GK One-Liners

What: India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16–20, making it the first Artificial Intelligence summit held in the Global South. Over 100 countries are participating, and Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the event. The summit focuses on key themes including jobs, AI safety, and governance frameworks.

How: The summit brings together governments, tech leaders, and researchers to develop consensus on responsible AI deployment. Discussions will centre on AI’s impact on employment, regulatory guardrails for AI safety, and inclusive governance models that address the needs of developing nations alongside advanced economies.

Why: AI governance is a rapidly emerging UPSC topic under GS-III (Science & Tech) and GS-II (International Relations). India hosting the first Global South AI summit reinforces its leadership in multilateral tech diplomacy, building on its G20 presidency legacy. Expect questions linking this to India’s National AI Mission, the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), and ethical AI frameworks.

What: India and China are in talks to open a third route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Shipki La Pass in Himachal Pradesh. This would supplement the two existing routes via Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim), offering pilgrims an additional access corridor to the sacred site in Tibet.

How: The route is being negotiated as part of broader India–China diplomatic engagement on border and people-to-people connectivity. Shipki La, located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh on the India–Tibet border, already serves as a trading point and would be upgraded for pilgrim movement with requisite infrastructure and security arrangements.

Why: This is a multi-dimensional UPSC topic covering GS-I (Indian Geography—Himalayan passes), GS-II (India–China Relations), and GS-I (Art & Culture—pilgrimages). Students must know all three routes and their respective states: Lipulekh (Uttarakhand), Nathu La (Sikkim), and Shipki La (Himachal Pradesh). The geopolitical context of India–China border diplomacy adds Mains relevance.

What: The TREESCAPES 2026 Congress concluded in Delhi with a key finding that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can provide up to 37% of the CO₂ mitigation needed by 2030 to meet global climate targets. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) issued a warning about the significant financing gap for NbS globally.

How: NbS encompass strategies like afforestation, wetland restoration, mangrove conservation, and agroforestry that harness natural ecosystems to absorb carbon and build climate resilience. The congress highlighted that despite their high mitigation potential, NbS receive only a fraction of global climate finance, creating a critical implementation gap.

Why: NbS are a high-yield UPSC topic under GS-III (Environment & Biodiversity). The 37% mitigation figure is a key factual anchor. Questions may connect NbS to India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Green India Mission, compensatory afforestation frameworks, and UNEP’s annual Emissions Gap Report. The financing gap angle adds a governance and international cooperation dimension.

What: A new species of ant has been discovered in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest located near Guwahati, Assam. The discovery is notable because it highlights significant biodiversity in an urban-adjacent forest area, demonstrating that ecosystems near cities can still harbour undiscovered species.

How: The species was identified through detailed taxonomic study of ant specimens collected during biodiversity surveys in the reserve forest. Garbhanga, one of the largest reserve forests in Kamrup Metropolitan district, serves as a critical green buffer for Guwahati and supports a wide range of flora and fauna despite growing urbanisation pressures.

Why: Biodiversity discoveries in India are frequently tested in UPSC Prelims under GS-III (Environment & Biodiversity). This finding reinforces the importance of urban-adjacent protected areas and connects to broader themes of habitat fragmentation, conservation of reserve forests under the Indian Forest Act 1927, and the Northeast’s status as part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.

What: The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has kicked off with India and Sri Lanka as co-hosts. The tournament features 20 teams divided into 4 groups. In the opening match, India defeated the USA by 29 runs, with Suryakumar Yadav scoring an unbeaten 84. Pakistan won their opener against the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo.

How: The tournament is structured with a group stage followed by knockout rounds. Matches are being played across venues in India and Sri Lanka, leveraging the cricketing infrastructure of both nations. The expanded 20-team format reflects the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) efforts to globalise the sport by including associate nations.

Why: Major sporting events are regularly tested in competitive exams, especially host nations, formats, and standout performances. Key facts to remember: co-hosts (India & Sri Lanka), 20 teams in 4 groups, and India’s opening match result. The ICC’s push for cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics (LA 2028) adds context to the sport’s global expansion efforts.

What: Adani Energy has secured Japanese funding to develop a 6,000 Megawatt (MW) green energy corridor in India. The project represents one of the largest renewable energy infrastructure investments with international financing, contributing to India’s clean energy transition and capacity expansion targets.

How: The green energy corridor will involve transmission infrastructure to evacuate power from renewable energy generation sites—primarily solar and wind—to demand centres across India. Japanese financing aligns with Japan’s strategy of channelling overseas development and climate finance into Indo-Pacific green infrastructure projects.

Why: Green energy corridors are a key UPSC topic under GS-III (Infrastructure, Energy). India’s target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 makes large-scale transmission projects critical. Questions may link this to the Green Energy Corridor Scheme (Intra-State and Inter-State components), India–Japan bilateral cooperation, and the role of private sector investment in achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).