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13 topicsDefense & Security: 1Economy: 1Editorial: 1Environment: 1History: 1Infrastructure: 1Mapping: 1Misc: 1Scheme: 1Science & Technology: 4
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Misc

1.23 Feb 2026 Current Affairs Digest (Current Affairs)

The Hindu
Illustration for 23 Feb 2026 Current Affairs Digest (Current Affairs)

What & Where

Definition – Hoysala temple architecture (11th-13th C), carved in soft soapstone; UNESCO World Heritage tag 2023.

Key types/processes – Stellate (Jagati) platform, Dvikuta/Chatuskuta shrine plans, lathe-turned mirror pillars, high-relief friezes.

Core geography – Karnataka’s Belur, Halebidu, Somanathapura; silent gems Koravangala, Doddagaddavalli, Hulikere step-well.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

  • Neutralisation – 285 Maoists killed (2025); Politburo down to one active member.
  • Operation SAMADHAN combines smart leadership, tech intel, dashboard KPIs.
  • Memorial clearing – 200+ Maoist monuments razed under Operation Demolishment.

Tech & Schemes

  • Satphones – GEO/LEO link; illegal use in Indian waters flagged for security.
  • LNT model – assumes zero-threshold radiation risk; ALARA dropped by US DOE.
  • IEA – India seeks full membership; charter change needed as India non-OECD.

Environmental Impact

  • Rewilding – 158 hybrid Galápagos tortoises (40–80 % C. niger DNA) released on Floreana.
  • Role – Tortoises act as keystone seed-dispersers, landscape shapers.
  • Protection – Archipelago UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site (1978).

International Examples

  • Dokdo/Takeshima – two volcanic islets, closer to Korea’s Ulleungdo (87 km) than Japan’s Oki (157 km).
  • Sovereignty – South Korea exercises de facto control since 1954, rejects ICJ arbitration.
  • Resource hook – Estimated 600 Mt gas-hydrate “fire-ice” under surrounding seabed.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Dynasty spanc. 1026 – 1343 CE
UNESCO inscription45th WH site of India, 2023
Prime materialChloritic Schist (soapstone)
Signature plan16-point star Jagati platform
Pillar finishLathe-turned, metallic polish
Noted sculptures42 Madanikas, Chennakeshava, Belur

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2021PYQ 1

Why was Dholavira in the news recently?

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2022PYQ 2

Among the following, which one has been accorded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site recently?

InfrastructureQuick Bite

2.Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and Meerut Metro (Regional Rapid Transit)

PIB

What & Where

Namo Bharat Rapid Rail: first Regional Rapid Transit System, semi-high-speed commuter network for National Capital Region (NCR).

Meerut Metro: runs Meerut South–Modipuram on same tracks; India’s fastest metro.

Flagship corridor Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut ≈ 82 km; full services began Feb 2026.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Technology Specs

  • Semi-high-speed rolling stock, ETCS signalling, shared infrastructure for metro & RRTS.
  • 25 kV AC electrification sustains 180 km/h design velocity.
  • Meerut Metro coaches optimised for 120 km/h urban operations.

Service Differentiation

  • RRTS vs Metro: regional reach, fewer halts, higher speeds, larger station spacing.
  • RRTS vs Vande Bharat: shorter regional trips, higher frequency, commuter focus.
  • Designed to shift daily NCR travellers from roads & conventional rail.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

  • Integrated stations enable seamless interchange within NCR mobility grid.
  • Single-platform inauguration showcases multimodal planning efficiency.
  • Expected congestion relief for NH-58 and parallel rail lines.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch date23 Feb 2026
Inaugurated byPrime Minister of India
NoveltyFirst dual rapid rail-metro launch on one platform
RRTS design speed180 km/h
RRTS operational speedUp to 160 km/h
RRTS average speed~100 km/h
Meerut Metro top speed120 km/h
Corridor length~82 km (Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut)
Intended commute range100–200 km
History

3.Hoysala Temple Architectural Splendour (Hoysala Architecture)

The Hindu
Illustration for Hoysala Temple Architectural Splendour (Hoysala Architecture)

What & Where

Dynasty scope – Hoysala temple architecture, 11th–13th c Karnataka, soapstone star-plan shrines with dense reliefs

Core UNESCO zone – Belur, Halebidu, Somanathapura collectively inscribed 2023 as Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas

Wider spread – 150-plus rural monuments across Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru districts including Koravangala, Doddagaddavalli, Hulikere

Quick Facts for MCQs

Architecture

  • Star platform multiplies exterior faces for 360-degree narrative carving
  • Perforated stone jalis admit filtered light, promote ventilation
  • Soapstone softness enables lace-like jewellery, fingernails, hollowed bangles on idols

Major Temples

  • Belur Chennakeshava boasts 42 madanikas, gravity pillar, once-rotatable Narasimha pillar
  • Halebidu Hoysaleshwara shows twin sanctums, mile-long friezes, two monolithic Nandis
  • Somanathapura Keshava exemplifies mature trikuta layout with complete sculptural program

Silent Sites

  • Doddagaddavalli Lakshmidevi 1114 CE chatuskuta, Mahakali shrine flanked by skeletal betalas
  • Koravangala Bucheshwara transitional dvikuta displaying shift toward peak ornamentation
  • Hulikere Kalyani stepwell houses 26 miniature shrines representing zodiac and lunar mansions

Socio-Cultural

  • Shaiva, Vaishnava, Jain basadis coexist, reflecting medieval religious accommodation
  • Epigraphs mention women donors, merchant guilds, sculptor names revealing participatory patronage
  • Frieze panels depict courtly dance, warfare, processions offering visual social documentation

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Dynasty periodc 1026–1343 CE
Primary stoneChloritic Schist (soapstone)
Typical planStellate Jagati with Dvi/Trai/Chatuskuta shrines
Trademark friezesElephants-horses-lions-scrolls sequence
Lathe-turned pillarsMirror-finish circular shafts
Belur foundation1117 CE by King Vishnuvardhana
Halebidu completionc 1121 CE by official Ketamalla
UNESCO listing year2023

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 2001PYQ 1

Hoysala monuments are found in

GEO_GS, GS1 2022PYQ 2

Among the following, which one has been accorded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site recently?

Mapping

4.Takeshima–Dokdo Disputed Islands Mapping (Disputed Islands)

FP
Illustration for Takeshima–Dokdo Disputed Islands Mapping (Disputed Islands)

What & Where

Volcanic Dokdo/Takeshima islet-cluster in Sea of Japan (East Sea).

Two main islets—Dongdo & Seodo—plus 30-90 minor rocks/reefs.

Sits 87 km from Ulleungdo (SK) and 157 km from Oki (JP).

Quick Facts for MCQs

History & Claims

  • Silla-era texts, Sejong Sillok cited by Korea for 6th-century ownership.
  • 1905 Japan annexed islands as terra nullius amid Russo-Japanese War.
  • 1954 South Korea stationed coast guard, sustaining uninterrupted presence.

Legal & Policy

  • Seoul labels area integral territory; rejects ICJ as “no dispute exists”.
  • Tokyo calls islands inherent territory; presses claim via annual prefectural event.
  • Allied occupation 1945-1952 left sovereignty questions unaddressed.

Economic Angle

  • Fisheries convergence zone supplies valuable cephalopod and cod catches.
  • Seabed gas hydrates promise strategic energy worth about US$10 bn yearly.
  • Resource allure heightens bilateral territorial stakes.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Alternate namesDokdo (KR) / Takeshima (JP)
Main isletsDongdo (East) & Seodo (West)
Total outcrops30–90 rocks/reefs
Oceanic locationSea of Japan / East Sea
Nearest S Korea landUlleungdo 87 km
Nearest Japan landOki Islands 157 km
Geological ageCenozoic volcanic rock
FisheriesSquid, pollock, cod rich zone
Gas hydrate reserve600 mn t; ≈ US$10 bn/yr
De facto controlSK police & lighthouse since 1954
ICJ stanceSeoul refuses arbitration
Symbolic dateTakeshima Day, 22 Feb (Shimane)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?

Environment

5.Galapagos Giant Tortoise Reintroduction (Giant Tortoise)

BBC
Illustration for Galapagos Giant Tortoise Reintroduction (Giant Tortoise)

What & Where

Galápagos giant tortoise reintroduction: 158 hybrid juveniles released on Floreana Island to revive extinct Chelonoidis niger.

Galápagos Islands: 19 volcanic islands + 100 islets, ~1,000 km west of Ecuador in Pacific Ocean.

Geology & status: Hotspot at Nazca–Cocos–Pacific plates; UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site since 1978.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Conservation Strategy

  • Selective-breeding harnesses Wolf Volcano hybrids to reconstruct Floreana lineage without cloning.
  • Release size deters predation from invasive rats, cats; ongoing habitat restoration.
  • Program aims long-term self-sustaining population and ecosystem recovery.

Ecological Role

  • Seed dispersal and vegetation clearing reshape plant communities, aiding forest regeneration.
  • Wallows created by tortoises supply micro-habitats for insects, birds, reptiles.
  • Reintroduction expected to rebalance ecosystem altered since 19th-century extirpation.

Evolutionary Significance

  • Archipelago furnished Darwin critical evidence for natural selection in 1830s voyage.
  • Saddleback shell evolved for higher browsing on arid, cactus-rich islands.
  • Genetic introgression revealed “lost” Floreana lineage persisted within hybrid populations.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Release siteFloreana Island, Galápagos
Hybrids released158 individuals
Age at release8–13 years
Ancestral DNA share40–80 % Chelonoidis niger
Original species IUCNExtinct in the Wild
Genus ChelonoidisEndangered/Critically Endangered
Shell typeSaddlebacked carapace
Expected lifespan>100 years
Discovery of hybridsWolf Volcano, Isabela Island
Archipelago main islands19
Distance from Ecuador≈1,000 km (620 mi)
Volcanic platesNazca, Cocos, Pacific
UNESCO listing year1978
Darwin linkInspired theory of natural selection
Science & Technology

6.New Delhi Declaration on Global AI Governance (AI Governance)

PIB
Illustration for New Delhi Declaration on Global AI Governance (AI Governance)

What & Where

New Delhi Declaration: voluntary multilateral framework guiding equitable, ethical AI development

Adoption at AI Impact Summit 2026, New Delhi; endorsed by 89 countries & international organisations

Anchoring ethos “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya”; declaration is global yet non-binding

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Roadmap is non-binding; respects national laws via sovereignty-based approach
  • Democratic Diffusion Charter ensures affordable compute, data, spurs local innovation ecosystems
  • Voluntary standards, benchmarks, best practices advanced for safe, trustworthy AI deployment

Tech & Collaborative Platforms

  • Global AI Impact Commons replicates proven AI use-cases across nations for development gains
  • Trusted AI Commons aggregates tools, benchmarks, resources helping stakeholders build secure AI tailored to contexts
  • International Network of AI for Science Institutions pools compute, expertise to accelerate collaborative AI-enabled research

Human Capital & Sustainability

  • Workforce playbook suggests reskilling strategies for AI-era jobs transition
  • Seven-Pillar framework enshrines energy-efficient, resilient AI infrastructure targets
  • Principles aim inclusive human-centric AI promoting social empowerment

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Summit year2026
VenueNew Delhi, India
Endorsing entities89 countries & int’l bodies
Legal statusNon-binding consensus declaration
Guiding ethosSarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya
Framework structureSeven Pillars (Chakras)
Main charterDemocratic Diffusion of AI Charter
Key platformsGlobal AI Impact Commons; Trusted AI Commons; AI for Social Empowerment
Science networkInternational Network of AI for Science Institutions

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 2024PYQ 1

Which of the following statements about GPAI (Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence) is/are correct?

GEO_GS, GS1 2015PYQ 2

‘Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action’, often seen in the news, is

Science & Technology

7.Linear No-Threshold Radiation Risk Model (Radiation Safety)

The Hindu
Illustration for Linear No-Threshold Radiation Risk Model (Radiation Safety)

What & Where

LNT model: linear, no-threshold risk framework governing ionising-radiation standards worldwide.

ALARA principle: operational spin-off of LNT, urges exposures be kept As Low As Reasonably Achievable.

United States: DOE has deleted ALARA from safety directives, diverging from ICRP-led global practice.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Science Principle

  • Linearity: damage probability rises proportionally with dose.
  • Cumulative effect: small doses add up biologically, no complete repair assumed.
  • Precaution: framework chosen due to low-dose uncertainty.

Policy Shift

  • DOE removal: first major national rollback of ALARA since Cold War era.
  • Debate: critics fear weakened worker & public safeguards; proponents cite cost and over-regulation.
  • International bodies: continue endorsing LNT, creating regulatory divergence.

Historical Context

  • Genesis: Muller’s 1927 mutation findings spurred zero-threshold thinking.
  • Cold War: nuclear testing fears pushed LNT into global codes.
  • Evolution: ALARA coined to translate LNT into day-to-day plant practice.

Operational Measures

  • Time: minimise stay near sources to cut dose linearly.
  • Distance: double separation roughly quarters exposure.
  • Shielding: lead, concrete barriers absorb particle/γ energy before human contact.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Model full formLinear No-Threshold
Key assumptionZero safe dose
Risk type addressedStochastic cancer & mutations
Scientific origin1920s, Hermann Muller fruit-fly studies
Formal adoption1950s-60s by ICRP
Operational mottoALARA: As Low As Reasonably Achievable
ALARA pillarsTime, Distance, Shielding
Cost filterSafety gain vs socio-economic cost
Recent policy shift2023 DOE cancellation of ALARA
Global stanceICRP, WHO, IAEA still retain LNT
Science & Technology

8.Indigenous Tetanus–Diphtheria Td Vaccine Launch (Td Vaccine)

PIB

What & Where

Td vaccine = combined tetanus toxoid + reduced-dose diphtheria toxoid booster for adolescents/adults.

Manufactured indigenously at Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh.

Formally inducted into India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in Feb 2026.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Atmanirbharta: domestic Td slashes import reliance, fortifies health security.
  • U-WIN digital registry ensures dose-wise tracking till age 16.
  • CRI readied development, approvals, commercial rollout in-house.

Disease Facts

  • Tetanus: non-communicable; enters via wounds/umbilical stump; no post-recovery immunity.
  • Diphtheria: droplet spread; grey “pseudomembrane” blocks airway; toxin causes myocarditis, neuropathy.
  • Neonatal tetanus mortality down 97 % globally (1988-2018) through TTCV drives.

International Guidance

  • WHO push: Td boosters sustain tetanus elimination, restore waning adult diphtheria immunity.
  • Conflict, overcrowding, pandemic immunisation gaps fuel diphtheria resurgence.
  • Growing antimicrobial resistance undermines Diphtheria Antitoxin + antibiotic regimen.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Full formTetanus and Adult Diphtheria (Td)
ProtectionDual: Tetanus (T) + Diphtheria (d)
Antigen tweakLower diphtheria toxoid dose to cut side-effects
ReplacesStand-alone Tetanus Toxoid (TT)
WHO stanceGlobal switch from TT → Td recommended
Indian nodal bodyNTAGI okays Td for all ages incl. pregnant women
First supply55 lakh doses by April 2026
Programme scaleUIP ≈ 5 crore beneficiaries/yr, 27 doses tracked
Tetanus agentClostridium tetani (anaerobic spores)
Diphtheria CFRUp to 30 % untreated in <5-yr-olds

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2021PYQ 1

Mission Indradhanush aims at

Science & TechnologyQuick Bite

9.Satellite Phone Technology and Security Concerns (Satellite Communication)

The Hindu

What & Where

Definition: Hand-held phone linking directly to orbiting satellites, bypassing terrestrial towers

Key systems: Geostationary (GEO) constellations, Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) fleets

Geography: Operates in remote oceans, deserts, polar regions, disaster sites where cellular fails

Quick Facts for MCQs

Technical Types

  • GEO satellites: 35,786 km altitude, constant position, noticeable voice delay
  • LEO satellites: 500-2,000 km altitude, lower latency, need hand-off tracking
  • Ground segment: Gateway stations route calls to PSTN or another satphone

Use Cases

  • Maritime navigation, polar expeditions, desert logistics rely for always-on link
  • Disaster relief teams deploy for communication when terrestrial grids collapse
  • Adventure tourism operators issue devices for SOS connectivity

Limitations

  • Expense: Handsets and airtime markedly costlier than cellular equivalents
  • Bandwidth: Suited to voice/text; not practical for high-speed internet streaming
  • Terrain challenge: Mountains, urban canyons, dense foliage obstruct satellite sight

Security Dimension

  • Monitoring difficulty makes devices attractive for covert activities, smuggling, piracy
  • India mandates prior clearance; unauthorised carriage punishable under Indian Telegraph Act
  • Recent interceptions in Indian waters triggered alerts to tighten coastal surveillance

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Line-of-sight needUnobstructed sky view essential
Core servicesVoice, SMS, limited low-speed data
Emergency roleIntegral to maritime GMDSS distress alerts
Typical latencyHigher with GEO, lower with LEO
Cost driverHigh per-minute airtime & handset price
Hybrid trendSome models switch cellular ↔ satellite
Main drawback indoorWeak/zero signal through roofs, dense canopy
National concernHard interception ⇒ flagged by Indian security agencies

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2011PYQ 1

Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when:

Editorial

10.Deepening India–Brazil Strategic Cooperation (India-Brazil Ties)

Hindustan Times

What & Where

India–Brazil Strategic Partnership: formalised 2006; refreshed Feb 2026 State Visit, covers five agreed priority pillars.

Spatial context: 14,000 km apart; India’s embassy in Brasília, Brazil’s in New Delhi plus consulates São Paulo/Mumbai.

Platforms intersecting interests: BRICS, G20, G-4 UNSC reform drive, ISA, Global Biofuel Alliance.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Trade & Investment

  • PTA with MERCOSUR slated for scope expansion; electronic certificates of origin MOU signed.
  • Trade basket asymmetry: India exports pharma, petro-products; imports sugar, soybean oil, gold, crude.

Defence & Security

  • Defence pact 2003; Joint Defence Committee active, 2+2 Political-Military Dialogue launched 2024.
  • Scorpene-class submarine maintenance MoU inked with Mazagon Dock & both navies.

Energy & Climate

  • Joint champions of Global Biofuel Alliance; aligned National Biofuel Policy & RenovaBio.
  • “Belém 4x Pledge” aims fourfold rise in sustainable fuels by 2035.

Digital & Tech

  • India-Brazil Digital Partnership leverages DPIs for SDGs; both endorse multilateral AI governance.
  • Planned 3rd Joint S&T Commission, Aug 2026, will deepen IP cooperation via TKDL access.

Multilateral Diplomacy

  • G-4 strategy: push “text-based negotiations” for UNSC permanent seats.
  • Both advocate WTO, IMF, UNSC reforms to mirror 21st-century Global South realities.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Strategic Partnership year2006
2025 bilateral tradeUSD 15.21 bn
2030 trade targetUSD 30 bn
2025 trade growth25.5 % YoY
Largest LatAm partner for IndiaBrazil
Key MoU Feb 2026Rare-earths & critical minerals
Digital launch 2026Open Planetary Intelligence Network (OPIN)
First Cyber DialogueBrasília, Nov 2025
COP30 host cityBelém, Brazil (Nov 2025)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, ESE_GS 2026PYQ 1

What is the name of the initiative launched by India and Denmark in November 2025 to enhance bilateral ties?

CAPF_GAI, ESE_GS 2025PYQ 2

India and Poland have agreed to implement the 'India-Poland Strategic Partnership' in terms of a Five-Year Action Plan. Identify the current Five-Year Action Plan.

Economy

11.International Energy Agency Membership Expansion (International Energy)

Indian Express

What & Where

Intergovernmental agency for energy security, data and sustainable policy; created 1974 after the 1973 oil crisis.

Headquarters Paris, France; membership historically limited to OECD states.

Coordinates emergency oil stocks, analyses markets, guides global energy transition.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Membership Structure

  • Categories: Full Members, Association Countries; latter join discussions without voting rights.
  • Charter currently ties full membership to OECD status; amendment process underway.
  • Members share emergency oil stocks via collective action mechanism.

India Engagement

  • India world’s 3rd-largest energy consumer; seeks decision-making seat.
  • Formal membership bid backed by IEA leadership, major members despite OECD absence.
  • Successful entry would make India first non-OECD full member.

Key Functions

  • Security: Coordinates collective response during supply shocks, maintains shared reserve data.
  • Analysis: Publishes monthly Oil Market Report, tracks critical minerals supply chains.
  • Transition: Leads global dialogue on renewables, efficiency, decarbonisation through Net Zero roadmap.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Establishment year1974
Founding trigger1973 Arab oil embargo
HeadquartersParis, France
Full members (2024)33
33rd member & timingColombia, Feb 2026 (scheduled)
Associate countries13
Mandatory oil stocks≥ 90 days of net imports
Flagship reportWorld Energy Outlook
Clean-energy roadmapNet Zero by 2050
India: Associate status2017
India–IEA Strategic Partnership2021
India full-membership requestOct 2023
Charter change neededOECD clause removal
Defense & Security

12.Declining Naxalism Footprint in India (Left-Wing Extremism)

Indian Express

What & Where

Definition Armed Maoist–LWE movement aiming to overthrow Indian state via protracted guerrilla war

Processes Mobilise tribals, ambush security, exploit forest cover; now hit by surrenders, targeted ops, development push

Core geography Red Corridor shrunk to South Bastar (Chhattisgarh) plus Jharkhand–Bihar border pockets

Quick Facts for MCQs

Leadership Attrition

  • Decimation; Telugu core gone after Tirupathi, Sonu surrenders
  • Ideological vacuum; no strategist guiding platoons, recruitment stagnates
  • Politburo contraction; nearly 50 earlier, now single operative

Security Measures

  • Offensive posture; forces now penetrate Abujhmad strongholds regularly
  • Tech infusion; drones, real-time intel enable pinpoint strikes e.g., May 2025 Keshav Rao kill
  • Symbol erasure; 100 + memorials razed, undermining psychological control

Development Schemes

  • Aspirational Districts; 35 LWE areas prioritised for health, education, banking
  • ROSHNI; placement-linked skilling for tribal youth to pre-empt recruitment
  • Surrender policy; cash, land, livelihood incentives accelerate cadre exit

Residual Challenges

  • Hardened pockets; Bastar snipers, IED belts still inflict casualties
  • Inter-state escapes; porous Odisha–Chhattisgarh–Jharkhand borders exploited
  • Governance lag; water, land rights unresolved, fuelling sporadic sympathy

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Cash bounty on Thippiri Tirupathi₹1 crore
Politburo strength 20261 member (Misir Besra)
Maoists killed in 2025285
Neutralisations Jan–Feb 202622
Total cadres killed since 2024500 +
Affected districts (peak vs now)100 + → few clusters
Demolished Maoist memorials100 +
Key elite unitsGreyhounds, COBRA
Infrastructure programmeRoad Requirement Plan (RRP)
Flagship counter-LWE doctrineOperation SAMADHAN
Scheme

13.SANKALP Skill Development Scheme (Skill Development)

PIB

What & Where

SANKALP: Centrally Sponsored skill-development programme of MSDE, co-financed by World Bank, operational in all States.

STRIVE: Central Sector project, MSDE-World Bank, strengthens ITIs and apprenticeship ecosystem nationwide.

Special focus geographies: 9 grant-recipient States + 117 Aspirational Districts under Aspirational Skilling Abhiyaan.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Scheme Objectives

  • Convergence: unify State-led and Union-funded skilling efforts at district and State levels.
  • Quality: trainer pool, model curriculum, standardised assessment & certification under SANKALP.
  • Efficiency: STRIVE targets relevance and output of ITIs and apprenticeships.

Implementation & Coverage

  • Portal: Skill India Portal captures, converges district-level skill data for monitoring.
  • Grants: first tranche disbursed to Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, J-K, Maharashtra, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Aspirational push: separate funding pipeline for 117 Aspirational Districts to fast-track skilling.

Funding & Classification

  • Central Sector: 100 % Union funding, executed by Central machinery; example—STRIVE.
  • Centrally Sponsored: cost-shared with States per fixed ratios; example—SANKALP.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
SANKALP scheme typeCentrally Sponsored
STRIVE scheme typeCentral Sector
Nodal ministrySkill Development & Entrepreneurship
External partner (both)World Bank
Key data platformSkill India Portal
SANKALP core aimsConvergence, Quality, M&E, Inclusiveness
STRIVE result areasITI performance; State capacity; Teaching–Learning; Apprenticeship breadth
Grants released9 States + 117 Aspirational Districts
CSS funding ratios50:50, 70:30, 75:25, 90:10
Central Sector funding100 % Union government

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, NDA_GAT 2026PYQ 1

Consider the following statements about the SANKALP Scheme:

GEO_GS, NDA_GAT 2025PYQ 2

Under which one of the following initiatives does the NITI Aayog support interested States to establish a State Institution for Transformation (SIT)?

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