular evidence for Wolff’s Law, which states that bone structure adapts and strengthens in response to mechanical loads.
Inflammatory Shift: Absence of Piezo1 elevates pro-inflammatory mediators, accelerating bone loss.
Structural Decline: Deficiency leads to “fatty marrow” and brittle bones because stem cells default to becoming fat cells without this signal.
Ageing Link: Age-related decline in Piezo1 activity explains the simultaneous loss of bone density and increased marrow fat in the elderly.
Reversibility: The study shows these pathological changes are reversible if the Piezo1 pathway is reactivated or its effects are chemically restored.
Therapeutic Potential: This discovery enables the development of “exercise-mimicking” drugs for osteoporosis treatment.

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterised by reduced bone mass and deteriorated microarchitecture. It is usually asymptomatic until a “fragility fracture” occurs, often in the hip, spine, or wrist.

{Prelims – In News} India’s First ‘Cow Culture’ Museum in Mathura *

Context (TH): The Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad is establishing India’s first national ‘cow culture’ museum in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

Location: The facility will be located on the campus of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Veterinary Science University.
Core Objective: It blends traditional spiritual values with modern scientific insights to support cattle conservation and the rural economy.
Bovine Diversity: The museum will display approximately 100 digital and physical models of various indigenous cattle breeds.
Scientific Integration: A dedicated section will utilise modern technology to demonstrate the nutritional and Ayurvedic properties of dairy products.