{"id":3987,"date":"2026-02-14T07:19:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T07:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/?p=3987"},"modified":"2026-02-23T05:07:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T05:07:28","slug":"current-affairs-13th-february-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/2026\/02\/14\/current-affairs-13th-february-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Affairs 13th February 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong><u>1. Retail inflation at\u00a0 2.75% in new CPI<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-Economy<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context: <\/strong>MoSPI released the first set of retail inflation data under the 2024 base year in February 2026.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Modernization Drive<\/strong>: Update fixes &#8220;data lag&#8221; and aligns with the latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24.<\/li>\n<li><strong>First Reading<\/strong>: January 2026 retail inflation at 2.75% under new series\u2014much lower than previous trends.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Background: What is CPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Definition<\/strong>: Measures average change over time in prices paid by retail consumers for a fixed basket of goods\/services.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Purpose<\/strong>: Acts as proxy for cost of living and purchasing power of the Indian Rupee.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Compiler<\/strong>: Released monthly by National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Types<\/strong>: CPI-Rural, CPI-Urban, and CPI-Combined (headline inflation figure).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Key Highlights of New CPI Series (Base 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Item Expansion<\/strong>: Basket now has 358 items (up from 299 in 2012 series).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Digital Inclusion<\/strong>: First-time price data from 12 online markets for cities with 25 lakh+ population.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Broader Coverage<\/strong>: Price collection from 1,465 rural and 1,395 urban markets across India.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Revision Frequency<\/strong>: Government plans updates every 3\u20135 years to avoid data obsolescence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Major Structural Changes in New CPI<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>COICOP Alignment<\/strong>: Follows international Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (2018) framework.<\/li>\n<li><strong>12 Divisions<\/strong>: Basket split into 12 divisions (vs. 6 earlier), e.g., &#8220;Information &amp; Communication&#8221; for granularity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rural Housing<\/strong>: Included for first time to capture rural cost of living better.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Additions<\/strong>: OTT subscriptions, babysitters, pen-drives, gym equipment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Deletions<\/strong>: Obsolete items like VCR\/DVD players, tape recorders, radio.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Changes in Weightage<\/strong><\/p>\n<table width=\"720\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Old Weight (2012)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>New Weight (2024)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Food &amp; Beverages<\/td>\n<td>45.86%<\/td>\n<td>36.75%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Housing<\/td>\n<td>10.07%<\/td>\n<td>17.67% (Rural + Urban)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Transport<\/td>\n<td>~8%<\/td>\n<td>8.80%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Health<\/td>\n<td>~5.8%<\/td>\n<td>6.10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Crucial Note<\/strong>: 9% drop in Food weight shows richer Indians spend less on basics, more on services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why Base Year Revision Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Relevance<\/strong>: Reflects current behavior (e.g., more smartphones than in 2012).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accuracy<\/strong>: Avoids overestimating inflation from food price spikes due to high old weights.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Global Standards<\/strong>: Matches IMF\/UN best practices for national stats.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Policy Impact<\/strong>: Gives realistic data for welfare spending and subsidies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Implications for RBI &amp; Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Lower Volatility<\/strong>: Reduced food weight stabilizes headline inflation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Core Focus<\/strong>: RBI emphasizes core inflation (non-food, non-fuel) for demand pressures.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interest Rates<\/strong>: 2.75% print allows supportive rates for growth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Anchored Expectations<\/strong>: Accurate data steadies business\/household inflation views.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Key Concept: Linking Factor<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Definition<\/strong>: Mathematical multiplier to convert New Series (2024) index to Old Series (2012) level.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Purpose<\/strong>: Ensures continuity for comparing 2010 vs. 2026 data without graph breaks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Method<\/strong>: Arithmetic Conversion based on overlapping year&#8217;s average.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>2. 114 Rafales for IAF, Six p-81 aircrafts for Navy<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-S&amp;T<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context:<\/strong> DAC cleared one of India&#8217;s largest single-day procurement packages.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Strategic Timing<\/strong>: Addresses IAF&#8217;s declining squadron strength and boosts maritime dominance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Indigenization Focus<\/strong>: Significant portion of high-value projects to be manufactured in India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Acceptance of Necessity (AoN)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>First Step<\/strong>: Official &#8220;green signal&#8221; acknowledging operational need for equipment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Initiates Procurement<\/strong>: Enables tendering, bidding, and technical trials.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Policy Validation<\/strong>: Confirms financial and strategic justification at policy level.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Key IAF Approvals<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>114 MRFA<\/strong>: Approval for 114 multi-role jets (understood as Rafales) to restore squadrons.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Domestic Manufacturing<\/strong>: ~90 jets made in India with 50% indigenous content.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Combat Missiles<\/strong>: Enhances stand-off ground-attack and precision strike capabilities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>AS-HAPS<\/strong>: &#8220;Pseudo satellites&#8221; for persistent surveillance and electronic intelligence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>AS-HAPS Explained<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Pseudo Satellites<\/strong>: UAVs at 18\u201320 km altitude.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Solar Powered<\/strong>: Airborne for months using solar energy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Persistent ISR<\/strong>: Continuous intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance; telecom relays.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost Effective<\/strong>: Satellite capabilities at lower cost, easier redeployment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Key Navy Approvals<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>P-8I Aircraft<\/strong>: Six additional for maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Marine Gas Turbines<\/strong>: 4 MW generators under Make-I category.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reduced Dependency<\/strong>: Indigenous systems cut reliance on foreign manufacturers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Key Army Approvals<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Vibhav Mines<\/strong>: Indigenous anti-tank mines to disrupt enemy forces.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vehicle Overhauls<\/strong>: T-72 tanks, BMP-II vehicles, ARVs for extended life.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Life Extension<\/strong>: Boosts service life and operational readiness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Key ICG Approvals<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Surveillance Systems<\/strong>: EO\/IR for Dornier aircraft.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coastal Security<\/strong>: Improves efficacy in coastal\/offshore areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Self-Reliance Dimensions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Make in India<\/strong>: High-end platforms like Rafale, P-8I with domestic production.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Technology Transfer<\/strong>: MRFA includes airframe and systems integration transfers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Indigenous Categories<\/strong>: &#8220;Make-I&#8221; and &#8220;Buy (Indian-IDDM)&#8221; for home-grown tech.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Supply Chain Growth<\/strong>: Builds sustainable aerospace\/defence industrial base.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong><u>3. Bacteria are multilingual<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>GS paper III-Biotechnology <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Context:<\/strong> Prof. Bonnie Bassler delivered \u2018A chemical language that enables communication between diverse organisms\u2019.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Occasion<\/strong>: Held at IISc, Bengaluru, for International Day for Women and Girls in Science.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Scientific Insights<\/strong>: Detailed bacterial coordination via &#8220;quorum sensing&#8221;.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why Important?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Evolutionary Insight<\/strong>: Explains collective behaviors through microscopic interactions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Life-Sustaining Roles<\/strong>: Gut bacteria digest food, provide nutrients.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dual Nature<\/strong>: Bacteria as &#8220;magical microbes&#8221;\u2014disease-causing or life-supporting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Agricultural Potential<\/strong>: Promises new environmental and farm management methods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Core Concept: Quorum Sensing<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Definition<\/strong>: Chemical process for bacteria to sense population density.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coordination<\/strong>: Colonies act unison, like multi-cellular organisms.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Signal Detection<\/strong>: Release\/detect chemical molecules to monitor neighbors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Action Trigger<\/strong>: At &#8220;quorum&#8221; density, launch collective behavior.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Multilingual Bacteria<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Diverse Languages<\/strong>: Different chemical &#8220;dialects&#8221; for own species\/others.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Intra-species Talk<\/strong>: Chemicals for family\/species communication.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Inter-species Talk<\/strong>: &#8220;Universal&#8221; language across bacterial types.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Complex Interpretation<\/strong>: Distinguishes friend from foe in gut-like environments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Example: Vibrio Species<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Vibrio cholerae<\/strong>: Uses quorum sensing for coordinated deadly attacks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vibrio fischeri<\/strong>: Bioluminescent, symbiotic with Hawaiian bobtail squid.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Camouflage Role<\/strong>: Glows to mimic moonlight, hides squid shadow from predators.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Collective Light<\/strong>: Glows only at high density via quorum sensing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Medical Implications<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Anti-Quorum Therapies<\/strong>: Drugs &#8220;jam&#8221; signals, not kill bacteria.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Antibiotic Alternative<\/strong>: Lowers resistance risk.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Precision Targeting<\/strong>: Hits specific harms like toxins, spares beneficial bacteria.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Awards and Recognition<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wolf Prize<\/strong>: 2022 winner in Chemistry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gairdner Award<\/strong>: 2023 Canada Gairdner Award.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Academic Standing<\/strong>: Princeton professor, molecular biology leader.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong><u>4. Bodhan AI<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>GS paper III-S&amp;T<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Context:<\/strong> Bharat Bodhan AI Conclave launched on February 12, 2026, to set national AI roadmap for education.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bodhan AI Launch<\/strong>: Centre of Excellence established at IIT Madras to lead AI transformation in education.<\/li>\n<li><strong>National Budget Support<\/strong>: Backed by \u20b9500 crore from Union Budget 2025-26.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Six-Month Pilot<\/strong>: Plans to pilot AI tools in schools across 2\u20133 states within the next year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Background and Context<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Viksit Bharat 2047<\/strong>: Key pillar to empower 30 crore students with AI skills for &#8220;Developed India.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Technological Shift<\/strong>: Moves from static &#8220;one-size-fits-all&#8221; to dynamic, personalized learning.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Digital Infrastructure Legacy<\/strong>: Builds on &#8220;India Stack&#8221; (Aadhaar, UPI) success for education.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What is Bodhan AI?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Centre of Excellence<\/strong>: Non-profit IIT Madras Bodhan AI Foundation for India-centric AI research.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Multilingual Foundational Model<\/strong>: Sovereign AI supporting Indian languages and dialects.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Application Aggregator<\/strong>: Platform for edtech startups to integrate, avoiding parallel systems.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sovereign Capability<\/strong>: Hosts educational data and models within India for data sovereignty.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What is Bharat EduAI Stack?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)<\/strong>: Open-source, interoperable architecture for nationwide AI learning.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shared Technology Layer<\/strong>: Common base for states\/institutions to build customized tools.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Unified Ecosystem<\/strong>: Analyzes student responses, provides teacher\/parent insights, real-time analytics.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Safe by Design<\/strong>: Includes data protection, privacy, and bias controls.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why AI in Education?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Personalized Tutors<\/strong>: 24\/7 feedback and practice tailored to student pace.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Teacher Support<\/strong>: Automates admin tasks\/grading for focus on mentorship.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bridging Gaps<\/strong>: Predictive analytics for early learning gap detection.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Democratizing Quality<\/strong>: Equal access to high-quality content for remote students.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Public Digital Infrastructure (DPI) Model<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Interoperability<\/strong>: Seamless integration via open APIs for government\/private\/local systems.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Scalability<\/strong>: Handles 260 million+ annual school enrolments.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Inclusive by Design<\/strong>: Accessible across socio-economic\/linguistic backgrounds.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Non-Monopolistic<\/strong>: Free tech stack to boost competitive startup ecosystem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Alignment with National Policies<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>NEP 2020 Compliance<\/strong>: Supports 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio by 2035 via digital tools.<\/li>\n<li><strong>AI Literacy<\/strong>: Introduces age-appropriate AI from Class 3.<\/li>\n<li><strong>NIPUN Bharat<\/strong>: Strengthens foundational literacy\/numeracy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DIKSHA and APAAR<\/strong>: Syncs with DIKSHA for content and APAAR for student IDs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong><u>5. Tangkhul Hui and Kombai breeds<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-S&amp;T<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Context:<\/strong> In February 2026, Assam Rifles (AR) announced full-scale induction of Tangkhul Hui dogs after a successful pilot.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>New Addition<\/strong>: AR will start inducting Kombai breed from Tamil Nadu from April 2026.<\/li>\n<li><strong>National Directive<\/strong>: Follows Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) mandate for all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to adopt two Indian dog breeds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Background and Context<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Atmanirbhar Push<\/strong>: Aligns with government&#8217;s self-reliance drive in defense assets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shift from Foreign Breeds<\/strong>: Indian forces previously relied on German Shepherds, Labradors, and Belgian Malinois.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Modern Identification<\/strong>: AR Dog Training Centre (ARDTC) identified local breeds with combat-level intelligence and stamina.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>The Two Breeds: Tangkhul Hui and Kombai<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tangkhul Hui (Haofa)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Origin<\/strong>: Native to Ukhrul district, Manipur; raised by Tangkhul Naga tribe.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Role<\/strong>: Hunting traditionally; now specialized in narcotics detection for AR.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Traits<\/strong>: Highly intelligent, extremely loyal, resistant to local diseases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Kombai<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Origin<\/strong>: Ancient breed from Theni district, Tamil Nadu; known as Indian Bore Hound.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Role<\/strong>: Guarding and hunting wild boar; valued for ferocious guarding instincts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Traits<\/strong>: Extremely powerful, courageous, high athletic stamina for clearing obstacles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Role of Assam Rifles<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Oldest Paramilitary<\/strong>: Established 1835; &#8220;Sentinels of the North East&#8221; for border security and counter-insurgency.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Operational Areas<\/strong>: Dogs deployed in high-risk Northeast and Jammu &amp; Kashmir zones.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Specialized Tasks<\/strong>: Tracking, explosives detection, narcotics smuggling prevention from Myanmar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why Shift to Indigenous Breeds?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Climate Adaptability<\/strong>: Suited to India&#8217;s diverse, harsh weather unlike foreign breeds.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Disease Resistance<\/strong>: Less prone to genetic issues and common illnesses.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Low Maintenance<\/strong>: Require less medical care and no expensive imported diets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Strategic Self-Reliance<\/strong>: Cuts dependency on foreign breeding programs, reducing asset lag.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Training and Implementation<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Training Hub<\/strong>: ARDTC in Jorhat, Assam; houses over 100 dogs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Course Duration<\/strong>: 12 weeks basic handling + 36 weeks advanced specialization.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dual-Purpose Training<\/strong>: Exploring &#8220;assault + tracking&#8221; and &#8220;assault + explosive detection.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gender Inclusion<\/strong>: First-time induction of women dog handlers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong><u>6. Vande Mataram, its stanzas and a settles question<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper I-History<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context<\/strong>: Issued on January 28, a 10-page protocol for the 150th anniversary of the National Song.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>New Mandate<\/strong>: Requires playing\/singing all six stanzas (previously only two) at official and school functions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Equal Status<\/strong>: National Song to be played before National Anthem when both performed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Standing Protocol<\/strong>: Mandatory standing to attention for full duration (~3 min 10 sec).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Historical Background<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Composition<\/strong>: Written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1870s, included in novel Anandamath (1882).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Freedom Struggle<\/strong>: Rallying cry in 1905 Anti-Partition movement; first sung by Tagore at 1896 Congress session.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Revolutionary Symbol<\/strong>: Used by revolutionaries like Madam Bhikaji Cama and Madan Lal Dhingra.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>The 1937 Settlement (CWC Resolution)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Conflict<\/strong>: Objections from Muslim League over religious imagery in later stanzas.<\/li>\n<li><strong>CWC Resolution<\/strong>: Congress Working Committee (Calcutta, 1937) adopted only first two stanzas for gatherings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rationale<\/strong>: First two verses focus on motherland\/nature; later invoke Hindu deities like Durga, Lakshmi.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Unity Strategy<\/strong>: Supported by Gandhi, Nehru to maintain communal harmony.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Constituent Assembly Positions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Anthem vs. Song<\/strong>: January 24, 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad announced Jana Gana Mana as National Anthem.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Equal Status<\/strong>: Vande Mataram granted &#8220;equal status&#8221; as National Song for freedom struggle role.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Limited Adoption<\/strong>: Carried forward 1937 logic, using only non-religious stanzas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Constitutional Framework (Article 51A)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fundamental Duty<\/strong>: Article 51A(a) mandates respect for Constitution, Flag, Anthem.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Notable Omission<\/strong>: National Song not mentioned, unlike Anthem.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Legal Distinction<\/strong>: Indicates less rigid protocol historically.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Landmark Judgment: Bijoe Emmanuel vs. State of Kerala (1986)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Right to Silence<\/strong>: SC ruled no forced singing of Anthem if religious objections.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Respect vs. Participation<\/strong>: Standing respectfully suffices; forced singing violates Article 25.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Standard of Law<\/strong>: Departmental instructions cannot override fundamental rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why the 2026 MHA Order is Problematic<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Religious Sensitivity<\/strong>: All six stanzas include Hindu imagery, conflicting with minority faiths.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Legal Force<\/strong>: Executive order mandates what Article 51A\/Prevention Act do not explicitly require.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Duration &amp; Decorum<\/strong>: 3-min standing in schools seen as excessive enforced nationalism.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Historical Reversal<\/strong>: Unsettles 90-year consensus for inclusivity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Core Constitutional Logic<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Voluntary vs. Forced<\/strong>: Favors voluntary patriotism over coercion.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secular Ethos<\/strong>: Symbols must include all citizens regardless of beliefs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Precedence of Rights<\/strong>: Fundamental Rights (Art 19, 25) prevail over non-enforceable Duties (Art 51A).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong><u>7. Farmer pulse<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-Agriculture<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context<\/strong>: India announced mission targeting 350 lakh tonnes pulse production by 2030-31.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Trade Tension<\/strong>: U.S. documents suggest India opening markets to American pulse imports.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Farmer Skepticism<\/strong>: Domestic producers fear depressed local prices contradicting self-sufficiency goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why Pulses Matter for India<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Protein Source<\/strong>: Account for ~25% of non-cereal protein in Indian diet.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Livelihood<\/strong>: Support ~5 crore farmers and families.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Food Security<\/strong>: Key to managing household costs amid global supply tightness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Key Issues and Demand-Supply Gap<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Output vs. Demand<\/strong>: Production ~2.5 crore tonnes vs. demand 3.0 crore tonnes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Import Reliance<\/strong>: Annual gap of 0.5 crore tonnes filled via imports.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vulnerability<\/strong>: Exposed to global trade decisions and price shocks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>How India Manages Pulses Demand<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Import Policy<\/strong>: Mix of open\/restricted imports for supply stability.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Price Stabilization<\/strong>: Interventions to curb retail price spikes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conditional Procurement<\/strong>: MSP encourages sales to state agencies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Structural Problems in Pulse Sector<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Rain-fed Cultivation<\/strong>: Relies on unpredictable rainfall, causing yield volatility.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Weak Procurement<\/strong>: Price Support Scheme coverage fluctuates 2.9%-12.4%.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lack of Centers<\/strong>: Inadequate centers force sales to private traders below MSP.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Yield Gap<\/strong>: Lower than major international competitors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>The U.S. Trade Controversy<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Obligation Claims<\/strong>: U.S. documents imply deal mandating American pulse purchases.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Policy Contradiction<\/strong>: Undermines domestic self-sufficiency efforts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Political Sensitivity<\/strong>: Echoes past farm law protests, seen as &#8220;anti-farmer.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Government&#8217;s New Initiative<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Outlay &amp; Scale<\/strong>: \u20b911,440 crore mission for 310 lakh hectares cultivation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Production Goal<\/strong>: 350 lakh tonnes by decade-end.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mission 2025<\/strong>: Addresses procurement deficits in key growing belts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Structural Reforms Needed<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>MSP Guarantees<\/strong>: Legally-backed to boost farmer investment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Infrastructure<\/strong>: Expand procurement centers to cut middlemen reliance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Productivity Gains<\/strong>: High-yield, drought-resistant seeds for rain-fed areas.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Market Incentives<\/strong>: Reward pulses over water-intensive crops.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. Retail inflation at\u00a0 2.75% in new CPI GS paper III-Economy Context: MoSPI released the first set of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-current-affairs"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a_Retail_inflation_at_.jpeg",1024,1024,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a_Retail_inflation_at_-150x150.jpeg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a_Retail_inflation_at_-300x300.jpeg",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a_Retail_inflation_at_-768x768.jpeg",640,640,true],"large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a_Retail_inflation_at_.jpeg",640,640,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a_Retail_inflation_at_.jpeg",1024,1024,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a_Retail_inflation_at_.jpeg",1024,1024,false],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a_Retail_inflation_at_-825x575.jpeg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a_Retail_inflation_at_-590x410.jpeg",590,410,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"Nithin DTPoperator","author_link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/author\/nithindtp\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/category\/daily-current-affairs\/\" rel=\"category tag\">DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS<\/a>","tag_info":"DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3987"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3987\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3988,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3987\/revisions\/3988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}