GK One-Liners

What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 19 February 2026, with the theme “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya” (welfare for all, happiness of all). Concurrently, the Government of India (GoI) unveiled India’s first comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance framework under the IndiaAI Mission, built on seven core principles called ‘Sutras’.

How: The summit is anchored by seven Working Groups aligned to three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. The AI governance framework includes four parts: Guiding Principles, Key Issues and Recommendations, Action Plan, and Practical Guidelines for Industry & Regulators. The seven Sutras include Trust is the Foundation, People First, Innovation over Restraint, Fairness & Equity, Accountability, Understandable by Design, and Safety, Resilience & Sustainability.

Why: This is highly exam-relevant for UPSC Prelims and Mains under Science & Technology and Governance. The framework promotes safe AI innovation across healthcare, education, agriculture, finance and public administration without standalone legislation. Questions on AI policy frameworks, Digital India initiatives, and India’s global AI positioning are frequently asked in competitive exams.

What: A Supreme Court of India (SCI) bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan delivered a landmark ruling in the case of Dr. Jaya Thakur v. Government of India & Ors., officially recognizing ‘Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH)’ as a Fundamental Right under Article 21 (Right to Life and Dignity) of the Constitution of India.

How: The implementation framework mandates all government and private schools to provide free oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins through vending machines for Classes 6-12, establish Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) corners with spare uniforms and disposal bags, and ensure functional gender-segregated toilets. District Education Officers (DEOs) must conduct annual inspections, while the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) supervise compliance.

Why: This judgment expands the interpretation of Article 21, a recurring UPSC Polity topic. It connects to gender rights, health governance, and social justice themes in Mains GS-II. Understanding how courts expand fundamental rights through judicial interpretation is crucial for constitutional law questions.

What: India and France have upgraded their bilateral ties to a ‘Special Global Strategic Partnership’, jointly announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on 17 February 2026. Both leaders also unveiled the India–France Year of Innovation 2026 to promote collaboration in advanced technologies, defence production, and AI.

How: The partnership reflects strategic depth across defence modernisation, space cooperation, artificial intelligence, and youth engagement. France will preside over the G7 Summit (52nd) in 2026, while India is scheduled to chair the BRICS Summit, providing platforms for enhanced bilateral engagement on global issues.

Why: India-France relations are a staple in UPSC International Relations. The strategic partnership hierarchy (Strategic Partnership → Comprehensive Strategic Partnership → Special Global Strategic Partnership) is important for understanding India’s bilateral priorities. Questions on defence cooperation, Indo-Pacific strategy, and multilateral coordination frequently appear in Prelims and Mains.

What: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative to develop dedicated pollinator or ‘Bee Corridors’ along National Highways. This project aims to reduce ecological stress on honeybees and other pollinators while enhancing agricultural productivity and biodiversity across highway stretches.

How: Native species such as Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun, and Siris will be planted along highways. Flowering clusters will be strategically placed at 500m–1km intervals, aligned to honeybee foraging ranges. During 2026–27, NHAI plans to plant around 40 lakh trees along National Highways, with approximately 60% under the Bee Corridor initiative.

Why: This initiative connects to UPSC Environment topics on pollinator conservation, ecosystem services, and biodiversity. Pollinators contribute to 35% of global crop production, making their conservation vital for food security. Questions on NHAI initiatives, highway greening projects, and wildlife conservation corridors are common in Prelims.

What: The Indian Army is hosting the first-ever United Nations Fellowship Training Programme on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Control from 16 February to 6 March 2026 at the Military College of Materials Management (MCMM) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. This marks the first time such a programme is being held in Asia.

How: The programme is organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) through the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament (UNRCPD), conducted under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Delegates from 13 Asia-Pacific countries are participating, focusing on skills related to small arms control and implementing the UN Programme of Action (PoA) and International Tracing Instrument (ITI).

Why: This positions India as a key partner in global disarmament efforts. UPSC covers UN disarmament frameworks, India’s role in international security cooperation, and defence diplomacy. Understanding SALW proliferation challenges and control mechanisms is important for International Relations and Security Studies in Mains GS-II and GS-III.

What: Archaeologists have identified around 30 ancient inscriptions inside rock-cut royal tombs in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, a UNESCO World Heritage site. About 20 inscriptions are in Tamil-Brahmi script, along with others in Sanskrit and Prakrit, dating from the 1st to 3rd century CE. The name “Cikai Korran” appears eight times across five tombs.

How: The inscriptions were documented by Professor Ingo Strauch of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and Professor Charlotte Schmid of the French School of Asian Studies. Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions are an early form of the Tamil writing system, possibly representing merchant names, trade symbols, or ownership marks from ancient Indian traders who visited Egypt.

Why: This discovery provides archaeological evidence of ancient India-Egypt trade connections via maritime routes. It is highly relevant for UPSC Ancient History and Art & Culture sections. Questions on ancient scripts (Brahmi, Tamil-Brahmi), India’s maritime trade history, and cultural exchanges with Mediterranean civilizations are frequently asked in both Prelims and Mains.