UPSC current affairs · Saturday

Current Affairs, 21 February 2026

3 issues picked from 39 PIB releases · about 2 minutes each · written by UPSC Grade, each fact checked against its PIB release or by a second model

How to readRead “Why in news” and “What it is” for every issue. Open For Prelims or For Mains for the exam you’re preparing for, then Test yourself at the foot of each card. Half the news questions in Prelims are answered from background, not the news itself.

In 60 seconds

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and EEZ Fishing Rules 2025. Free online Access Pass launched to open India's EEZ to Indian fishers' deep-sea fishing.
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). CAQM sets a 50 mg/Nm³ PM limit for key Delhi-NCR industries from August 2026.
India AI Impact Summit 2026 and IndiaAI Mission. New Delhi Declaration on AI, endorsed by 91 countries and organisations, sets voluntary, non-binding AI cooperation across seven pillars.

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and EEZ Fishing Rules 2025

GS3 Agriculture and fisheriesGS2 SchemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 20 February 2026, the Union Fisheries Minister launched the Access Pass for fishing in India's EEZ at Veraval, Gujarat, for all 13 coastal States/UTs. The pass is issued free online under the EEZ Fisheries Rules, 2025.
What it is: Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is the flagship scheme of the Department of Fisheries for fisheries and aquaculture development. It runs from 2020-21 and funds harbours, cold chains, insurance and climate-resilient fishing villages.

Outlay and start: PMMSY began in 2020-21 with an outlay of Rs 20,750 crore.
Fish production: India's fish production reached 183.93 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, with inland fisheries giving 75.57 percent.
Kisan Credit Card for fishers: The KCC facility was extended to fishers and fish farmers in 2018-19 for working capital.
Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages: The CRCFV programme builds fisheries infrastructure and promotes seaweed cultivation, artificial reefs and green fuel. Turtle Excluder Devices are a PMMSY component.
Seafood exports: Seafood exports rose from Rs 30,213 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 62,408 crore in 2024-25.
Potential yield of EEZ: An Expert Committee estimated India's EEZ potential yield at 53.1 lakh tons.
Training nodal agency: NFDB is the nodal agency for the PMMSY training component, working with CIFNET.
PMMSY start: PMMSY has been implemented from 2020-21 and includes support for acquiring deep-sea vessels for traditional fishermen.
EEZ extent: India's EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
Legal basis: The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules, 2025 were notified on 4 November 2025 under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, EEZ and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976.
How it is issued: The pass is free and issued online via the ReALCRaft portal, built by NIC and the Department of Fisheries.
Export link: ReALCRaft is integrated with MPEDA for catch certificates and with the Export Inspection Council for health certificates.
Sea safety: One lakh free transponders are being fitted on fishing vessels; over 50,000 are installed.
Access Pass: A completely online, free-of-cost pass for authorised Indian vessels to fish in the EEZ, launched at Veraval, Gujarat.
EEZ Rules 2025: The 'Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ, 2025' Rules were notified on 4 November 2025, in line with the Budget 2025-26 announcement.
Foreign vessels: The Rules strictly prohibit entry of foreign fishing vessels into the Indian EEZ.
Fishing Harbour Cluster: Veraval has been designated a 'Fishing Harbour Cluster' under PMMSY.
Duty-free catch: Fish catch by any Indian vessel in the EEZ/high seas is duty-free as per Budget 2026.
VCSS rollout: The National Rollout Plan for VCSS covers one lakh mechanized and motorized marine fishing vessels in all 13 coastal states and UTs, with an outlay of Rs 364 crore.
ISRO role: VCSS is implemented with technical support from ISRO.
What VCSS does: It is a satellite-based two-way communication system giving weather alerts, No Fishing Zone alerts and IMBL geo-fencing, and it integrates with the Nabhmitra App.
Progress: More than 49,000 transponders have been installed so far.
Banned methods in EEZ: Bull trawling, pair trawling and artificial or LED lights for fishing are prohibited in the Indian EEZ. Purse seine fishing is not prohibited in the EEZ beyond territorial waters, on an Expert Committee's recommendation.
Enforcement: States and UTs enforce fishing rules under their Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts, including seizure, penalties and prosecution.

Don’t confuse with PMMSY vs Blue Revolution: The Blue Revolution scheme preceded PMMSY, which is the current flagship scheme from 2020-21.

Don’t confuse with Blue Revolution vs PMMSY: Blue Revolution was the earlier Centrally Sponsored Scheme; PMMSY (from 2020-21) is the later flagship Central sector scheme.

Don’t confuse with EEZ vs territorial sea: Territorial sea reaches 12 nautical miles with full sovereignty; EEZ reaches 200 nautical miles with sovereign rights over resources.

Don’t confuse with Territorial waters vs EEZ: Territorial waters extend up to 12 nautical miles; the EEZ lies from 12 to 200 nautical miles, where India has sovereign rights over resources.

Don’t confuse with ReALCRaft vs Access Pass: ReALCRaft is the online registration and licensing portal; the Access Pass is the permit for EEZ fishing issued through it.

Don’t confuse with EEZ vs territorial waters: Territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles with full sovereignty; the EEZ extends to 200 nautical miles with sovereign rights over resources.

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.

Why it matters

Supports livelihoods of over 2.8 crore fishers and fish farmers.
Raises exports and value addition through post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure.
Access passes bring larger vessels into a regulated system, helping track and manage EEZ fishing.
Deep-sea support shifts traditional fishers toward under-used EEZ resources.
Taps under-used EEZ resources such as tuna, raising fishers' incomes and seafood exports.
Gives a legal and traceable framework that supports conservation and compliance with international obligations.
Routes access through cooperatives and FFPOs, so small fishers gain from deep-sea fishing.
Opens under-used deep-sea resources such as tuna and raises fisher incomes.
Digital passes improve traceability and protect the EEZ from foreign vessels.
Transponders improve safety of fishers at sea and help stop accidental crossing of the IMBL.

Problems

Approved central share (Rs 9,189.79 crore) is well below the full outlay, and funds released lag approvals in many states.
Inland output dominates, leaving marine fisheries and coastal communities exposed to climate risk.
Actual EEZ catch is small against the 53.1 lakh tonne potential yield, and vessel costs are high.
Traditional fishers need skills and capital for deep-sea operations.
Deep-sea vessels, skills and capital are costly for small fishers, who may be crowded out by large operators.
Monitoring and enforcement across a vast EEZ is hard, with risks of overfishing and maritime boundary incidents.
Small fishers lack deep-sea vessels, capital and skills.
Overfishing and monitoring of far-off vessels are difficult.
Enforcement lies with states and rules differ across territorial waters, so harmful methods persist.
Small fishers may find it hard to maintain and use the devices.

Way forward

Speed up release of funds and project completion.
Expand insurance and credit coverage and climate-resilient livelihoods for coastal fishers.
Expand training and subsidised finance for deep-sea vessels.
Enforce monitoring of access passes while protecting fish stocks.
Expand training through CIFNET and FSI and finance cooperative-owned deep-sea vessels, including under PMMSY.
Strengthen vessel tracking, stock assessment and catch limits to keep harvesting sustainable.
Organise fishers into cooperatives and FFPOs and support vessel upgrades.
Expand training, transponder tracking and sustainable catch limits.
Harmonise state Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts and coordinate Coast Guard and state patrols.
Use transponder data for monitoring and stock management.

Put in your answer

Fish production: 183.93 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, 75.57% inland.

Seafood exports: Exports doubled from Rs 30,213 crore to Rs 62,408 crore between 2013-14 and 2024-25; value-added share rose from 2% to 11%.

EEZ potential yield: The Expert Committee put India's EEZ potential yield at 53.1 lakh tons.

Access passes issued: 707 access passes had been issued by 5 March 2026.

Fisher welfare data: Accident insurance cover is raised to ₹5 lakh, benefiting over 33 lakh fishers.

EEZ size: India's EEZ spans nearly 24 lakh sq km but is under-utilised.

Safety measures: Transponders for real-time tracking and PFZ advisories are cited as safety systems.

Banned practices: Bull trawling, pair trawling and LED-light fishing are prohibited in the EEZ.

Test yourselfMains

True or false?

1 of 23

Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.

1.The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules, 2025 were notified under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976.
2.The National Fisheries Development Board is the nodal agency for the training component of PMMSY.
3.PMMSY has been implemented since 2020-21.
4.Access passes for EEZ fishing are applied for on the ReALCraft portal.
5.India's Exclusive Economic Zone extends up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
6.The Access Pass for fishing in the EEZ is issued free of cost through the ReALCRaft portal.
7.Traditional non-motorised fishing crafts are exempt from the Access Pass requirement.
8.The EEZ of India extends from the coastline up to 200 nautical miles.
9.The ReALCRaft portal is integrated with MPEDA and the Export Inspection Council for export-related certificates.
10.Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep together account for about 49% of India's EEZ.
11.PMMSY is a scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
12.The Access Pass for fishing in India's EEZ is issued through an online portal free of cost.
13.The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules were notified in November 2025.
14.Veraval has been designated a Fishing Harbour Cluster under PMMSY.
15.PMMSY was launched in 2020-21 and is implemented by the Department of Fisheries.
16.India's Exclusive Economic Zone extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
17.The Vessel Communication and Support System is being implemented with technical support from ISRO.
18.The VCSS project is planned to cover one lakh marine fishing vessels in all coastal states and UTs.
19.VCSS is a one-way broadcast system that only sends weather alerts to fishers.
20.Purse seine fishing is prohibited in the Indian EEZ beyond territorial waters.
21.Enforcement against prohibited fishing is primarily done by State/UT governments under their Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts.
22.The Coast Guard and State Fisheries Departments conduct regular joint patrols to enforce fishing rules.
23.The Indian Exclusive Economic Zone extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.

Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, 21 Feb, 15:36 IST · Release 284721

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Environment

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

GS3 Environment / PollutionGS2 Statutory bodiesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 21 February 2026, CAQM issued Statutory Direction No. 98, setting a uniform particulate matter emission limit of 50 mg/Nm³ for identified industries in Delhi-NCR.
What it is: CAQM is the statutory body for air quality management in the NCR and adjoining areas, set up under a 2021 law. It replaced the EPCA and can issue binding directions. GRAP is the Graded Response Action Plan, a set of stage-wise emergency measures that CAQM's Sub-Committee triggers as air quality worsens.

Trigger: The Sub-Committee on GRAP reviewed air quality and IMD/IITM forecasts on 6 November 2026 before invoking Stage-III.
AQI data source: The daily AQI bulletin of the CPCB put Delhi at 382, in the 'Very Poor' category.
Cumulative stages: Stage-III actions apply in addition to Stage-I and Stage-II actions already in force.
Implementing agencies: Pollution Control Boards of NCR States and the DPCC must ensure strict implementation of all three stages.
Legal basis: CAQM was set up under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, and replaced the EPCA.
PAVAN full form: PAVAN stands for Platform for Air quality Vigilance and Analytics for NCR. It is the name of CAQM's Integrated Command and Control Centre (I3C).
Data integrated: The platform uses over 30 APIs and data streams, including air quality, emissions, weather, satellite, camera, mobility, complaint and compliance data.
Working principle: The centre works on 'Detect, Analyse, Act'. Deviations from norms or Statutory Directions trigger alerts and escalation to the concerned agency.
States covered: The State Action Plan module covers Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Industries covered: The order covers all 17 highly polluting categories identified by CPCB, Red Category medium and large air-polluting industries, food and textile units with boilers or thermic fluid heaters, and metal units with furnaces.
Camera placement: Cameras must cover fuel-feeding points, gas meters, stack emissions and OCEMS sampling ports, and fume extraction areas where applicable.
Live feed: Video must stream continuously in real time using RTSP to the servers or portals of CPCB, the SPCBs and DPCC.
Enforcement: The State Governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and the GNCTD, with CPCB and the SPCBs/DPCC, must ensure implementation.
State split: Punjab has 18 districts and Haryana has 16 districts covered.
Reporting: Squads report the ground situation and steps taken to the CAQM Cell daily. The cell is at SAS Nagar.
Predecessor: CAQM replaced the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) for the NCR.
Revised GRAP size: The revised GRAP has 48 actions: 25 in Stage-I, 8 in Stage-II, 10 in Stage-III and 5 in Stage-IV.
Shift of actions to Stage-I: Actions on DG sets and entry of BS-IV and below buses moved from Stage-II to Stage-I.
Sonipat added: Restrictions on older LMVs (BS-III petrol, BS-IV diesel) now extend to Sonipat, along with the existing HVD districts.
C&D portal monitoring: The web-portal monitoring of dust control at C&D sites extends to eligible projects beyond municipal limits; the 500 sq m plot threshold is unchanged.
Technical Members: The ACC approved two full-time Technical Members for three years or until age 70, whichever is earlier.
Direction: Statutory Direction No. 98 sets a uniform PM emission limit of 50 mg/Nm³ for identified industries in Delhi-NCR.
Basis: The standard rests on CPCB recommendations, IIT Kanpur studies and a CPCB Technical Committee.
Timelines: Large and medium industries must comply from 1 August 2026; the remaining industries from 1 October 2026.
Who implements: NCR State Governments, the Delhi Government, the Pollution Control Boards of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee must implement it.
Main pollutant: PM2.5 is the dominant pollutant affecting Delhi's AQI. Both local emissions and transboundary movement across the airshed matter.
Direction on stubble: Direction No. 96 of 13.02.2026 mandates time-bound implementation of State Action Plans to end wheat stubble burning in 2026.
States addressed: The Direction is addressed to Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Delhi (GNCTD) and Rajasthan are only advised to make efforts.
Fire count, April-May 2025: Fire events recorded in the wheat season were 10207 in Punjab, 1832 in Haryana and 259 in the NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh. The standard protocol was developed by ISRO/IARI.
Parali Protection Force: States must set up a dedicated Parali Protection Force at district or block level to monitor and guard against open burning.
Support for small farmers: CRM machines must be available rent-free to small and marginal farmers through Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs).
Who invoked Stage-IV: The Sub-Committee on GRAP of CAQM took the decision at an urgent evening meeting.
Stage-IV trigger: Stage-IV is the 'Severe+' category, with Delhi's AQI above 450. It was invoked proactively, before that level was reached, and applies on top of Stages I-III.
Stage-III band: Stage-III of GRAP is for 'Severe' air quality (AQI 401-450). It was invoked early, as a proactive measure, while the AQI was still 'Very Poor'.
Legal basis of CAQM: CAQM is a statutory body created under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, replacing EPCA.

Don’t confuse with CAQM vs EPCA: EPCA was the earlier body set up under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 on Supreme Court direction. CAQM is a statutory commission under its own 2021 Act and replaced EPCA.

Don’t confuse with CAQM vs CPCB: CPCB publishes the AQI bulletin and monitors air quality nationally. CAQM issues binding directions for the NCR and adjoining areas.

Don’t confuse with CPCB vs SPCB/DPCC: CPCB is the central pollution control body. SPCBs and DPCC are state and Delhi bodies that monitor compliance locally.

Don’t confuse with CAAQMS vs manual stations: CAAQMS are continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations giving real-time data. Manual stations sample periodically.

Don’t confuse with In-situ vs ex-situ management: In-situ management treats residue in the field itself. Ex-situ management removes the straw for other uses such as fodder or fuel.

Don’t confuse with GRAP Stage-III vs Stage-IV: Stage-III applies to 'Severe' (AQI 401-450). Stage-IV is for 'Severe+' (AQI above 450).

Environment: Prelims tests bodies, programmes and the law behind them; Mains asks why plans fall short.

Why it matters

A statutory body with binding powers gives a single authority across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, which have separate governments.
A single data platform can cut delays in spotting and acting on pollution sources.
It supports regional coordination across States, since air pollution crosses State borders.
Live video lets regulators check fuel use and emissions remotely, which reduces reliance on periodic inspections.
It targets industrial pollution, a major NCR source in winter when pollutants disperse poorly.
A dedicated NCR-level body can direct neighbouring States, which tackles air pollution that crosses State borders.
Daily field reporting allows quick follow-up on fires in the harvest season.
A single statutory body can give binding, region-wide directions across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and UP, overcoming fragmented state action.
Stage-wise GRAP allows pre-emptive, graded action rather than emergency steps after air quality turns severe.
A uniform stack limit removes uneven norms across NCR states and targets a major source of PM and secondary particulates.
Source apportionment gives a scientific basis for targeted action on transport, dust, industry and biomass burning.
More monitoring stations improve regional data for an airshed-wide approach beyond Delhi.
A binding direction gives CAQM enforceable control over State action on a cross-border pollution source.
Extending action to the wheat season addresses a gap beyond paddy-season measures.
Shows CAQM acting as a single regional authority with power to bind NCR States and agencies.
Staged, pre-agreed GRAP curbs allow quick, predictable emergency response.
Pre-emptive action on forecasts can limit the worst pollution days in the NCR.
A single commission acting across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and UP reduces fragmented, state-wise responses.

Problems

GRAP is reactive: it acts after air quality has already worsened rather than preventing the pollution.
Enforcement depends on State agencies and on citizen compliance.
Alerts help only if State agencies and SPCBs act on them; enforcement capacity varies.
Stubble burning and weather-driven pollution have farm-economy and seasonal causes that data alone cannot fix.
Industries must install cameras and ensure power backup and connectivity within a short deadline.
Regulators need servers and staff to review large volumes of live video, and states must enforce consistently.
Farmers have a short window between paddy harvest and wheat sowing and face costs of alternatives.
Enforcement depends on State agencies, and the issue is politically sensitive.
Enforcement depends on State agencies; Haryana's plantation achievement (60 lakh of 1.2 crore target) shows uneven delivery.
Curbs on vehicles and construction impose economic costs on small traders and workers, and compliance is hard to monitor.
Monitoring thousands of stacks needs capacity in State pollution boards, and smaller units may struggle with the cost of control equipment.
Transboundary pollution and secondary particulates need coordination across several States with different capacities.
Enforcement of directions on stubble, dust and industry depends on weak local agencies, and compliance is uneven.
Enforcement depends on State machinery, and punitive measures may hurt small farmers.
Straw storage and a year-round supply chain for ex-situ use need investment.
Curbs are reactive and often invoked only after AQI is already severe.
Enforcement depends on several State governments and agencies, and curbs on construction and transport hurt livelihoods.
Many measures depend on state governments and pollution boards for enforcement, and compliance varies.
GRAP curbs fall hardest on daily-wage construction workers and small businesses, and it treats symptoms rather than root sources.

Way forward

Move towards preventive, year-round action on sources such as vehicles, dust, industry and biomass burning.
Use forecasts to trigger measures earlier and strengthen coordination among NCR States.
Tie alerts to time-bound action and public reporting of follow-up.
Pair monitoring with support for farmers on crop residue management and cleaner fuel and transport.
Link camera feeds with OCEMS data and use automated alerts for violations.
Impose penalties for non-compliance and publish compliance reports.
Ensure affordable access to crop residue machinery and in-situ and ex-situ management of residue.
Combine monitoring with incentives and crop diversification away from water-intensive paddy.
Strengthen monitoring through web portals, the Enforcement Task Force and real-time data, with action against non-compliance.
Address the root causes: clean transport, cleaner fuels, and alternatives to stubble burning, with coordination among states.
Use continuous emission monitoring with public data, and give small units technical and financial support to comply.
Use the apportionment findings to set season-specific, sector-wise targets with regular public reporting.
Back farmers with crop residue machinery and alternatives, and strengthen State and municipal enforcement capacity.
Pair monitoring and environmental compensation with free machinery access and viable markets for straw.
Use satellite data and monthly progress reports to hold States accountable.
Act earlier on forecasts and cut year-round sources such as vehicles, dust and industry.
Strengthen coordination and monitoring among NCR States, with support for affected workers.
Shift to year-round source control: cleaner transport, industry and power, and dust management.
Coordinate regional action on stubble burning and provide livelihood support when curbs apply.

Put in your answer

CAQM Act, 2021: A statutory commission replaced the EPCA, giving the NCR air quality regime legal backing and binding directions.

PAVAN-I3C data sources: The centre draws on 111 CAAQMS in Delhi-NCR, over 2,300 industries and over 3,200 construction sites, which shows the scale of integration.

Shift in compliance: CAQM moves from manual, agency-reported monitoring to digital, data-driven compliance management.

CAQM Flying Squads: Inspections by CAQM Flying Squads found use of unapproved fuels in NCR industries, showing the need for stronger surveillance.

Secondary particulate matter: Industrial emissions add to secondary particulate matter besides raising direct PM levels, and the effect is prominent in winter.

CAQM Act 2021: The 2021 Act created a statutory commission with powers to issue directions to curb air pollution in the NCR region.

Enforcement Task Force data: As on 17.09.2026, 1,831 violating units were issued closure orders, 1,479 of which got resumption orders after compliance.

Industrial stacks: Industrial stack emissions are a significant source of elevated PM in Delhi-NCR and cause secondary particulate formation.

Winter PM2.5 sources (Delhi): Expert report: secondary particulates 27%, transport 23%, biomass burning 20%, dust 15%, industry 9%.

Wheat-season fire data: Satellite monitoring of April-May 2025 recorded 10207 fires in Punjab, 1832 in Haryana and 259 in NCR districts of UP. This shows stubble burning is not only a paddy-season problem.

Farm-level mapping and nodal officers: The Direction requires mapping each farm's residue management mode and tagging at most 100 farmers to each nodal officer. This is an example of last-mile monitoring.

Stage-IV measures: Example of emergency curbs: BS-IV truck entry stopped, C&D bans extended to linear public projects, hybrid classes for schools.

GRAP Stage-III invoked, Jan 2026: CAQM acted on forecasts of a 'Severe' AQI, showing a shift toward pre-emptive, forecast-based action.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 11

Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.

1.The revised GRAP schedule contains a total of 48 actions across its four stages.
2.Under the revision, actions on DG sets and entry of BS-IV and below buses were moved from Stage-III to Stage-II.
3.Restrictions on older four-wheeler LMVs now cover Sonipat in addition to Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
4.The amendment to Direction Nos. 11-18 lowers the plot-area threshold for C&D site registration below 500 square metres.
5.The Technical Members of CAQM were appointed with the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
6.CAQM was established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as an authority under Section 3 of that Act, replacing the Central Pollution Control Board.
7.The revision removed the exemption for BS-IV and below goods vehicles carrying essential commodities in Stages III and IV.
8.The expert report considered by CAQM was prepared pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court.
9.According to the report, in winter the largest single contributor to PM2.5 in Delhi is transport.
10.Of the new stations, Uttar Pradesh is to get the most, followed by Haryana and Delhi.
11.CAQM was established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, replacing the EPCA.

Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 21 Feb, 13:51 IST · Release 284714

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

International relations

India AI Impact Summit 2026 and IndiaAI Mission

GS3 Science and TechnologyGS2 International groupingsPrelims and Mains

Why in news: The AI Impact Summit 2026 ended in New Delhi on 19 February 2026 with the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact. The Ministry of Electronics & IT said on 21 February 2026 that 91 countries and international organisations had endorsed it.
What it is: The India AI Impact Summit 2026 was a global AI meeting hosted by India in New Delhi, organised by MeitY. It followed earlier international AI summits and focused on responsible, inclusive and development-oriented AI. The IndiaAI Mission is the government's programme to build national AI compute capacity and the wider AI ecosystem.

Declaration: The India AI Impact Summit Declaration was endorsed by 92 countries and international organisations. It acknowledges the work of seven thematic working groups.
Sovereign compute: The IndiaAI Mission has provisioned over 38,000 GPUs. Another 20,000 will be added in the coming weeks.
Global AI Impact Commons: A voluntary initiative to let nations share, replicate and scale successful AI use cases. It features 80+ impact stories across 30+ countries.
Equitable AI Transition Playbook: Released with the International Labour Organization to prepare workers for AI-driven opportunities.
Investment pledges: Over USD 200 billion in AI-related investment is expected across infrastructure, models, hardware and applications.
Dates and place: The Summit was held in New Delhi on 18–19 February 2026 and ended with the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact.
Endorsement: 91 countries and international organisations endorsed the Declaration.
Seven pillars (Chakras): The pillars are democratizing AI resources, economic growth and social good, secure and trusted AI, AI for science, access for social empowerment, human capital development, and resilient, efficient and innovative AI systems.
Legal nature: The deliverables are voluntary and the frameworks are non-binding. The Declaration respects national sovereignty.
Guiding principles: The Declaration draws on the principles 'Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya' and 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'.
Named deliverables: These include the Charter for the Democratic Diffusion of AI, the Global AI Impact Commons, the Trusted AI Commons and the International Network of AI for Science Institutions.
Venue and inauguration: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Who announced the commitments: Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments at the opening ceremony.
Nature of the commitments: The commitments are voluntary and aimed at aligning AI with equity, cultural diversity and real-world needs, particularly in the Global South.
First commitment: Advancing Understanding of Real-World AI Usage, using anonymized and aggregated insights to support policy on jobs, skills and productivity.
Second commitment: Strengthening Multilingual and Contextual Evaluations: datasets, benchmarks and expertise for under-represented languages and cultures.
Five layers of the AI stack: India's strategy covers applications, models, compute, talent and energy.
Mission outlay: The IndiaAI Mission was approved in March 2024 with an outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore over five years.
Indian foundation models: Over 500 proposals were received under the Mission. 12 startups were selected across the first two phases, including Sarvam AI and BharatGen led by IIT Bombay.
Democratizing AI Resources Working Group: The working group is co-chaired by India, Egypt and Kenya. It is one of seven thematic Chakras.

Don’t confuse with Declaration vs. Commitments: The Summit Declaration was endorsed by 92 countries and organisations. The New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments were made by 13 frontier model developers.

Don’t confuse with Declaration vs treaty: The New Delhi Declaration is voluntary and non-binding. A treaty creates legal obligations for its parties.

Don’t confuse with IndiaAI Mission vs the Summit: The Mission is a standing government programme for compute and the AI ecosystem; the Summit is a one-time global meeting hosted by India.

Don’t confuse with Voluntary commitments vs treaty: The New Delhi commitments are voluntary industry pledges, not a binding international treaty.

Don’t confuse with IndiaAI Mission vs India Semiconductor Mission: IndiaAI Mission (₹10,371.92 crore) builds AI compute, data and models. India Semiconductor Mission (₹76,000 crore) supports chip manufacturing, design and talent.

Don’t confuse with AIKosh vs MeghRaj: AIKosh is a platform for AI datasets and models. MeghRaj is the government's GI Cloud for e-governance services under Digital India.

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.

Why it matters

Positions India as a convener of the Global South's voice on inclusive AI governance.
Large compute and investment pledges can build domestic AI capacity and reduce import dependence.
It shows India shaping global AI governance with a development focus, speaking for the Global South.
The emphasis on affordable access, skills and energy-efficient AI reflects the concerns of developing countries.
Positions India as a voice for the Global South in shaping AI governance.
Multilingual evaluation helps AI work for India's many languages and diverse users.
Shared compute, data and models lower entry barriers for startups, researchers and public institutions.
Indian-language models and Global South leadership support self-reliance and India's voice in AI governance.

Problems

Declarations and guiding principles are voluntary, so compliance is hard to enforce.
Investment pledges are announcements, and their conversion into projects is uncertain.
The voluntary, non-binding frameworks have no enforcement mechanism.
Rules on safety, security and access differ across countries, so common standards are hard to reach.
Voluntary commitments have no enforcement mechanism.
Low-resource languages lack quality data and benchmarks.
Data centre capacity is about 3% of the global total although India hosts nearly 20% of the world's data.
AI data centres are energy intensive, and chips still depend on external supply chains.

Way forward

Turn voluntary principles into trackable commitments with periodic reporting.
Pair compute expansion with skilling, data access and local-language models.
Turn the voluntary platforms into working collaborations with clear follow-up and review.
Align the Declaration with domestic efforts such as the IndiaAI Mission on compute, skills and data.
Turn voluntary pledges into measurable, publicly reported targets.
Build open multilingual datasets with governments, academia and local communities.
Expand domestic chip, data centre and clean energy capacity together with AI compute.
Pair access with skilling and data protection safeguards so benefits reach smaller cities and informal workers.

Put in your answer

IndiaAI Mission compute: Over 38,000 GPUs provisioned, with 20,000 more planned, show the push for sovereign AI infrastructure.

Global cooperation example: The Summit Declaration drew 92 endorsements, showing broad support for responsible and inclusive AI.

New Delhi Declaration, 2026: Cite it as an example of India's push for 'AI for All' through voluntary, non-binding cooperation, endorsed by 91 countries and organisations.

Five-layer AI stack: India's approach covers applications, models, compute, talent and energy; use it to show a full-ecosystem strategy.

New Delhi Frontier AI commitments: Voluntary pledges on real-world usage evidence and multilingual evaluation, with a Global South focus.

Compute access: 38,000+ GPUs at ₹65 per hour, about one third of the global average cost.

Data protection law: The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 sets compliance requirements for entities handling personal data.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Electronics & IT, 21 Feb, 16:21 IST · Release 284727

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Quick facts

Central Research Institute, Kasauli launched an indigenous Td (tetanus and adult diphtheria) vaccine and will supply 55 lakh doses to the Universal Immunization Programme by April 2026.
India said it is studying the implications of the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs and the steps announced by the US administration.
The 5th Goa Maritime Conclave was held on 21 February 2026 at Naval War College, Goa, with navy chiefs from 15 Indian Ocean Region nations.
PM Modi joined the groundbreaking of the HCL-Foxconn semiconductor unit in Uttar Pradesh, built by India Chip Limited, by video link.

Source: PIB, 21 Feb

What we left out: 32 of 39 releases

Workshops and consultations (2)
Routine MoUs (6)
Fairs and events (2)
Same issue as another release (8)
Speeches without a decision (6)
Company promotion (1)
Ceremonies and campaigns (4)
Visits and bilateral talks (2)
Condolences (1)

Practise the day’s news

In UPSC’s formats, inside each issue. The answer and why come after you choose.

1Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and EEZ Fishing Rules 2025MCQ · 23 true or false
2Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)MCQ · 11 true or false · Mains
3India AI Impact Summit 2026 and IndiaAI MissionMCQ · 7 true or false

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

The Union Government has launched an Access Pass for fishing in India's Exclusive Economic Zone under the EEZ Fisheries Rules, 2025. Examine the provisions of these Rules and the Access Pass. Discuss the challenges in shifting Indian fishers from near-shore to deep-sea fishing and suggest a way forward.

From: Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and EEZ Fishing Rules 2025

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