News 1 :Russian Oil Imports at 44-Month Low in Jan. as West Asian Countries’ Share Rises
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Shift in Import Basket: India’s crude oil imports from Russia fell to a 44-month low of $1.98 billion in January 2026, with Russia’s share dropping to 19.3% —the lowest since December 2022 and down from 27.5% two months earlier and 33% in May 2025 .
- Compensating Suppliers: While Russian imports fell, India increased or maintained imports from West Asian countries:
- Saudi Arabia: Share jumped to 17.5% (highest since April 2023)
- Iraq: Stable at 16.6%
- UAE: 10.4%
- Kuwait: Share grew to 6.1% (highest since February 2023)
- US Pressure and Trade Deal Linkage: The shift coincided with US pressure linking tariff reductions to reduced Russian oil purchases. On February 6, President Trump lowered tariffs on Indian imports from 50% to 25% after claiming India committed to stop importing Russian oil and would buy US energy products .
- Strategic Reversal Risk: The US Supreme Court’s February 20 ruling struck down the legal mechanism for Trump’s tariffs, meaning they would have been removed even without India’s shift. Simultaneously, the escalating Iran conflict has endangered supplies from the Gulf and raised oil prices, making the move away from discounted Russian oil potentially costly .
- Market Impact: The conflict triggered India’s most volatile trading day in eight months. Nifty fell 1.24%, Sensex 1.3%, while the India VIX volatility index surged 23.54% . Brent crude rallied to nearly $79/barrel, and gold rose 3% to $5,409/oz on safe-haven demand .
Prelims 360
Strait of Hormuz – For UPSC Prelims
📍 Location
- A narrow strait between Iran (north) and Oman (south).
- Connects:
- Persian Gulf → to
- Gulf of Oman → then to
- Arabian Sea
🌍 Why is it Important?
- World’s Most Important Oil Chokepoint
- Around 20–25% of global petroleum trade passes through it.
- Major oil exporters: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran.
- Strategic for India
- India imports a large share of crude oil from Gulf countries.
- Any disruption → impacts India’s energy security and economy.
- Geopolitical Tensions
- Frequent tensions between Iran and the United States.
- Presence of US Navy’s 5th Fleet in the region.
📏 Key Facts (Prelims Points)
- Width: ~33 km at narrowest point.
- Shipping lanes are only about 3 km wide in each direction.
- Governed by UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) → Transit passage allowed.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – For UPSC Prelims
📜 What is UNCLOS?
- An international treaty that defines the legal framework for oceans and seas.
- Adopted in 1982 at United Nations conference.
- Came into force in 1994.
- Often called the “Constitution of the Oceans.”
🌍 Maritime Zones under UNCLOS (Very Important for Prelims)
| Zone | Limit | Key Rights of Coastal State |
| Territorial Sea | Up to 12 nautical miles | Full sovereignty (like land territory) |
| Contiguous Zone | 12–24 nautical miles | Can prevent customs, tax, immigration violations |
| Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) | Up to 200 nautical miles | Sovereign rights over natural resources |
| Continental Shelf | Up to 200 nm (extendable to 350 nm) | Rights over seabed resources |
| High Seas | Beyond EEZ | Open to all states |
Transit Passage – For UPSC Prelims
📜 Definition
Transit Passage is a navigation right under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), allowing ships and aircraft to pass through international straits used for global navigation.
📍 Where Does It Apply?
- In straits connecting one part of the High Seas/EEZ to another.
- Example:
- Strait of Hormuz
- Strait of Malacca
- Bab-el-Mandeb
⚖️ Key Features
1️⃣ Applies to both ships and aircraft
2️⃣ Includes continuous and expeditious passage
3️⃣ Cannot be suspended by the coastal state
4️⃣ Submarines can pass in submerged mode
5️⃣ Warships also enjoy this right
🔎 Difference: Innocent Passage vs Transit Passage
| Feature | Innocent Passage | Transit Passage |
| Applies in | Territorial Sea | International Straits |
| Can be suspended? | Yes (temporarily) | ❌ No |
| Submarines | Must surface | Can remain submerged |
| Aircraft allowed? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
News 2: IIP Growth in January Slows Down to 4.8%
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Growth Deceleration: India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth slowed to a three-month low of 4.8% in January 2026, down sharply from a 26-month high of 7.8% (revised to 8%) in December 2025 .
- Broad-Based Slowdown: The deceleration was driven by a broad-based slowdown across key sectors:
- Manufacturing: 4.8% (down from 8.4% in December)
- Mining: 4.3% (down from previous months)
- Electricity: 5.1% (down from 6.9% in December)
- Consumer Goods in Distress:
- Consumer Durables: Growth slowed to 6.3% (down from 12.4% in December)
- Consumer Non-Durables: Contracted by 2.7% (down from +8.5% in December)
- Infrastructure Bright Spot: The only sector showing accelerating growth was infrastructure/construction goods, which quickened to 13.7% —the highest since August 2023 .
Capital Goods Concern: The capital goods sector continued decelerating to 4.3% (second consecutive month of slowing, down from 10.1% two months earlier), signalling potential investment weakness .
Prelims 360
Index of Industrial Production (IIP) – UPSC Prelims Focus
📌 What is IIP?
- Measures change in volume of industrial output in India (short-term indicator).
- Expressed as an index number (base year = 100).
🏛 Compiled By
- National Statistical Office
(under Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation)
🏭 Sectors Covered (Sectoral Classification)
| Sector | Approx. Weight |
| Manufacturing | ~77% (Highest) |
| Mining | ~14% |
| Electricity | ~8% |
👉 Manufacturing dominates IIP.
⚙️ Use-Based Classification (Very Important for Prelims)
- Primary Goods
- Capital Goods
- Intermediate Goods
- Infrastructure/Construction Goods
- Consumer Durables
- Consumer Non-Durables
📅 Base Year
- 2022-23 (current base year)
📈 Why Important?
- Indicator of industrial growth
- Used in GDP estimation
- Important for monetary policy decisions
❗ Prelims Traps
- Measures volume, NOT value.
- Does NOT cover agriculture or services.
- Different from inflation indices like CPI/WPI.
- Core Industries Index is separate (8 core sectors).
News 3:SC to Look into Feasibility of NAT for Blood Transfusion
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- SC Intervention: The Supreme Court has decided to examine whether blood banks should be mandatorily required to conduct Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) for screening blood for diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C .
- The Technology: NAT is a highly sensitive molecular technique that detects the genetic material of viruses, offering a shorter “window period” compared to traditional tests, thereby reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections .
- Petitioner’s Argument: NGO Sarvesham Mangalam Foundation argued that safe blood transfusion is a fundamental part of the right to life under Article 21. The petition highlighted the vulnerability of Thalassemia patients, who require frequent transfusions, calling infections from contaminated blood “preventable tragedies” .
- Triggering Incidents: The case gains significance from recent tragedies:
- Madhya Pradesh (Satna): Six children found HIV-positive allegedly due to contaminated blood transfusions during Thalassemia treatment (December 2025)
- Jharkhand (Chaibasa): Five children (including a seven-year-old) found HIV-positive from botched blood transfusions (October 2025)
- Cost Concerns: The Bench (CJI Surya Kant, Justices Bagchi and Pancholi) questioned the affordability of NAT, particularly for States “struggling hard to pay salaries.” The court asked for an affidavit on how many State hospitals currently use NAT .
- Next Hearing: March 13, 2026, after petitioner files detailed affidavit .
Prelims 360
Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) – For UPSC Prelims
📌 What is NAT?
Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) is a molecular diagnostic technique used to detect the genetic material (DNA or RNA) of a pathogen (virus/bacteria) in blood or other samples.
👉 It detects infection earlier than antibody-based tests.
🔬 Principle
- Identifies viral RNA or DNA directly.
- Uses amplification techniques like:
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
- Transcription-Mediated Amplification (TMA)
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) – For UPSC Prelims
📌 What is PCR?
PCR is a molecular biology technique used to amplify (make millions of copies of) a specific DNA segment.
Developed by Kary Mullis in 1983 (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1993).
🔬 Principle
- Based on DNA replication.
- Uses:
- DNA template
- Primers
- DNA polymerase enzyme (commonly Taq polymerase)
- Nucleotides
⚙️ Basic Steps (Very Important)
1️⃣ Denaturation – DNA strands separate (~95°C)
2️⃣ Annealing – Primers attach (~50–65°C)
3️⃣ Extension – DNA polymerase synthesizes new strand (~72°C)
👉 These steps repeat in cycles → exponential amplification.
Transcription-Mediated Amplification (TMA) – For UPSC Prelims
📌 What is TMA?
TMA is an isothermal nucleic acid amplification technique used mainly to detect RNA targets.
👉 Unlike PCR, it works at a constant temperature (no thermal cycling).
🔬 Principle
- Uses:
- Reverse transcriptase
- RNA polymerase
- Converts RNA → DNA → amplifies RNA copies.
News 4: India, Canada Ink Uranium Deal as Carney Meets Modi
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Landmark Uranium Deal: India and Canada signed a $1.9 billion, 10-year uranium supply agreement for Indian nuclear power reactors, marking a significant step in bilateral energy cooperation .
- Trade Agreement Target : Both sides agreed to conclude the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) within the year, aiming to double bilateral trade by 2030 .
- Strategic Energy Partnership: A new Strategic Energy Partnership was announced, covering renewable energy , LPG, and uranium supplies, along with cooperation in critical and emerging technologies .
- Multilateral Alignment: Canada decided to join India-led initiatives including the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Global Biofuel Alliance .
- Persisting Tensions: Despite the reset, the shadow of the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing case persists. Canadian media reported that investigative agencies believe two officials at the Indian Consulate in Vancouver were linked to the case—a charge India “rejected” .
- Security Cooperation: The joint statement agreed to strengthen cooperation on addressing “violent extremism, terrorism, organised crime” .
- West Asia Conflict: Both leaders discussed the escalating West Asia conflict, with PM Modi expressing “deep concern” and calling for “diplomacy and dialogue” .
Prelims 360
What is Uranium?
- Radioactive heavy metal used as nuclear fuel.
- Important isotope: Uranium-235 (U-235) → Fissile.
- Uranium-238 (U-238) → Fertile (used to produce plutonium).
2️⃣ Global Uranium Scenario
🌍 Largest Reserves
- Australia (largest reserves)
- Kazakhstan
- Canada
- Russia
- Namibia
👉 Kazakhstan = Largest producer
👉 Australia = Largest reserves
3️⃣ Uranium in India
📍 Major Producing States
- Jharkhand (Jaduguda – oldest mine)
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
- Rajasthan
- Meghalaya
🏭 Key Agency
- Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL)
4️⃣ Does India Import U-235 or U-238?
🔹 India imports Natural Uranium, NOT separated isotopes.
Natural Uranium Composition:
- ~99.3% U-238
- ~0.7% U-235
Imports mainly from:
- Kazakhstan
- Canada
- Australia
- Russia
👉 Imported as uranium ore concentrate (“yellowcake”).
5️⃣ Why Uranium is Essential for India?
🔹 (A) Energy Security
- Reduces fossil fuel dependence.
- Provides stable base-load electricity.
🔹 (B) Three-Stage Nuclear Programme
Designed by Homi J. Bhabha.
🇮🇳 India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Programme (Fuel Flow)
🔹 Stage 1 – PHWR
- Fuel: Natural Uranium
- Reactor: Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor
- Process:
- U-235 → fission (energy)
- U-238 → converts into Plutonium-239
✅ Plutonium is produced here.
🔹 Stage 2 – Fast Breeder Reactor
- Fuel: Plutonium-239 (from Stage 1)
- Blanket: U-238
- Produces more plutonium than consumed.
✅ Fuel is synthesized from Stage 1 (after reprocessing).
🔹 Stage 3 – Thorium Cycle
- Thorium-232 → converts into Uranium-233
- Thorium is abundant in India (coastal sands).
⚠ Thorium is NOT fissile.
It must absorb neutrons (from Stage 2 reactors).
🔁 Fuel Source Summary
| Stage | Fuel | Source |
| Stage 1 | Natural Uranium | Mined/Imported |
| Stage 2 | Plutonium-239 | From Stage 1 |
| Stage 3 | Thorium → U-233 | Thorium external, fissile material bred internally |
6️⃣ Climate & Strategic Importance
- Low carbon emissions.
- Supports India’s clean energy goals.
- Long-term aim → Thorium-based energy independence.
7️⃣ International Context
After 2008 Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver, India entered global nuclear trade.
Editorial 360
Editorial : Israel, the U.S. and a War to Build a Unipolar West Asia
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Context of the Attack: On February 28, just as Oman was mediating talks between the U.S. and Iran (with Iran reportedly committing never to make a nuclear bomb), the U.S. and Israel launched a massive “decapitation strike” on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials .
- Stated vs. Real Objectives: While Israel described it as a “pre-emptive” war to remove “existential threats,” President Trump’s call for Iranians to “take over your government” made clear the goal was regime change .
- Iran’s Response: Unlike the June 2025 war (where Iran focused on Israel), this time Iran has regionalised the conflict, striking U.S. bases across the Gulf (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE), a French base in the UAE, a military base in Cyprus, and closing the Strait of Hormuz .
- Strategic Stakes: The outcome will define West Asia for decades. Israel seeks a unipolar region with itself at the centre, backed by the U.S., after eliminating Iran—the last “revisionist” power standing .
- The Core Problem: Regime change in a geographical fortress like Iran (70 times larger than Israel) is extraordinarily difficult without ground invasion or internal uprising. Neither exists .
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