Current Affairs, 2 September 2026

Who is eligible

PF Trusts recognised under the Income Tax Act, 1961 but lacking a formal exemption order under section 17 of the EPF&MP Act or section 143 of CoSS.

Waivers

Requirements under CoSS such as minimum employee headcount, corpus size and the 3-year compliance rule are waived.

Choice after regularisation

After retrospective regularisation, an establishment may comply as exempt or unexempt.

Administering body

EPFO is a statutory body under the EPF&MP Act, 1952 under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Don’t confuse with Exempt vs unexempt establishment: Exempt establishments manage PF through their own trust; unexempt ones deposit contributions with EPFO.

Don’t confuse with EPF Scheme vs EPS vs EDLI: EPF Scheme is the provident fund; EPS 1995 gives pension; EDLI gives insurance. All run by EPFO.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

1. 2024Mains GS3 · Q11Merits and demerits of four Labour Codes; progress of reforms

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Notifying authority

Notified by the Department of Consumer Affairs on 27 August 2026 and published in the Gazette on 29 August 2026.

Commencement

The Rules come into force 180 days after Gazette publication.

Regulator and scientific body

The Legal Metrology Department under MoCA is the regulator and enforcer. CSIR-NPL, the National Metrology Institute, gives the scientific base and traceability.

Traceability to UTC

IST is kept traceable within a few nanoseconds to UTC, which is maintained by the BIPM.

Regional laboratories

Secondary timescales are set up at five RRSLs: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Faridabad and Guwahati.

Dissemination routes

IST is disseminated via NTP, PTP and NavIC. White Rabbit optical fibre technology is being tested.

Don’t confuse with CSIR-NPL vs Legal Metrology Department: NPL is the scientific body that keeps IST. The Legal Metrology Department regulates and enforces the Rules.

Don’t confuse with IST vs UTC: IST is India's national time. UTC is the international reference kept by BIPM, to which IST is traceable.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

1. 2015Mains GS3 · Q11Define standard and precision positioning; IRNSS advantages with seven satellites.

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Nature

DEH is a convergence framework. It uses funds from ongoing central and state schemes and has no separate financial scheme.

Who runs it

The Department of Commerce gives policy direction. DGFT anchors implementation, coordinates stakeholders and monitors progress.

Committees

State Export Promotion Committees guide implementation at State level. District Export Promotion Committees work at district level and prepare District Export Action Plans.

ODOP origin

ODOP began as an Uttar Pradesh initiative in 2018, built around Moradabad's brass industry, before it was scaled nationally.

EXIM Bank GRID

Six districts (Anantapur, Raipur, Solan, Tiruppur, Kanpur and Kolhapur) were selected for support under EXIM Bank's Grassroots Initiatives for Development (GRID) programme.

Action plans

As of March 2026, draft DEAPs were prepared for 590 districts, and 249 of them were formally adopted by DEPCs.

Institutional structure

State Export Promotion Committees at State/UT level and District Export Promotion Committees at district level have been constituted in all 36 States/UTs.

District Export Action Plans

Draft DEAPs of 590 districts are ready; 249 have been formally notified by the DEPCs.

Product coverage

Products and services with export potential have been identified in all districts, including GI products, agricultural clusters and toy clusters.

Role of committees

The committees help promote exports and address bottlenecks. Outreach events build awareness and address exporters' concerns.

Nodal agency

The initiative is anchored by DGFT under the Department of Commerce and builds on One District One Product.

Don’t confuse with DEH vs ODOP: ODOP selects and promotes one product per district. DEH covers the whole district export ecosystem and converges existing schemes.

Don’t confuse with SEPC vs DEPC: SEPCs work at State level to ensure convergence across departments. DEPCs work at district level and prepare the District Export Action Plans.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2018Mains GS1 · Q17Core strategies for transforming aspirational districts; convergence, collaboration, competition.
2. 2015Mains GS3 · Q10Issues hindering SEZ success regarding taxation, governing laws, administration.
3. 2019Mains GS1 · Q6Can regional resource-based manufacturing promote employment in India?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Legal basis of the action

CCPA acted under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the E-Commerce Rules, 2020, read with the Explosives Act, 1884 and the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012.

Licence requirement

Lawful sale needs a licence. Platforms must show sellers' valid PESO licence details and verify buyers' identity and licensed status.

Scale of delisting

Platforms furnished details of 3,940 sellers and listing entries, all of which were delisted.

Offences held

The listings were held to be misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices under Sections 2(28) and 2(47).

Hearing before final order

The Act requires a hearing opportunity before a final order is passed.

Legal basis

The order was passed under Sections 10, 20 and 21 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

E-Commerce Rules

The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 apply to marketplace e-commerce entities whatever business model they claim.

Wider examination

Seven more platforms are under examination, including India MART, Justdial and TradeIndia, for sale of explosives and precursors.

Guidelines date

The service charge guidelines were issued on 4 July 2022. They bar automatic or default service charge and say any payment must be voluntary.

Court backing

The Delhi High Court upheld the guidelines on 28 March 2025 in National Restaurant Association of India v. Union of India. It said mandatory service charge is contrary to law.

Penalty in the Chaayos case

CCPA fined Chaayos ₹50,000 and ordered it to refund the service charge. It also ordered a change to the billing software across all outlets.

Complaint channel

Complaints come through the National Consumer Helpline, toll-free number 1915.

Don’t confuse with CCPA vs NCDRC: CCPA is the regulator that investigates and penalises; the NCDRC is a quasi-judicial body that hears appeals against CCPA orders under Section 24.

Don’t confuse with PESO vs CCPA: PESO licenses explosives under the Explosives Act; CCPA enforces consumer law against platforms that ignore this.

Don’t confuse with CCPA vs consumer commissions: CCPA is a regulator that acts on class-wide consumer rights and unfair trade practices. District, State and National Commissions are quasi-judicial bodies that decide individual consumer disputes.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

1. 2023Mains GS2 · Q7Role of CCI in curbing MNCs' abuse of dominant position
2. 2015Mains GS2 · Q16Need for independence and autonomy of regulatory institutions
3. 2021Mains GS4 · Q11Dual food quality standards for domestic versus export products; ethical handling
4. 2014Mains GS2 · Q8Whether a Rail Tariff Authority benefits consumers, using power sector experience
5. 2023Prelims Q35Which listed Indian bodies are consumer-related, e.g., National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Implementing ministry

The Ministry of Rural Development runs DAY-NRLM as a flagship programme to build community institutions and link them with livelihoods.

Reach

The Mission has mobilised over 10 crore rural women into over 93 lakh SHGs and their federations.

Bank credit

Banks have disbursed over Rs 13.67 lakh crore cumulatively to SHGs, with high repayment discipline.

Lakhpati Didis

3.46 crore women have become Lakhpati Didis through livelihood enterprises.

Meeting agenda

Focus is on doubling individual enterprise credit, faster loan sanction, saturating credit linkage of remaining SHGs, and strengthening DCCBs and PACS.

Financial Inclusion 2.0

The deliberations will feed into the Financial Inclusion 2.0 vision for timely credit, dedicated financing for women-led enterprises and higher-order financial services.

Coverage

The mission runs in all States and UTs except Delhi and Chandigarh.

Four core components

Social mobilization and community institutions; financial inclusion; sustainable livelihoods; social inclusion and development.

Cumulative reach

10.08 crore women mobilised into 92 lakh SHGs.

eSaras and partners

MoRD set up the eSaras platform and tied up with GeM, ONDC, Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and JioMart.

Households and SHGs

10.05 crore households have been mobilised into 90.91 lakh SHGs as on December 2025.

Bank Sakhis

50,548 Bank Sakhis are deployed at branch level. They have helped women SHGs access ₹12.18 lakh crore of bank credit since 2013–14.

Role of Bank Sakhis

They identify eligible SHGs, help prepare and submit loan applications, and follow up on pending proposals monthly.

CBRM

A Community Based Recovery Mechanism is institutionalised at each bank branch to ensure timely repayment of SHG loans.

SVEP

5.88 lakh enterprises have been supported under the entrepreneurship component of DAY-NRLM (SVEP) as on December 2025.

Don’t confuse with DAY-NRLM vs DAY-NULM: DAY-NRLM covers rural areas under the Rural Development Ministry. DAY-NULM is the urban counterpart under the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.

Don’t confuse with SHG-Bank Linkage vs DAY-NRLM: SHG-Bank Linkage is NABARD's microfinance programme from the early 1990s. DAY-NRLM is a government mission that promotes SHGs and uses bank linkage for credit.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2015Mains GS2 · Q9Elucidate SHG-Bank Linkage Programme as poverty alleviation and women empowerment tool
2. 2020Mains GS2 · Q17Evaluate SHGs' role in microfinance for asset creation and women empowerment
3. 2017Mains GS2 · Q16Examine SHGs' role in development and government measures to promote them
4. 2010Prelims Q99Differences between Swadhar and Swayam Siddha women welfare schemes, including SHG role
5. 2016Prelims Q63Which scheme aims at promoting Self Help Groups in rural areas
6. 2015Prelims Q1Purpose of Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana, including women's SHGs option

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Parent law

The regulations are made under the NCAHP Act, 2021, which governs the Commission.

Autonomous Boards

Boards sit under State Councils and have 10 to 20 members including a President.

Central Assessment Committee

Where no functional State Council exists, a CAC of 10 to 30 members acts as the Autonomous Boards, under NCAHP supervision.

Registration validity

Registration is valid for five years and renewed on meeting CPD requirements.

UID and registers

Each registered professional gets a UID number; State and Central Registers are synchronised in real time and public.

Legal basis

NCAHP works under the NCAHP Act, 2021, which provides for regulation and standards of education and professional services.

What is standardised

The notification specifies degree names, abbreviations, duration and entry qualifications.

Curricula released

NCAHP has released 18 competency-based curricula covering 28 professions.

Implementation

States and UTs must implement the released curricula from the 2026-27 academic year.

Don’t confuse with NCAHP vs National Medical Commission: NCAHP regulates allied and healthcare professions under the 2021 Act; the NMC regulates medical doctors under the NMC Act, 2019.

Don’t confuse with UGC vs NCAHP role: UGC specifies degree names under the UGC Act. NCAHP sets curricula and professional standards under its own Act.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

1. 2022Mains GS2 · Q5Role of NCBC after transformation from statutory to constitutional body
2. 2015Mains GS2 · Q16Whether regulatory institutions remain independent and autonomous, discussed using recent experiences.
3. 2026Mains GS2 · Q5Whether NCSC and NCST have adequate enforcement powers; suggest measures to improve effectiveness.

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Components

The scheme has three main components: developing eligible villages into Adarsh Grams, Grants-in-Aid for district and State-level projects, and building and repairing hostels in higher educational institutions.

Adarsh Gram score

A village must reach a score of 70 out of 100 on socio-economic development indicators to be declared an Adarsh Gram.

Village Development Plans

Need-based plans identify gaps in infrastructure and services and promote convergence with Central and State schemes. Gap-filling aid covers needs that existing programmes cannot fully meet.

Fund release condition

No fresh Adarsh Gram funds went to Andhra Pradesh in 2023-24 to 2025-26 because of unspent balance and pending Utilisation Certificates. Releases depend on using earlier funds.

Merged schemes

PM-AJAY merged the PM Adarsh Gram Yojana, SCA to SCSP and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana, from 2021-22.

Launch year

PM-AJAY was launched in 2021-22 and runs through three components.

Funds released

Rs 4,276.62 crore was released up to 2025-26 across 30 states and UTs. States and UTs reported utilisation of Rs 3,185.072 crore.

Adarsh Gram

3,112 villages have been identified since 2018-19 under the Adarsh Gram component.

Evaluation

The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of NITI Aayog independently evaluated the scheme and found positive impact.

Proposed continuation

The Department proposes to continue the scheme from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a higher outlay.

Components covered

The portal and app cover all three components: Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid and Hostels.

Adarsh Gram indicators

Model villages are monitored on 50 socio-economic indicators across 10 developmental domains.

Coverage

The dashboard records progress in over 47,000 SC-majority villages and over 4 million beneficiaries.

Fund flow

The portal is a central database linked to milestone-linked fund flows. Tracking begins once a Village Development Plan is digitally approved.

Hostel component on the app

Field inspectors upload geo-tagged, time-stamped photos at building stages to validate progress.

Scheme type and ministry

PM-AJAY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Don’t confuse with PM-AJAY vs PM-JANMAN: PM-AJAY is for Scheduled Castes under the Social Justice Ministry. PM-JANMAN targets Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups and is run by the Tribal Affairs Ministry.

Don’t confuse with PM-AJAY vs PM-YASASVI: PM-AJAY is area and project based, including village development. PM-YASASVI is an education scheme for OBC, EBC and DNT students.

Don’t confuse with PM-AJAY vs PMAGY: PMAGY (Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana) was one of the three schemes merged into PM-AJAY. It is now the Adarsh Gram component.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2013Mains GS2 · Q12Critically evaluate restructuring centrally sponsored schemes to aid vulnerable sections
2. 2024Mains GS1 · Q18Comment on underprivileged sections not getting affirmative action benefits.
3. 2014Mains GS2 · Q11Do schemes protecting resources for backward communities exclude them from urban business?
4. 2019Mains GS2 · Q18Discuss why welfare schemes for vulnerable sections are ineffective without awareness and involvement
5. 1999Prelims Q22Which social group has the highest poverty extent per 1990s government statistics?
6. 2026Prelims Q59Statements on the Parliament's Committee on Welfare of SCs and STs

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Trial site

The 60% RAP mix was laid in the Dense Bituminous Macadam layer on NH-716, Chennai–Tirupati Package-I.

REJUBIT

REJUBIT is an indigenous rejuvenator, jointly developed by CSIR-CRRI and Ooms India, that restores aged bitumen so more RAP can be used.

Stage reached

The technology moved from laboratory development to field-scale implementation.

Process shown

The demonstration covered the full chain: RAP recovery, processing, characterisation, rejuvenation, mix design, hot-mix production, laying and compaction.

Resources saved

RAP can reduce the need for virgin aggregate and bitumen, and cut construction waste.

Don’t confuse with RAP vs. cold mix/waste plastic roads: RAP reuses old asphalt after rejuvenating its aged bitumen. Waste-plastic roads add plastic to the bitumen or mix. They are different ways to cut virgin material use.

Don’t confuse with CSIR-CRRI vs. NHAI: CSIR-CRRI is a research laboratory under CSIR. NHAI builds and maintains national highways. At this trial CRRI gave technical guidance and NHAI officials attended.

Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

1. 2025Prelims Q9Circular economy's effects: emissions, raw material use, production wastage reduction.

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Committee

The High-Level Committee on Aircraft Leasing and Financing met for the first time under the Civil Aviation Minister. It was formed after an industry suggestion at the second Aircraft Leasing Summit.

Legal link

Industry sought ratification of the Cape Town Convention at the first Aircraft Leasing Summit in GIFT City. The government answered by enacting the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Act.

IFSC leasing

422 assets, including 250 aircraft and 87 engines, have been leased through IFSC, with 474 leasing agreements signed.

Leased fleet

More than 85% of the fleet of Indian carriers is leased, which makes leasing central to aviation growth.

Issues taken up

Discussions covered rupee-denominated financing, clarity on GAAR, and renegotiating the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement with Ireland.

Don’t confuse with Cape Town Convention vs Chicago Convention: The Cape Town Convention deals with security interests in mobile equipment such as aircraft. The Chicago Convention (1944) governs international civil aviation and set up ICAO.

Don’t confuse with IFSCA vs DGCA: IFSCA regulates financial services in IFSCs such as GIFT City, including aircraft leasing. DGCA is the aviation safety regulator.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

1. 2014Mains GS3 · Q17Airspace sovereignty under international civil aviation laws, and challenges posed
2. 2024Mains GS3 · Q12Need for regional air connectivity and UDAN scheme achievements
3. 2026Prelims Q96Aviation hull insurance coverage and Montreal Convention passenger compensation liability statements

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Swap sanctions

20 IBUs sanctioned USD 54.02 billion under the RBI swap facility for FCNR(B) deposits by 31 August 2026; about USD 52.82 billion was disbursed.

ECB disbursement

IBUs disbursed USD 11.62 billion of External Commercial Borrowings from April to August 2026.

Bond listings

Indian banks raised USD 11.12 billion via bond listings on IFSC exchanges in April-August 2026.

Regulator and legal basis

IFSCA is the unified regulator for IFSCs, set up under the IFSCA Act, 2019.

FCNR(B)

FCNR(B) is a foreign currency deposit account that NRIs can hold in India, with the deposit and its repayment in foreign currency, so the depositor bears no exchange risk.

Launch date

The special USD-INR swap facility began on 8 June 2026.

Early closure

RBI advanced the closure of the FCNR(B) window from 30 September to 31 August 2026.

FCNR(B) basics

FCNR(B) deposits are held in foreign currency, so the depositor bears no exchange risk. They are open to NRIs and OCIs, and the principal and interest are fully repatriable.

Don’t confuse with FCNR(B) vs NRE deposit: FCNR(B) is held in foreign currency; an NRE account is held in rupees.

Don’t confuse with ECB vs FDI: ECBs are commercial loans from non-resident lenders (debt); FDI is equity investment.

Don’t confuse with ECB vs FCNR(B): An ECB is a commercial loan raised abroad by an Indian borrower. An FCNR(B) deposit is money placed by a non-resident with an Indian bank.

Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

1. 2015Mains GS3 · Q7Examine merits of Gold Monetization Scheme given gold imports pressuring balance of payments and rupee.
2. 2018Mains GS3 · Q12How currency manipulation and protectionism affect India's macroeconomic stability.
3. 2013Mains GS2 · Q8Justify merging SEBI and IRDA as a unified regulator given product overlap
4. 2013Prelims Q83Which items form part of India's foreign-exchange reserves?
5. 2021Prelims Q7Which instruments include non-resident external deposits, among FCCBs, FII and GDRs?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Forum and theme

The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum was held in New Delhi on 26-27 October 2026 under the theme of people-centric development.

India's chairship

India's 2026 chairship carries the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'. India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit on 12-13 September 2026.

Three pillars

Cooperation runs across political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people pillars.

IPU and BRICS Plus

Members noted Russia's initiative to consider a BRICS Plus geopolitical group within the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Next chair

China will chair BRICS in 2027.

Counter-terrorism machinery

The declaration welcomes the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group and its five subgroups, and calls for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN.

Event

The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026 was inaugurated by the Lok Sabha Speaker at Samvidhan Sadan, Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.

Theme

The theme is 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development'.

Four pillars

The two-day Forum discusses four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.

Summit link

The BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government in New Delhi, chaired by PM Modi, unanimously adopted a Joint Statement.

Modi's vision

PM Modi's vision is to make BRICS an 'ecosystem of solutions'.

Members at the meeting

Ten BRICS tax administrations took part: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the UAE.

New working groups

Two India-led Working Groups were set up: International Taxation and Transfer Pricing, and Revenue Statistics. They will continue beyond the Chairship.

Host body

The meeting was hosted by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, Ministry of Finance.

Next tax-track Chair

China is the incoming Chair of the BRICS tax cooperation track for 2027.

Institutional outcomes

The Young Tax Professionals programme became an annual feature. The Tax Cross-Learning Lab was launched. Terms of Reference of the BRICS Tax Support Network were approved.

UN tax negotiations

India stressed that BRICS views matter in the negotiations on the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.

Summit and host

The 18th BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi, with India as chair in 2026.

Outcome document

The summit adopted the New Delhi BRICS Leaders' Declaration, setting shared priorities and direction for BRICS cooperation.

Reform of the UN

India's PM called for greater representation in global institutions, especially the UN Security Council.

BRICS financial institutions

BRICS has the New Development Bank (HQ Shanghai) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement.

Summit and theme

The XVIII BRICS Summit met in New Delhi on 12-13 September 2026. Its theme was Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.

UNSC reform stand

China and Russia reiterated support for the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN, including its Security Council.

WTO dispute settlement

BRICS called for immediate restoration of a fully functioning two-tier binding WTO dispute settlement system and appointment of new Appellate Body members.

Share of global trade

BRICS accounts for nearly one-fourth of global trade, according to the Commerce Minister.

Intra-BRICS trade growth

Trade among BRICS countries rose from USD 84 billion in 2003 to nearly USD 1.2 trillion in 2024.

Strategy document

The BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy 2030 guides economic integration among members. The Jaipur Consensus was cited as a basis for a common BRICS mechanism to support MSMEs.

Startup and business bodies

India's Chairship has pushed the BRICS incubator network and the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund. The BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women's Business Alliance bring business into the BRICS process.

Original members

The original BRIC grouping was Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS.

India's earlier Chairships

India chaired BRICS in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The 2012 Delhi Summit proposed a development bank and laid the basis of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement.

Share of world

Members hold 49.5% of world population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade.

Host office

The meeting was hosted by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Main outcome

The meeting adopted Updated Operational Guidelines to guide result-oriented cooperation and joint efforts on global IP standards.

Patent cooperation study

Progress was noted on a study on reinforced patent examination cooperation to reduce backlogs and improve exchange of search results.

Traditional knowledge

The IP heads recognised the importance of protecting and preserving traditional knowledge and traditional systems of medicine.

Meeting

The 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting was held in New Delhi under India's 2026 Chairship, led by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.

Chairship theme

India's chairship redefines BRICS as 'Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability', with a people-centric approach and the spirit of 'Humanity First'.

Four priorities

The environment track priorities are sustainable lifestyles; afforestation, forest fire management and disaster resilience; circular economy; and adaptation.

Outcome

The meeting adopted the Joint Ministerial Statement by consensus. It has four Outcome Documents, and four Knowledge Compendiums were launched.

Outcome documents

They cover a network of institutions on sustainable lifestyles, landscape management against desertification, forest fire preparedness, and community-based climate adaptation.

Decision-making

BRICS works by consensus and has no secretariat or charter; the chair rotates annually.

BRICS CONNECT

An India-proposed platform for technical cooperation, knowledge exchange and capacity building among BRICS members, covering labour market intelligence, skills forecasting and social security.

Declaration priorities

The Declaration has four priorities: social security and formalisation, women's participation, employability and skills mapping, and digital technologies for all workers including gig and platform workers.

ILO occupations study

The ILO, with India and Brazil, is running a feasibility study on an International Reference Classification of Occupations; members are encouraged to join a pilot in Digital, Care and Green sectors.

Knowledge partners

ILO, the International Social Security Association and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office supported the technical deliberations.

Social protection coverage

ILO running estimates put India's social protection reach at 1 billion people.

Meeting and place

The 3rd BRICS Transport Ministers' Meeting was held in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on 11 July 2026 under India's chairship.

Working Group role

The Transport Working Group's senior officials finalised the agenda outcomes and the draft Declaration before ministers adopted it.

Declaration themes

The Declaration covers circularity in infrastructure, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, transport decarbonisation, urban mobility hubs, logistics supply chain cooperation and a BRICS Railway Research Network.

Decision by consensus

The Declaration was adopted unanimously, reflecting BRICS' consensus-based way of working.

Chair rotation

The BRICS chair rotates annually, and India will hand over these initiatives to the next chair.

New centre

The BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage was launched under the Energy Research Cooperation Platform. It is a voluntary platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Guiding principles

The BRICS Guiding Principles on Smart Grids and Energy Storage were adopted.

Other bodies present

The International Solar Alliance, the Global Biofuels Alliance and the New Development Bank took part in the deliberations.

Energy Track theme

India's Energy Track theme was "Sarveshaam Urjam" (Energy for All), with three priorities: energy security, energy access and equity, and technology and innovation.

Indore Declaration

The BRICS agriculture ministers adopted the joint declaration unanimously. It covers food security, farmer welfare, climate-resilient farming, trade and digital agriculture.

BRICS weight in agriculture

BRICS has nearly half the world's population, about 42% of global agricultural land and about 42% of global foodgrain output (as stated by the Minister).

Digital Agriculture Network

A BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture will cover AI, geospatial technology and digital public infrastructure. IIT Delhi will coordinate it.

Agro-Ecology Centres of Excellence

A BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture was set up. India's centre is the Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram.

Seed forum and AgriN

A Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems and BRICS AgriN (Agro Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network) were announced.

Research platform

The existing BRICS Agricultural Research Platform is to be developed into a 'Knowledge-to-Action Hub'.

Don’t confuse with BRICS Summit vs BRICS Parliamentary Forum: The Summit is the leaders' executive-level meeting; the Parliamentary Forum is a meeting of legislature presiding officers and delegations.

Don’t confuse with Member vs partner countries: Members sign the declaration; partner countries are welcomed to take part in engagements but are a separate category.

Don’t confuse with BRICS tax track vs BRICS Summit: The Heads of Tax Authorities meeting is a sectoral track meeting under the Chair. The Summit is the leaders' annual meeting.

Don’t confuse with CBDT vs Department of Revenue: CBDT is a statutory body within the Department of Revenue. The Department sits in the Ministry of Finance.

Don’t confuse with New Development Bank vs Contingent Reserve Arrangement: The NDB funds infrastructure and sustainable development projects. The CRA is a liquidity backstop for members facing balance-of-payments pressure.

Don’t confuse with BRICS vs BRICS Plus/Partner countries: Members are the full BRICS grouping. Partner countries and Outreach/BRICS Plus invitees take part in engagements but are not full members.

Don’t confuse with BRICS vs New Development Bank: BRICS is the political-economic forum. The New Development Bank is its multilateral lender, headquartered in Shanghai.

Don’t confuse with BRICS Business Council vs BRICS Business Forum: The Business Council is a standing body of business leaders. The Business Forum is an event held during the Chairship.

Don’t confuse with Full member vs Partner Country: Full members (11) take part in the core structure. Partner countries such as Vietnam and Nigeria have a separate, structured engagement channel.

Don’t confuse with BRICS vs BIMSTEC: BIMSTEC is a Bay of Bengal regional grouping. It was invited to the 2016 Goa BRICS Outreach Summit but is a separate body.

Don’t confuse with IP BRICS vs WIPO: IP BRICS is a cooperation track among five or more member IP offices. WIPO is the UN agency that sets global IP rules and treaties.

Don’t confuse with Mission LiFE vs Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: Mission LiFE promotes sustainable lifestyles and behaviour change. Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam is a tree-planting campaign. Both were cited as examples of public participation.

Don’t confuse with ILO vs ISSA: The International Labour Organisation is a UN specialised agency on labour standards. The International Social Security Association is a separate body of social security institutions.

Don’t confuse with BRICS vs BRICS+: BRICS refers to the core member grouping; 'BRICS+' is used for its wider outreach with partner and invited countries.

Don’t confuse with Ministerial Meeting vs Senior Officials' Meeting: Officials negotiate and finalise the text; ministers adopt it.

Don’t confuse with ISA vs GBA: The International Solar Alliance promotes solar energy. The Global Biofuels Alliance promotes biofuels. Both are India-backed bodies, and neither is a BRICS body.

Don’t confuse with NDB vs ERCP: The New Development Bank is the BRICS bank that finances projects. The Energy Research Cooperation Platform is a research and knowledge forum on energy.

Don’t confuse with Existing platform vs new networks: The Agricultural Research Platform is old and is being upgraded. The four networks and forums (agro-ecology centres, digital agriculture, seed rights forum, AgriN) are new.

Don’t confuse with Members vs partners: Delegates came from BRICS member and partner countries. Partner countries are not full members.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

1. 2026Mains GS2 · Q10Role of BRICS as alternative grouping amplifying Global South voice.
2. 2025Mains GS2 · Q19Integrate energy security into India's foreign policy trajectories in coming years
3. 2014Mains GS2 · Q19Differences between NDB and AIIB, and their strategic significance for India.
4. 2014Mains GS3 · Q12Distinguish copyrights, patents and trade secrets in intellectual property rights
5. 2015Prelims Q3Which grouping the Fortaleza Declaration relates to: ASEAN, BRICS, OECD, WTO.
6. 2016Prelims Q67Which statements on New Development Bank's founder and headquarters are correct
7. 2025Prelims Q97Statements on 16th BRICS Summit chairship, membership, and theme.
8. 2014Prelims Q11First BRICS summit location and when South Africa joined.

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.