3 February 2026

• Wetlands Day: World Wetlands Day; India adds two Ramsar sites (Patna Bird Sanctuary in UP and Chhari-Dhand in Gujarat), taking the national total to 98.
• Trade: India-US tariff deal details emerge; US tariff on Indian goods reduced from 50 per cent to 18 per cent.
• Fiscal risk: 16th Finance Commission warns states about rapid expansion of unconditional cash-transfer schemes now at 20.2 per cent of total state subsidy expenditure.
• Delhi Declaration 2026: India and 22 Arab League members sign a joint declaration at the Second India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

GS area: Environment, Geography

The theme for World Wetlands Day 2026 is "Wetlands and traditional knowledge." India designated two new Ramsar sites, reaching 98. This is the highest count in South Asia.

• Ramsar Convention (1971): An intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for conservation and wise use of wetlands. India is a signatory. Sites are listed under Ramsar's List of Wetlands of International Importance.
• Patna Bird Sanctuary, UP: Located in Etah district. Area of 108 hectares. Hosts over 300 bird species including 106 migratory and resident species. Accommodates approximately 3 lakh birds at peak season.
• Chhari-Dhand, Gujarat: Located in Kutch district. A seasonal desert wetland with a mix of saline and freshwater. Key species include the Dalmatian Pelican, Black-necked Stork and flamingos.
• India's total coverage: Wetlands cover approximately 5 per cent of India's land area (around 15.9 million hectares). About 40 per cent of natural wetlands have been lost over three decades.
• East Kolkata Wetlands: The most cited management success. Treat 750 million litres of sewage daily through natural processes while supporting livelihoods of fishers and vegetable farmers.
• State with most sites: Tamil Nadu leads with 20 Ramsar sites.
• Expansion rate: India had roughly 26 Ramsar sites in 2014. The 98-site total by February 2026 represents a 276 per cent expansion.

Static linkage: Ramsar Convention, wetland policy, biodiversity (Environment).

GS area: Economy (International trade), International Relations

The interim trade agreement between India and the United States reduces the US tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the 50 per cent reciprocal tariff imposed in July 2025.

• India's commitments: A pledge to purchase $500 billion worth of US goods over five years. Categories include energy, agriculture, coal and technology. Dairy and core agricultural staples are excluded from zero-tariff provisions.
• Energy shift: US crude now accounts for 7.48 per cent of India's oil imports, up from 4.43 per cent a year earlier. Russia's share declined from 37.88 per cent to 32.18 per cent. US LNG is India's second-largest LNG source.
• Section 232 tariffs: These are tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act, 1962 on national-security grounds. India's steel and aluminium exports faced these. Their removal restores near-normal trade in metals.
• Agriculture tension: The removal of India's 11 per cent cotton duty is drawing protests from domestic cotton farmers. US cotton exports to India surged 95.5 per cent in 2024-25. The current MSP for cotton is ₹7,710 per quintal against a recommended ₹10,075.

Static linkage: India-US relations, WTO Agreement on Agriculture, trade policy (Economy/IR).

GS area: International Relations

The Second India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi produced the Delhi Declaration 2026. Participants included all 22 members of the League of Arab States.

• Bilateral trade anchor: India-Arab League trade exceeds $240 billion annually. The relationship is India's largest by trade volume with a regional grouping.

• Positions on active conflicts:

  • Yemen: The declaration condemns Houthi attacks on international shipping, marking a firmer stance than previous joint statements.
  • Israel-Palestine: Support for the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002. The initiative proposes full Arab normalisation with Israel in exchange for a Palestinian state on 1967 borders.
  • Sudan and Libya: Support for internationally recognised governments; rejection of external interference.

• What was absent: The declaration does not mention the "Board of Peace" initiative proposed by the Trump administration as an alternative to UN-mediated frameworks.

• India's balancing act: India has historical ties with Arab states through remittances (Gulf accounts for nearly 35 per cent of India's total remittance receipts) and diaspora (nearly 9 million Indians in the Arab world).

Static linkage: India's neighbourhood policy, League of Arab States, West Asia (IR).

GS area: Governance, Economy

A discussion paper on the future of corporate social responsibility engagement highlights the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) as a new instrument.

• Section 135, Companies Act 2013: Makes CSR mandatory for companies meeting prescribed thresholds (net worth ₹500 crore, turnover ₹1,000 crore or net profit ₹5 crore). Qualifying companies must spend 2 per cent of average net profit on CSR activities.
• India's distinction: India is the first country with mandatory CSR spending under a statute.
• Social Stock Exchange: Launched under SEBI's regulatory framework. Allows social enterprises and non-profits to raise capital from the public market through zero-coupon zero-principal bonds and development impact bonds.
• Problem flagged: Geographic concentration. Aspirational Districts receive less than 5 per cent of CSR spending despite housing a disproportionate share of deprivation. Corporates tend to concentrate CSR near their industrial facilities.
• New focus areas proposed: AI literacy, employee-led social-cause selection and livelihood-linked outcomes rather than inputs-only reporting.

Static linkage: Companies Act 2013, SEBI, CSR policy (Governance/Economy).

GS area: Polity (Centre-State relations, Water disputes)

The Supreme Court directed the constitution of a tribunal under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 for the Pennaiyar river dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

• Pennaiyar: A river of 497 kilometres rising in Karnataka and flowing through Tamil Nadu to the Bay of Bengal. Tamil Nadu is the lower riparian state; Karnataka is the upper riparian state.
• Major dam: Sathanur Dam in Tamil Nadu with a capacity of 7.3 TMC (thousand million cubic feet).
• Legal framework: The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 provides for the constitution of tribunals when states cannot reach agreement through negotiations. The tribunal's award has the same force as a Supreme Court decree.
• Article 262: Empowers Parliament to make laws for adjudicating interstate river water disputes. The Act is made under this authority. The Supreme Court's jurisdiction to adjudicate such disputes is excluded by the same Article.

Static linkage: Article 262, Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, Centre-State relations (Polity).

• Motion of Thanks to President's Address: The President addresses a joint sitting of both Houses at the commencement of each Budget Session under Articles 86 and 87. Both Houses then debate and pass a Motion of Thanks. Amendments to the Motion are rare; the Rajya Sabha has seen only five successful amendment votes in history.
• Miniratna Category-I for Yantra India Limited: Yantra India Limited, a defence public sector undertaking, was granted Miniratna Category-I status. The category allows capital expenditure up to ₹500 crore (or net worth, whichever is lower) without Central Government approval.